[Podcast] From Signal to Strategy: Cara Buscaglia on Speed, AI and Modern Social Intelligence

[Podcast] From Signal to Strategy: Cara Buscaglia on Speed, AI and Modern Social Intelligence

Jackie Cuyvers meets with Cara Buscaglia, who leads strategy and innovation at Talkwalker (now part of Hootsuite), about how social intelligence is evolving in the age of AI. From her early career in PR to shaping global insight strategies, Cara reflects on what “speed” really means today, the push to democratise social listening, and why connecting social data with business metrics is the next frontier.

Reading Culture Through Feeds: Tubular Lab's Leila Akhavan on Social Video Insights

Jackie Cuyvers sits down with Leila Akhavan, Senior Strategist at Tubular Labs, to reflect on her journey into social video intelligence – from her early days at the Ellen DeGeneres Show’s digital network to working closely with brands and platforms today. They talk about how social video data helps surface cultural shifts, shape partnerships and guide decisions, as well as the growing role of AI and why curiosity and storytelling still matter.

Beyond Metrics: Ishbel Macleod on the Questions Brands Forget to Ask

In this episode, Ishbel Macleod, Head of Research and Insights at We Are Hydrogen, shares how her curiosity led her from journalism into social intelligence. She discusses using AI to analyse large datasets, streamline tagging and uncover hidden insights – while keeping human interpretation at the core. Ishbel explains how her team turns social data into action, why authenticity and real voices build trust online and how brands can move from trendspotting to meaningful storytelling. She also reflects on the future of social listening, the rise of new platforms and offers practical advice for anyone looking to start a career in insights.

The Human Lens: Rotem Hinkis on Balancing AI and Insight

In this episode, Jackie Cuyvers speaks with Rotem Hinkis, Senior Associate Director and Business Intelligence Lead for Europe at APCO Worldwide. Rotem shares how her background in literature and teaching fuels a curiosity-driven approach to social intelligence, from tackling niche B2B topics to turning data into actionable strategies. They discuss the balance between quantitative and qualitative insight, the importance of cultural nuance and the pitfalls of chasing metrics without meaning. Rotem also offers a pragmatic take on AI’s role in research and advice on building diverse, T-shaped teams that can tell compelling, data-led stories.

Strategic Listening at Scale: Liz Gross on Higher Ed’s Social Insights Opportunity

Host Jackie Cuyvers is joined by Dr Liz Gross, founder and CEO of Campus Sonar. Liz shares her journey from campus marketing to pioneering social listening in higher education, with a mission to rebuild public trust and foster authentic relationships. She explains how her team turns real-time insights into strategic impact across enrolment, alumni engagement and crisis comms, and why the human element remains essential in an AI-driven world. Packed with advice and forward-looking trends, this episode offers a valuable perspective on the future of social intelligence in higher ed.