Colleen Learch, President
Colleen Learch leads KRC Research as its President, and guides strategic decision-making for a diverse group of clients in corporate, non-profit, global development and public affairs sectors.
With over twenty years experience in survey research, Colleen has particular expertise designing custom research studies that address organizational missions, core business objectives and audience engagement needs. Her research spans over 30 countries and countless audiences, including C-level executives, KOLs, medical professionals, lawmakers and policy influencers.
In addition to having extensive experience in survey mechanics, Colleen is also a frequent spokesperson on real-world implications that come from audience research. She has advised members of the international development community, including the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, United Nations Development Program and Capital Development Fund, USAID, World Bank and Consultative Group to Assist the Poor, Grameen Foundation, and Women’s World Banking on methods for advancing financial inclusion as well as improving people’s lives.
Colleen has led several “first of it’s kind” research studies over the course of her career, including an in-depth exploration of financial practices and needs of populations in Sub-Sahara Africa and South-East Asia. The work informed public and private sector initiatives to build financial inclusion overall, and specifically to improve the rate at which women gained access to financial services. She also led the Institute for Public Relation’s benchmark study on internal communications and co-authored “Through the Lens of 10 Global Leaders” and “What Does Good Look Like?” This work informed best practices for internal communicators.
Earlier in her career, Colleen led the research programs on donor engagement and online giving, including “The Wired Wealthy,” “The Next Generation of American Giving” and “Integrated Multi-Channel Marketing.” These nationally recognized studies helped advance the way nonprofit organizations communicate, cultivate and attract donors.
Colleen has a Masters in Political Science with a concentration in Survey Research from the University of Connecticut, and a B.A. from Marist College. She is also a professionally trained meeting facilitator and qualitative research moderator, and has served as an adjunct professor at Georgetown University and York College.
