Data-Driven Strategist
Bio
Zoe Dowling is the Principal Researcher for the Customer Experience, Insights & Strategy (CEIS) team within the C+AI CXP division where she is responsible for the Azure CSAT research that delivers customer and competitor insights to 22 product & service areas to aid Semester Planning.
Zoe's passion for brands, technology, and culture is underpinned by her academic research roots and carried through her roles in consumer insights, internal innovation, and B2B marketing. In each of these capacities, she’s applied thought-leadership and creative problem-solving combined with a collaborative, results-driven approach.
Zoe recently authored the new MRII University of Georgia online course, Emerging Methods and the Future of Market Research, and serves on the MRII Board of Directors. She is a regular speaker at webinars and industry conferences including ESOMAR, IIeX, NEXT Insights, and Quirks on topics relating to customer experience, marketing, trends, and storytelling.
Prior to joining Microsoft, Zoe held senior leadership roles at FocusVision (now Forsta) and Kantar. She holds a research Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Surrey, England.
Experience
2021 - current
Principal Program Manager, Microsoft C+AI CXP
Principal Researcher for the Customer Insights & Strategy team within C+AI CXP division, overseeing the Azure CSAT research delivering customer and competitor insights to 22 product & service areas, driving best practices, storytelling, and enhanced stakeholder relationships.
2018 - 2021
SVP Research, Marketing, FocusVision (Forsta)
Storyteller of FocusVision’s portfolio, providing significant internal and external insights-driven thought leadership and best practice education to create a cohesive messaging strategy across all solutions for all audiences.
2015 - 2018
Lead Research Strategist, Marketing, FocusVision (Forsta)
Dual role of principal research consultant and interim Head of Global Marketing with the goal of building awareness of FocusVision’s full-spectrum research technology solutions.
2015 - 2016
SVP Global Mobile Capibility Lead, Kantar Added Value
Transform Kantar Added Value’s approach to data collection by leading the shift to mobile, driving awareness and best practices for mobile research.
2009 - 2015
VP R&D & Offer Innovation, Added Value North America
Drive R&D and Offer Innovation initiatives for Added Value North America and the wider Group.
2007 - 2009
Sr. Project Director, Added Value
Advertising communications testing for several large and small brands, including Nissan, Infiniti, Choice Hotels and Olive Garden.
2005 - 2005
Overseas Research Fellow, Establishment Survey Methods Staff, US Census Bureau
Contribute to the Census Bureau’s overall understanding of Web data collection and provide recommendations regarding the usability of their Web data collection application.
2002 - 2005
Associate Lecturer, Dept of Sociology, University of Surrey, Guilford
2001 - 2002
Research Assistant, Dept. Applied Psycho-Social Science, School of Nursing, City University, London
2000 - 2001
Research Assistant, Centre for Research on Evaluation, Science and Technology (CREST), University of Stellenbosch, South Africa
Education
Ph.D. University of Surrey, England
Web Data Collection for Mandatory Business Surveys: an exploration of new technology and expectations.
Research doctorate undertaken in conjunction with the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and full UK ESRC scholarship recipient. Results and recommendations influenced ONS policy decisions on Web data collection. Download thesis.
Summer Doctoral Programme, Oxford Internet Institute (OII), Oxford University, England
The annual Summer Doctoral Programme (SDP) brings together outstanding doctoral students from around the world for a fortnight of study at the world-leading University of Oxford. The programme is structured around daily lectures, seminars and tutorials with leading academics in the field of Internet Studies, and provides an academic framework in which to share and discuss students’ current research.
M-Phil (cum laude), University of Stellenbosch, South Africa
Research Methodology course work combined with a full dissertation exploring the young internet as a research tool: Research, Methodology, & the Internet: a review of the Internet as a data capturing tool. Read abstract.
BA (Honours), Sociology & Social Policy, University of Stirling, Scotland
Undergraduate degree in Sociology & Social Policy. Final year dissertation: It's part and parcel of student life: Student Subculture and Smoking.