Consumer Inspiration
through Qualitative Research
We are a team of Senior Researchers, with years of experience across a wide array of categories.
We match the right specialist with the right projects and always with one point of contact – soup to nuts.
Lisa Elder
Founder & CEO
Lisa hails from Ogilvy & Mather Advertising in Toronto, where she rose to Managing Partner: Head of Account Service & Consumer Insight. She was instrumental in rolling-out “Brand” management across Ogilvy and led the Agency’s training programs. She created the in-house Consumer Inspiration Centre, with Ogilvy arguably being the first Agency to engineer consumer input into its creative development process.
After 17 years at Ogilvy, bitten by the consumer bug, Lisa founded heads up: Inspiration from Information®, building it into a small collaborative team of passionate professionals.
A self-described “wolf in sheep’s clothing”, Lisa combines a powerful strategic acumen with a gentle consumer approach. Her passion for information translating into action has resulted in training workshops, speeches and articles.
Lisa often has marker-in-hand to facilitate clients to an agreed path going forward. And she loves to speak and train on the Power Of A Good Question™ and how it can change brands, and lives.
Meghan Nameth
President & COO
Meghan Nameth joined the Heads Up team in 2023 bringing over 25 years of experience in senior leadership roles in Canada and the US, from leading organizations such as Procter & Gamble, Mars Inc., TD Bank, PwC, Hudson’s Bay Company, and Loblaw Companies Ltd. Her connections to Heads Up run deep, having been a former client for over 10 years and she often says the team has been her secret weapon for unlocking sticky consumer or brand challenges. Meghan is known for her unique breadth of category experiences from lipstick to chocolate, dog kibble to insurance, and bank accounts to department stores; she has touched brands and products known and loved by many. She has a deep passion for people development and believes in helping teams build a stronger capacity for connecting consumer insight to value creation.
As leader of our Team Inspiration practice, Meghan helps organizations bring insight into realization, and create innovation and change strategies that have the consumer at the centre. She is a sought-after speaker and coach on such topics as career development, marketing transformation, and leadership. When she is not diving deep into business and brand challenges, Meghan is busily Ubering 4 teenagers to various hockey and swimming events, indulging in her passion for interior design, and finding time to fit in the occasional game of golf.
Leanne James
VP - Research & Operations
Leanne has worked on many high profile Canadian and International brands in a broad range of categories, including consumer packaged goods, health & wellness, and financial services. Her core competencies encompass client service and project management, brand strategy and consumer insight.
Leanne started her career in Sports Marketing at IMG, travelling around the country on the Stars on Ice tour. From there, she moved into the world of advertising, working for nine years with FCB. In this role, Leanne worked on the IBM account in direct marketing and subsequently on brand and retail for Nabisco and TD Canada Trust as an Account Director.
For the last 19 years, Leanne has been an integral part of the heads up team, with a particular talent for helping create systems that support and foster new research innovations.
Leanne is married with four children. Spare time is dedicated to wellness and sport. Leanne is a former Over 35 Canadian National tennis champion and fulfilled a lifetime goal by playing for Team Canada at the World Championships.
Gagan Sharma
VP Research & Planning
Gagan is part of the heads up: Inspiration from Information®team in Western Canada. She moved to Calgary from Toronto twelve years ago. After obtaining her Master's Degree from the University of Toronto, Gagan began her career in market research, joining EKOS as part of the Public Affairs group.
Following EKOS, she join Cundari, eventually helping lead the consumer research for the Agency. She joined the heads up group eight years ago. Over the years, Gagan has done work across almost every industry with particular focus on Retail, Financial Services, CPG, Energy Services, Telecommunications, Education, Healthcare, Utilities, and Charities.
With over 20 years experience, Gagan brings a unique blend of qualitative and quantitative research experience to help find hidden answers and uncover ‘human truths’. Watching clients have an “ah ha” moment is one of her favourite parts of the job. She prides herself on exceeding client expectations. Even on those sticky projects, you'll always find a smile on Gagan's face as she looks for any excuse to laugh and have fun.Her joy of research can be traced back to childhood where her mother will say that Gagan – much to everyone’s amusement – was constantly questioning the motivations and actions of everyone around her.
Outside of work, you’ll find Gagan in the gorgeous Rocky Mountains hiking, skiing, biking & relaxing with her husband, daughter and puppy.
Pat Elder
CFO
Pat spent his first career selling millions and millions of boxes to manufactures in southern Ontario. A true testament to his selling abilities…all of them were empty. Pat’s second career is working ‘behind the scenes’ at heads up. He manages the Company’s finances and ensures day-to-day operations run smoothly. He interacts with clients and suppliers through managing contracts and invoicing, as well as helping the team prep for any of their unique project sessions.
Pat chases his passion on the golf course. The sport, the camaraderie, the fresh air, and the perception he is still improving are what drives this passion. And early mornings on the dock and all things ‘cottage’ make him very happy.
Pat considers his family to be his crowning achievement – a father of two wonderful girls and a thriving 35+ year marriage to Lisa.