The PRovoke Podcast

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.

Fight or Flight discusses the growth of employee power.

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.

Aaron Kwittken discusses how he sees the PR using AI in the year ahead.

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.

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."