Browsing Tag

Toronto

Behind The Brand: Canadian Football League (CFL)

Brodie Lawson

Name: Brodie Lawson

Position: Video Content Coordinator and Host

Education: Media, Information and Technoculture (MIT), Western University

Professional role models:

I have so many—too many to list! I love Katie Nolan who is hugely inspiring and represents where this industry is going—she is amazing. If you haven’t checked her out on Garbage Time on YouTube (on FOX in the USA), you should! Her stuff should be required viewing for women looking to get into sports broadcasting. For more traditional broadcasting, I look up to Sam Ponder who works on College Gameday. Her job (from an outsider) consists of working live on set with tons of fan engagement, doing in-depth interviews and sideline reporting. It’s a cool job and she kills it! She also speaks and writes candidly about working in sports, which I deeply appreciate.

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3 Campaigns That Inspired Me At Social Media Week

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Shelby Walsh Trend Hunter

Photo Source: Trend Hunter

I’ve missed the CM1 conference for community managers, so I was relieved when I discovered the Social Media Week itinerary. The first day alone featured keynote speakers from Twitter, BuzzFeed and Shopify. Drake’s friend Norm Kelly was interviewed too. Hot topics included influencer marketing, millennials and self-esteem.

Aside from professional development in general, what motivates me to attend these types of events is how much the speakers leave you feeling inspired. That was definitely the case when I heard Shelby Walsh from Trend Hunter. She talked about big data, personalization and mobile marketing by presenting several clever marketing campaigns that integrated social media effectively. They’re kind of old, but they’re all relevant, innovative and influential. Enjoy!

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Behind The Brand: Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG)

Michelle Dias

Name: Michelle Dias

Position: Marketing Manager, Public Relations & Communications

Education: Media, Information and Technoculture (MIT), Minor in Philosophy & Writing Certificate, Western University; Corporate Communications, Sheridan College

Professional role model: Sheryl Sandberg. She is the Chief Operating Officer at Facebook, an author and the “Lean In” activist. In learning about Sheryl, I see many parallels in her bold personality and ambition with myself. Her drive, work ethic and message of advocating for one’s self are traits that I have adopted in my own career.

In 140 characters or less, what is your favourite part of your job? 

Working with passionate hoteliers from across Canada to promote IHG’s brands. The hospitality industry is always open; it’s very exciting.

What are your daily responsibilities? 

My goal at the InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) is to promote our Canadian properties through creative marketing, public relations and social media campaigns. I work with a very talented corporate team across the globe and various agencies to tell the IHG story of: outstanding hospitality, marquee brands and Great Hotels Guests Love.

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Q&A With Dustin Brown, Co-Creator Of The Brief

Dustin Brown

Toronto-based advertising and communications agency Elemental recently launched a four-part web series called The Brief. Dustin Brown is a partner at the agency who co-created the series.

Why did you decide to make a web series about agency life?

We have always tried to do promotional pieces about the agency to either attract new clients or new employees, bring on new talent and [create] stuff to show our clients what we’re capable of doing. We have run some campaigns in the past and then when one of our new copywriters came on board, he was a director and had the background. I had toyed around with making a full-length series once upon a time and he had some ideas about how to do a web series, which I had never really explored. We brought these two things together and created these shorts and we just had fun with it. From there, it grew into this four-part series, which is great.

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Hotspot: Miraj Hammam Spa (Shangri-La)

Caudalie spa reception-exterior-D-1200px-sRGB

My invitation for a facial at the Miraj Hammam Spa inside Toronto’s Shangri-La hotel could not have come at a better time, as I had a chance to exfoliate my skin a few days before a portrait session.

Time flies when you’re in a luxurious and relaxing environment being pampered by a professional esthetician. The reception area was quiet when I arrived on a weeknight and inside the atmosphere was even more tranquil. The overall interior design is kind of dark, so it might make you sleepy if you go in the morning or afternoon.

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