30Under30 Honouree: Victoria Chapman
Great to hear from Global 30 Under 30 Honouree, Victoria Chapman, who is a customer delivery manager at Tellet.
So, how did you get into the industry, and take us through how you got to this point?
I fell into the industry through a marketing internship at TrendWatching after finishing my business degree. Marketing wasn’t quite “it” for me, but TrendWatching opened the door to their Trend Analysis team, where I was trained from the ground up in spotting cultural and consumer shifts. From there, I moved to Ipsos to experience the pace and scale of a global agency, managing multi-country studies across a huge range of topics. With the rise of AI-moderated qual, I made the jump to Tellet, where I now get to sit at the intersection of innovation and insight. From trends, to one of the most trusted agencies, to the forefront of innovation, I’ve had a very varied career so far!
Why should anyone consider a career in market research, data and insights?
Because no two days are ever the same. Every project exposes you to a new category, a new behaviour, a new challenge — and you grow both professionally and personally. It’s an amazing industry as curiosity is at the heart of what you do, and where you’re constantly learning something that shifts your mindset.
Career paths are rarely without challenges — can you share an honest moment that taught you something important?
My first ever speaking gig at TrendWatching had me VERY nervous — I let the nerves build for weeks. It did eventually go well, but I realized how much mental space I’d wasted worrying. Confidence does build over time and I most recently took the stage for Tellet at the 2025 Data & Insights Congress in Amsterdam.
What two things should junior researchers focus on as they progress in their careers?
Firstly, I think every junior researcher needs direct client connection – it’s the fastest way to grow and make your work more impactful. But my biggest piece of advice is to have your ear to the ground on innovation. The industry can transform practically overnight – I went on sabbatical to travel for a few months in 2025 and came back to an AI-moderated qual revolution! We always need to stay curious.
Do you have any advice for our sector?
My biggest advice is probably something I heard from attending the ESOMAR Conference in Prague in 2025 – we must keep humans at the centre of insights. For both the people generating insights and the people we’re trying to understand. Technology is a tool we can use, but the magic of our industry still comes from empathetic, thoughtful researchers who know how to connect with those behind the screen.
Anyone you’d like to acknowledge or thank?
Huge thanks to the people who shaped my path:
Victoria Loomes and Reinier Evers at TrendWatching for giving me a fantastic start into the super interesting world of trends.
Madeleine De Bree and Belinda Lavin at Ipsos for world-class training and mentorship.
Luke Maas and Greg Burke at Tellet for pushing my career into new, exciting territory at the forefront of innovation.