When local innovation meets global recognition, the moment feels bigger than an award, it becomes a story about what’s possible. This week, Kagiso Media Radio’s Research Manager, Melissa Mc Nally, joined an elite group of thinkers and innovators from over 60 countries as a recipient of the 2025 Insight250 Global Innovator & Leadership Award, a distinction that celebrates trailblazers shaping the future of research, data, and evidence-based storytelling.
At Kagiso Media Radio, home to brands such as Jacaranda FM, East Coast Radio, Time Out South Africa, and Vouch, Melissa has been a driving force behind a new era of audio and neuro-research innovation. Her work with SoundInsights, the group’s research division, has introduced next-generation approaches to testing sonic identities and measuring emotional engagement, offering advertisers and creators a deeper understanding of how audiences truly feel and connect.
“This award reflects not just my journey, but the entire team’s commitment to push research boundaries and reimagine what’s possible in audio research,” says Mc Nally.
It’s a reflection that captures both humility and bold vision, qualities that have made her a standout in South Africa’s evolving media landscape.
The Insight250 Awards, now in their fifth year, are often described as the “who’s who” of global insight leadership, recognising thinkers who are transforming how the world understands audiences and human behaviour. For Kagiso Media Radio, Melissa’s recognition underscores a deep organisational commitment to placing listeners and communities at the heart of every strategy, story, and soundwave.
Nick Grubb, CEO of Kagiso Media Radio, describes the win as both a validation and an inspiration:
“This is a phenomenal achievement for Melissa. Her innovative spirit and focus on listener-centric research define the kind of pioneering energy we stand for at Kagiso Media Radio.”
With the growth of AI, Mc Nally’s recognition is a reminder that behind every metric lies a human moment, a heartbeat, a feeling, a song that lingers. Through her work, she continues to show how insight-led creativity can bridge the distance between brand and listener, fact and feeling.
And for South Africa’s growing community of media innovators, Melissa’s achievement is a mirror reflecting what happens when research becomes art, and curiosity becomes leadership.
