Global Thinking

How to Communicate Impact in Private Investment

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 02:29:40 +0400

In this episode, Kekst CNC’s Monique Perks and Oliver Buckley are joined by our friends from impact investment firm Blue Earth Capital: Nicolas Muller, Managing Director and Head of Funds & Co-investments, and Amy Wang Managing Director and Head of Private Credit.

They discuss the realities of balancing social and environmental considerations with generating attractive returns; the difference between impact investing and ESG, and some of the biggest misconceptions about impact investing; and the necessity of proper communications in the impact investing space.

How Fortune 100 CEOs Post on LinkedIn

Thu, 07 Sep 2023 03:22:18 +0400

In our final deep-dive conversation into market-specific findings from our Global CEO LinkedIn Tracker, Kekst CNC Intelligence experts Antonio Ortolani, Claire O’Connor, and Michael White discuss in detail how the Fortune 100’s "Social CEO" behaves on LinkedIn, including a consideration on how much investment executive communications teams should put towards video, and what it means now that LinkedIn is becoming the de rigueur social media platform for leaders.

To download the full Kekst CNC Global CEO LinkedIn Tracker, visit: https://www.kekstcnc.com/insights/kekst-cnc-global-ceo-linkedin-tracker-communicating-in-a-year-of-economic-anxiety-war-in-europe-and-climate-fatigue

How to Take Control in Media Interviews

Wed, 05 Jul 2023 06:43:03 +0400

Media interviews can be a high-risk, high-reward endeavor for leaders. While outlets offer a large platform to communicate a vision, gather sentiment on major change, or just generate much-needed goodwill, even the most minor gaffe during an interview can lead to notoriety.

In this edition of Kekst CNC’s Global Thinking podcast, executive communications experts Dominic Reynolds and Jemima McCrystal join host Monique Perks to discuss recent examples of leaders trying – and sometimes failing – to command the tone and outcome of media interviews, including Elon Musk’s headline-grabbing clash with BBC journalist James Clayton; TikTok CEO Shou Chew’s recovery after a contentious congressional hearing; and the departure of CNN CEO Chris Licht.

How FTSE 100 CEOs Post on LinkedIn

Thu, 04 May 2023 06:00:28 +0400

In our first deep-dive conversation into market-specific findings from our Global CEO LinkedIn Tracker, Kekst CNC Intelligence experts Amelia Putt, Ana Rocha, and Michael White discuss how the UK's "Relatable CEO" behaves on LinkedIn, from their fondness for authenticity and connection, to surprising findings on how audiences are reacting to (or ignoring) sustainability content.

How (Not) To Resign

Thu, 13 Apr 2023 06:19:24 +0400

When it comes to communications, so much of the focus is on the high-profile entry: the new hire announcement, the major acquisition, the latest product. But when it comes to resignations, is there an art to the perfect goodbye?

Kekst CNC’s leadership communications experts Dominic Reynolds and Jemima McCrystal sit with Global Thinking’s Monique Perks to discuss the dos and don’ts of your last communication to your peers, your teams, and in many cases the public at large, with examples ranging from the exit of Manchester United’s Alex Ferguson to Bob Iger’s famous farewell interview, surrounded by the spoils of his acquisitive legacy at Disney.

To read more on How (Not) to Resign, read our latest Impact Insights newsletter on the subject: https://www.kekstcnc.com/insights/how-not-to-resign

The Surprising Voting Patterns of Gen Z in Sweden

Thu, 09 Feb 2023 00:36:09 +0400

In the land famous for social democracy, feminism, and Greta Thunberg, it came as a surprise to many when last September Sweden's first-time voters moved towards the parties on the right of the political spectrum: the center-right moderates took the largest share among Sweden's Gen Z voters, followed by the far-right Sweden Democrats.

To discuss the unexpected results, their ramifications across the EU, and the lessons they hold for corporates, Eleanor Cavill is joined by Kekst CNC Stockholm Senior Associates Beatrice Backman and Jakob Hammarskjöld for the latest episode of Global Thinking.

Five Defining Leadership Moments of 2022

Wed, 21 Dec 2022 16:41:18 +0400

To wrap up the year, Eleanor Cavill sits with Robin Pagnamenta, Franziska Wissig, and Dominic Reynolds to discuss the most significant leadership moments of 2022 in politics, global affairs, and sports -- poorly aged World Cup predictions notwithstanding.

Understanding the Communications Opportunity with Reddit

Thu, 15 Dec 2022 17:32:46 +0400

Despite touting over 390 million monthly visitors to its site, businesses often assume Reddit is not a channel they need to engage with. In this episode, Reddit’s Kyle Rogers and Kekst CNC’s Amelia Putt discuss the opportunities and challenges for businesses when diving into the world of Reddit, from reaching an untapped market to gaining in-depth reputational insight.

Transitioning to a Net Zero Future

Mon, 03 Oct 2022 08:15:42 +0400

The world has committed to a net zero path, setting ambitious goals for 2050 as part of the Paris Agreement. Yet while many companies over recent years have made bold commitments to change the way they do business, it’s often not clear how they’ll achieve their targets.

So, how do leaders tell a coherent story to demonstrate that their company is adapting to this future? How can they bring their employees, investors, and other key stakeholders along with them? And how will the role of communicators adapt?

Global Thinking host Eleanor Cavill is joined by Mark Campanale, Founder & Executive Chairman of Carbon Tracker, and Oliver Buckley, Director at Kekst CNC, to discuss a variety of topics concerning the journey to net zero, including opportunities on the path to a low carbon future, the pace of the transition, and expectations for next month's COP27.

Conservative Leadership Debates - Who Came Out On Top?

Tue, 02 Aug 2022 21:23:05 +0400

As Tory leadership decide who will replace Boris Johnson as UK Prime Minister, policy matters are not the only consideration at hand. Much of the conversation around the recent Conservative debate surrounds how effective Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss were at communicating their potential as leaders to the public.

Global Thinking host Eleanor Cavill sits with Kekst CNC leadership communications expert Dominic Reynolds to discuss what he saw in the candidates' use of body language, storytelling, and the rise of the food metaphor in the UK's political dialogue.

Keeping Employees Engaged (Part 2)

Wed, 11 May 2022 20:54:17 +0400

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)

Wed, 11 May 2022 20:50:05 +0400

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

Tue, 18 Jan 2022 14:37:02 +0400

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 12th 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

Thu, 27 May 2021 18:05:29 +0400

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

Thu, 06 May 2021 16:05:31 +0400

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?

Mon, 12 Apr 2021 12:03:18 +0400

In our 9th 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?

Thu, 18 Mar 2021 14:16:10 +0400

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

Thu, 17 Dec 2020 14:33:47 +0400

The ‘blue wave’ that many pundits predicted would come in the early hours of November 4th 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

Wed, 18 Nov 2020 15:24:56 +0400

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

Fri, 28 Aug 2020 13:38:44 +0400

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.

Cyber Crisis Preparedness in a Remote Working World

Tue, 04 Aug 2020 18:17:08 +0400

In our latest episode our host Dominic Laurie is joined by David Emm, Principal Security Researcher at Kaspersky Labs, Hans Allnut, Partner at DAC Beachcroft, Raf Sanchez, International Breach Response Manager at Beazley and Kekst CNC partner Ben Curson, who share their take on the changing landscape of cyber security.

COVID-19 has displaced workforces and offices. The ever-changing environment, rife with fear, continues to create the ‘perfect storm’ for the cyber criminals poised to strike. In this episode our guests discuss the vulnerabilities that have been exposed by remote working, now many are operating without the supporting office infrastructure we are accustomed to. They examine the notion that crises must be dealt with in person, and how the status quo and our dispersed workforces can actually play into the successful management of a crisis, albeit remotely. They discuss why prevention is better than a cure, exploring why companies must seize this opportunity of unscheduled change to adapt working practices to improve their cyber security. Listen here to find out more, and why investing time and resources in staff training means they become the unsung heroes in the fight against cyber security issues.

Approaching the Asian Media – An Insider’s Guide

Mon, 06 Jul 2020 18:38:38 +0400

Asia’s unique media landscape is often deemed an unfamiliar territory for Western audiences. Drawing on our global network, in our latest episode host, Dominic Laurie is joined by colleagues from across our Asian offices in Japan, Hong Kong and China, who share their insights and experience of their home media and the landscape they operate in. Jochen Legewie, Partner and Head of Kekst CNC’s Japan office, Senior Consultant Minako Otani in Japan, Partner and Head of the firm’s Hong Kong office Daniel Del Rey, and Consultant Nicole Liu in China offer their take on the unique world of Asian media, exploring the significance of etiquette and engagement, and the behemoth that is social media.

Listen here as they delve into differing work practices, the fundamental importance of relationship building, and why you may want to think again before sending the Japanese media your press release.

Reporting the news during the COVID-19 pandemic

Wed, 03 Jun 2020 14:29:39 +0400

In this episode, our host Dominic Laurie is joined by Joe Miller, Frankfurt Correspondent for the Financial Times, Nadine Hani, Senior Business Anchor at Al Arabiya based in Dubai, and Suryatapa Bhattacharya, who is a financial markets reporter with The Wall Street Journal in Tokyo. They discuss how the nature of a story has changed, the stresses of the move from physical to virtual newsrooms, and how this crisis has changed the face of news for the future.

Covid-19: The People’s View

Tue, 12 May 2020 14:40:10 +0400

In the first episode in Kekst CNC’s new podcast series, Dominic Laurie, a former broadcaster at the BBC and now a Director in the London office is joined by our global research experts to talk about the latest findings in our regular tracking survey about public attitudes into COVD-19.