Jon Cohen, From Chief Research Officer at Survey Monkey to Stealth Entrepreneur, The Importance of Polling in our World

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In this episode we’re joined by Jon Cohen. Jon is a senior technology executive, knowledge creator, and data scientist. In 2014, Jon joined Survey Monkey as its chief research officer. Prior to Survey Monkey, he was vice president of research at the Pew Research Center and led The Washington Post’s polling operation as director of polling and polling editor. In 2018 he presented his Tedx talk “Curiosity is your Superpower” with Spencer Harrison around curiosity as a key driver for success. He was later named “New-School Pollster” by the National Journal as one of “50 People Changing the Game in Washington.” He joins Ashley to talk about his background and experience in the world of polling, and why resituating our lens on polling to include people rather than just data sets is so pivotal. He discusses what goes into polling and survey language and why it has such an effect on results, why good information doesn’t always drive “good decisions”, and why polling matters for the future of the United States.

You can learn more about Jon on LinkedIn.

Links to topics mentioned by Ashley and Jon in today’s episode:

• John Cohen and Spencer Harrison’s Tedx talk “Curiosity Is Your Super Power”
• Superforecasting: The Art and Science of Prediction by Philip E. Tetlock and Dan Gardner
• Daniel Kahneman - Adversarial Collaboration
• Pivot Podcast
• Call me Back with Dan Senor
• The Ringer Podcasts
• All in Podcast
  • Episode 11
  • Episode 176

Link to the small and large Crystal Bowls, Wooden Serving Spoons and Cocktail Napkins gifted to Jon and offered by Âme Atendre.

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On the Table with Ashley is presented by Âme Atendre, a luxury home goods and tableware brand with a mission to connect people to all that matters.