It’s Good to Talk: A new MRS initiative
10 December 2025

Our first It’s Good to Talk session on 5^th November was a milestone for the Market Research Society community. It offered something rare in our professional lives: an hour to pause, connect, and simply listen.

Our pilot session ‘Balancing Work with Caring Responsibilities’ was facilitated by members of the MRS Mentor cohort, Judith Rose and Chloë Fowler, giving MRS members the opportunity to talk openly and informally. At MRS we are committed to finding new ways to connect and support our members in new and meaningful ways and we truly believe in the power of real-time, personal conversation.

As Judith beautifully put it, “It is so rare in our working lives that we get a chance to come together to share our experiences and to listen, with no agenda and no requirement to offer solutions. There is something very powerful about airing those issues that you perhaps can't discuss at work, and finding out that you are not alone. Sometimes, just taking an hour out of a busy day can feel like a balm.”

That sentiment was echoed by Chloë, who reminded us of the simple yet profound impact of listening: “What I learnt was that just like my day job, it’s not just good to talk, it’s really powerful to just simply listen.”

Judith followed up by saying “It was such a privilege to be part of the new MRS member initiative and I want to thank the people who joined the session simply for showing up, as well as for their thoughtful and heartfelt contributions, and I commend the MRS for recognising the value of an initiative like this to the wellbeing of our market research and insights community”.

These reflections underline why this initiative matters. It’s not about solving every challenge in one conversation; it’s about creating space for empathy, understanding, and shared experience.

What’s Next? Managing Menopause in the Workplace

Our next session will take place on Wednesday, 29 January, 12:30–13:30, and the topic is Managing Menopause in the Workplace. This is an important and often under-discussed subject that affects many professionals directly or indirectly. We’ll explore how organisations can foster supportive environments and practical steps to ensure wellbeing and inclusion.

MRS has recently introduced a Menopause Policy which we are happy to share, and we’ll also signpost to resources such as the BSI standard, which underpins much of our approach. These tools can help managers and teams navigate conversations with confidence and care.

Join the Conversation

If our first session taught us anything, it’s that showing up matters. Whether you have lived experience of menopause or simply want to discuss how to support colleagues better, your presence will make a difference. Together, we can continue building a culture where talking, and listening, are valued.

Book Now

Balancing Work with Caring Responsibilities supported resources:

https://www.cipd.org/uk/knowledge/guides/carer-friendly-workplace/

https://www.carersuk.org/help-and-advice/work-and-career/support-in-work/

https://carers.org/working-and-learning/how-employers-can-support-carers