30Under30 Nominee: Ginger Haller

Great to hear from Global 30 under 30 nominee, Ginger Haller who is a member of the Network International team at Fieldwork, where she works to adapt field management to global cultural contexts, ensuring valuable insights from international communities.

So, how did you get into the industry, and take us through how you got to this point?

When I was a student at Michigan State University I was having trouble deciding on a research topic for an assignment in a marketing communications class. My professor suggested that I write about MSU’s Masters in Marketing Research program and introduced me to some of the program’s alumni and administrators. After interviewing a handful or MRx professionals I realized what a great fit market research would be for myself! From that point on I made it a goal to work in market research right out of college, which led me to Fieldwork.

What are you most proud of from your career so far?

So far I’m most proud of the connections I’ve made with others in the industry. I’ve prioritized going to every in-person event because I love meeting and learning from people who have more experience than me. Despite being on a 100% remote team, I’ve still been able to create meaningful relationships at Fieldwork and throughout the industry. I’m proud that the people I work with know they can always count on me to be as involved as possible outside of my everyday work.

What two things should junior researchers focus on as they progress in their careers?

The first thing, as mentioned earlier, is to focus on building relationships and growing your network of MRx professionals. This is not only super helpful during a job search, but can also be a great way to meet potential clients and vendors. This is how great partnerships are built, as there’s already a certain level of trust between each other.

The second thing junior researchers should focus on is pinpointing their strengths and then honing in on them, whether they’re specific to market research or not. Whatever your strengths are, are the best way you can help your team. Whether it’s creative thinking, quant vs qual, teamwork, face-to-face communication skills, etc.; you should always try to work on projects or in roles where you have the opportunity to use your strengths to their full potential. It’s the key to loving what you do, finding success, and standing out.

What message do you have for anyone considering a career in our sector?

I would say not to be scared to go for it! There are so many different niches within the market research world that I think anyone can find role that’s well suited for them. People are very passionate about the market research industry and it’s an overall a great group to be apart of.

Do you have any advice for our sector as a whole?

My biggest piece of advice is not to become complacent in relying on one type of methodology or style of research. I often see researchers try to use a one-size-fits all method for studies across a range of topics and types of respondents. If you want high quality data, I think it’s important to tailor methodologies to best meet the needs of each individual study. For example, almost everyone switched over to solely remote methods of research during the pandemic and many haven’t gone back to in-person. This was a great solution at the time, and is still a great solution for a lot of studies now. That being said, slowly moving back to in-person has begun to show what remote studies lack. Overall, I think it’s important to be agile from project to project and to adapt with the times.

And do you have anyone who has helped your career so far that you’d like to acknowledge and say thanks or give a shout out to? 

I’d love to give a shoutout to Tammy Slatinsky from Quirk’s. I’ve known Tammy almost my whole life, and when she heard I was taking an interest in market research she jumped on the opportunity to introduce me to people who could teach me more. Some of the people Tammy introduced me to years ago are now my colleagues today! I 100% would not be here without her generosity and enthusiasm to help.