How did you get there? Debrah Harding

We sat down with the Managing Director of the MRS (Market Research Society), Debrah Harding, who is one of the country’s leading experts on market and social research, data privacy, GDPR and data standards. Debrah frequently speaks, consults, presents, trains and offers technical guidance on key data-related issues – data privacy, GDPR, data protection – to market & social research and business professionals, companies and public bodies in the UK, Europe and globally. Debrah continues to lead the Society’s standards, policy and public affairs activities. She has worked extensively with government departments and European institutions on all issues that impact on market and social research. This includes acting as MRS policy lead for research procurement solutions for the UK public sector.

And if that wasn’t enough, Debrah is also the co-author of the business book ‘Quality In Market Research – From Theory To Practice’.

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

When I graduated from university in 1991, the UK was in the midst of a recession, and job opportunities were scarce. The university career’s department offered me three main paths: teaching, nursing, or accountancy. Nursing was out of the question due to my aversion to blood, and at just five feet tall, I felt at a disadvantage for teaching. So, I chose accountancy.

I trained as an auditor in London and, though I quickly realised it wasn’t my true calling, the knowledge and skills I gained during those two years have been invaluable throughout my career. I transitioned from accountancy to publishing, spending five years at the Audit Bureau of Circulation (ABC), where I worked on monitoring and developing standards for B2B print publications and exhibitions.

An opportunity arose to establish the Standards department at the Market Research Society (MRS). Until then, all standards activities had been managed by volunteers with support from the Director General. My role was to create a leading, authoritative standards function. Shortly after joining, my responsibilities expanded to include policy and public affairs. I haven’t looked back since!

I have been the Managing Director of MRS since 2015, having previously served as Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Director General. I’m proud to say that MRS now boasts one of the leading standards and policy functions of any research association worldwide. We not only represent the UK but also provide external standards and policy consultancy services to fellow associations, EFAMRO and EPHMRA.

Why should anyone consider a career in market research, data and insights?

Research, data, and insight are at the heart of life! Research is all about understanding the people who shape businesses and society. If you’re curious about what makes people tick, a career in research is perfect. The UK research sector is also one of the leading ResTech environments, which means that practitioners have access to the latest technological developments and research techniques enabling them to be well equipped for the technological advances changing how organisations do business.

Career paths are rarely without challenges. Can you share an honest moment from your career when things didn’t go quite according to plan, but the lessons remain with you to this day?

This is less about things not going to plan and more about a really challenging time for me. While working at ABC, I went undercover for the Independent Commission Against Corruption in Hong Kong to gather evidence of circulation fraud by a leading Hong Kong newspaper. By day, I was conducting the ABC audit of the newspaper, and by night, I was working on the evidence for the fraud case. This was personally very challenging – continuing to work with people I had known for a number of years while investigating them and knowing they were doing wrong and would be arrested for fraud.

This experience taught me the importance of integrity and resilience. It was a tough period, but it reinforced my belief in doing the right thing, no matter how difficult it may be. It also showed me the value of perseverance and the strength that comes from facing challenges head-on. These lessons have stayed with me throughout my career, guiding me in all my decisions and actions.

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

The two things I believe most in are continuously striving for new knowledge and serendipity. I agree with Benjamin Franklin that “an investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” Always take every opportunity to expand your knowledge, learn from others, be curious and open to new things.

I also believe in creating your own chances, and serendipity has been a constant in my career. My first graduate job came about by chance. I had met a recruiter representing medium-sized accountancy businesses at a university careers event; nothing came of this, and I forgot all about it. Months later, while still looking for a graduate role, I bumped into the recruiter at a graduate job fair. He remembered me, said he had a role that might be good for me, and two weeks later, I had the job. Similarly, when I was working at the accountancy firm I worked on a publishing audit and one of its clients – MRS. Months later, an opportunity to apply for the MRS standards role came up. Whatever you are doing, whoever you meet along the way, even if you think it might have little scope for opportunity, keep an open mind and make connections – you never know what might come from it.

Do you have any advice for our sector?

Be brave, be ambitious, but remain ethical.  The UK sector has flourished by being curious and innovative whilst having the MRS Code of Conduct – ultimately quality, ethics and integrity – at the heart of its research.  With the new opportunities provided by AI, synthetic data and technology we should continue to grasp evolving opportunities, but retaining our ethical approach has to be non-negotiable if we’re to maintain the respect for and impact of our work.

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?

There are so many people that I need to acknowledge!  Richard Foan (ABC) for offering me the opportunity to move into publishing and have five fabulous years as part of the ABC team. David Barr, the MRS’ former Director General, saw my potential and encouraged me to move from being solely a specialist to consider wider leadership opportunities. Jane Frost, CBE, MRS’ current CEO, for her creativity and inspiring female leadership.  My parents, who taught me my work ethic and lastly my partner, Aled, without whom I could never have achieved half of what I have. Aled has been my best friend and best advisor, and I have been very lucky to have him by my side for the last 30 years.