The Pivot with Ken Evans
Looking to push the marketing envelope? Want to find new ways to evolve your brand? Or simply want to hear those best in market speak to communications? Tune in to one of Canada’s top marketing and communications podcasts with host Ken Evans as he speaks to innovators, brand guru’s, PR pros, and industry experts.
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S8:E5: Supporting Newcomers to Canada with Ruth Javier Friesen of the Mennonite New life Centre
09/10/2024
S8:E5: Supporting Newcomers to Canada with Ruth Javier Friesen of the Mennonite New life Centre
In this episode of #ThePivot, Ruth and Ken discuss some of the challenges newcomers to Canada face in seeking employment in the media communication sector. Listen to learn more on how to build your professional presence, use the power of storytelling, and relevant strategies on how to navigate the job market of today and tomorrow. Ruth draws on her professional experience as an employment counsellor and her personal journey. Ruth Javier Friesen is a with more than five years of experience working with post-secondary students, women, and newcomers. In this time, Ruth has provided employment advice, settlement assistance, and facilitating connections to services and organizations. Ruth is also skilled in one-on-one career coaching, motivational training, workshop design and facilitation. A guest speaker at IABC/Toronto and George Brown College, Ruth is passionate and dedicated to working with people, especially newcomers, to assist them with their professional development journey.
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S8:E4 Human-Animal Bond with Lucas Solowey
07/30/2024
S8:E4 Human-Animal Bond with Lucas Solowey
For over a decade, Lucas Solowey has built relationships with communities, non-profits, changemakers, entrepreneurs, athletes, celebrities, politicians, authors, and ethical brands. Toronto Humane Society is more than an animal shelter - they are an educational resource and support system, a leading voice in animal welfare and accessible care. The organization is also a centre of excellence, a space where best practices and boundary-pushing knowledge meet with unyielding optimism and a love for animals to create something special. Toronto Humane Society is like no other.
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S8:E3: Designing Customer Experiences with Dr. Markus Giesler
06/18/2024
S8:E3: Designing Customer Experiences with Dr. Markus Giesler
If you’re seeking clarity on how to creatively shape customer experience design – this is the podcast episode for you. Up next on The Pivot, we chat with Dr. Markus Giesler, renowned consumer researcher and Professor of Marketing at the Schulich School of Business. We explored many themes, from the data experience dialectic and notion of the paradox to bigger-picture questions and the power of social science. Dr. Markus Giesler also shares what led him to customer experience design, along with his experiences with the Kellogg School of Management and Columbia Business School. Tune in now!
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S8:E2: Authentic Sports Marketing with Jonathan Chang, CBC
06/04/2024
S8:E2: Authentic Sports Marketing with Jonathan Chang, CBC
If you’re curious about the power of storytelling in sport and the joy it brings – this is the podcast episode for you. Up next on The Pivot, we chat with Jonathan Chang, Head of Sports Marketing at the CBC. We explored a number of relevant topics, such as the evolution of integrated brand campaigns in Canada, a closer look into the mindset of our athletes, and diversity, equity, and inclusion in sports. Jonathan also shares his take on what we can expect in the next three to five years in the sports landscape, and a cool campaign he’s recently worked on, with voiceovers from Michael J Fox (English) and Celine Dion (French) ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games!!
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S8:E1: Women's Sport: Leading the Way with Diana Matheson and Jayna Hefford
05/21/2024
S8:E1: Women's Sport: Leading the Way with Diana Matheson and Jayna Hefford
In our Season 8 opener, we welcome legendary Canadian Olympians Diana Matheson of Project 8, and Jayna Hefford of the Professional Women’s Hockey League, to chat about the important work they’re leading in advancing women’s sport. From rapidly rising viewership to fandom participation, broadcast strategy, and strategic sponsorship, the growing market and demand for women’s sport has opened a plethora of opportunities. Brands can take the lead, live their values, and double down on their advocacy, rather than shy away from it. Gain deeper insight into the world of Canadian Women’s sports in this latest conversation between host Ken Evans, and Canadian Olympians Diana Matheson and Jayna Hefford. Listen now.
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Season 7 Greatest Hits with Ken Evans, Jelena Lazarević and Jacob Robinson
11/17/2023
Season 7 Greatest Hits with Ken Evans, Jelena Lazarević and Jacob Robinson
...and that's a wrap on Season 7! Our end of week treat features our Greatest Hits throughout this season, where we reflect on a season filled with salient moments, from inclusion in sport and out-of-home advertising to AI disruption and crisis communication. What were some of your favourite moments from the season? Comment below or DM us. Catch us in the new year when we return with season 8!
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S7:E10 Supporting Local Media in Canada with Sarah Thompson of dentsu Canada
11/08/2023
S7:E10 Supporting Local Media in Canada with Sarah Thompson of dentsu Canada
About 50% of all ad spend is digital. Of that, only 5-6% is within the Canadian local media market. As we explore why and work to earn the attention of our diverse audiences, it's more important than ever to really consider what kind of world we are creating, and how we are supporting Canadian owned and operated media, especially local news. Learn about how we can meaningfully move the needle on this, and so much more in the latest conversation between Ken Evans and Sarah Thompson.
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S7:E9 Bill C-18 and News in Canada: A Closer Look
09/20/2023
S7:E9 Bill C-18 and News in Canada: A Closer Look
In this timely episode of the Pivot, Ken and Ethan dive into the Bill C-18 (Online News Act)/tech giant conflict and what it means for Canadians and newsrooms. Also offering a closer look and exploration of the media business as a whole, alternative approaches to regulatory sanity, and how we can explore different avenues of news.
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S7:E8 Year-round Pride and Allyship with Dean Lobo of The 519 (he/him)
06/27/2023
S7:E8 Year-round Pride and Allyship with Dean Lobo of The 519 (he/him)
Dean is a seasoned communications specialist with a decade's experience across radio, television production, print and digital news, strategic communications, and media studies facilitation. During his journalism years, Dean reported extensively about issues impacting LGBTQ+ communities, bringing that same passion for community to his communications role now at The 519 - Canada’s most prominent 2SLGBTQ+ multi-service centre and a City of Toronto agency. He recently presented the Communicator’s Guide to Gender Diversity and Inclusion at the IABC World Conference 2023 in Toronto. Dean continues to explore how his South Asian roots and queer identity interact with his life now as a settler, and for that, he finds himself turning to writing, art, and music. Want to learn more about The 519 and their work? Check out the links below. and some of their resources and advocacy work below. . : Anti-2SLGBTQ+ extremists are escalating their attacks on our communities – in Toronto, across Canada, and the world. Generations of 2 Spirit, queer and trans people have fought for our right to live in the light with pride and dignity. This Pride season, let’s get one thing straight: we’re an Army of Lovers, and we won’t back down. : Co-created by The 519 with 2SLGBTQ+ community activists and leaders, the guide is informed by community conversations and will support anyone who wants to produce better journalism, champion inclusion, and expand their learning and allyship. : This resource is designed to support screen readers. Our Creating Authentic Spaces toolkit and education program is part of our efforts to challenge transphobia and to foster environments that are inclusive of gender identity and gender expression. Follow The 519 on social media: Want to connect with Dean Lobo? You can or .
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S7:E7 Exceeding Our Goals with Jill Burgin and Aisha Mayne
06/21/2023
S7:E7 Exceeding Our Goals with Jill Burgin and Aisha Mayne
Jill Burgin and Aisha Mayne of AFC Toronto City and Project 8 join The Pivot to dive into women's sport and soccer - walking us through their progress, projects, goal attainment and much more. Leaning into their dedication to community and brand humanisation, we cover moving parts around role modelling, talent, team-building, two-way conversations, community, grassroots support and much more. Truly, raising the bar through open dialogues, dismantling misconceptions and meeting deep and visceral needs of our communities.
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S7:E6 Getting Ahead of Crisis with Anne Marie Aikins (she/her)
03/30/2023
S7:E6 Getting Ahead of Crisis with Anne Marie Aikins (she/her)
As the trusted spokesperson and industry leader you want during the good times and the really, really bad times, Anne Marie Aikins (she/her) joins The Pivot on this week’s episode. Leaning into her dedication for public service, we dive into her community engagement experiences and how to proactively foster thought-provoking goodwill, and partnership. We also weave through the do’s and don'ts of solid issues management and crisis communication, when to deploy an area expert versus a spokesperson and much more.
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S7:E5 Writing the Book on AI with Mohit Rajhans
03/07/2023
S7:E5 Writing the Book on AI with Mohit Rajhans
Artificial intelligence (AI) continues to be at the epicentre of many conversations. We see it changing how people work, create and explore, but it comes with many questions. For instance - what could be the unintended consequences of AI? How can we effectively coalesce and harness real knowledge in our teams and organisations while leveraging intelligent evolving tools? What about untapped information, lessons and space, which still have yet to come into the pipeline? Dive into Ken and Mohit’s thought-provoking conversation as they dissect all of this and much more, through an added lens and deeper thinking of the good, the bad and the ugly.
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S7:E4 Diving Deep into Media with Brett Chang
02/16/2023
S7:E4 Diving Deep into Media with Brett Chang
Media consumption and evolution are more relevant than ever as the landscape continues to evolve. But why? What does being informed truly mean in 2023 and beyond? What makes one type of media appear more relevant than another? How can paid social be leveraged when building an online community? And where does legacy media fit in this space? This week, we are joined by Co-Founder of The Peak and Host of the Peak Daily, Brett Chang, to answer all of these questions, and much more. We also discuss Brett’s non-linear journey into the world of media and his passion and approaches for sustaining The Peak Daily and The Peak, Canada’s most daily read newsletter.
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Greatest Hits: Exploring the mindset of younger generations with Sabaa Quao
01/09/2023
Greatest Hits: Exploring the mindset of younger generations with Sabaa Quao
The Pivot Greatest Hits: As we launch into 2023, we bring to you a past Season 4 conversation with , Chief Creative Officer at Cossette and Co-Founder at Wealthie Works Daily. Tune in for relevant insights on the shifting consumer mindset, how the digitization of money presents risks to younger generations, and the need for persistent and consistent financial literacy. If we look to generation Z, and even generation alpha, there is some hope. Generation Z are confident creators and less burdened with self-conscious expression, but for this potential to blossom, they need the financial independence and liberty to truly unleash their creativity, business savviness and activism. **The Pivot with Ken Evans will return in February 2023 with continued marketing-focused content. We are excited to be exploring new topics and developments with industry leaders. Wishing you and your families a Happy New Year!** Episode originally aired October 2020.
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S7:E3 Exploring Inclusive Cultures with Dr. Sofia B. Pertuz and Therese O’Higgins
12/07/2022
S7:E3 Exploring Inclusive Cultures with Dr. Sofia B. Pertuz and Therese O’Higgins
Inclusive cultures are evolving and more and more organisations are taking note. But, what does it really mean to foster equal and equitable opportunity? Why are listening, soul-searching and actionable leadership so important in marketing and messaging? This week, we are joined by key leaders from the Billie Jean King Leadership Initiative, Dr. Sofia B. Pertuz and Therese O’Higgins to dive into these topics. We also chat about the importance of trailblazers like Billie Jean King and specific steps organizations can take to address real issues, both internal and systemic, as we strive to create greater equitable opportunities, access, representation and inclusive cultures across the board.
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S7:E2 Behind the Pixel of Digital Out-of-Home Advertising with Scott Mitchell and Debbie Benadiba
11/16/2022
S7:E2 Behind the Pixel of Digital Out-of-Home Advertising with Scott Mitchell and Debbie Benadiba
The ad-spend pie is evolving and digital is now capturing a large portion of marketing dollars. This week we’re joined by industry leaders, Scott Mitchell and Debbie Benadiba, to talk about how they are moving the needle with digital out-of-home, one of the oldest and newest forms of advertising. From data to measurement to automation, we take a closer look at the evolution of these key pillars in out-of-home and discuss the steps marketers are taking as they leverage technology to generate omnichannel approaches that resonate with audiences. FOLLOW Scott: Debbie: Ken:
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S7:E1 True Sports Development with Matt Young and Paul Beirne
11/02/2022
S7:E1 True Sports Development with Matt Young and Paul Beirne
With Canadian sport continuing to be at the forefront of many recent headlines, some key questions are arising. From raising the standard in sports development to ensure we have the right balance between fun and competitiveness to integrating EDI forward practices and modernizing governance. And what does it—really—mean to foster community? How do we create greater accountability to ensure the betterment of our partners, team members, support systems, sponsorship dollars and developmental pipeline? In this episode of The Pivot, we are joined by Matt Young, Partner, FSQ Sport, and Paul Beirne, Managing Director, Pacific Football Club,who discuss these incredibly pervasive topics. Given the marketing dollars in play and the reputations on the line, it’s time we take a sober new look at sports. FOLLOW Matt: Paul: Ken:
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Teaser: Introducing Season 7 of The Pivot with Ken Evans
10/26/2022
Teaser: Introducing Season 7 of The Pivot with Ken Evans
with Ken Evans IS BACK and better than ever! Tune in now for a tip-top teaser of what you can expect in our seventh season, including a sneak peek at Episode 1: True Sports Development, with Matt Young, Partner, FSQ Sport, and Paul Beirne, Managing Director, Pacific Football Club. In the coming months, expect salient content and industry insight from key senior marketing experts around a number of provocative topics. We will look at how marketing continues to evolve in the modern world! Listen now: http://thepivotwithkenevans.libsyn.com/
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Season 6 is a wrap!
04/07/2022
Season 6 is a wrap!
And it’s a wrap! What started in 2018 as a bit of an experiment is now in its 6th season. In this series of episodes, The Pivot engaged in conversations with a variety of compelling guests who truly embodied the meaning of Pivot ─ from municipal politicians to mental health scholars. Season 6 has been about showcasing not only the work and creativity of marketers but the parts of everyday life that can impact their practice and careers. Stay tuned for season 7 where we delve back into a full marketing and brand reputation series of shows. Join us in this episode of the Pivot to wrap up an exciting season and talk about some salient episodes from this season.
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The CMO and their many faces
03/17/2022
The CMO and their many faces
The importance and practice of marketing has evolved in profound ways over the past couple of years, making the CMO an ever more important role in organizations. Having a big brand purpose and driving all your content towards it is the key for both B2C and B2B marketers. In this episode of the Pivot, we are joined by Drew Neisser, CEO and Founder of Renegade, a B2B marketing agency, and CMO Huddles to talk about how marketing and the role of the CMO have evolved over the past two years of living in a pandemic. He also shines a light on the micro-messaging vs the big brand idea, driving purposeful content, and how CMOs can be thought leaders not only externally for a brand but also internally for its people. Join us in this episode of the Pivot to learn more about the CMO and their many faces.
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Roku: The Next Frontier of Advertising
03/03/2022
Roku: The Next Frontier of Advertising
On our TVs, our laptops, and even on our phones, we can stream almost anything anywhere. Since the start of the pandemic, we’ve been streaming more and more. As marketers continue to find ways to reach audiences where they are, how can we tap into these moments where many are already paying attention? In this episode Ken is joined by two experts from Roku, an APEX PR client, to discuss the state of streaming in Canada, including the rapid decline of traditional linear TV, and the streaming opportunities that are available to advertisers, marketers, publishers, and content producers. Listen in and hear from Mary-Anne Taylor, Head of Content Distribution – Canada, Roku Inc., and Christina Summers, Regional Sales Manager, Roku Canada. Since recording this episode, Roku is now the #1 Streaming Platform in Canada and has well over 100 FAST channels in TRC.
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From grass roots movement to social enterprise
01/27/2022
From grass roots movement to social enterprise
In the early days of the pandemic Samanta Krishnapilai found herself working in Starbucks while she completed her master’s degree in public health. During this time, she was struck by the way formal communications seemed to ignore marginalized groups and failed to address the concerns of less privileged communities. With this in mind, Samanta founded the On Covid Project, a community intended to share critical information in a way that was accessible and applicable to everyone. With empathy and community as their driving force, The On Covid Project was eventually renamed as the On Canada Project, and expanded to include consulting services. In this episode of The Pivot, Samanta and our host Ken Evans discuss the ways public health and government communications fell short during the pandemic, and what the On Canada Project is doing to fill the gap.
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Innovation through resilience
12/16/2021
Innovation through resilience
Dr. Tracy Vaillancourt, Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in School-Based Mental Health and Violence Prevention at the University of Ottawa has conducted research on the impact of the pandemic on schools and how can they recover from it. In the latest episode of the Pivot, she talks about how children and teachers are affected and sheds light on how our mental health has changed over the course of the past two years. Tracy breaks down stressors and their effect on our mental health, not limited to adults but also for kids. Much of Tracy’s research is primarily focused on bullying in school and how the shift from in class to virtual and now back in class affects kids and teachers. Join Ken Evans and Tracy Vaillancourt in this invigorating episode.
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Growing your brand with experiential marketing
12/02/2021
Growing your brand with experiential marketing
In this episode of The Pivot, our host, Ken Evans, sat down with Sarah Krafman, Sr. Director of Brand Strategy and Communications from one of Canada’s favourite start-ups, Endy! Join us as we dive into the world of ecommerce marketing and learn what it takes to change consumer buying habits for big-ticket purchases like mattresses, traditionally bought in store. Sarah gives us an inside look in to how Endy came to be and how the brand captured their target audience’s interest through digital marketing, influencer content and subway ads. Endy has become a disruptor in its industry and is an excellent example of how a holistic marketing and PR approach can help brands shake up consumer expectations and become a fan favourite.
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Understanding the Intersection between Cybersecurity, Communications, and Public Trust
11/18/2021
Understanding the Intersection between Cybersecurity, Communications, and Public Trust
Ritesh Kotak has dedicated his career to exploring how technology could be used to create public safety and trust between our communities and public institutions. He quickly realized there is a gap in the public’s knowledge on how to protect themselves from cybercrimes and the importance of cybersecurity. Ritesh joined us on The Pivot to share his knowledge about maximizing the benefits of technological advancement to connect communities while learning the key role cybersecurity plays in protecting us from some of the pitfalls of technology. As our society relies on technology more than ever to facilitate connections between communities and institutions, whether that be online education, telemedicine or accessing legal support digitally, we must learn to build a digital first infrastructure focused on the safety of users.
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Connecting With Constituents in a Digital World
11/09/2021
Connecting With Constituents in a Digital World
Every politician knows the importance of careful listening. But how do you ensure you’re hearing everyone – not just those whose voices are the loudest? A self-proclaimed optimist and community advocate, Toronto City Councillor Brad Bradford has harnessed the power of social media to create a solid connection with constituents from all different backgrounds. However, addressing complicated and nuanced political issues, especially in the often black and white digital landscape, is not a responsibility he takes lightly. On this episode of The Pivot, Brad tells our host Ken Evans about the importance of a strong communications plan, and how he ensures he is meeting the needs of all the members of his community.
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From Humble Beginnings to Gluten-Free Pantry Staple
10/21/2021
From Humble Beginnings to Gluten-Free Pantry Staple
When your number one marketing tool is taken away by a global pandemic, how do you make sure your product ends up in front of the right people? This week on the Pivot Ken is joined by Tony Ayala, President of Queen Street Bakery. With a background in finance and a passion for food, Tony brought Queen Street Bakery products into 1000 grocery stores across Canada, and 200 in the US. Tune in to hear how he used creative thinking and community spirit to grow the business and do some good.
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A Deep Dive Into the Craft of Storytelling
10/07/2021
A Deep Dive Into the Craft of Storytelling
As communicators, we can’t stress enough the importance of storytelling. That’s why we sat down with a master storyteller herself, Colleen Stewart, President of Perfect Pitch, and author of The Story Compass! Storytelling is key for businesses to achieve their objectives and Colleen shared some great tips on connecting with your target audience to get your key message across. The most important takeaway? Start with the “Why” before the “What”. Good leaders know how to capture their audience from the get-go because once an audience understands “why”, they’ll be asking “what” and “how” themselves.
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A Deeper Dive into Real Estate Marketing
07/22/2021
A Deeper Dive into Real Estate Marketing
In the latest episode of The Pivot, we are joined by Branick Weix, CEO and founder of Aryeo, to take a deeper dive into real estate marketing. Branick is the CEO and founder of Aryeo, a company created with the mission of streamlining access to marketing content across the real estate industry for photographers, agents, and brokers. With a strong background in entrepreneurship and photography, Branick shares his thoughts on the marketing of real estate and shares insight that allowed his practice to flourish despite the changing needs of realtors and their audiences throughout the pandemic.
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Fostering Inclusion and Diversity
07/08/2021
Fostering Inclusion and Diversity
In 2021 we’ve seen many organizations move forward to adopt inclusion and diversity into their key pillars. They are increasingly trying to build and create a space where their employees who are black, people of colour, indigenous and/or LGBTQ2+ can feel a sense of belonging and genuine inclusion. This does not just mean having a seat at the table but having valuable input. What steps have these organizations been taking and how can we all work to offer diversity, equity, and inclusion in our workplaces? In this episode of the Pivot, we are joined by Anne-Marie Pham, Executive Director at the Canadian Center of Diversity, and Inclusion (CCDI).
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