The Pivot with Ken Evans

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 to reach audiences where they are, how can we tap into these moments where many are already paying attention? In this episode Ken is joined by two experts from Roku, an APEX PR client, to discuss the state o...

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 formal communications seemed to ignore marginalized groups and failed to address the concerns of less privileged communities. With this in mind, Samanta founded the On Covid Project, a community intended to s...

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 schools and how can they recover from it. In the latest episode of the Pivot, she talks about how children and teachers are affected and sheds light on how our mental health has changed over the course of the...

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 dive into the world of ecommerce marketing and learn what it takes to change consumer buying habits for big-ticket purchases like mattresses, traditionally bought in store. Sarah gives us an inside look in to...

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. He quickly realized there is a gap in the public's knowledge on how to protect themselves from cybercrimes and the importance of cybersecurity. Ritesh joined us on The Pivot to share his knowledge about maximizing the benefits of technol...

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 community advocate, Toronto City Councillor Brad Bradford has harnessed the power of social media to create a solid connection with constituents from all different backgrounds. However, addressing complicated and nua...

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 Tony Ayala, President of Queen Street Bakery. With a background in finance and a passion for food, Tony brought Queen Street Bakery products into 1000 grocery stores across Canada, and 200 in the US. Tune in to hear...

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 Story Compass! Storytelling is key for businesses to achieve their objectives and Colleen shared some great tips on connecting with your target audience to get your key message across. The most important ta...

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 company created with the mission of streamlining access to marketing content across the real estate industry for photographers, agents, and brokers. With a strong background in entrepreneurship and photography, Bra...

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 black, people of colour, indigenous and/or LGBTQ2+ can feel a sense of belonging and genuine inclusion. This does not just mean having a seat at the table but having valuable input. What steps have these o...

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 towards target audiences. How has research changed since the world shifted to increasingly more virtual spaces? Find out in the latest episode of the Pivot, where Ken is joined by Lisa. Lisa Covens is Vice Pr...

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 effective leader today? In this episode we are joined by Alain Hunkins to open the curtains on leadership in 2021. Alain is the CEO of Hunkins Leadership Group and recent author of Cracking the Leadership Code: Thr...

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 pandemic, and now brands are starting to catch on.   Angela Nader, Head of Beauty and Luxury Partnerships at TikTok joins us in this episode to discuss how brands can be successful on the platform, the companie...

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 a seat at the table, this is especially relevant when it comes to DEI efforts. How can brands effectively tap into the expertise of marketers when it comes to marketing DEI? Tune in as we discuss this and more wi...

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. As we continue to navigate a global pandemic and ongoing social justice issues, marketers and communicators have risen to the challenge in an effort to adapt to the situation quickly, and help inform decis...

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 with trans advocates and educators Angel Glady and Virgin Mariana Cortes from The Milkshake Sisters to learn more about what inspired them to launch their LGBTQ2S+ training program.

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 of DEI will only lead to tangible change – and we remain optimistic it will lead to more representation of diverse voices. In this episode of The Pivot, we chat with Cam Gordon, head of communications at T...

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 professionals of diverse backgrounds having a mentor who looks like them and may have shared similar experiences. And for this to happen, we need platforms that bring people together to share their experie...

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 line, Russell Solomon. The customer experience from the brand was both unusual and exceptional – what started out as a purchase from the website, resulted in a conversation via Instagram DMs between Ken an...

  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 in the entertainment industry. Tune in to hear his stories on the realities of juggling side hustles since moving to Canada from Columbia, his acting career, auditions in the COVID era and his hopes in seeing more Latin...

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 quality of life. So how can technology play a role in the decision making process when it comes to enhancing our quality of life? After all, technology has transformed the way in which real estate is build, boug...

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 no campaign will ever do justice to. But if we look to generation Z, and even generation alpha, there is some hope. Generation Z are confident creators and less burdened with self-conscious expression, but...

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 relevance of the sector has exploded globally. The pandemic has accelerated the need for a virtual learning experience across all levels of education. In this episode, we're joined by Nick Stein, CMO of Top Hat,...

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 arts and entertainment industry. The television and movie production sectors in Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal have been dormant since March. Theaters have been empty, and actors have nowhere to perform,...

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 this episode, Corina Pardo of Sombrero Latin Foods discusses the logistical challenges her team faced while shifting their business from supplying restaurants, to delivering their products directly to consumers t...