Fresh Meet

We dive into the evolving challenges of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in today's polarized climate, shaped by the political shifts of Trump's era. Host Julian Obubo and industry expert Keshia Hannam explore how brands can navigate backlash, reimagine inclusivity, and stay true to their values.

The flood of ‘purpose-led marketing' has seen it lose its meaning, and businesses wade into issues beyond their remit - neglecting their real ethical responsibilities. So what now for purpose? Joining Manifest's Chief Design Officer, Martin Farrar-Smith are Copywriter & Author Nick Asbury whose latest book, The Road to Hell argues that purposeful business results in bad marketing; Gemma Ballinger, Managing Director of Studio Output who build brands and digital experiences full of character, difference and purpose; and from Manifest, we have Creative Director Daisy Phillips and Founder & CEO Alex Myers who believe purpose-led marketing is over and are on a mission to inspire an era of ‘progress-driven marketing'.

In this insightful episode of Fresh Meet, our Creative Director Rosanna Bhanji has grabbed two of Swedens most influential people when it comes to DE&I; Nicole Kavander and Muntaga Sowe. Together they slam the uncomfortable questions around diversity and inclusion on the table, and speak honestly and freely around the issues currently affecting so many people.

In this episode of Fresh Meet, our Creative Director Rosanna Bhanji sits down with Head Coach and Co-founder of the customer experience agency Slash.ten, Anton Granlund. Together they share an honest and real conversation around all things company culture, human-first experiences and how life outside of work affects your daily grind. 

In our latest episode of Fresh Meet, our Founder and CEO Alex Myers sat down with entrepreneur, AI specialist and co-founder of Multiply, Rasmus Adler Wahlberg to chat about the highs, the lows and everything in between when it comes to artificial intelligence.

Ever wondered where all the women go in the PR, comms and creative industries?  In this episode of Fresh Meet we combine forces with PR Mums to have a conversation with the Rt Hon. Harriet Harman, politics' most notable champion of women's rights, hosted by Ali Maynard James of Manifest and Founding Mother of PR Mums. 

In our latest episode marking UK Black History Month, our Chief of Staff, Kellie Smith sat down with Claire Quansah, CEO of Quansah Consulting to discuss how the comms industry can attract and keep Black female talent

In our latest episode, our host Isabel Thomson-Officer discusses the rising phenomenon of greenwashing with a guest panel including Angie Farrugia, Director of Comms from B Lab AUNZ, Jahdon Quinlan, Sustainability Leader at Stone & Wood Brewing Co and Josh Kirkman, CEO of Surfers For Climate We talk about what it is, how and why brands fall foul to it, how you can spot it, and why brands need to ensure their efforts are authentic and genuine.

In this episode recorded in Melbourne, Australia we discuss how we can unlock the power of the beauty industry to challenge conventions and ensure minorities are seen, heard and represented. Our hosts are Jessie Bowers (Creative Director) of the Melbourne studio) and Kim Lewis (Senior Account Manager of the Melbourne studio) are joined by Chelsea Bonner, CEO of Bella Management and James Parr, model, disability advocate, and writer. This chapter of Fresh Meet goes into a lively discussion about how we should challenge traditional standards of beauty to be more inclusive.

In this episode, marking B-Corp month, we'll discuss how and why purpose-led businesses emerge and thrive during economic downturns and recession. We'll chat through the complexities of purpose-based marketing or brand activism in the face of a cost-of-living crisis and what a sustainable model for sustainability looks like.  Hosted by Manifest CEO and founder Alex Myers, with guests including Emily Laws (Head of Brand, Lucky Saint), Ian Hambleton (Co-founder, Ecologi) and Sinead Gray (Joint MD, Kindred).

In this episode we are joined by Rodrigo Gravitz, CEO and founder of the market research SaaS solution, My Telescope. We talk about everything share of search — from the importance of measuring market trends, campaign effectiveness and brand recognition, to being constantly monitored, the shift in personal boundaries and finding a balance between using share of search for good vs bad.

In this episode, our host Rosanna Bhanji, associate creative director in Stockholm is joined by both MD and partner of the Stockholm Studio Anna Karlsson and Johanna Hoof, co-founder of voice streaming platform Logcast. Together they help us understand the power of a voice and why it's important to make our voices heard. They cover everything from the story of Logcast and why the platform exist to the importance of democratising people's voices and the future of advertising and comms within the sound space.

Ahead of the World Cup kicking off, in this month's episode Julian and Daisy talk all things football with the founder of Goal Click, Matthew Barrett. Goal Click is a global storytelling platform helping people understand one another through the universal language of football. We cover everything from big money in sport, the controversy surrounding the Qatar World Cup and the responsibility of brands to make football a more inclusive and progressive game.

On this episode Manifest founder and CEO Alex Myers and Senior Account Manager Kim Lewis speaks to Bec Park of Jonny Condoms about safe sex and risky business. Locked in and love locked up - vegan and PEFC-certified Aussie condom brand, Jonny, excelled during the pandemic and is now moving onto bigger markets, having its sights set on the world. Not only does the brand promote safe sex, for everyone, but is a leading advocate in consent, as well as sustainability - every Jonny condom is paired with a biodegradable bag to promote mess-free, conscious disposal. Listen to how this intimacy-focused brand thrived in a world of distance and isolation. Go Jonny, Go Go.

From the recession to the metaverse, the Manifest global team discuss the trends, issues, and topics that are likely to shape the global communications industry in the coming decade. Hosted by Julian Obubo (Brand Strategy Director/Manifest UK), featuring Alex Myers (CEO & Founder/Manifest Group), Josefine Hedlund (Creative Production Director/Manifest Stockholm), Isabel Thomson-Officer (Managing Partner/Manifest Melbourne), Jessie Bowers Jr (Creative Director (Manifest Melbourne).

Our host Rosanna Bhanji, Associate Creative Director in our Stockholm studio, is joined by Martin Sandin, Creative Content Producer and Screen Writer to discuss the importance of storytelling. The pair cover what storytelling means in 2022, the frameworks around it, and how brands need to adopt effective storytelling to connect with and engage their communities.

And we're back! In the first episode of Season 2 of Fresh Meet, Jessie Bowers, our Manifest Melbourne studio Creative Director is in conversation with Sarah McGregor, the Executive Creative Director at Dentsu and Ed Bechervaise, Creative Director at Friction Creative. This episode will explore how current and past creative trends can help shape how we develop ideas to produce groundbreaking work.

In episode one of Fresh Meet- The Crisis Series, we take a look at the initial impacts of the Coronavirus on the marketing industry. What are the changes agencies and brands need to make, and what are the potential long term implications of at least three months in isolation?Stephen Waddington - Managing Director, Metia and Visiting Professor at Newcastle UniversityMandy Sharp - Founder & CEO, Tin Man CommunicationsJohn Brown, Founder & CEO, Don’t Cry WolfHosted by Alex Myers- Manifest Group Founder & CEO

In the last few years we've seen brands take a more visible and active role in the promotion of social and political causes they believe in, from Nike's support of Colin Kaepernick to Starbucks’ much-panned attempt at starting a conversation on racial justice. Brand activism is on the rise, there's no doubt about it, but is this rise simply a reflection of our current polarised social and political culture that seemingly demands everyone to clearly signal their values, or are we seeing the beginnings of a long term shift in the consumer-brand relationship.To break this all down, we enlist the help of Jessica Becker, Managing Partner at Manifest New York and Yisa Fermin, freelance art director, graphic designer, and brand strategist.

Creativity. What is it exactly? Can it be clearly defined? Can it be taught? Can it be measured?In episode 9 of Fresh Meet we tackle the nebulous and endlessly fascinating concept of creativity with the help of John Harrington, PR Week UK Deputy Editor, Alex Myers, CEO and Founder of Manifest, and Julian Obubo, Brand Strategy Director at Manifest London who is handing over hosting duties to actress and Manifest London PR Assistant, Holly Atterton.Whether you consider yourself a 'creative type' or not, this is a discussion you don't want to miss

We've all seen the recent articles in the likes of the New York Times and The Atlantic about how workism and performative workaholism are destroying our happiness. In Episode 8, we tackle these concepts head on by framing the conversation around finding our purpose in life and in work. Our amazing guests Courtney Seard, Maryam Ajayi and Ashley Elders root the discussion in behavioural psychology, neuroscience and New Age ideas. Hosted by: Julian Obubo, Senior Campaign Manager, Manifest LondonGuests in this episode:Featuring: Courtney Seard, Peak Performance Coach and TrainerMaryam Ajayi, Energy Healer and Business Growth StrategistAshley Elders, Account Coordinator, Manifest New York

In the seventh episode of Fresh Meet we discuss how brands should engage with their audiences in the digital age. We look at the ways they aim to become more human, and analyse whether we think it’s working. We also talk about the listening vs taking action. Do brands have to be activists in today's climate?We go in on the recent controversy over the Gillette ad. How brands can tell a better values story, and the increasing demand for brands to walk the talk.Hosted by: Jessica Becker, MD, Manifest New YorkGuests in this episode:Sam Garfield, Communications and Growth Lead at The CollectiveRonnie Cho, CEO, Cho GroupAlex Myers, CEO and Founder, Manifest GroupAshley Elders, Account Coordinator, Manifest New York

In the sixth episode of Fresh Meet, Cameron Stewart, an old friend of Manifest, joins our own Alex Myers to discuss the state of brands in today’s fast-moving digital world. We examine the issue of whether today’s digital measurement tools are a help or hinderance to creativity: are we measuring to improve or merely improving measurement? We look at how brands are responding to the fragmentation of media consumption and we address the challenge of how to tell compelling stories in an age of mistrust, distraction, and cynicism.Guests: Alex Myers, CEO, Manifest and Cameron Stewart, Founder, Dawson Andrews

In the fifth episode of Fresh Meet, we flip the script on the “How I Made It” interview genre. Instead of chatting with CEOs and founders with decades of experience, we have an illuminating chat with three Manifest colleagues on their fascinating journeys into PR. We hear from Liana Bignall, Senior Account Executive at Manifest London on the challenges of making the transition from Australia to London. Moll Levine, Campaign Manager at Manifest New York talks about the importance of finding one’s passion. Namuli Katumba, Account Manager at Manifest London recalls the epiphany that led her to switch careers and become an intern in her thirties. All three stories can serve as inspiration to young people interested in studying and entering the PR and comms industry, those in the early stages of their careers and those who are considering a career switch.

In the fourth episode of Fresh Meet, we tackle the often talked about, but hardly understood subject of diversity. We discuss initiatives that are working, why agencies often get it wrong and what the future holds. To help us make sense of this fascinating, contentious and sometimes divisive topic, we’ve enlisted some “heavy hitters” in the form of Elizabeth Bananuka, PR consultant and founder of BME PR Pros, an initiative aimed at promoting BME diversity in PR and communications and Trish Champaneri, Head of Talent at M&C Saatchi Sport & Entertainment.

We’re going international in the third episode of Fresh Meet. We tackle, on a broad level, the nature of PR and integrated communications in the US and USA. We discuss how the media landscape in both countries informs and impacts how we do our jobs. Finally, we unpack what British and American clients expect of their agencies and the creative process. To make sense of all of this, we enlist the help of our New York office heavyweights: Director, Jessica Becker and Account Manager, David Watsky. Manifest Group’s Global Business Director Ali Maynard also joins to provide a transatlantic perspective.

We’ll be discussing whether the current model of influencer relations is sustainable, we’ll be future gazing at what this industry could look like in 5 to 10 years’ time and we’ll debate and unpack the term itself: Influencer? What does it mean? What should it mean? Should we still be using it? We're joined by Manifest's influencer expert Niamh Kelly and two "influencers" Millie Cotton and Marta "A Girl Who Travels"

“I’m sorry”. Two simple words. Two simple, yet, powerful words. As children, our parents constantly remind us of the importance of saying ‘Thank you’ and saying ‘Sorry’. Gratitude and Apology. It usually isn’t easy to get honest contrition out of a toddler, but that’s to be expected. What’s also surprisingly difficult, as we’ll get to discuss, is getting honest contrition out of companies. In our first episode of Fresh Meet we’re going to be discussing the art of saying sorry. We’ll be looking at individuals and brands that have done it well and those that haven’t. We’ll also be taking a look at some...I guess, unconventional styles of saying sorry. Guests: Paul Sutton: Digital Media Consultant and host of The Digital Download Podcast https://digitaldownload.training/digital-download-podcast/ Alex Myers: Founder and CEO of Manifest Group Maja Zupan: Strategy Director at Manifest Group