The PRovoke Media Podcast: Recent Episodes
PRovoke Media
Formerly known as the Holmes Report‘s Echo Chamber, the PRovoke podcast brings insight and intelligence from the global PR industry. Featuring interviews, analysis and conversation, the weekly show is hosted by PRovoke Media editors Arun Sudhaman, Maja Pawinska Sims & Paul Holmes.
Paul Dyer discusses growing the legacy agency Lippe Taylor into a marketing communications firm
Nitin Mantri on the upcoming “Future of Communications” report, the ways in which artificial intelligence is changing the profession, and the robust Indian presence at Cannes this year.
The Sway Effect founder and chief executive Jennifer Risi joined Paul Holmes at PRovoke Media HQ in Cannes last week, discussing the state of corporate affairs and how modern public relations agencies are adding value.
In this episode we talk to Tracey Schroeder who is Chief Communications & External Affairs Officer with Inova.
The latest edition of our CCO Podcast series features a conversation with Ines Rodriguez Gutzmer, senior vice president and chief communications officer at Aflac.
In this episode of the PRovoke Media Agency Leaders Podcast, Maja Pawinska Sims sits down with Hotwire’s new global CEO Grant Toups and UK managing director Charlotte Harvey to explore what they describe as a defining moment for both the agency and the wider communications industry. Just months into their roles, the pair outline a vision built less on “reset” of one of the most famous tech agency brands, and more on acceleration, positioning Hotwire at the intersection of technology, storytelling and commercial impact as AI reshapes how every organisation communicates.
In a lively in-person conversation, Toups and Harvey talk about the “golden age of the midsize agency,” the return of earned media in an AI-driven landscape, and why culture, energy and entrepreneurialism are central to Hotwire’s resurgence. From helping non-tech brands navigate complex innovation narratives to rethinking workflows around human–AI collaboration, the duo paint a picture of a new dynamism at the agency as it aims to stay ahead of rapidly changing client demands. Their ambition is clear: to build a global agency of choice for companies telling breakthrough innovation stories, and, as Toups puts it, “to win.”
A month or so ago, reputation intelligence company Caliber announced a US advisory board, including former Medtronic and Verizon CCO Torod Neptune, now a professor at UNC–Chapel Hill, to help the company connectstakeholder intelligence to the real-world challenges organizations face every day.
At the time, Caliber CCO Shahar Silbershatz called for what he called “an intervention” on behalf of the profession, promoting a more real-time, data-driven, and disciplined approach to communication.
In this edition of the PRovoke Media podcast, editor Paul Holmes sat down with Neptune and Silbershatz to discuss the state of reputation intelligence, the need for real-time information, and the future of stakeholder capitalism itself.
In this episode of the PRovoke Media Agency Leaders podcast series, Maja Pawinska Sims is joined in person in London by Andrew Bleeker, founder and CEO of Bully Pulpit International (BPI) and the award-winning US-based corporate and public affairs agency's newest senior joiner, former Ketchum leader Jo-Ann Robertson, now BPI's president of Europe and Transatlantic growth leader. The trio's lively chat ranges from the agency's roots and Bleeker's background as President Obama's digital campaign guru, through to its ambitions in the UK and Europe.
Diana Marszalek speaks with Precision Strategies EVP of digital and multicultural engagement Krishana Davis about new research exploring the manosphere.
After a career spanning roles at Edelman, PwC, and Golin, Megan Noel made the decision last year to take on a new challenge at what was then Adtalem Global Education, leading a corporate affairs function that spanned investor relations, government relations, internal and external communication, enterprise brand, social responsibility and more under CEO Steve Beard, who was determined to “bring all the storytellers together,”
Last week, Adralem rebranded as Covista, a change that went beyond a new name and a new visual identity to new positioning and mission. Amid a major transformation, Noel sat down with Paul Holmes to discuss her career and the commitment to purpose that has guided it.
In the wake of the World Economic Forum in Davos and the release of the larest Edelman Trust Barometer last week, PRovoke Media founder Paul Holmes sat down with Richard Edelman for a wide-ranging discussion that covered polarization, global pessimism, the potential for companies to become “trust brokers,” how tech companies have failed to address concerns over AI, what Martin Sorrell got wrong about the PR industry, and how the holding companies getting rid of “the idea machines” might benefit independent firms.
In this episode of the PRovoke Media Agency Leaders Podcast, Burson global CEO Corey duBrowa and UK CEO Simon Redfern chat to editorial director Maja Pawinska Sims in the midst of the World Economic Forum in Davos. They talk about how the event has evolved and how Burson is adapting and innovating in a new era of reputation management, including the agency's new research, The Global Reputation Economy: A New Asset Class for a New Era. The duo also reflect on what being a business and agency leader means now.
In this episode of the PRovoke Media CCO Podcast, Maja Pawinska Sims is joined by Athletic Brewing’s chief marketing officer Andrew Katz to explore the rapid rise of low- and no-alcohol beer, and what it says about changing consumer culture. Katz discusses how Athletic has helped transform alcohol-free beer from a functional compromise into a credible, aspirational brand, driven by better product, cultural shifts and a broadening audience well beyond younger consumers. The conversation also dives into Athletic’s brand and marketing strategy, including its positioning at the intersection of lifestyle, performance and beer, and the thinking behind its high-profile partnership with Arsenal. Katz reflects on the realities of expanding in the UK, the challenges of scaling a fast-growth challenger brand, and what it takes to keep creativity alive as a business grows.
In this episode of the PRovoke Media Agency Leader Podcast, Maja Pawinska Sims is joined by The PHA Group’s CEO George Coleman, who joined the firm in April this year after founding and scaling Weber Shandwick sister agency Current Global. The lively conversation covers The PHA Group’s 20th anniversary, evolution, culture and future plans; how AI is being integrated into the agency and industry; the ongoing importance of storytelling in PR; and the difference between working in network and independent agencies.
Every year, Havas Red gazes into its crystal ball and produces its Red Sky Predictions. We sat down with the firm’s Europe and UK CEO Rachael Sansom to discuss what’s ahead for the PR Business.
Diana Marszalek and Michael Kempner discuss why so many leaders feel paralyzed despite having more data, tools, and technology than ever.
Aarti Shah talks with Kathryn Metcalfe and Jennifer Teitler about the biggest takeaways from PRovoke Media’s Global Summit in Chicago including AI’s acceleration and learning to say no and why emotion still matters more than data in combating misinformation.
For the latest edition of our CCO Podcast, Paul Holmes sat down with Leslie Cafferty, chief communications officer at Booking Holdings, to discuss how she manages a portfolio of technology-driven travel brands, how she balances the needs of different stakeholders and reaches them through a variety of channels, the challenges of working with influencers, and how the company is incorporating AI into its communications efforts.
In this inspiring episode of the PRovoke Media podcast, Maja Pawinska Sims talks to our Young Changemakers for 2025. The four amazing young women from underrepresented backgrounds around the world have been recognised as future leaders of the communications industry, in the fourth year of the competition: Liyana Shirin in London, Elsie Merhi in Dubai, Kayla Marrero in Washington DC and Lívia Gammardella in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Before the conversation with the Young Changemakers, we speak to the woman behind the initiative, We. Communications founder and global CEO Melissa Waggener Zorkin.
Golin's Jaimee Reggio discusses the needs of young people living with rare diseases during their transition to adulthood.
Journalist Aaron Parnas and Avoq’s Jaclyn Rothenberg discuss the rise of news influencers and how communicators can best engage with them.
As consumers increasingly turn to platforms like TikTok for news, a new breed of digital journalists, dubbed news influencers, are emerging as important sources of information, particularly for younger audiences. In this PRovoke Podcast, Aaron Parnas, a lawyer-turned-news influencer with an immense following, and Jaclyn Rothenberg, an Avoq senior VP, discuss who qualifies as a news influencer, the role they play in disseminating information and the hesitancy communicators and companies have in fully embracing them. The conversation also addresses the question of these journalists’ credibility, exploring why organizations hesitate to engage them and what it takes to prove they are legitimate outlets — in the same way journalists tied to traditional platforms are.
Novavax CCO Silvia Taylor discusses the company’s role in developing a Covid vaccine, the ensuing vaccine controversy, and how Novavax refined its strategy and its positioning. Throughout those challenges, the corporate affairs function has managed multiple stakeholder relationships, with an emphasis on adding commercial value.
As companies seek to incorporate artificial intelligence into their communications efforts, authenticity and transparency are critical, says Swisscom’s Myriam Käser.
In the first episode of our new Trophy Case podcast series, PRovoke Media editor-in-chief Paul Holmes sat down with Dave Frauenfelder, VP brand, marketing communications and sponsorships at Dutch telecom provider KPN, and Jacqueline Bosselaar, executive strategy director, CEO and founder of HPB Het PR Bureau, to discuss the “Piece of Me” campaign, winner of our Platinum SABRE for the best public relations campaign in the EMEA region.
In this episode of the PRovoke Media podcast, recorded in Cannes, Current Global CEO Mike Rosich talks to Maja Pawinska Sims about the agency's new NSFW Pulse research. This provocative new study explores how consumers really feel about brands engaging with so-called ‘not safe for work’ topics in culture and society, from DEI to LGBTQ, plus their views on taking a stand on areas such as climate change, immigration and reproductive rights. The results show a clear divide across political persuasion, age and religion on whether brands should speak up and take a stand on various issues – or not.
In a podcast from PRovoke Media’s Cannes HQ, The Sway Effect’s Jen Risi discusses her on firm’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, and he advice that clients hold the course.
In this episode of th PRovoke Media podcast, part of our special Cannes series, Maja Pawinska Sims is joined on the Croisette by Nitin Mantri, APAC president of We. Communications and group CEO of Avian. We. Their lively conversation that covers the creativity festival, the market landscape in Asia, and the results of the agency's new Brands in Motion study, which shows an interesting discrepancy between how effective communications professionals think they are being, and how comms activity is actually being received by their audiences.
The founder of French digital agency Jin says future shareholders might prefer to have their companies led by an artificial intelligence rather than a “very impetuous, not predictable CEO.”
In this episode of the PRovoke Media podcast, Adam Pawluk, head of Labs at JPA Health, breaks down the concept of “radical compassion” and its increasing importance in organizational leadership. Pawluk shares why empathetic leaders are better positioned to cultivate psychological safety, a necessary condition for creativity, risk-taking, and sustained innovation. With data showing that employees with compassionate senior leaders are nearly five times more likely to report being innovative, Pawluk makes the case for empathy as a strategic advantage, not a soft skill.
In the second of our CEO Podcast series, Paul Holmes talked with Susan Howe, chief executive of The Weber Shandwick Collective, for a wide-ranging conversation that included the challenges of maintaining a cohesive culture across one of the world's largest agencies, the importance of creativity, the changing media landscape, AI, and the impending merger between Interpublic and Omnicom.
Golin chief AI officer Jeff Beringer joins the PRovoke Media podcast to discuss his vision for being a fully AI-integrated PR agency.
If all goes as planned, Golin by 2026 will be the first fully AI-integrated PR firm, transforming everything from workflow and jobs to the nature of client relationships.
In this episode of the PRovoke Media podcast, Jeff Beringer, Golin’s first chief AI officer, and PRovoke Media’s Diana Marszalek discuss what being “fully AI-integrated” means in practical terms and how full-scale adoption of the technology will boost output and efficiency — all while keeping human relationships (and jobs) intact. Says Beringer, “We’re trying to equip people to do their best.”
This year has already seen rapid and significant disruption in the media, policy and business landscape. Meanwhile, the increasing sophistication of disruptive technologies are leading to further confusion. Finn Partners partner David Krejci – a pioneer in media forensics, and an expert on misinformation, disruptive technologies, and bad faith actors – and managing partner of global public affairs Jessica Ross – an expert in issues management, crisis communications and the intersection of policy and business – join Maja Pawinska Sims on the PRovoke Media podcast to discuss the state of play in the current turbulent environment, and share insights, tips and best practices for navigating the complexity of a rapidly changing business environment.
In a candid conversation with Paul Holmes, chief impact officer Michael Gonda discussed the past year at McDonald's from inflation to the election, from E.coli and DEI.
FleishmanHillard's head of digital reputation for EMEA, Peter Wilson, joins Maja Pawinska Sims in the Markettiers studio to talk about the emergence of AI agents and the impact that automated processes, reports and analysis 'with the human in the loop' could have on many areas of PR practice, including public affairs and policy monitoring, and getting the balance right between off-the-shelf AI and developing and investing in proprietary tools. Wilson also outlines new corporate affairs thought leadership from the agency, and discusses how corporate leaders and communicators can navigate the second Trump era and the growing threat of strategic disinformation.
Corporate Affairs Trends 2025
Building on Zeno Group’s recent report on “Allies & Advocates,” which provides a new blueprint for civil society engagement in an increasingly polarized world, Paul Holmes sat down with Sarah Ogden, chief client officer for Zeno in London, and Georg Schmitt, former head of stakeholder engagement for the World Economic Forum and now a member of Zeno’s reputation advisory board, to discuss the report’s recommendations.
Looking at corporate engagement with civil society issues on a continuum that starts with mere compliance, progresses through support and advocacy, and culminated in activism, the report found that both consumers and executives feel the “sweet spot” is in the middle: with companies supporting and advocating for social causes. The discussion focused on a strategic approach that can help companies decide when and how to engage.
In the first of a series of interviews with the leaders of agencies around the world, Paul Holmes sat down with Richard Edelman, CEO of Edelman.
In a conversation that covered the firm’s history, the reasons it has remained committed to its independence, its Trust Barometer research, and the challenges Richard sees ahead as the competitive landscape evolves.
Future editions of this podcast will feature a wide variety of leaders, from giant multinational agencies to small specialist boutiques, from all of the world's regions as we seek to capture what drives success in a dynamic, fast-changing, hyper-competitive PR business.
Read highlights from the episode here: https://www.provokemedia.com/long-reads/article/richard-edelman-i-like-to-run-the-pirate-ship
Research from UK agency Brands2Life found business-to-business marketers struggling to balance the immediate payoff of lead generation with the long-term imperative of building brand equity.
PRovoke Media's Paul Holmes sat down with Emily Thomas of B2L and Coopervision senior global brand director Chris Carter to discuss how marketers can strike the right balance.
Moira Gilchrist, chief communications officer at Philip Morris International, joins Paul Holmes to discuss the “Fifth Estate,” and the changing face of activism.
Fine Lines founder Kat McGettigan and Goldbug founder Lara Gould join Maja Pawinska Sims on the PRovoke Podcast to talk about their career journeys and their experiences as female agency founders and leaders. The duo also dive into the Lonely Female Founders Club, which McGettigan recently launched to support women entrepreneurs in the PR industry and beyond.
In the first of a series of podcasts for and featuring chief communications officers, PRovoke Media founder discussed the various roles that CCOs play in supporting their executive leadership team at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Lenovo's Charlotte West discusses her experience at Davos earlier this year, while former WEF communications chief Adrian Monck drew on his vast experience helping to manage the gathering.
Hunter chief insights & strategy officer Heddy DeMaria joins the PRovoke Media podcast to discuss the findings of the agency’s Influence in America study, which looks at which information sources play the biggest roles in influencing purchase choices.
Cyber breaches – like the recent DDOS attacks on archive.org and 23&Me – are making headlines more frequently, and the way they are handled in comms terms can have a lasting impact on corporate reputation. In this episode of the PRovoke podcast, Maja Pawinska Sims is joined by Flora Haslam, European technology practice leader at Finn Partners, Richard Hummel, director of threat intelligence at cybersecurity firm Netscout, and Kevin Curren, professor of cyber security at Ulster University, to explore how companies can navigate cybersecurity breaches and incidents to minimise their impact on corporate reputation and trust.
In the wake of our PRovokeGlobal Summit, Paul Holmes got together with Drew Warren and Rachel Caggiano from Ogilvy to discuss the dominant themes of the event, from the future of purpose in a politicized environment to the impact of AI on newsrooms and PR agencies—as well as Ogilvy’s big night at the Global SABRE Awards, where it was crowned Global Creative Agency of the Year
In this episode of the PRovoke Media podcast, Maja Pawinska Sims is joined by Richard Smith, co-founder and CEO of fintech Payen, and MikeWorldWide director Conrad Arnavutian, to talk about humanising B2B technology, purpose- and values-driven B2B communications, and how brands and communicators in this sector can navigate the future of sustainability and ESG.
Christina Kim, a former Freuds exec and now corporate PR manager at travel technology firm Yanolja, joins Maja Pawinska Sims on the PRovoke Media podcast to talk about how a blend of speed, quality, and trust has helped Korean brands rise on the global stage. As a Korean who now lives and works in New York, Kim shares how this cultural identity has shaped not just her career in PR but also the global success of Korean brands such as Samsung, Hyundai, LG and K-beauty products.
Burson’s Asia Pacific CEO HS Chung joins Arun Sudhaman on his final PRovoke Media podcast, to discuss the rise of Asian companies on the global stage. Chung describes why she believes the latest wave of Asian brands going global is very different from previous generations, and discusses the unique PR and communications challenges that these companies are aiming to address as they look to succeed beyond their home markets.
In this episode of the PRovoke Media podcast, Avoq strategic planning leader Dianne Riddle Mikeska takes a wide-ranging look at how the comms industry, with a particular focus on public affairs, is leveraging data in its decision-making process. The far-reaching conversation with PRovoke Media founder Paul Holmes covers topics from the key role tools and technology play in strategic planning to the importance of maintaining people — by way of polling, focus groups and the like — as a central part of the process.
APCO founder Margery Kraus joins the PRovoke Media podcast to discuss the pioneering consultancy's journey as it marks its 40th anniversary of operations. In conversation with Arun Sudhaman, Kraus discusses the lessons she has learned along the way, the benefits of independence and perils of private equity, and the crucial intersection between politics and business. Kraus also addresses recent protests at the firm's London office, and the broader scrutiny that PR firms now attract in the mainstream media.
The Young Changemaker Awards were launched by PRovoke Media and WE Communications in 2022 to celebrate young female communicators from underrepresented groups across North America, UK/Europe and APAC/MEA.
In this podcast, the third class of recipients gather with WE founder/CEO Melissa Waggener Zorkin and PRovoke Media editor-in-chief Arun Sudhaman to discuss their the program's importance, the lessons they are hoping to learn, and their advice for PR industry leaders.
This show features the 2024 Young Changemakers:
- Adina James (UK/Europe), account director, Allison
- Mei Lee (APAC/MEA), senior designer, Retroviral
- Paula Chirinos (North America), SAE, Ketchum
Former AIA brand and communications head Stephen Thomas joins the PRovoke Media podcast to discuss his new book, entitled 'Reputations of Value: Winning with Corporate Reputations in an Unpredictable World.'
In conversation with Arun Sudhaman, Thomas discusses why and how he wrote the book, which features insights from numerous communications leaders from across the globe. He also explores whether brands can be 'outrage-proofed' in today's febrile environment, where many may choose to remain silent rather than risk a backlash.
PRovoke Media founder Paul Holmes sat down with principals from 2024 Agencies of the Year Chandler Chicco, Day One and The Sway Effect to find out what they did last year — in terms of employee culture, agency marketing, and client relationships — to create success in a challenging environment.
https://www.provokemedia.com/latest/podcast/article/podcast-how-did-our-agency-of-the-year-winners-stand-out-in-a-tough-year-for-pr
In this episode of the PRovoke Media podcast, Maja Pawinska Sims is joined by Tom Berry, UK managing director of global agency MikeWorldWide, in a lively and personal discussion ranging from the challenges, opportunities and changes facing the PR industry, to agency leadership, to AI, to people and purpose.
Sherlock's Patrick O'Neill discusses companies turning off Latin American consumers by not using language properly.
This episode of the PRovoke Media podcast is the audio of a provocative webinar with this year’s cohort of The Xec – the UK leadership scheme for the next generation of Black, Asian and minority ethnic leaders in the UK public relations industry. The panel talk to Maja Pawinska Sims about the complexities of diversity hiring, exploring issues of tokenism, whether people of colour are bearing the burden of responsibility for ensuring workplaces are representative and inclusive, the role of employee resource groups (ERGs), and their suggestions for how agencies and in-house teams can move forward towards a truly inclusive industry.
The panel:
- Priscillia Chun, Campaign Director, Diffusion PR
- Myriam Khan, Head of Communications, UK, Hitachi Rail
- Arun Lloyd, Associate Director, Hope&Glory
- Mammy Maguire, Head of Student Communications & Social Media, Manchester Metropolitan University
- Anita Rathod, Communications & Engagement Lead, Rolls-Royce
Day One Agency’s Erin Amend and Rita Onyx, creator and founder of the Onyx Family Brands, discuss Gen Alpha and what the kids who are part of it want from creators.
In this episode of the PRovoke Media podcast, crisis and issues specialist Rod Cartwright talks to Maja Pawinska Sims about the findings of his recent ‘Reputation, Risk and Resilience’ report, an analysis of eight major global reports whose findings impact corporate communicators around the world. The conversation covers the 10 themes of the report, as well as crucial questions for communications leaders to consider, and his conclusion that risk management, crisis preparedness and resilience-building can be seen as sources of huge positive value, rather than being feared or seen as mere insurance policies.
Allison managing director Claudine Moore joins the PRovoke Media podcast to discuss the firm's new Africa Business Cultural Intelligence Report, which examines how changing business and media trends are impacting the region's overall PR landscape. Moore, who has been working in African PR for more than a decade, also discusses The Future is Female Mentorship Program, a PR and comms initiative dedicated to African female tech founders.
Day One Agency’s Randi White and The One Club for Creativity’s Adrienne Lucas, both of whom lead their organizations’ DEI efforts, discuss the role DEIB plays in fueling creativity.
Bookings Holdings chief communications officer Leslie Cafferty discusses how technology is empowering consumers to see the world.
PRovoke Media partnered with Ogilvy PR to discuss why influencer marketing is one of the B2B world's fastest-growing communications priorities. Read the full Highlights of the episode here:https://www.provokemedia.com/long-reads/article/roundtable-the-global-rise-of-b2b-influence
In this episode of the PRovoke Media podcast, in partnership with Cirkle, we discuss the growing importance of B2B influencers. Maja Pawinska Sims talks to Amy Searle, B2B managing director of UK consumer, corporate and B2B agency Cirkle, and Mike Chapman, head of wholesale at PepsiCo. The conversation covers Cirkle’s latest Trading Up report on how to use influencers to boost B2B campaigns and the agency’s Retailer Inner Cirkle initiative, as well as PepsiCo’s introduction of the Extra Flamin’ Hot range across its Doritos, Walkers and Wotsits brands, as an example of a smart pre-launch partnership with retailers which had immediate and measurable commercial impact.
In this discussion Havas Red CEO James Wright joins PRovoke Media editor-in-chief to discuss how he is rethinking the 21st century network agency model to better adapt and respond to client and talent trends. Wright discusses his work in terms of consolidating Havas Red's disparate agency entities into a cohesive whole, his approach to acquisition, talent and much more, in a wide-ranging conversation that reveals how the PR agency model is ripe for disruption.
Paul Nolan, COO and co-owner of B2B technology specialist agency CCGroup, talks about neurodiversity in the PR industry and his own late ADHD diagnosis.
In this episode of the PRovoke Media podcast, we look at neurodiversity in the PR industry in a conversation between Maja Pawinska Sims and Paul Nolan, COO and co-owner of B2B technology specialist agency CCGroup, who was recently diagnosed with ADHD after a 20-year career in PR. Nolan talks about his diagnosis, the impact on his personal and professional life, his experience of being a neurodiverse leader in PR, and how the industry can better support and embrace neurodiversity.
Resources:
Neurodiversity in PR: From Kryptonite to Superpower
PRCA/CIPR Wellness Audit
In the latest podcast from our partners at PROI, we connected with PR agency founders from around the world who are embracing new technologies from artificial intelligence to virtual reality ,in which we discussed management and economic challenges.
Paul Holmes is joined by Alison Dasilva and Penny Kozakos from Zeno Group to discuss what stakeholders expect from corporations when it comes to controversial issues—and how new research can help companies address those expectations smartly in an era of increasing political polarization.
Description Immerse yourself into an engaging and enlightening discussion about the stakeholder economy, sustainability, and dealing with changing corporate landscapes with the special guest, Lisa Gibby of Nestlé. This episode of Provoke Podcast, produced in conjunction with FGS, sheds light on the role of corporate affairs professionals amidst geopolitical upheaval, rising emphasis on ESG values, and the concept of shared value creation that Nestlé championed.
Gain deep introspection into Nestlé’s approach towards maintaining corporate reputation while handling stakeholder criticism and balancing long-term business vision. Also get unique insights in how shared values and purpose influence corporate culture, impacting business purpose and social responsibility.
The discussion lifts the veil on critical changes in the governance sector and highlights the importance of engaging thoughtfully with stakeholders in an increasingly consumer-centric world. Hear about Nestlé's consumer relationship strategy, importance of purpose-led initiatives, and the paradigm shift in public relations sector in this episode.
The show concludes by discussing the intricate role of authenticity and effective communication in fostering corporate relationships and maintaining a positive corporate reputation. From Nestle's journey of becoming a warmer, authentic organization, to adapting strategies around carbon-neutrality, this episode provides a comprehensive outlook on future challenges in sustainability, human rights, health, and harnessing AI for issue resolution and problem-solving.
In this edition of the PRovoke Media podcast, two senior leaders from one of Europe’s fastest-growing agency groups join Maja Pawinska Sims to talk about the evolving landscape for strategic communications in complex times. Team Farner executive chairman Roman Geiser and Lansons CEO Gordon Tempest-Hay discuss the rapid growth of the consultancy across Europe, its acquisition of Lansons last year, and their ambitions and plans for the future. The duo also look at how creative work and AI are impacting on the remit and impact of reputation management firms, and how clients’ needs from their comms advisors are changing, including during a pivotal election year.
KPMG corporate affairs chief Jane Lawrie joins the PRovoke Media podcast to discuss the intersection of artificial intelligence and ESG, across such areas as performance evaluation, identifying future trends, and defining the roadmap for ESG reporting.
In conversation with PRovoke Media editor-in-chief Arun Sudhaman, Lawrie also discusses the future of AI as it relates to corporate affairs professionals, in terms of potential opportunities and threats, along with the reputation risks entailed for business.
The role of ESG in the context of ongoing political debates is also examined, alongside the emergence of 'green hushing' and its impact on transparent sustainability reporting.
While some Asia-Pacific countries, such as Japan, have witnessed a strong rise in ESG coverage, investing, and consumer adoption of sustainable products, others have progressed at a slower pace. In partnership with Weber Shandwick, Asia-Pacific corporate affairs head Carolyn Devanayagam joins the PRovoke Media podcast to examine the latest trends in this area, and how corporate communicators can drive progress amid the twin threats of greenwashing and green-hushing.
Finn Partners’ Gil Bashe joins the PRovoke Media podcast to discuss the perilous spread of false information — and communicators duty to curb it.
In this episode of the PRovoke Media podcast, editors Arun Sudhaman and Maja Pawinska Sims have a lively discussion about the merger of BCW and Hill & Knowlton to create the world's biggest PR firm, Burson. The conversation covers bringing the legacy name back to the industry, the talent implications of the merger, whether we'll see more consolidation across other networks, and the potential impact of AI on business decisions within big agencies. The duo also catch up on the recent World Economic Forum in Davos, and the apparent retreat of corporate activism in the wake of geopolitical and social tensions.
The Guyer Group’s Kevin Whalen joins the PRovoke Media podcast to discuss the evolving practice of analyst relations.
In this edition of the PRovoke Media podcast, Paul Holmes is joined by GCI Health global CEO Kristin Cahill and Europe and Middle East president Kath Harrison, along with Aimee Christian, VP and global head of corporate communications and engagement at Jazz Pharmaceuticals, to talk about the success factors for modern global healthcare campaigns. The discussion includes how to translate campaigns from one country to another, drawing a thread through global strategy to local implementation while taking cultural and language differences into account and maintaining consistency of the corporate brand. The guests also talk about engaging internal stakeholders, patients, advocacy groups and healthcare providers across markets, and the importance of finding ‘universal human truths’ that resonate beyond local nuance.
In October, Unlock Health joined me to discuss the PRovokeGlobal Summit. This month they sat down again to discuss the main lessons learned from a diverse and provocative event.
In a wide-ranging discussion that took in major industry challenges from the growing use of artificial intelligence to the spread of disinformation, from the “pink economy” post-Barbie to the need to address social inequality in all its forms at future events, I sat down with Unlock Health chief executive Brandon Edwards and the agency’s managing director of innovation Kathleen Perley to discuss the main takeaways from the PRovokeGlobal Summit in November.
Among the topics of discussion:
- A discussion of how AI can enable and empower PR professionals rather than threaten to replace them, and how those familiar with the technology can make their colleagues more comfortable about the transformation AI will bring.
- Why corporate interest in ESG is unlikely to dissipate, even if the language we use to discuss a broad commitment to stakeholder capitalism needs to change—and why more relatable language may be needed.
- How the “pink economy” has always been central to healthcare, where women are often the gatekeepers for the entire family, and what consumer brands can learn from that.
- The importance of discussing economic inequality, and why that’s an issue at the root of ESG, DEI and the kind of tribalism that seems to have taken over political discussion in the US and globally.
Unlock Health is a single-source growth partner for healthcare providers, offering a range of marketing communications services, consulting, and technology. It emphasizes the importance of convergence in the industry, bringing together technology solutions and traditional marketing services, brand and performance marketing, and do it all through the lens of their industry-specific healthcare expertise.
Over the last decade or so, influencer marketing has matured to the point where today being a creator is considered a bona fide career built on rich relationships with agencies, brands and consumers (to say nothing of talent agents). In this episode of the PRovoke Media podcast, Red Havas’ Kerry Anderson in the UK and Audrey Arbogast in the US discuss the evolution of influencer marketing and how the agency’s new global practice devoted to the craft, Sway, helps clients drive authentic and engaging brand communications through influencers — and the important role best practices, data, social tools and measurement have in accomplishing that.
Global suicide prevention and crisis support organisation Lifeline International has launched a new campaign, Decriminalise Suicide Worldwide: the first initiative of its kind to call for legal change in 25 countries around the world where suicide and attempted suicide are still a criminal offence. The charity’s communications and campaign director Nick Stravs, a former leader at BCW and Weber Shandwick, joins the PRovoke Media podcast to talk about the critical role of communications in the campaign’s strategy and potential success, along with Billee Howard, founder and CEO of AI-powered emotional insights software platform Brandthrō, who is working alongside Stravs on the campaign.
Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Commissioner Sonja Stills joins the PRovoke Media podcast to discuss raising the visibility of HBCU sports.
In this episode sponsored by Racepoint Global, we discuss how the themes of curiosity and cross-generational collaboration apply to the world of communications. Guests include Marci Alboher of CoGenerate and Scott Shigeoka, author of "SEEK: How Curiosity Can Transform Your Life and Change the World."
Kate Cronin joins the PRovoke Media podcast to discuss Moderna showing up at large events not typically associated with pharmaceutical companies.
PRovokeGlobal Podcast Sponsor, Unlock Health joins Paul Holmes ahead of this year's Global Summit to talk disruption in the PR space and making impact. Unlock Health is a single source growth partner for healthcare providers with services that span the full range of marketing solutions from audience engagement and consulting, to technology solutions that connect the full eco-system for their partners. Join us 6-7 November for this year's PRovokeGlobal in Washington, D.C.
Codeword founding partner Kyle Monsoon discusses the value in brands acting like creators — and what that looks like.
Bob Pickard joins the PRovoke Media podcast to discuss his dramatic exit from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, whom he accused of being overly influenced by the Chinese Communist Party. In conversation with Arun Sudhaman, Pickard responds to a subsequent AIIB report that dismissed his allegations, and instead claimed his tenure was marked by "managerial shortcomings". He also discusses the geopolitical environment for Western companies in China, and explains why he took on the role in the first place.
In an era when it is reported that more than half of Americans believe national news organizations intend to mislead, misinform or persuade the public, what does this mean for brand communicators? James Wright, CEO of Havas Red, joins this episode of the PRovoke Media Podcast to discuss a new era of brand purpose and the shift from brand storytelling to fact-telling.
Tier One Partners’ Marian Hughes and Celina Fine discuss the art and science of trendspotting and how the firm leverages trends to boost brands.
In this episode of the PRovoke Media podcast, Cirkle’s consumer managing director Kate Gibson and her client Jim Shearer, marketing director of frozen food giant Birds Eye, discuss how brands can continue to build consumer love and loyalty in a cost-of-living crisis – and why new research shows earned media is more powerful than ever.
BCW joins the podcast to discuss their recently announced partnership with Limbik, a top information defense technology company rooted in cognitive artificial intelligence (AI), which will provide clients with advanced identification and mitigation solutions in today's post-factual environment. Paul Holmes hosts guests BCW Chief Innovation Officer Chad Latz, and Limbik's Co-Founder and CEO Zach Schwitzky, along with Chief Revenue Officer Caroline Tarpey in this episode.
Lippe Taylor founder and chairman Maureen Lippe discusses her new book, Radical Reinvention, and the personal story behind it.
Marina Maher Communications' Olga Fleming and Ketchum's Diane Fakhouri join the PRovoke Media Podcast to discuss why wellness programs are not just a nice to have, but a necessity for business models in 2023.
Stan Getui, the Africa director of Luminate, joins Maja Pawinska Sims to talk about the global philanthropy organisation’s new ‘Winning Hearts and Minds’ report on how nonprofits, activists, community groups, funders and creative agencies can harness the power of strategic communications for greater social impact, and the barriers to collaboration between strategic communications firms and these change agents.
W Communications associate Creative Director John Wilkinson, and Director Jess O'Donohoe join PRovoke Editor Maja Pawinska Sims to unpack their first experience of Cannes. In the episode, they talk about lessons and takeaways from the festival, do a review of their own work which won this year, and discuss other winners they loved.
Megan Driscoll, CEO and founder of EvolveMKD, discusses the substantial disconnect between how the media views itself and how its audience sees it.
Andrew Bloch, co-founder of iconic UK agency Frank, joins the PRovoke Media podcast to discuss his new career direction, which involves twin roles focusing on agency selection and M&A. In conversation with PRovoke editor-in-chief Arun Sudhaman, Bloch explores challenges in the client-agency relationship, the evolution of new business and pitching, and the current state of play when it comes to buying and selling PR firms.
In this two-part PRovoke Media Podcast, PRovoke Media editor-in-chief Arun Sudhaman sits down with Wimbart founder and CEO Jessica Hope and CC Group CEO Rich Fogg and COO Paul Nolan.
Mike Sadowski, who leads comms for adventure travel company Intrepid, joins the PRovoke Media podcast to discuss communicating the benefits of sustainable travel.
PRovoke Media editors Arun Sudhaman and Maja Pawinska Sims sit down in London to review the 2023 Cannes Lions, addressing the PR industry's performance and influence at the festival. The duo also discuss the current market slowdown, including recent agency layoffs.
In this episode, Arun Sudhaman talks beachside in Cannes with BCW's UK CEO and Global Chief Brand Officer, Rebecca Grant and BCW Movatory colleagues, Eleanor Wilcox and Lisa Story. Together, the group discusses how values can help companies to navigate a complex world along with insights from BCW's analysis of human values across 30 markets, from 36,000 respondents and 30+ million data points.
MMC Executive Creative Director James Ferber joins Paul Holmes beachside in Cannes to discuss the power of creativity in PR. Ferber proposes that unlike commercials and magazine spreads in advertising, the canvas of PR is the real world which commands an entirely different mindset, and is arguably more challenging.
Paul Holmes kicks off the Influence 100 podcast series focused on critical challenges facing corporate communications leaders sponsored by FGS Global. in this episode he is joined by FGS Global's Co-Lead of Global Strategy and Reputation Practice, Liz Micci, and Medtronic's Chief Communications Officer Torod Neptune to discuss the various challenges specifically facing CCOs.
Larry Weber, founder & CEO of Racepoint Global, discusses the PRovoke Media podcast discusses the evolution tech PR over the last 40-plus years and the critical role purpose places in successful communications.
Arun Sudhaman interviews W Communications Founder, Warren Johnson, in Cannes to discuss the importance placed on creative ownership, lead roles, and the trending fluidity between PR and Advertising.
Natalie Boden, founder and CEO of Boden Agency, discusses her efforts to support working moms and “The Power of the Mamiverse.”
Global Strategy Group’s Tanya Meck talks about protecting your brand — and remaining vocal — in a divisive political environment.
Padilla and the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council join this episode to talk about elevating the appeal of blueberries across stakeholders by enabling courageous creativity and making innovation everyone’s responsibility.
When PR agency founders move on, they face several choices about the fate of their business. In this episode, Paul Holmes interviews second-generation leaders from three PROI partner agencies that remained independent after their founders stepped down and the implications for everyone involved.
B2B communications hasn’t always been seen as the most creative corner of the PR industry, but with more and more B2B agencies recruiting creative directors – and Cannes Lions introducing a Creative B2B Lions awards category last year – that perception is changing. Maja Pawinska Sims is joined on the PRovoke podcast by David Woodward, managing partner of B2B technology specialist Fight or Flight, alongside the agency’s first head of creative, former Weber Shandwick consumer lead Kate Sarginson, and associate director of strategy and creative Lauren Payne McLeod, to talk about the growing opportunities for creativity in B2B brand marketing.
To mark International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month, four members of Google’s all-female communications leadership team in the UK and EMEA join Maja Pawinska Sims on the PRovoke podcast: Laura Wheeler, head of communications for Google Cloud, UKI and META; Jo Ogunleye, who runs B2B communications at Google and YouTube and is responsible for developing DEI networks across EMEA; corporate communications manager Delia Williams-Falokun; and Sarah Rowley, head of PR and communications for YouTube in the UK. The quartet talk about their professional paths, their personal challenges and choices, and the policies and campaigns they admire and are inspired by.
When PR agency founders move on, they face several choices about the fate of their business. In this episode, Paul Holmes interviews second-generation leaders from three PROI partner agencies that remained independent after their founders stepped down and the implications for everyone involved.
Valarie De La Garza, CEO of Fenton Communications, discusses lessons learned from her experience as a Latina CEO and how her Mexican heritage has influenced her work over the years.
Coyne PR’s Stacy Bataille joins the podcast to discuss the evolution of earned media and how PR professionals can ensure PR stays in the marketing mix.
As the urgency of the climate crisis intensifies, more corporates are beginning to disclose information about their climate policies and the extent to which their work with third parties such as trade associations aligns with those policies and with the requirements of the Paris Climate Agreement. Chris Pratt, managing director of Hill+Knowlton’s sustainability and social impact specialist Better Impact team in the UK, and Matthew Phillips, communications director for the UN’s High-Level Climate Champions for COP27 & COP28, join Maja Pawinska Sims on the PRovoke Media podcast to explain how climate policy disclosure is evolving, and the implications for the communications industry.
Resources:
‘Integrity Matters: Net Zero Commitments by Businesses, Financial Institutions, Cities and Regions’ the latest report from the UN’s High Level Expert Group.
The Climate Action 100+ Net Zero Company Benchmark
Race to Zero criteria, which outlines the ‘five Ps’: Pledge, Plan, Proceed, Publish and Persuade
The Global Standard on Responsible Climate Lobbying
We Mean Business coalition
RenewPR president Ben Finzel and Siarza CEO Kristelle Siarza discuss The Change Agencies, a network of independent firms specializing in inclusive communications.
Dr. Ebony Copeland, director of the Howard University Student Health Center, and leaders from Ketchum, Jim Joseph and Michelle Baker, join the podcast to discuss the growing impact of trauma on schools, organizations and communities, with a focus on the unique needs and challenges for people of color
French West Vaughan joins this episode to discuss how niche practice acquisitions can be mutually beneficial, while also serving as a major growth strategy for agencies and their clients.
As the war in Ukraine continues past the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion, Viroslava Novosylna, the founder and CEO of Ukrainian PR agency Slova Tech PR, joins Maja Pawinska Sims on the PRovoke podcast to talk about her experiences of the past year, how the business and communications landscape has changed, and how communications professionals around the world can continue to support the people of Ukraine.
The Asia-Pacific Communications Index is conducted annually by the Asia-Pacific Association of Communication Directors (APACD) in conjunction with Ruder Finn Asia, and polls more than 120 senior in-house communications executives (including APACD members) across the region. In this episode APACD board member Sylvia Evans and Ruder Finn Asia EVP Charles Lankester join PRovoke Media editor-in-chief to discuss some of the key findings, including the elevated value of the communications function, measurement/evaluation challenges, job satisfaction, and the need for external agency support.
2022 Changemaker Mubashira Farooqi joins WE Communications Global CEO Melissa Waggener Zorkin, and PRovoke Media's Arun Sudhaman to discuss the importance of elevating new and diverse voices across the industry on this episode of the PRovoke Media Podcast.
The evolving nature of communications means reevaluating the ways things have been done in the past, including dated recruiting models and traditional org charts. Global Strategy Group's Tanya Meck joins this episode of the PRovoke Media Podcast to talk about what led her team to build a creative agency in-house, and why she's not looking back.
Ben Fisher, head of health UK at WE Communications, joins the PRovoke Media Podcast to discuss the latest research on how health care companies can better engage with consumers and the importance of sharing how they’re contributing to overall societal good
Three representatives— from three different continents — of the Public Relations Organization International talk about why they started their own businesses, what it took to get where they are today, and what’s next for the next generation of female entrepreneurs in communications.
In this episode of PRovoke Media podcast, Emily Whetung-MacInnes, Proof Strategies’ senior advisor of Indigenous relations, discusses what it takes for companies to fully grasp the importance of Indigenous perspectives and to engage with Canada’s Indigenous Peoples in meaningful and impactful ways. A former chief of the Curve Lake First Nation, Whetung-MacInnes shares insights into the plethora of challenges facing Indigenous Peoples and why it has taken so long for organizations to be giving them due attention.
Aranthan “AJ” Jones II is Starbucks head of global comms and public affairs. In this episode of the PRovoke Media podcast, he joins Diana Marszalek to talk about his advocacy of corporate America — and communicators in particular — banding together to address big-picture issues, like DEI. He also discusses the coffee giant’s relationship with its employees and recent efforts to unionize.
It may have taken longer than other regions for Asia-Pacific to adopt health care as a standard among PR and Comms practices, but the region is swiftly setting some global trends. Finn Partners’ Fern Lazar joins Paul Holmes on this episode of the PRovoke Media Podcast to discuss the health ecosystem within the Asian markets.
As organizations look for ways to define and scale their purpose and impact, the importance of building coalitions comprised of dedicated like-minded companies has never been greater. Today's episode features Amy Terpeluk, managing partner at Finn Partners, and Candice Dixon, coalition development director at NPower, as they discuss their work on the Command Shift coalition and setting it on course to have a lasting impact.
Three conversations from the 2023 World Economic Forum, each bringing a different lens on which to view the event. In the first, TCS global markets CMO/CCO Abhinav Kumar weighs up Davos' benefits against its reputation issues, before Mubadala CCO Brian Lott discusses the geopolitical media environment, particularly as it applies to his experiences in the Middle East. HCLTech global CMO Jill Kouri, meanwhile, reveals her progress and lessons in terms of repositioning the Indian tech brand.
Having a presence in Latin America is top-of-mind for many brands seeking to boost their global presence, and many are looking for the secret sauce to make a splash. Leaders from Vianews and NEXTracker join us this episode to discuss why there’s no one-size-fits all strategy to do it.
Changes to the way media is monetized are transforming the industry landscape as we know it. Broadsheet Communications’ Alex Wolf shares his expert advice and leading industry data on what this means for PR and communications professionals.
PRovokeGlobal 2022 capped off a year spent discussing the many industry trends that have emerged and re-emerged. Over the course of the year which culminated with the 2022 Summit, we’ve covered topics such as internal stakeholders, purpose, data and disinformation. In this PRovoke Media Podcast episode, Paul Holmes chats with Stephan Miller, Kivvit’s Chief Brand Strategist to unpack themes from the recent Summit and what they mean for the industry this year.
A longtime industry veteran, Boathouse President Peter Prodromou is a big believer in the benefits of AI in informing business decisions — on the condition that it’s subject to human editing and interpretation along the way. In this episode of the PRovoke Media Podcast, Prodromou joins Diana Marszalek to discuss the importance of managing AI so that it doesn’t lead to data overload.
As Walker Sands VP & creative director, Ann Hagner has infused the out-of-the-box creative commonly seen in consumer campaigns into the firm’s work for B2B clients. In this episode of the PRovoke Media Podcast, Hagner joins Diana Marszalek to discuss the importance of putting emotion into B2B PR with creative that rivals consumer work.
Andy Pharoah is vice president of corporate affairs and sustainability at Mars. In this episode of the PRovoke Media podcast, he joins Maja Pawinska Sims to talk about the global food, confectionary and pet care giant’s sustainability goals, including the family-owned firm’s coral restoration project. He also talks about his takeaways from COP27, and outlines how the corporate communications role is changing within businesses operating in a purpose-driven, polarised world.
At the end of last year, networking group Global Women in PR (GWPR) launched the first cross-border mentoring programme, Empower, for women working in the industry. In this episode of the PRovoke Media podcast, Zeno Group chief operating officer Nancy Ruscheinski, based in Chicago, and HelloFresh head of global corporate communications Saskia Leisewitz, based in Berlin, talk to Maja Pawinska Sims about their experience as mentor and mentee on the Empower programme.
Milk and Honey PR has been working with purpose-driven businesses since its inception and was one of the first PR agencies to be certified as a B-Corporation, in 2019. In this edition of the PRovoke Podcast, Maja Pawinska Sims is joined by Kirsty Leighton, founder and CEO of the agency, which started life in London in 2017 and has since expanded to New York and Munich. Leighton discusses what being a B Corp means for the business and how it demonstrates its commitment to people, purpose and planet.
Just over a year ago, Francis Haugen exposed her former employer, Facebook, for putting profit over safety, garnering high-profile media like a 60 Minutes interview and prompting US Senate hearings. Bryson Gillette founder and president Bill Burton and VP Emily Schwartz, who backed Haugen with comms support, join the PRovoke Media Podcast to discuss the role of comms in Haugen’s success — how that success confirms the value of PR.
Notified’s Sylvie Harton joins the PRovoke Media podcast for the second episode in a two-part series discussing the PR practitioner’s role in creating an ESG strategy and aligning it with a company’s purpose.
John Brown, founder of brand activism agency Don’t Cry Wolf and former chair of the PRCA’s Climate Misinformation Strategy Group, joins EMEA editor Maja Pawinska Sims on the PRovoke Media podcast to discuss COP 27 – the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference which recently concluded in Egypt – and the evolving role of communicators in advising clients on messaging and action around the climate crisis.
PR and communications professionals are spending more time than ever working on DE&I, ESG and purpose communications, but some continue to fall short. Notified’s Sylvie Harton shares why — while these topics have been widely discussed in 2022 — many are missing the mark to define what authentic purpose truly entails.
Hotwire’s Ben Romberg shares how the rise of ESG communications is shining a light on a big opportunity ahead for greentech, especially companies focused on climate change, sustainability and renewable energy.
Is it time to pack up your home office and start commuting again? You might not be ready, but your company’s leadership likely is. According to KPMG’s 2022 CEO Outlook, 65 percent of CEOs at multinational firms saying they want workers back in cubicles 9-to-5 by 2025. As a prime example, this spring, Apple’s Chief Executive Tim Cook told his employees this in a memo, outlining his company’s April 11 hybrid back-to-work plan: “I can’t tell you how much I am looking forward to being together again.” Are employees as eager?
As we look to life post-pandemic and discussions of returning to the office more permanently than the past two years, Ruder Finn's Kathy Bloomgarden and Mondelez International's Russell Dyer weigh in on the challenges facing leaders in ways that have never been required of them until now.
The world looks drastically different than it did three years ago, and change is far from over. Padilla's Matt Kucharski and 3M's Sam Sventek discuss the monumental shifts ahead, reevaluating communication strategies, and what all of this means for leaders and those who advise them.
SPAG co-founder and managing partner Aman Gupta joins the PRovoke Media podcast to discuss why corporate communicators need to take responsibility for the fragmented nature of health systems if they are to successfully address the many challenges that have been highlighted by the Covid-19 pandemic. In conversation with Arun Sudhaman, Gupta talks through the interplay between multiple stakeholders in the healthcare ecosystem, and what this means for communicators in a diverse region like Asia-Pacific.
In this PRovoke Media Podcast, Rodell Mollineau and Ron Bonjean, co-founders and partners at ROKK Solutions, discuss the current political situation in the U.S., and its implications for business and PR. After all, in many cases, it’s no longer possible to avoid getting involved in public political debate. The pressure from customers and employees is too strong. But on the other hand, not every conversation is one a corporation needs to be part of.
The Asia-Pacific Association of Communication Directors launches its new podcast with an interview with Airbus Australia/New Zealand chief representative Stephen Forshaw. In conversation with PRovoke Media editor-in-chief Arun Sudhaman, corporate communications veteran Forshaw discusses his recent move to a broader business role at Airbus, and breaks down key lessons he has learned in terms of his career, campaign work and personal life. Forshaw, who spent two decades in Singapore before returning to Australia, also offers up one piece of advice for his younger self.
You can subscribe to the APACD podcast, for more conversations like these, here:
iTunes | Feed
James Wright, Global CEO of Red Havas, and Renee Connolly, Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer, and Head of Innovation HR Engagement & Inclusion at Merck KGaA, discuss the importance of keeping companies accountable to their purpose related promises, and the intersection of professional and personal purpose
Ogilvy PR Australia and New Zealand CEO Richard Brett joins the PRovoke Media podcast to discuss his firm's latest Futures Report, which examines key marketing and communications trends gleaned from creativity, cultural and design events in Australasia and beyond. In conversation with PRovoke Media editor Arun Sudhaman, Brett focuses on four trends in particular — altruism, authorship, alchemy and altered states of authority.
In this PRovoke Media Podcast, Andrea Hagelgans, managing director of social engagement issues for Edelman, shares why, when and how to take positions on social issues. It is of course impossible and impractical for companies and executives to speak out on every issue, so Hagelgans details where to get started to make sure you’re strategic and not making moves that could negatively impact your reputation.
In this latest episode from our series recorded at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, Paul Holmes talks to Julianna Richter, the global CEO of Ogilvy PR, and the firm's chief creative officer, Lisa Bright, about big creative ideas, how agency and in-house professionals can bring an earned media mindset to creative campaigns, and how to ensure creativity runs through agencies and PR teams.
The next generation of workers are about to step onto the world stage, and their impact is going to be profound – is your organization ready? In this video version of the PRovoke Media Podcast, Diana Marszalek, senior reporter at PRovoke Media, is joined by Kathy Bloomgarden, CEO of Ruder Finn, Josh Morton, vice president and head of corporate communications, Nestlé North America, and Gretel Perera, head of Expedia Brands PR, Americas, Expedia Group, to discuss how to meet Gen Z’s workplace expectations and what it is they want from future employers.
Topics include: 0:00 Introductions 1:24 Creating a Culture That Suits Gen Z 5:23 An Entrepreneurial Spirit Regardless of Company Size 9:46 What Matters: Authentic Leadership and Sustainability 13:46 Create a Culture of Community and Caring 16:03 The Importance of Employee Resource Groups for Belonging 18:55 The Future of Work is a Hybrid Model 22:48 Zoom Fatigue is Real: Here’s What’s Next
Zoe Watson, Australia lead and vice president of global strategy at Praytell, shares how companies can set themselves up for success when growing their businesses in new markets
The fourth episode of our Cannes podcast series features Weber Shandwick chief creative officer Tom Beckman and global executive creative director Angela Mears, in a provocative discussion of takeaways from this year's Cannes Lions festival. Notable trends include the need for brands to create culture rather than just participating, which requires them to take more risks and perhaps rethink what authenticity means in today's multi-platform era.
In the third edition of our Cannes podcast series, Avian WE CEO Nitin Mantri sits down with Arun Sudhaman to discuss why climate change and ESG issues are becoming non-negotiable for brands. Mantri also discusses how these themes inform corporate communications in India, and their implications for the broader PR market in that country.
In our second podcast from Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, Weber Shandwick’s EMEA CEO Michael Frohlich and David Levin, co-founder of sister IPG social creative agency That Lot, talk about what every brand in Cannes is after: cultural relevance. The duo talk to Maja Pawinska Sims about how brands can not only intersect with culture shifts but also drive cultural impact in fast-moving times.
In the first of a series of special podcasts from Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, Hotwire’s co-president of North America, Heather Craft, talks to Paul Holmes about how communicators can bring creativity to ESG reporting and tell compelling stories about brand accountability that resonate with multiple stakeholders and audiences.
Heather Kernahan, CEO of Hotwire Global Communications, shares paths and pitfalls to creating loyalty through environmental, social and corporate governance communications.
Topics Covered:
0:00 Introductions
2:32: What if This is New to Me?
4:57: The History of ESG
7:57: Start with the Top-Line Narrative
9:57: Get Executives Involved
14:01: Consistency Between Internal and External Messaging is Always a Problem
15:37: Make Employees Part of the Strategy
20:51: Where Does This Fall in the Priority List for the Company?
22:10: You’re Likely Already Doing Great ESG Work (and Don’t Know it)
Every single industry is a target for cyber criminals these days, but Anna Ruth Williams, founder and chief strategy officer at ARPR, and Geoff Blaine, senior vice president and chief marketing officer at SonicWall, have insight on how companies can better protect themselves before an attack.
In this episode of the PRovoke Media Podcast, Celen Vasquez provides insight into the organization COOP, and how it trains under-employed college grads for careers in marketing and communications. A COOP graduate, Vasquez discusses the roots of the industry-specific program and how it works with PR and marketing agencies to help launch careers.
Armando Triana, senior vice president of social media at Coyne PR, and Henry Langer, vice president of customer success at Julius Influencer Marketing, discuss how social media influencers are educating and entertaining a growing number of audiences in new ways.
James Wright, Global CEO of Red Havas, and Anne Tyrer, Vice President of U.K. Corporate Affairs and Communications at American Express, share how brands can be authentic in their purpose initiatives and how they communicate about them.
After six years running Edelman Mexico as general manager, Mariana Sanz in 2021 added serving as CEO of Latin America to her responsibilities. In this episode of the PRovoke Media podcast, Sanz talks to Diana Marszalek about overseeing a region with widely varied countries and cultures.
Influencer Shanda Foster and Marina Maher Communications senior VP Kristine Fan join the PRovoke Media podcast to discuss what it takes for influencers to generate conversation and trust while dispelling misinformation in the healthcare space.
More companies are embracing multiculturalism and approaching their audiences with a renewed recognition – and celebration – of their differences. This is especially true in the health care space where there is a growing recognition for the need to create culturally relevant campaigns that speak to all audiences. In this episode of the PRovoke Media Podcast, Megan Miller is joined by Ricky Fairley CEO of TOUCH, The Black Breast Cancer Alliance and Dina Alban vice president, and co-chair of the DE and I committee at Coyne PR, to talk about how the industry is adapting to multiculturalism.
In this episode of the PRovoke Media podcast, Lyndon Johnson, the founder of Toronto-based communications agency Think Differently, talks to Maja Pawinska Sims about being a neurodiverse agency leader, as well as introducing SCIENCE, his new 'operating system' for strategic communications, which blends academic theory, integration, scientific methodology, operational best practice and workflow.
Edelman's Joseph Kingsbury and Ferguson's Victoria Morrissey join Paul Holmes to discuss findings of Edelman's latest B2B thought leadership study regarding the pandemic's impact on business-to-business audiences.
Discover Puerto Rico CMO Leah Chandler joins the Provoke Podcast to discuss bringing Puerto Rico tourism back to life after repeated crises.
Zeno Group CEO Barby Siegel and Egami CEO Teneshia Jackson Warner join the PRovoke Media podcast to discuss their firms’ new partnership centered around diversifying communications.
While the majority of businesses were sending employees home at the beginning of the pandemic, Moderna was rapidly scaling. When the pharmaceutical company joined the race to a vaccine, it grew overnight by more than 2,000 employees. Suddenly every Moderna employee was thrust into the public spotlight, making it more important than ever for leadership to ensure employees and their families felt cared for and supported.
In this episode of the PRovoke Media Podcast, Megan Miller, Head of Content Partnerships at PRovoke Media talks with Scott Allison, global chairman & CEO at Allison+Partners and Tracey Franklin, chief human resources officer for Moderna, about the impact of the pandemic on Moderna — a company that was propelled to global notoriety as it worked toward a COVID vaccine — and role culture played in its success.
Allison and Franklin discuss the unprecedented value of face-to-face video calls with their people during a crisis, as well as the unexpected ways in which they met the needs of their employees during a time of risk and uncertainty. Moderna’s established culture that already prioritized taking care of its people was put to the test during the pandemic as employees’ needs demanded new types of support that included things like childcare and meal deliveries. It was this commitment to putting people over the work that was instrumental in Moderna’s successful development of a COVID vaccine.
Topics like burnout, growth, working from home and handling being a company shot into the global spotlight as Moderna are also discussed.
A great partner can make or break a campaign. In today's PRovoke Media Podcast episode, "Perfecting the Partnership," we talk to Coyne PR and Eggland’s Best about their long-running relationship and the strategic partnerships they've launched along the way. Together, they've been marketing the brand's eggs for more than 10 years.
To explore the strategy behind their long list of successful partner-pairings, Megan Miller, head of content partnerships at PRovoke Media, speaks with Jackie Peskin, vice president at Coyne PR, and Dave Holdsworth, vice president of marketing at Eggland’s Best.
The agency-brand relationship has brought life to several unique partnerships including ones with Lifetime Fitness and the colorful lifestyle brand, The Home Edit. While many wouldn't have expected eggs to have much in common with an organizational brand, Peskin's research and background in nutritional studies led to the insight that reorganizing the way food is stored inside a fridge can actually help people eat healthier — something with which Eggland's Best strives to be associated.
Peskin and Holdsworth also discuss the surprising ways in which the Covid-19 pandemic affected their work, most notably making the decision to scale back Eggland’s Best advertising during the beginning of lockdowns as consumers were having difficulty finding any eggs available in their supermarkets.
The conversation concludes with Peskin speaking on the importance of the firm and the brand's roles in vetting possible partners for the value a partnership will lend to enhancing that brand’s identity.
Allison+Partners MD Jeremy Seow and technology journalist Eileen Yu join the PRovoke Media podcast to examine how tech news is changing in Asia. The discussion follows an Allison+Partners research study that explored the battle of brand vs product, with tech news now encompassing a wide range of topics, including policy issues, geopolitical tensions, security breaches, and workplace culture. The podcast explores this shift and its implications for brands, journalists, and technology storytelling.
2021 saw Clyde Group publish its first IDEA (Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity, & Accountability) Report, a transparent accounting of the firm’s accomplishments and shortcomings in DEI. In conversation with PRovoke Media’ Diana Marszalek, founder Alex Slater and senior VP Contessa Kellogg-Winters discuss the open and honest feedback employees provided through the report — and what the agency is doing to follow up on it.
Redhill founder Jacob Puthenparambil joins the PRovoke Media podcast to discuss the changing nature of globalisation in the PR industry. In conversation with Arun Sudhaman from PRovoke Media, Puthenparambil explores how Asian companies can shift the conventional narrative in terms of multinational expansion, and why so few agencies from Asia have built global networks.
In this episode of the PRovoke Podcast, Paul Holmes talks with Rick French, founder and CEO at French/West/Vaughan a PR agency that was one of the first to start acquiring other small boutique Ad and PR agencies.
Rick goes into detail about acquiring the Ad agency West and Vaughan to help grow his business and along with it, the range of options he could offer current and new clients.
The two also discuss navigating the culture clash of merging companies, acquiring a firm with its own way of working. They also speak on working through those cultural differences, and becoming stronger, and more unified through them. On that subject, Rick stresses the importance of having a similar philosophical identity with the principles at the firm to be acquired.
French/West/Vaughan produced the iconic and longstanding Wrangler Network for the jean brand and Rick discusses how that came to fruition and how an ad campaign became a profit generator for Wrangler.
Lastly, Rick talks about how his work producing content for clients has led him to work in TV and Film production.
In this episode of the PRovoke Podcast, Paul Holmes has a conversation with Jim O’Leary, COO at Edelman, about the roles of both CEO and CCO, and how they have evolved in the last five to ten years as compared to the last two years.
Both Paul and Jim agree that the role of a CEO is incomparable to past generations of CEOs. Previously, CEOs were figureheads who handled the business systems, financial elements and board relations. Now, CEOs spend increased time relaying the role of an organization in social issues, as well as its role in society more than ever before.
Now that this has shifted the focus for CEOs, it also has changed the roles of CCOs within an organization. Advocacy is a much bigger part of the corporate communications roles than it ever has been.
Similarly to social issues, the “Great Resignation” has put pressure on organizations to be clear and transparent with their staff about where the company stands on social issues—topics that need to be handled well, lest the risk of alienating employees.
Lastly, the two discuss the human element in public relations. We have never before been able to know so much about public sentiment towards a company internally and externally, and being clear with your company’s values as to how they relate to your consumers, staff and shareholders is the most important factor in connecting with people today.
Gusto Collective founder Aaron Lau joins the PRovoke Media podcast to discuss his efforts to build an Asian holding group, with specific strengths in brand tech, luxury PR and immersive storytelling. Lau, who previously held senior roles at Cheil and DDB, explores the opportunities and challenges that exist for a homegrown player in an industry that has historically been dominated multinational conglomerates.
Influence In Healthcare: MMC’s Olga Fleming and Maddie Simko On Sharing Healthcare Information Via Social.
The rise, the predicted fall, and the ultimate staying power of influencers has been jarring and rejuvenating for the PR industry. And, as we learned during the Covid pandemic, influencers play a key role in healthcare communications, which has changed dramatically over the last two years.
With that in mind, we partnered with Marina Maher Communications on a new video series on the role influencers play in healthcare. In each episode, members of MMC’s team of specialists will explore the topic from different angles.
In this premiere episode, we speak with Olga Fleming, MMC’s president of healthcare and corporate, and strategist Maddie Simko, who led research looking at the place and power of healthcare influencers.
In this episode of the PRovoke Media podcast, Hotwire global CEO Heather Kernahan and Michael Kaye, LinkedIn’s product communications manager, discuss impactful steps comms industry leaders can take to widen applicant pools and keeping existing talent interested and engaged. Among the most important: debunking myths that keep people out of the business by showcasing the range of options and opportunities it offers.
PRovoke Media has partnered with The Orange Blowfish to discuss the changes in how retail brands connect with consumers in China and how global brands can capitalise on these trends. In this discussion, Asics Greater China MD Hilda Chan discusses her approach and learnings with The Orangeblowfish founder and creative director Siu Tang and PRovoke Media editor-in-chief Arun Sudhaman.
PRovoke Media follows up its in-depth coverage of Russia's invasion of Ukraine by discussing the public relations and reputation issues raised by the horrific events unfolding in Eastern Europe. In conversation with Arun Sudhaman, Paul Holmes and Maja Pawinska Sims explore the fallout for brands, agencies and the PR industry in general, along with the implications in terms of Russia's long-running disinformation campaign.
This is the Luminaries Mentoring Series, a video series that PRovoke Media launched in partnership with Lippe Taylor. This episode features Barri Rafferty, head of communications & brand management at Wells Fargo, and Maureen Lippe, founder & chair, of Lippe Taylor.
The candid conversation covers the challenges leaders face in a post-pandemic world that ostensibly includes people returning to the office. Keeping employees engaged, maintaining a strong culture and making employees’ commutes worthwhile are among the topics explored.
The global pandemic — that we’re very much still immersed in — has put healthcare center stage. At this moment, we’re seeing the complex interplay between health tech, providers, pharma, policy makers and other stakeholders on a global scale. It's both breathtaking and often bewildering. And even before 2020, healthcare was quickly becoming one of the most compelling areas for public relations.
With that in mind, we partnered with Real Chemistry — formerly W2O — on a new series, Healthy Bites. In each episode, we will have a quick chat with a healthcare expert to provide a digestible "what you should know" to help the industry stay ahead of the rapidly changing healthcare public relations and communications landscape. And because healthcare touches every aspect of our lives these days, we hope these 10-minute conversations will be useful no matter what your day-to-day role is.
In this episode, PRovoke Media senior reporter Diana Marszalek talks to Emily Poe, Real Chemistry’s group president of integrated communications.
For International Women's Day, three members of Global Women in PR discuss this year's theme, #BreakTheBias, through the lens of tackling various forms of bias when recruiting women into the communications industry and supporting senior female talent. After an introduction by Global Women in PR co-founder and joint president Susan Hardwick, PRovoke Media EMEA editor Maja Pawinska Sims talks to Alice Weightman, founder and CEO of Hanson Search and online talent marketplace The Work Crowd; Valerie Boas, a freelance writer, speaker and facilitator based in Paris; and journalist Laura Whitcomb, global campaign manager for the 30% Club, an initiative to increase gender diversity in businesses at board and senior management level.
Creating a Movement is a series on health and wellness, featuring in this episode Eight Sleep co-founder and brand head Alexandra Zatarain.
Creating a Movement is a series on health and wellness produced in partnership with the Bulleit Group. This episode features Alexandra Zatarain, co-founder of Eight Sleep. Built on the premise of using technology to improve sleep, Eight Sleep specializes in products including smart mattresses that track and promote better sleep, one of the most important pillars of health. Kyle Arteaga, founder and CEO of the Bulleit Group, also joins the discussion.
In this episode of The Intersection Series, Aarti Shah talks with two influential tech leaders about justice, race, gender and how Silicon Valley is (or is not) responding to these challenges. Tale of Two Tech Sectors - Apolitical vs Equitable asks Charles Hudson, Managing Partner and Founder of Precursor Ventures and Syreeta Mussante, EVP of B2B & Enterprise tech at Praytel questions like: Can a company be both equitable and apolitical? Is the chasm between those who see silicon valet as a meritocracy and those who are willing to call out its inequalities getting larger?
The discussion includes valuable insights from Hudson and Mussante as people of color in Silicon Valley. They provide an inside perspective on how big tech responded with recent racial reckonings in America and what companies can or can’t accomplish in this realm. Both discuss challenges working in places where not many peers look like them and the balance between friends who may say the wrong things and the larger systems which led those friends to unknowingly say biased things.
This video conversation features the following panelists:
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Charles Hudson, Managing Partner and Founder of Precursor Ventures
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Syreeta Mussante, EVP of B2B & Enterprise tech at Praytel
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Aarti Shah, Past PRovoke Executive Editor (moderator)
The Academy’s co-founder, Mitch Kaye, joins the PRovoke podcast to talk to Maja Pawinska Sims about the challenges of running a consumer PR agency during the pandemic and the opportunities 2022 holds, from the talent crunch and hybrid working, to creativity and culture.
Jane Morgan and Karolis Adomaitis join the podcast to discuss new research from PRHK, which reveals the extent of the PR industry's overtime problem. The Hong Kong PR association is aiming to address work-life balance challenges, which have been exacerbated by the city's unique circumstances, but have implications for agencies worldwide.
In this episode of the PRovoke Media podcast, Maja Pawinska Sims and Diana Marszalek talk through the 12 trends the PR and communications industry would like to see in 2022: in which we combine curation with aspiration and a healthy dose of pragmatism, but with enough idealism to give us all something to aim for in 2022. Ideas from our editors and industry leaders – including Torod Neptune, Jo-ann Robertson, Julianna Richter, Alex Malouf, Nitin Mantri and Joanne Painter – range from CEOs speaking up on human rights issues, to tackling disinformation, to putting a monetary value on trust, to a sustained focus on diversity and inclusion, to smarter use of technology, data, analytics and personalisation.
Dan Neale, the founder of Alfred, talks to PRovoke Media EMEA editor Maja Pawinska Sims about the agency's new Brands and Movements research, which found that corporate leaders are committed to embracing shifting consumer expectations that business now needs to put purpose on an equal footing with profit, but many are still nervous about the potential risks of speaking out on big societal and environmental issues through fear of cancel culture.
Elizabeth Bananuka is founder of BME PR Pros, a platform that she launched five years ago to promote Black and minority ethnic inclusion in the UK PR industry. In conversation with PRovoke Media's Arun Sudhaman, Bananuka discusses the organization's five-year journey — which includes The Blueprinted diversity mark for agencies, and The Xec, the first leadership scheme for UK-based BME PR and comms pros. She also breaks down the challenges and criticism she has faced, and the positives she has taken from the experience.
Verizon’s Diana Alvear and Goodie Nation founder Joey Womack launched a partnership that sees comms leaders working with Black business owners on communications strategies.
Being Human in a Tech-Enabled World is a four-part video series from PRovoke Media in partnership with AxiCom, on how different aspects of life and work – as humans and communicators – have changed since we were thrust into a virtual and hybrid world and how they might change again in the future, via the power of technology.
This fourth and final episode features AxiCom president of Europe Kate Stevens and Shane Ryan, global executive director of the Avast Foundation – which advocates for digital citizenship and inclusive, respectful and safe online experiences – in conversation with PRovoke Media's EMEA editor, Maja Pawinska Sims. The trio look at the challenges and reality of leading businesses and agencies in such tumultuous times: how does leadership steady the ship and navigate forward, and build a working environment that will survive the longhaul and not be a short term fix?
The global pandemic — that we’re very much still immersed in — has put healthcare at center stage. At this moment, we’re seeing the complex interplay between health tech, providers, pharma, policy makers and other stakeholders at a global scale. It's both breathtaking and often bewildering. And even before 2020, healthcare was quickly becoming one of the most compelling areas for public relations.
With that in mind, we partnered with Real Chemistry—- formerly W2O — on a new series Healthy Bites. In each episode, we will have a quick chat with a healthcare expert to provide a digestible "what you should know" to help the industry stay ahead of the rapidly changing healthcare public relations and communications landscape. And because healthcare touches every aspect of our lives these days, we hope these 10-minute conversations will be useful no matter what your day-to-day role is.
In this episode, PRovoke Media senior reporter Diana Marszalek talks to John Capodanno, Real Chemistry’s president of financial, corporate & capital markets communications.
Topics covered:
01:40 Changes in corporate comms
03:44 Preparing for future challenges
04:31 The corporate comms skillset
06:22 Exemplary organizations
07:48 Reaching the c-suite
PRovoke Media partnered with the Hoffman Agency to explore how public relations ideas and strategies can be deployed to address B2B challenges and drive tangible, sustainable business outcomes.
The discussion featured the following panellists:
- Justin Lam, Business Executive Officer, Nespresso HK & Macau
- Marty Filipowski, Director of Public Relations, APJ, Nutanix
- David Hardoon, Managing Director, Aboitiz Data Innovation
- Caroline Hsu, Managing Director AP, The Hoffman Agency
- Sheel Kohli, Chief Marketing Officer, Eqonex
- Arun Sudhaman, Editor-in-Chief, PRovoke Media (moderator)
0:00 Introductions & relevant experience 6:05 Changing role of PR in B2B marketing strategy 23:27 Long term objectives vs short term focus 29:34 Understanding what PR can accomplish 35:40 Changes in PR investment, from media relations towards social media, owned/paid content and influencer marketing 50:05 Using data and commstech to measure and prove return on PR investment 1:07:17 Quality of B2B content
Nik Govier founded Blurred three years ago and the agency has quickly become a hugely successful business that was ahead of its time on ESG and purpose. But the journey hasn’t all been smooth. In this frank and moving conversation with Maja Pawinska Sims, Govier talks about her personal story and how she and her team have dealt with multiple cancer diagnoses and bereavement along the way.
IPG Dxtra’s chief inclusion & diversity officer Margenett Moore-Roberts joins the Provoke Media podcast to discuss an initiative calling on white parents to discuss race and racism with their kids.
Clean Creatives campaign director Duncan Meisel joins the PRovoke Media podcast to discuss his group's efforts to stop PR firms — most notably Edelman — from working with the fossil fuel industry. In a spirited debate with Paul Holmes, Meisel asserts that such work obstructs urgently needed government action on climate change, and impedes climate justice solutions.
This conversation explores two launches: both in the same sector, during a global pandemic but targeting two very different groups. The Infiniti Motor Company recently launched its QX55 and QX60 models and the pandemic opened opportunities to experiment with new launch strategies — and ultimately reboot its playbook. The discussion that features Wendy Orthman, Infiniti’s newly-promoted GM of global integrated brand, marketing and communications, in addition to Stephanie Friess, SVP at imre.
Topics Covered: 02:02 Orthman on moving to Japan to join Infiniti just as Covid-19 enveloped the world
04:33 Friess draws parallels between automotive and beauty, retail & lifestyle
06:04 The QX 55 launch — and the unexpected pandemic pivot
08:12 How lockdown allowed the team to take unprecedented risks
11:20 How to replicate the sensory experience of buying a car during the pandemic
12:49 Rethinking exec comms around the ‘no suits rule’
15:03 ‘It takes a village’ - a new way to approach the marketing mix
18:43 Getting real about the role of celebs vs more accessible influencers
21:00 How the ‘Claire’ persona for QX60 still included multicultural nuance
25:11 Lessons learned on integration
Ogilvy PR China president Joe Yu and SVP Simon Webb join the PRovoke Media podcast to discuss how Chinese companies' international communications needs are changing amid heightened geopolitical tensions. The duo also explore the impact on China's goal of building stronger soft power, and the role that American agencies can play in the current environment.
In this conversation, Aarti Shah talks to Aaron Kwittken, who recently launched PRophet, an AI-driven, SaaS platform designed for and by PR professionals to test and re-test pitches before sending to the media. They talk about how AI will help PR professionals craft targeted pitches, whether AI will transform the PR agency business model, the future of the office, and the changed employee-employer dynamic. Kwittken — who is founder/CEO of PRophet and chairman, KWT Global — was also featured on PRovoke Media's Innovator 25 this year.
Topics:
01:15: How AI can be used to pitch media 04:20 How PRophet emerged from an internal competition 07:08 AI will allow the PR workforce to spend more time on higher-quality work 11:39 Reducing 'grunt work' can help improve the industry's mental health crisis 13:59 Aaron's take on the future of the office 16:58 DE&I priorities in the post-pandemic era 21:40 Shifting employee-employer dynamics 24:02 Thoughts on innovation
In a keynote conversation that featured GSK Consumer Health global corporate affairs SVP Dana Bolden and Walgreen Boots Alliance (WBA) chief communications officer Aaron Radelet, H+K New York EVP Avra Lorrimer examined the role that communicators are playing in closing health equity gaps, finding that their role has — in this respect at least — never been more important.
The leap from communications to business leadership remains rare within major multinational corporations, but it is one that Jackson Jeyanayagam undertook when he became VP and general manager of Clorox's consumer business in 2019.
In conversation with PRovoke Media editor-in-chief Arun Sudhaman at the PRovokeGlobal Summit last week, Jeyanayagam talked about the lessons he has learned along the way, including the qualities communicators can bring to broader management roles within businesses, and the challenges they need to overcome if they are to make a similar shift.
Jennifer Risi, Cheryl Overton and Alyssa Garnick — owners of The Sway Effect, Cheryl Overton Communications and Agean PR respectively — are part of a growing number of independents who are teaming up to win and service accounts that require more than individual small shops can handle on their own. They join Diana Marszalek on the PRovoke Media podcast to discuss the new network model, and how it’s helped them grow.
As COP26 gets underway, two leaders from strategic communications consultancy Fourtold, Omar Mockbil and Tatu Liimatainen, who head up the firm’s EU advocacy and EU public affairs businesses respectively, join Maja Pawinska Sims on the PRovoke Media podcast to talk about the regulatory and policy milestones around environment, climate and sustainability leading up to the summit, and what it might mean for public affairs and corporate communications consultants, and effective messaging around climate change.
This episode tackles mental health from the pharmaceutical new perspective with Robert Murphy, head of external communications at Otsuka America Pharmaceutical and Kelly Dencker, EVP, Director of healthcare at Coyne PR. We anchor the conversation in a piece that Otsuka published in Forbes' BrandVoice platform: These 3 Changes Can Help Us Overcome The Mental Health Pandemic by Jodi Helmer. In the conversation, we explore each three factors and dive more deeply into the the role that communications can play in each.
Murphy's views are his own and do not necessarily reflect Otsuka America Pharmaceutical.
Topics covered: 01:35 What is it like working at Otsuka America Pharmaceutical? 03:41 How communications can help improve access to care 08:17 Why mental health community outreach requires a multi-layered approach 11:21 The role comms plays in leveraging the power of digital technology 16:41 How to create a more compassionate culture around mental health 21:55 How the language we uses can shift acceptance of mental health
In this episode of the PRovoke Media podcast, PRovoke Media's executive editor Aarti Shah talks to Gabriel Stricker who has been immersed in Silicon Valley for two decades with senior roles at Google, Twitter, Niantic, the Emerson Collective, and most recently at Color. They talk about how Stricker nearly took on the top communications job at Theranos — and the lessons he learned from that near miss. Drawing upon Stricker's experiences, they talk about what happens when CCOs and CEOs clash on values, ethics and purpose. The conversation happened on the backdrop of Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen's testimony before the Senate.
Topics: 01:30 Gabriel Stricker on almost working at Theranos 03:50 The importance of having moral alignment with the leadership team 06:17 Is it possible to vet for character during the interview process? 10:05 Is the gold rush mentality in tech normalizing people compromise their values for big payouts? 13:34 Having a healthy internal culture and building harmful products aren't mutually exclusive 17:36 Should CCOs be chief conscience officers? 28:43 The tricky economics of the agency world 36:33 Stricker's rule for vetting companies
In this PRovoke Media podcast, Lippe Taylor CEO Paul Dyer discusses his new book Friction Fatigue, in which he challenges brands to accept the failures of advertising and start engaging consumers on their own terms.
Being Human in a Tech-Enabled World is a four-part video series from PRovoke Media in partnership with AxiCom on how different aspects of life and work – as humans and communicators – have changed since we were thrust into a virtual and hybrid world and how they might change again in the future, now the power of technology has been realised. This third episode features AxiCom’s Aaron Virola and Emily Denton, as well as executive leadership coach Michael “Coop” Cooper in conversation with PRovoke Media's EMEA editor, Maja Pawinska Sims. The panel discuss the reality of starting a job, and even a career, without meeting colleagues, and the challenges for employers of onboarding and mentoring team members, and maintaining agency culture and on-the-job learning and professional development in a remote or hybrid working model.
In this episode of the PRovoke Media podcast, Walgreens Boots Alliance CCO Aaron Radelet talks about how the Covid pandemic elevated the role of pharmacies and health & wellness retailers like Walgreens, Duane Reade and Boots as part of the larger healthcare system.
Lenovo Asia-Pacific communications head Genevieve Hilton joins the PRovoke Media podcast to discuss how the in-house communications role is changing. In conversation with PRovoke editor-in-chief Arun Sudhaman, Hilton discusses the changing balance between global and local communications, the importance of inclusivity, the rise of sustainability as a function, and more.
We've partnered with Real Chemistry— formerly W2O — on a new series Healthy Bites. In each episode, we will have a quick chat with a healthcare expert to provide a digestible "what you should know" to help the industry stay ahead of the rapidly changing healthcare public relations and communications landscape. In this episode, PRovoke Media executive editor Aarti Shah talks to Dan Carter, digital health and regional practice lead for the East Coast, about the future of digital health.
Topics covered: 01:33 Defining digital health 02:26 The impact of recent VC investments in telehealth 05:13 How healthcare apps can stand out in such crowded markets 06:22 Will mental health continue to be digital-first? 08:29 Biggest digital health category in 2022?
The research is clear: flexibility now ranks second only to compensation on what employees care about — and it hits even harder with diverse employees. According to Future Forum data: 80% of Black, 78% of Hispanic, and 77% of Asian respondents want a flexible working experience, either through a hybrid or remote-only model. This compared to 74% of white employees. This race breakdown paints a stark picture for an industry that’s both focused on bringing employees back to the office while also pledging to increase diversity at all levels. To explore what this means for the PR industry, PRovoke Media executive editor Aarti Shah spoke with Helen Kupp, head of product strategy & partnerships at Future Forum, and Naria Frazer, VP and head DEI at Praytell.
03:00 The Future Forum survey 05:37 What it’s like to be a racial minority at a PR agency 08:14 Re-skilling managers around inclusion, especially in remote environments 09:13 Subtle ways in-office networking can be exclusionary 11:22 Normalizing flexibility & not making remote workers ‘second class’ employees 16:38 How Praytell manages remote talent and its 4-day work week 19:58 It’s not just about remote work — it’s also asynchronous work 24:41 The “office is necessary for culture” trope is a myth 32:52 Advice for the industry
We've partnered with Real Chemistry— formerly W2O — on a new series Healthy Bites. In each episode, we will have a quick chat with a healthcare expert to provide a digestible "what you should know" to help the industry stay ahead of the rapidly changing healthcare public relations and communications landscape. We are launching the series with Emily Poe, group president of integrated communications at Real Chemistry, who talks to PRovoke Media executive editor Aarti Shah about data-driven communications.
Topics covered: 02:01 Defining data-driven communicator 02:59 The balance between instincts and data 03:53 Most exciting data-driven advancements 06:39 When does data have the most impact?
Ahead of PRovoke Media's Asia-Pacific Summit, Ogilvy PR Asia president Emily Poon joins the podcast to explore how creativity is evolving the region. Poon, who also judged this year's Cannes Lions, finds that new platforms and sources of influence are reshaping what PR storytelling means in Asia.
Relationships are tricky, and those between brands and consumers are no exception. In this conversation, Diana Marszalek speaks with P&G Ventures communications head Lauren Thaman and imre executive creative director Patrick “Sully” Sullivan about the complexities of striking the right tone in consumer communications, particularly at a time when people want greater corporate purpose but also are seeking a break from it all.
Topics covered: 00:55 What is brand belief? 02:20 The brand belief discovery process 05:29 Balancing brand purpose with brand levity 09:43 Defining the creative process 14:01 Working with entrepreneurs on the creative process 16:56 Creativity across disciplines 19:48 How 'being cancelled' can be a win 22:38 How do you measure creativity
Maja Pawinska Sims joins Arun Sudhaman on the PRovoke podcast to discuss the latest developments in Hong Kong's interminable PR saga, following the news that the Relaunch Hong Kong campaign will be delayed, and is being criticised by lawmakers as a waste of public money.
Over many years of judging PR campaign awards, the metric that seems to resonate most strongly with judges is: did this campaign impact the business positively? And one of the most powerful ways to demonstrate this is via lead generation. We recently had a conversation with Susan O’Brien, VP of marketing and communications at Cisco's ThousandEyes and Nikki Festa O’Brien, SVP at PAN Communications, to explore why the time has come for PR to solidify its role within lead generation.
We talk about these five reasons:
2:41 How 2020 changed the lead-generation game 6:40 The interplay of content and SEO 9:30 The channel-neutral world makes lead generation more accessible 13:38 Customer stories, of course, drive sales 17:30 Lead generation is the ideal outcome of integrated communications
Even before the pandemic, skincare was booming — and rather than taking a hit when the world moved online, its demand accelerated as people sought to look their best on camera. In this conversation, Aarti Shah speaks to Caitlin King, assistant vice president at CeraVe and Lisa Wolleon, EVP at Coyne PR, about the intersection of self-care and skincare and the complexities of communicating self-care, a topic that is both inherently universal and personal.
Topics: 01:30 What is driving the skincare boom? 03:33 The role influencers play in reaching consumers 06:56 Identifying the right influencer for campaigns 08:17 What beauty consumers want when they ask for 'transparency'? 10:34 How CeraVe approaches purpose 14:43 The future of the self-care movement
In this episode of the PRovoke Media podcast, Aarti Shah talks Beth Haiken, EVP at Method Communications, about the firm's journey from being an office-first culture to one that prioritizes finding and keeping great talent, no matter where they are based. Haiken talks about how this change shifted the agency's focus from the number of hours to the quality of the work — and brought a more intentional focus on culture, creativity and collaboration.
After working for the likes of Activision and Amazon, UCLA’s Mary Osako became her alma mater’s first vice chancellor of communications in September 2019, with the goal of maximizing the impact of the university’s new strategic communications division. In this podcast, Osako talks to PRovoke Media’s Diana Marszalek about how she forged ahead with her goals while unexpectedly also managing Covid communications targeting nearly 50,000 students.
Maryellen Royle is partner and global head of operations of Evoke Kyne, PRovoke Media’s 2021 healthcare PR agency of the year. In this podcast, she talks to Diana Marszalek about what it takes to create content that matters amid a plethora of information, and how effective communications can positively impact public health.
As Shutterstock’s head of creative, Flo Lau oversees creative output for the global provider of stock photography, stock footage, and stock music. In this podcast, she talks to PRovoke Media’s Diana Marszalek about how Covid changed the way brands think about content creation, and the long-term impact on the process.
This episode of the PRovoke Media podcast looks at the complex interplay between the tech companies/PR teams and the media, including the emergence of techlash and what's driving momentum against the tech companies now. Our guest Nirit Weiss Blatt, PhD is author of Techlash and Tech Crisis Communication and a USC Center for Public Relations research fellow. Blatt recently published an OpEd on techlash in Newsweek.
If the media always seems to be in crisis, it’s because, well, it is. As the number of global crises mount, quality journalism continues to be threatened by a seemingly unending barrage of media closures, layoffs, and furloughs. This, and its ultimate implications, was the topic of the latest episode with Gabriel Stricker, CCO at Emerson Collective and on the board of directors for The Center For Investigative Reporting, and NewsWhip CEO Paul Quigley.
To hear more from this conversation, listen or watch below:
4:30 Misinformation vs disinformation
7:38 How the decline of local journalism is changing society
15:06 Who should decide whether news is reliable?
21:10 Should objectivity really be the objective?
26:05 How cellphone footage has changed the narrative.
36:51 Should journalists unionize and do paywalls work?
43:42 How did The Atlantic respond to attacks on Jeffrey Goldberg?
48:37 Is it even possible to predict the news cycle?
There’s been an explosion of interest in women’s health recently. The category, deemed ‘femtech’ by some, is currently a $700m market that’s expected to boom to more than $1 billion by 2025. Of course, women’s health isn’t new, so what, exactly, is different about today's momentum? That’s the question we asked in the latest episode of “License to Accelerate: Perspectives on the Future of Health” that features Jess Graham, chief marketing officer at Hologram Sciences; Bulbul Hooda, brand creator and chief marketing officer at Vella Bioscience; and Michelle Webb who leads the health practice at Allison+Partners. The conversation is moderated by PRovoke Media executive editor Aarti Shah.
03:08 More about Hologram Sciences and Vella Bioscience
06:38 Why we should examine the use of ‘femtech’
07:21 Medical terms vs. euphemisms for women’s health
10:16 Social media restrictions on feminine health
13:49 How to build trust around such intimate offerings
17:48 Inclusive storytelling on women’s health
21:26 How data is driving storytelling on women’s health
24:16 Combating ageism against women
27:10 Where is the conversation headed?
29:40 How to stand out in such a crowded, buzz-generating space?
Being Human in a Tech-Enabled World is a four-part video series from PRovoke Media in partnership with AxiCom. In this series, PRovoke and AxiCom invite in-house communications leaders and experts in their field to join the conversation on how different aspects of life and work – as humans and communicators – have changed since we were thrust into a virtual world and how they might change again in the future, now the power of technology has been realised.
This second episode on creativity features three guests: Graeme Anthony, AxiCom’s first creative director, who is bringing a consumer PR approach to B2B technology campaigns after 10 years at Frank, where he worked on campaigns for the likes of Burger King, Diet Coke, Huawei and Atom Bank; young creative Aoife O’Leary, who co-founded Girls Do Ads and has already been a Cannes Young Lions Finalist and picked up awards including D&AD New Blood Pencil and Ones To Watch; and Sean DallasKidd, a founding partner of consumer creative and communications firm Demonstrate and ex creative director at agencies including J Walter Thompson and FleishmanHillard.
In conversation with PRovoke Media's EMEA editor, Maja Pawinska Sims, the trio of creative directors cover the challenges of finding creative inspiration in a virtual world; the effect of lockdown on the creative process and creativity in communications campaigns; and what creative teams might take forward into the post-pandemic world.
Martin Guerrieria, global director of Kantar’s annual BrandZ research into the world’s top 100 most valuable brands, talks to PRovoke Media’s EMEA editor Maja Pawinska Sims about the findings of the latest study, including the impact of the pandemic, the biggest brand success stories, and key takeaways for PR and communications professionals.
The PRovoke Media podcast turns its attention to the 2021 Creativity in PR study, examining how the PR industry has risen to the unique creative challenges posed by the Covid-19 era. The discussion features Creativity in PR co-author Claire Bridges from Now Go Create and Lesley Backus from FleishmanHillard, who talk to Arun Sudhaman about how creativity has changed during the past 18 months, and why authenticity has emerged as the key driver of great PR work.
In his book The Money Hackers, Dan Simon – the CEO of financial communications specialist Vested – delves deep into fintech, from the start of the industry, and who fuelled it, to the far-reaching ways the technology impacts us every day — and will continue to well into the future. In this Provoke Media Podcast, Simon shares his findings with Diana Marszalek, including what they mean for stakeholders and how communicators are managing the fintech sector.
In this episode of the PRovoke Media podcast, Aarti Shah talks to Margot Edelman, GM of Edelman's Bay Area hub, about growing up in the PR's most famous family and why that has been a double-edged sword. She also reflects on how Edelman's tech practice has evolved to become one of its mightiest business drivers — and the new approach she takes to growing and expanding the company's presence in Silicon Valley.
This episode features Karen Kahn, head of corporate affairs & chief communications officer at HP, and Maureen Lippe, founder & chair, of Lippe Taylor. The candid conversation, moderated by PRovoke's executive editor Aarti Shah, covers how the CCO role of the future must evolve so that communications is making corporate policy — not simply communicating it, the impact purpose is having on recruitment during a severe talent crunch, the role clients must take in holding agencies accountable around diversity, and more.
In this episode of the PRovoke Media podcast, Aarti Shah talks to Dylan Tweney and Kathleen Gratehouse about ways the PR industry has evolved how it brings journalists into the business. Tweney, formerly of VentureBeat and Wired, joined Highwire this year as the agency's first editor-in-chief. In this conversation, the group shares their experiences and observations — and provide lessons for the PR industry as it continues to expand its hiring pool to journalists.
In the first episode of our new series on Modern Brand Belief, in partnership with imre, we explore data-informed innovation with Lindsay McGettigan, SVP & activation group director at imre, and Ryan Billings, head of oncology digital customer experience at GSK. The conversation includes defining innovation amid today's hype cycle, the unexpected intersection of data and empathy, and how to avoid pitfalls of chasing 'the shiny new object' when it comes to innovation. PRovoke senior reporter Diana Marszalek hosts the discussion.
The PR industry — in particular the agency side of the business — has long faced issues related to ageism. And as many aspects of diversity & inclusion have come to the forefront in the past few years, ageism continues to be relatively taboo and unaddressed. PRovoke Media's latest data shows that in North America only 57% of PR agency employees believe the industry provides opportunities for those 50+. To discuss this, we bring H&S founder/CEO Elizabeth Harrison onto the show to talk about this with Aarti Shah.
This episode kicks-off a series with Allison+Partners, License to Accelerate: Perspectives on the Future of Health. With May being Mental Health Awareness, in this episode we discuss how the global pandemic has impacted both awareness and action around mental health. The conversation, hosted by PRovoke executive editor Aarti Shah, features Stephanie Rogers, SVP of communications and marketing from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and Michelle Webb, managing director of health at Allison+Partners. They explore the question: while we're seeing signs that the stigma around mental health is eroding somewhat, how can we build on this momentum to ensure that we are guaranteeing #mentalhealth4all?
In this episode, we invite back to the show Sabrina Lynch, SVP at Taylor, to reflect on how the past year has impacted PR professionals of color. The show explores the long-term mental health impact rooted in the trauma of 2020 — in addition to how the workforce of the future has transformed their expectations around work and wellness and what this means for the PR industry emerging from the pandemic.
Paul Holmes joins the podcast to discuss PRovoke Media's Global Rankings analysis, which revealed that the PR industry only declined 4% during 2020. In conversation with Arun Sudhaman, Holmes examines factors behind the PR sector's resilience, including the demand for corporate affairs counsel and the shift towards stakeholder capitalism and ESG. The duo also discuss whether such significant trends will have a long-lasting impact on the corporate communications function.
In this episode of the PRovoke Media podcast, we talk to Leslie Campisi, who has spent more than two decades in PR and marketing, and also recently became a Mayo Clinic-trained coach in order to make wellness a bigger priority within the tech sector. PRovoke executive editor Aarti Shah recently spoke to Campisi about Basecamp's new policy that banned, among other things, “societal and political discussions” on internal forums. The conversation explores how this policy could impact culture and employee's mental health — and what this could mean for other tech companies and the PR agencies they hire. (Since this episode was recorded, Basecamp has addressed the backlash to the policy.)
In this conversation, Vice CMO Nadja Bellan-White joins Paul Holmes and Jennifer Risi, the Sway Effect’s founder & president, in a discussion on how Vice is reimagining its brand and expanding its reach in the ultra-competitive digital media space. The provocative conversation also explores the ever-changing role media plays in culture and how US media are calibrating to a truly global world. The group also takes a hard-hitting look at diversity and how to tell the difference between hollow efforts at DE&I and ones that are designed to make to make a real impact.
Gavin Devine, former chief executive of MHP, founder of public affairs boutique Park Street Partners and PRCA board member, joins Maja Pawinska Sims on the PRovoke podcast to talk through two big UK news stories: the David Cameron/Greensill lobbying scandal – and new proposed rules for lobbyists – and the communications failures of the proposed European Super League for football clubs.
Ben Kaplan is CEO of Top Worldwide and the man behind Nationalday.com, the authority on national days dedicated to people, places and things. He joins Diana Marszalek on the PRovoke podcast to explain why he is a big believer in PR firms owning their own distribution channels to push out content to consumers so they have more control and agility than relying on third parties.
Manifest's creative director Chomoi Picho-Owiny and consumer campaign director Emma Corbett joins Maja Pawinska Sims on the PRovoke podcast to talk about their groundbreaking Boob Life campaign for baby products brand Tommee Tippee and how creativity can help break down social taboos and normalise better conversations.
Creating a Movement is a new series on health and wellness, in partnership with the Bulleit Group. The first episode features Gail Becker, who is founder and CEO of Caulipower and its holding company Vegolutionary Foods. Caulipower is one of the fastest-growing, innovative food companies. Before taking on this venture, Becker had an esteemed career in public relations, most notably spending decades as an executive at Edelman. This episode also features Kyle Arteaga, founder and CEO of the Bulleit Group and PRovoke Media executive editor Aarti Shah.
Mike Kapetanovic, Growthlab’s founder and lead strategist, joins Diana Marszalek on the PRovoke podcast to share his insights into federal opportunities for public relations — and what it takes to secure them. A specialist in helping agencies grow their public sector business, Kapetanovic discusses the intricacies of pitching government, and where PR firms fit in among other federal contractors.
Tilo Bonow is the founder of Berlin-based agency Piabo, which specialises in supporting challenger technology and digital brands, from investors to tech heavyweights. Bonow also mentors entrepreneurs in start-ups accelerators and incubators, and acts as a business angel and investor via a number of venture capital funds. An early adopter of audio social media app Clubhouse, Bonow gives Maja Pawinska Sims his top tips for PR professionals on making the most of it of the new platform.
In this episode of Combining Social and Media Strategy, we speak to Brandon Borrman, VP global communications at Twitter and NewsWhip CEO Paul Quigley about the way Twitter has shaped online discourse and the way information travels. The conversation covers whether world leaders should be held to the same rules as others on the platform, the way misinformation should be handled — especially when it comes to public health — and, ultimately, whether the platform's recent changes will help more brands feel safe about having an active voice on what has become the online town square.
In this candid conversation about race in the workplace, Aarti Shah talks to Silicon Valley-based Syreeta Mussante, EVP of technology at Praytell, about the isolation in being a Black woman in technology PR. Also joining the conversation is Rich Fogg, CEO of the UK-based CCgroup, who talks about the responsibilities that white PR leaders have when it comes to dismantling white supremacy within the workplace and rooting out other biases that can compromise diversity, inclusion and equity efforts. Video conversation also available here.
Crisis management consultant Jonathan Hemus joins the PRovoke podcast to discuss his new book 'Crisis Proof', which examines how organizations can respond to the various issues that threaten their business and reputation. Hemus explores why it seems like there are more corporate crises today than ever before, and what this means for how businesses manage risk and reputation. He also rates the best and worst crisis reponses he has seen, and examines why comms people love a good crisis.
Being Human in a Tech-Enabled World is a new four-part video series from PRovoke Media in partnership with AxiCom. In this series, PRovoke and AxiCom will invite in-house communications leaders and experts in their field to join the conversation on what different aspects of what life and work – as humans and communicators – look like now and how they might look in the future, through the lens of technology.
This first episode on The Workplace – available below as video and audio – features three guests: Sasha Watson, the people director of Moonpig, the personalised greeting cards, flowers and gifts business, which has been firmly at the intersection of technology and human touchpoints during a time when we haven’t been able to be together for celebrations; Helen Brown, chief operating officer at WPP People Operations, who has been overseeing modernisation of the people practice across all of WPP’s companies and defining the scope of how technology will support that transformation; and Ed Gemmell, the global head of brand and communications at market research, data and insights giant Kantar.
This first conversation, hosted by PRovoke's EMEA editor Maja Pawinska Sims and AxiCom’s president of Europe Kate Stevens, covers the impact on the creative industries of being forced overnight into the “future of work” as Covid struck; how we have adapted to our virtual working existence in terms of work/life balance, culture, relationships and wellbeing; and what's next for the workplace as we emerge into a post-pandemic world.
Future episodes will cover creativity, psychology and leadership, and learning.
General Mills’ chief communications officer Jano Cabrera is charged with bringing the 154-year-old food company and its classic brands — from Gold Medal Flour and Betty Crocker desserts to Wheaties and Green Giant — in line with 21st century tastes and expectations. Cabrera joins Diana Marszalek on the PRovoke podcast to discuss his multi-fold approach, spanning marketing, CSR and new product creation.
In this episode, Aarti Shah and the W2O Group's Aaron Strout reflect on key takeaways from #PRovokeNA, which took place virtually on February 24. Among the topics they discuss: how emerging platforms were transformed by Covid-19, why ESG has supplanted CSR, how public affairs has transformed with the democratization of media, and how healthcare communications was permanently changed by the pandemic. To read more about the sessions and takeaways from #PRovokeNA, full coverage from the event can be found here and videos of each session can be seen here.
Prospect Resourcing co-founder Emma Dale joins the PRovoke podcast to discuss the 2021 State of the Industry Report. Produced by Prospect and PublicAffairsAsia, the study reveals a tough year financially for PR and communications professionals, but also finds a greater appreciation of the value and importance of the communications function. Dale discusses these trends, along with hiring patterns and the future of work.
The first edition of "Exploring Public Relations and Managing Communication", the textbook used in teaching PR across UK universities, was published in 2006. For its 5th edition, co-authors Ralph Tench and Stephen Waddington have, with a cohort of respected industry leaders and academics, comprehensively overhauled the content. Tench and Waddington join Maja Pawinska Sims on the PRovoke podcast to talk about how they have endeavoured to create a vital resource for students, lecturers and practitioners in a very changed world, blending theory and practice with critical analysis and case studies, and how to ensure PR education itself is fit-for-purpose.
This conversation features AbdelHalim AbdAllah, crisis communications officer for the African Region at the World Health Organization, and NewsWhip CEO Paul Quigley. PRovoke Media executive editor Aarti Shah hosts the conversation that covers how WHO is preparing for the largest vaccine rollout on the continent — and addressing specific misinformation threats that involves adapting strategies to align with various countries and cultures.
Former Sky corporate comms director and Bell Pottinger partner Gavin Davis set up reputation and communications agency Nepean in 2019. He joins EMEA editor Maja Pawinska Sims on the PRovoke podcast to talk about how business leaders can effectively express their "corporate body language" to stakeholders, particularly as the focus on environmental, social and governance (ESG) grows.
Raja Rajamannar is chief marketing & communications officer for Mastercard, and president of the company’s healthcare business. He joins PRovoke editor-in-chief Arun Sudhaman to discuss his new book Quantum Marketing, which declares that the obsolescence of marketing has begun. Rajamannar also explores the importance of genuine integration between marketing and communications, the rise of risk and reputation management, and the underrated virtues of 'decency'.
In this episode, Paul Holmes talks to Silvia Taylor, SVP of corporate affairs at Novavax, and Adam Hildreth, founder/CEO of Crisp, about the reputation issues facing the pharmaceutical industry as the largest vaccine effort in the world rolls out to combat Covid-19. The group also addresses the disinformation Novavax had to deal with as part of their clinical trials and how the global pandemic has accelerated the urgency for transparency and humanity in healthcare communications.
Connect2 Communications founder and president Rich Williams is a big believer in the persuasive power of telling very real, very human, stories, and putting them at the center of communications strategies — even when clients are tech companies through and through. Williams joins Diana Marszalek on the PRovoke podcast to discuss the art of mining for and promoting those stories, and the role they play in furthering B2B tech clients’ business.
Precision co-founder Stephanie Cutter was one of the producers of President Joe Biden's socially-distant inauguration and the virtual Democratic National Convention last fall. In this episode of the PRovoke Media podcast, Cutter talks to Aarti Shah about the numerous challenges of producing the inauguration after a deadly insurrection and as the country reckons with mass death amid a global pandemic.
This episode features Zapwater's Jenn Lake and Stephanie Poquette to talk about how the pandemic has changed influencer marketing. The discussion, moderated by PRovoke executive editor Aarti Shah, covers the influencer marketing challenges and opportunities that emerged during the crises of the past 12 months — and also looks forward to what we can expect around influencer marketing in 2021.
AMEC chair Richard Bagnall, the CEO for Europe and the Americas of measurement firm Carma, and Hard Numbers founder Darryl Sparey join Maja Pawinska Sims on the PRovoke podcast to discuss their new research showing a direct link between PR and media coverage, and the level of Series B funding start-ups in all sectors can attract.
Chris McCafferty, the founder of Kaper and then Karmarama, joined Publicis Groupe agency MSL in 2019 as UK chief executive. He joins Maja Pawinska Sims on the PRovoke podcast to talk about the agency’s new data-driven insights tool, Belief Stack, and the growing importance for brands to understand the deeply-held beliefs and values of their audiences.
Vuki Vujasinovic founded Australian firm Sling & Stone 10 years ago, and has since grown the startup-focused agency into one of the country's biggest players, winning Consultancy of the Year honours in 2020 following expansion into New Zealand and the US. He talks to PRovoke editor-in-chief Arun Sudhaman about the firm's continued growth during the pandemic, along with the challenges the Covid era has brought amid broader technological disruption.
This episode features Lily Lin, VP of global communications and public affairs at Google and Maureen Lippe, Founder & Chairman of Lippe Taylor. The conversation, moderated by PRovoke's executive editor Aarti Shah, covers how 2020 has fundamentally shifted the conversation around work-life integration, drawing boundaries in all areas of your life, how strong managers foster allyship and cultures of building others up — and more.
Milk & Honey PR founder Kirsty Leighton, one of our EMEA Innovator 25 in 2020, and partner Fiona Gildea, who leads on ESG and sustainability at the female-led agency, join Maja Pawinska Sims on the PRovoke podcast to talk about being a B-Corp and building a sustainable and purpose-led business, including planned initiatives and collaborative industry projects for the year ahead.
This two-part podcast with Diana Marszalek features Steve Kirsch, founder of the Early Covid Treatment Fund, and Allison+Partners’ Amber Albrecht discussing the challenges of garnering support for scientists, followed by Tagger’s Diogo Felippelli talking about how the pandemic has changed the tone and tenor of social media.
This episode of the PRovoke Media podcast features Greg Amrofell, CMO at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, and Andrew Shih, EVP of corporate and public affairs at MBooth Health. The conversation looks at vaccine communications, the erosion of trust — especially for entities like the CDC and FDA — and how a Biden administration will further evolve the communications landscape.
Allison + Partners consumer brands leader Lisa Rosenberg joins Aarti Shah on the PRovoke podcast to reflect on how the challenges of 2020 shaped innovation this year. We also talk about the creative campaigns that broke through a tumultuous social and political backdrop. Rosenberg was featured on the 2020 Innovator 25 in Americas.
Berk Communications founder and CEO Ron Berkowitz joins Diana Marszalek on the PRovoke podcast to talk about how professional athletes and players this year have leveraged their personal brands to take a step forward as leadership and role models and push for change. The discussion covers how sport has reflected bigger issues in the world, from Black Lives Matter to cancel culture, and the impact of having no sports to gather around in the year of Covid.
This episode of the PRovoke Podcast features a group from Kivvit who integrated innovation thinking with diversity, equity and inclusion. This group — Zach Silber, Taylor Cavazos, Hira Shaikh and Brad Weekes — published a #BlackLivesMatter Insights Report that explores the engagement behind this summer’s movement, including the key digital drivers that sparked and sustained the momentum — and the ultimate takeaway for brands.
Show Notes
BlackLivesMatter Insights Report
Video Q&A Innovator 25 — Americas 2020
Ruder Finn CEO Kathy Bloomgarden joins Diana Marszalek on the PRovoke podcast to talk about how communications is continuing to evolve with each new phase of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Hip Hop Public Health executive director Lori Rose Benson and Finn Partners senior partner Helen Shelton join Diana Marszalek on the PRovoke podcast to talk about how using popular music to deliver health and safety information to an underserved youth audience has resonated during the Covid pandemic.
H+K Strategies global head of content and publishing Vikki Chowney discusses the digital advances that the PR industry has made in 2020, and whether these are likely to persist in 2021 and beyond. In an expansive conversation, Chowney covers such areas as the benefits of virtual collaboration, the relative merits of different social media platforms, and the importance of authentic, co-created content.
Former Weber Shandwick London CEO Rachel Friend joins Maja Pawinska Sims on the PRovoke podcast to talk about her twin new roles and priorities as CEO of award-winning consumer agency W Communications and as the incoming chair of the Public Relations and Communications Association.
This episode features Kelly McGinnis, SVP & Chief Communications Officer at Levi Strauss and Maureen Lippe, Founder & Chairman of Lippe Taylor. The conversation, moderated by PRovoke's executive editor Aarti Shah, covers the importance of trusting your instincts, the crucial workplace transitions that are necessary as professionals grow into leadership roles, why vulnerability builds effective and empathetic leadership, and the longview on purpose and the pandemic — and more.
Zeno Group Asia-Pacific president Paul Mottram joins the PRovoke podcast to discuss last week's Digital Innovation roundtable, which was conducted by PRovoke in conjunction with Zeno and APACD. The discussion brought together nine of Asia-Pacific’s leading marketing and communications executives to examine how digital innovation has changed (or not) as a result of this years Covid-19 pandemic.
In this episode of Intersection, S. Mitra Kalita, SVP at CNN, joins the discussion. We talk about Kalita's new project as she leaves CNN and what her 20+ career in newsrooms has taught her about the media, storytelling, objectivity — and the impact on telling diverse and authentic stories. The conversation also features Praytell's VP of brand allyship Stefan Embry and is hosted by Aarti Shah. Intersection is a video series that PRovoke Media has launched in partnership with Praytell.
Alberto Lopez Valenzuela – CEO of reputation intelligence, analysis and media monitoring firm Alva and author of The Connecting Leader – joins Maja Pawinska Sims on the PRovoke podcast to talk about how the pandemic has impacted on corporate communications, leadership, employee engagement, reputation and purpose in 2020, and beyond.
Mike Paul, founder and president of Reputation Doctor, talks to Aarti Shah about the state of diversity, equity and inclusion in the PR industry, how the pandemic will permanently change work — and why 2020 should not turn every PR professional into a crisis expert.
Patrick Criteser, CEO of farmer-owned Oregon dairy company Tillamook, talks to Diana Marszalek about wanting farmers to be a more vocal part of the global conversation on pertinent issues such as food safety, sustainability and hunger, as well as the toll that Covid-19 has taken on the agriculture industry.
With no end to the Covid-19 pandemic in sight, ReviveHealth CEO Brandon Edwards joins Diana Marszalek on the PRovoke podcast to discusses what it takes for healthcare communicators to be effective when there’s now no such thing as normal, let alone a ‘new normal’. Edwards shares his insights on the range of challenges healthcare PR faces in light of the coronavirus outbreak and changes in consumer expectations — and what other industries can learn from the experience.
It's a podcast on the rise of podcasting, the audio phenomenon that has conclusively gripped the content world in 2020. H+K Strategies Singapore MD Matthew Briant and creative strategist Adib McGhie join the PRovoke podcast for a sponsored episode that explores how brands can capitalise on the the fervour for podcasts, and the challenges they need to be aware of.
Public affairs specialists and former election campaign strategists Terry Sullivan and Alex Conant, the founders of Firehouse Strategies in Washington DC, join Diana Marszalek on the PRovoke podcast to discuss how the US election is progressing in terms of tactics and communications. The conversation covers trust, media relationships, and the strategies and perceived honesty and authenticity of presidential candidates Donald Trump and Joe Biden.
At the start of Black History Month in the UK, Amar Chohan, managing director of marketing intelligence firm Contagious, joins Maja Pawinska Sims on the PRovoke podcast to talk about how brands can align themselves meaningfully with the Black Lives Matter movement, including examples of campaign activations from Twitter, Doritos and Ben & Jerry's.
In this episode of Intersection, Maeve DuVally, managing director of corporate communications at Goldman Sachs, joins the discussion. We talk about DuVally's experience being transgender at Goldman Sachs and how organizations can empower employees to bring their whole selves to work, especially those from marginalized groups. In addition to DuVally, the conversation features Praytell's senior creative producer Maggie Lee and is hosted by Aarti Shah. Intersection is a video series that PRovoke Media has launched in partnership with Praytell.
KPMG global head of corporate affairs Jane Lawrie joins the PRovoke podcast to discuss KPMG's CEO research, which finds that corporate leaders are far more focused on talent and purpose, thanks to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Lawrie, who previously served as CCO at Tesco, also explores her own experience advising CEOs and how they can communicate in a more personal, empathetic manner.
In this episode of Intersection, Rebecca Lowell Edwards, chief communications officer at the ACLU talks to PRovoke's Aarti Shah and Praytell's Andy Pray about race, democracy and PR.
The conversation includes: how using the phrase "white supremacy" in the workplace can accelerate awareness and change around race and inequality; how companies can plan for — and mitigate — the uncertainty and volatility surrounding this year's presidential election; how PR can combat disinformation by elevating trusted sources; and why it's more important than ever that brands come off the sidelines.
Show Notes The Intersection Series Video interview with Rebecca Lowell Edwards
BerlinRosen VP Jack Temple joins Diana Marszalek on the PRovoke podcast to discuss the emerging area of sustainable finance and the "urgent mission" for companies to invest funds in initiatives that contribute to driving social change and doing good in society.
MSL’s US creative lead Marc Levy joins Diana Marszalek on the PRovoke podcast to talk about the role of creativity in public relations in the age of data and analytics, and how to stay creatively inspired through lockdown and home working.
As a specialist in social impact, racial justice and storytelling, BerlinRosen senior VP Janna Pea has been at the forefront of managing communications around the heightened focus on civil rights in the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement. She joins Diana Marszalek to explore the multifaceted PR challenges that advocates and activists face amid racial strife and in today’s volatile political environment, and how to overcome them.
In this episode of Intersection, a series that PRovoke Media is launching in partnership with Praytell, author and professor S. Craig Watkins talks about the ways creatives of color use tech and social ingenuity to build a new innovation economy that disrupts sectors as varied as design, media and entertainment, education, and civic engagement. PRovoke executive editor Aarti Shah interviews Watkins and Praytell's VP/head of DE&I Naria Frazier.
Show Notes The Intersection Series Introduction Video Video Interview with Craig Watkins
In this episode of the Ideas with Purpose podcast, Hudson Cutler's founder/CEO Robert Dowling talks to the agency's chief storytelling officer, Shawn Amos about a life of being “the only Black guy in the room” while working in the PR industry. In this candid conversation, they share their thoughts for creating real diversity and equity in very white male business.
'Accidental marketer' Rupen Desai joins the PRovoke podcast to discuss Dole's new series of sweeping commitments, which aim to increase access to sustainable nutrition and eliminate food waste. Desai, who spent two decades with Lowe before joining Edelman, also examines the PR industry's attempts to transform, diversity & inclusion challenges, and the lessons he has learned along the way.
In this episode of the PRovoke Podcast, PAN CEO Phil Nardone talks to PRovoke Media's Aarti Shah about the PR industry's failures when it come to diversity, inclusion and equity — and how his tech PR firm is accelerating its DE&I plans, even amid a global pandemic.
In this episode of the PRovoke Podcast, we talk to NewsWhip CEO Paul Quigley about the way information — and misinformation — spreads, specifically around the Black Lives Matter movement and Covid-19. The data shows the Black Lives Matter movement was not actually divisive and misinformation thrives among those predisposed to believe it.
Show Notes Black Lives Matter Protests: Public Engagement And Corporate Responses How Coronavirus Misinformation Spreads
Freuds chief executive Arlo Brady and Republic founder Alice Cartner-Morley talk through the big themes to come out of their joint research into the hopes and fears of people in the US, the UK and Germany, regarding what life and work might look like on the other side of the Covid-19 pandemic, including the digital, economic, and social legacies of lockdown.
Until this spring, the biggest driver of environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) was climate change. This episode of the PRovoke podcast looks at how business and capitalism are being redefined and reinvented, through the additional lenses of the Covid-19 pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement. Maja Pawinska Sims is joined by sustainable business expert Matt Peacock, former group director of corporate affairs at Vodafone, and now a partner at strategic and creative agency Blurred, and Kate Higgins, legal director and corporate governance lead at law firm Mishcon de Reya.
Quartz Asia deputy editor Isabella Steger — a veteran of covering unrest in Hong Kong — joins the PRovoke podcast to discuss the current outlook for journalism in the city, along with the impact of Covid-19 on her work, the future of work in the region and her fleeting PR career.
At the start of the Black Lives Matter protests, Katy Howell, the CEO of social media agency Immediate Future, posted a moving video on LinkedIn about her own experience of systemic racism in the UK. She joins Maja Pawinska Sims on the PRovoke podcast to talk about how agencies in the creatives industries can move from pledges to solid action on supporting Black and ethnic minority employees.
Katie de Cozar, head of enterprise technology at B2B specialist agency CCgroup, PRovoke's EMEA Technology Agency of the Year, joins Maja Pawinska Sims on the podcast to talk about the PR industry's mental health crisis, particularly given the impact of the Covid-19 lockdown and the renewed focus on inclusive working environments.
This episode of the PRovoke Podcast features LaMisha Hill, PhD a licensed counseling psychologist and director of multicultural affairs for the office of diversity and outreach at the University of California San Francisco. Hill talks with Aarti Shah about the way organizations can build equitable and inclusive cultures. The conversation will also cover the implications of systematic racism and Covid-19 as both disproportionately affect Black communities.
Show Notes 6 Tools for Allyship
Video Interview
This episode of the PRovoke Podcast features Google's LaToya Drake, a founding member of the Google News Initiative (GNI) and a champion for inclusive storytelling. In a conversation with Aarti Shah, Drake talks about how GNI emerged at Google and how the effort elevates underrepresented voices in media. Drake also discusses diversity in technology and communications — and how brands and agencies can work towards more inclusive storytelling in their own narratives.
Show Notes Google News Initiative (GNI) Google's Head of Product Inclusion Annie Jean-Baptiste A video version of this interview
George Coleman is co-CEO of Current Global, formed last year by the merger of two of Interpublic’s PR firms, US-based Current Marketing and Weber Shandwick unit Creation, which he founded. Coleman joins EMEA editor Maja Pawinska Sims on the PRovoke podcast to talk about how the PR industry can rise above unconscious bias and tribalism on social media, particularly in febrile political and social times, and why PR teams need input from a broader range of specialists to avoid “marketing by selfie stick,” including behavioural scientists.
In this episode of the PRovoke Podcast, Google's head of product inclusion Annie Jean-Baptiste talks about the movement she created three years ago inside Google to help underrepresented users feel seen throughout the product design process. In this conversation with Aarti Shah, she guides communications and PR professionals on how they can help the organizations they work with build more inclusive products — while also ensuring communications/PR and services are designed with inclusion. Jean-Baptiste is also author of the upcoming book, Building For Everyone: Expand Your Market With Design Practices From Google's Product Inclusion Team.
Jessica Hope launched Wimbart in London in 2014, as an independent PR agency specialising in Africa and emerging markets, with a focus on the continent’s tech and start-up sectors. She joins Arun Sudhaman on the PRovoke podcast to discuss the firm's rise and its ability to serve as a 'safe space' for Black PR executives in a notoriously white industry.
Curtis Sparrer, principal of tech PR boutique Bospar, joins Diana Marszalek on the PRovoke podcast to discuss how having a virtual shop before the lockdown – plus the right mix of clients – has helped the agency continue to thrive during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Garland Stansell, chief communications officer of the Children’s Hospital of Alabama and the PRSA’s 2020 national chair, joins Diana Marszalek on the PRovoke Podcast to talk about how the ongoing coronavirus pandemic has mobilised communications within the public health sphere.
In this episode of the PRovoke Media podcast, we speak to Reggie Dance, VP at Coyne PR, about the role corporate America can play in making “liberty and justice for all” a reality from Black Americans. The conversation followed a piece that Dance wrote "Dear Corporate America: Acknowledge, Listen and Take Action." In this episode, he talks about the recommendations in that piece and how brands and agencies can turn this moment into a sustainable movement.
As the PR industry looks for bolder ways to address its longstanding issue with racial and cultural inclusion, we're talking to Black PR professionals about their experiences. In this episode, Aarti Shah talks to Sabrina Lynch, SVP at Taylor, about her experience working in both New York and London. She gives powerful examples and also advice that agencies can take around handling microaggressions, in particular in encounters with clients. Lynch also provided advice for the industry in our piece: Amid Protests: 'We’re Tired of Words. We Need to See Action'.
As #BlackLivesMatter protests continue around the world, IPG's PR and marketing group diversity & inclusion leader Margenett Moore-Roberts and Rogers & Cowan PMK multicultural head Stephen Macias join Diana Marszalek on the PRovoke podcast to discuss systemic racism and how the communications industry can harness the energy around recent events to move towards racial equality.
OPR CEO Richard Brett joins the PRovoke podcast to discuss the agency's new book, which explores how marketing communications has moved from telling and talking to doing and action. That focus on action, says Brett, becomes even more critical in the Covid-19 era, with companies around the world stepping up and doing what they can to help.
PRovoke editors Arun Sudhaman and Maja Pawinska Sims discuss Hong Kong's latest search for PR agency support, set against the backdrop of sustained political unrest in the city. The duo explore why MSL pulled out of the process, why so many firms have chosen to steer clear of the brief, and which firm might land the controversial assignment.
Prospect Resourcing founder/MD Emma Dale joins Arun Sudhaman on the PRovoke podcast to discuss the 2020 State of the Industry Report, conducted in conjunction with Public Affairs Asia. Dale examines the difficulties facing the Asia-Pacific PR industry amid Covid-19, the implications for mental health and flexible working, and broader trends that are impacting talent development, recruitment and retention.
Jim Weiss has spent several decades working in healthcare PR, including starting his career in the HIV/AIDS space. Now as CEO of the healthcare powerhouse W2O Group, Weiss is leading his clients — which include 23 of the top 25 pharmaceutical companies in the world — through the Covid-19 crisis. Aarti Shah spoke with Weiss about the Covid-19 playbook (hint: there isn't one) and why acting local is critical— and so effective — right now.
Before the Covid-19 outbreak, the travel and tourism industry accounted for 10% of global GDP. Diana Marszalek is joined on the PRovoke podcast by Virginia Messina, managing director of the World Travel & Tourism Council, and Jennifer Risi, president of independent agency network The Sway Effect, to talk about various communications efforts that can keep the industry afloat when most travel is at a halt.
Jamie McLaughlin, who has spent more than 15 years as a PR executive recruiter, joins Diana Marszalek on the PRovoke podcast to discuss the coronavirus outbreak’s effects on the industry job market, and how the pandemic could lead to long-term changes in the hiring process.
Schneider Electric corporate communications director Alex Malouf joins the PRovoke podcast from Dubai to discuss how companies can respond to the remarkable PR challenges posed by Covid-19, including employee engagement and internal communications priorities.
Jeff Joseph, CEO of the Software & Information Industry Association, joins Diana Marszalek on the PRovoke podcast on the 35th anniversary of the annual CODiE Awards, to talk about how the Oscars of the software industry not only keep pace with the ever-changing world of technologt, but also have an impressive track record of recognizing industry legends before they become household names.
PRovoke's Next 20 series examines the future of crisis communications in Asia-Pacific, in conjunction with Ogilvy. The discussion features Scott Kronick, CEO for PR & influence at Ogilvy Asia-Pacific, along with Ogilvy Singapore executive director Michelle Ang and Ogilvy PR SVP Simon Webb — who join PRovoke's Arun Sudhaman to explore how crisis communicators are dealing with the unprecedented impact of the global coronavirus pandemic — looking at such areas as the priority for communications over marketing, the human cost and the need for brands to step up without hesitation.
PRovoke editor Arun Sudhaman sits down with Asia-Pacific correspondent David Blecken, who recently authored a two-part series on the communications challenges facing corporates and governments from the coronavirus crisis. The duo discuss the balance of internal and external comms as workplaces, supply chains and earnings are significantly disrupted, while also exploring the misinformation and opportunism that continue to bedevil responses. Blecken, who is based in Japan, also examines the marketing implications of cancelling the Tokyo Olympics.
Independent influencer marketing specialist Scott Guthrie joins the PRovoke Podcast to talk about a new report, We're All Influencers Now, which covers governance and best practice for communications professionals working with influencers from Instagram celebrity endorsement to B2B, and why the influencer ecosystem – or "word-of-mouth at scale" – has become so important to brands.
Tori Cowley is the group chief communications officer at Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEx), and was also head of comms at the London Stock Exchange. She joins Arun Sudhaman on the PRovoke Podcast to talk about the challenges of stock exchange communications, and the reputation, brand, culture and values of the Hong Kong stock exchange and Hong Kong itself, including comms around the coronavirus outbreak. Cowley also shares her thoughts on why diversity of background is so important when it comes to building in-house teams.
Public relations practitioner Colm Woods is only 28 but has already worked on corporate comms projects across Europe and the Middle East and written his first book on PR, Tailored Thinkers. He joins Maja Pawinska Sims on the PRovoke Podcast to talk about the book – which covers possible solutions to comms problems from areas as varied as military strategy, Greek philosophy and behavioural science – as well as his experiences of being a young practitioner in the industry.
Matt Peacock is a sustainable business expert and former group director of corporate affairs at Vodafone, and the newest partner at PR agency Blurred, which has pledged to only work with clients who are making progress towards the UN's global goals. Post-Davos, he joins Maja Pawinska Sims on the PRovoke Podcast to talk about the business and communications challenges of conscious capitalism and the new focus on environmental social governance (ESG).
This episode of the PRovoke Podcast features Ketchum's Melissa Kinch and Lisa Sullivan to talk about the emerging "Techruptor" demographic — considered to be young, digital native consumers who are at the same time the earliest adopters and also tech’s biggest critics. The conversation also explores a study that reveals consumers’ feelings on data privacy and cyber security — and the actions they are taking as a result of their distrust.
Ruder Finn CEO Kathy Bloomgarden joins the Echo Chamber to discuss her learnings from this year's World Economic Forum. After attending the event for two decades, Bloomgarden is a genuine WEF veteran, and has plenty of advice for the public relations industry.
Ketchum CEO Barri Rafferty joins us in Davos to discuss the mood at this year's World Economic Forum, how the event has changed over the years, how she survives such an intense week, and why more PR people should attend.
To mark the 200th Echo Chamber podcast (and the 20th anniversary of the Holmes Report) Arun Sudhaman and Paul Holmes talk about the remarkable professional legacy and personal impact of Burson-Marsteller founder Harold Burson – coincidentally, the first ever interviewee on the Echo Chamber – who died last week, aged 98.
Jenny Scott is one of the founding partners of Apella Advisors, the strategic communications consultancy launched in London in April this year. Scott, who was executive director of communications at the Bank of England and a previous BBC Politics Show presenter, joins Maja Pawinska Sims in the Echo Chamber to talk about the agency's first report on how brands can prepare for the impact of "the swing of the corporate pendulum" towards purpose after years of focus on short-term maximisation of profits.
Jennifer Risi recently launched her own communications agency after nearly a decade at Ogilvy. The agency, called the Sway Effect, speaks to the impact Risi hopes to have on the industry. In particular, she is looking to make a difference around the way agencies collaborate. She and industry veteran Bonin Bough join the Echo Chamber to talk about the Sway Effect and how they are thinking about working together in new ways.
Egami Group founder/CEO Teneshia Jackson Warner is the first African-American woman to pick up a Cannes Lions Grand Prix. At PRovoke19's Entrepreneurs' Forum, she was interviewed onstage about how the industry needs to rethink its approach toward multicultural marketing.
Producer Tony Hollingsworth has worked with companies, governments and charitable foundations on campaigns that sit at the intersection of comms, media and popular culture, including Nelson Mandela’s 70th Birthday Tribute and The Wall — Live in Berlin. Hollingsworth joins Diana Marszalek in the Echo Chamber to discuss the intricacies and challenges of orchestrating his latest project, the Global Listen Campaign For Vulnerable & Disadvantaged Children, which aims to reach 500 million people in 60 countries and raise $1 billion.
In a discussion on diversity, Dr. Michael Lomax, the president of the United Negro College Fund, said people of color still faced enormous obstacles to inclusion. This session, recorded at PRovoke19, is brought to you in partnership with W2O Group.
Enero Group non-executive director David Brain joins the Echo Chamber to examine Prince Andrew's car-crash of an interview on BBC Newsnight. In conversation with Arun Sudhaman, Brain discusses the PR challenges faced by the Royal Family and why Prince Andrew must learn the basics of crisis management.
Maxim Behar, the CEO of M3 Communications in Bulgaria, joins Maja Pawinska Sims in the Echo Chamber on the publication of his new book, The Global PR Revolution. The ICCO past president talks about how PR has changed not only during his 25-year career, but more dramatically over the past couple of years, as social media has become a dominant force in the media and communications industries.
TK Kanchana is board member and head of the Organisation of Pharmaceutical Producers of India (OPPI), representing India's pharma industry at a time of considerable change across the country. Kanchana joins the Echo Chamber to discuss how she has overhauled OPPI's approach to communications, and how this has helped the pharma body build a more successful engagement platform.
In this episode, Aarti Shah and the W2O Group's Aaron Strout reflect on key takeaways from #PRovoke19, which took place in Washington, DC from October 21 to 23. Among the topics they touch on: how empathetic brands allow employees to be themselves at work, the urgency for the PR industry to speak the language of business, and how Generation Z will accelerate change in unprecedented ways. To read more about the sessions and takeaways from #PRovoke19, full coverage from the event can be found here.
As organisations and companies such as the NBA, Apple and Blizzard face the dilemma of standing up for their values or staying quiet on events in Hong Kong to protect their interests in China, Arun Sudhaman and Paul Holmes talk through the challenges of doing business in China for brands. They also preview the themes and sessions at the Holmes Report’s PRovoke Global PR Summit, being held from October 21-23 in Washington, DC, including Parkland school shooting survivors talking about the anti-gun violence March For Our Lives movement.
André Labadie, Brands2Life’s managing director of business and technology, has written a new white paper on the communications landscape around artificial intelligence. He joins Maja Pawinska Sims in the Echo Chamber to talk through the challenges of bringing AI stories to life in a crowded market, including ethics, education and “AI-washing."
PR industry veterans Richard Houghton and Crispin Manners, who have run agencies including Shandwick, Ketchum, FleishmanHillard and Kaizo, are the co-authors of a new book for PR agency leaders: 'Grow, Build, Sell, Live.' They join Maja Pawinska Sims in the Echo Chamber to talk about the new book – a PRCA practice guide – and the biggest mistakes that owner-managers make when building their own firms. The duo also discuss how the relative lack of hard business management experience among agency heads is holding individual firms and the industry back.
Mary Pollard has led on purpose at corporate communications consultancy Portland since the start of 2019. She joins Maja Pawinska Sims in the Echo Chamber to talk about the agency's first Total Value Index, which shows the true value of a business when purpose and profit are evaluated together, including the 'opportunity gap' – where companies are not telling their purposeful stories clearly enough – and the 'halo effect', when individual businesses benefit from positive perceptions of their whole sector.
As vice president of marketing for Panasonic North America, Brian Rowley is charged with changing the perception of Panasonic in the US from a TV and radio company into an operation creating 21st century technology for businesses. He joins Diana Marszalek in the Echo Chamber to talk about the evolution of the brand over the past 100 years, and its shift in focus from consumer to B2B.
When Cindy Krupp, founder of the boutique fashion communications agency Krupp Group, couldn’t find college-age influencers to work with her clients, she created 28 Row, a network of young women well-versed in working with brands. Krupp and one of those influencers, Madison Krause (known as gaptoothginger on Instagram) join Diana Marszalek in the Echo Chamber to talk about why influencers in this demographic are hard to find, and what it takes for them to be successful.
Jamie McLaughlin, president of Capstone Hill Search, joins Diana Marszalek in the Echo Chamber to share his insights on the expectations of job seekers in the communications industry and the people who hire PR talent, as well as where those expectations are — and aren’t — in sync.
In the wake of the Holmes Report breaking the news that the Hong Kong leadership had failed to attract any PR agencies to pitch for a reputation management campaign, Arun Sudhaman, who is based in Hong Kong, talks to Maja Pawinska Sims about why the brief has proved so toxic, including employee activism, ethics, communications around "One Country Two Systems" and the reputation challenges that Hong Kong continues to face.
Paul Holmes examines the Business Roundtable's recent announcement that shareholder interests do not outweigh the broader concerns of society and employees. It is a seminal proposal for the industry group that represents America's top CEOs, coming after decades in which Milton Friedman's orthodoxy on shareholder returns above all else went unchallenged. But there is plenty to suggest that the Business Roundtable statement will lack teeth unless it can actually be enforced by legislation such as Elizabeth Warren's proposed effort to balance corporate responsibilities to all stakeholders. In conversation with Arun Sudhaman, the podcast follows Holmes' in-depth long read on the concept of 'accountable capitalism'.
NewsWhip CEO Paul Quigley joins the Echo Chamber to talk about how content spreads online. In a conversation with Aarti Shah, Quigley explains how understanding the way content moves online can help the PR industry evolve its approach to predictive analytics and also fight misinformation. NewsWhip has also partnered with the Holmes Report on a multipart series exploring these topics that can be accessed here.
Holmes Report CEO and editor-in-chief Arun Sudhaman, who is based in Hong Kong, talks to EMEA editor Maja Pawinska Sims about the increasingly turbulent political situation in the city, and assesses whether the Hong Kong leadership or the protestors are winning from a crisis management, communications and PR perspective, as well as looking at the role of technology and the media in the ongoing conflict.
Generation Alpha is described as children of Millennials — or those born after 2010, notably the year the iPad and Instagram launched. In this episode of the Echo Chamber, Hotwire's Laura MacDonald talks about how these technological inventions are changing kids’ minds and what that ultimately means for communications. She also draws upon research that Hotwire conducted (in partnership with Wired) to explore the influence that today's children are having on their parents' purchases. Hotwire also hosted a panel on this topic at the Holmes Report's 2019 Innovation Summit in San Francisco earlier this year, more on that discussion here.
FleishmanHillard Fishburn's corporate managing director Steph Bailey joins the Echo Chamber to talk through the agency's latest Authenticity Gap report. Now in its seventh year, the research looks at the issues that consumers are now expecting brands to take a stand on, from data privacy and security to the climate emergency.
The founder of Boston-based independent brand communications agency Adam Ritchie Brand Direction joins the Echo Chamber to talk about "Invention in PR". He discusses how public relations can be used to invent new products and services with newsworthiness built into them from the start, such as the first rock album launched on cans of craft beer using Twitter.
David Tiltman is the head of content at marketing intelligence firm WARC and a former editor of CampaignAsia. He joins Arun Sudhaman and Maja Pawinska Sims in the Echo Chamber to talk about all things Cannes, and walk listeners through the five key elements of effective brand marketing in WARC's new white paper, The Anatomy of Effectiveness.
The rise of influencer marketing has sparked debate around how to measure the impact of these campaigns and the new rules of engagement — and how those differ from traditional media. Cathy Planchard, president of Allison + Partners' All Told Division, joins the Echo Chamber to discuss a recent report the agency published, Unleashing Influence, that shows that marketers aren't fully optimizing the potential of influencer marketing. During the conversation, we also reference an Influencer Marketing salon that Allison + Partners hosted with the Holmes Report earlier this year at the Innovation Summit — North America.
Last year, former Weber Shandwick associate director Asad Dhunna founded The Unmistakables, a marcomms agency made up of minorities, with the aim of helping businesses understand minorities and create campaigns that are more representative of society. The agency now works with clients including the English Cricket Board, Unilever and Barnado's. Dhunna, who is also director of communications for Pride in London, tells the Echo Chamber about his experience of presenting 'We Don't Need Another Diversity Talk' on stage in Cannes, and the state of diversity and inclusion in the PR industry.
Mars global external communications director Kimberly West joins the Echo Chamber in Cannes to discuss the company's evolution from a low-profile manufacturer of confectionary and petcare products, into a brand that is highly visible on issues of sustainability and governance. In conversation with Arun Sudhaman, West outlines why companies must move beyond rhetoric if they are to combat 'purpose fatigue'.
Janet Balis is EY's global advisory services leader for media & entertainment, a position in which she advises both media platforms and marketing leaders. As such Balis has a unique vantage point over the changes that are transforming the media and marketing worlds, enhanced by her previous leadership roles at AOL, The Huffington Post and Time Warner. In a wide-ranging conversation with Arun Sudhaman, Balis breaks down some of these shifts and explores what they mean for media platforms and CMOs.
Jenna Young, Weber Shandwick’s executive creative director in New York, joins the Echo Chamber in Cannes to talk about her Lions jury experience, cultural nuance in creative work, and being a long-time executive creative director in a PR agency.
Weber Shandwick global president Gail Heimann is not only a Cannes veteran but one of the more insightful industry voices when it comes to distilling lessons from the annual creative jamboree. In a post-Cannes conversation with the Holmes Report's Arun Sudhaman, Heimann breaks down her lessons from this year's edition, which include the PR industry's better showing, the colonisation of trust and purpose by ad agencies, the continuing gender imbalance among the creative ranks and whether PR is purely a craft.
WE Communications international president Kass Sells joins the Holmes Report in Cannes to discuss the challenges posed by agency transformation, at a time of considerable industry disruption.
The Holmes Report sits down with Weber Shandwick chief digital officer Chris Perry and X Practice EMEA/APAC president Hugh Baillie to discuss how data and analytics are reshaping the PR industry in general, and Weber Shandwick in specific. In a wide-ranging conversation with Arun Sudhaman, the duo also discuss Weber Shandwick's new 'We Solve' positioning, and why this doesn't indicate a departure from PR's traditional storytelling strengths.
When Nicky Regazzoni and George Blizzard started The PR Network in 2005, they were one of the first virtual agencies on the block. As the model of a core team supported by tailor-made groups of freelance experts to service clients around the world gains traction, they join the Echo Chamber to talk about what makes the virtual agency model a good fit for the modern PR landscape.
Three PR-for-SEO experts join the Echo Chamber to explain why search engine optimisation and public relations strategy should be working much closer together to achieve business results for clients from earned content: Threepipe co-founder Jim Hawker, Ready10 founder and MD David Fraser, and 10 Yetis Digital founder Andy Barr.
Egami Group president Cheryl Overton is a true champion of diversity, but also a realist who calls it like she sees it. Overton joins the Echo Chamber to discuss what true diversity and inclusion looks like (with a heavy emphasis on inclusion) as well as what achieving it is going to take, and why tiptoeing around our differences rather than addressing them head on – and even leveraging them – is counterproductive.
Nearly 40 years ago, Racepoint Global founder Larry Weber launched a tech-focused PR agency before there even was such a thing. In those early days, The Weber Group (forbear of Weber Shandwick) was in the thick of launching emerging technologies — including something called the World Wide Web. Today, Weber remains steeped in the tech business, growing his expertise along with his firm, Racepoint, and the Massachusetts Innovation and Technology Exchange he founded, as well as authoring six books. He discusses the evolution and intricacies of tech-focused communications at a time when the business is under increased scrutiny.
Method Communications CEO David Parkinson and Harvard CEO Louie St. Claire join the Echo Chamber to talk about Method's recent sale to the Chime Group to build a global technology offering. The conversation explores how technology as a whole has moved from being a specialized sector to being a core driver of all facets of the economy and looks at why so many tech PR acquisitions seem to go awry.
Claudine Moore joins the Echo Chamber to discuss her work in Africa, and the continuing diversity & inclusion challenges faced by the PR industry. Moore is followed by Digiday editor-in-chief Brian Morrissey, who explores such topics as advertising fraud and influencer marketing.
For close to two decades, PAN Communications president and CEO Phil Nardone has maintained a side gig as an adjunct PR professor at Syracuse University’s Newhouse School, giving him unique insight into who the industry’s up-and-comers are — and what they want. He explores a range of issues surrounding next-gen talent, including whether he would hire his students. Meantime, when InkHouse founder and CEO Beth Monaghan and storyteller in residence Tara Munro discuss Project Curiosity, the initiative they undertook to help the PR industry stop using fear as a means to get consumers’ attention.
During a 20-year career in China with ad agency JWT, Tom Doctoroff emerged as one of the leading authorities on the country's marketing landscape. In conversation with Arun Sudhaman, Doctoroff discusses why Chinese brands still struggle overseas, focusing on the specific case of Huawei. He also explores how China's young consumers are both changing and staying the same. Three years after leaving the holding group world, meanwhile, Doctoroff also examines the pressure on big agencies.
Prospect Asia co-founder and MD Emma Dale joins the Echo Chamber to explore the recent State of the Industry Report — conducted in conjunction with PublicAffairsAsia. In addition to a wealth of information on salary and workplace issues, the study also reveals much about how the PR industry is changing rapidly in Asia-Pacific.
Zeno’s Europe MD Steve Earl and Markettiers4DC founder and CEO Howard Kosky join the Echo Chamber to discuss why podcasts are the flavour of the month for brand and executive communications, how to do them well, and when podcasting is not the right channel.
Jacob Puthenparambil co-founded Singapore-based consultancy Redhill Asia in 2015 following an itinerant career that included stints in the US, Middle East and his native India. But with Redhill, Puthenparambil has overseen the rise of one of Asia's fastest growing PR firms, thanks to a fiercely entrepreneurial spirit and a refreshingly international outlook. He talks to Arun Sudhaman about the firm's progress and goals, including why he models the business on the original MNC — the Jesuit Order.
The latest Echo Chamber episode comes from Sydney, where Arun Sudhaman sits down with former Weber Shandwick head EJ Granleese, who now runs her own successful consultancy called History will be Kind. Granleese discusses why local boutiques outperform the networks in Sydney's fiercely competitive consumer PR market, a theme that is also taken up by Poem founders Rob Lowe and Matt Holmes, who also join the pod to discuss their experience of building a new firm.
After managing US Sen. Marco Rubio’s 2016 presidential campaign, Terry Sullivan and Alex Conant left long careers in politics to start Firehouse Strategies, a public affairs firm in Washington. Sullivan and Conant have grown their business around communications strategies that leverage the power of persuasion, peer influence and “perceived authenticity.” They join the Echo Chamber to talk about how they use the lessons learned from their years of experience on the GOP campaign trail to help clients effectively deliver their messages in, thanks to Donald Trump, a whole new era in modern communications.
Stephane Dujarric de la Rivière is spokesperson for the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, a position he has held since 2014,after previously holding the same role for Ban Ki-moon and Kofi Annan. In the latest Echo Chamber podcast, he sits down with the Holmes Report's Diana Marszalek to discuss his unique communications mandate, which he describes as "the best job in the building." Regardless, Dujarric notes that the job has become more complicated amid growing tensions between the more influential member states.
Mitch Kaye and Dan Glover built Mischief and now The Academy into two of the most creative comms agencies in the UK. They join the Echo Chamber to talk about how they work together and how they are aiming to grow the agency with an innovative structure.
This episode of the Echo Chamber is a rebroadcast of a webinar addressing the PR industry's future challenges including integration, digital evolution and proving sales impact. The Holmes Report's Aarti Shah leads a discussion featuring Laura Brusca, VP of corporate communications at Forbes and PAN Communication's Mark Nardone.
Asda'a BCW president Sunil John joins the Echo Chamber to discuss the evolution of the Middle East and North Africa PR industries. John, who founded and built Asda'a into one of the region's pre-eminent PR firms, believes MENA is poised to become the fastest-growing the world's fastest-growing public relations market..
In a recent webinar, Ketchum CEO Barri Rafferty and the Holmes Report's Arun Sudhaman explored the key issues from the 2019 World Economic Forum, including globalization, climate change, automation, CEO activism and much more.
Ketchum's London CEO Jo-Ann Robertson joins Maja Pawinska Sims in the Echo Chamber to talk about her first year in the job, including leadership (and being a pregnant CEO), diversity, and her ambitions for the business.
The Holmes Report's Diana Marszalek talks through this year's Super Bowl marketing and fan experience efforts, finding them both rather disappointing, on the latest Echo Chamber episode. Joining the show are BCW president Jim Joseph and fan experience director chair Jason Teitler, along with MWWPR president Bret Werner.
Zeno Group’s managing director, global strategy and insights Therese Caruso joins Diana Marszalek in the Echo Chamber to talk about what brands need to know to reach “Gen We” – the kids aged 14 to 20 who wield influence in the family, and are radically different than the millennials that marketers have worked long and hard to understand. They have friendships based on shared values, believe success and purpose are keys to happiness and see themselves as their own personal brands.
The Holmes Report's Arun Sudhaman sits down with a trio of senior marcomms leaders at the 2019 World Economic Forum at Davos, discussing the event's enduring significance, along with the challenges facing the established world order. First up, PMI communications SVP Marian Salzman discusses her surprising decision to join 'big tobacco' after a lengthy stint leading advertising and PR agencies. Salzman is followed by UN World Food Programme communications director Corinne Woods, who explores her organization's marketing challenges, along with the benefits Davos brings for NGOs. Finally, Davos veteran and TCS CMCO Abhinav Kumar joins the show to provide his reflections on this year's event and the continuing perception gap that plagues the World Economic Forum.
Hotwire CEO Barbara Bates joins the Echo Chamber to discuss her shift from independent agency life to overseeing a publicly-held firm. Bates also explores why she believes 'micro-networks' and midsize players are thriving in today's PR market, particularly in opposition to the giant MNC networks. In conversation with Arun Sudhaman, Bates also looks at the evolution of PR on the US West Coast, and the issues faced by major tech companies in that region.
WE Communications international president Alan VanderMolen discusses his 2019 predictions, which include a potential renaissance for communicators after playing second fiddle to marketers for years. VanderMolen also explores the likelihood of publicly-held firms buying themselves back from their holding groups and defends his bullish forecast for PR industry growth this year.
Bulleit Group CEO Kyle Arteaga talks to the Holmes Report's Aarti Shah about the way companies — and the media — are rethinking how they position and talk about innovation. Later in the show, Proof Analytics founder Mark Stouse joins to talk about a recent survey that showed 96% C-suite respondents see their marketing and PR teams as “unwilling or unable” to prove ROI.
In a keynote session from PRovoke18, Sir Martin Sorrell takes aim at the holding groups, during a feisty conversation with Holmes Report founder and chair Paul Holmes, while also defending his record as WPP CEO. Starting with the FT story that reported several allegations regarding the S4 chairman's acrimonious exit from WPP, Sorrell sought to turn the spotlight back onto the holding groups, none more so than his former company, which he consistently referred to as "Wire and Plastic Products".
Weber Shandwick EMEA & Asia-Pacific chairman Tim Sutton turns interviewer on the latest episode of the Echo Chamber, asking the Holmes Report's Arun Sudhaman about the company's strategy for growth, its agency of the year decisions, the evolution of PR and much more.
RFI Asia SVP and Asia lead David Ko joins the Echo Chamber to discuss the latest developments in terms of policing 'deepfake content' on the major social media platforms. In conversation with Arun Sudhaman, Ko also explores the rise of fake news on China's social media channels, talks about the threats posed by cybersecurity breaches, and about the role of marketers in this regard.
In a re-broadcast of a webinar from last month, the Holmes Report founder Paul Holmes is interviewed by Group Gordon CEO Michael Gordon on whether, in an era defined by politicization and polarization, it's possible —or even advisable — for brands to just watch from the sidelines. A summary of the conversation is also available here.
In a session from the PRovoke18 Global PR Summit, the CEO of the world's largest PR firm is interviewed by Holmes Report editor-in-chief Arun Sudhaman about the state of today's PR industry. In an expansive and honest conversation, Edelman talks through the cultural challenges facing his agency, opportunities for growth and why transformation is required if today's PR firms are to compete with advertising shops for CMO budgets.
Adam Mack, the UK CEO of W tells the Echo Chamber what it takes to be an agile agency. Mack joined W founder Warren Johnson at the agency in January this year after leaving Weber Shandwick, where he was chief strategy officer for EMEA for six years. He also spent time at Freuds as director of strategy. He joins the Echo Chamber to talk about what business buzzword “agility” means in the context of PR agencies.
Holmes Report editors Paul Holmes & Arun Sudhaman discuss the controversy surrounding Facebook's work with public affairs firm Definers. After that, Sudhaman is joined by Maja Pawinska Sims to talk more corporate crises, in the shape of Nissan and D&G. The duo also explore Iceland's banned TV ad, the latest Global Creative Index and more.
Former Edelman EMEA CEO (and Echo Chamber co-host) Robert Phillips rejoins the podcast to discuss the current political era and what it means for companies and their leadership. Phillips, who now heads Jericho Chambers, also explores the Responsible Tax Project that his firm is running in conjunction with KPMG, and explores why public relations still needs a significant overhaul. Institute of PR president and CEO Tina McCorkindale then joins the show to discuss the latest PR trends, including purpose, gender equality and behavioural science.
Nik Govier has launched her latest venture after leaving Unity, the agency she co-founded in 2005, at the end of last year. She joins the Echo Chamber with her fellow founding partners, Katy Stolliday – a board director at Unity before a stint as Brands2Life’s deputy MD consumer – and Stuart Lambert, until recently the strategy and creative director at Weber Shandwick, to talk about setting up a new kind of agency for “a Blurred world”.
Frank’s joint managing partners Andrew Bloch and Alex Grier join the Echo Chamber to look back at how the agency has evolved in its first 18 years, their trademarked 'talkability' proposition, what creativity means now, and the best brand campaigns. NB: At the time of recording, Frank declined to comment on the BrewDog/Scofflaw case.
Richard Shotton, is head of behavioural science at Manning Gottlieb OMD. He published “The Choice Factory” – described by Ogilvy’s Rory Sutherland as “a Haynes Manual for understanding consumer behaviour” – earlier this year, outlining 25 common biases that affect consumer behaviour in terms of their responsiveness to brand messages and advertising. He joins us in the Echo Chamber to look at how behavioural science is relevant to PR and communications.
Echo Chamber editors Arun Sudhaman, Maja Pawinska Sims and Paul Holmes review some of the key news stories from the past few weeks, including the mergers of Text100/Bite and Kekst CNC, new leadership at H+K Strategies, Nike's Colin Kaepernick campaign, the one-year anniversary of Bell Pottinger's closure and much more, while also previewing next week's PRovoke18 Global PR Summit.
Jon Tipple, chief strategy officer worldwide at FutureBrand, joins the Echo Chamber to look at the findings of the consultancy’s annual index of how “futureproof” the world’s top companies are. Tipple joined the Ogilvy & Mather graduate scheme and has since worked at agencies including Saatchi & Saatchi, FCB and McCann before joining FutureBrand in 2012. Along the way, he’s worked with brands including the London Olympic Games, Red Bull, Microsoft, Nestle, Virgin, Bacardi and the BBC, and won rafts of industry awards.
Former New York City and Metropolitan Museum of Art chief digital officer Sree Sreenivasan joins the Echo Chamber podcast to discuss the latest trends and pitfalls when it comes to social media. Recorded at the PRAXIS7 conference in Hyderabad, Sreenivasan explores the thorny topics of vanity metrics and influencer marketing, the continued underestimation of LinkedIn, CEOs on Twittter and the rise of fake news.
Brendan May, chairman of sustainability advisory firm Robertsbridge, joins the Echo Chamber to talk about sustainability in the context of PR and communications. May ran Weber Shandwick’s sustainability practice before setting up Robertsbridge in 2009. He has advised global companies and brands on sustainability strategies, supply chain risk, sustainable sourcing, communications, reputation and crisis management. He was also chief executive of the Marine Stewardship Council, and European chairman of the Rainforest Alliance, and is a regular commentator on corporate responsibility.
Amadeus Asia-Pacific corporate marketing VP Karun Budhraja joins the Echo Chamber to discuss how travel marketing is changing rapidly in the region, as explored by the company's recent research study. Budhraja is followed by Weber Shandwick's Tim Sutton, who discusses the tricky issue of ethics in PR, including his firm's refusal to work for tobacco companies.
Holmes Report editors Arun Sudhaman and Maja Pawinska Sims review a busy summer of news, which has included senior departures at Edelman and Racepoint, developments at Burson Cohn & Wolfe, PRSA tumult, agency mergers, industry transformation and more.
Ogilvy UK CEO Michael Frohlich joins the Echo Chamber to discuss his rise from 'PR person' to leading one of the UK's largest advertising agencies. Frohlich also explores what the PR world can learn from adland and vice versa, and looks at why PR agencies have struggled to build planning departments.
CIPR president Sarah Hall joins the Echo Chamber podcast to discuss opportunities and challenges for the public relations industry.
H+K CEO Jack Martin joins the Echo Chamber to discuss, not only H+K, but the upheaval at parent company WPP over the last year. In conversation with Paul Holmes, Martin talks about Martin Sorrell's sudden departure, the state of WPP's PR agencies and the future of the holding company.
The Echo Chamber talks to the USA's Young PR Lions representatives, Gabrielle Low and Kelly Kenny from Ketchum, going inside the selection process and the curious decision to not award a Bronze winner. Low and Kenny also explore how the PR agency industry needs to change, from the perspective of the younger generation.
WE international president Alan VanderMolen joins the Echo Chamber in Cannes in front of a live audience to discuss industry threats and opportunities, which holding groups are under pressure, and what firms he wants to buy.
Ketchum's chief strategy and creativity officer Karen Strauss and Daggerwing associate principal Elizabeth O’Connor join the Echo Chamber in Cannes to discuss how best to fostering a culture of creative collaboration.
Ketchum's Ruth Yearley and Tera Miller join the Echo Chamber to discuss how the evolution of planning in PR, the tension between data and creativity and why brave clients matter so much.
Holmes Report editors Arun Sudhaman and Maja Pawinska Sims preview the 2018 Cannes Lions Festival which promises to be a more slimmed down affair than usual, thanks in large part to cutbacks from holding groups. The duo explore which sessions and themes stand out, tips to survive Cannes and ponder the 'Sorrell effect'.
Calvin Soh was firmly ensconced as one of Asia's top creative directors when took a five-year mid-career break in 2012. Now back in the industry as R/GA's Asia-Pacific ECD, Soh talks to Arun Sudhaman about why exponential change forced him to reconsider his career options, for himself and his children. Soh also discusses how education systems can encourage creative thinking and explores the way that young people are changing the future of advertising.
Weber Shandwick EMEA chairman Tim Sutton rejoins the Echo Chamber to discuss the challenges facing Chinese companies as they seek to conquer foreign markets. Sutton also reviews Iceland's #TooCoolForPlastic campaign after it was named Best in Show at the 2018 SABRE Awards EMEA.
Lenovo chief communications officer Torod Neptune joins the Echo Chamber to discuss his first year with the tech giant, which combines a Chinese background with a truly global footprint. In conversation with Arun Sudhaman, Neptune also explores the state of diversity in the industry after choosing to incorporate such criteria into his high-profile agency search last year. In addition, Neptune discusses the changing nature of the CCO role and what it means for agencies.
South African PR industry veteran Keri-Ann Stanton joins the Echo Chamber following the Holmes Report's third African Innovation Summit in Johannesburg last week. Stanton discusses her decision to depart Engage Joe Public for the African-owned M&N Brands holding group and, in conversation with Arun Sudhaman, explores how the market is changing, particularly in terms of black economic empowerment. The duo also talk about the Bell Pottinger scandal and South Africa's global reputation following the Zuma era.
Holmes Report editors Paul Holmes, Arun Sudhaman & Aarti Shah discuss the 2018 North American Agencies of the Year winners, focusing in particular on Olson Engage, the rise of healthcare agencies and Marina Maher Communications.
The Holmes Report has partnered with Ogilvy for a multi-part series looking at creativity in PR from a variety of angles. Part 3 explores the evolution of social and digital — and how improv can improve one's PR game — with the agency's managing director of content and social Kathy Baird. Then we look at another angle of creativity with the emergence of microtribes as harbingers — or even supplanting — mass pop culture. For this discussion, we bring on M Booth’s chief insights and planning officer Bonnie Ulman — and its chief creative officer AG Bevilaqua.
Show Notes Part 1 of the Creativity Series on Diversity Part 2 of the Creativity Series on the News Media Landscape & Fake News Strong Opinions Loosely Held Strong Opinions Loosely Held — Teenage Girls Are Magic
The Echo Chamber podcast is produced by Markettiers.
Richard Edelman joins the Echo Chamber for a brief interview about his firm's disappointing growth in 2017, amid sustained market pressure. He discusses the firm's transformation, the impact of bringing advertising people in to run operations, the continuing benefits of scale, industry ethics and the Burson Cohn & Wolfe merger. Then former H+K Strategies EMEA CEO Sally Costerton joins Arun Sudhaman to explore the exit of Sir Martin Sorrell, his impact on his PR firms, and the group's future prospects.
Show notes:
Could WPP Sell Its PR Firms? M&A Specialists Weigh In
Edelman Revenue Up 2.1% In 2017 To $894m
In an interview with March Managing Director Cheryl Gale, Laura Tomasetti, CEO and founder of 360PR+, covers her path to becoming one of PR’s top leaders, from her beginnings in ad copywriting, to her stops at agencies in Washington, D.C., and Boston, to her in-house experience at Hasbro.
They also talk about why PR is growing in importance as CEOs because more conscious and concerned about their own reputation, and the reputations of their brands. And they discuss the value of relationship building in communication, the intersections between content, digital, social, advertising and PR, and the skills they look for when recruiting for comms talent.
LINKS:
- Follow Laura and 360PR+ on Twitter: @Laura360 and @360PRPlus
- Follow Hacks and Flacks on Twitter: @hacksflacks
- Follow Hacks and Flacks on Instagram:@hacksflacks
- Follow our Facebook Fan Page: Hacks and Flacks Podcast
- Follow March Communications on Twitter:@MarchComms
- Visit the M+PR Nonsense blog: MarchComms.com/blog
Subscribe to Hacks and Flacks on iTunes, Stitcher or Google Play today. The show’s music is provided by Job Creators. Check them out at JobCreatorsBand.com!
Holmes Report editors Arun Sudhaman and Paul Holmes explore the dramatic exit from WPP of Sir Martin Sorrell and reflect on the 73-year-old's outsize impact on the industry that he dominated for more than 30 years. Sorrell's distinct style and personality will leave a considerable void at WPP, but his PR firms may yet flourish under new leadership.
March 8 is International’s Women Day, and in recognition, we recorded a fun and insightful roundtable chat between March Director of Digital Services Caroline Black, Managing Director Cheryl Gale and Executive Vice President Jodi Petrie. They talk about navigating their careers in PR, covering the challenge of juggling work and life responsibilities, the journey to find confidence in the workplace, and the importance for young women to make sure their voices are heard. They also touch on creativity, authenticity, meditation and, most importantly, cocktails.
LINKS:
- Follow Hacks and Flacks on Twitter: @hacksflacks
- Follow Hacks and Flacks on Instagram:@hacksflacks
- Follow our Facebook Fan Page: Hacks and Flacks Podcast
- Follow March Communications on Twitter:@MarchComms
- Visit the M+PR Nonsense blog: MarchComms.com/blog
Subscribe to Hacks and Flacks on iTunes, Stitcher or Google Play today. The show’s music is provided by Job Creators. Check them out at JobCreatorsBand.com!
Weber Shandwick EMEA CEO Tim Sutton joins the Echo Chamber to discuss global PR market growth and the trend toward agency consolidation, while also defending the value of the holding group agency model.
Paul Holmes and Arun Sudhaman discuss the dramatic takeover of Burson-Marsteller by Cohn & Wolfe, exploring what it means for both firms, their leadership and the broader industry in general.
Show Notes:
'The Big Prize Is Revitalising Burson': PR Industry Responds To Blockbuster Merger
WPP Creates 3rd Largest PR Firm With Burson Cohn & Wolfe
P&G's Alex Malouf joins the Echo Chamber to discuss the talent crisis in the Middle East PR industry, focusing in particular on the challenges posed by localisation and education. Malouf joined the podcast ahead of the Innovation Summit in Dubai last week. Meanwhile at our In2Summit in New York one week earlier, Arun Sudhaman sat down with Angie Schneider to discuss her new startup Spry, and how it aims to revolutionise PR using technology.
Show notes
In2Summit MENA: Education Key To Tackling Middle East Talent Crisis
With Spry, The PR Industry Could Join The Gig Economy
Omnicom PR Group CEO Karen van Bergen makes her long-awaited Echo Chamber debut, discussing the performance of her PR agencies, challenging market conditions and her plans for 2018. Van Bergen also explores Omnicom's recent funding of startup Spry, and discusses exactly what she looks for from her agency CEOs.
Citizen Relations global CEO Jim Joseph checks into the Echo Chamber to conduct his annual roundup of Super Bowl advertising, finding out that — this year at least — humour appeared to trump politics. Elsewhere, Arun Sudhaman talks to Taylor Bennett Heyman's Sarah Crawshaw about a new research study that charts the evolution of the in-house communications role at Asian MNCs.
Live from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Arun Sudhaman meets with Mercer CMO Jeanniey Mullen, who discusses how employee expectations are changing the way that CEOs engage on issues, some of which are political. Sudhaman also talks to KPMG citizenship head Lord Michael Hastings about how the nature of corporate purpose is changing.
Omnicom PR Group's international president David Gallagher visits the Echo Chamber in Hong Kong to discuss the slowdown in publicly-held PR growth, and why agency models must be held accountable. Gallagher also runs through his 2018 trends to watch, including the impact of blockchain and artificial intelligence, and also explores whether next week's World Economic Forum in Davos remains relevant.
Show notes
Poor PR Performance Puts Publicly-Held Agencies On Back Foot
2017 M&A Review: Deals Decline As Micro-Transactions Dominate
2018 PR Trend Forecasts
Paul Holmes joins the Echo Chamber podcast to discuss his annual review of agency M&A in the PR sector, which year revealed a significant decline in both the volume and value of industry dealmaking. Holmes and Arun Sudhaman explore the rise of the 'micro-transaction', with smaller firms dominating sales while holding groups such as Omnicom and WPP did not acquire a single PR firm in 2017. The duo also wonder whether the Holmes Report might qualify for President Trump's 'MOST DISHONEST & CORRUPT MEDIA AWARDS OF THE YEAR', and explore the PR fallout from Michael Wolff's explosive new White House expose.
Jana Lynne Sanchez, founder of European PR firm CitySavvy, joins the Echo Chamber to discuss her decision to run for Congress. Currently the Democratic ballot frontrunner for Texas' 6th district, Sanchez explores the factors that triggered her decision to seek office, against a backdrop of political tumult and a groundswell of women who are choosing to run. She also analyses the communications lessons from her career that are underpinning her campaign, which may yet cause the dominant Republican Party a surprise in 2018.
Angela Oakes, co-founder and co-president of Global Women in PR, joins the Echo Chamber to talk about her organization's research on the global pay gap for women in PR. In a conversation with Aarti Shah, the two talk about GWPR's findings, in addition to the Holmes Report's research that shows that a substantial pay gap for both women and people of color in the PR industry.
It's Episode 100 of the Echo Chamber! Or is it? Either way, Alex Malouf of IABC and P&G joins the show to discuss the key themes that have emerged from the podcast's 4+ years of existence, including agency integration, ethics and PR convergence with marketing. In conversation with Arun Sudhaman, the duo also offer up some random PR predictions for the Echo Chamber in 2018, looking at such areas as PR creativity, agency infractions and holding company growth.
Paul Holmes joins the Echo Chamber podcast to discuss the retirements of two giants of the in-house communications sector — IBM's Jon Iwata and GE's Beth Comstock amid considerable evolution of the corporate communications role. Elsewhere, Holmes and Arun Sudhaman also discuss the PR industry's ongoing efforts to improve ethical standards after the Bell Pottinger scandal, including Richard Edelman's call for improved policies and enforcement.
Greg Paull, co-founder and principal at marketing effectiveness consultancy R3 joins the Echo Chamber to discuss the challenges posed by today's marketing landscape. In conversation with Arun Sudhaman, Paull explores the woes of holding groups, the rise of management consultancies, agency M&A trends, how CMO demands are changing and what we should expect from Chinese brands. Paull, whose firm studies client/agency relationships, also explores what the future holds for PR agencies.
Llorente & Cuenca US head Erich de la Fuente talks to Paul Holmes about the firm’s new white paper on communications trends in Latin America, from mobile usage to millennials and renewed optimism.
Veteran adman Matt Godfrey joins the Echo Chamber podcast to discuss his decision to step down as Y&R Asia-Pacific CEO and join a nutrition startup. Godfrey, considered one of the region's leading marketing executives after lengthy stints leading Bates, Publicis and Y&R, explores how he will apply lessons learned in advertising to his new startup life. He also talks about the challenges facing advertising and the holding group model and what they mean for the future of PR agencies.
Huawei VP of global corporate communications Walter Jennings joins the Echo Chamber to discuss what his company's rise means for the way China Inc is perceived in Western markets. Meanwhile, journalist Alex Brownsell also drops by to explore his popular feature, which asks whether brand ‘purpose’ risks becoming a euphemism for ill-conceived CSR campaigns.
Former Edelman APACMEA CEO David Brain joins the Echo Chamber to discuss Bell Pottinger's demise and what this means for broader perceptons of the public relations industry. In a wide-ranging conversation with Arun Sudhaman and Paul Holmes, Brain also explores his vision for the PR agency of the future, a few months after stepping down from his lengthy career as one of Edelman's top global leaders.
The Holmes Report has partnered with Ogilvy for a multi-part series looking at creativity in PR from a variety of angles. Part 2 explores the findings of Ogilvy's 4th annual Ogilvy Media Influence Survey with the agency's chief communications officer Jen Risi. Among the notable findings, Facebook is now the gatekeeper of news and how the threat of fake news has changed traditional reporting.
Show Notes Part 1 of the Creativity Series on Diversity
The Echo Chamber podcast is produced by Markettiers.
Bell Pottinger's stunning demise since it was expelled from the PRCA has rocked the PR world. In a special podcast with Arun Sudhaman, PRCA director-general Francis Ingham explains why the trade association decided to impose its harshest-ever sanction on the UK PR firm, following Bell Pottinger's work for South Africa's controversial Gupta family.
TUGG (Technology Underwriting Greater Good) helps early stage, experimental nonprofits connect with Boston’s tech community to earn funding and build their networks. Its annual Tugg Makes Boston fundraiser distributes more than $200,000 in funding to local organizations looking to solve challenges in their communities, and the group puts on many more events throughout the year, including Tech Gives Back on October 19.
On this episode of Hacks and Flacks, we speak to TUGG Executive Director Elizabeth Dobrska, covering the resources TUGG offers to help its portfolio companies hone their message, and the biggest developmental challenge facing most nonprofits (hint: it’s not fundraising).
We also talk about the potential for marketing innovation in the nonprofit sector, and the importance for founders to build genuine, long-term relationships with the media.
LINKS:
- Get involved in TUGG’s Tech Gives Back on October 19, 2017 techgivesback.org
- Learn about Pledge 1% Boston pledge1boston.squarespace.com
- Learn more about TUGG Boston: tugg.org
- Follow Hacks and Flacks on Twitter: @hacksflacks
- Follow Hacks and Flacks on Instagram:@hacksflacks
- Follow our Facebook Fan Page: Hacks and Flacks Podcast
- Follow March Communications on Twitter:@MarchComms
- Visit the M+PR Nonsense blog: MarchComms.com/blog
Subscribe to Hacks and Flacks on iTunes, Stitcher orPodbay today. The show’s music is provided by Job Creators. Check them out at JobCreatorsBand.com!
YouGov's CEO of data products Ted Marzilli joins the Echo Chamber podcast to talk about the current state of polling both for politics and for brand research. He also talks about the ways that brand research can unearth insights and where reliance on data can go wrong.
Show Notes: Podcast: Jo-Ann Robertson On The UK General Election
The Echo Chamber podcast is produced by Markettiers and sponsored by March Communications, producer of the Hacks & Flacks podcast.
Microsoft communications chief Frank X. Shaw joins the Echo Chamber podcast to discuss whether brands should take a stand on social issues and mitigating the risk of fake news. Kovert Creative co-founder Joe Assad also joins to talk about his firm's recent investment in Howler Media.
Show Notes: The Howler Soccer Ball Phone Sports Illustrated Football Phone commercial
The Echo Chamber podcast is produced by Markettiers and sponsored by March Communications, producer of the Hacks & Flacks podcast.
Prema Sagar launched Genesis PR in 1992, when India's PR industry was still in its infancy, before eventually selling the firm to Burson-Marsteller. She discusses the evolution of public relations in India with Arun Sudhaman, following the SABRE Awards South Asia, at which her firm took top honours for its campaign on behalf of Medela.
Michelle Cove has turned a career as a media maker into an opportunity to address that industry’s most harmful effects. She’s founder and executive director of MEDIAGIRLS, a nonprofit that gives young girls the tools to filter and think critically about the harmful sexist and biased messages communicated in today’s media.
In this week’s Hacks and Flacks, Marina Askari and I talk to Michelle about her journey from filmmaker to startup founder, chat about the communications strategies she’s learned on to grow MEDIAGIRLS and build the program, and ask for her thoughts whether brands, the media and the general public are finally making progress in the effort to curb harmful messages.
LINKS:
- MEDIAGIRLS: mediagirls.org
- Follow Hacks and Flacks on Twitter: @hacksflacks
- Follow Hacks and Flacks on Instagram:@hacksflacks
- Follow our Facebook Fan Page: Hacks and Flacks Podcast
- Follow March Communications on Twitter:@MarchComms
- Visit the M+PR Nonsense blog: MarchComms.com/blog
Omnicom PR group president David Gallagher joins the Echo Chamber podcast to discuss the PR industry's continued reputation issues in the media, in the wake of the high-profile Bell Pottinger and Rob Goldstone affairs, drawing on his own experience of the criticism Ketchum attracted for representing Russia. Gallagher also explores how he sees technology reshaping PR firms.
Show Notes: South African Scandal Poses Sternest Test Yet For Bell Pottinger Rob Goldstone: The PR Man Behind Trump Jr.'s Russian Meeting The Unravelling Of Ketchum's Russia Relationship What will really differentiate PR agencies?
The Echo Chamber podcast is produced by Markettiers and sponsored by March Communications, producer of the Hacks & Flacks podcast.
Weber Shandwick president Gail Heimann joins the Echo Chamber to explore PR industry lessons from the recent Cannes Lions, where PR firms once again struggled to compete with ad agencies for top honours. In addition to discussing the continued opposition to the Festival from large swathes of the industry, Heimann also talks through the changing nature of PR and PR ideas in a rapidly shifting media and information landscape. She also touches on the notable news regarding Publicis and WPP in terms of their Cannes plans, and responds to whether the Festival retains relevance for the PR industry.
For show notes, please visit https://www.holmesreport.com/latest/podcast
Ketchum execs Ruth Yearley and Tera Miller join the Echo Chamber in Cannes to explore how the intersection of work and life can help inspire creativity at work. The duo, in conversation with Arun Sudhaman, discuss why keeping you work and personal lives separate can impede creative performance and also reveal where they have their best ideas.
H+K Strategies CEO Jack Martin joins the Echo Chamber podcast in Cannes to discuss the PR industry's transformation. In conversation with Paul Holmes, Martin also applies his vast public affairs experience to the complex question of whether brands should take a political stand in the Trump era.
When you’re trying to start a business, it can be tough to figure out your next step. Daquan Oliver, founder and executive director at WeThrive, learned this from a young age, and now he works to develop entrepreneurial skills in students from middle school on up.
In this episode of Hacks and Flacks, Daquan shares a few lessons in social entrepreneurship and nonprofit marketing and communications. Having successfully built a national collective of undergrad mentors for youth in under-resourced communities, Daquan describes how informal mentorships have given him the support system to build his company.
He also explains why he chose to avoid media outreach at a certain point in WeThrive’s development, how press coverage gave him a boost at the right time, and how a few simple marketing and tech tools helped his business scale in a way that eludes many other nonprofit organizations.
LINKS:
- Learn more about WeThrive
- Follow Hacks and Flacks on Twitter: @hacksflacks
- Follow Hacks and Flacks on Instagram:@hacksflacks
- Follow our Facebook Fan Page: Hacks and Flacks Podcast
- Follow March Communications on Twitter:@MarchComms
- Visit the M+PR Nonsense blog: MarchComms.com/blog
The Echo Chamber previews next week's Cannes Lions festival with Quartz global finance and economics editor Jason Karaian, who discusses some of the key trends likely to emerge from the event, including digital ad fraud, brand safety and the rise of advertising 'frenemies' such as Facebook and Google. Karaian also discusses lessons from the surprising UK General Election result, which is explored in greater detail by PR consultant and Tory parliamentary candidate Dean Russell.
The Holmes Report has partnered with Ogilvy for a multi-part series looking at creativity from a variety of angles. The first in this three-part series looks at the issue of diversity — a critical element for fostering diversity within any workplace. The Holmes Report's Aarti Shah talks to Ogilvy's chief diversity and inclusion officer Donna Pedro on why diversity continues to be a challenge for the industry and its impact on creativity.
Ketchum London deputy CEO Jo-Ann Robertson joins the Echo Chamber to discuss the state of the UK election race. A former Labour activist, Robertson also explores the rift in the party and the paucity of strong political communicators today.
A cross-posted episode from the C-Suite Podcast at our 2017 In2Summit EMEA in London earlier this week. Russell Goldsmith spoke with three of the event's speakers: Gareth Hopley, Head of PR and Communications at Pizza Hut Restaurants talked about Purpose Driven Brands; Brad Staples, APCO Worldwide's CEO discussed how corporate communicators can best navigate a fake news world; and Matt Battersby explained the concept of applying the Science of Human Behaviour to the Art of Communications.
The latest episode of the Echo Chamber explores unexpected ways that workplace inequalities can happen with two guests who are advocates for more gender parity within the agency leadership. InkHouse CEO and co-founder Beth Monaghan talks about salary negioation, after-hour email bans and other practices that might subtly hold women back. Then Ketchum's global president Barri Rafferty joins the podcast to talk about gender equality in the Trump era and lessons from Davos.
Two guests for the latest Echo Chamber episode. WE Communications international president Alan VanderMolen drops by to discuss holding groups vs independent networks, why Amazon's Alexa is 'homicide on brands' and the rise of management consultancies in the marketing communications world. Then WARC head of content David Tiltman visits the show to explore lessons from the WARC100 annual ranking of the world's top marketing campaigns — including the resurgence of TV, moment-based marketing, consumer participation and purpose vs sales, amid a recent spate of high-profile advertising missteps.
M&C Saatchi PR director Chris Own joins the Echo Chamber to relate how addiction and mental ill health almost derailed his career. Owen and Arun Sudhaman discuss how the PR industry is addressing findings that more than half of the UK's PR and communications practitioners have suffered from mental ill health, while the vast majority of industry employers do not have a formal mental health policy. In a candid conversation, Owen explores such areas as the always-on agency culture, the pervasive influence of alcohol, and the need to improve training and processes.
For anyone requiring further guidance on any of these issues, Owen and the PRCA have helped to compile the following resources:
NABS - championing mental health in the advertising and media industries
Business in the Community mental health toolkit
Mind, the mental health charity
Mental Health Foundation
Action on Addiction
Holmes Report editors Paul Holmes, Arun Sudhaman and Aarti Shah discuss the winners of the North American Agencies of the Year, which were unveiled at the SABRE Awards in New York on 2 May, and look for the industry trends that link the region's best performing PR firms.
Show notes:
North American Agencies of the Year 2017
Rica Elysee is a builder. Based on her personal experiences with family and friends, she saw the need for a community for women that care about a natural hair lifestyle, which is why she created BostonNaturals. Now she’s built a business in BeautyLynk, an on-demand marketplace for people to find beauty professionals for at-home appointments.
Through both experiences, she found that staying true to herself and her own personal journey helped her build grassroots communities, whether it was women who want to embrace their own definition of natural beauty, or customers who need someone to help them craft their style.
In this episode of Hacks and Flacks, March’s Marina Askari and I talk to Rica about her journey. We talk about why authenticity is so important to how companies – startups and large enterprises – grow, gain customers, gain media coverage and more. We also ask about the local startup resources – like MassChallenge – that helped her build her business.
LINKS:
- Visit BeautyLynk: BeautyLynk
- Learn more about BostonNaturals: meetup.com/bostonnaturals
- Learn about the MassChallenge application cycle this February masschallenge.org
- Follow Hacks and Flacks on Twitter: @hacksflacks
- Follow Hacks and Flacks on Instagram:@hacksflacks
- Follow our Facebook Fan Page: Hacks and Flacks Podcast
- Follow March Communications on Twitter:@MarchComms
- Visit the M+PR Nonsense blog: MarchComms.com/blog
Subscribe to Hacks and Flacks on iTunes, Stitcher orPodbay today. The show’s music is provided by Job Creators. Check them out at JobCreatorsBand.com!
Former McDonald's South Africa corporate affairs chief Sechaba Motsieloa joins the Echo Chamber to discuss his move to agency side, which sees him now lead Magna Carta, one of the country's biggest PR firms. The new role marks Motsieloa's first experience of agency life and, after a career spent in-house, he has plenty of observations on the divide between client and consultancy.
Weber Shandwick global editor-in-chief Vivian Schiller joins the Echo Chamber to discuss the explosion in fake news, and the different forms and shapes it can take. Schiller, the former president and CEO of National Public Radio, and ex-head of news and journalism partnerships at Twitter, explores how media platforms like Facebook and Google are addressing the issue, and what fake news means for brands in an environment of 'alternative realities'.
The latest episode of the Echo Chamber explores the big technologies, trends and ideas that emerged from SXSWi earlier this month in Austin, Texas. Cohn & Wolfe's chief innovation officer Chad Latz returns to the podcast to share his observations from the festival on AI, constant connectivity, fake news and more — and what it all ultimately means for PR and marketing.
In the latest Echo Chamber episode, the head of marketing servies for Globality Gabrielle Tenaglia joins to talk about the platform that brings together small and mid-sized firms with brands — exploring various RFP pitfalls that the platform seeks to mitigate. In the second part of the show, March Communications VP Meredith Eaton comes on to examine the state of thought-leadership campaigns — who's doing them well? What does the term even mean today?
The Echo Chamber podcast is produced by Markettiers and sponsored by March Communications, producer of the Hacks & Flacks podcast.
The Echo Chamber dives into the frenetic world of UK politics with Total Politics editor David Singleton, exploring Corbyn, Brexit, lobbying and more. Then ICCO president Max Behar drops by to discuss the state of the global PR industry.
WE Communications president Alan VanderMolen returns to the Echo Chamber to discuss how companies are reassessing their stance on Donald Trump's presidential policies, exploring such high-profile examples as Uber, Under Armour and Nordstrom.
Communications veteran Sally Costerton returns to the Echo Chamber to take on alternative facts and what they might mean for the PR world. In conversation with Arun Sudhaman, she also explores how corporate communications departments are responding to Trump's tweet threats and discusses what this new era means for corporate values and low-profile CEOs.
Quartz reporter Jenny Anderson joins the Echo Chamber to preview next week's World Economic Forum in Davos. Against a tumultuous politicial backdrop, Anderson discusses whether the Davos elite consensus remains relevant in an era of populism and if business can actually turn their rhetoric towards addressing major global problems. The Quartz reporter also picks out some of the themes to watch at this year's meeting, and explains why WEF is a highlight for members of the media.
Paul Holmes joins the Echo Chamber to discuss his annual review of mergers & acquisition activity in the global PR market. Independent firms continue to drive dealmaking, but this year's list is as notable for the firms that are active (including management consultancies) as for the companies that were relatively inactive in 2016 — such names as Teneo, BlueFocus and Omnicom. Holmes and Arun Sudhaman discuss what recent M&A trends mean for the market and offer up some deal predictions for the next 12 months, as 2017 shapes up to be another restless year for agency M&A activity.
Omnicom PR Group international president David Gallagher joins the Echo Chamber to review the tumultuous events of 2016, including Brexit and Donald Trump's election victory. Gallagher explores the implications for public relations professionals and also casts his eye over some of the key agency trends from the past 12 months, including his newly-created role that involves Omnicom's 10 PR firms.
Bloomberg is a brand of contrasts. It’s simultaneously one of the biggest names in news, while also flying under the radar for those of us who don’t keep up on the latest in business or investment. The Bloomberg Boston office is inconspicuously tucked away on two upper floors of a Downtown Crossing high-rise, but within that space, reporters are creating stories that are read and heard by a huge international audience.
In this episode of Hacks and Flacks we talk to Anne Mostue, radio anchor and reporter at Bloomberg Boston, to help PR professionals get a better sense for this dichotomy. After transitioning from the world of public radio, Anne now spends each afternoon on Bloomberg’s airwaves, covering the latest in finance for an audience of movers and shakers. She describes the types of news that’s important to her audience, the differences between Bloomberg and her past stops in journalism, plus the best ways for PR professionals to pitch her.
LINKS:
- Follow Anne Mostue on Twitter: @AnneMostue
- Follow Hacks and Flacks on Twitter: @hacksflacks
- Follow Hacks and Flacks on Instagram:@hacksflacks
- Follow our Facebook Fan Page: Hacks and Flacks Podcast
- Follow March Communications on Twitter:@MarchComms
- Visit the M+PR Nonsense blog: MarchComms.com/blog
Subscribe to Hacks and Flacks on iTunes, Stitcher orPodbay today. The show’s music is provided by Job Creators. Check them out at JobCreatorsBand.com!
The Echo Chamber tries to make some sense of Donald Trump's shock election win. Portland head of insights Emily Hunt discusses how the pollsters got it so wrong, and what this means for the 'fetishization' of big data. Then Paul Holmes drops by to offer his observations on media influence, fake news and the post-truth era, following his lengthy analysis of the election.
Show Notes
How did the pollsters get it so wrong?
The Global Trust Crisis: 'Truth Matters More Than Ever'
Amith Prabhu joins the Echo Chamber to discuss the dramatic boardroom coup at Indian corporate giant Tata, which has since devolved into a gripping public relations battle involving several agencies and communications pros, as India's most important conglomerate looks to preserve its hard-earned reputation for integrity.
The latest Echo Chamber episode explores the highly-unusual rhetoric around the US presidential election, especially from the Republican nominee Donald Trump. Aarti Shah talks to two GOP strategists — Tucker Bounds and David Almacy — about Trump's communications strategy and what Trump's divisive rhetoric ultimately means for the future of the Republican party and how the GOP can rebuild its standing with groups that are largely eschewing Trump.
Editor's Note: These interviews were recorded before the FBI announced it was re-opening its investigation of Hillary Clinton's emails.
Eric Hollreiser, corporate communications head at online gaming giant PokerStars, joins the Echo Chamber to discuss the various twists and turns that have defined the company's recent history, starting with 'Black Friday' in 2011, when the US Department of Justice issued indictments that effectively suspended the three largest online poker websites. After withdrawing from the US, PokerStars concluded a $731m settlement with the DoJ, which included the acquisition of rival Full Tilt Poker and the relaunch of the business in 2012. PokerStars was then acquired by Amaya Gaming in 2014, before the latter company's CEO was charged in Canada's biggest-ever insider trading investigation. Hollreiser details the ups and downs of the various communications issues related to these events; since this podcast was recorded, meanwhile, news of a £5bn merger between William Hill and Amaya has emerged.
Arun Sudhaman catches up with WE Communications international president Alan VanderMolen in Hong Kong to talk about the rapid pace of digital marketing evolution in China, following the Holmes Report's Asia-Pacific In2 Innovation Summit. The former Edelman executive also offers plenty of insight into his plans for WE Communications, and discusses MSLGroup's restructuring within Publicis Groupe, suggesting that the changes will ultimately weaken the PR network's positioning.
In part two, Ketchum global president Barri Rafferty talks to Aarti Shah about the continuing struggle for gender parity amongst agency leadership ranks, touching on such topics as the VaynerMedia, JWT and Saatchi & Saatchi scandals. Rafferty also addresses the issue of diversity within the PR agency world, after attending the ColorComm conference.
Gawker.com is gone. Some people are upset, some people are dancing on its grave. Is there a right or a wrong perspective on Gawker’s demise? Was its fate deserved because of its controversial and confrontational editorial style, or was Peter Thiel’s cash-fueled vendetta an ugly harbinger of what could happen to the state of media if the powerful choose to litigate the free press into non-existence?
The hot Gawker takes have been flying left and right, and on this week’s Hacks and Flacks, Andrew Grzywacz and Manny Veiga try to dig through it all.
SHOW NOTES:
- Nick Denton on Gawker: “How Things Work“
- Max Read on Gawker: “Did I Kill Gawker?“
- Peter Thiel editorial: “The Online Privacy Debate Won’t End With Gawker“
- Other billionaires suing the press: Poynter
LINKS:
- Follow Hacks and Flacks on Twitter: @hacksflacks
- Follow Hacks and Flacks on Instagram:@hacksflacks
- Follow our Facebook Fan Page: Hacks and Flacks Podcast
- Follow March Communications on Twitter:@MarchComms
- Visit the M+PR Nonsense blog: MarchComms.com/blog
The latest Echo Chamber episode explores how agencies can improve their new business presentations, the role PR has played in the rise and fall of unicorns and AMEC's Measurement Month. Aarti Shah talks to Steve Astle who — until recently — was head of communications at FICO about what wowed him during agency business presentations, then Blueshirt CEO Alex Wellins talks about the US tech IPO landscape and the show closes with AMEC's Jeni Chapman discussing the organization's new measurement framework.
Two of the PR world's leading creative lights join the Echo Chamber after their agencies — Edelman and Unity — came top of the Holmes Report's recent Global Creative Index. In conjunction with Arun Sudhaman, the group discuss what sets the best public relations work apart, talk about the PR industry's efforts to become more creative, and explore differences between creativity in PR and advertising.
Holmes Report founder and CEO Paul Holmes joins the Echo Chamber to discuss the future of public relations in the so-called 'post-truth era'. Recent political campaigns — notably Brexit and Trump — have demonstrated that people are willing to suspend their disbelief when it comes to facts, particularly when it comes to more emotive issues. Indeed, as behavioural research demonstrates, presenting people with conflicting facts can serve to reinforce their views, rather than dispelling them, as the field of climate change science often shows us.
Holmes and Arun Sudhaman explore what this means for public relations practitioners that are charged with communicating on behalf of their clients.
Show notes
Post-truth politics are killing democracies on both sides of the Atlantic PR Grand Prix: 'This Is Work We Should Repudiate, Not Celebrate' PR in the post-truth era Why facts don't matter to Trump's supporters Things still matter
Whether you’re hiring for a PR agency or an in-house marketing team, it’s helpful to know as much as possible about the capabilities, expectations and possibilities of your potential future employees. That’s why Hacks and Flacks brought in Amy Shanler, associate professor of Public Relations at Boston University and the head of BU’s PRLab, for a glimpse into how tomorrow’s professionals are being trained for a PR career.
The student-staffed PRLab is the nation’s oldest student-run PR agency and supports real-world clients, with access to BU’s state-of-the-art resources (including a Communication Research Center with a faux living room outfitted with biometric sensors).
PRLab has worked on a number of compelling, creative and inspiring campaigns – including a partnership with March Communications to support the nonprofit Adaptive Sports New England. March VP Liz Swenton Hosman oversaw that project, and she also joins the conversation with Amy to talk about PR training and hiring today, career expectations and anxieties for students coming out of college looking for their first PR job, and what employers need to know about the next generation of communications talent.
Show Notes:
- Learn more about the BU PRLab: bu.edu/prlab
- Follow Hacks and Flacks on Twitter: @hacksflacks
- Follow March Communications on Twitter: @MarchComms
- Visit the M+PR Nonsense blog: MarchComms.com/blog
Public relations and search engine optimisation should be natural bedfellows, yet few PR firms have actively invested in substantial SEO capabilities. One that has is Threepipe, which recently acquired an SEO firm in the UK. Threepipe CEO Jim Hawker joins the Echo Chamber to discuss why the deal makes sense for his agency, and also explores the broader difficulties of genuine digital integration, four years after Threepipe merged with Blowfish Digital.
Show notes:
Threepipe Makes SEO Play With Spot Digital Acquisition Future Proofing Your PR Business
Data can tell a great story, and research campaigns are how you find that data. In this Hacks & Flacks episode, the hosts talk to March Research Manager Jeremy Guterl, Account Manager Steph Jackman and Senior Account Executive Samantha Bell about their recent work developing, distributing and promoting a successful PR research campaign.
Jeremy defines the difference between media-genic and strategic research, and walks us through every step of the research process. Steph provides a blueprint for conducting media outreach for a campaign, and Sam explains why clear, impactful data points help you capture the interest of readers and the media.
The host of the Hacks & Flacks podcast Manny Veiga talks about the rise of podcasting — and the role for PR agencies and brands. Then Matt Kelly, founder & CEO of Radical Compliance joins to talk about the intersection of corporate compliance and reputation.
The Echo Chamber podcast is produced by Markettiers4DC and sponsored by March Communications, producer of the Hacks & Flacks podcast.
Agency veteran Neil Backwith, who now consults for a number of highly-regarded UK PR firms, talks to Arun Sudhaman about how firms can optimize their commercial performance, and why so many continue to find this difficult. Cohn & Wolfe digital innovation head Chad Latz also visits the show to talk about his key digital trends from Cannes and beyond.
The Holmes Report's Arun Sudhaman catches up with MSLGroup CEO Guillaume Herbette in Cannes to discuss the continued restructuring at the Publicis Groupe PR network. In Delhi, meanwhile, Sudhaman discusses the evolution of India's PR industry and political communication with Promise Foundation founder Amith Prabhu.
Holmes Report editor Arun Sudhaman previews next week's Cannes Lions with a host of industry figures. Daniel Franklin, executive editor at the Economist, discusses the title's expanded presence at Cannes, along with how marketers are grappling with the rise of technology. Vikki Chowney from H+K Strategies previews her highlights from the 2016 festival, including the curious appearance at Cannes of Katie Hopkins. Business Insider global advertising editor Lara O'Reilly also joins the show to update us on the "explosive" ANA Report, which raises serious concerns about media kickbacks and ad agency transparency.
Show notes
12 Cannes Lions events to plan your week around Bombshell report claims US ad agencies unethically pad their profits with secret rebate schemes
Hacks & Flacks talks to Erin Callanan, co-chair of PRXNE16, the annual conference for PRSA’s North East district. She talks about the challenges of organizing an event, previews the PRXNE16 lineup — plus a session on client messaging from March Communication's managing director Cheryl Gale.
Hacks & Flacks – produced by March Communications — is the sponsor for the Echo Chamber. You can follow Hacks & Flacks on Twitter @hacksflacks.
Podcasting live from the World PR Forum 2016 in Toronto, Holmes Report editor Arun Sudhaman talks to Ford Canada VP of communications Lauren More about how in-house communications departments are modernising their offering, and how the CCO role is changing in accordance. We also catch up with MEPRA vice-chair Alex Malouf to discuss the challenges affecting the growth of the Middle East PR industry.
The Echo Chamber is sponsored by March Communications.
Show notes Middle East PR Industry Faces Talent Challenges
This week, the Echo Chamber is hosting content from its podcast partner March Communications that puts on the popular Hacks & Flacks podcast. In this episode, Katie Delahaye Paine — also known as the Measurement Queen — explains how to create a culture of measurement within a PR agency or internal marketing department, and also shares her perspective on the tech businesses use to monitor and measure their work. You can follow Hacks & Flacks on Twitter @hacksflacks.
Golin CEO Fred Cook joins the show to discuss the first Global Communications Report, which predicts good PR agency sector growth over the next five years, but raises several questions especially when it comes to attracting and retaining the right talent. Capstone Hill CEO Jamie McLaughlin also joins to talk more about talent.
Show Notes:
Global Top 250 PR Agency Ranking Industry Growth Slowed To 5% Last Year
The Holmes Report editors Paul Holmes, Arun Sudhaman and Aarti Shah talk about the 2016 Agency of the Year winners that were unveiled on May 3 at the SABRE Awards North America. The editorial team talks about why M Booth, Cohn & Wolfe, W2O Group, Zeno Group, Method Communications and other winners were standouts in this year's highly-competitive agency of the year competition.
Paul Holmes joins the show to discuss the launch of the first Global Communications Report, which predicts good PR agency sector growth over the next five years, but raises several questions over the industry's ability to adapt to a rapidly shifting landscape, not least when it comes to attracting and retaining the right talent, and for communications directors aiming to expand their influence and budgets. Holmes and Arun Sudhaman also discuss the Holmes Report's 2016 Global Top 250 PR Agency Ranking which reveals that industry growth slowed to 5% last year, raising further concerns about the sector.
In this year's SXSW recap, Aarti Shah talks to a festival veteran and first-time attendee. Kwittken co-founder Jason Schlossberg explains why he might not return to Austin next spring for the first time in many years. Meanwhile, CC Group's managing director Rich Fogg offers his perspective as a first-time attendee.
Show notes: Why I Am (Probably) Not Coming Back To SXSW Interactive Next Year SXSW: Does The Festival's Future Include Integration Across Interactive, Film And Music? SXSW: Brands & Agencies On Content, Marketing & Interactive
David Tiltman, head of content at WARC, visits the Echo Chamber to discuss the Warc 100 — a ranking of the world’s best marketing campaigns and companies, based on performance in effectiveness and strategy competitions. In conversation with Arun Sudhaman, Tiltman explores the characterisics of effective marketing work, and addresses the increasing importance of public relations thinking. The epsiode also discusses why many campaigns and agencies are still not particularly innovative, and what makes work like 'Penny the Pirate' and #LikeAGirl stand out.
Show notes:
The Warc 100 Penny the Pirate
LikeAGirl
Ogilvy & Mather UK vice-chairman Rory Sutherland makes a highly-anticipated appearance on the Echo Chamber PR show. In conversation with Arun Sudhaman, Sutherland explores why behavioural economics is of critical importance for companies seeking to understand why people make decisions, and addresses the "fetishization of data". Sutherland also discusses the rise of Donald Trump, the Brexit campaign and why emotional arguments matter more than rational ones.
APCO founder Margery Kraus joins the Echo Chamber to discuss the International Women's Day with Aarti Shah, including how the PR industry's gender representation has evolved over the last three decades. Ogilvy PR's Jen Risi then joins the conversation to talk about the UN Women's HeForShe movement.
Business Insider global advertising editor Lara O'Reilly joins the Echo Chamber to discuss how ad blocking software is forcing digital media companies to rethink their advertising models. In conversation with Arun Sudhaman, O'Reilly also explores the restructuring at Publicis and Omnicom, the 'mediapalooza' agency reviews, and the impact of new social media platforms like Facebook Instant Articles and Snapchat Discover on digital publishers.
Tech analyst — and author of 'What If Twitter Died?' — Bob O'Donnell comes onto the Echo Chamber to talk to Aarti Shah about the future of the struggling social network. The episode explores Twitter's way forward and the role its new VP of communications Natalie Kerris plays in this.
The Echo Chamber podcast is produced by Markettiers4DC.
Sally Costerton drops by the Echo Chamber to discuss HP's "mystifying" media spat with FT journalist Lucy Kellaway. In conversation with Arun Sudhaman, Costerton chews over the pros and cons of taking on big media from a PR perspective. Also discussed on the show — Pepsico's decision to eliminate marketing procurement, likened by Costerton as a "tour of Helmand", and the M&A fever gripping the PR industry.
Cohn & Wolfe Americas CEO Jim Joseph joins the Echo Chamber for our annual roundup of Super Bowl marketing with Arun Sudhaman. Joseph found this year's ads underwhelming and also noted that brands are, curiously, not making the most of digital marketing to bring their Super Bowl spend to life.
After that, Mats Stigzelius from new influencer marketing platform Takumi discusss the rise of Instagram influencers. Brands are increasingly spending money with 'micro-influencers' on Instagram and YouTube — rather than conventional celebrities — and Takumi was launched to help manage this process. Stigzelius joins Sudhaman to explore the pitfalls involved in this type of marketing activity.
Show notes: Audi R8 Big Game Commercial - Commander: https://youtu.be/diU_09jb4bI Doritos Dogs - Crash the Super Bowl 2016: https://youtu.be/MNRAdrB9TSs Dad-Do #2 by NFL’s Benjamin Watson | Braided Pigtails with Pantene: https://youtu.be/DgdYPllFXes
Holmes Report editor Aarti Shah talks to H+K Strategies' new US CEO Beth Balsam about her vision for H+K's US revival, the agency's groundbreaking parental leave policy and why female empowerment has become such a popular marketing theme. Show notes:Always #LikeAGirlImagine The Possibilities: BarbieTouch The Pickle
Freedom to Marry national campaign director Marc Solomon provided an illuminating overview of his successful 13-year battle for marriage equality, at the 2015 Global PR Summit in Miami.
Solomon, in conversation with Cohn & Wolfe Americas CEO Jim Joseph, pointed out that the success was far from assured, particularly after a string of losses in key ballots. However, a focus on communication, data and influencer marketing ultimately paved the way for the pivotal Supreme Court decision that declared gay marriage legal.
Show notes: PR Summit: How The Marriage Equality Campaign Won
Paul Holmes joins the show to discuss his recent analysis of M&A trends in the PR agency world, which revealed that independent firms are now out-buying their publicly-held counterparts. In a wide-ranging discussion with Arun Sudhaman, Paul explores why the big holding groups are buying fewer PR firms, and looks at the impact of private equity on agency M&A activity. Also discussed are the markets and services attracting most interest, APCO's search for a new investment partner, and whether 2016 will prove as active, in M&A terms, as 2015.
Show notes: 2015 Review: Independent Firms Drive PR M&A Activity
Vikki Chowney and Stephen Waddington join Arun Sudhaman to review the biggest PR stories from 2015 including gender inequality, their favourite campaigns, the continued rise of Edelman, and the ongoing fortunes of Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and more.
Show notes: Sport England — This Girl Can The HIV+ Issue Analysis: Edelman Closes In On Agency Restructuring And $1bn Target 2015 Review
Holmes Report editor Aarti Shah brings back Media Survey founder Sam Whitmore to talk media trends, from dayparting sponsored content to publications rethinking the what 'homepage' means.
Then, Proof CEO Mark Stouse considers the ways the c-suite is increasingly asking PR/communications to demonstrate — not just awareness — but the business value behind its efforts.
Show notes: The Business Value Awards Deadline Extended to January 11
The PR industry, particularly in Western markets, remains challenged on the diversity front. In the latest Echo Chamber podcast, Arun Sudhaman talks to Lynn Appelbaum, director of the advertising and PR program at City College New York which, in conjunction with the PRSA, has released a fascinating new study on why minorities still find it difficult to advance within the PR profession.
Appelbaum is encouraged by the progress the industry has made when it comes to recruitment, but notes that there are still major challenges in terms of retention and cultural understanding, particularly when it comes to the day-to-day workplace experiences of young minority and multicultural PR pros.
In a session from last month's Global PR Summit, Hillary Clinton campaign advisor Karen Finney and digital strategist Teddy Goff join Burson-Marsteller CEO Don Baer to discuss the candidate's efforts to build a more enduring, authentic connection with the American public. The conversation touches on the 11-hour Benghazi hearing, changes in the news cycle and political discourse, and how the campaign is responding to Republican attempts to undermine Clinton's record as Secretary of State.
Show notes: PRSummit: Hillary Clinton's 11-Hour 'Piece Of Content'
In a conversation with Holmes Report editor Aarti Shah, Horn founder Sabrina Horn discusses on her decision to sell her tech firm to Finn Partners earlier this year. She also reflects on being in tech PR for nearly three decades and forecasts what's next for the sector. Then, Finn Partners founder Peter Finn joins to talk about his firm's overall acquisition strategy and how that will evolve as the agency hits $70m this year.Show notes:Finn Partners Expands Tech Capabilities With Horn Acquisition 2015 North America Midsize PR Agency of the Year - Finn Partners
Holmes Report editor Aarti Shah talks to Ketchum's head of Generation Z-offering Angela Fernandez on the rising cohort's influence and how brands and employers can transition their Millennial-focused strategy to Gen Z. Then, Burghardt Tenderich, a professor at University of Southern California’s Annenberg School for Communication, explores how brands create campaigns that people want to engage with and share with others based on his latest book on Transmedia Branding. Show notes: The New York Times: Move Over, Millennials, Here Comes Generation Z Transmedia Branding: Engage Your Audience
In a presentation referencing Russian physicist Andre Geim, Polish psychologist Solomon Asch and American comedian Chris Rock, Harvard professor Sarah Lewis opened the fourth annual Global Public Relations Summit by making the case for failure—or more specifically, for the “near-win” that spurs the best people in a wide range of fields to achieve true mastery.
Lewis, assistant professor of history of art and architecture and African and African American studies at Harvard University and author of The Rise: Creativity, the Gift of Failure, and the Search for Mastery, was speaking at a plenary session sponsored by Ketchum, during which she urged the PR people in the room to use their failures as an incentive to creative triumph.
In a wide-ranging conversation with Holmes Report editor Arun Sudhaman, Weber Shandwick EMEA and Asia-Pacific chairman Tim Sutton discusses his recent move back to London after eight years in Hong Kong, a period in which he witnessed considerable change in Asia's public relations markets. Sutton explores the the diversity across the region, and assesses how global PR networks are responding to the political and social shifts in key markets such as China, India, Japan and Indonesia. He also looks at the PR challenges facing Asian brands looking to go global, and analyses the current state of play for global PR networks in EMEA.
David Wolf joins the Echo Chamber to discuss his excellent new book 'Public Relations in China'. The country's PR market is often viewed as a beacon of growth, but an increasingly tough environment for foreign companies, combined with the decline of guanxi, means that PR is more complex than ever. Wolf and Holmes Report editor Arun Sudhaman discuss these changes and explore why so few foreign companies are alive to the pitfalls.
Maitland corporate head Steve Marinker joins the Echo Chamber to discuss new research into corporate values, exploring whether these vague, often ambiguous phrases actually serve any purpose. Ketchum partner Tyler Durham also joins the show, discussing his firm's report into the internal communications challenges posed by 'change fatigue'.
In the latest Echo Chamber podcast, Aarti Shah explores the future of technology and branded content. In the first half of the episode, Ruder Finn's chief digital officer Scott Schneider talks driverless cars, emojis, the future of Twitter, Snapchat and more. Then, the Wonder Factory's co-founder and creative director Joe McCambley joins the program to talk about bringing "wonder" back to branded content and the creative firepower brands need to make an impact.
The Holmes Report's Aarti Shah talks to DePaul University's Matt Ragas about ways the PR industry has evolved to become a true partner to the C-suite. The talk also touches on what today's rising stars must master to — not only become valuable C-suite counselors — but also to run their own businesses and P&Ls.
The Holmes Report's Arun Sudhaman catches up with Richard Edelman at the 2015 Cannes Lions Festival, to discuss the PR industry's presence at the event. Edelman also responds to his agency's heightened media profile over the past year, and comments on the ongoing investigation into the firm's China operation. Separately, Sudhaman sits down with H+K Strategies content and publishing head Vikki Chowney to discuss the highs and lows from this year's Cannes festival, and the marketing trends worth watching.
Media watcher Sam Whitmore visits the Echo Chamber to discuss media and pitching trends: the science of headline writing, Re/Code's sale to Vox, multichannel storytelling and the lost art of "real-time persuasion." Also on the agenda, Ketchum's global tech lead Susan Butenhoff talks about how to use the word "innovation" in a way that's not overused and tired — and why, when and where consumers are willing to pay a premium for "innovation."
Ketchum chief engagement officer Stephen Waddington visits the Echo Chamber to discuss the modernisation of PR in a wide-ranging interview with Holmes Report editor Arun Sudhaman. Waddington believes that technology is reshaping public relations practice for the better, but that many firms face irrelevance if they do not embrace new models and methods. Also on the agenda are Waddington's views on Robert Phillips' book 'Trust Me, PR Is Dead' and his thoughts on why senior PR executives are still so wary of social media.
Natalia Popovych is head of PR firm PRP and one of the founders of the Ukrainian Crisis Media Center (UCMC), which launched last year after Russia invaded Ukraine. She talks to the Holmes Report about the UCMC's efforts to bring balance to media coverage of the conflict, and the importance of rebutting propaganda.
The latest Echo Chamber episode sees editors Arun Sudhaman and Paul Holmes discuss Fifa's crisis, after a dramatic week for football's governing body. The duo also explore the rise of the midsize PR firm following the release of the 2015 World PR Report's agency rankings. And they wonder whether independent affiliate PR firm networks really make that much sense.
Latest Echo Chamber episode sees Holmes Report senior editor Aarti Shah explore her groundbreaking feature on why there aren't more female CEOs in the PR industry, in an interview with Ketchum president Barri Rafferty. Shah and Holmes Report editor-in-chief Arun Sudhaman then discuss the rise of W2O Group, which has retained a low profile despite its emergence as one of the fastest-growing and more innovative PR firms worldwide.
The latest Echo Chamber episode sees Vikki Chowney drop by to discuss the relative merits of Meerkat and Periscope, and their prospects for success. Then Paul Holmes visits to analyse the Russia/Ketchum fallout and Huntsworth's results. Paul also spends a lot of time complaining about the way SABRE Awards entries are formatted, and offers his tips for success.
Starbucks recent #RaceTogether initiative sparked a considerable backlash when it launched. Yet, when Starbucks communications chief Corey DuBrowa revealed the initiative at our San Francisco Innovation Summit in February, it struck a much more positive note. Holmes Report editors Aarti Shah and Arun Sudhaman discuss the fallout and PR lessons.
Vikki Chowney joins the Echo Chamber podcast to discuss her first SXSW experience, the technology trends that are changing marketing, and whether robots are going to take over the PR profession. Also in the "spotlight" — Oreo's newsjacking of the solar eclipse, and Jaffa Cakes missing out.
The latest episode of the Echo Chamber podcast looks at how changing family dynamics are forcing brands to rethink their traditional marketing strategies. Zeno MD of global strategy and insights Therese Caruso joins the show to discuss the group's 'Human Project', a research study that explores how brands can become more like people's "best friends".
Holmes Report editors Arun Sudhaman and Paul Holmes break down the new rules of crisis PR following their annual Crisis Review.
The Echo Chamber looks at how Russia's public relations market is coping with the current economic situation. PBN H+K Strategies CEO Myron Wasylyk explains that PR firms have to stay the course in the country, even in bad times.
Meanhwile, FleishmanHillard Vanguard general director Elena Fadeeva, joins the show to discuss new initative to improve ethical standards among the country's PR firms and in-house communications departments.
The Echo Chamber podcast series, now in its third year, returns for 2015 with a new show that features Cohn & Wolfe's Jim Joseph breaking down key marketing lessons from the recent Superbowl.
While Joseph notes that Superbowl advertising in isolation is typically ineffective, well-rounded digital strategies are helping marketers use the sporting event to their advantage. He also points to the rise of dads as a key marketing trend to watch in 2015.
Meanwhile, CCgroup MD Richard Fogg joins the show to explain why his UK PR firm is attempting to help international marketers understand the US media.
And last, but not least, M Booth digital head Amber Roussel talks to me about her experience supporting digital engagement for President Obama's State of the Union speech. The White House, she notes, is keen to broaden social media outreach as it attempts to connect with a younger audience.
The Echo Chamber podcast is produced by Markettiers4DC.
Weber Shandwick EMEA digital consumer head Danny Whatmough joins the Echo Chamber to discuss the PRCA's 'agency of the future' research, which has uncovered a number of key characteristics for firms hoping to thrive in the new media landscape.
Allison+Partners China MD David Wolf, a veteran observer of the country's PR industry, joins the Echo Chamber to discuss the continued ethical issues that bedevil international PR firms operating in China. For Wolf, a zero tolerance approach is the only option, but he believes that too many international PR agency CEOs in New York turn a blind eye to ethical transgressions and worse. Meanwhile, Starbucks SVP of global communications and international public affairs Corey DuBrowa talks to Aarti Shah about the company's plans to provide free college education to thousands of workers.
Echo Chamber hosts Arun Sudhaman and Robert Phillips return to discuss Ketchum's troubled relationship with Russia, the communications challenges around the rise of ISIS, and the problems PR firms faced regarding a recent survey of their positions on climate change. Also under the spotlight is Lord Chadlington's retirement after a storied PR career.
The latest Echo Chamber sees Paul Holmes and Arun Sudhaman discuss the reputation fallout from Publicis Omnicom's failed merger. Also under the spotlight — how will Max Clifford's conviction affect perceptions of the UK PR industry? Finally, the duo compare the best SABRE work from the 2014 Awards in Americas and EMEA.
Ruth Barnett is VP of global communications at British startup SwiftKey, an app that helps improve mobile typing. Before joining SwiftKey, she was the media's first 'Twitter correspondent' at Sky News, where she put social media at the heart of the channel's newsroom. In an Echo Chamber interview with Arun Sudhaman, she discusses how the media has got to grips with digital channels, the slow fade of traditional publishing models, and the concerns over data privacy that affect companies like SwiftKey.
MSLGroup chief strategic officer Pascal Beucler joins the Echo Chamber to discuss why France is so difficult for international PR firms, in the wake of Waggener Edstrom's surprising exit from the country. Elsewhere, co-hosts Robert Phillips and Arun Sudhaman look at whether sponsors are risking their reputations by partnering with the Olympics and FIFA World Cup. The show also explores the PR problems suffered by technocratic politicians as they grapple with extreme weather disasters.
Al Jazeera PR head Osama Saeed joins the Echo Chamber from Qatar to discuss the news channel's global reputation, his background in Scottish politics, and Islamophobia. Holmes Report CEO Paul Holmes takes a look at whether realtime marketing at the Super Bowl really works and also breaks down Turkey's emerging PR market. Show hosted by Holmes Report editor-in-chief Arun Sudhaman.
Starcom Mediavest Group social media strategy head Mat Morrison joins the Echo Chamber to discuss how websites like Upworthy and Buzzfeed are reshaping content marketing, with significant implications on the battle between PR, advertising and digital agencies.