About
Who we are
Women in Research (WIRe) was founded by Kristin Luck in 2007 as a means of introducing friends and research colleagues to other women in the Los Angeles research community. WIRe has since evolved into an informal networking group, for women in marketing research. In 2011, Kristin and Cassandra Rowe hosted the first NY WIRe event. WIRe events are now hosted quarterly in Los Angeles, New York and London. Mixer events are now hosted in other cities as well. To meet the needs of professional women in the industry, WIRe events facilitate networking, leadership, entrepreneurship and other career development goals.
We frequently get asked about the inclusion of men in our group. Although our focus is on empowering and nurturing women in research, we’re a man friendly group! If you’re a man with an interest in changing the ratio or working to improve opportunities for women in research, we encourage your involvement.
Our mission
Encouraging the establishment of empowering and nurturing relationships among women in market research through informal gatherings.
How we do it
WIRe offers informal networking events on a quarterly basis in Los Angeles, New York and London. We have also created a strong online community through our Facebook and LinkedIn sites where women can connect, ask each other questions and post job opportunities.
Kristin Luck
As President of Decipher, a market research services firm, Kristin Luck serves as Decipher’s brand evangelist.
Kristin was one of the original pioneers of the multi-media online research business over 12 years ago when she joined ACNielsen to assist in the development of proprietary capabilities for testing full screen video and other multi-media materials securely online. As the Co-Founder of OTX (Online Testing Exchange), Kristin Luck built and managed the operational and client management infrastructure for a start-up online market research firm that became the fastest growing research company in the US in 2002 and 2003. In 2006, Kristin started Forefront Consulting Group, a research services consulting firm. Forefront was acquired in June 2007 by Decipher.
Kristin has over 15 years of management experience in both domestic and international custom market and social science research and is a regular speaker at industry conferences and a columnist for Research Business Report where she explores emerging research methods. She’s a 2010 recipient of the American Marketing Association’s 4 Under 40 Award and was recently named to Oregon’s 40 Under 40.
Email - kristin@decipherinc.com
Phone - 310.713.713
Cassandra Rowe
With over 10 years of experience, Cassandra has a broad background in media and entertainment strategy and extensive experience in both qualitative and quantitative research. Throughout her career, Cassandra has focused on building and evolving brands to best meet consumer needs.
Cassandra started her career at Lieberman Research Worldwide where she gained a solid foundation in research methodologies. Cassandra then spent four years at Disney Channel Worldwide where she played an integral role in helping create channels, programs and franchises that became daily touch points in kids’ lives. Cassandra returned to the supplier side at Insight Strategy Group where she worked with a variety of traditional media and retail clients translating consumer needs into strategic insights.
Today, Cassandra is part of the Netflix Consumer Insights team where she is helping to shape the emerging entertainment landscape in the US and abroad.
Email - crowe807@gmail.com
Phone - 818.269.0529
Natasha Stevens
Natasha Stevens is a thought leader and innovator in digital research and seasoned professional services leader. Her background encompasses building marketing research models that align traditional and digital techniques, Social Media Listening and Media Analytics / Measurement. She has designed methodologies across industry with extensive experience in Consumer Products and Healthcare. Her work addresses the unique requirements of clients in areas such as product development, issues management, consumer insight, marketing strategy and corporate / brand reputation.
Natasha earned a BA in Psychology from the University of Michigan and a Masters in Organizational Psychology from Columbia University.
Email - Natasha.Stevens@gfk.com
Phone - 617.223.7691
Jen Drolet
Jen Drolet heads up the day-to-day operations as Managing Partner at iModerate. Jen was part of the founding team, and helped to develop the methodology and approach that serve as the backbone of the company’s online research solutions. Her years of experience in all facets of client service, support and management have helped her successfully lead the way for iModerate. In addition to her day-to-day responsibilities, Jen is integral in the development of new products and services, and plays a major role in ensuring iModerate’s continued growth and development.
Previously Jen worked for Thomson Financial in London where she focused on the development of international investment banking relationships in Europe. Early in her career, she also spent two years directing corporate research projects for Penn, Schoen & Berland. She received her bachelor’s degree from Colby College in International Studies and also holds a master’s degree from the University of Denver in Global Trade & Finance.
Email - jdrolet@imoderate.com
Phone - 303.928.8407
Jo Rigby
Jo Rigby joined MESH as Managing Director, EMEA in December 2012. Prior to this she spent 13 years at Omnicom Media Group, where she started as Research Manager for OMD UK and became Global Insight Director across OMG. Jo also spent two years as elected Women’s Officer for the Labour Party, working to encourage women to stand for elected office. She is a member of the Fawcett Society, and supports their campaign to close the gender pay gap and promote flexible working for all parents within the workplace.
Email: jorigby@meshplanning.com
Phone : +44 (0) 20 7428 7367
Fiona Blades
Fiona is the Chief Experience Officer, MESH Planning. Following a career as a Marketing Manager for Spillers Foods and as an Advertising Planning Director, Fiona set up MESH Planning in 2006 to create a new real-time research approach to evaluate every touchpoint from TV advertising to In Store to Word of Mouth.
This award-winning approach to tracking experiences, resulted in Media Week listing MESH in ‘10 to watch, the new Facebooks’ and was described by industry insiders as ‘Millward Brown orthodoxy-busting’. Fiona has been listed in the entrepreneurs section of Research magazine’s 50 Faces to Watch in 2007, and sits on the Cranfield School of Management MSc Advisory Board and Hackney and City Carers Partnership Board.
Email: fionablades@meshplanning.com
Phone: +44 (0) 20 7428 7371