Contributor, Author at

Business as usual: I’m a CEO and ‘the only Black person in the room’

Why the MediaCom Canada CEO is working with young, black professionals to develop their strong, confident inner voice.

Hey Canada, you don’t need Jimmy Fallon to create a great Super Bowl ad

Canadian brands may lack big budgets, but with some creative thinking, they can win during Super Bowl season—when people want to see their ads, says Peter Ignazi.

Guest Column

Creating time in a world where this is none

Slow has already permeated industries including food, fashion and travel—why not marketing?

Guest Column

What to do about the effectiveness crisis: lessons from EffWeek

Sid Lee’s MATT FOULK on the ‘worrying’ shortfall in brand understanding, data seduction, and fostering an effectiveness culture.

Guest Column

Are there still people in your agency at 8 p.m.? Send them home

Great creative can only be made by people who are truly living life, not chained to their desk, says DON SAYNOR.

Guest Column

How Gen Z is forcing creators to get real

Younger consumers are showing a clear aversion to carefully curated look and feel that typified early days of influencer marketing.

Guest Column

Marketer inspirations (and some questions) from TedxToronto 2019

What’s wrong with data and mirror-tocracy, and the power of belonging and identifying real problems.

Lunch With

Bill Durnan: From the mailroom to account guy, to the creative who shook up beer advertising

From ‘I Am Canadian’ to ‘Out of the Blue,’ Durnan was the creative mind who stoked the great Canadian beer battles of the 80s and 90s.

Agency, Guest Column

Thoughts on my first 30 days leading a new agency

Jeff Dack shares his vision for the industry, shaped by a heady first month as CEO at Wunderman Thompson.

Best Advice

Best Advice from Jae Goodman

The CEO of the L.A.-based creative agency Observatory on the perils of not doing your homework, and the importance of good producers.

Lunch With

The energy field known as Marlene Hore

“I had an amazing run at a time when women weren’t even allowed on the track,” says Marlene Hore, a trailblazer for Canadian women in advertising.

Guest Column

CSR has served its purpose. Now it’s all about advocacy

It’s time to take a stand and work with others to amplify what you believe in, says Apex PR’s Ken Evans.

Brands, Guest Column

Why I’m not in mourning over Barneys’ demise

On Tuesday, the iconic fashion retailer Barneys filed for bankruptcy protection. Stephen Brown, CEO of Fuse and past chair of Fashion Cares, shares his take on its current brand woes.

Brands, Techology

Why marketers need to learn to speak blockchain

Its promise includes better targeting, less fraud, more consumer trust and control over data privacy.

Workish

The Workish Guide to summer perks

The dog days are here, and Sandy Marshall has some suggestions for perking up your office environment.

Agency, Guest Column

What we learned from our ‘no awards’ policy

The Garden’s Shane Ogilvie explains why life is good outside the awards show bubble.

Best Advice

Best Advice from Carrie Baker

Canada Goose’s chief of communications and chief of staff on overcoming pitch anxieties, how not to present to the president, and changes to PR.

Best Advice

Best Advice from Tony Matta

The president of Nestlé Coffee Partners on the value of award-winning creative, and the importance of being a hand-raiser.

Guest Column

Liberals stand up in Quebec ad campaign

Messaging could provide Liberals a smart, strategic positioning in the province—if they stick with it, says Eric Blais.

Guest Column

The Les Usherwood Award: turning the ephemeral into the indelible

The concept of creative legacy can be tricky to grasp, but the best work remains timeless, says BRIAN HOWLETT.