The altitude of leadership: Building unshakable teams in high-pressure industries with Raina Rusnak
August 12, 2025
In this insightful episode, a seasoned market research expert shares valuable perspectives on maintaining mental health in high-pressure research environments while leveraging qualitative techniques to drive meaningful insights.
In this episode of The Curiosity Current, host Stephanie speaks with Raina Rusnak, Head of Market Research and Business Intelligence at StarKist and CEO of 750 Research, about balancing professional excellence with personal wellbeing, the evolution of consumer insights, and using research methodologies to support mental health initiatives.
In this episode of The Curiosity Current, host Stephanie sits down with Raina Rusnak, Head of Market Research and Business Intelligence at StarKist and CEO of 750 Research, to explore the intersection of mental health and market research. From leveraging qualitative techniques to foster workplace resilience to transforming unemployment into opportunities for growth, Raina shares insights from her book "Sampling Life" and her experience as both a researcher and mountaineer. Whether you're navigating career transitions or leading insights teams, this conversation offers practical strategies for maintaining mental wellness in high-pressure environments while delivering impactful research. Tune in to discover how combining empathetic leadership with methodological rigor can create stronger teams and better insights.
What You’ll Learn:
- How mountaineering principles translate to professional success through teamwork, communication, and resilience
- The power of sensory research in product development and how to integrate consumer feedback into flavor creation
- Why qualitative research remains crucial for understanding deeper emotional connections between consumers and brands
- How to transform unemployment periods into opportunities for personal growth and community impact
- The "10-minute nature rule" for maintaining mental health in high-pressure work environments
- Why leading with empathy and flexibility creates stronger, more productive research teams
- How AI and automation can enhance qualitative research while maintaining the human element
- The evolution of consumer insights from traditional methods to real-time feedback loops
Episode Resources:
- Raina Rusnak on LinkedIn
- StarKist on LinkedIn
- 750 Research on LinkedIn
- StarKist Website
- 750 Research Website
- Stephanie Vance on LinkedIn
- The Curiosity Current: A Market Research Podcast on Apple Podcasts
- The Curiosity Current: A Market Research Podcast on Spotify
- The Curiosity Current: A Market Research Podcast on YouTube
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