Irene M.

Well worth a read for those in the Public Sector leading digital transformation.

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Having representation in advertisements isn't enough to expand into multicultural markets, though many companies might think it's sufficient. Truly connecting with diverse audiences requires thoughtful research into cultural nuances and strategic thinking. ✨ Sociological methods combined with marketing methods can guide us to connect more meaningfully with multicultural audiences. Learn how companies can effectively expand their market share by engaging with these communities thoughtfully and strategically. Read the case studies here: https://lnkd.in/dcR7T57Q

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Just starting the business process automation (BPA) journey or looking to enhance your automation projects? Learn how to change the status quo with a successful BPA implementation and drive innovation in your organization. Get the guide: #OpenText

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As part of some major changes I’m making in 2025, this project - a series of instructional books to help entrepreneurs and communications practitioners alike to build, test and measure the impact of public relations, marketing, publicity, media and brand strategies - is a top priority. #bookproject #2025 #strategiccommunications #communicationsstrategy

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Clients often ask, "How do I make contact with media professionals? I have a great story but don’t know how to share it." This forms a large part of my work, but it shouldn't be an industry secret. In our 24/7 world, media professionals are constantly looking for compelling stories to feature. As business leaders, it’s crucial to know how to present yourself professionally. One effective way is by drafting an impactful press release. A great press release starts with a compelling story and is essential for capturing media attention. But it's not just about the content; distribution is key. From personalising your outreach to timing your release perfectly, many factors influence success. Curating a targeted media list, engaging with journalists, and using the right distribution strategies can significantly increase your chances of getting your news picked up. Integrate your press releases with your social media and online presence for maximum impact. Ready to craft a standout press release? Join our newsletter and get a free Press Release Template to kickstart your journey. Plus, gain access to exclusive PR tips and strategies from my two decades of experience in media and communications. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/eTvtPdCi #PressRelease #MediaStrategy #Communications #BusinessGrowth #MarketingTips #TheCommunicationsCoach #smallbusinessmarketing

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Our Canadian team just released a new report on the Generative AI opportunity. It was written in collaboration with Accenture and calls out four key points - it's a transformative tech with significant potential, it could deliver $187B in economic value for the national economy by 2030, responsible adoption is key to unlocking this value, and action from industry and government enablers will be required. The full report is a solid read (close to 50 pages) that aligns the opportunity to the action, with the exec summary calling out a quick win. I'm not an early adopter, (my first iPhone was a 4s), but the Gen AI promise for productivity is an 8% lift or 30 minutes per work week. Copilot in Teams gives me a full transcript + action items from every recorded meeting. No one taking notes, reworking them or sending them out. Just prompt and share. I'll read the full report with that extra half hour... https://lnkd.in/g8pf86ms

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I want to congratulate all the nominees of this year's Canadian Marketing Association awards. It was a remarkable experience to be a judge and review outstanding work showcased in this year's submissions. This year's contenders have set a new standard for marketing excellence from groundbreaking ideas to strategic brilliance and tangible results. Their innovative approach, strategic thinking, and relentless pursuit of success have not only delivered bottom-line impact but also evoked many feelings that resonate with audiences on a profound level. Here are some of my takeaways from my experience judging: 🎯 Emotionally Resonant: I was particularly impressed by campaigns that deeply connected with audiences by pulling on heartstrings. These entries tapped into the emotional core of their target demographic, using authentic storytelling to evoke powerful feelings and create a lasting impact. 🎯 Data-Driven Strategy: The use of data stood out as a key differentiator. The most successful campaigns didn’t just rely on creative instincts but were also driven by solid data points. By leveraging insights and analytics, these strategies were able to target their messages with precision, ensuring maximum relevance and effectiveness. 🎯 Innovative Omni-Channel Approaches: I noticed a strong trend towards omni-channel concepts that pushed beyond the boundaries of traditional PR tactics. These campaigns skillfully integrated multiple platforms and channels, creating seamless and engaging experiences that reached audiences wherever they were, ensuring a cohesive and consistent message across the board. Congratulations once again to all the nominees! #CMAAwards #MarketingExcellence #Innovation #IndustryLeaders

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At a recent conference, AI was all the talk. A lot of colleagues in Comms hate it, a lot love it and a lot are a little, unsure. I'm a lover. I started off being pretty skeptical (rightfully so), but as I took time to explore various AI apps, I got more comfortable with all the ways I could use this shift in technology to improve my personal and work life. Not only have I gotten comfortable, I've done training and I've even gone so far as to take a part time gig that analyzes AI (it's not glamorous but super interesting!). Side note: AI drafted this post for me but I rolled up my sleeves and rewrote a lot. This... right here...this is how I use AI. AI is the unsung hero of my workday. Whether I’m juggling campaigns or brainstorming creative content, AI has been my trusty sidekick (and occasionally, the co-worker who never takes a lunch break). Here’s how I put AI to work: 💡 Brainstorming brilliance: When I’m stuck in a creative rut, AI helps me riff on ideas—whether for a campaign tagline, a new website page, or that perfect social media post. 📝 Drafting content: Need a concise job ad or a sparkling piece of corporate messaging? AI drafts, I finesse. It’s like having an assistant who “gets” me. 📅 Planning ahead: From cybersecurity awareness campaigns to a 2025 calendar featuring iconic cleaning characters in movies (yes, it’s as fun as it sounds), AI helps me map out the big picture. 🎯 Fact-checking & inspiration: When I need quick research or fresh perspectives, AI’s always there to throw out ideas—sometimes brilliant, sometimes hilariously off-track. 💾 Streamlining the boring stuff: From generating tables to crafting spreadsheet templates, AI saves me hours of mind-numbing work—letting me focus on the creative (and fun!) side of communications. AI doesn’t replace me—it enhances what I do. It’s like having a colleague who’s always available, unflinchingly honest (even if it’s wrong sometimes), and incapable of stealing my snacks. Communications pros, how are you using AI in your day-to-day? Let’s share tips, laugh at the quirks, and maybe even swap a few productivity hacks. (Bonus points for funny AI-generated fails. 😂 I have a few I can share!) #AIinCommunications #CorporateCommunications #WorkSmarter

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As my motto goes, “𝑳𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒑𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒚” I'm thrilled to share that I have successfully completed my digital transformation course at the University of Waterloo. 💡 This course was 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐲𝐞-𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 to discover how industries are leveraging and adapting digital tools, such as #LLM and #AI, to enhance their operations. It's not about cutting jobs; it's about creating new opportunities for those who continue to learn and adapt. ➡️ Next, I aim to apply this newfound knowledge to my personal endeavors, as well as my business ventures and professional roles. After all, 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐩𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.

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Great perspective on AI adoption in Canada from Chris Barry. With all of the use cases across every role, it surprises me that some organizations are so slow to embrace it and empower their employees to use it to its full potential. I use Copilot every day and it’s been a game changer!

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At this week’s Global PR Summit In Toronto, I spoke with an incredible, curious group of PR pros about AI in comms. As tools like ChatGPT become more prevalent in our field, we need to know not only what they can do - but how. Top takeaways: 🥇 Engineering your prompts gets you to a better first draft faster. HOW: There are many ways to do this, but give the RACE method a try. Define the tool’s Role, the Action you want it to take, give it Context, and provide guidance on how you want it to Execute the task. 🤖 Custom GPTs trained on an executive’s voice or brand will help you save tons of time in the content creation process. HOW: Train the tool on transcripts, successful social posts, and brand messaging to get it close to the right voice. 🤝 We’re on this Gen AI journey together. You don’t have to figure it all out alone. HOW: Find your friends in the AI field (like me, hi!). Whether you need a mentor or a sounding board, we learn best when we collaborate. Thank you to P World’s Kosta Petrov and Hristina Dojčinova for having me.

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Congratulations to Lewis Iwu. Barry Johnston, Daniela Flores MPRCA & everyone at Purpose Union involved in creating this excellent report - The Purpose Pulse. The message from the research is clear: social purpose matters today, and it’s not going anywhere. The report explores the expectations of Gen Z and Millennials when it comes to corporate responsibility. Based on a survey of 1,638 respondents, the report delves into how these generations view businesses and their commitment to social and environmental issues. Key insights: ➡ Gen Z and Millennials expect businesses to do more to tackle social issues, and this expectation is growing. ➡ The majority believe that businesses are not doing enough to address climate change. ➡ Most Gen Z and Millennials say that organisations should prioritise DEI because it's the right thing to do. Ready to see how your business can embrace purpose? Download The Purpose Pulse 2024 now 👉 https://lnkd.in/dcdsH3J #PurposePulse #GenZ #Millennials #SocialImpact #DEI

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As governments at all levels across Canada have expanded their digital service offerings, the user experience has often not met the high expectations of residents. Constrained resources, complex organizations, limited human capacity, and massive IT transformation goals make digital updates a hurdle for agencies. Given these challenges, we'll be sharing key insights from PayIt's groundbreaking research conducted with hundreds of government agency leaders, and explore how innovations in payment experiences can not only streamline operations but also increase accessibility, security, and resident satisfaction. Join us for an insightful session on data-backed tactics for empowering residents and optimizing digital government offerings. Register today for the live webinar: https://okt.to/O06mr7 #DigitalGovernment #GovTech #Webinar

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Really looking forward to this discussion on building #trust with Nathan Huculak from the Canadian Red Cross hosted by Smith School of Business at Queen's University. We'll cover: -Key actions that drive trust -The most trusted voices and how to harness them -How to develop trust literacy in your organization -Reasons why organizations lose trust -The role of leadership in building and maintaining trust -Best practices for long-term trust-building Hope you can join us!

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A new and thought-provoking report by Desjardins Economic Studies on the economic impact of AI in Canada. While there isn't much new, some of the points made are worth noting. You can read the report here: https://lnkd.in/ghSK6Mqx One key takeaway that resonates is that "While Canada boasts top AI talent, its AI ecosystem was not built with adoption in mind". Having built up such a strong research ecosystem, we not only need to maintain that foundation but turn to how we can support companies to make the most of AI. The report also emphasizes the potential of AI in addressing societal challenges: "Unleashing AI to tackle pressing social issues like energy efficiency, homebuilding acceleration and aging‑related health challenges is another way governments could leverage local firms that specialize in AI. This would drive commercialization of homemade AI solutions adapted to local needs." This aligns perfectly with my arguments in "Canada's Moonshot: Solving grand challenges through transformational innovation". https://lnkd.in/gYQ95QUU In the report, I argue that we need to use our "innovation policy toolkit to intentionally direct, support, and fund innovation that solves the challenges we face" by making proper use of demand-side as well as supply-side tools. Doing that thoughtfully and with proper care to support the development and adoption of AI that addresses societal challenges would be a win-win. Another critical point from Desjardins is that "when it comes to attracting top AI talent, Canadian SMEs struggle to compete with large foreign tech companies on compensation, and SME surveys show that a lack of specialized skills are among the primary barriers to AI adoption." Programs like those offered by Mitacs can be game-changers here. By hosting exceptional talent from our universities and colleges for work-integrated learning placements, SMEs gain access to top-tier AI talent without the hefty costs and risks of direct hiring. This not only boosts AI adoption among SMEs but also provides invaluable industry experience to the next generation of innovation leaders. A win-win for everyone involved! With the right vision we can unlock the potential of AI to not only drive economic growth but also address some of our most pressing societal challenges. We need to push for policies and programs that support AI adoption - not just for its own sake but also to create solutions and markets where they are desperately needed.

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With this piece I begin to explore how, by harnessing the full power of the private sector and embracing the right public policy choices, we can make Canada’s economy into a true global productivity leader. ”… the government does not micro-manage anyone’s day-to-day operations. Rather, it enacts broadly useful policies that provide for equality of opportunity, rather than pursuing the illusion of equality of outcome. This way, the entire economic pie can grow larger for everyone. What we must avoid is having an economic pie that doesn’t grow, leading to depressing scenarios where competing interest groups fight over shattered crusts and crumbs.” https://lnkd.in/geZtUKug #productivity #innovation #canada #publicpolicy

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Great question posed by Simon Rutter on his latest post. Here's my answer. What would you add? +++++++++++++ This is where open and honest conversations with your C-suite have to come into play. Sit down with your leaders and ensure there is a shared understanding of what is a priority for your business. Break this down into three or four topics, tops. If something isn't aligned with one of those topics, you won't support with comms. (You should also ask the question why something is being worked on when it isn't a business priority, but never mind that for now. 🤔) I then create an SLA with a gold/silver/bronze service offering (e.g. ExCo get gold service, ExCo -1 gets silver, and so on). Define what those levels look like. I take that SLA to ExCo and get their signoff and support. Then the tricky part starts - sticking to it! With an agreed set of priorities and an SLA, you at least stand a fighting chance of being able to push back on other work. Without it, you're just running from one fire to the next. And that's exhausting, demoralising, and unproductive.

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In honour of October being National Book Month, here are two of my recent favourites. Why? Where internal communications is rated as excellent, trust is much higher among employees and they are more likely to stay longer. In order for employers to trust their leaders, they must believe in the company strategy. (Source: IC 2024 Index) Strategy, good leadership, and excellent internal communications are all grounded in effective listening. So try out these books for practical advice and thought provoking content. Howard Krais Charles Feltman Ila Edgar Dr Kevin Ruck #ListeningArmy #TrustedAdvisor #Possibilities

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