Podcasts by The Pivot with Ken Evans

Season 7 Greatest Hits with Ken Evans, Jelena Lazarević and Jacob Robinson from 2023-11-17T17:21

...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 o...

S7:E10 Supporting Local Media in Canada with Sarah Thompson of dentsu Canada from 2023-11-08T13:44

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...

S7:E9 Bill C-18 and News in Canada: A Closer Look from 2023-09-20T12:33

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 l...

S7:E8 Year-round Pride and Allyship with Dean Lobo of The 519 (he/him) from 2023-06-27T18:50

Dean is a seasoned communications specialist with a decade's experience across radio, television production, print and digital news, strategic communications, and media studies facilit...

S7:E7 Exceeding Our Goals with Jill Burgin and Aisha Mayne from 2023-06-21T13:24

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. L...

S7:E6 Getting Ahead of Crisis with Anne Marie Aikins (she/her) from 2023-03-30T14:09

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 ...

S7:E5 Writing the Book on AI with Mohit Rajhans from 2023-03-07T14:25

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 insta...

S7:E4 Diving Deep into Media with Brett Chang from 2023-02-16T14:47

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?...

Greatest Hits: Exploring the mindset of younger generations with Sabaa Quao from 2023-01-09T14:39

The Pivot Greatest Hits: As we launch into 2023, we bring to you a past Season 4 conversation with Sabaa Quao, Chief Creative O...

S7:E3 Exploring Inclusive Cultures with Dr. Sofia B. Pertuz and Therese O’Higgins from 2022-12-07T13:00

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 ...

S7:E2 Behind the Pixel of Digital Out-of-Home Advertising with Scott Mitchell and Debbie Benadiba from 2022-11-16T12:00

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 Deb...

S7:E1 True Sports Development with Matt Young and Paul Beirne from 2022-11-02T12:00

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...

Teaser: Introducing Season 7 of The Pivot with Ken Evans from 2022-10-26T14:27

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Season 6 is a wrap! from 2022-04-07T12:21:02

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 t...

The CMO and their many faces from 2022-03-17T12:16:36

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 d...

Roku: The Next Frontier of Advertising from 2022-03-03T11:00

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 t...

From grass roots movement to social enterprise from 2022-01-27T21:02:05

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 fo...

Innovation through resilience from 2021-12-16T14:30

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 sch...

Growing your brand with experiential marketing from 2021-12-02T15:10:26

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 di...

Understanding the Intersection between Cybersecurity, Communications, and Public Trust from 2021-11-18T15:38:42

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....

Connecting With Constituents in a Digital World from 2021-11-09T13:00:14

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 com...

From Humble Beginnings to Gluten-Free Pantry Staple from 2021-10-21T11:00

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 Ton...

A Deep Dive Into the Craft of Storytelling from 2021-10-07T11:00

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 ...

A Deeper Dive into Real Estate Marketing from 2021-07-22T11:00

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 c...

Fostering Inclusion and Diversity from 2021-07-08T11:00

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...

The Pivot – Lisa Covens from 2021-06-17T11:00

As the world continues to move towards increased accessibility and reliance on technology, the best marketers are looking at changing trends and reliable data to better cater their strategies to...

In the “Now” of Leadership from 2021-06-03T11:00

In a year that has brought on new challenges for industries across the globe and completely changed the way we work in teams; has the way we lead changed? And what does it take to be an effectiv...

The TikTok Generation from 2021-05-13T19:10:05

In the past year and a half, the growth of TikTok has been explosive, with Generation Z dominating its user base. Many have turned to TikTok as their main source of entertainment during the pand...

A marketer’s role in DEI efforts for brands from 2021-04-01T17:32:37

Some may have the perception that the “marketing” of DEI initiatives is – by default – performative… but is it?

As discussed in previous episodes, marketers and communicators need to have...

Communicators as the conscience of a brand from 2021-02-11T12:00

Any brand’s effort to gain public trust and maintain its reputation is a never-ending cycle, and if the last year has taught us anything, its that communicators need to have a seat at the table....

Learning&Unlearning: How to be an ally for the LGBTQ2S+ Community from 2021-02-10T12:00

True diversity and inclusion are about genuinely listening to others while unlearning negative stereotypes towards certain people groups that society presented us with. We sat down and spoke wit...

Keeping up the dialogue on DEI from 2021-01-28T12:00

When thinking about initiatives to foster a more diverse and inclusive workplace, it’s promising to see that it’s become more of a priority for brands and organizations. The ongoing conversation...

Why we need mentors, especially now from 2021-01-14T12:00

Representation matters. No matter what industry, having diverse voices and leaders shows there’s a path to leadership for all. When it comes to mentorship, there’s a ton of value in having young...

An e-commerce experience like no other from 2020-12-10T12:00

In the spirit of staying connected to the wider world (as we continue to stay put in our ever-shrinking ‘bubbles’), Ken re-tells his story of a recent online purchase from Nigeria-based menswear...

The realities of juggling side hustles from 2020-11-26T17:06:39

In this episode, Ken is joined by his friend and Toronto-based actor Oscar Moreno.

As an actor, Oscar has juggled multiple side gigs in between auditions – something very common ...

Why location data matters from 2020-11-12T16:56:28

There’s a lot to consider when going through the home buying process, one of the most significant being location. Location not only impacts price, and the scale of the investment, but also quali...

Exploring the mindset of younger generations from 2020-10-29T11:00

Today, marketers are being stretched like never before. Not only are they trying to sustain brand relevance in this crisis, but they are now tasked with navigating entrenched social issues that ...

Delivering an effective education experience in the COVID-19 era from 2020-09-17T11:00

Well before the COVID-19 pandemic, education technology was gaining rapid influence with educators, policy makers, students and parents. Now, in the midst of an unpredictable pandemic, the relev...

Arts in the time of COVID-19 and Black Lives Matter from 2020-09-03T11:00

As a society, we have spent considerable time lamenting the brutal impact the coronavirus has had on specific sectors - and there's a lot to lament. One key industry that has been reeling is the...

Catering to the e-commerce demand from 2020-07-16T11:00

The growth of eCommerce has been immense during the pandemic. From retail to alcohol, online sales have skyrocketed to all time highs, leaving many organizations scrambling to keep up.

In...

Office design with empathy in mind from 2020-07-02T11:00

In recent weeks, we’ve seen companies such as Twitter and Shopify announce their workforce will continue to work from home either full time or in a modified fashion permanently.

However, ...

Distilling collaboration in a time of need from 2020-06-04T11:00

For brands to go through an extreme organizational pivot, it usually takes several months. But when the pivot is in support of a greater community, one ravaged by an external force affecting mil...

TEASER: The Pivot 2.0 from 2020-05-21T11:00

The COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly brought new challenges to brands, and now there isn’t a brand or marketer who isn’t pivoting in fundamental and in some cases radical ways. Be it restaurant...

Will-building in the digital age from 2020-04-30T11:00

In the age of robo-advisors, same-day shipping and ordering lunch through an app, the birth of digital has allowed brands to provide convenient and affordable solutions to simple tasks. Now that...

It’s time to integrate art and science from 2020-03-12T11:00

To connect with a brand, consumers need to buy into the message and its image. The two go hand-in-hand - If one of these components is missing, the impact of the other is lost. The focus of all ...

A lesson in rebranding, taking risks and keeping heritage from 2020-02-27T12:00

When asked by people outside of our area of expertise, "What really drives you professionally?” most communications and marketing pros would say, "A client or project where you can create real c...

Exploring the retail conundrum with BDO from 2020-02-13T12:00

A decade ago, Canada’s retail landscape revolved around the decision to invest in eCommerce and find that balance between bricks and mortar and online. It has since shifted into manufacturing pr...

What’s next in Canada’s cannabis sector from 2019-12-19T12:00

Canada's cannabis sector has been fascinating to watch over the last 13 months as a fully legal and regulated sector. From the peak investor highs to the on again and off again rollout of the re...

Nailing down brand identity through design from 2019-11-28T12:00

Design, and designing with branding front and center, are fast becoming a vital part marketing and brand image. It can be both immensely in your face while also sophistically subtle and nuanced....

A discussion on disruptors and their mindset from 2019-11-14T14:28:42

Experimentation, authenticity and humility. Wealthsimple sets an example of what marketers can achieve when they know who they are and have a clear vision of what they want. Despite disrupting t...

The risks and rewards behind Toronto’s Fun Guy execution from 2019-10-31T11:00

Suddenly as a marketer, the stars align, the clouds part and everything comes up roses. That was certainly the experience of New Balance when they globally signed Kawhi Leonard, who went onto wi...

A discussion on transparency and reputation management from 2019-10-17T11:00

Many believe that public relations and marketing can be two different but complementary practices, but merging the two together builds a better brand. Communicators must use their power of story...

A new era of influence from 2019-09-19T11:00

Circumstances related to transparency, editorial integrity and ethics, are now shifting the whole ground within the influencer category. For brands and agencies, the way in which they work with ...

Don’t dictate data and insights from 2019-09-05T11:00

With the increasing access to data, it’s no wonder insights have become the fuel for just about everything in communications and marketing. From market polling to algorithm-based insights, data ...

Finding the right tone and personality for your brand from 2019-08-22T11:00

For many brands, selling a product or service can be purely transactional and straightforward – but it doesn’t have to be. When it comes to strategy for retention and new business leads, it’s im...

Understanding AI in communications from 2019-08-08T11:00

In the world of communications and marketing, we have no option but to learn, adapt and apply new techniques and technologies. In PR, we've evolved into integrated communication practitioners, t...

Ruckus Makers 9: Comedy and Community Management from 2019-07-25T11:00

In this special edition episode of The Pivot recorded at the latest Ruckus Makers event, host Ken Evans chats with comedians Barry Taylor and Dena Jackson, Jacqueline Waters of the Royal Ontario...

Take a risk already from 2019-07-11T11:00

To be all things to all people is to ultimately be generic. And to be ultimately generic is the essence of risk aversion. In this episode, Ola and Mathieu of Hershey Canada delve into brand auth...

New face of change management from 2019-06-27T11:00

Marketing touches many different areas of a business and in the future it’s clear that the problems companies face are no longer siloed by business unit. Be it a bank, a courier company or a ret...

The balance between art and science from 2019-06-13T11:00

Data and science only played a little role in the marketing industry in the early 1990’s as art and creative lead marketing strategies until the digital disruption and democratization of media. ...

The Pivot returns in June 2019 from 2019-05-09T15:57:07

Over the course of our first season, we’ve explored what modern marketing looks like, how the industry has changed over time and how those who are willing to pivot from conventional marketing st...

Defining your personal brand in the digital-first economy from 2019-04-25T20:33:45

Journalism isn’t what it used to be. With shrinking newsrooms, newspapers closing its doors and a shift to a digital-first economy, more and more journalists have had to adapt to the new order. ...

How crowd sourced cannabis data is redefining patient care from 2019-04-11T11:00

For canna-curious marketer, Jessica Moran, Director of Marketing and Communications at leading North American cannabis intelligence company, Strainprint – legalization has proved to be the oppor...

New tactics to curate and report quality Canadian content from 2019-03-28T11:00

While many mourn the death of traditional media, David Brown, co-founder and co-editor of The Message, reinvents the wheel to tactfully amplify important Canadian stories and profile thriving ma...

Cannabis: why customer-centric education is on the rise from 2019-03-14T11:00

While the tobacco, pharma and alcohol industries have had more than a century to mature, integrate and capitalize in global markets – an entirely new beast emerged on October 17, 2018. You guess...

Values-based branding strategies for B2B from 2019-02-28T16:36:31

With more tools, platforms and ways to engage – the marketing playbook has quickly become a thing of the past. Maliha Aqeel, Assistant Director of Brand, Marketing & Communications at EY isolate...

A decade of disruption: the evolution of Canadian ad-agency models from 2019-02-14T12:00

The ad-agency model has endured drastic structural shifts over the last decade due to the rise of third-party influencers, social, digital and paid initiatives. Terry Drummond, Co-Founder of the...

Letting go of convention to maximize profit from 2019-01-31T12:30

For CMOs in a rut, class is in session! David Soberman, Professor and Canadian National Chair of Strategic Marketing at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management, dissects the succ...

SickKids’ $1.3b fundraising supernova: VS Limits from 2019-01-16T19:12:48

In 2016, SickKids Foundation launched the largest fundraising effort in the history of Canadian healthcare. Lori Davison, Vice President of Brand, Strategy and Communications at SickKids Foundat...