Developing the Next Generation of Market Research Leaders
‘Taylor Nelson, never heard of them. Where are they based? Epsom, sure I’ll go for an interview’.
This was me in conversation with a head-hunter 25 years ago. I was working for Experian at the time. I knew very little about the market research industry but was tempted by the location (I lived a 20 minute drive away) having just become a father for the first time.
What resulted from the interview and the subsequent job offer was a 25 year love affair with the market research industry. During this time I have had the pleasure to work with some of the most wonderful people, world leading clients and deliver genuinely impactful work.
I left TNS after an amazing 10 year stint to set up my own business. For the last 15 years I have been working with agencies across the industry to help them build relationships with their clients that lead to commercial success for all parties. What has struck me whether it be working with small independent agencies or large global players, is that the people that work within them have common traits:
They seriously underestimate their importance to their clients
They love delivering their work, creating a strong and sustainable business
They see selling as an uncomfortable task rather than a force for good
They do not shout about how good they are
I have always felt that if I can be a part of the solution that supports individuals and teams to overcome these traits, then the market research industry would be in good hands. So when I was approached by the Tony Cowling Foundation to look at how we could work together on doing exactly this, I jumped at the chance.
For those of you that don’t know, Tony Cowling was one of the founders of a start-up research company which, under his leadership, grew to become one of the largest in the world, TNS.
He was a leader that not only believed in the work his company did but in the people that delivered it.
The Tony Cowling Foundation has been set up as a not-for-profit organisation. Its aim is to create a memorial to Tony which will foster the values which he encouraged. Foremost amongst these were his commitments to inclusion, innovation and internationalism.
I am therefore proud to share with you all that 4twenty will be working with the foundation on one of their first initiatives. This is to provide affordable and effective training for the market research industry, that builds the capabilities of its future leaders.
Our first step is to shape the programme and this is where we are asking for your help. If you believe you have team members that would benefit from being developed to be future leaders, please spend 5 minutes completing the questionnaire below:
Over the coming months we will share with you progress and next steps.
When you look back at life, there are moments you feel are pivotal. The moment I said yes to an interview at Taylor Nelson was certainly one of mine.