explore our multi-faceted team<

Leadership

Directors & Associate Directors

Team Members

Academic Experience

CUNY
Ph.D. candidate, Developmental Psychology

Wesleyan University
BA, Philosophy and Government

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Stacey MatthiasCo-CEO

Having grown up largely in the back of a VW van, Stacey’s intuitive understanding of how different people think and live was ingrained at an early age. A human developmental expert by training, Stacey’s specialty is in uncovering what motivates people to change, a skill that she has leveraged in countless studies on fast-moving targets, like fashionistas, culture vultures, media junkies, techies, and trend-conscious youth. Her approach is energetic, honest, and thorough.

As the head of Insight Kids, Stacey enjoys an unmatched reputation in the children’s space for her inspired ability to spark insights from kids of all ages and turn those insights into actionable and impactful recommendations for clients. Her work with kids, parents, and educators helps to inform development of TV shows, toys, websites, software, games, movies, and experiences of all kinds.

An adroit communicator, Stacey ensures that clients achieve their research objectives, using hands-on immersion to help them implement study results and see the range of possibilities of how to move forward. She is a master in helping others brainstorm and focus, drawing on years of experience developing methods and techniques that both engage and inspire.

Stacey launched Insight Research Group with Boaz Mourad in 1998, after several years at Sachs Insights and ARC, and also stints as a Head Start classroom teacher and an educational software developer for HyperStudio, one of the first producers of multimedia software for kids. When not working, she unwinds through yoga and meditation. Stacey and Boaz live in lower Manhattan with their two daughters.

 

Academic Experience

Princeton University
Ph.D., Psychology of Decision Making

NYU
Professor of Psychology

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Boaz MouradCo-CEO

As a Ph.D. in the Psychology of Decision Making, the truth is complex for Boaz, who rarely stops at face value and revels in uncovering the underlying psychological and social factors that impact people's choices. The spark that motivates Boaz to peer into the depths of people’s psyches was ignited early on, while growing up on four continents. Always starting as a cultural outsider working his way in, Boaz became keenly aware of the ways in which different cultures and people process information and respond to given circumstances.

Boaz brings a unique perspective to the field of brand strategy by straddling both the business and academic realms; he uses his academic training to provide clients with real world solutions that can be implemented and are measurably impactful. He began his career at various applied research firms, then founded at his own brand-focused research firm, Heuristics Research, before joining forces with Stacey Matthias at Insight in 1999.

As Insight’s anchor, Boaz grounds the research team’s creative energies in solid social science. A trusted, goal-oriented straight-shooter, he infuses qualitative spirit into quantitative studies to capture the depth of people’s deep and complex relationships with brands. He thrives at helping clients get to the truth and figure out what to do with it.

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The Pennsylvania State University School of Marketing

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Perry BaldwinChief Possibility Officer

 

The first thing you recognize in Perry is passion. He is passionate about big ideas, passionate about building brands, businesses and people, and he passionately enjoys what he does – at work and play. He believes that if you don’t learn something new every day then it is a wasted day – He never wastes days!

As a senior member of Insight’s Leadership Team, Perry is responsible for articulating both the company’s external and internal strategic visions. Externally, he oversees client relationships and Insight’s brand identity and marketing initiatives. Within the company, he spearheads employee development, builds culture and optimizes Insight’s structural efficiencies. 

Prior to Insight, Perry as EVP, Chief Strategic Officer/Chief Operating Officer at Doe-Anderson Advertising, the fourth oldest advertising agency in America. He spent the last twenty years working in both Account Management and Strategic Planning roles in world-class advertising agencies like McCann-Erickson, Lowe & Partners, Foote Cone Belding and J Walter Thompson. He also co-founded two successful strategic and creative services companies; Branding Iron and Consumer Studio, with JJ Jordan, the former Creative Director of J Walter Thompson, NY.

Academic Experience

SUNY Oneonta
BS, Business Economics

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Catherine GanleyChief Operating Officer

Academic Experience

Wesleyan University
BA, Film Studies

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Sarah ChumskyVP, Insight Kids

As Vice President of Insight Kids, Sarah channels the team’s collective passion for inspiring the development and growth of initiatives and products aimed at youth and families. Her expertise in the kids’ realm infuses all that she does, from innovating study designs that engage kids to communicating age-appropriate solutions to clients, and writing the Insight Kids blog. She has developed ongoing relationships with wonderful clients like Nickelodeon, Crayola, Hasbro, Common Sense Media, Classic Media, and Chorion Silver Lining. As a youth culture enthusiast, she’s fluent in Potato Head, Pee-Wee, and Pig Latin.

Prior to Insight Sarah worked in development and production for educational children's media and documentary films. Clients included Sesame Workshop, Nickelodeon, HBO, and PBS. Her favorite stint before Insight was at Blue's Clues, where she adapted the brand for international markets.

Academic Experience

Lehigh University
BA, Journalism and Women’s Studies

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Jen DrexlerVice President

Jen brings her straight shooting style, her uncanny knack for trend spotting and her strategic thinking to Insight as an authority on why women do what they do and what it means for marketers.  Jen is sought after for her non-traditional qualitative research approaches and her expertise on gender roles and drivers. 

Previously she was the co-founder of Just Ask a Woman and co-authored "What She's Not Telling You: Why Women Hide the Whole Truth and What Marketers Can Do About It." (2010). Earlier in her career she worked as a futurist for Faith Popcorn’s BrainReserve and in public relations.

Academic Experience

University of Virginia
MBA, Darden Graduate School of Business

Duke University
BA, Sociology

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James StreitDirector

James is a brand strategist with a talent for linking emotional truths to economic ROI – the ultimate business yin yang. His category experience is varied and deep, including media, packaged goods, new product development, healthcare, financial services, apparel, technology, luxury goods, and alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.

James joined Insight after serving as Director of Strategic Planning for ML Rogers, and before that as Brand Planning Director for Avrett Free & Ginsberg. Past clients include Nestle, Bacardi, Scotts Miracle-Gro, and Checkers/Rally’s QSR chain.

Academic Experience

Muhlenberg College
BA, English Literature and Studio Arts

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Sarah McLoughlinAssociate Director

Sarah is known for her friendly, disarming demeanor, which helps her excel in communicating with people – both respondents and clients. She’s particularly well-versed in qualitative research approaches, having designed, moderated, and analyzed numerous studies for a wide range of clients. Sarah strives to bring the consumer to life and illuminate how clients can align their offerings with what consumers want. 

A creative thinker, Sarah enjoys leveraging her problem-solving savvy on both macro and micro levels, ranging from brand strategy findings and implications to explorations around tactical brand pillars or programming considerations. Her favorite projects tend to involve gender studies, fashion, and media, for clients like MTV, Payless, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, and New York & Company.

Academic Experience

Judge Baker Children’s Center, Harvard Medical School
Postdoctoral Fellow

University of Southern California
MA, PhD

Harvard University
BA

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Alisha AlleyneAssociate Director

Alisha comes to Insight with an extensive background in child- and family-oriented psychology. She acquired substantial experience in program evaluation, counseling, and community-based research methodology as a graduate student of clinical psychology. As a postdoctoral fellow, she served as a project director for a multi-state study focused on identifying best treatment practices for children experiencing substantial psychological distress. Her expertise includes quantitative and qualitative research strategies targeting underserved and culturally underrepresented populations.

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Mia ScelsiAssociate Director, Operations

Coming Soon!

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Betsy GrimesAssociate Director

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Karen Stasiak

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Ally Aleman

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Karen Leavitt

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Andi Glick

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Nina Moffitt

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Annie Sklaver

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Philip Underwood

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Eyslyn Hunte

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Slaine Jenkins

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Nathan Cooper

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Christina Zagarino

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Tiffany Aguilar

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Peter Marton

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Mimi Nguyen

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Amalia Branaa

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Jillian Rodriguez

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Hannah Ostroff