Alina Strugut, Ph.D., is a principal analyst and research director at Lux Research, where she shapes the strategic research agenda for the Consumer Insights team. She leads the development of frameworks and methodologies that help clients uncover the deeper cultural forces driving consumer behavior — turning complexity into clarity for Fortune 500 companies navigating change. Alina plays a key role in upholding research quality across projects, helping to ensure that insights are both rigorous and culturally attuned. She also leads thought leadership efforts and represents Lux as a trusted adviser at select industry events, while partnering with clients through strategic briefings and high-level engagements to help them stay ahead of emerging trends. Before joining Lux, Alina worked as a policy analyst at the European Commission in Brussels, where she contributed to EU policy design and supported national governments on rural development initiatives. She holds a Ph.D. in global studies from Leipzig University in Germany and is fluent in multiple languages.