Ankesh Saxena: The Business Of Understanding People | Ep #45

In this episode of The Exponential Show, host Mayank Singh sits down with Ankesh Saxena for a conversation on market research, consumer insights, AI, storytelling, community, and how the insights industry is evolving.Ankesh brings over 25 years of experience in understanding people, markets, and decision-making. His work sits at the intersection of research, business, AI, and conversations that help shape better decisions.In this conversation, Ankesh shares his journey in market research, the major shifts he has seen across the industry, how AI tools are changing the way we study audiences, and why storytelling and community continue to matter in making insights more useful. The episode also touches on his work with The Collaborative Canvas and The Leader’s Canvas, his observations on Thailand and Southeast Asia’s market research landscape, and what he is building next.This episode was shot at True Digital Park, Thailand’s most comprehensive landing spot for international businesses and individuals.Chapters00:00 - Introduction02:25 - Ankesh’s origin story and career milestones in market research14:08 - How the market research industry is evolving19:48 - Balancing AI tools with human understanding27:48 - The role of storytelling and community in shaping better insights38:03 - Ankesh's experience at the The 2026 Asia Pacific Conference47:45 - Thailand and Southeast Asia’s market research landscape52:04 - What’s next for AnkeshIf you’re interested in market research, consumer insights, AI, storytelling, or the future of decision-making, this conversation offers a thoughtful look at where the industry is heading next.#TheExponentialShow #MarketResearch #ConsumerInsights #AI #Storytelling #SoutheastAsia #TrueDigitalPark