5 Min Read
Webinars Worth Your Time: From Inheritance to Influence
This October, The Harris Poll and Stagwell are presenting two insight-packed sessions on the forces shaping consumer behavior and brand risk. Learn more below and register for new data, expert voices, and strategic takeaways.
The Great Wealth Transfer: How Inheritance Is Changing Behavior
Oct 7, 2025 | 1:00 PM ET
Inside Disruptive Media: Lessons From Publishing’s Cutting Edge
Oct 10, 2025 | 12:00 PM ET
The Visual Economy: How Design Drives Growth in the AI Era
Companies spend $143 billion a year on visual content, yet many still rely on outdated, text-first workflows that slow teams down and weaken impact. In a joint study with Canva, The Harris Poll explored the cost of poor visual communication and the competitive advantage of getting it right.
High-quality visuals encode in memory 74% faster and spark 26% more emotional intensity. Still, most creative teams juggle eight tools to execute visual work, often through risky workarounds.
Visual fluency is essential for modern teams:
- 84% of leaders say poor visuals cause confusion and delays.
- 88% believe visual fluency is a leadership skill.
- 90% of Gen Z say they do their best work visually.
- 87% believe creativity will depend on humans + AI.
- 60% rank AI fluency as a top 2025 priority.
Takeaway: Visual communication is now a business imperative. Companies that lead with design will move faster, connect deeper, and thrive in an AI-powered economy.
The State of Maternal Health: Gaps in Care, Education, and Support
The Harris Poll’s third annual State of Maternal Health report reveals that U.S. mothers continue to face critical shortfalls in care, education, and postpartum support. Disparities across age, race, and provider type persist, and mental health needs remain largely unmet.
While most women receive prenatal care, many feel unprepared for labor and unsupported after birth. Postpartum checkups often end after six weeks, and maternity leave policies continue to lag global standards.
Key findings from this year’s report include:
- Younger patients report lower care quality and access.
- Racial and ethnic gaps persist in education and decision-making.
- Women with midwives often receive more proactive, supportive care.
- Mental health concerns are rising, with limited postpartum resources.
- First-time mothers frequently lack education on birth and recovery.
Takeaway: U.S. maternal healthcare requires a shift toward patient-centered models that prioritize education, equity, and continuous support, especially in the vulnerable postpartum stage.
Closing the Communication Gap in Cancer Care
Takeda partnered with The Harris Poll to better understand the lived experiences of people with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) and to uncover where communication between patients and providers is falling short.
Through a global survey of 1,000+ patients, the research revealed that many feel unheard in conversations with their care teams. While clinical treatment is advancing, emotional and informational support often lags. The findings, presented at ASCO and ESMO, elevated awareness across the oncology field and emphasized how small communication gaps can have big implications on care.
The data revealed several critical areas for improvement:
- Patients want more holistic conversations that go beyond medical updates.
- Many feel dismissed by healthcare professionals.
- Treatment decisions are complex, yet few patients rely on resources beyond their provider.
- The emotional and financial toll of mCRC remains under-addressed globally.
Takeaway: Listening is powerful. With the right insights, healthcare leaders can design communication strategies that support the whole patient, not just the disease.
Legal Teams Shift from Cost Centers to Value Creators
Global research from The Harris Poll and Axiom shows that legal departments are undergoing a major transformation: from managing risk to driving measurable business value. In the 2026 Legal Budgeting Report, nearly a third of in-house teams (29%) say they’ve already adopted strategic, value-based budgeting models.
The study, which surveyed 530 senior legal and finance leaders across eight countries, found that most legal departments are in the “developing” stage, but many are just one step away from full maturity on the value-based budgeting curve.
The report surfaced several trends reshaping how legal teams operate:
- 49% of legal departments changed budget models in the past year.
- 78% are expected to implement AI without dedicated funding.
- 68% would switch from law firms to ALSPs with modest cost savings.
- Only 36% have formal ALSP policies, revealing missed value potential.
- Legal and finance leaders often disagree on who owns budget-setting.
Takeaway: Legal’s value era is here. Teams that align strategy, measurement, and budgeting can become true business partners faster than previously thought.
Debt Stress Is Rising… Even Among High Earners
A new NFCC study conducted by The Harris Poll reveals a troubling reality: Americans across allincome levels are showing signs of financial strain. While lower-income households are more likely to feel immediate pressure, recent data shows that high earners are increasingly worried about their ability to manage debt and cover surprise expenses.
As credit card debt hits $1.21 trillion—matching last year’s record high—more consumers are falling behind or relying on risky strategies like balance transfers and personal loans to keep up.
Survey data highlights growing concern at the top of the income spectrum:
- 13% made less than the minimum payment on a credit card, up from 8% this spring.
- 30% of high-income earners are now more concerned about affording unexpected costs.
- 20% are more worried about making timely debt payments.
- “Negative debt behaviors” are consistent across income levels, showing it’s not just a low-income issue.
Takeaway: Financial vulnerability is creeping up the income ladder. Brands in finance, lending, and insurance should rethink how they engage consumers who look secure on paper but feel differently in practice.
