30Under30 Nominee: Ilana Rosen
Great to hear from Global 30 Under 30 Nominee, Ilana Rosen, who is a Senior Market and Customer Insights Analyst at Quest Diagnostics where she translates data into actionable insights in support of evidence-based growth strategies.
How did you get into the industry and reach this point?
Stumbling into this industry was a happy accident. I participated in Quest Diagnostics’ Marketing Leadership Development Programme. Market research was one of my first rotations and I absolutely fell in love with it. After graduating from the programme, I re-joined the insights department as a Senior Analyst.
Why should someone consider a career in market research, data and insights?
For anyone who is naturally curious, this is the ultimate field. We can ask questions, dig deep and get the answers to make better decisions. This field is extremely unique in the way that it touches all aspects of the business (marketing, product development, business strategy, etc), allowing us to see the tangible impact of our work.
Career paths are rarely without challenges. Can you share a moment from your career when things didn’t go to plan, but the lessons learned remain with you to this day?
Early in my career, I struggled with intimidation when presenting to senior clients. My manager gave me words that still ground me to this day. He said to me, “Ilana, you are the expert in the room.” I am the one who spent hours analysing the data and crafting the report. That advice gave me the necessary confidence to own the findings. Today, I carry that confidence into every presentation, right up to the senior leadership level.
What two things should junior researchers focus on as they progress in their careers?
Be your own advocate. Don’t wait to be asked. Raise your hand for complex projects. Shadowing is good, but hands-on experience with advanced projects is the only way to accelerate your growth and on-the-job learning.
Adopt a kaizen mindset. It’s the best way to stay on top of your game, remain adaptable and consistently deliver impact. As an early career professional, where it is easy to get in your head, it’s reassuring to know everyone is working towards continuous improvement, regardless of career stage.
Do you have any advice for our sector?
I have three tips for our sector as follows.
1. Know your customer: Understand how stakeholders are going to use the information you provide so you can ensure that the research aligns with their strategic goals, ensuring our impact on key business decisions.
2. Trace the impact: For every major insight delivered, track the immediate business actions taken and their outcomes. This directly connects our insights to measurable results, thus demonstrating the value of our work.
3. Be accurate and concise: This industry relies on the trust of its research participants and clients, and transparency is the key to building and keeping their trust. Also, being concise to enable the business to focus on what matters is important to being a great partner.
Is there anyone who has helped or supported you in your career who you’d like to acknowledge or thank?
A huge shoutout to my managers Jay Salasko, Christina Nathanson and Jeffrey Polevoy for their amazing guidance, patience and unwavering support. They have truly invested in my career and provided me with opportunities to get involved and take on stretch projects, all while giving me valuable feedback along the way.
