Julie has over two decades of experience helping organizations to understand consumer needs, innovate, and pursue new market opportunities. She has worked with a wide range of organizations, including American Express, Google, Electronic Arts, Samsung, AARP, Univision, Share Our Strength, and Georgetown University Impact for Business Center. Julie has a proven track record with emerging technology adoption, small business enablement, marketing strategy development, competitive positioning, in-depth industry analysis, and digital channel optimization.

Julie has deep experience optimizing Black American, Latinx/Hispanic, and other multicultural marketing research investments by engaging niche populations in those communities (frontline employees, small business owners, high net worth, SNAP/WIC recipients, LGBTQ, influencers, parents, millennials, Gen X). Her in-depth research methodology experience includes online focus groups, mobile ethnographic studies, co-creation sessions, competitive benchmarking, customer journey testing, and employee ideation sessions. Julie specializes in using the power of immersive experiences, creative exercises, and culturally relevant imagery to deepen insights and achieve breakthrough results.

Natasha brings over two decades of experience transforming how organizations understand and connect with diverse consumer groups through data-driven insights. She has spent her career pushing innovation in market research forward – from pioneering social media analysis to incorporating digital behavior into customer journey mapping to developing advanced advertising targeting models. With a distinguished track record of senior management roles building and scaling research divisions at global research leaders like GfK and Kantar, Natasha has consistently developed new research methods that drive business growth and deepen customer understanding.   

Drawing on her expertise in digital research innovation and making data more accessible, Natasha helps guide Social Lens Research’s strategic vision across its custom and subscription-based solutions. Her background in organizational psychology and proven success in blending new technologies with proven research methods make her uniquely qualified to help clients leverage SLR’s immersive consumer insights to create more inclusive, impactful brand experiences. A recognized industry leader and recipient of the AMA’s 4 Under 40 Emerging Leaders Award, Natasha is passionate about helping organizations build authentic connections with diverse communities through cutting-edge research approaches.

For more than 15 years, Rachel Lerman helped large companies and global investors use research insights and networking to improve their operations. At the Corporate Executive Board in Europe and the U.S., she expanded research and best practice sharing networks of C-level executives in IT, R&D, Supply Chain, Sales, Marketing and Communications from across industries. She developed strategic relationships with senior leaders at companies like Ford, Exxon-Mobil, Merck, IKEA, Procter & Gamble, Bank of America, L’Oreal, Nokia and Lego. In addition to client-facing roles, internally at CEB she worked on successful projects using customer and employee surveys and qualitative feedback to improve client retention and enhance products and service delivery. Before CEB, she provided institutional investors with research on corporate governance, socially responsible investing, and shareholder rights in Europe and Asia. Rachel is an active supporter of education reform and serves as a volunteer, board member and advisor to several education-related nonprofits and schools in the Washington, DC area.

With a passion for uncovering the “why” behind consumer behavior, Polina excels at turning complex data into compelling narratives that drive strategic decision-making. Leveraging a diverse toolkit of mixed research methodologies, including quantitative surveys, qualitative research, ethnography, UX research & design, social listening, competitive benchmarking, and trendcasting allows her to gain a holistic understanding of consumer behavior. Her background in cultural anthropology (MSc, UCL) and deep understanding of how culture and life-experiences impact decision-making, enables her to effectively analyze the needs and motivations of diverse audiences, ensuring that her insights are culturally nuanced and relevant.

Polina has a proven track record of providing actionable insights for clients across various industries, including recent projects with Google, Prevent Blindness, Electronic Arts, Cadillac, and P&G. Her passion for learning and drive to continuously expand her skillset and knowledge has pushed her to be ESSEC certified, Mastering AI for Insights & Analytics certified, and she is currently completing the Google UX Design Certification. Polina thrives on tackling complex challenges, engaging hard-to-reach audiences, and pushing the boundaries of existing market research to uncover deeper and more meaningful insights for clients.

With extensive experience in qualitative research and a deep commitment to understanding human behavior, Chiara excels at uncovering meaningful insights that drive strategic decision-making across healthcare, technology, and public sectors. Her expertise in conducting sensitive research with diverse and underserved populations, including veterans, survivors of trauma, and rare disease patients, is enhanced by her background in Psychology from Harvard College and ongoing pursuit of a Master’s in Social Work at Boston University.

Combining methodological rigor with genuine empathy, she has consistently delivered impactful research outcomes for government agencies and private sector clients. Chiara continues to push boundaries in qualitative research while maintaining a strong commitment to ethical research practices and advocacy for vulnerable populations, as evidenced by her QRCA Rising Star Award and dedicated volunteer work in crisis support and domestic violence prevention.

Jeanie is dedicated to building coalitions through qualitative research and strategic partnerships, implementing programs for social impact. With a human-centered approach, she values connecting with people through stakeholder interviews and focus groups, believing conversations drive results and meaningful change. Jeanie’s versatility blends the big picture with actionable ideas and strategies through expertise in outreach and engagement, partnership development, DEI&J programming, and organizational growth.

Jeanie has served as liaison to hundreds of organizations in support of the LGBTQ+ community, financial education, youth development, and closing the gap among racial, social and health disparities. Jeanie has designed and implemented research, programming and resources for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the DC Hospital Association (DCHA), the National Association of Broadcasters Leadership Foundation (NABLF), Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS), the Equality Chamber of Commerce DC (ECCDC), and the Investor Protection Trust (IPT). As part of her commitment to the LGBTQ+ community, Jeanie was honored as the 2011 “Local Heroine” by the Washington Blade.

Denisse has a track record of crafting strategies and partnerships to target and engage traditionally hard to reach communities. From Latina moms to urban youth, she has experience in crafting offline, social and mobile campaigns to reach quality participants. She is the founder and editor of the award-winning blog AhorrosparaMama.com, one of the pioneers of its kind that offers Spanish-speaking moms new ways to save time and money while not having to sacrifice quality and their favorite brand names. Her client work includes projects for Univision, Google, Electronic Arts, Responsibility.org, Cabot Cheese, Consumer Reports, Disney, and the CDC.