ICN 2.0

It’s official: ICN 2.0 is here!

In filing for 501(c)(3) Status, ICN unveils a New Strategy and Governing Board to Meet Industry Urgency, featuring an All-Star Team of Leaders, including Simon Chadwick, Jamie Jurgaitis, Kahren Kersten, Kerry Hecht, and Dan Fleetwood.

By Kahren Kersten and Brian Fowler

As 2026 approaches, the ICN Leadership Team is proud to announce our official recognition as a 501(c)(3) non-profit! After nearly four years of operating entirely on volunteer power, we’re proud to step into the New Year as a formal non-profit ready to magnify our impact.

Since ICN was formed, our industry has been hit by a perfect storm. The pandemic, ongoing economic and geopolitical issues, and most recently, the eruption of AI, have radically changed the landscape, the skills we need, and the roles we now must play. It’s not only necessary to find new or refreshed relevance to businesses, but we also must take control of the narrative. And that is exactly what we intend to do with ICN 2.0. We’re bringing you a bigger, better, unified force. 

Our community in the insights field has been highly engaged and supportive from the start, and we remain committed to standing by one another through challenges and celebrating successes together. That commitment drives our intention to turn obstacles into opportunities, harness collective intelligence, and guide our community toward new possibilities. No matter your specialty or level of experience, ICN exists to provide hope, clarity, and a sustainable future for all who are part of this incredible network.

As Scott Worthge states, “In the several decades I’ve been in the industry, I’ve never encountered another resource dedicated to so selflessly and consistently assisting people in research and insights for career development and job opportunities.”

His words reflect the journey that brought us here.

So how did we get here? 

Stephen Griffiths, the original initiator of this community, had been frustrated with a lack of professional support systems while he struggled as a volunteer career coach at the University of Wisconsin during the Great Resignation. There were few options or solutions for people to go to for assistance in starting their insights careers. In late 2021, he realized that the pandemic had actually created the conditions and tools we needed to help many more people and that a group of volunteers could power a broader support system. 

At that time, we were rapidly accepting video communications in our daily lives, and a collection of grassroots volunteer-driven support initiatives had popped up to support anyone who came seeking help. 

Driven by the belief that “nets don’t have walls,” he and five co-founders – Brian Fowler, Doug Keith, Justin Hawkins, Maya Kantak and Jacci Weber – built an inclusive, volunteer-powered network to support professionals through career transitions. The group of six, comprised of four researchers from leading consumer brands and two experienced consultants, crafted a supportive community like no other, with the guidance of industry leaders and an Advisory Council. Launching their first event in April 2022, ICN quickly became known as a safe space for open dialogue, independent thought and shared experiences. 

We owe immense gratitude to our volunteers. They are truly the backbone of what has gotten us to where we are today. As Brian Fowler states, “We have had no shortage of volunteers since day one. They range from inexperienced to very experienced and incredibly well educated. They come to us looking to help others, to build their skills, to meet new people, to learn new things, and often to have a piece for their portfolio.”

Fast forward to 2025: the ICN has continued to welcome an alarming number of new members. About half have actively been looking for work, and the other half joined to be an ally to others. As such, it has become clear to us that the demand for support services and our current insights labor market conditions warrant a non-profit organization providing accessible career support.  

The ICN’s expanded team now includes 25 volunteers, a membership of over 3,200, and a LinkedIn following of nearly 30,000, with biweekly virtual meetups connecting more than 100 participants worldwide. 

Read more bout the ICN backstory

How have we prepared for this moment?

Within the last 18 months alone, we’ve engaged in thousands of conversations with insights professionals, conducted multiple market studies, hosted hundreds of meetups for candid dialogue, and carried out a member census survey to ask directly: how is ICN helping, and what more would you like to see? We’ve also leaned on the wisdom of an Advisory Council that includes representatives from many of the organizations that educate researchers and dedicated volunteers from the brand side of research. 

We have leveraged a first-class Leadership team with rich, diverse experience to shape a strategy that addresses the most pressing challenges and opportunities.

As a result, we’ve formalized our focus for 2026 and beyond, and restructured our committees to reflect the capabilities that have evolved since their creation in early 2024. We’re excited to introduce the incredible leaders who will head our core committees moving forward.

• Z Johnson: Head of Learning and Resources (joining from our Advisory Council)
• Chelsea Popejoy: Head of Events and Member Services
• Jocelyn Bayle: Head of Marketing and Impact
• Gabe McElwaine: Head of Partnerships and Industry Relations

Stepping into the role of ICN’s Executive Director is Brian Fowler, one of the original co-founders and also the main driving force behind ICN for much of its existence. Kahren Kersten, who has served in a senior leadership position alongside Brian for the last 6 months, states, “It’s a role he has more than earned, time and again, and we truly can’t imagine anyone better suited to lead ICN forward.”

We are also delighted to announce that we’ve assembled an outstanding governing board, comprised of:

• Chair: Simon Chadwick, who is not only an industry legend but also served as the inaugural Chair of the Insights Association
• Treasurer: Jamie Jurgaitis
• Secretary: Kahren Kersten
• Directors at Large:
  • Melanie Solka and Scott Worthge, who have previously been key team players as ICN committee leads
  • Michelle Auguste, who has been serving on the ICN Insights Advisory Council for two years
  • New ICN volunteer leaders Lisa Courtade, Dan Fleetwood, Kerry Hecht, and Jim Whaley
• Advisors (non-voting): Matt O’Mara, who has served on our Advisory Council since our founding, MRX Pros Co-Founder Janet Standen, and Executive Director Brian Fowler

So what do these changes allow us to do? As Melanie Solka, Director at Large, offers, “Becoming a non-profit gives ICN the structure to scale what we already do well: build community, offer support, and help people grow. It also opens the door to new partnerships, funding, and programs that make our resources more accessible and sustainable for the people who rely on us”.

Secretary, Kahren Kersten, adds, “I am amazed, but also not surprised, at how far we’ve come. The energy of this group is electric! We have so many brilliant minds and beautiful souls banding together, and now we have even more insights warriors joining us in our mission at this very important milestone… I am excited to see how far we will go!”

Where are we heading?

We are leaning into the kind of support our community needs most right now — aligning events and resources to help members explore career paths, access training and learning opportunities, connect with professionals seeking work or someone to hire, and engage in more mentorship and peer support. A big piece of this is understanding where people are coming from and helping them reposition and redirect to where the opportunities are.

As Treasurer, Jamie Jurgaitis offers, “How do we repackage your skillset and value to fit what businesses are talking about and needing today?”

At the same time, we’re focused on building a future where our community moves beyond simply surviving to truly thriving, with more opportunities to connect, learn, and lead. 

As Simon Chadwick, the incoming Chair, says, “The insights industry is changing at a pace that we have never seen before. What sufficed before in terms of education, experience, and capabilities no longer does so. Evidence shows that we need to rethink, re-educate, and re-train if all the great talent in this profession is to prosper. ICN can be the engine in this endeavor through being the source of support, knowledge, and partnership right across the industry.

Our empathy with our colleagues, whether still employed or seeking their next role, combined with our ability to provide them with real, tangible resources to grow and succeed, will lead to the revitalization of this amazing profession.”

In 2026, we’re forging strong partnerships across the industry to amplify our impact. Indeed, it’s with the collaborative support of the industry that ICN 2.0 will open the door to new possibilities. To this end, Director at Large Scott Worthge, poses some very important questions we should all be asking ourselves: 

“What if you could find talent that’s been pre-vetted by ICN? Or courses offered by experts that your employees could attend at little cost, if any? Or a community you can join with people just like you, when you yourself lose that position you’ve held for a long time, after your company changes direction? Or learn how to change lanes and become a moderator after you’ve been an analyst for years?”

Tracy Bills, a Director on our Learning and Resources team, also shares that, “Supporting ICN means investing in the well-being and future of the insights profession. Our approach is holistic: we address both the practical and emotional needs of job seekers and career-builders.”

A major way we plan to meet the practical needs of our community is to curate training and support from top practitioners. In essence, we seek to provide high-quality professional development to our community without requiring companies to create or invest in these resources on their own. By taking a collective approach, the industry can upskill faster, more efficiently, and far more cost-effectively than through isolated efforts. Industry partners will play a key role in keeping these resources accessible while benefiting from elevated exposure, brand goodwill, and access to a stronger pool of talent.

And with that, we invite you to join us! Whether it’s through giving your time, working with us to design programs for our members, donations, sponsorship, or simply showing up to support and grow with us. Together, we will take our industry to the next level.

Brian Fowler continues, “The truth is, the forces of change—from global crises to the eruption of AI—have moved us beyond a turning point. Passivity is not an option; the insights profession must urgently act to secure its future. But this is not a moment for fear—it is a moment for hope. Our greatest asset is the electric energy of this community: a unified force of brilliant minds and passionate allies.

We can, and we must, take a collective approach to reinvent our career service. We have the intelligence, the empathy, and the numbers to redefine what success looks like. The time to act is now.

Join us today: lend your time, your talent, and your resources to help us build the robust, accessible, and vital insights career service the next generation urgently needs. Together, let’s not just survive the change—let’s lead the resurgence!”

About Insights Career Network (ICN)

The Insights Career Network (ICN) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to supporting professionals in the insights, research, and analytics fields through career transitions and development. Founded in 2022 by a group of industry volunteers, ICN provides hope, clarity, and a sustainable future for its community through events, resources, and collaborative support.

This achievement and our formation story were discussed in detail on December 15th at 1 pm in a free ICN Seekers & Allies meetup. The recording and deck are now available at InsightsCareerNetwork.org/recordings.

Media Contact:

Jocelyn Bayle, Head of Marketing and Impact
Marketing@insightscareernetwork.org
Website: https://insightscareernetwork.org

Voices from the ICN Community

Thank you for your time, your insights, and the genuine care that you continue to pour into those of us navigating career transition. Your guidance doesn’t just offer direction – it restores confidence, builds community, and reminds us that none of us are doing this alone.

Thank you for creating this space and for showing up with authenticity as well as for being an ally, a mentor, and a steady source of encouragement. These are gifts you offer so naturally, and they make an enormous difference.

The impact of ICN is only possible because leaders like you – and the entire ICN team of volunteers – consistently show up, share openly, and lift others, even on days when you might need lifting.

Your generosity makes a real difference.

I wanted to quickly let you know that I found my next position…. through the ICN post you shared! I’m beyond excited to get back into the workplace! Thank you again for giving me that opportunity, and if there’s anything I can ever do to help you, please let me know!

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“Thanks for creating this network, it has truly helped me explore opportunities I wouldn’t have had seen or been aware of without this network! It has also connected me with individuals in this field, and that’s value you can’t measure.”

****** 

“I wanted to drop you a quick note to say THANK YOU for building this community called ICN.  I didn’t know what to expect from today’s meet up, but found the roundtable discussion to be incredibly insightful.  Having a forum like ICN to keep a pulse on what is happening in our industry is invaluable and I look forward to staying connected to this group – I’d like to offer my help to others as well as continue to network and share information.