No Degree Necessary: Shattering the Class Ceiling for Better Business Opportunities

Much of what we do in the research industry demands a degree. But why?

Come to our webinar where we will challenge conventional thinking and show how changing the status quo leads to better insights and business decisions.

Join the MRS Social Equity Group (SEG) for an actionable panel discussion featuring industry trailblazers. We will explore: 

• The value of non-degree hiring to unlock an untapped pool of brilliant analytical talent  
• The commercial edge of class diversity in terms of cultural context and delivering more accurate human insights
• How smaller agencies/independents can train up and include local peer researchers to lead to high impact, grassroots fieldwork
• How to futureproof in a cultural landscape where young people are turning away from degrees and looking for alternative pathways

Chaired

Zoë McQuillin 

Zoë McQuillin brings over 25 years' experience as a qualitative researcher and holds a MA Social Anthropology with a particular focus on inequality. An independent research consultant, she collaborates on projects in the private, public and third sectors, recently including Morrisons, Coca-Cola, Bodyform (as part of The Outsiders team, winners of the MRS International Research Award 2021), GambleAware, BookTrust (as part of the Untapped Innovation team, winners of the MRS/ICG Award 2023), OHID, NHS and DWP. She is a judge for the MRS EDI Changemaker of the Year Awards.

Speakers

Andy Crysell, Crowd DNA agency founder (exited)

Andy Crysell has launched, grown and sold two businesses: creative agency Ramp and cultural insights agency Crowd DNA, which reached a team of 100 across multiple cities before being acquired by the Strat7 Group.

Dividing his time between London and NYC, Andy is the author of Selling The Night: When Club Culture Meets Brands, Advertising And The Creative Industries and curator of the No Way Back publication series, resurfacing long-lost music and culture editorial. He is a non-exec for a range of businesses, sits on the advisory board of the Museum Of Youth Culture and is a trustee of 20/20 Levels, a charity supporting greater social mobility for young people from underrepresented and low-income backgrounds. He has also written about inequalities in degree-only hiring for titles including The i Paper and The New York Times.

Dr Rowena Hay, Mighty Mini Research Collective

Annie Auerbach, Starling Strategy