Building Brand Gravity: Attracting People Into Your Orbit

This year, half of the world is heading to the polls, making it the most significant election year ever witnessed. However, amidst geopolitical unrest, polarization, and divisiveness, these circumstances bring forth substantial challenges in managing data and information. But how can you determine if your organization is adequately prepared to tackle them?In this episode, we are joined by Rob Jekielek, Managing Director at The Harris Poll, and Eliot Mizrachi, Vice President, Strategy and Content at Page Society. Together, they offer insights into the current landscape of the communications function and its projected expansion. Central to this expansion are Chief Communication Officers (CCOs), who are playing a vital role in bridging divides with stakeholders to propel organizations forward. Join us as we also discuss:The risks and opportunities perceived by CCOs amidst economic and societal turbulenceWhy companies should prioritize investment in skill development programs over AI initiativesThe significance of dismantling politicized acronyms like DEI and ESG to re-evaluate their relevance and valuePage’s CCO Outlook 2024 Research

“I’m not creative.” “We don’t have time to be creative.” “This is not a creative profession.”  These are all too common refrains. Yet they are also false. We are socialized to view “creativity” as the domain of artists or individuals in specific fields. In organizations, we tend to fixate on an outcome or solution at the expense of falling in love with the process itself – which includes intentionally cultivating a culture of creativity within our teams. We speak about “innovation” without understanding what it is or approaches to unlocking it.  This week, host Anne Green speaks with Natalie Nixon, Creativity Strategist & CEO at Figure 8 Thinking. Rather than shying away from tensions around how creativity is perceived and practiced, Natalie both embraces and has made her life’s work trying to better understand and cultivate it in others. There’s an important balance to be struck between Wonder and Rigor (as she puts it) in both artistic endeavors and corporate environments, and this week’s conversation showcases how embracing both curiosity and discipline can unlock transformative breakthroughs.  Join us as we discuss: How everyone is and can be creative across all types of work – and how to intentionally build your own creative capacity  Why hybrid and flexible thinking is essential to today’s workplace and world Fresh ways to think about the concept and application of “innovation” Embracing both wonder and rigor to unlock the creative process Knowing the right questions to ask in the creative and innovation process 

In 2020, the term DE&I, or Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, became part of corporate culture. Diversity executives were being hired across industries and companies large and small pledged to diversify workforces and take inclusion seriously. Fast forward four years, and in an uncertain economy and a downturn for the media and tech industries, DE&I leaders and initiatives were often the first to be cut.Host Anne Green sits down with two G&S Communications leaders to discuss the “I” in DE&I and why it’s not only important to employee performance and company culture, but why it’s also just good business. Hear our conversation with Marjani Williams, VP of DE&I and Client Service at G&S Communications and Kate Threewitts, Chief People Officer at G&S Communications as they discuss:Implementing real vs. performative DE&IWhy inclusion is a winning business strategyG&S Communications Inclusive Leadership Campaign

Perhaps the only topic more discussed in 2023 than Taylor Swift, is AI. From the rise of ChatGPT to conversations around job security across Hollywood and beyond, the technology has been everywhere.Building Brand Gravity hosts Anne Green and Kyle Turner discuss the year in generative AI - breaking down where the tech is today, how MarComms professionals can capitalize on its growth, and the focus businesses must place inside and outside of their organization as it continues to proliferate. Topics include:Why curiosity is key in approaching AIHow leaders can encourage AI exploration and implementation organizationally AI’s potential for good across industries, including healthcareThe importance of policy and regulationMore information about Anne Green and Kyle Turner and today’s topics:LinkedIn Profile: G&S communicationsCompany Website: https://www.gscommunications.com/

The role that business plays in society is vastly different than it was 10 to 20 years ago and integrated marketing communications agencies have had to adapt…fast. A 2022 survey found that 82% of consumers want brands to align with their values. Younger demographics, including Millennials and Gen-Z, are at the forefront of this evolution.Luke Lambert is the outgoing President and CEO of G&S Communications. As he prepares to move on from this post, he recounts his career beginnings in PR and journalism and his natural pivot into management. Anne Green, co-host of Building Brand Gravity (and Luke’s successor as G&S CEO) invites him for a chat on agency leadership, cultivating culture, championing DE&I in the communications industry and leading with values. Hear our conversation with Luke Lambert, President & CEO at G&S CommunicationsNatural transitions into leadership roles and the importance of being grounded in the businessCultivating trust in yourself and in your teamHow to deliver on clients’ needs today while still investing in innovation for tomorrowCreating and staying true to your brand’s voice in a more volatile social and political landscapeThe importance to DE&I to organizations and how to authentically champion progressMore information about Luke Lambert and today’s topics:LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luke-lambert-33a19a9/Company Website: https://www.gscommunications.com/

The advancements in digital marketing from just 5 or 6 years ago to now are staggering - even in industries that tend to be overlooked as purveyors of the space. Agriculture has had a complete makeover post-pandemic, and therefore so has the marketing around it. Rosalyn Moore is the Marketing Insights and Innovation Manager at Syngenta, a farming technology company on a mission to safely provide more food to more people across the globe. Rosalyn’s unconventional career journey - with beginnings in electrical engineering - saw her transition to psychology in undergrad, ultimately leading her to digital marketing. Having worked together over the years, host Kyle A.Turner invited Rosalyn for a conversation on the podcast.Listen in as Kyle and Rosalyn discuss:Misnomers and misunderstandings about technological advancement in agriculture todayThe ubiquity of digital marketing and what it looks like in agricultureThe importance of identifying your audience, and meeting them where they are across digital platformsHow recent evolutions in the ag industry are driving changes to the marketing around itThe power and potential of AI tools on the digital marketing landscape

There is no “average user” of digital experiences in our world today. If we can grasp that there is significant nuance beyond current understandings of “ability” and “disability,” can generative AI help us narrow a digital divide that is far greater than most individuals and organizations perceive? Howard Pyle is a leading voice in the mission to advance inclusivity in digital experiences as the founder of Experience Futures (XF). After an enlightening encounter with Howard at the Page Spring Seminar, Anne Green, host and G&S Principal, asked him to join her on the podcast. Listen in as Howard and Anne discuss:Today’s limited conceptions of "ability" versus "disability" and why our approach to accessibility in digital spaces needs a significant paradigm shiftThe importance of human guidance and ethical considerations in employing AI as a tool to advance inclusivity and accessibilitySorting through the hype and potential of AI in bridging the digital divide and transforming accessibility

Branding is a long game requiring continuous attention and reinvention, all pointed back to the core values of the business. With strategic intention, marketers can help to build something as valuable as Marvel or Nike— cultivating meaning and relevance that spans audience demographics and decades. Yet marketing executed without an understanding of a brand’s true “north star” can just as easily result in indifference, erosion of market share, or memeable attention of the wrong kind.After spending 22-years contributing to the marketing of a brand that is 117-years old, David Marine, Chief Marketing Officer at Coldwell Banker, knows a little something about playing the long game. He joins G&S Principal Anne Green to share insights on two decades of experience at Coldwell Banker, thoughts on the concept and evolution of branding, and smart advice for those looking to build a career in marketing.David underscores the significance of staying grounded in the essence of your message, despite shifting priorities, technologies and tactics. This is especially critical when guiding a well-known brand that is over a century old while continuing to innovate.Listen in as David and Anne discuss:How to continuously advance and innovate while remaining true to core brand valuesThe roles of compelling storytelling and cultural relevance in brand longevity Lessons from the evolution of iconic brands like Nike and Marvel - and how David translates these learnings for into selling the American Dream of home

Communities are at the heart of success — building the right one can fuel your business, but when community is lacking, your organization will feel its absence. According to Lindsay Kaplan, Co-founder Chief, there are two wildly different types of communities: one made of brand advocates and followers, and another more formally official where individuals opt-in to participate. With the latter, an organization can soar, building an incredibly powerful brand. But communities aren’t always intuitive. Building them takes intentionality, inclusive leadership and active investment.Join us as we discuss:How to actively invest in inclusivity and belonging to avoid lip service, build relationships and champion diversityThe vital role of internal champions in driving DEI initiativesStaying true with a mission-driven focus for genuine impact and organic growth

In this episode, Anne interviews Kim Sample and Mark McClennan about the ethical implications of the use of AI in communications and beyond. This conversation delves into the experiences and insights of Kim, as President of the PR Council and Mark, General Manager at C + C, Host of the Ethical Voices podcast, and one of today’s top voices in ethics in PR and communications.With the growing exploration of generative AI in all industries, including communications, there is a need for intentional ethical consideration across all contexts — Kim, Mark and Anne dive in and discuss:The transformative potential of generative AI as a technology and societal shiftOverall role and importance of ethics in communications, and the pressing need to apply an ethical lens to uses of generative AIImportance of and opportunities to lean into ethical decision-making training in the context of AIHow core tenets of the PR Council Code of Ethics & Principles - such as transparency, disclosure, sourcing and promoting truth/accuracy - are hugely relevant to the generative AI evolutionTo make sure you never miss an episode of Building Brand Gravity, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and the website. Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Building Brand Gravity in your favorite podcast player.

This episode is a follow up to Anne Green’s conversation with Dr. Osei Appiah, Ph.D Professor, School Of Communication at The Ohio State University. Listen to it here. In this episode, Anne interviews three aspiring marketing communications professionals, Rikki Lee Joiner, Michaela Matheney, and Keilah Thompson, who are all students at The Ohio State University (OSU) and members of the Black Advertising and Strategic Communications Association (BASCA). They discuss their personal journeys to majors - and ultimately careers - in marketing communications, the specific areas of work that excite them, and their experiences with BASCA and its impact on their professional development.These students share their excitement and concerns about entering the industry, as well as their thoughts on previous work and internship experiences. They also touch on the issue of bias, the challenges of being the “only one” in a room and in opening doors for others in the Black community, and offer advice for marketing organizations looking to support young Black professionals.Join Anne and her guests as they provide valuable insights into the marketing communications industry and share their thoughts on what it takes to help professionals from traditionally marginalized communities build a successful career in these fields.To make sure you never miss an episode of Building Brand Gravity, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and the website. Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Building Brand Gravity in your favorite podcast player.

Welcome back to Building Brand Gravity. In this episode, Anne interviews Dr. Osei Appiah, a renowned communication and race scholar who serves as a Professor in the School of Communication at The Ohio State University. Dr. Appiah explores critical questions on building meaningful diversity across the fields of marketing, communications and advertising - and supporting Black talent in particular. This includes: the importance of race in the field of communicationintentional approaches to cultivating and empowering Black professionalshistoric barriers to building and sustaining a strong talent pipelinethe roles of industry and academia in making change and building belongingDr. Appiah shares his thoughts on the progress of diversity in the advertising and marcomms industry and provides insight into how we can work together to increase representation and empower Black talent by highlighting BASCA - the Black Advertising and Strategic Communications Association. Dr. Appiah Founded BASCA as a partnership between students, faculty, and professionals to develop and prepare Black students for careers in advertising, communications, marketing and more.More information about Dr. Appiah and today’s topics:LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/osei-appiah-ph-d-3446472/ University Website: https://comm.osu.edu/people/appiah.2 Other Relevant Links: https://www.amazon.com/Psychology-Persuasion-Perspectives-Research-Application/dp/1609277325 https://www.amazon.com/Biased-Uncovering-Hidden-Prejudice-Shapes-ebook/dp/B07DH89ZDY Make sure to subscribe to hear the follow-up episode in which Anne will interview three BASCA student leaders! To make sure you never miss an episode of Building Brand Gravity, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and the website. Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Building Brand Gravity in your favorite podcast player.

As sustainability becomes a more common and essential part of corporate conversation, it is important for key communicators and C-Suite executives to know how to navigate conversations and plans of action around it. This episode features Rob Jekielek, Managing Director at The Harris Poll. Rob has been featured in many notable publications such as The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, Harvard Business Review and more. He joins Steve to talk about: The disconnect between front-line workers and managers on sustainability and how to overcome itWhat is the biggest blind spot in sustainability reporting?What is the role of the Chief Communication Officers in sustainability?More information about Rob and today’s topics:LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robjek/ Company Website: https://theharrispoll.com/ To make sure you never miss an episode of Building Brand Gravity, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast player. Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Building Brand Gravity in your favorite podcast player.

Due to the current media landscape, it may feel like there is a new crisis everyday. As more and more brands get hit with controversy, what can we do to measure trust and avoid fallout? In today’s episode, we speak with Dr. Lashonda Eaddy Ph.D. Dr. Eaddy is an Assistant Professor of Public Relations at Penn State and an Arthur W. Page Center Senior Research Fellow. This Episode Covers: Using Social Media to Gain and Manage Trust Finding your audience and knowing how to track and measure their sentiments Brands that are doing it wrong (Twitter) vs. brands that are doing it right (Ben & Jerry’s) The key steps senior communicators can take to build a effective crisis management strategiesMore information about Dr. Eaddy and today’s topics:LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lashonda-eaddy-ph-d-apr-12a1b03 Company Website: https://www.bellisario.psu.edu/people/individual/lashonda-l.-eaddy Other Relevant Links: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21722372/ To make sure you never miss an episode of Building Brand Gravity, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast player. Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Building Brand Gravity in your favorite podcast player.

This episode features David J. Albritton, one of the world’s foremost executive coaches. Steve and David talk about:The leadership reset in the post pandemic worldHow a leader must have the tools, insights and relationships to show up to work without fearThe key differences between bottom-up and top-down leadership To make sure you never miss an episode of Building Brand Gravity, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast player.Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Building Brand Gravity in your favorite podcast player.

How does academia and branding overlap? What are some of the ways you can incorporate cutting edge research into your communications strategy? Today’s episode takes a holistic approach to answer these questions and more.This Episode’s guest is Matt Ragas Ph.D., Professor, College of Communication and Founding Director, M.A. in Professional Communication, a DePaul University. In this conversation, he shares:What fuels his passion about the communications industryWhat motivates him to share his lessons with students and professionals worldwideHow the roles and functions of senior communicators has evolvedHow he teaches executive skill sets to his students More information about Matt Ragas and today’s topics:LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattragas/Company Website - https://communication.depaul.edu/faculty-and-staff/faculty/Pages/ragas.aspx To make sure you never miss an episode of Building Brand Gravity, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast player.Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Building Brand Gravity in your favorite podcast player.

Welcome to Building Brand Gravity. This is a show for communications pros across industries looking to gain an inside view into industry influence. You’re about to hear a conversation with leading industry professionals, talking about the importance of building business impact through sound brand strategy.Each episode, we talk to chief communications officers, senior communications executives and leading academics to get their direct insights on the challenges facing B2B and B2C brands, opportunities for attracting people to your brand and the resulting business impact.Questions/comments? Reach out at podcast@gscommunications.comTo make sure you never miss an episode of Building Brand Gravity, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, the website or wherever you get yoru podcasts. Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Building Brand Gravity in your favorite podcast player.