DEI Matters: Insights Association North Atlantic Chapter

In this episode of DEI Matters, we are honored to welcome Pamela Forbus, former Chief Marketing Officer at Pernod Ricard USA. Pamela leads the charge in marketing and innovation for a portfolio of premium spirits, wine, and champagne brands, combining the power of data, insights, and creative storytelling to drive business growth.

With a wealth of experience from industry giants like Disney, PepsiCo, and Frito-Lay, Pamela shares her journey of dynamic leadership and strategic innovation. Recognized with prestigious honors such as Forbes CMO Next and the MASB Trailblazer Award, she offers an inspiring perspective on the role of insights in shaping impactful campaigns and fostering inclusivity within organizations.

Join us as Pamela delves into her career highlights, lessons learned, and how a commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion can drive both brand success and meaningful change. Whether you’re a marketing enthusiast or a DEI advocate, this conversation promises actionable insights and inspiration.

March 20, 2024 

Creators and Guests

Host
Amy Santopietro
Amy Santopietro serves as the Director of Consumer Insights and Market Research at Mass General Brigham, where she is passionate about the organization’s mission of ensuring equitable care for all. In this role, she oversees patient and consumer research across marketing, patient experience, and digital, among other areas. Prior to working at Mass General Brigham, Amy spent six years at TJX where she supported consumer insights for HomeGoods, worked on the launch of Homesense in the US, and later led both store and digital customer experience across all five US brands. Amy began her career in market research accidentally, when it was a small part of her first role out of college as a media planner. She soon realized she much preferred consumer insights to media planning as she was fascinated by understanding consumer motivations and behavior. Since her early days in the media agency world, Amy has worked across a number of industries including pharma, food and beverage, retail, and now healthcare. Amy is also the current Director of Memberships for the Insights Association North Atlantic chapter. This is an all-volunteer based non-profit that is dedicated to furthering both insights and insights professionals across the New England region. This is Amy’s second year volunteering with the chapter. She also sits on the IDEA Council board, which is a subset of the national Insights Association and was created to promote ongoing inclusion, equity, and access in market research for both respondents and researchers. When she’s not working, you can find Amy hanging out with her two small children, running, or cheering on the Boston Red Sox.
Host
Christelle Kamaliza
Christelle Kamaliza is a Senior Manager of Qualitative Insights & Strategy Operations at Chadwick Martin Bailey in Boston. With over eight years of expertise in market research, she specializes in leveraging consumer psychology to tackle complex business challenges and craft transformative strategies for clients across a range of industries. A passionate advocate for inclusivity, Christelle is dedicated to amplifying minority voices in research, spearheading DE&I initiatives at CMB, and fostering a sense of belonging for other professionals both within the industry and beyond. Outside the office, she’s a proud mom to two lively boys and a devoted Bikram yoga enthusiast, always striving to cultivate balance—both in her personal life and on the mat
Host
Melissa Barrios
Melissa Barrios brings over 25 years of experience in the market research industry, having begun her career at Dynata and now serving as Director of Client Development at InnovateMR. Over the years, she has honed her expertise across a wide array of market research disciplines, including phone and online sampling, full-service project management, survey design, data analysis, reporting, sales support, and bidding. Melissa’s strategic insights and leadership have played a pivotal role in delivering innovative, high-quality research solutions to clients on a global scale. Beyond her professional achievements, Melissa is deeply committed to driving positive change in the industry. She serves on the board of the Insights Association North Atlantic Chapter as the Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, where she leads initiatives that promote inclusivity and equitable opportunities for all. Her work exemplifies her dedication to fostering a collaborative and diverse research community.
Producer
Joe Lamson
Currently responsible for leading the Forsta existing strategic client growth in North America. Prior career positions included leadership and individual contributor roles in Business Development as well as operations at Kantar(GMI/Lightspeed) as well as Harris Interactive. Expertise in Software sales/deployment/management as well as operation execution in the research and experience industry.
Producer
Marissa Fohlin
Marissa has been working in market research since 2012, and her passion for the industry drives a continuous focus on improvement and delivering outstanding results on every project she supports. She specializes in managing complex research projects, fostering strong vendor relationships, and strategic client management. With extensive experience in both quantitative and qualitative research, Marissa ensures that every project—from initial design to final analysis—meets the highest standards. Since 2018, Marissa has served as the Communications Director for the Insights Association North Atlantic Chapter, contributing to the community that has played a significant role in her career. Marissa is also honored and excited to be involved with the DEI Matters podcast, where topics of diversity, equity, and inclusion within the insights field are explored, fostering impactful and thought-provoking discussions.
Producer
Rich Ratcliff
Rich Ratcliff is the Chief Trust Officer (CTrO) at OpinionRoute, driving data quality, transparency, and trust in the research process. With over 30 years in the Insights Industry, Rich is a hands-on leader who transforms ideas into value and profits. His expertise spans business intelligence, product development, team leadership, and financial strategy. Before OpinionRoute, he held key roles at The NPD Group, TNS, GfK, and successfully transitioned Carbonview Research into EnsembleIQ's research division.
Editor
Veeraj Keshwala

What is DEI Matters: Insights Association North Atlantic Chapter?

Welcome to DEI Matters, the new podcast from the Insights Association North Atlantic Chapter! In this introductory episode, you'll meet our hosts and discover what Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion mean to them personally. We'll explore why DEI is not just important on an individual level, but also crucial for the insights community as a whole. Join us on this journey to understand how embracing DEI can enhance our work and drive impactful change.