In this episode of The Curiosity Current, Stephanie and Molly sit down with Charitie Dantis-Gayo, Corporate Vice President at the Center for Consumer Insights at New York Life Insurance Company, to explore how the industry can inspire and recruit the next generation of market researchers. Charitie shares a career path shaped by curiosity rather than planning, beginning in finance before discovering consumer behavior and the human side of research. Early hands-on experience showed her that insights work could be creative, practical, and closely connected to real business decisions. The conversation moves beyond personal history to a larger industry challenge. Market research remains invisible to many students and early career professionals simply because people don't see or hear about it early enough. Charitie explains why visibility matters more than credentials and why everyday conversations, mentoring, and outreach play a meaningful role in expanding the talent pipeline. She also discusses how she hires for initiative and learning agility, often preferring candidates from outside her own industry to avoid repetition and narrow thinking. As the discussion turns to technology, Charitie offers a grounded view on AI. She describes it as a useful support tool that accelerates work while emphasizing that judgment, interpretation, and empathy remain human responsibilities. The episode closes with a clear message: fieldwork, observation, and real stories continue to shape better insight and stronger influence.

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