Welcome to the third episode of The Qual Point of View, a limited podcast series featuring expert voices from the field using qualitative insights for real-time decision-making. In this episode, Ooloi Labs co-founder Yashna Jhamb speaks with Sharmila Das, Chairwoman & Founder Director at Purple Audacity Research & Innovation, about how qualitative research is evolving across sectors: from social impact space to commercial brands. Their conversation explores the shift from traditional, method-led research to a more method-neutral, insight-driven approach. Together, they discuss the growing importance of agility in research, and what it means to design research that keeps pace with an increasingly AI-driven world. Sharmila Das reflects on her experience with commercial brands, NGOs, and policy organizations to illustrate how qualitative data shapes decisions, drives innovation, and deepens understanding. This episode invites listeners to think about where qualitative data stands today, and how embracing method neutrality can expand the ways we generate insight, adapt, and stay relevant in an evolving research landscape.