Podcasts about fleishmanhillard

Filling in for Stephen LeDrew, Former MPP and Broadcaster Peter Shurman speaks with Conservative strategist John Capobianco, Senior Vice President and Practice Lead at FleishmanHillard.Capobianco discusses Pierre Poilievre's decisive 87.4 percent leadership result at the Conservative convention in Calgary and why it signals strong party unity heading into a potential federal election.The conversation explores whether Mark Carney could trigger an early election, the impact of unresolved trade tensions, and why affordability, housing, and grocery prices remain the defining issues for Canadian voters. Capobianco also assesses Conservative momentum at both the federal and provincial levels and what it means for the road ahead.You can subscribe to Peter Shurman's Substack here - https://substack.com/@shurmanatorKeep Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The shake-up of Omnicom's PR agencies, and rumours that WPP could sell Burson, are examined in PRWeek's latest podcast.Beyond the Noise looks at some of the biggest issues affecting communications and PR. Download the podcast via Apple, Spotify, or listen on your favourite platform.PRWeek journalists John Harrington (UK editor), Siobhan Holt (deputy editor) and Evie Barrett (deputy news editor) discuss the bombshell news last week that Golin and Ketchum are to merge, and Porter Novelli will fold into FleishmanHillard, following Omnicom's acquisition of IPG late last year.The trio look at what the industry has been saying about the news, whether they were surprised by it, and if they think it is a good idea.Separately, the team give their take on rumours that WPP could look to sell Burson as part of a restructure at the UK-headquartered holding company. They discuss reactions from experts to the alleged plan, and the likelihood of such a move.Finally, the journalists look at how important PR agencies are to the holding company giants. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Filling in for Stephen LeDrew, Former MPP and Broadcaster Peter Shurman speaks with Conservative Bigshot John Capobianco, Senior Vice President and Practice Lead at FleishmanHillard.Capobianco reacts to Pierre Poilievre's decisive 87.4 percent leadership result, arguing it cements Poilievre as the unquestioned leader heading into the next federal election. He explains why Conservative unity is stronger now than at any point in recent years.The discussion shifts to Ontario politics, where Capobianco assesses Doug Ford's position following the provincial Conservative convention, his focus on infrastructure and housing, and why opposition parties face an uphill battle against a potential fourth term.A candid insider conversation on leadership, elections, and the future of Conservative politics in Canada. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's a seismic change for several industries. Omnicom Group closed its $9 billion acquisition of Interpublic Group last Wednesday. In the days since, the deal has resulted in many job reductions as Omnicom tries to reach promised cost savings. For the PR sector, the deal means former Interpublic agencies Golin and The Weber Shandwick Collective are joining Omnicom PR, which includes FleishmanHillard, Ketchum, Porter Novelli and other firms under the leadership of CEO Chris Foster. Joining this week's podcast are Campaign's Luz Corona and MM+M's Jameson Fleming, who explain what the holding company mega-deal means for the creative and medical marketing sectors, respectively. Plus, some of the biggest marketing and communications news of the week, such as WPP delaying employee pay reviews until next spring and PRWeek's Best Places to Work 2025. PRWeek.comTheme music provided by TRIPLE SCOOP MUSICJaymes - First One Follow us: @PRWeekUSReceive the latest industry news, insights, and special reports. Start Your Free 1-Month Trial Subscription To PRWeek Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Marshall Manson is the CEO of Fleishman Hillard and a communications strategist with deep experience in both brand marketing and corporate reputation. In 2006, while working at Edelman, he played a central role in the infamous "Walmarting Across America" campaign, an early and much criticised attempt at influencer marketing that quickly unravelled due to a lack of transparency. Marshall joins us to reflect openly on what went wrong, what he learned, and why the lessons from that experience still matter today. The 2006 "Walmarting Across America" PR scandal offers valuable lessons about transparency and ethics that remain relevant in today's influencer marketing landscape. This storytelling deep-dive reveals how a promising campaign featuring anonymous bloggers in Walmart-branded RVs unraveled when they refused to identify themselves to a journalist, leading to front-page coverage in major newspapers.• Campaign concept: Bloggers would travel in Walmart-branded RVs, staying in store parking lots and documenting their experiences• Critical mistake: Allowing bloggers to remain anonymous despite red flags• Campaign built momentum that made it difficult to cancel despite ethical concerns• Media coverage quickly turned from positive to highly critical• Leadership response from Richard Edelman emphasized learning from mistakes rather than scapegoating• Importance of transparency in sponsored content remains a crucial lesson for modern influencer campaigns• Setting high ethical standards when operating in uncharted territory Is your strategy still right for 2026? Book a free 15-min discovery call to get tailored insights to boost your brand's growth.

The latest guest on The PR Week podcast is Paul Cohen, CEO of Attention Comms. Cohen launched the firm this year after it spun out of U.K.-based Milk & Honey PR. He talks about U.K.-headquartered firms expanding to the U.S. with varying degrees of success, as well as the trends he's seeing in the current economic and political environment. Plus, the biggest marketing and communications news of the week, including the end of R&CPMK as its staff joins Acceleration Community of Companies; executive moves including the new U.S. CEO of Ogilvy and FleishmanHillard's first chief creative officer in the Americas; and the political and brand implications for McDonald's after President Donald Trump spoke at its Impact Summit.  AI Deciphered is back—live in New York City this November 13th.Join leaders from brands, agencies, and platforms for a future-focused conversation on how AI is transforming media, marketing, and the retail experience. Ready to future-proof your strategy? Secure your spot now at aidecipheredsummit.com. Use code POD at check out for $100 your ticket! PRWeek.comTheme music provided by TRIPLE SCOOP MUSICJaymes - First One Follow us: @PRWeekUSReceive the latest industry news, insights, and special reports. Start Your Free 1-Month Trial Subscription To PRWeek Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Few things unite the world like sport. Global sporting events like the Super Bowl, FIFA World Cup and Olympic & Paralympic Games represent high-stakes marketing battlegrounds where brands not only compete for relevance, trust and eyeballs, but for ways to drive tangible business impact. In today's complex operating environment, a modern approach is required that puts communications at the center to drive positive storytelling that excites and unites stakeholders while also protecting reputation.J.J. Carter is President and CEO of FleishmanHillard and a trusted advisor to brands in their biggest moments and on the largest global stages. J.J. will join us to discuss what communications at the core of sports sponsorships means and the evolving role that comms is playing in helping brands multiply ROI for their global investments and moments under the brightest lights.  AI Deciphered is back—live in New York City this November 13th.Join leaders from brands, agencies, and platforms for a future-focused conversation on how AI is transforming media, marketing, and the retail experience. Ready to future-proof your strategy? Secure your spot now at aidecipheredsummit.com. Use code POD at check out for $100 your ticket! campaignlive.com What we know about advertising, you should know about advertising. Start your 1-month FREE trial to Campaign US. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Cognitive Crucible is a forum that presents different perspectives and emerging thought leadership related to the information environment. The opinions expressed by guests are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of or endorsement by the Information Professionals Association. During this episode, Lt. Col. Orlandon Howard discusses rethinking strategic communication for U.S. military public affairs, exploring topics such as the PESO model and the balance between informing and influencing. The discussion centers around his recent article: “Communication Strategery: Rethinking Strategic Communication for U.S. Military Public Affairs.” Recording Date: 24 Sep 2025 Research Question: Orlandon Howard suggests an interested student or researcher examine: What cognitive (psychological and sociological) conditions typically exist among host nation populations that are associated with prevalent support for foreign military aims and operations? Resources: “Communication Strategery: Rethinking Strategic Communication for U.S. Military Public Affairs” by Orlandon Howard PESO model Propaganda: The Formation of Men's Attitudes (1973) by Jacques Ellul Link to full show notes and resources Guest Bio: Lt. Col. Orlandon Howard serves as the public affairs officer (or PAO) for the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Manpower & Reserve Affairs and the U.S. Army G-1 at the Pentagon. He has previously worked as a public affairs coach-trainer, public affairs operations officer, Army brigade combat team PAO, marketing operations officer, and as a Fellow with FleishmanHillard, a New York-based public relations and marketing agency. About: The Information Professionals Association (IPA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to exploring the role of information activities, such as influence and cognitive security, within the national security sector and helping to bridge the divide between operations and research. Its goal is to increase interdisciplinary collaboration between scholars and practitioners and policymakers with an interest in this domain. For more information, please contact us at communications@information-professionals.org. Or, connect directly with The Cognitive Crucible podcast host, John Bicknell, on LinkedIn. Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, 1) IPA earns from qualifying purchases, 2) IPA gets commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

The Jernstedt Company specializes in strategic communications. Rich has experience in military public affairs, corporate communications departments and agencies. He was CEO for 12 of his 26 years at Golin; EVP at FleishmanHillard for seven years; and consulted with  Porter Novelli for five. His expertise includes strategic planning, coaching, business development, and reputation management. He also consults with Prosper Group, a team of former agency owners and CEOs who counsel communications firms on performance, organization, exit planning, and M&A“Let Them,” Mel Robbins“The Anxious Generation,” Jonathan Haidt“Unprecedented,”  (Canada's top CEOs on what they learned about leadership during COVID-19) Compiled by Steve Mayer and Andrew Willis“Me, But Better,”  Olga Khazan Thank you for listening to "Can You Hear Me?". If you enjoyed our show, please consider subscribing and leaving a review on your favorite podcast platform.Stay connected with us:Follow us on LinkedIn!Follow our co-host Eileen Rochford on Linkedin!Follow our co-host Rob Johnson on Linkedin!

This week on The PR Podcast, we sit down with Evan Boyer, founder and CEO of Leaders PR, to talk about what it really takes to make the leap from big agency executive to independent shop owner. After years in senior leadership at FleishmanHillard and other top firms, Evan launched his own consultancy in 2025, driven by the rise of AI, seismic shifts in the agency landscape, and a personal conviction that now was the time to build something new.Evan pulls back the curtain on what “Founder-Year-Zero” looks like — from building a pipeline and saying no to the wrong clients, to using technology as a replacement for agency infrastructure. We also get into how AI is actually saving PR pros time (and where it's still smoke-and-mirrors), why the fractional PR model is gaining ground, and why he believes the Southeast is the next big growth region for B2B communications.If you've ever thought about starting your own shop — or just want to hear how AI and industry upheaval are reshaping PR in real time — this episode is for you.The PR Podcast is a show about how the news gets made. We talk with great PR people, reporters, and communicators about how the news gets made and strategies for publicity that drive business goals. Host ⁠⁠Jody Fisher⁠⁠ is the founder of Jody Fisher PR and works with clients across the healthcare, higher education, financial services, real estate, entertainment, and non-profit verticals. Evan Boyer: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/evanboyer/Leaders PR: website - https://www.leaderspr.comInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/leaders_prLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/leaderspr/The PR Podcast: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ThePRPodcast/Twitter - https://x.com/ThePRPodcast1Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theprpodcast_/TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@theprpodcast?

On this edition of The PR Week, we're thrilled to welcome JJ Carter, who took the helm as CEO of FleishmanHillard last October.Join us as he discusses the agency's evolution, particularly in light of Omnicom Group's pending acquisition of rival Interpublic Group. Plus, we'll dive into the week's biggest marketing and communications news, including IPG's Q2 earnings, Real Chemistry's latest acquisition and Astronomer's viral crisis.Plus: The 2025 PRWeek US Power List, which features the CEO of Omnicom PR Group in the top slot.  AI Deciphered is back—live in New York City this November 13th.Join leaders from brands, agencies, and platforms for a future-focused conversation on how AI is transforming media, marketing, and the retail experience. Ready to future-proof your strategy? Secure your spot now at aidecipheredsummit.com. Use code POD at check out for $100 your ticket! Follow us: @PRWeekUSReceive the latest industry news, insights, and special reports. Start Your Free 1-Month Trial Subscription To PRWeek

Rachel Catanach, General Manager and Senior Partner of New York and Boston at FleishmanHillard, talks about the challenges brands face today. She explains how synthetic audiences can be a valuable tool for message testing. She also shares valuable resources companies can use to prepare before launching a campaign.Learn more about D S Simon Media

On this special edition of The PR Week podcast, VP, editorial director, Steve Barrett talks with FleishmanHillard chief inclusion and impact officer Adrianne Smith about the growth of Inkwell Beach at Cannes and the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the creative industry. Smith reflects on her journey to make the festival more inclusive, the challenges and misconceptions about DEI, and the role of FleishmanHillard in promoting an inclusive culture. AI Deciphered is back—live in New York City this November 13th.Join leaders from brands, agencies, and platforms for a future-focused conversation on how AI is transforming media, marketing, and the retail experience. Ready to future-proof your strategy? Secure your spot now at aidecipheredsummit.com. Use code POD at check out for $100 your ticket! Follow us: @PRWeekUSReceive the latest industry news, insights, and special reports. Start Your Free 1-Month Trial Subscription To PRWeek

Ever wonder what happens when a PR matchmaker draws a hard line against fossil fuel clients? Meet Steven Shimek.In this eye-opening conversation, Keith Zackheim welcomes the owner and CMO of Shimek Strategic—an influential voice who helps determine which agencies win multi-million dollar RFPs. Steven pulls back the curtain on agency practices most clients never see. "What I try to do is educate our world of marketers about what's not in the deck, what's not on the logo slides," he explains, revealing how his network of 5,000+ marketing professionals gives him insider knowledge about which agencies secretly represent oil and gas interests.But this isn't just business—it's personal. After watching Greta Thunberg stand up to "mean, aggressive, angry, belittling people," Steven reconnected with his environmental science roots. He traded his Yukon Denali for a hybrid. He made tough choices. Despite the financial hit, he vowed never to work with agencies representing oil, gas, tobacco or firearms. The conversation takes a fascinating turn when discussing today's political climate, where companies are "green hushing" their sustainability efforts. Yet Steven remains optimistic. "Even if it is hushed, I truly believe companies are still going to do the right thing," he insists, noting that abandoning sustainability triggers "a continuous low roar" of customer discontent. For communications professionals navigating this shifting landscape, this episode offers both practical wisdom and moral clarity from someone who's seen it all—and chosen which side of history he wants to stand on.Steven Shimek is the Owner and CMO of Shimek Strategic, an influential agency matchmaker who has helped over 1,600 companies across 46 countries find their ideal marketing partners. With a Master's in Environmental Science from the University of Colorado at Boulder, Steven combines his deep environmental knowledge with extensive industry experience gained at PR Newswire, Ruder Finn, and Fleishman Hillard. What sets him apart is his principled stance against representing agencies that work with fossil fuel, tobacco, firearms, or private prison companies, despite potential revenue loss. Inspired by climate activists like Greta Thunberg and his own children, Steven has transformed his business into a vehicle for positive change, educating marketing leaders about agency transparency while helping brands find partners whose values align with their sustainability goals.In This Episode:(00:00) Steven's career journey from PR Newswire to Shimek Strategic(08:14) Agencies adopting climate values and sustainability practices(10:39) Steven's environmental science background and personal awakening(14:08) How Steven brings transparency to agency selection process(16:08) Discussion of "green hushing" in the current political climate(19:08) Forecast for sustainability in corporate communications(21:21) Conclusion and information about Antenna GroupShare with someone who would enjoy this topic, like and subscribe to hear all of our future episodes, send us your comments and guest suggestions!About the show: The Age of Adoption podcast explores the monumental transition from a period of climate tech research and innovation – an Age of Innovation – to today's world in which companies across the economy are furiously adopting climate solutions - the Age of Adoption. Listen as our host, Keith Zakheim, CEO of Antenna Group, talks with experts from across the climate, energy, health, and real estate sectors to discuss what the transition means for business and society, and how corporates and startups can rise above competitors to lead in this new age. Access more curated content on the subject by visiting, www.ageofadoption.com.This podcast is brought to you by Antenna Group, an award-winning integrated marketing, public relations, public affairs and digital agency that partners with the world's most exciting and disruptive companies across cleantech, mobility, real estate, healthcare, and emerging B2B tech sectors. Our clients are transformational and distinguished corporations, startups, investors, and nonprofits that are at the bleeding edge of the Age of Adoption. Visit antennagroup.com to learn more.Resources:Steven Shimek LInkedInShimek StrategicAntenna GroupAge of Adoption WebsiteKeith Zakheim LinkedIn

That Solo Life Episode 304: The Powerful Insights Learned From Going Back To School Episode Summary Join hosts Karen Swim, APR and Michelle Kane as they welcome Veleisa Patton Burrell, an accomplished PR professional and educator. Together they explore the twists and turns of Veleisa's career—from solo entrepreneurship to agency life, and now as an adjunct professor guiding the next generation of communicators. This candid conversation covers career transitions, the evolving role of PR, the integration of AI in the workplace and education, and the importance of critical thinking. Prepare to be inspired by Veleisa's insights on mentorship, resilience, and finding balance in a challenging job market. Episode Highlights Veleisa's 20-year career in PR and communications The decision to shift between solo work, agency life, and teaching How teaching has reignited her passion for storytelling and mentorship The role of AI in PR and education, and how to use it as a tool rather than a crutch The importance of curiosity, critical thinking, and learning from failure Encouraging the younger generation to be authentic and build meaningful careers Tips on setting boundaries for a healthy work-life balance Episode Timestamps [00:13] Introduction to the episode and Veleisa Patton Burrell [01:37] Veleisa shares her career background and transition to solo work in 2017 [03:22] Teaching as an adjunct professor and rediscovering excitement for the field [07:53] Inspiring the next generation through storytelling and shared values [13:09] The impact of failure and fostering resilience in your career [19:57] Insights on balancing work with personal boundaries and self-care [21:17] Exploring the role of AI in education and PR, and critical thinking as a foundational skill [28:00] Closing thoughts and where to follow Veleisa About Veleisa Patton Burrell Veleisa Patton Burrell is a trusted counselor to clients and peers alike, providing strategic guidance on integrated communications, including media relations, content development, digital communication and executive visibility. Her talents lie in detailing company values through owned storytelling consistently across mediums to earn media coverage and improve reputation with employees, partners, and clients and industry peers. Most recently, as an executive for FleishmanHillard, a global PR agency, and Denny's, a storied restaurant brand that is known as “America's Diner,” Veleisa advised senior leaders on issues and crisis, developed media relations strategies and oversaw execution of thought leadership opportunities such as speaking engagements and interviews. Side work as a mindfulness facilitator and yoga instructor keeps Veleisa's mind and body strong and resilient. She graduated from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, with a bachelor's degree in corporate communications and public affairs; she now teaches an undergraduate capstone course at the school as an adjunct professor. She later earned a master's degree in communication studies from the University of Texas at Arlington. Veleisa was named to Public Relations Society of America Dallas inaugural 40 Under 40 list in 2021 and was previously a board director for the chapter. You can connect with Veleisa on LinkedIn. Related Episodes & Additional Resources Ragan: Denny's Veleisa Patton Burrell on embracing tech and the changing comms landscape Nature: The effect of ChatGPT on students' learning performance, learning perception, and higher-order thinking: insights from a meta-analysis World Economic Forum: Why AI literacy is now a core competency in education Forbes: Organizations Are Saving Millions By Embracing Curiosity—Here's The Proof Host & Show Info That Solo Life is a podcast for public relations, communication and marketing professionals that work as independent and small hosted by Karen Swim, APR and Michelle Kane. Karen is the founder of Words For Hire, a PR agency that specializes in B2B, Technology and Healthcare, and the President of Solo PR, a community dedicated to independent practitioners in public relations, communications and related fields. Michelle Kane is the Principal of Voice Matters, a  company that offers PR, Communications Consulting, Editorial and Voiceover Services. Talk to Us Karen Swim - LinkedIn, Threads, Instagram Michelle Kane - LinkedIn, Instagram Subscribe and Share Don't miss an episode! Be sure to subscribe to "That Solo Life" on your podcast platform of choice. Love what you hear? Share the episode with your colleagues and friends, and leave us a review to help more listeners find the podcast. Engage with us on social media—we'd love to hear your thoughts!

The recent acceleration in CEO and MD departures and arrivals at major UK PR agencies is examined in PRWeek's latest Beyond the Noise podcast.The past few weeks have seen changes at the top of the UK or EMEA operations of big agencies including Edelman, MSL, FTI, Weber Shandwick, FleishmanHillard and Hotwire.Joining PRWeek's Siobhan Holt and John Harrington to discuss the trend is Amy Hayer, a partner at Hanson Search, a headhunting consultancy that specialises in recruiting C-suite comms leaders.Beyond the Noise looks at some of the biggest issues affecting comms and PR. Download the podcast via Apple, Spotify, or listen on your favourite platform.The trio talk about why the current trading climate may be fuelling the rate of change among senior leadership teams, and what skills and career experience agencies and holding companies want for their UK bosses.They also look at the extent to which bosses themselves may want to leave to try something different.The issue of agency leaders being recruited from in-house roles, and the counter-trend of agency chiefs moving client-side, is discussed. So too is the question of whether promotions from within have become less common and why there may be a generational shift. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ahead of IDX, Walt Lukken spoke with Anna Davreux from FleishmanHillard and Nate Lalone, a partner at Katten, to discuss the European policy and regulatory landscape. They cover the Capital Markets Union and simplification, the impact of geopolitical events, the relationship between the UK and the EU and crypto. To end, Anna and Nate shared their favorite spots to eat in their respective cities.

Rachel Catanach is Senior Partner and General Manager of FleishmanHillard's New York operations, responsible for people development, cultivating existing client relationships, and securing new business.  She has held this position since November 2021.  She also spearheads the firm's Global Executive Advisory initiative. A New Zealand native, Rachel started her communications career as a business journalist and at in-house public relations positions before stints at Sweeney Vesty Limited in New Zealand, and then Waggener Edstrom, as General Manager of their Hong Kong operations.   In July 2007, she joined FleishmanHillard Hong Kong as General Manager and in 2016 was promoted to President of FleishmanHillard's Greater China operations, responsible for growing the firm's presence and reputation in this highly dynamic market. Rachel is a strong advocate for the PR industry and a regular commentator on industry issues and trends.   She has presented at Summer Davos in Dalian, moderated on the main stage at the Cannes Festival of Creativity, and was a key writer and contributor to The Page Society's most recent thought leadership report, Beyond Communication: CCO Leadership in Navigating New Complexity.  She has received many awards and in 2024 was recognized by PR Week as a Woman of Distinction.

Send us a textSummary: In this episode of the PIO podcast, host Robert Tornabene interviews Dawn Small, the strategic communications manager for Aurora Fire Rescue. Dawn shares her journey from public relations agencies to the fire service, highlighting her experiences and the changes she aims to implement in communications. The conversation delves into the importance of community engagement, the role of social media, and the daily responsibilities of a PIO in a busy fire department. Dawn emphasizes the need for strategic planning and collaboration with media to communicate safety messages and improve public education effectively. In this conversation, Robert Tornabene and Dawn Small discuss the importance of strategic communication planning, particularly in the context of public safety and fire departments. They explore how engaging with firefighters can enhance communication effectiveness, the role of AI in streamlining communication efforts, and the significance of having a cohesive plan that aligns with leadership. The discussion also touches on personal insights and rapid-fire questions that reveal more about Dawn's perspectives and experiences.Dawn's BIO: With nearly three decades of broad-based communications expertise spanning the public and private sectors, Dawn Small serves as strategic communications manager for Aurora Fire Rescue, an all-hazards fire department with 17 fire stations and nearly 500 firefighters/paramedics serving the city of Aurora, Colo.Dawn leads the Public Information Office for AFR, overseeing internal and external communications, emergency communications, media relations, and community engagement for the department. During the first decade of her career, Dawn cut her teeth in communications at international public relations firms such as Fleishman-Hillard and Weber Shandwick Worldwide. She managed and implemented public relations programs for various public and corporate affairs clients. While working with public-sector agencies such as the City of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Office of International Trade, and Los Angeles World Airports, she became exposed to the sense of fulfillment that comes with strengthening the community and impacting individual lives through public education, community relations, and effective communications outreach.After spending the next decade of her career in global external communications, internal communications, and content marketing leadership roles for Arrow Electronics Inc., a Fortune 150 technology firm, and full-stack technology solutions provider Flexential, she felt the call to shift back to the public sector. She led communications and marketing for the Colorado Retirement Association, a quasi-governmental organization providing retirement plans for Colorado city and county employees, followed by two years as a communications strategist for the City of Centennial, Colo., before joining AFR. Dawn holds a bachelor's degree in Mass Communication from the University of South Dakota and Advanced Public Information Officer certification from the Federal Emergency Management Association.Dawn Smalls LinkedInSupport the showOur premiere sponsor, Social News Desk, has an exclusive offer for PIO Podcast listeners. Head over to socialnewsdesk.com/pio to get three months free when a qualifying agency signs up.

Danielle Paige is the Chief Marketing and Growth Officer at Nixon Peabody LLP, an American Lawyer top-100 law firm with 16 offices worldwide. Danielle leads the firm's brand strategy, utilizing marketing automation and data-driven insights to enhance client engagement and drive growth. With over 20 years of executive experience in marketing, she has held leadership roles at major communication agencies, like MSLGroup and FleishmanHillard. An award-winning marketing executive, Danielle is a former member of Fast Company Executive Board and an OnCon Icon Awards 2024 Top 10 Marketer. In this episode… Marketing in the legal industry often carries a reputation for being rigid and uninspiring, leaving many marketers questioning how to create meaningful impact in such a highly regulated field. How can marketing leaders in professional services break free from traditional constraints and position their firms for strategic growth while keeping client trust at the forefront? Seasoned marketing executive Danielle Paige maintains that legal marketing is more dynamic than ever. She emphasizes the importance of aligning marketing efforts with a firm's strategic goals, treating marketing as an investment rather than an expense. She highlights actionable strategies, such as leveraging AI to enhance client engagement, building brand value through thought leadership, and creating tailored client experiences to strengthen relationships — all while maintaining agility and fresh perspectives year-over-year. By breaking industry norms, you can drive growth and innovation in your organization.  In this episode of The Growth Fire Podcast, Kevin Hourigan interviews Danielle Paige, Chief Marketing and Growth Officer at Nixon Peabody LLP, about innovative legal marketing strategies. Danielle discusses the shift from traditional marketing to strategic growth initiatives, the power of AI in client engagement, and the importance of aligning marketing spend with business goals. Tune in to learn how legal marketing can drive measurable success and build lasting client relationships.

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  

On this week's episode presented by Busey Bank, I am joined by Ruth Kim, a powerhouse leader with decades of experience at Fleishman-Hillard, where she served as General Counsel, Senior Vice President, and Senior Partner. Ruth played a pivotal role in shaping the culture and strategy at one of the world's leading communications agencies. Now, in what she calls "Ruth 2.0," she's redefining retirement (or rewirement) as an amplifier, connector, and advisor to businesses and nonprofits. Through her work—and her signature hashtag #RuthUnleashed—Ruth is helping organizations thrive while staying true to their purpose. We'll take a deep dive into Ruth's career, exploring the lessons she learned at Fleishman-Hillard, her approach to leadership and growth, and how she's channeling her expertise into her current mission of empowering others. Let's roll… #leadership #rewirement #retirement #amplifier #connector

In this episode, Chip and Gini delve into the importance of empathy in agency management. They emphasize the need for agency owners to put themselves in the shoes of clients, prospects, and employees to improve communication and relationships. Key points discussed include handling difficult client conversations, managing scope creep, billing practices that avoid perceptions of nickel-and-diming, and providing constructive feedback to employees without micromanaging. They also advocate for regular, honest communications with clients and creative solutions to financial challenges faced by both agencies and their clients. Key takeaways Gini Dietrich: “It’s putting yourself in the shoes of the other person, and it’s ensuring that you understand your financials and how to make a profit and how to scope and you’re tracking your time so you know how much things cost.” Chip Griffin: “The pressure on agencies is immense right now. There’s a lot of financial challenges that all agencies are facing. At the same time, we need to remember that most of our prospects and clients are feeling those same challenges.” Gini Dietrich: “It’s leadership. And that’s what you should be aiming toward. Not management, but leading. Not managing, not micromanaging, not telling them unintentionally that you don’t trust them, but leading them the way that you want them to go.” Chip Griffin: “You need to find ways to understand what the client needs and is looking for and how you can solve it rather than simply saying no.” Related How to make conversations with your agency employees less difficult (featuring Allyns Melendez) Building trust and letting your team shine Raising Prices for Your Agency's Clients View Transcript The following is a computer-generated transcript. Please listen to the audio to confirm accuracy. Chip Griffin: Hello, and welcome to another episode of the Agency Leadership Podcast. I’m Chip Griffin. Gini Dietrich: And I’m Gini Dietrich. Chip Griffin: And Gini, I’d like to put on a pair of your shoes today. Gini Dietrich: I don’t think they will fit. Chip Griffin: I think it’s incredibly unlikely, that they will fit. Gini Dietrich: They don’t even fit my kid. Chip Griffin: I confess when we’ve met in person, I haven’t really looked at your feet that closely, but just based on our relative statures, I would be shocked if my feet fit into your shoes. Gini Dietrich: Yeah, I don’t think they’ll fit. Chip Griffin: No, no. I think that would, I’m not sure it’s my style either, really. Gini Dietrich: Probably not. Probably not. Chip Griffin: I’m such a fashionista. Yeah. Gini Dietrich: Yeah. I mean, right now I’m wearing my UGG slippers. It’s so, but look at how small they are. That’s a size five. They’re not going to fit you. Chip Griffin: Definitely not. Definitely not. Well. We veered off the rails even before we started. You’re showing footwear to the audience. So, that was not where I thought this was going. Gini Dietrich: Would you like to see my oranges and apples? Would you like to see my, I’m growing oranges and apples in my corner. Would you like to see that? Chip Griffin: You’re, you’re growing citrus fruits in Chicago in the winter. Gini Dietrich: Correct. Chip Griffin: Makes total sense. Gini Dietrich: Quite, quite pleased with myself. Chip Griffin: I’m, I don’t even know what to say about that, so. It’s, Gini Dietrich: it’s impressive. Chip Griffin: How about we move on to the actual topic today. Before we really. Gini Dietrich: Alright, fine. Fine, fine. Chip Griffin: Crash into the ravine and end this show. So we are going to talk about shoes, but not in the way that we’ve done so far. We’re going to talk about the importance of, as you’re an agency owner, putting yourself in the shoes of the other party in all of the conversations and activities that you’re engaged in. So putting yourself in the shoes of the client when you’re having a difficult conversation with them, or when you’re thinking about asking for something, putting yourself in the shoes of the prospect, as they look at what you’re proposing. Putting yourself in the shoes of your employees, as you’re offering them feedback or making decisions about different things. And so I think all too often as owners, we hear this advice from folks like us, who tell you, you need to maximize profits. You need to manage scope creep. You need to make sure that you’re getting results for your clients and you need to press your team for them. You need to make sure that you’re telling your team what you need and what you expect and all of that, but we’re often leaving out the part of thinking about how does the other party perceive it? What are they hearing when we’re saying these things? And I think that’s a really important thing to consider so that you can actually make sure that you’re getting what you need, but you’re also understanding what the other party needs that you can reach something that works for both of you. Gini Dietrich: Yeah. I mean, it’s, it’s just like any other relationship, right? You have to put yourself in the other person’s shoes in all your other relationships or your marriage, your friendships, all of those. So I think even with your kids, I think it’s really important to remember that. And you’re right. There are. Tend to be some challenging conversations we have to have sometimes with clients partly because we’re not doing the things that we should be to scope correctly and manage profitability and ensure that we’re doing the things that we need to, to make sure that we are making money. And because we’re not doing that up on the upfront side, it makes it more challenging on the back end to have to have those conversations. So I think it’s, it’s a combination of both. It’s for sure putting yourself in the shoes of the other person, and it’s ensuring that you understand your financials and you understand how to make a profit and you understand how to scope and you’re tracking your time so you know how much things cost. It’s a combination of all of those things. Chip Griffin: And look, I mean, we know that the, the pressure on agencies is immense right now. There’s a lot of financial challenges that all agencies are facing. At the same time, we need to remember that most of our prospects and clients are feeling those same challenges. Right. And it’s one of the reasons why we are in the agency community. But we need to think about those things, particularly because we’ve talked, we talk all the time about the need to raise prices, for example, as an agency and how if an agency owner starts to ask us a question, if they, if they’re charging enough, the default answer is no before we even hear any facts, because that’s just how it is. At the same time, if you go to your, you know, and we know that inflation is hitting you right now as an agency. If you go to your clients and say, you know, we need 10 percent more next year for the same level of work, that may be correct for us and making sure that we’re balancing our books, but we need to think about how the client is hearing that. And what the client is hearing is, I have to find a way to come up with more money to pay you as an agency, even though my own budget hasn’t increased and is probably shrinking also. And so, so now I have to give you a, an even larger piece of the pie just to keep going with what we’re doing. It doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t be raising prices, but you need to be sensitive to the way that they’re looking at it and figure out how you can come up with messaging to help sell what you’re doing, but also are there other alternatives you can come up with? Can you reduce your scope while keeping the fee the same so that you’re not taking a bigger piece of the pie or at least not any bigger? Gini Dietrich: Yeah, I think, I think that’s exactly right is finding creative ways to work around it, because we actually have an agency client that in September wanted to send an email saying they were raising prices and the email they wrote was interesting. And I was like, um, I don’t think you should send this email. Let’s maybe think about other ways to, to handle this. Because they’re in, they’re in a commodities, commodity business. And so they do need to raise prices and it happens across the industry. So it wouldn’t be a big surprise, but it’s in the messaging and how they were delivering it. And I think that’s the same, same thing we have to think about is, you know, are there things that we can do? And I, I personally love the idea of reducing the scope and saying to them, listen, things just like they do for you, things cost more. It sucks. Here’s what we’ve been thinking about. We’ve been doing this, this and this all year. And this one isn’t quite as effective as we thought. We’d like to remove that from the scope so that we can continue working on these two things that are doing extraordinarily well and put more power behind them. That’s a different conversation than saying, we’re going to raise your prices by 10 percent for the same amount of work. Completely different conversation. Chip Griffin: Absolutely. And it doesn’t mean that they’ll accept it, but it means that you’re starting from a better position and you’re demonstrating to them that you’re thinking about them and their budget at the same time. And it’s not just all about me, me, me. Gini Dietrich: Right. Chip Griffin: I think you need to think about this in terms of scope creep too. We always tell you if something’s out of scope, you need to draw the line sooner rather than later because the more scope creep you allow, the, the tougher it gets to fix it later. At the same time, if you keep saying to your client, no, that’s out of scope, no, this is out of scope, this is going to cost more, this is going to cost more. Put yourself in the client’s shoes. That sounds awfully damn annoying to hear every single week. And so what I hear is someone who is being an obstacle rather than a solution. And so my suggestion to you on things like that is. Maybe if you can say, well, that’s not within scope, but what if we took this thing away, that’s not as effective and we swap this in instead. So try to come up with those same creative solutions, even when it comes to scope creep, so that it doesn’t just become that constant stream of no’s or you need to pay more. Or those kinds of things. You need to find ways to understand what the client needs and is looking for and how you can solve it rather than simply saying no. Gini Dietrich: Yeah, and I think this is a really easy one for you to put yourself in the other person’s shoes because it’s probably happened to you before. A really good example of this is we, a couple of years ago, inherited a web firm with a new client. They were a brand new client at the time. And about two months into the relationship over Thanksgiving week, the web firm updated all the plugins and everything, and it completely took the website down because of some thing that they had used, that the web firm had used, it was no longer being supported, completely took the website down. And so I’m, preparing – my team’s all off right, because we closed the the office between for the week of Thanksgiving and it was the night before Thanksgiving. i have 30 people coming to my house I'm preparing you know my in laws are here, like I have a whole house full of people And the web firm is saying to me, well, we need 1, 500 to fix it. And I was like, but you broke it. Right. And so then I’m having to field calls from the client, the CEO of the client’s office, and the president then calls me and like, we were having this conversation between the three of us trying to figure out what to do with this web firm who keeps saying, sorry, it’s 1500 bucks just to, just to have a conversation to fix it. I was so frustrated because I felt like the client was being nickled and dimed. They were the ones who broke it and maybe it would have cost 1, 500 to fix it. That’s fine, but they wouldn’t even get on the phone without a credit card and paying the 1, 500 first. So I think you have to think about that, about it from all of those perspectives. Completely different conversation if they had said, Oh my gosh, we totally broke this. We’re so sorry. The theme is outdated. Whatever happens to be, we’re going to fix it. And then come back a couple hours later and say, we have to do this, this, and this, so it’s probably going to be 1, 500. Okay, we would have paid it. But instead, it was like, it’s a completely different conversation. So you just think about it from that perspective. And I’m sure you’ve had experiences where you’ve been nickel and dimed like that. Maybe not in the professional life, but in your personal life. You have a plumber there, or at your house, or an electrician at your house, and it’s, it’s just like, oh my gosh. So, when you, when you can understand that kind of frustration, I think it’s really easy for you to understand how the client might feel, even if you’re right. Even if it is out of scope, and they are asking for things that you shouldn’t be doing, or they’re not paying for, fine, but let’s find a different way to communicate that. Chip Griffin: And, and billing is a perfect place to put yourself in the shoes of a client, because it is easy for someone to feel nickel and dimed, even if maybe they’re not. And I think back to my very earliest days in the agency world, and we’ve talked about this before, where it was very common for agencies to charge you by the page for a fax or a copy. Gini Dietrich: Yeah. Right. Chip Griffin: You know, those kinds of things. And, and I got to tell you that when I was hiring agencies in the nineties, it drove me nuts to get these invoices that would have the, and every time I saw the fax machine in my office come on and start spitting out pages, I’m sitting there thinking, this agency is charging me a dollar per page for all of the junk coming through. And so instead of looking at it as they’re providing me good information, I need this. I looked at it as, Oh my God, the cost is being run up there. And, and, and recently I was reading a LinkedIn post where someone was talking about a lawyer and their first bill from this lawyer. And it included time spent for writing the engagement agreement, preparing the initial invoice, those kinds of things. And people were saying, well, of course he needs to get paid for that. Sure. Roll it into the rest of your stuff. Don’t itemize it. Don’t put down on the invoice that you’re being charged for the invoice. I know a lot of agencies like to put in a specific project management fee because, and they’ll say things like project management is such an important part of the engagement. We’re going to charge you for it directly. No. Wrap it into others. Because if I sit there and I see project management, I think, Oh my God. This is just, you’re just eating up my time on silly stuff. Not true. You need project management. It absolutely makes for a more successful relationship. Roll it into other things. Don’t draw my eye to it. Think about all of these things and how the recipient is perceiving it because it will make a big difference for very little effort on your part. Gini Dietrich: We actually used to do it very, very early in my agency life. So early. And partly because I came from a big agency where we charged a dollar per page for faxes. But we did a 10 percent expense fee, which, which covered things like phone calls and at that time your cell phone bill and things like that. And, and GE was one of our clients and finally they said to us, can you just roll that into your fee? And I was like, what? Chip Griffin: Right. Gini Dietrich: Yeah. Because same thing. It drove them crazy. And I didn’t realize that that was driving them crazy because that’s what we did at Fleishman Hillard. You charged for all that stuff. You charged for going out to dinner with them. You, you, like, you charged for all of it. If you even thought about the client, you charged for it. So it’s just really important to understand that and to say to yourself, if I received this, how would, how would I perceive it? What would be my reaction? Chip Griffin: And sometimes the, the client’s perception may not be because of something that you do, but of something that you don’t do. We all know that as agency client relationships go on. We sort of get into that mode where we just want to be protective of the relationship. We want to make sure that they stick around. We don’t want to do anything that might rock the boat. So, yeah, we want to be careful. We’re mindful that they don’t want to hear no to scope creep. So we, and we’re mindful that they don’t want to spend more money. So what do we do? We turtle. And we, we try to just have the minimum amount of contact with the client in order to keep things moving because we don’t want to be in a situation where we have to say no to that request because it’s scope creep. We don’t want to be throwing out new ideas because we know they’re going to get shot down or they’re simply going to try to get us to do it within the existing fee. And so we’re afraid to suggest new stuff. From the client’s perspective though, when we start to do that, we start to look non responsive. We start to, that one of the biggest reasons that clients give when they leave an agency is they, they stopped being creative. They stopped coming to me with ideas. Well, the reason why is because they were being shot down most of the time on those things. But you need to understand that once you turtle, it turns into something where the client is now perceiving you as not a real partner in things. So while you’re, you may be not rocking the boat and you may buy a little bit more time in the relationship, you’re definitely souring it much more so than by having an honest conversation with the client. Gini Dietrich: Yeah, and I think there’s opportunity for you as well to sort of meet in the middle. And, you know, there have been times where we’ve been completely over, over scope, and we’ve spent way more budget than we should have, and I’ve paid my team way more than they should have gotten for, for certain things. And I haven’t said anything. And there have been times where we’ve been way over scope and we’ve, we’re way over budget. And I have said something. And both of those, in both of those instances, it has not ended well for us. So you have to find a way to meet in the middle as well. And say, hey listen, we’re over budget and we’re over scope because of this, this and this. So let’s take a look at what we have planned for the rest of the year and really think through what we need to do. And I will tell you, a few years ago, probably right around the pandemic, we started doing something that has been incredibly successful. We do, you and I have talked about, you don’t really have annual contracts, you’re month to month or maybe 60 days depending on what your termination clause is. We never, no longer have annual plans. We do them by quarter. And we do, we, we set OKRs, objectives and keys, key results for our clients, just like we do for our own business. And every quarter we review them with the senior leadership at our clients’ businesses. And we say, we do a SWOT analysis. We say, this is, this worked really well. We have some big opportunities here. This sucked and here’s why. And because this sucked, we’d like to not continue doing this and probably bring in something else. And every time we have that quarterly conversation, not only do we get a budget increase, but we get a scope increase as well, every quarter without fail. And it’s because we’re willing to have that really hard conversation and even be honest to say, you know, we tried this and it didn’t really work and here’s why. Right. And it becomes a partnership so that now you’re having conversations instead of when something big happens and you’re over budget or you’re over scope and you have to have this hard, hard conversation. Because it’s been a year or it’s been eight months and you haven’t done anything about it. Now you’re having those conversations consistently and it’s part of your partnership and it doesn’t become this big conflict conversation that you have to have, which is, I think, why we turtle because we don’t, we don’t, we want to avoid the conflict and we don’t want to have the conversation. Chip Griffin: Right. And the reality is, as you’re saying, the more frequent and regular your communication is, the better it is. And if you can do that, you can deal with the stuff that comes up, but the longer you let things fester on either side, the worse it gets. And the harder it is to resolve it. But I also want to talk about not just clients. I think this is important to put yourself in the shoes of your employees. Gini Dietrich: Yes. Chip Griffin: Because, you know, these days, most agencies are trying to get by with fewer staff than before, because it’s been tough the last couple of years financially for most agencies, whether they’ve seen a decrease or just kind of holding steady. Most agencies are not growing like gangbusters. So they’re not adding a lot of team members. We’ve seen in the SAGA owner surveys that people are not planning to add employees anytime soon. So we’re asking for more from our teams. And so we need to think about how the things that we’re doing and saying to them is being perceived by the teams that we have in place. I think some, some little things are, can get magnified really easily. I think back to my dad who owned a law firm, when I was a kid. And he would always have the employees at his firm have to pick between the day after Thanksgiving or the day after Christmas to take off. Gini Dietrich: Oh, geez. Are you serious? Chip Griffin: Yes. And, and in fairness, the courthouses were open those days. So there was, there was a rationale for it because Gini Dietrich: Okay. Chip Griffin: Potentially they were doing more, and, and things honestly were different in the 70s and 80s. Fair. Fair. And how things like that were perceived. But, but even then, that just struck me as silly. And, and I think today, if you were to, to offer your employees that same choice, it would be really negatively received. And most agencies aren’t doing that specific thing today, but there are plenty of things like that, that you might be doing where you feel like you’re giving the employee a choice, but they may not be looking at it that way. They may be looking at it as sort of like, you know, which kid do I have to sacrifice? And, and so you don’t want people to perceive things in that way. But I think the most important thing with employees is how you’re giving feedback. And I think this is an area where most small agency owners, or at least a lot of them, are falling down on the job because we have a certain expectation for how things should be done. And we really want to impress upon our team that we want it done that way. And so what that comes across to as the employee, though, typically is that we’re micromanaging them. That we don’t trust them. And so, so we really need to think about whether we’re editing a document or an email or providing feedback on a conversation. Think about what’s absolutely necessary to convey. And think about how the employee is perceiving all of the other stuff that you’re communicating along the way. Because you may be making things worse rather than better. Or at the very least, you may be diminishing morale, even if you’re increasing performance in the short term. Gini Dietrich: I think that’s such a good lesson because I had a situation where I was working inside an agency a few years ago to help their owner. And she treated me that way. She edited everything I did. She questioned every recommendation I made. And I was like, I’m sorry, I have more experience than you do. Like what? But it was, it wasn’t me. It was the way that she did it with everyone. And I finally had to say to her, you’re making me feel like shit. And if you make me feel like this, imagine what your team feels like. You can’t figure out why you’re losing people as fast as you are. Her turnover rate was every six months. And she couldn’t figure it out. This is why. This is why it’s because you are micromanaging. It makes me feel terrible. It makes me feel like you don’t trust me. It makes me feel like I don’t know what I’m doing. And those things are not true. I actually do know what I’m doing. And if I feel this way, your people do for sure. And it was a really good lesson because I think you have to really understand that. That, If somebody’s questioning your work and editing everything that you turn in and, and saying, Oh, I don’t know about this idea, or shooting down your ideas. How does that make you feel? Cause I guarantee your employees feel that times 10. Chip Griffin: Yeah, absolutely. And I do, I hear owners all the time complaining about, you know, clients who micromanage and rewriting everything and all that. And, and, and yet they’re doing the same with their teams. And look, this is a lesson that I’ve had to learn and relearn over the years myself. Because I, you know, I have a way I want things done. I completely fess up to that. And, and I have a tendency to say, okay, this is exactly, and so I’ll just sit there and I’ll rewrite something rather than providing feedback. When I had developers working for them, I said, well, I’ll just code it or do it exactly this way. Not well received. I’m sure not. It’s possible that the way that I’m doing it was absolutely that much better. Honestly though, probably not. It was probably incrementally better. And so what I have, have learned over the years and have tried to do more of is to provide general feedback and guidance as opposed to actually getting in there and editing directly, et cetera. And even with the general guidance, thinking through what’s really going to make a difference here? And, and not, not a 0. 1 percent difference, but you know, a meaningful difference. And, and so I try to control myself now so that if I’m providing feedback, it’s really only for those substantial things. And I think if owners did that more, they would be being perceived better by their teams. And, and so we really need to think about how everything that comes out of our mouth, every email that we send, every policy decision that we have about what our hours are, what flexibility we’re going to give to our team. Or how we’re going to push them to get a project done by a certain time. It doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do what’s right for the business, but we need to think about how it’s being perceived before we move forward and either accept that we’re okay with the potential negative consequences or change so that we don’t get them. Gini Dietrich: Yeah, I think it’s really, really good advice to always put yourself in the other person’s shoes. One lesson I had to learn early on was I couldn’t take negative feedback from a client and then email it to my team in the middle of the night. So you have to really, really think about those things. And if you aren’t sure, like there are tons of leadership resources on the web. There are tons of really great leadership books. It’s leadership. It’s leadership of your team. It’s leadership of your clients, it’s leadership of your agency. And that’s what you should be aiming toward. Not management, but leading. Not, not managing, not micromanaging, not telling them unintentionally that you don’t trust them, but leading them the way that you want them to go. Chip Griffin: And, and what you’ve addressed there, particularly feedback from clients and not sending them in the middle of the night, you also need to remember you’re, you should be a buffer as the owner. You don’t need to pass every bit of the feedback onto the employees. Pass on what’s useful, pass on what’s necessary. You don’t need to, if the client gives you a really raw feedback, you know, I really hate what Sally did on this thing. It was just awful. We can’t do that again. You don’t need to go to Sally and tell Sally that. No, you don’t. You can come up with a more constructive way, which the client should have done in the first place. Correct. But if the client doesn’t do it, doesn’t do it, you should do it as you pass it along, because you need to think about how it’s perceived and what it means. Gini Dietrich: And don’t do it in writing. Have a conversation. Chip Griffin: Oh, so, so much shouldn’t be done in writing that, that gets done in writing. I… Gini Dietrich: I know. Chip Griffin: I, yeah, that’s a topic for another day, I suppose, but maybe that, maybe that’s the former investigator in me who, you know, loved having things in writing because it was… Gini Dietrich: Never put anything in writing. Chip Griffin: Yeah. All right. Well, this, this is not in writing. Well, I guess we’re going to have a transcript. So it is kind of in writing at the end of the day and we do have a video of it. So it’s hard for us to say we didn’t say any of these things, but in the end that will bring to a, to an end this episode of the Agency Leadership Podcast. I’m Chip Griffin. Gini Dietrich: I’m Gini Dietrich. Chip Griffin: And it depends.

Tara Reid has been CEO of Havas Formula since 2023, leading the firm that is part of the Havas network. She talks about the agency's work, and discusses the biggest marketing and communications story of the year: the 2024 presidential election and Donald Trump's return to the White House. Plus, industry news such as PRSA's CEO stepping down and major people moves at Takeda, FleishmanHillard and PRWeek's parent company, Haymarket Media.  Follow us: @PRWeekUSReceive the latest industry news, insights, and special reports. Start Your Free 1-Month Trial Subscription To PRWeek

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Mike Ferguson in the Morning 10-15-24 (7:05am) Mary Catherine Martin, Senior Counsel at the Thomas More Society, talks about the intentionally obscure text of Missouri's Amendment 3. More than simply ending Missouri's abortion ban, Amendment 3 sets up Missouri for a dangerous future. Voters need to clearly understand the extremes to which this ballot proposal will take the state, both now and in the future. She's the attorney who took on Amendment 3 in the Missouri Supreme Court.  Amendment 3 will legalize, protect, and fund abortions in all 9 months of pregnancy. But  Amendment 3 is much broader than abortion. Amendment 3 creates a new "super-right" to "reproductive freedom." This new right is HIGHER than any other right, higher than the right to abortion under Roe v. Wade - higher than speech, religion, due process, or parents' rights.    Check out Mary Catherine's "Decoding Missouri Amendment 3: A Guide to Understanding the Language of Missouri's Amendment 3 Ballot Initiative" here: https://www.thomasmoresociety.org/news/decoding-missouri-amendment-3   ‍‍‍Here is the voters' guide that decodes the language of Amendment 3 to help inform you on how to rightly interpret it: https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/63d954d4e4ad424df7819d46/670e7ab814e5634cc880324c_Decoding%20MO%20Amendment%203.pdf   (https://www.thomasmoresociety.org/) (https://www.thomasmoresociety.org/attorneys/mary-catherine-martin)   (7:20am) Goodbye to Chesterfield Mall today. Story here: https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/local/business-journal/last-look-inside-chesterfield-mall-demolition/63-a8a8f5a3-6ac8-4bf0-a8ed-03545056f138   After decades in downtown St. Louis, global PR firm FleishmanHillard is moving to Clayton. Story here: https://www.firstalert4.com/2024/10/14/fleishmanhillard-moving-st-louis-county/?tbref=hp   (7:35am) Kamala Harris now says she's got a 5-point plan for Black men as polls show many of them are leaving the Democrat Party. Story here: https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4931537-harris-economic-agenda-black-men/   (7:50am) More on the oddball Kamala "Real Men" ad and also on the proliferation of big Halloween decorations.    NewsTalkSTL website: https://newstalkstl.com/ Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/NewsTalkSTL Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/NewstalkSTL Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NewsTalkSTL Livestream 24/7: bit.ly/NEWSTALKSTLSTREAMSSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mike Ferguson in the Morning 10-15-24 (8:05am) Latest polls show that the Harris/Walz campaign is losing male voters, especially black men, so their new campaign ad is targeting  "Real Men," even though Democrats can't identify what a man or woman might be. We initially thought the ad was from the Babylon Bee. Nope. Insert cringe factor here. Story here: https://www.foxnews.com/politics/cringeworthy-pro-harris-ad-showcasing-male-support-featured-professional-actors   (8:20am) MORNING NEWS DUMP Panic move!! Harris campaign is reportedly in negotiations with Joe Rogan's people for an appearance on his podcast. That follows Trump working on an appearance with Rogan, and Harris scheduled to do a Fox interview with Bret Baier. Story here: https://nypost.com/2024/10/15/us-news/harris-campaign-in-talks-with-joe-rogan-about-possible-podcast-interview-report/   A fire at an abandoned building on North Broadway, just north of downtown, has forced the closure of the Musial Bridge due to visibility concerns from the smoke. Story here: https://www.firstalert4.com/2024/10/15/musial-bridge-be-closed-up-two-days-due-abandoned-warehouse-fire/   After decades in downtown St. Louis, global PR firm FleishmanHillard is moving to Clayton. Story here: https://www.firstalert4.com/2024/10/14/fleishmanhillard-moving-st-louis-county/?tbref=hp   The St. Louis Post-Dispatch is closing down their printing facility in Maryland Heights and outsourcing their print edition to a plant in Columbia, MO, that's owned by Gannett. Story here: https://fox2now.com/news/missouri/st-louis-post-dispatch-to-outsource-local-printing-drop-72-local-jobs/   Transgender ideology is permeating the medical industry and it's being pushed onto children. In many cases, doctors are told to “affirm” a child's gender identity. Story here: https://townhall.com/tipsheet/madelineleesman/2024/10/08/do-no-harm-embargoed-n2645826   Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-TN) joined Kudlow on Fox Business to discuss the National Border Patrol Council endorsing President Trump. He bashed Kamala Harris and Chuck Schumer's deceptive “border bill,” the problems with illegal migrant taxpayer-funded flights, and apartment complexes being overrun by Venezuelan gangs. Story here: https://www.hagerty.senate.gov/press-releases/2024/10/15/icymi-hagerty-joins-kudlow-to-discuss-border-patrol-union-endorsing-trump-harriss-failed-border-policy/   Gov. DeSantis praises local efforts to restore power in Florida. Story here: https://kfoxtv.com/news/nation-world/over-4-million-florida-power-accounts-restored-fastest-ever-done-says-governor-ron-desantis-pasco-county-fuel-florida-disaster-fund   Blues home opener is tonight! They host the Minnesota Wild at 6:30pm.    (8:35am) Bill O'Reilly (journalist, author, political commentator, and host of the No Spin News podcast) talks about the life and death issues surrounding Missouri's Amendment 3. Check out Bill's new book "Confronting the Presidents: No Spin Assessments from Washington to Biden" here: https://www.amazon.com/Confronting-Presidents-Assessments-Washington-Biden/dp/125034641X The O'Reilly Update airs weekdays on NewsTalkSTL at 9:05am and 3:42pm. Visit his website here: https://www.billoreilly.com/ (@BillOReilly)   (8:50am) Recap of our chat with Bill O'Reilly.   NewsTalkSTL website: https://newstalkstl.com/ Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/NewsTalkSTL Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/NewstalkSTL Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NewsTalkSTL Livestream 24/7: bit.ly/NEWSTALKSTLSTREAMSSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the first hour of "The Chris and Amy Show," the hosts kick off with the Top 3 stories, highlighting the Chesterfield Mall demolition. They discuss the mall's response and welcome Michael Killian, General Manager of The Darkness haunted house in Soulard, who shares insights on the seasonal attraction. Stuart McMillian, KMOX reporter, provides an update on the Chesterfield Mall demolition and its impact on the community. The hour also features an election discussion as the hosts remind listeners that we are just three weeks out from the polls. Bernie Miklasz, KMOX Sports contributor, joins in-studio to analyze the MLB Postseason and preview the Blues' home opener against the Minnesota Wild at 6:30 PM, followed by a segment on football picks. In the second hour, Elisabeth Meinecke, Senior Editor for Cardinals Magazine, dives into the cover story featuring Ozzie Smith and Masyn Winn, discussing their shared passion for baseball and the evolution of the shortstop position. The conversation continues with news on FleishmanHillard's departure from St. Louis after 70 years. The hour wraps up with Jared Boyd, Chief of Staff for Mayor Tishaura Jones, discussing the ongoing temporary fencing around City Hall and the park, which has been in place for nearly a year. He addresses the city's evaluation of the situation and plans for beautification efforts and outreach to assist those in need.

Mike Ferguson in the Morning 10-15-24 (6:05am) Christine Chen Zinner, the Senior Consumer Financial Justice Policy Counsel at Americans For Financial Reform, talks about invalidating your fundamental rights. Can ordering a pizza actually do that? Check out the story here: https://ourfinancialsecurity.org/2024/10/blog-can-ordering-a-pizza-invalidate-your-fundamental-rights/ (https://ourfinancialsecurity.org/)   (6:20am) After decades in downtown St. Louis, global PR firm FleishmanHillard is moving to Clayton. Story here: https://www.firstalert4.com/2024/10/14/fleishmanhillard-moving-st-louis-county/?tbref=hp   Mike talks about his trip to Springfield and Joplin, MO, over the weekend.   (6:35am) Facemasks are back! NO!! DO NOT COMPLY!! They're back in the San Francisco Bay area as a "pre-emptive" measure in hospitals and health care facilities. Story here: https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/mask-mandates-return-for-health-care-facilities-in-deep-blue-state/ar-AA1s9SjN?ocid=BingNewsSerp   (6:50am) MORNING NEWS DUMP Panic move!! Harris campaign is reportedly in negotiations with Joe Rogan's people for an appearance on his podcast. That follows Trump working on an appearance with Rogan, and Harris scheduled to do a Fox interview with Bret Baier. Story here: https://nypost.com/2024/10/15/us-news/harris-campaign-in-talks-with-joe-rogan-about-possible-podcast-interview-report/   A fire at an abandoned building on North Broadway, just north of downtown, has forced the closure of the Musial Bridge due to visibility concerns from the smoke. Story here: https://www.firstalert4.com/2024/10/15/musial-bridge-be-closed-up-two-days-due-abandoned-warehouse-fire/   After decades in downtown St. Louis, global PR firm FleishmanHillard is moving to Clayton. Story here: https://www.firstalert4.com/2024/10/14/fleishmanhillard-moving-st-louis-county/?tbref=hp   The St. Louis Post-Dispatch is closing down their printing facility in Maryland Heights and outsourcing their print edition to a plant in Columbia, MO, that's owned by Gannett. Story here: https://fox2now.com/news/missouri/st-louis-post-dispatch-to-outsource-local-printing-drop-72-local-jobs/   Transgender ideology is permeating the medical industry and it's being pushed onto children. In many cases, doctors are told to “affirm” a child's gender identity. Story here: https://townhall.com/tipsheet/madelineleesman/2024/10/08/do-no-harm-embargoed-n2645826   Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-TN) joined Kudlow on Fox Business to discuss the National Border Patrol Council endorsing President Trump. He bashed Kamala Harris and Chuck Schumer's deceptive “border bill,” the problems with illegal migrant taxpayer-funded flights, and apartment complexes being overrun by Venezuelan gangs. Story here: https://www.hagerty.senate.gov/press-releases/2024/10/15/icymi-hagerty-joins-kudlow-to-discuss-border-patrol-union-endorsing-trump-harriss-failed-border-policy/   Gov. DeSantis praises local efforts to restore power in Florida. Story here: https://kfoxtv.com/news/nation-world/over-4-million-florida-power-accounts-restored-fastest-ever-done-says-governor-ron-desantis-pasco-county-fuel-florida-disaster-fund   Blues home opener is tonight! They host the Minnesota Wild at 6:30pm.    NewsTalkSTL website: https://newstalkstl.com/ Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/NewsTalkSTL Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/NewstalkSTL Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NewsTalkSTL Livestream 24/7: bit.ly/NEWSTALKSTLSTREAMSSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The latest guest on The PR Week podcast is none other than Chris Foster, CEO of Omnicom Public Relations Group, the network that contains agencies including Ketchum, FleishmanHillard and Porter Novelli. He talks about how his company sees hot-button issues such as AI, broader market conditions, competing with private equity and other issues. Plus the biggest marketing and communications news of the week, including PRWeek's special report on AI, Amazon calling office workers back in five days a week and Acceleration's PE-backed acquisition of DKC. And stick around for a preview of this week's AI Deciphered conference and the upcoming PRDecoded and PRWeek Healthcare Awards.  Follow us: @PRWeekUSReceive the latest industry news, insights, and special reports. Start Your Free 1-Month Trial Subscription To PRWeek

Carolina FB began its training camp with the season on the horizon (6:04)UNC launched its new consolidated NIL effort...CarolinaNIL (25:21)JJ Carter, the Chief Operating Officer for FleishmanHillard, joins to talk his time at Carolina, the power of brand and more (32:48)Plus: IDEWT (x2) (1:10:00), HCYJT (1:16:56), has any movie franchise stopped at the right time (1:22:09) & Carolina/Duke online dating (1:29:03)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, Chip and Gini discuss the widespread apprehension about AI in the agency world, urging listeners to embrace the technology rather than fear it. They emphasize that AI will not replace jobs but will change the nature of work, making tasks more efficient and allowing for more strategic focus. The conversation also explores how agency owners can leverage AI to create new service models and improve client offerings. Key takeaways Gini Dietrich: “I don’t think AI is going to replace us. I do think it’s going to change the way that we do our jobs. It’s going to make us more effective.” Chip Griffin: “One of the things that I hear is, it’s going to cut down our rates. Well, like for like, it ought to. If you’re not doing something new and different and additional, you absolutely should charge less for the things that AI is helping you do faster, because that’s what happens with all technology.” Gini Dietrich: “Technology is coming at us really fast, and the way that we adapt to it is what’s going to set us apart.” Chip Griffin: “Instead of freaking out about artificial intelligence, you need to use the other kind of AI – actual intelligence – to come up with a plan to move forward.” Resources How AI is Shaping the Future of Communications (Spin Sucks podcast) What a pink “While You Were Out” message pad looks like Related Is AI writing an agency's friend or foe? Should AI upend your agency business model today? What does ChatGPT and generative AI mean for PR agencies? Introduction to generative AI for agencies View Transcript The following is a computer-generated transcript. Please listen to the audio to confirm accuracy. Chip Griffin: Hello and welcome to another episode of the Agency Leadership Podcast. I’m Chip Griffin. Gini Dietrich: And I’m Gini Dietrich. Chip Griffin: And Gini. I don’t have a witty opening. I just have a message for people. Stop being afraid of AI. Gini Dietrich: Amen. Yes, totally agree. 100%. Yes. Chip Griffin: The amount of hand wringing that I see, not just in the agency world, but elsewhere around AI. Gini Dietrich: In general. Yeah. Chip Griffin: You know, it’s going to take our jobs. It’s going to mean that we can’t charge clients as much. We’re going to lose business because of it. The we’re going to get scammed and conned because of it. It’s, I mean, just all of these things, it just take a deep breath folks. Take a deep breath. You don’t need to go out and disclose everything. You don’t need to go out there and, you know, put it into your contracts that you use AI. Have you used a grammar checker? Yeah. Okay. Do you put that in your contracts too? Do you use interns? Do you put that in your contract too? I mean, come on folks. Let’s take a deep breath. Gini Dietrich: I totally agree with you. And I think that I don’t, I agree that it’s not going to replace us. I do think it’s going to change the way that we do our jobs. It’s going to make us more effective. does that mean that we can charge clients less? No, because we’re going to be doing more strategic, thoughtful work than like the tactical administrative stuff. And the way I like to think about it and the way I present it to our clients is. What are some of the things you, you have to do that you don’t enjoy doing? It could be anything from media list development to data research, to metrics reporting, to results reporting, to drafting presentations, like there’s all sorts of, what I would call administrative tasks that we have to do daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, because they’re critical to our jobs, but not necessarily things we enjoy doing. That’s what AI can help you do. So rather than say, well, I have to sit down and I have to pull all the reports from analytics and then I have to look at the metrics and figure out what changed. Like AI can do all of that for you. You don’t have to worry about doing that kind of stuff. And then you can focus on the things that you really enjoy doing. If it’s strategic work, if it’s writing, if it’s, you know, Google ads, if it’s PPC, whatever it happens to be that you enjoy doing, you can focus on that. Chip Griffin: Absolutely. And I mean, there’s so many benefits that potentially can be had from it. Now, I mean, you know, one of the big things that I hear is, well, you know, it’s going to cut down our rates. Well, like for like it ought to. Right. Like, if you’re not doing something new and different and additional, you absolutely should charge less for the things that AI is helping you do faster, because that’s what happens with all technology. Correct. And back when I started in the agency world, we charged people for photocopies and faxes and the time that it took to do those things. Gini Dietrich: Right. Yes. Chip Griffin: You charge people for that today? No, and you shouldn’t because you’re not using copies and faxes and things are faster. When I started out in the agency world, I spent every, every morning going through newspapers with an exacto knife and cutting out stories and taping them onto a piece of paper and photocopying them and then sending those as faxes. All of that was billable time for the client project. Whether you billed by the hour or factored into your project cost, it was all there. You don’t do that anymore. You get your Google alert or your alert from some other system and you just have it and you forward it along a lot faster. You should absolutely charge less for that work than you did 30 years ago when it was all manual. Gini Dietrich: Right. Yeah. And so exactly that. When you think about, okay, if it’s, if we’re going to spend less time doing all the things that we’ve talked about and more time doing the things that we’re really good at or enjoy doing, then yeah, you’re going to charge less for those administrative tasks, which to your point, you should, And more for the things that the outputs that actually result in moving an organization’s business forward. And clients are gonna be happier with that. I mean, I’ve used this example, the example of the client of ours that does the hour long webinar every week and how it used to take us two weeks to create all the assets for one webinar. And now it takes us like 45 minutes. We have, the budget hasn’t changed, but we’ve shifted the work that we’re doing and we can do more strategic work that quite honestly, we’ve had on the backburner for a couple of years because we haven’t had the time or the budget or the scope to get to it. And he’s completely happy because he’s getting things a lot faster, he’s communicating to his audience more quickly, and we’re getting to do more work. So it hasn’t reduced our fee, but it has reduced the way or changed the way that we do the work. Chip Griffin: Right. Because you’ve continued to evolve. And I think any agency that is not continuing to evolve, whether it’s AI or anything else, you can’t do business the same way that you did it 5, 10, 20 years ago. You have to change. Your audiences are in different places, the technology is different that you use to get your work done, the workforce is different, all of these things contribute to the need to evolve and adapt and come up with new things that you can be doing that are more effective than the things that you did those 5 or 10 years ago when it was a lot more difficult to do certain tasks. Gini Dietrich: Absolutely. Yeah. I mean, I, I mean, to your point at the very beginning, stop being afraid of it. Stop wringing your hands. You know, I think every, there was a conversation about it in the Spin Sucks community. And I think some people are really worried about things like, what if we get scammed or what if somebody uses our voice or what if somebody uses our likeness? Well, Guess what? There are bad actors no matter what and people are going to use all of this to scam people just because that’s what they do. It’s not any different than them scamming people with phone calls or with mail or anything else. It’s just a different way of doing it. Chip Griffin: Yeah, I mean, it, you know, does AI come up with some more interesting ways of doing scams? Sure, absolutely. But people have been being scammed for centuries. People even today are still being scammed by simple things like phone and mail and email. Gini Dietrich: Yeah, yeah. Chip Griffin: You don’t need the fancy AI stuff to get there. If you’re susceptible to being scammed, does the AI make it a little bit easier? Perhaps, but it also is something that’s out there no matter what. And for folks who are worried about that, you need to address the whole culture of scamming, not the technology around individual pieces, because otherwise you’d just be playing whack a mole. And what are we going to try to do, just get rid of everything? You can’t get rid of all technology. Gini Dietrich: Right, right. Yeah. And I think, you know, I think there’s a pretty big opportunity in here for agency owners that we’re not necessarily thinking about. And I did a recent Spin Sucks podcast episode on this. but I think there’s an opportunity for us to think about AI in a new way, and especially for agency owners, how we might create things that we can build a subscription model on, for instance. So say that you’re doing sentiment analysis and media monitoring and, crisis preparedness and results reporting. AI can do all of that for you now. And you create it in a way that it’s, that it’s applicable to your specific clients. So you have an AI that does, does it for all four of those things, for instance, for one client. And you offer that to the client as a subscription model because it’s created and it’s, it’s sort of a passive income thing where they get a report as often as they want daily, weekly, monthly, however they want it and they get exactly what they want. And then you, you have the oversight of saying, okay, we saw this in your report. And this is what it means, or this is what you should be thinking about. And so you, you’re adding on that layer of strategic oversight. So then you’re getting paid for that too. So I think there’s a really big opportunity for us to be thinking about how we create our own AI and how we train existing models to be able to quote unquote, sell it to our clients. Chip Griffin: Absolutely. And, and the opportunities really do abound. And if you look past the immediate fear and, and you start to say, okay, well, how can I take advantage of this, you end up in a better place. And so I think about agencies that do a lot of creation, whether those that’s writing or video or photography or audio or all of those kinds of things. And, and I hear a lot of folks in those communities saying, oh my God, AI is going to take away my job as a writer because nobody’s going to pay me to do this. And guess what? If it’s run of the mill SEO volume work. Yeah. You, I mean, absolutely. You’re not going to be able to make a living writing that kind of schlock. The fact that you could up until now is just, you know, you were lucky. That, but that’s, if you’re writing original stuff, things that can only be done by someone who actually has the knowledge and that you’re tapping into your expertise or the expertise of your clients, and you’re communicating that in an original way, you’ll be fine. It’s like photographers. People know I do photography on the side for the most part. And so in that photography community, there are a lot of folks who are like, well, this generative AI, it’s destroying it. I don’t want them taking my images because it’s going to put me out of business. Well, then come up with photographs that can’t just be duplicated. If you’re taking a photograph of the exact same thing as everybody else, if you’re just doing stock photography, yes. Those are the kinds of things that are going to go away, but there’s still plenty of opportunity to be had if you look for it and you think creatively. Gini Dietrich: I think that’s a really good example too, because you know, everybody freaked out when the camera was introduced on the iPhone and later the Android, right? All the photography industry was like, Oh my gosh, we’re going to be replaced because everybody can take a picture. And that’s true. We can all take pictures. But Chip, you started your side business, what, three years ago, four years ago, after all of this came about. So people have their phones, their cameras on their phones, and you’re still able to do professional photography work because you’re doing different things and you’re doing it in a way that’s appealing to your community. So I think to your point, that’s a great example of things change. Technology is coming at us really fast, and the way that we adapt to it is what’s going to set us apart. Chip Griffin: Yeah, I mean the photography that I do is sports photography. I mean, you can’t you can’t do AI images of a game because the game hasn’t happened. And in order for it to do it, it would need to be able to tap into something, in other words, video or photos that someone had already done of the game. Right. So as long as you’re creating original stuff, or I do senior and family photos. Gini Dietrich: Yep. Chip Griffin: AI is not going to create, you know, your family photo for you. Right. It may help improve it, and most photographers I know use generative AI to improve images. Sure, sure. And so it’s kind of hypocritical for you to use it in your product that you’re creating and, and say, well, I don’t, I don’t want my stuff to be helping to train it. I don’t want others to have access to it because it’s going to put me out of work. Right. So, and if we think about these things, and we’re so protective of the way that we do things, whether it’s our job or our agency or whatever. We lose out on everything that takes place. And we’ve been going through this cycle for a long time. I mean, how many blacksmiths are there out there today? A lot fewer than there were 150 years ago. Have you, have you found a horse and buggy driver outside of Central Park in the last, you know, 50 years? Probably not. They all, things shift as technology shifts. We need to adapt with it and not freak out by it. And I think it’s the overreaction that’s going to put a lot of individuals and agencies into trouble because you’re either because you’re going to lean so heavily into it and say, well, this changes everything. Right. And I can just do everything entirely differently, or you resist it all. And you say, no, I need to protect the way things were. There’s a happy middle ground in there where you’ll have a thriving business that does great work for clients. Gini Dietrich: Yeah, and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that. I mean, yes, we have continued to evolve. If we don’t evolve, we’re dead. So, the idea that we’re going to bury our heads in the sand and pretend this isn’t happening is the wrong thing to do, because it’s happening. And this, I may have already said this on this podcast, but it reminds me of like 2010 ish when I started speaking and to groups of CEOs and, and we, I would talk about social media and they’d all be like, no, it’s for the kids. It’s a fad. It’s not going to affect my business. And I would be like, no, it is going to affect your business and you are going to have to use it. And, and the, the mass majority of them would be like, no. Don’t have to worry about it. I don’t need to hear this. La la la la la. They’d stick their fingers in their ears. And look where we are today. So it’s, this is the same thing. Like, don’t stick your fingers in your ears and, and yell, la la la la la. Don’t stick your head in the sand. It’s too late to put the genie back in the bottle. It’s here. So figure out ways to grasp the opportunity and make the best out of it for your agency. Chip Griffin: Yeah. And look, I mean, the reality is that in the agency world, jobs have gone away in our lifetimes in the course of my career. Yes. If I look back 30 years ago, every agency had an admin assistant or secretary or something like that who handled all of these things like faxes and photocopies and answering the phone and filling out the while you were out slips and, and all of these things. That doesn’t happen. I can’t think of an agency that has a pure admin. I, there are ones who have maybe some office manager type responsibilities, but usually with substantive stuff alongside of it, because you can’t fill 40 hours a week. Gini Dietrich: Yep. Yep. Chip Griffin: And so we’ve seen these changes take place in our lifetimes, but we’ve also seen the creation of new jobs. When I first started out, nobody was doing digital media. Nobody was doing social media. PR agencies tended not to get into paid media at all. And now we have the lovely PESO model that informs you how you can go out and do a bunch of different things under the same umbrella in order to help your clients most effectively. Gini Dietrich: Yeah, you’re absolutely right. I mean, I, I’m thinking about, you know, when I worked at Fleishman Hillard and there was a receptionist and all she did all day long was answer the phone. That doesn’t exist anymore. Because we all use our cell phones. Like I remember a time where it felt weird to give your cell phone number to clients or to use your cell phone for business purposes because you had a desk phone. Well, that hasn’t happened in years, right? At least not for me. So the idea that. You would have a recipient sitting there at the front desk only answering phones is antiquated. Are there other things that person can do? For sure, but it’s not the same role that was 10, 15 years ago. Chip Griffin: Yeah. I mean, when I worked on Capitol Hill, there were literally people in my office who did nothing but answer the phone cause it just rang all day long. And, and on my desk, I had one of those big metal spokes where you just, every time you returned a phone call on the pink message slip, you just, the satisfying feel of putting it down on the spike and you’d see it grow and you’re like, well, I did a lot of work. Gini Dietrich: Oh, man, I was productive today. Chip Griffin: Yeah. I mean, and, I mean, most, I think a lot of people listening probably never experienced that and probably don’t even understand what the heck I’m talking about. I mean, I, a significant number of agency employees, at least, if not owners don’t know what a while you were out slip looks like. But those of us who were around 20 or 30 years ago. It’s etched into our brain because we had so many of them sitting on our desks in our offices. You know, when you come back from lunch and you’re like, Oh, here’s a stack. Great. Fantastic. Gini Dietrich: Right. Chip Griffin: So you just need to learn to evolve. And, and instead of freaking out about artificial intelligence, you need to use the other kind of AI – actual intelligence to come up with an actual plan to move forward. And, and for those of you who are not watching on video right now, we are getting a cameo appearance from Gini’s daughter, who is on her first day of summer break. And Gini Dietrich: yeah, Chip Griffin: apparently really likes the camera. Gini Dietrich: It’s going to be a long week. Chip Griffin: I wouldn’t have said a long week, you have the whole summer. Gini Dietrich: Camp starts next week. Chip Griffin: Ah, okay. Well, so you only have a week to get through this then. I guess this is a backdoor way for her to get some screen time though. Yeah, she’s trying. If her screen time is watching me, I feel really sorry for her. Gini Dietrich: I was telling Chip before we started. I don’t like, I don’t allow the screen, so she’s Chip Griffin: Yeah, well, before this totally devolves and goes downhill because the AI isn’t going to help you manage that situation, so we probably should wrap up this episode. I think I feel like I’ve gotten this rant off my chest. Don’t be afraid of it. It’s not our first time talking about AI. I will be consistent in my messaging. You know, we’ll come back to this periodically because it’s, it’s going to be something that, that you all need to be thinking about and truly it is all technology. It is not just, we’re talking about AI and, and AI is the popular one today. But as you point out, we’ve had these, we had this with social media, right? You had the same kind of thing. You had the overreaction in both directions. Social media destroys everything else media relations wise, or, Oh my God, it’s a huge threat. The truth is almost always somewhere in the middle. So find that middle ground and you’ll be successful. Gini Dietrich: Yeah. And like I said, I think there’s a big, big opportunity for agencies right now. So huge opportunity. Yeah. Chip Griffin: Huge. Absolutely. On that note, we’ll wrap up this episode of the Agency Leadership Podcast. I’m almost speechless here. We now have a dog on the video here. So if you, if you really want an entertaining show, watch the video version, don’t just listen to us. Gini Dietrich: This is like a replay of 2020 all over again, Chip Griffin: it does feel a bit like that On that note, I’m Chip Griffin. Gini Dietrich: I’m Gini Dietrich. Chip Griffin: And it depends.

The Can: Diversity Collective is transforming the advertising, marketing, creative and communications fields into radically inclusive spaces by providing access and opportunities for people of color and underrepresented communities to industries and global events where they have traditionally been excluded. Adrianne C. Smith, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer at FleishmanHillard and Founder of the Can: Diversity Collective, sheds light on her organization's impactful initiatives and explains how human connection plays a role in advancing DE&I forward. Adrianne discusses how communicators can create a safe space to discuss ideas and ask questions along with the importance of understanding DE&I on a global level. Connect with Adrianne on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adriannecsmith/ Visit the Can: Diversity Collective Website: https://cannesdiversitycollective.com/ Follow Can: Diversity Collective on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cannesdiversitycollective/

Did you know the consumer research industry has a whopping $75 billion in revenue in the US alone? Then, why in the world do we have such trouble discovering insights that can change or reframe how someone feels about a brand or a company? On this week's episode, Jim will shine some light on this massive opportunity!Jim's guests on The CMO Podcast are Gunny Scarfo and Lindsey Wehking of Nonfiction Research, a six-year-old company with this purpose: to create uncensored, emotional research studies that usher the hidden thoughts and feelings of everyday people into the rooms where decisions get made, so that organizations can better serve everyday people.Gunny and Lindsey are upstarts in the tradition-rich research industry. Gunny is the co-founder of Nonfiction, with a career that spans several roles in the agency world, including stints at Accenture Interactive and Vice Media; Lindsey spent almost five years at the PR firm FleishmanHillard before her move to Nonfiction. In their conversation, Jim explores their learnings on why research must change, and how this can help marketing leaders better serve their customers.Reports mentioned in the episode are available here: https://www.nonfiction.co/reportsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

John Armato is a Senior Partner and Creative Strategist for Fleishman Hillard, a Global PR and Marketing Agency.  John was a percussionist in his high school band and over 40 years later, music is still a vital part of his life.  In addition to his professional career, John still performs, has recorded and produced his own album, "The Drummer Loves Ballads" and has a jazz radio show, "The A List with John Armato" that can be found at:   https://easyjazzradio.com/the-a-list-with-john-armato/  

The 2024 Sustainability Regulation Outlook report is now live! It covers the key implications of sustainability related regulations across financial services and non-financial services. The report contains key insights on pivotal topics with crucial consequences for financial services and the real economy such as decarbonisation, greenwashing, sustainability reporting and circularity. In this episode, Isha Gupta from the EMEA Centre for Regulatory Strategy is joined by authors of the report and senior managers in Deloitte's Sustainability Regulation Hub, Magda Puzniak-Holford and Ramon Bravo Gonzalez to discuss what firms should be focusing on to prepare for the deluge of sustainability related regulations. The trio are privileged to be joined by Jane Gimber, Head of Sustainability from Fleishman Hillard a consulting firm based in Brussels, who provides key insights on the impact that the upcoming European Parliamentary elections will have on all of this.

Amy Myrdal Miller, is an award-winning dietitian, farmer's daughter, public speaker, author, and president of Farmer's Daughter Consulting, an agriculture, food, and culinary communications firm founded in 2014. During her 27-year career, Amy has worked for Fleishman Hillard, the Rippe Lifestyle Institute, Dole Food Company, the California Walnut Board & Commission, and The Culinary Institute of America. Today, Amy works with a variety of clients across the food system, including seed companies, grower cooperatives, commodity boards, national brands, campus dining operations, and restaurants. Amy is the co-author of Cooking à la Heart: 500 Easy and Delicious Recipes to Help Make Every Meal Heart Healthy, © 2023 Linda Hachfeld and Amy Myrdal Miller, published by The Experiment. Cooking à la Heart is about the joyful, mindful pursuit of great food, enjoyed with people you love in settings that relax and inspire you to do more good things for your health. Website: https://www.farmersdaughterconsulting.com/

Welcome to our March 2024 Review of PR Pitches and mergers & acquisitions in the UK PR scene with Andrew Bloch, where we will discuss the biggest, most seismic pitch wins and mergers and acquisitions that the PR sector has seen in 2023.Andrew is the lead consultant - PR, Social, Content and Influencer at the new business consultancy firm AAR and a partner at PCB Partners, where he advises on buying and selling marketing services agencies.Andrew launched Andrew Bloch & Associates in 2020.Before we start, here is a plug for our latest launch:  our new subscription training service for senior folks within agencies' PRmoment Leaders. Do take a look and let us know if you like it.And if you fancy joining us at the PRmoment Awards in either London or Manchester you need to get your tickets quick.Thanks also so much to the PRmoment Podcast sponsors the PRCA.2.30 mins Andrews updates us on this month's PR Pitch winsPukka Organic Herbal teas appoint Grayling.Global Brands (who own VK and Hooch) appoint Prohibition.Pepsi appoint Hope & Glory.Taco Bell appoint EarniesPopeyes appoint The Romans.Pizza Express appoint Pretty GreenCook appoint Don't Cry Wolf.Carlsberg Group appoint Richmond & Towers for a global PR and social media strategy for Brooklyn Brewery brand.National Hockey League appoint Mischief.Casio appoint Kingdom Collective - (Part of Splendid group.)Nobu Hotel appoint W Communications.Franks Hot Sauce appoint Pangolin.18 mins A discussion of the state of the PR new business market at the moment.“It's not a bed of roses for everyone, but there is still business out there.”You have to show resilience and dig deep. ..running an agency is always a bit of a roller coaster. It's often a question of how quickly you come out of the dips. It's not plain sailing. Anyone who runs an agency and tells you it's a piece of cake, I'd call them a liar.”19 mins A round-up and discussion of March's M&A activity.21 mins Ruder Finn acquire Atteline - expanding its Middle East and global footprint.Woodrow has formed a partnership with Paris-based Taddeo to expand both organisations' work across the UK and Europe. Jim Donaldson, the former CEO of Fleishman Hillard, joined Woodrow as non-exec chair in February this year.Stagwell acquire Sidekick. Sidekick launched in 2021 after the merger of experiential agency Kreate and content agency Many Makers.MHP acquired creative content above-the-line agency La Plage.Havas acquires Wilderness in its second acquisition this year already.

Adrianne C. Smith is the Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer at FleishmanHillard, one of the world's leading communications and marketing agencies. She helps drive the organization's mission to become the most inclusive agency in the world. Adrianne is also the Founder and Visionary of the Can: Diversity Collective, a nonprofit created to give access and exposure to young adults of color and underrepresented communities to global thought leadership conferences in communications, advertising, marketing, creativity, economics, innovation and technology.In 2018, she launched a program where rising stars in the advertising and creative industry got the opportunity to attend and participate in the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.In 2019, Adrianne launched the first-ever DE&I activation at Cannes called “Inkwell Beach,” named as a tribute to the historic beach in Martha's Vineyard, which was a place of solace for Black people during segregation. By 2023, what started six years ago – as a small group of young professionals has grown into a cohort of more than two dozen young people from five continents. In 2023, Adrianne was named ADCOLOR's DEI Executive of the Year.She joins on Hypewomen Podcast to talk about her mission and how she inspires inclusion. Support the show

Are you and your agency team spending too much time writing proposals, creating capabilities decks, and building brand personas? It may seem productive, but clients value results – and so should you. In this episode, Chip and Gini discuss how to get your agency’s time under control and offer advice on managing business development and project management to avoid the unnecessary and focus on real value creation. Key takeaways Chip Griffin: “When you look at the total number of hours that agencies devote to these kinds of things, it is completely disproportionate to the return that they produce.” Gini Dietrich: “There’s one thing that clients care about. Results.” Chip Griffin: “Ask yourself, would you be happy writing a check out of your personal account for this proposal or capabilities deck?” Gini Dietrich: “Figure out a way to focus on the things that are going to generate a return for you, just like you would do with your client.” Related Real talk about agency websites What if agencies abandoned proposals and posted transparent pricing? View Transcript The following is a computer-generated transcript. Please listen to the audio to confirm accuracy. Chip Griffin: Hello and welcome to another episode of the Agency Leadership Podcast. I’m Chip Griffin. Gini Dietrich: And I’m Gini Dietrich. Chip Griffin: Gini, hold on. I just got to sit here and finish this game of Solitaire right after this. Gini Dietrich: Do people still play Solitaire? Chip Griffin: You know, I was just about to say that I suspect I’ve really dated myself there. All the younguns out there are like, what are you talking about? Gini Dietrich: What are you talking about? Yeah. Chip Griffin: It used to be the big office time waster. It did. People would sit there in Windows because Windows came installed with Solitaire. I don’t even know if it still is installed. Gini Dietrich: I don’t know either. I don’t know either. That’s funny. Chip Griffin: I had plenty of employees back years ago, 30 years ago, who would sit there and you’d walk by their desk and you’d see them playing Solitaire. Oh, it was very frustrating. Gini Dietrich: That is very frustrating. I would be very frustrated by that. Chip Griffin: But a common thing that I hear from agency owners are that team members are wasting their time in some fashion, not usually solitaire these days, but other things. Ironically, the owners themselves are wasting time on a lot of things as well. So I thought it would be Interesting to talk about. The biggest time wasters that agencies have. How are we not spending our time most effectively and what should we stop doing? Gini Dietrich: I remember when we had an office and we had an area that we called the energy center that was all the cubes for all the interns and like one and two what young professionals with one or two years of experience and they all sat in this this one area that was in the cubes. I remember walking past you had I had to go past there to go to the bathroom and I walked past there one day and they were on Facebook. Talking to each other on Facebook, like through the chat. And I was like, what are you guys doing? First of all, why are you on Facebook? Second of all, like, why are you? She’s right there! Talk to her right there! It was the weirdest thing, and I remember like, having this conundrum in my brain of They need to be on Facebook so they understand what we’re doing for clients, but at the same time, they’re wasting time. And so it was this weird dichotomy of what I was, how I was going to manage that because I don’t want them on Facebook all day personally, but I want them on Facebook all day professionally. And how do you mix those two? So it was, it was an interesting time waster conversation that I had with my senior leadership team, but also at the same time, like we have to be there for clients. So that’s one way that we waste time. I certainly am guilty of it. Yeah. I mean, I think, I think everybody finds those, you know, things throughout the day, whether that’s social media or, you know, for me back in the day, it was spending a lot of time just reading blogs, which sure. Chip Griffin: I mean, there was useful stuff there, but I mean, was it the highest, best use of my time for the amount of time I spent reading them? No, I mean, no, I probably should have shut down Spin Sucks and stopped reading, you know, but I kept reading. Gini Dietrich: Thank you for not. Chip Griffin: You’re welcome. You’re welcome. I just, you know, tried to keep your unique user count up. Anyway, but, but I think, you know, so certainly there are those kinds of time wasters, but in my mind, I’m looking at some of the, the bigger things that we waste our time on either internally for our agency or frankly, even with clients. And so… Gini Dietrich: Capabilities decks. Chip Griffin: Capabilities decks. would be right near the top of the list. But I mean, in general, all sorts of collateral or things related to business development and an immense amount of time is wasted by agencies on unnecessary business development activities, capabilities, decks, RFPs, excessively long proposals, the website. Right. We’ve talked about all these things in different contexts, but when you look at the total number of hours that agencies devote to these kinds of things, it is completely disproportionate to the return that they produce. Gini Dietrich: Absolutely. Yeah. I mean, we’ve certainly talked about capability decks in the past, and I know this is a hot button for you as well, but, You know, with things like that, I think we’re doing that to make ourselves feel better because now we have something to present. But we’ve also talked about on this show several times that when you go into a new business meeting as an, a small business, as a small agency owner, you’re not Fleishman Hillard, you’re not Edelman. You’re not one of the big guys. When you do that, you go. When you go in and you’re you think you have to present some big capabilities deck and talk about all the wonder how wonderful you are, you’re not going to win the business. But when you take the approach of and mindset of let me ask some really smart questions and get to know this person and their business and what their goals are and then sprinkle in well, we, you know, examples that you’ve had in the past without formalizing case studies or capabilities deck, you’re gonna have much better luck in converting that customer because, or that prospect, because no one literally no one wants to sit through a capabilities presentation, no one. And so it’s a big waste of time. It makes us feel better because we have nice case studies and we have nice testimonials and we have a nice capabilities deck, but literally nobody cares. No one. So don’t waste your time on it. Chip Griffin: Right. I mean, it is, you really need to look at the results of the work that you’re producing, whether it’s for clients or for yourself. And a lot of those things, you’d be much better off having conversations with actual human beings, more human beings than spending the time sitting there and looking at PowerPoint and tweaking this and tweaking that or spending. I mean, I talked to a lot of agency owners who spend 20, 30, 40 hours or more on a single proposal. Collectively with their teams, and it just, it makes me sad. It makes me sad because you look at that and you’re like, you know, you are spending thousands of dollars to produce a proposal that frankly probably isn’t even going to get read that closely. It won’t get read. And isn’t going to make a material difference in all likelihood as to whether that piece of business closes or doesn’t close. Yep. And so, small agencies in particular who have very limited resources. Because if you’re not in Edelman, you don’t just have a whole department to throw at it, right? I mean, the larger agencies have entire, you know, design teams that will lay them out and do all this kind of stuff. And, you know, you’ve got interns you can throw bits and pieces of the research to, and you spread it out over a lot of people. And yes, it’s a lot of money, but it doesn’t have nearly the same impact. Because when it, when you’re a small agency and you’ve got, you know, five, 10 employees or fewer, and you’re devoting 40 hours to put together a proposal. That’s an incredible percentage of your available labor force that is being dedicated to a single piece of paper that may or may not ever produce anything. And so you need to be really smart about how you’re spending your time. Gini Dietrich: And I think in that instance, to your point, like, no, nobody reads it. And the first thing they do, the very first thing they do is open the PDF or the link, whatever you’ve sent them. And they go to the very last page to see how much it’ll cost. That’s what they do. And so I’ve actually stopped sending proposals entirely. And I will, I’ll have a new business meeting. I’ll ask questions. I’ll do all the things that you’re supposed to do in a new business meeting. I go back and I talk to the team and we put together some ideas. And then I say to the prospect, I’d like to have another conversation with you. And then we present those ideas and tell them how much we think it’s going to cost. And that’s it. That’s it. So it’s maybe three hours tops all in before we close a client, a new client. We don’t, we don’t put together a proposal. Now they may say, can you send, you like, can you add this to the scope of work on your contract or whatever happens to be and we’ll do it from that perspective. Right. But there’s no proposal. There’s no like, writing a plan ahead of time, which I know some agency owners are guilty of, and I used to be guilty of that as well. There’s none of that. Like all of the work you get paid to do once they’ve signed the contract and given you a deposit. No proposal writing, no spending that time. Chip Griffin: And we’re not talking, this is not just looking at it from a, you know, you want to get paid for your work standpoint. Because it is, I mean it is certainly that. Sure. But it is a pure waste of time because it doesn’t make a difference. Right. In whether you get the business or not. That’s right. And I cannot tell you how many agency owners I talk with who will tell me, Oh I owe so and so a proposal and this other group a proposal. And I talk to them and it turns out they’ve had a single call with each of them. How can you write a proposal? Right. From a single conversation with a prospect. That’s right. You cannot put together anything other than very broad brush strokes that shouldn’t take any time at all to produce. It should be, you know, basically boilerplate material that you’re passing along. Yeah. But I will say, it’s not just on the business development side that agencies waste a lot of time. Agencies waste a lot of time on a lot of other things. So, one of the other things I would throw out there is project management. I think that a lot of agencies waste time on unnecessary project management. Usually it’s because they went from no project management Now, now we need to spend time on project management. And so focusing on project management usually means creating a lot of processes and implementing a lot of new software because it makes us feel good. Like we’re again, it’s, it’s this feel good, right? Sometimes just doing work makes us feel good. Like we’re addressing a problem. And I’ve talked with some agency owners recently where, you know, they would like to bring in some freelance project managers or some project management outfits that help. The problem is you can have a beautiful Asana board that’s got all sorts of dependencies and click this and click that and fantastic. Is it actually making a difference in the outcomes? Because no project management’s a problem, but the pendulum often swings way too far in the other direction and you waste way too much time on this. Gini Dietrich: Yeah. And I would say other things, you know, from a customer, from a client perspective, are things like we get asked all the time for, can you create a, a one pager sell sheet? Can you do this? And I, I said, I I’ve gotten to the point with clients where I say, no, that’s sales enablement, that’s not communications. If you want us to look at the messaging that you’ve created to make sure it matches the brand and all that for sure, but no, we’re not gonna like, I think that kind of stuff from a sales perspective is on the client side is also a waste of time. Nobody’s opening your one pager. Nobody’s looking at your two page case study. No one. So why are we wasting time on it? And I think we also get into that whole, like, Oh, we’ve got to have a brand narrative and we have to do one pagers and we have to have multi page case studies and we have to have this and we have No, you don’t. Chip Griffin: Don’t forget the personas. Don’t forget all the time that gets spent building personas. Gini Dietrich: You know what? AI can do that for you in about 30 seconds if you really need it. Chip Griffin: I mean, look, and I’m not saying that you shouldn’t have a strategy and you shouldn’t have a clearly defined audience that you’re going after and all these things. It, it’s, that’s very diff, you can get a lot of that done in a fraction of the time if you don’t try to turn it into something that it’s not. And so, is there a time and place for a persona? Maybe. I don’t know. Most of the time, certainly for the agency, and most of the time for your clients, you don’t really need to get all that fancy. You do need to understand, who are we trying to reach? What kind of person are we trying to reach, but we don’t, but having it, you know, we’re, we’re reaching out to Sally and she’s this year, many years old and she’s got this kind of background and, oh my God, seriously? And the amount of time that I see spent on that kind of stuff is just mind boggling. Gini Dietrich: Okay. If you’re going to spend time on it, I’m telling you right now, open chat GPT and say to chat, prompt it, tell it, tell it that you need to create a brand persona for an HR director in Alabama that has two direct reports and like you’ll have it in 30 seconds and it’ll name it for you and it’ll give you their age like it’ll do everything in 30 seconds and now you have your brand persona so you don’t have to spend time on it. Chip Griffin: Right and why can’t you just say we’re trying to reach you know middle manager, middle manager PR types in this kind of an organization. I mean, it doesn’t need to be like this creative exercise. It’s not, that’s really not making a difference in the outcomes. And when we’re proposing things to clients, you know, we need to think about those things that are actually going to make a difference because clients want you to be strategic, but they don’t want you to spend a lot of time on strategy. That’s right. And so you need to figure out how to maximize the time that you are spending, so that you can be strategic, but you’re not being perceived to be just, you know, eating up lots and lots of hours doing these, you know, glorious plans that go nowhere. Gini Dietrich: There’s one thing that clients care about. Results. What would that be? It’s results. That’s all they care about. So as a business owner, that’s all you should care about are results. And as an agency owner that is servicing clients, that’s all you should care about is results. So if you can’t point to results from your brand narrative, or your capabilities presentation, or your case studies, or your brand personas, don’t do it. Focus on the things that will get results, because as a small agency owner, that is the number one thing that is going to get you cut from a budget every time. If you can demonstrate that you are helping your clients’ organizations grow, and you’re doing the same thing for your own organization as you’re building, You will not be cut. Because what a, what, what a CFO will look at and say, okay, this is, let’s say it’s $60,000 a year. This is a big line item, right? Then they’ll go to the, the mark, the chief marketer or the CEO or whoever it is that you, you report into and say, can we cut the $60,000? And if the CEO says, absolutely not, because we’re, we’re generating half a million bucks from that. Every year you will maintain your client, but if they can’t demonstrate that to their CFO, they’re like, okay, well, I guess they have to go. So focus on the things that get results and demonstrate those results over and over and over again. Brand personas and brand narratives and case studies – don’t do that. Don’t do it. Chip Griffin: Yeah. And I mean, I, I think a useful exercise here is whenever you’re undertaking a project for your agency or for a client, ask yourself, what are we trying to accomplish here? What are the results that we’re looking for? And then ask yourself, what are the, what is the minimum level that we need to put in in order to achieve that? It doesn’t mean you necessarily need to stay just at that minimum, right? But you need to understand what is the minimum allowed in order to accomplish that. And then be very, very clear about the amount of time that it takes above and beyond that minimum and that you’re really getting additional impact from that work. And if not, you should say no to it. Yes. Because these are all expenditures of, it’s not just time, it’s money, right? This is, this is your agency’s profits that you’re spending. And so it’s not just, you know, that we spent some time on this or that. No, yeah, I guess we could have done it a little bit differently. You are actually spending profits. And what are the profits? That’s the money you can put in your own pocket as the agency owner. So you need to ask yourself, would you be happy writing a check out of your personal account for this proposal or capabilities deck? And if I go to an agency owner and say, for this proposal that you’re putting together, you need to write a check for $5,000 out of your personal bank account, I guarantee you, most of these agency owners would say, heck no, I’m not going to do that. Nope. How can we do that cheaper? Yeah. So start thinking about it that way. Gini Dietrich: That’s a great way to look at it. Chip Griffin: Now you can carry this to an extreme, just like everything else. You can carry this to an extreme and you can be penny wise pound foolish. And they’re like, I’m not spending money on anything. Then it’s all going into my own pocket. Well, you’ll never grow that way either. But be ruthless as you’re looking at these expenditures and ask yourself, is it really worth the amount of money? That you’re spending to get it done, right? And don’t just run in and say, okay, well, you know, in order to save time, we’re going to, we’re going to get rid of meetings and we’re going to stop, you know, sending email and all these things, you know, that’s that those are the wrong things to look at, right? Meetings in and of themselves are not a problem. The structure of those meetings, the content of those meetings, that’s the problem. So don’t just go and say, okay, well, meetings are a waste of time. They are not. It’s the activities that they’re driving towards that may be a waste of time. And that’s what you need to look at. It’s not, it’s not the tool. It’s the objective. Gini Dietrich: Yeah, and I think it’s the number as well that, you know, I mean, if you, we, we went through a period in our, in my agency where we had a daily stand up. And I was like, this is dumb. Why are we doing this? Because the daily stand up always lasted, it was supposed to last 10 minutes. It always lasted a half an hour to 45 minutes. And there was no reason for it. Like, We were completely. Chip Griffin: And about half of that was probably just gossip. Gini Dietrich: It was, it was gossip. Yeah. It was like, yeah, absolutely. Yes. Or how your weekend was or whatever, which is fine, but there’s no need for that every single day. And so we got, got rid of that. So when you, when you look at all of the things that you’re doing, and I love the idea of looking at it from the perspective, if I had to write a check, if I had to write a check for this proposal, if I had to write a check for people’s time to be sitting in this meeting, if I had to write a check for these case studies, would I do it? And that’s a great way to look at it because if you’re not willing to pay for it personally, which you kind of are if you’re on, if you own an agency, especially if you’re an S corp, I am for it personally, figure out a way to get out of doing that stuff and only focus on the things that are going to generate a return for you, just like you would do with your client. Chip Griffin: Yeah, and agency owners complain about the tiniest little expenses on all sorts of stuff. I mean, we see this in the Spin Sucks community and, and all these small agencies wanting to, you know, to share a, a media database account or a medium. Those are things that can actually shorten the amount of time you’re spending on other things and you don’t want to spend money on that, which is probably in the hundreds of dollars a month. And yet. And yet you will spend $5,000 to put together a proposal based on a 45 minute phone call. Where is the logic there? And frankly, the amount of time that some people spend trying to figure out how to, you know, to save a few bucks on, on some of these kinds of software packages by sharing with someone. Why? Your time is valuable too. Gini Dietrich: Yes. It’s more valuable. It’s more valuable. Chip Griffin: And if those tools are not able to, at full price, deliver value to your clients, they’re probably not worth having at all. That’s right. Yes. So if you’re willing to nickel and dime those things, please, please look at these large expenditures of wasted time. Gini Dietrich: I love that. I love that advice. I love that you’re fired up about it. I love that you have to think about all of these things. I think one of the things that I do is I’ll look at it and say, okay, if, if somebody on my team has to do this, how much time will it take them? And then I multiply that by their hourly rate. Am I going to save money if I buy this software versus them doing it? Yes, I am. Chip Griffin: And please, please do the same calculation for your own time as the owner. Yes. Yes. Because I’m also tired of hearing, well, I couldn’t, I couldn’t give that. I heard this from an agency owner recently. I can’t give that to a freelancer because we’re not getting paid enough for it. So I have to do it myself. Gini Dietrich: Oh, that’s so common. That happens all the time. Your time is not free. Your time is not free. Your time is not free. But I hear that all the time too. Chip Griffin: So when you’re doing these time wasting calculations, it’s not just your team you need to look at. In fact, I would look at them only after I look at myself and say, what am I wasting time on? Yep. Absolutely. So stop playing solitaire or whatever it is you’re doing. Gini Dietrich: And stop giving your time away for free. Chip Griffin: And on that note, we’ll end this free broadcast of the Agency Leadership Podcast. I’m Chip Griffin. Gini Dietrich: I’m Gini Dietrich. Chip Griffin: And it depends.

February is American Heart Month and eating a balanced diet is one of the best ways to keep our heart healthy. On this episode of A SENSe of Wellness podcast, host, Susan Greeley and Cooking a la Heart co-author, Amy Myrdal Muller, MS, RDN, talk about bringing ease and joy into your diet and the importance of what we put into our bodies for our overall hearth health. More about Amy Myrdal Miller, MS, RDN: Amy Myrdal Miller, is an award-winning dietitian, farmer's daughter, public speaker, author, and president of Farmer's Daughter Consulting, an agriculture, food, and culinary communications firm founded in 2014. During her 27-year career, Amy has worked for Fleishman Hillard, the Rippe Lifestyle Institute, Dole Food Company, the California Walnut Board & Commission, and The Culinary Institute of America. Today, Amy works with a variety of clients across the food system, including seed companies, grower cooperatives, commodity boards, national brands, campus dining operations, and restaurants. Amy is the co-author of Cooking à la Heart: 500 Easy and Delicious Recipes to Help Make Every Meal Heart Healthy, © 2023 Linda Hachfeld and Amy Myrdal Miller, published by The Experiment. Cooking à la Heart is about the joyful, mindful pursuit of great food, enjoyed with people you love in settings that relax and inspire you to do more good things for your health.

Adrianne C. Smith is SVP/Senior Partner and Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer at FleishmanHillard. Prior to joining FleishmanHillard, Adrianne was named the first Global Director of Inclusion and Diversity at WPP. Adrianne is also the Founder and Visionary of the Can: Diversity Collective, a non-profit organization created to provide access and exposure to young adults of color and under-represented communities to global thought leadership conferences on advertising, marketing, creativity, economics, innovation and technology. In 2018, she launched the first iteration of the Diversity Collective, the Cannes Can: Diversity Collective (CC:DC) (http://www.cannesdiversitycollective.com/) which provides rising stars in the advertising and creative industry the opportunity to attend and participate in the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. In 2019, she made history by creating the first stand-alone Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Beach in the festival's 66 years of existence and named it Inkwell Beach – Cannes (http://www.inkwellbeachcannes.com/) after the historic beach on Martha's Vineyard. In January 2024, she launched the Davos Can: Diversity Collective's – Inkwell Beach – Davos during the World Economic Forum., making history again by building the first activation committed to conversations on the global impact of diversity, equity and inclusion. Adrianne is on the Advisory Board of the Reykjavik Global Forum and has been recognized as an Outstanding Mentor by the Diversity Action Alliance, a Game Changer in the Quantum Leap category during the She Runs It Game Changers Awards and the 2023 ADCOLOR DEI Executive of the Year.

Kendra Bracken-Ferguson has been guided by her mantra, “carpe diem”, throughout her life. A brand building expert and digital media pioneer, Kendra served as Vice President of Digital at Fleishman Hillard and the first Director of Digital Media at Ralph Lauren. In 2010, she co-founded Digital Brand Architects which forever changed the landscape of digital marketing. Now, she is the founder and CEO of BrainTrust, a conglomerate including an award-winning, global marketing agency, BrainTrust Founders Studio, the largest platform dedicated to Black founders of beauty and wellness companies and the adjacent BrainTrust Fund I. In this episode of Claim Your Confidence, we talk about how Kendra got her start in the world of PR and brand marketing, what inspired her to found BrainTrust, and the importance of seizing the day. Don't miss this interview where we discuss:Kendra's first job at Fleishman Hillard, the PR and marketing projects she worked on, and what those experiences taught her early on in her careerWhat it means to be an entrepreneur or an “intrapreneur” How she recognized the potential of marketing through bloggers in the early days of social media and how she co-founded the first American blogger management company Digital Brand Architects The story behind BrainTrust and how Kendra is supporting black founders through BrainTrust Founders Studio and BrainTrust Fund IKendra's life mantra “carpe diem”, the times in her life where she stepped out on faith and followed her instincts, and how seizing the day can allow you to take advantage of life's greatest opportunitiesFind Kendra Bracken-Ferguson:www.kendrabracken-ferguson.comIG: @kendrabrackenfergusonLinkedIn: Kendra Bracken-FergusonFollow Lydia:www.lydiafenet.comIG: @lydiafenetLinkedIn: Lydia Fenet

Kendra Bracken-Ferguson has been guided by her mantra, “carpe diem”, throughout her life. A brand building expert and digital media pioneer, Kendra served as Vice President of Digital at Fleishman Hillard and the first Director of Digital Media at Ralph Lauren. In 2010, she co-founded Digital Brand Architects which forever changed the landscape of digital marketing. Now, she is the founder and CEO of BrainTrust, a conglomerate including an award-winning, global marketing agency, BrainTrust Founders Studio, the largest platform dedicated to Black founders of beauty and wellness companies and the adjacent BrainTrust Fund I. In this episode of Claim Your Confidence, we talk about how Kendra got her start in the world of PR and brand marketing, what inspired her to found BrainTrust, and the importance of seizing the day. Don't miss this interview where we discuss: Kendra's first job at Fleishman Hillard, the PR and marketing projects she worked on, and what those experiences taught her early on in her career What it means to be an entrepreneur or an “intrapreneur”  How she recognized the potential of marketing through bloggers in the early days of social media and how she co-founded the first American blogger management company Digital Brand Architects  The story behind BrainTrust and how Kendra is supporting black founders through BrainTrust Founders Studio and BrainTrust Fund I Kendra's life mantra “carpe diem”, the times in her life where she stepped out on faith and followed her instincts, and how seizing the day can allow you to take advantage of life's greatest opportunities Find Kendra Bracken-Ferguson: www.kendrabracken-ferguson.com IG: @kendrabrackenferguson LinkedIn: Kendra Bracken-Ferguson Follow Lydia: www.lydiafenet.com IG: @lydiafenet LinkedIn: Lydia Fenet Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast for free wherever you're listening or by using this link: https://bit.ly/ClaimYourConfidencePodcast If you like the show, telling a friend about it would be amazing! You can text, email, Tweet, or send this link to a friend: https://bit.ly/ClaimYourConfidencePodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You could argue that, since the advent of digital media, social media, podcasting and vlogging, AI and content marketing, that public relations has become the most adaptable marketing technique in the toolbox.   Fleishman Hillard is one of the founding agency groups of the modern public relations business. Lyndsay Haywood, who looks after the UK arm of the company is also one of the most successful new business directors around - and she loves her work.   In this show, you'll hear how she accidentally discovered public relations, tapped into her sales mojo and rose to the top, all the while lifting up those below and is now one of the best ambassadors for the new business development profession.   Topics covered:   Interviewing one of the most feared news interviewers   Public relations as a career option   Dealing with imposter syndrome   Mental health and how we should be addressing it   The value of a global agency network   Why the PRCA's Communications Management Standard accreditation matters   The impact of the climate change debate on the sales role   Working as influencer Rob Mayhew's agent   Using data to make influencer marketing work   Is PR a creative business?   Lyndsay's favourite campaigns of the year   Humans v AI in PR   How Fleishman Hillard is continuing to innovate and lead the industry.   Our sponsor The Advertist – grab a free trial!: https://www.theadvertist.com PRCA 5 word words that will win you new business: https://www.prca.org.uk/Five-words-that-will-win-you-new-business Lyndsay's LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lyndsayhaywood/ Fleishman Hillard UK: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fleishmanhillard-uk/ Norwich City's mental health advert: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tX8TgVR33KM CALM's “Last Photo' web site: https://www.thecalmzone.net/thelastphoto Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Robin and Stacy chat about innovative and effective marketing and branding strategies. About Robyn Eagles Robyn is the principal strategist of GTMSC, a go-to-market strategy and communications firm specializing in helping businesses grow through strategic consulting and communications. With 24 years of marketing expertise, Robyn has led Innovation Marketing at Acura and Communications and PR at Honda and Kelly Blue Block, Head of Communications and Marketing at Skyrsye, and lived agency life at Fleishman–Hillard managing various entertainment and technology accounts including Seagate, Mitsubishi, and Sony Entertainment. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/hollywood-branded/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/hollywood-branded/support

Welcome to Media in the Mix, the only podcast produced and hosted by the School of Communication at American University. Join us as we create a safe space to explore topics and communication at the intersection of social justice, tech, innovation & pop culture. Today, we look back at guests Pallavi Kumar and Isis Amusa!  On this episode of Media in the Mix, we look back at everything SOC3. SOC3 Provides opportunities to students for hands-on learning while also giving them course credit and compensation. In other words, it's true real-life work experience in the communications world!  ⁠Pallavi Damani Kumar⁠ is a full-time professor in American University's School of Communication and the former Division Director for the Public Communication division. Prior to teaching full time, Kumar gained more than 20 years experience in the public relations industry having worked as a vice president in FleishmanHillard's social marketing practice in Washington, DC, a vice president/account supervisor in Ketchum's healthcare practice in New York as well as associate director of international public relations at Wyeth Pharmaceuticals in Philadelphia. She began her career in environmental communication at Ruder-Finn in Washington, DC. Kumar co-authored the ninth edition of Public Relations Case Studies published by Cengage. Her articles and commentary have appeared in The Washington Post, USA Today and PRWeek. In 2015, she received the Outstanding Service to the University Community from American University. PRWeek named her to the 2017 Global Power Book - a list of the world's most influential PR professionals. She was most recently profiled in a chapter of the book Diverse Voices: Profiles in Leadership published by the PRSA Foundation and Museum of PR. She graduated magna cum laude from American University with a degree in public affairs and public communication. She received her master's degree in public relations/corporate communications from Georgetown University. ⁠Isis Amusa⁠ is (an SOC Alumna now!) who double-majored in journalism and justice & law. She is a queer Black social justice storyteller working in communications and was the Creative Strategist at SOC3. As a journalist, she has worked to uplift the stories of social justice activists as they ameliorate the threats upon undocumented immigrants' educational attainment and DACA, failing educational supports for incarcerated women, Black professorial exodus and performative antiracism in private white higher education, and most recently, food insecurity among college-aged youth. In her current roles, she communicates on behalf of Black farmers and food justice organizers, organizes for Black food sovereignty and Black land stewardship, and cultivates SOC3's digital face to promote its history, aims, and client projects. Visit ⁠⁠https://soc3change.com/ ⁠⁠ to learn more about this program and how you can get involved!  Visit this link to apply for next semester:  ⁠https://www.american.edu/soc/experiential-learning/storytelling-for-changemaking.cfm⁠   Follow SOC3 on social media ⁠@soc3change⁠! 

Megan Driscoll is the founder, CEO of EvolveMKD - a public relations and social media agency based in New York City. She is a sought-after strategic media and communications professional with over 20 years of experience in aesthetics, dermatology, healthcare, and prestige beauty. Previously, Megan held leadership positions at Behrman Communications, Emanate, Euro RSCG Life PR, Fleishman Hillard and Lippe Taylor. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theindustryshow/support

In this episode, Kaitlyn Allen talks with Ling-Ling Nie and Hilary Donnell of Aura, a leading provider of proactive all-in-one digital safety. Ling-Ling is Deputy General Counsel, Chief Compliance & ESG Officer, and Head of Government Affairs. Hilary is Aura's Head of Corporate Social Responsibility & Public Affairs and established the company's efforts to diversify the technology industry and help protect communities especially vulnerable to digital threats. Listen as Kaitlyn, Ling-Ling, and Hilary discuss the unique services that Aura provides as a centralized solution for online safety and the proactive prevention of identity theft and fraud – relating online safety's connection to ESG. Given the correlation between hybrid/work-from-home arrangements and enterprise security breaches, their offerings are even more critical today. As a startup, Aura is proof that a mission-driven company of any size can implement a growth strategy with sustainability in mind. Hilary and Ling-Ling share their work with key organizational stakeholders for alignment on ESG data collection and their commitment to carbon neutrality. As our listeners know, there is no cookie-cutter approach to careers in ESG. Ling-Ling and Hilary share their career trajectories with sound advice on how to create an ESG opportunity with your current organization as opposed to thinking you have to move to another company to pursue this impactful work. More About Ling Ling & Hilary Ling Ling previously served as General Counsel and Vice President for Ethics & Compliance at the Georgia Institute of Technology and as Chief Compliance Officer & Assistant General Counsel at Panasonic Corporation of North America. In 2021, she received the General Counsel award from the Atlanta Business Chronicle and Georgia's Chapter of the Association of Corporate Counsel. In 2019, Ling Ling was selected as a "40 Under 40" honoree by both the Atlanta Business Chronicle and the University of Georgia. She received the Women's Leadership Award from the Georgia Asian Pacific American Bar Association (GAPABA). Ling Ling is a University of Georgia graduate who received her law degree from Washington and Lee University's School of Law –  licensed to practice in Georgia and Virginia.  Hilary also oversees the Aura Innovation Fund, the company's ethical investment platform for early-stage startups evolving the intelligent safety ecosystem, led by underrepresented individuals in technology or building online safety solutions for especially vulnerable communities. Before Aura, Hilary served as Vice President at national consultancy FleishmanHillard, where she led corporate reputation, CSR, and environmental, social governance (ESG)-related efforts for Fortune 500 companies. Hilary earned her B.A. from American University in Public Communications, Public Policy, & Justice. Subscribe to the ESG Decoded Podcast on your favorite streaming platform, YouTube, and social media so that you're notified of new episodes. Enjoy tuning in!

I can't believe this is the last episode of Season 16! It's been an amazing season and I'm so happy to close it out with a great episode for all my summer travelers wanting to know how they can save money on converting their currency abroad. Or even if you aren't traveling this summer, if you aspire to be a digital nomad or frequently receive/send money to family or friends internationally, then you'll want to listen up. Brigit Carroll who joins me for this episode is the Policy Lead, North America at Wise, and she's sharing how Wise is changing the game for how we can send, receive and exchange money internationally and effectively normalize borderless banking. Brigit advocates for Wise's mission of instant, convenient, transparent, and eventually free cross-border payments vis-a-vis policymakers in the U.S., Canada, and beyond. Based in Washington, D.C., Brigit joined Wise's policy team in Brussels in 2019, focused on EU policy. Prior to joining Wise, Brigit gained 5+ years' experience in public affairs and advocacy in Brussels, at global communications firm FleishmanHillard and the American Chamber of Commerce to the EU. In this episode, Brigit explains how Wise works, including how it keeps your money safe and makes international transactions easy with lower fees and better exchange rates. She also shares her own story of using Wise before she started working for the company while she lived in Europe and how they are constantly trying to improve and partner with financial institutions to make things easier and better. Thank you so much for listening to another season of the More Money Podcast and thank you to all the amazing guests that came on the show! I'm going to take a much-needed summer break, work on my book and visit my family in Vancouver. So with that, see you in September and enjoy your summer too! For full episode show notes visit: https://jessicamoorhouse.com/373