MRX Lab

Hosted by FlexMR

Business MarketingInterviews guests

Website RSS feed

Episodes

Latest episode

Aug 2026

Language

About the show

The MRX Lab from FlexMR explores new and novel conversations from the fringes of the market research & consumer insights industry in 10 minutes or less.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

August 11, 2026Episode 822 min

#79 - Customer Salience: The Engine of Connection

There is a prominent gap between the belief in customer centricity and achieving it. But how do researchers keep the voice of customers in the room to influence how decisions are made when they are not always able to be there? In our latest episode, Chris Martin, FlexMR's Chief Marketing Officer, joins Paul to reflect on both academic and organisational research around Customer Salience. Over the course of 20 minutes, the pair discuss the need for more data around how much customers are truly included in an organisational decision-making process, why it is so important for researchers to become a hybrid of both a scientist and an artist, and much more. --- Presented by: Paul Hudson, CEO @ FlexMR Featuring: Chris Martin, Chief Marketing Officer at FlexMR For more info on FlexMR, visit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠www.flexmr.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Or connect via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠LinkedIn⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠X⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

July 15, 2026Episode 727 min

#78 - Leadership and Culture for High Performance Insight Teams

Leadership coach and former insight practitioner, Rachel Fraser, joins Paul to explore the cultural and behavioural foundations of Customer Salience. Drawing on her experience across coaching and leadership development, Rachel argues that the effectiveness of insight depends less on the quality of outputs and more on the mindset, influence and commercial awareness of the teams delivering them. The episode centres on the shift from delivering insight to building capacity for adaptive influence, where practitioners must move beyond certainty and hierarchy to navigate ambiguity, hold multiple perspectives and shape decisions across the organisation. Through practical examples, she highlights the importance of coaching over training, action over theory, and confidence built through doing, not knowing. The conversation also unpacks the role of commercial thinking, emphasising that insight teams must understand stakeholder priorities—margin, risk, growth—and translate customer needs into that language to become trusted advisors. --- Presented by: Paul Hudson, CEO @ FlexMR Featuring: Rachel Fraser, Leadership Coach For more info on FlexMR, visit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠www.flexmr.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Or connect via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠X⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

June 30, 2026Episode 632 min

#77 - Data, Insight and Commercial Centres of Excellence

Insight is a dialogue. That's the key takeaway from this in-depth conversation with Simon Tregidgo, Strategy Lead for Trade & Services at Kingfisher. Drawing on experience across insight, strategy and commercial functions, Simon explains how to embed knowledge and habits within an organisation and why a diverse stakeholder approach is vital to growth.The episode centres on Kingfisher's Centres of Excellence, designed to support knowledge sharing, best practice and innovation by connecting banners and markets. Throughout the conversation, Simon highlights the importance of in-person workshops, honest (and sometimes vulnerable) conversations about knowledge, plus how to overcome the tension between project delivery and the ongoing nature of customer and commercial evolution. --- Presented by: Paul Hudson, CEO @ FlexMR Featuring: Simon Tregidgo, Strategy Lead: Trade & Services at Kingfisher For more info on FlexMR, visit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠www.flexmr.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Or connect via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠LinkedIn⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠X⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

May 27, 2026Episode 432 min

#75 - How Memorable Marketing Strategies Can Build Customer Centricity

Do you actively brand your insight projects? This month, we invite you to consider how the implementation of marketing strategies can reach decision-makers and leave a lasting impression, resulting in an increase in Customer Centricity within your organisation. In our latest episode, Rupesh Patel joins Paul to discuss the importance of remaining top of mind for business questions and share tips on how insights can be promoted memorably. Over the course of 30 minutes, the pair touch on competitive internal promotion strategies, the application of marketing academia and more. --- Presented by: Paul Hudson, CEO @ FlexMR Featuring: Rupesh Patel, Head of Insights (Large Tech Brand) For more info on FlexMR, visit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ www.flexmr.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Or connect via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / X / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

May 4, 2026Episode 526 min

#76 - A Seat at the Table: How Engaging Insights Lead to Customer Centricity

Customers need to always have a seat at the table. Insight teams need to be in the room, even when not physically present. But during a time where information is in abundance and budgets are squeezed, how can this be achieved? In our latest episode, Natalie Delahunty, Head of Brand Insight at Trainline, joins Paul to discuss how long-term engagement of decision-makers through strategies such as infographics can aid in maintaining customer centricity. Over the course of 30 minutes, the pair touch on tailoring insights based on internal target audiences, distinctively naming projects that are crucial to the trajectory of a business, utilising MaxDiff and more. --- Presented by: Paul Hudson, CEO @ FlexMR Featuring: Natalie Delahunty, Head of Brand Insight at Trainline For more info on FlexMR, visit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ www.flexmr.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Or connect via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / X / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

March 19, 2026Episode 331 min

#74 - Customer Centricity Starts at Your Own Two Feet

Customer centricity starts at your own two feet. But it also needs to go further. Could having a programme that ties in all levels of an organisation be the key to success? In our latest episode, Paul Thomas, Global Consumer & Shopper Insight Director, joins Paul to discuss how customer centricity programmes and direct conversations with customers are crucial to organisations. Over the course of 30 minutes, the pair discuss examples of successful customer-centric strategies, anecdotes, the importance of the involvement of key decision-makers and more. --- Presented by: Paul Hudson, CEO @ FlexMR Featuring: Paul Thomas, Global Consumer & Shopper Insight Director For more info on FlexMR, visit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ www.flexmr.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Or connect via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ X ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

February 11, 2026Episode 226 min

#73 - Speed Dating Without the Romance: A Path to Customer Centricity

During a time where technology and artificial intelligence are becoming more prominent, there are challenges in moving beyond traditional research methods to consistently humanise the customer in the minds of key decision-makers. In our latest episode, Ellie Osborne, Senior Insight Lead at Saga, joins Paul to discuss how customer centricity can engage decision-makers and ensure Customer Salience is interwoven consistently throughout an organisation. Over the course of 25 minutes, the pair discuss successfully positioning key decision-makers in front of real customers through 'speed dating', how researchers can drive customer centric decisions and much more. --- Presented by: Paul Hudson, CEO @ FlexMR Featuring: Ellie Osborne, Senior Insight Lead at Saga For more info on FlexMR, visit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠www.flexmr.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Or connect via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠LinkedIn⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠X⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

January 14, 2026Episode 125 min

#72 - The Future of Customer Salience

In a world where habits within an organisation are often built on financialisaton, it can be hard to overcome existing culture and consistently humanise the customer in the minds of key decision-makers. In our latest episode, Chris Martin, FlexMR's Chief Marketing Officer, joins Paul to discuss how Customer Salience can be used to flip the script and ensure decision-makers are always thinking about customers. Over the course of 25 minutes, the pair discuss how decisions are currently being made within organisations, the impact of cultural habits, how researchers can drive change and much more. --- Presented by: Paul Hudson, CEO @ FlexMR Featuring: Chris Martin, Chief Marketing Officer at FlexMR For more info on FlexMR, visit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ www.flexmr.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Or connect via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ X / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

December 10, 2025Episode 1229 min

#71 - From Numbers to Narratives: What it Means to Make Data Land

Research isn't just about gathering data. It's about helping people make better decisions. That's what Head of Client and Adviser Insights at M&G, Olubunmi Stüber, challenges us to do in this episode of the MRX Lab. Recorded the day after the 2025 Customer Salience Summit, she joins Paul Hudson in reflecting on what it means to put customers at the heart of decisions. Over the course of 40 minutes, the pair discuss the strategic use of qual and quant, how insight communities bring connection and camaraderie to research, the importance of crafting stories that are written for a particular audience, and much more. --- Presented by: Paul Hudson, CEO @ FlexMR Featuring: Olubunmi Stüber, Head of Client and Adviser Insights at M&G For more info on FlexMR, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.flexmr.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Or connect via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

November 12, 2025Episode 1126 min

#70 - How to Build an Audience Centric Brand

When Lord Reith founded the BBC in the radio age, it embodied an ethos of public service. That spirit remains at its core to this day. And, as Brand Director Jane Callingham explains, creates a uniquely challenging dynamic for the institutions researchers. Rather than define a narrow target market, the BBC charter demands that it serve the public - which means it must deliver value to all. Understanding audiences, not as a homogenous whole, but as a diverse set of segments is crucial not to narrow targeting - but to evaluate how each and all are served. Discover how the BBC Brand team approach this monumental task, and have build an audience-centric brand in this episode of the MRX Lab. --- Presented by: Paul Hudson, CEO @ FlexMR Featuring: Jane Callingham, Brand Director @ BBC For more info on FlexMR, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.flexmr.net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Or connect via ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠