our key strategists
Yola zdanowicz
Brand Builder
Yola is your go-to strategic partner because she too is a brand builder. Yola is an entrepreneur who possesses superior business, marketing and sales chops. She’s built her own company, Ensemble Strategies, as well as million dollar practices at top research firms. She focuses on what matters for your business, tells you who to target, how, and what to say.
Charismatic leader and conductor of her “Ensemble”, Yola delivers a unique masterpiece to each and every one of her clients. A masterful storyteller, she employs innovative new tools to engage both customers and convey a dynamic visual story to clients.
30 years @ Ensemble, Vision Critical, Ipsos, BBM Bureau of Measurement, Sunnybrook Health Science Centre and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Karin Weindel
Master Explorer
Seeing a marketing idea through – from germination to fruition – can be a long, multi-step process. Karin has the breadth of expertise to partner with you every step of the way. She’s a rare breed of researcher; one who has a dual personality and is as brilliant in early-stage idea generation as she is in final-stage idea refinement.
Karin is a virtuoso when it comes to turning research results into marketing strategies. What’s more is she teaches her craft to business students, inspiring future strategists in the process.
20 years @ Avcomm Consultants, Centennial College, Ipsos, PSL, Research Strategy Group (rsg) and Canada Market Research
ANDREW GRENVILLE
Data Whisperer
Data holds secrets, and Andrew knows how to make it talk. He transforms numbers into narratives and research into revelations. With three decades of experience, Andrew has mastered research—simplifying surveys, improving respondent experiences, and enhancing sample quality. He is a strategist, guiding clients to provocative new insights.
A practitioner and thought leader, Andrew has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals and books on sociology, research methods, and medicine. His expertise has been sought by The Economist.
Author of Eureka: The Science and Art of Insights and The Insights Revolution: Questioning Everything, Andrew challenges conventional wisdom, pushing the industry to think differently and act smarter. He doesn’t just analyze data—he unlocks its potential.
Jo-Anne Kirley
Emotion Archaeologist
Successful strategies hinge on connecting with your customer and differentiating your brand from the pack. Jo-Anne unearths what truly moves customers and then translates these clues into strategies that move your brand forward. She digs deep to get beyond the obvious, revealing the emotional, and uncovering breakthrough ideas.
Jo-Anne is a problem-solver through and through, whether tackling marketing issues or designing communication programs. Going that one step further – building solutions based on research – is why Jo-Anne excels as a strategist.
25 years @ Pulse Insights, The Health Initiative, Ipsos, Camelford Graham and Canada Market Research
Maryse Hudson
Couturière
In today’s ultra-competitive business environment, brands often need to tailor marketing strategies to unique target groups. Multi-pronged marketing strategies call for exploration with diverse customer groups. This is Maryse’s domain. Astute and versatile, she adapts her approach to go beyond language and address cultural differences.
As comfortable with cancer survivors as she is with oncologists, Maryse connects with customers. A leading expert in exploring sensitive issues, Maryse understands how to get to the heart of the issue while ensuring that your customer walks away feeling enriched by the experience.
25 years @ Maryse Hudon Marketing Research Services, Ipsos, Kraft Canada, Angus Reid and AgriStudies