In this episode of The Curiosity Current, Stephanie and Molly sit down with Ed Kahn, Senior Principal of CX Research and Insights at Mutual of America Financial Group, to unpack one of the most common frustrations in the research world: the feeling of not having a seat at the table. Ed’s career spans more than two decades across consumer electronics, syndicated research, and financial services, with leadership roles at Samsung, Sony, MetLife, Citi, and now Mutual of America. With a foundation in anthropology and psychology and an MBA in finance and international business, Ed brings a rare blend of human understanding and business fluency to his work. Ed challenges the idea that access alone is what researchers lack. Instead, he argues that influence grows when researchers deeply understand how the business makes money, where risk truly sits, and which decisions matter now versus later. He shares real examples of pushing back on low-value research requests, reframing conversations around scale and impact, and knowing when an interesting insight belongs in tomorrow’s discussion rather than today’s decision. Ed also explores the discipline of relevance, the importance of being transparent about confidence and limitations, and why overselling research can quietly erode trust. He reflects on working in highly regulated financial services environments, where downstream consequences sharpen a researcher’s sense of responsibility and influence. The takeaway from this conversation is that earning influence often starts with a conversation, not a deliverable. By showing curiosity about colleagues’ roles, risks, and pressures, researchers build the context that allows their work to shape decisions long before a study is launched.

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