30Under30 Nominee: Jahed Miah
Great to hear from Global 30 Under 30 Nominee, Jahed Miah, an Associate Director at davies+mckerr, a London-based consumer insight and strategy agency. Jahed works in the qualitative team.
How did you find your way into research, data and insights?
I’ve always been interested in people, human behaviour and decision-making, but was never sure about a specific career which related to this. After I completed my degree, which included a business-focused element, and was trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my life, I stumbled across the research industry. It looked really cool and aligned with my interests, but I struggled to secure any entry-level roles or internships due to not having any research experience within my degree, or any kind of professional experience at all!
I then spent the first Covid lockdown completing a few online short courses on consumer research, which obviously helped me learn a bit more about the industry, but more importantly helped me demonstrate my passion for it in interviews. I was fortunate enough to secure a place on Ipsos’ consumer qualitative graduate scheme shortly afterwards, and after three and a half years there, joined d+m in 2024.
What part of your work are you most proud of and why?
There’s a stream of work I’ve been leading for a new nationwide government-backed scheme due to launch in 2027. It’s felt really rewarding growing the relationship with the client and building their trust as we’ve worked through the different stages of the scheme’s journey: from the name and branding, to comms and creative and in-person trials ensuring the scheme feels accessible for all, while using a range of methods along the way.
I’ve also really enjoyed giving others in the team the chance to take the reins on different projects and giving them opportunities to grow, while still staying close to the work myself and being a familiar face for the client.
It’s a scheme that will hopefully have significant impact across the country and I feel really proud to have played a part in shaping its rollout.
What have you learned so far that you wish you’d known when you started your career?
I’ve always felt lucky to work in a field I genuinely enjoy and find interesting, but like any job, it has its challenges. Over time, I’ve started to put much more thought into what gives me a sense of fulfilment at work, and how I can build more of that into day-to-day projects. It came out of some of the tougher periods in my career, but it’s now something I keep in mind whatever kind of week I’m having, and it shapes how I approach my work.
What excites you most about the future of insights and what would you like to help change?
I’m really passionate about making our industry more visible and therefore more of a conscious career choice for the next generation. Considering how interesting and impactful this career is, I find it mad how many people in the industry just happen to fall into it by accident rather than actively consider it. As society shifts and AI changes how we work, it feels more important than ever to have different types of people in the industry, who bring diverse ideas and perspectives to the table. But we can’t do this unless the industry feels more visible to the next generation, and I’ve been working on a few initiatives at d+m with that ambition in mind. We’ve partnered with charities like London Youth and upReach to set up career insight days. We’ve also started to offer work experience and shadowing opportunities, and I’m really excited to keep building on this!
What advice would you give someone just starting out in the industry today?
Sometimes you’ll work on projects which feel less interesting or even outright bizarre. Stay curious and open, you’ll always learn or take something away from these projects (even if it’s just a story to tell a few years later!)
And related to that, more broadly, just try things out. You never know how your career will pan out. I’ve worked with people who have had really interesting career paths and routes through the industry. So, stay open and give everything a go.
Who has helped you along the way?
In my relatively short career so far, I’ve worked with some incredible people, many of whom have left their mark in different ways. If I had to pick one, then I’d go for my first line manager when I started out in the industry as a graduate. I’m super grateful for the support, guidance and opportunities she gave me, and for how much she helped build my confidence in my first professional role! As my own career has progressed, I’ve come to appreciate even more how well she balanced giving me genuine responsibility so early in my career with making sure I always felt supported.