Why Survey Data Still Powers the World’s Biggest Decisions with Michael Ramlet of Morning Consult

Data Gurus Podcast | Insights on Business Strategy, Mergers and Acquisitions, Market Research & Data Collection

On this episode, host Sima Vasa talks to Michael Ramlet, Co-Founder and CEO of Morning Consult. Michael shares how Morning Consult has scaled from a startup with a newsletter to a global leader in delivering real-time consumer insights used by central banks, hedge funds and Fortune 500 companies. He explains why owning the supply chain for data collection is critical to quality, how the industry must embrace cultural change, and the importance of connecting insights to financial outcomes.

Key Takeaways:

(03:31) Real-time data is essential for informing business decisions at the highest levels.
(05:53) Controlling the supply chain of data collection leads to better quality and cost efficiencies.
(10:42) Ownership of quality requires end-to-end accountability, not reliance on third parties.
(14:04) Insights functions must connect their work directly to financial outcomes to stay relevant.
(19:44) AI can democratize access to structured data, making insights more actionable across organizations.
(21:29) The role of insights teams is evolving — those who don’t adapt risk becoming obsolete.
(25:32) Finance teams are emerging as key users of insights data alongside marketing and strategy.
(30:32) Aligning company culture around intensity and accountability is key to sustaining growth in a fast-changing industry.

Resources Mentioned:

Morning Consult | Website

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