Shelley Ahrens leads the Research & Insights division at Cortico-X, uniting creativity and science to help organizations turn data into action. With more than 25 years of experience in insights and analytics, she partners with senior leaders in marketing, CX, brand, and strategy to uncover the real story behind the data and design experiences that drive loyalty and lift.

Since joining The DRG in 2000, Shelley has built and led high-performing teams across account management, client services, advanced analytics, and information services. Her career has been defined by a focus on solving complex challenges and helping clients connect the dots, cut through the noise, and tell stories that stick.

As VP of Research & Insights at Cortico-X, she champions the role of insights as a catalyst for confident action, ensuring that data not only informs strategy but also drives measurable business impact.

Shelley believes the best insights do not simply describe what happened; they illuminate why and what to do next. Her teams embrace a culture of curiosity, accountability, and continuous improvement, always pushing beyond the “what” to ask the “so what?” and “now what?”

She holds a degree in Marketing and has completed extensive training in analytics, leadership, and customer experience strategy. When she is not translating data into decisions, Shelley enjoys photography, gardening, traveling, and spending time with her two dogs and nieces.