Global Thinking

Keeping Employees Engaged (Part 2)

With many companies pursuing ambitions to return their employees to work, the question of how to navigate these new dynamics of the employee experience naturally arises. How do companies maintain a sense of continuity and connection within atomized workspaces? Is there a generational divide in how employees approach work?

To help us answer these questions, Kekst CNC’s Global Thinking Podcast is joined by Heather Andrews, Director of Employee Experience at Legal & General.

Keeping Employees Engaged (Part 1)

With many companies pursuing ambitions to return their employees to work, the question of how to navigate these new dynamics of the employee experience naturally arises. How do companies maintain a sense of continuity and connection within atomized workspaces? Is there a generational divide in how employees approach work?

To help us answer these questions, Kekst CNC’s Global Thinking Podcast is joined by Tom Goddard, Director of Communications at KPMG UK.

The Journey from Start-Up to Corporate

Much of the messaging startups craft to communicate their vision is drawn from the company’s conditions in its infancy. But how do the goals of these startups change with their transition into mid-sized and/or corporate entities, and how do they best communicate themselves to the market as they evolve? In the 12^th episode of Kekst CNC’s Global Thinking podcast, we join Alexander Kappes, Founder and CEO of Greener Crop; Julie Leblan, Founder and CEO of Merit Incentives; and Kekst CNC’s Valentina von Lutterotti, Director and RISE expert for a conversation on how startups can prepare themselves to communicate their growth and ambitions, including: best practices for maintaining media relationships, managing expectations in the market, and thoughtful ways to handle people communications as your company expands.

Digital (Dis)trust

In our 11th Global Thinking podcast episode, guests Simon Pfeiffer and Randolf Carr, Policy Advisors at the Munich Security Conference and Kekst CNC’s James Johnson discuss the findings of a recent European survey conducted by Kekst CNC on behalf of the Munich Security Conference on digital (dis)trust. The research finds that Europeans are deeply concerned about their security online and worry that their countries are too dependent on foreign suppliers of digital technologies. Tune into this episode to learn more about the research findings and implications for businesses, governments and regulators.

Middle East Insight: The Podcast Boom

Broadcast content in the Middle East is heavily regulated, regularly censored and has been quite stagnant for a while. The arrival of the podcast boom to the region has given a voice to content creators who are looking for new ways to express themselves. In our latest podcast episode, host Maram El Hendy, Senior Associate at Kekst CNC and Co-host of the podcast DXBabies, speaks with Leila Hamadeh from Finyal Media and Ramsey George from Sowt, who discuss the huge potential for diverse and cultural growth in the Middle East’s podcast space as barriers get broken down around taboo topics.

Clubhouse’s Rapid Rise in Germany – A Trend Here to Stay?

In our 9^th Global Thinking podcast episode, host Eleanor Cavill is joined by colleagues from Kekst CNC’s German offices, Victoria Jodl and Dr. Jana Edelmann, for a quick chat about the rapid rise of Clubhouse in the German market, as well as the platform’s future potential. Is the audio-only social platform a trend that is here to stay?

One Year Later: What Are the New Rules for a Changed Workforce?

In the aftermath of working from home for over a year, companies have been presented with a unique opportunity to reshape their communications within the workforce. Our host Eleanor Cavill is joined by Charlotte Eaton, Chief People Officer at OVO Energy, and Joseph Heppenstall, Group Head of Resourcing and Talent at QinetiQ, who reflect on this evolution of comms and its impact on employee wellbeing, company culture, potential for more diverse hiring and a new path forward for a hybrid work balance.

A Crisis in Polling? Looking Back at the 2020 US Election

The ‘blue wave’ that many pundits predicted would come in the early hours of November 4^th did not immediately materialise. But does this mean that pollsters were the undisputed losers of the 2020 US election? In this episode, our host Eleanor Cavill is joined by two of Kekst CNC’s Senior Advisers, James Johnson and Tom Lubbock. Having conducted focus groups with US voters ahead of the election, James and Tom have a unique appreciation of just how difficult it is to predict the voting behaviours of the American public. But why is it that the polls consistently underestimate the appeal of the Republican party? What does this mean for the future of the polling industry? And what needs to change ahead of 2024? 

The Critical Role of Data Analytics in Communications

In the sixth “Global Thinking” episode, host Eleanor Cavill is joined by Andrew Berkley, Data Science Lead, Strategic Intelligence Team at the World Economic Forum and Kekst CNC Partner and Head of Digital Engagement Lucy Cording.

Together, they unpick how COVID-19 has altered the communications landscape, the global pandemic ultimately unravelling many of the process and accepted norms. With new paths continually being forged for stakeholder and audience behavior, the pandemic has led communications professionals to reflect on and challenge their previously held assumptions.

The importance of data and insights continues to grow, as data analytics empowers users to steer communications and shape narratives. Our guests discuss why bridging the gap between data and technology and evidence-based decision making is critical for better and more informed choices, at a time where publics are demanding to see more visibility and transparency from the brands and corporations they engage with. Concurrently, the role of authenticity has never been more crucial, with the ever-rising danger of alienating ourselves as our use of data analytics increases looming in the background.

Our guests also explore how evolving and adapting as an organisation hinges on effectively deploying actionable insights. But how can impact and reach be achieved, especially in an age of heightened data restrictions and increased scrutiny over analytics capabilities? Listen here to find out more.

If you'd like to learn more about how Andrew Berkley and his team use data analytics to communicate relationships between global issues and help a global audience make more informed decisions based on emerging trends in data, please visit intelligence.weforum.org.

The Power of Narratives for Startups

In the fifth episode, our host Dominic Laurie is joined by Saeed Amidi, CEO & Founder of Plug and Play, who shares his insights from Silicon Valley’s start-up ecosystem. While most industries have come to a standstill in recent months, demand for digital companies’ offerings has skyrocketed in recent months. But what really sets successful founders apart? And what distinguishes a winning narrative from a good narrative? Join Dominic Laurie and Saeed Amidi, as they discuss the power of narratives, the impact of COVID-19 on Silicon Valley, and the single most important trait in founders.