Laura Tannenbaum

I had the pleasure of interviewing Fiona Wallis, former Head of People at UK scale-up Oddbox and one of my oldest Rhodes JMS (School of Journalism and Media Studies) friends. We chatted about the importance of PMI’s best kept secret: COMMUNICATION. Without employee buy-in and alignment, even the best strategies can falter. Fee's take? M&A is not just about numbers - it’s about people, because winning their trust is key to unlocking the deal’s full potential. Here are Fiona Wallis's key pieces of advice on PMI: Align culture and values early. Integration succeeds when the acquired team understands and accepts the new company's culture. Clear communication of the vision and benefits is key. Prioritise communication. M&A is about people, not just numbers. Regular, open communication helps employees feel included and understand their new roles. Address team diversity. Acquired teams are diverse, with different needs. A tailored approach ensures smoother transitions and better engagement across all levels. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/di77jT2X

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If you're a Twitter/X user, what has your recent content feed looked like in the last 6 weeks? My personal experience* has been a transformation from largely football-based (transfer rumours, Euros) & ad tech commentary, to an incredibly polarising stream of divisive posts. It's horrible. I think this is because I've been searching for trending news & topics around the elections, Olympics & the recent riots. So... 1) Has Twitter always been like this? Have I been sheltered from this hateful content but my recent searches has prompted dynamic inclusion of similar content? 2) Are Twitter now more aggressively pushing this vitriol into our feeds because they know that the 'shock' factor promotes further engagement? Looking at Musk's recent posts suggests this. Balanced viewpoints have no place on Twitter it seems. I refuse to believe that the feed on my screen is representative of our population. But I imagine that many people will have even more hate & disinformation dominating their feeds - leading them to develop the opinion that everybody around them harbours these extreme views on islamophobia, anti-immigration, transphobia. The internet needs to become a kinder place. How do we do that without the ability to govern content? How do we hold platforms to account? *views are my own

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The leisure industry is changing 🏌‍♂️ 🥂 🎳 Find out how competitive socialising is reshaping the industry:

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As ever an insightful article in The Media Leader regarding the GB News and Ofcom situation from Ray Snoddy There is a possibility that GB News are actively undermining the right wing vote by adding to the split between the Conservatives and Reform, thus helping Labour. The presence on GB News of Nigel Farage, a vocal critic of the Conservatives, will reinforce this rift. If so, the losses that Ray refers to in the article will have been even less well-spent.

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Something you might not know about Mischief: we have access to all of MHP Group's behavioural science insight and expertise. Our work may be a little bit naughty, but at least its backed by science 😈 #strategy #prstrategy #behaviouralscience

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Having read this…   BBC News - More people turning away from news (https://lnkd.in/eHsxdvqV) …it's clear that people are choosing to avoid the news and from feeling overwhelmed or fatigued with the news cycle.   If the news broadcasters choose not to change the emphasis of the content they'd like us to consume, we can choose for ourselves.   Along with choosing to avoid the negative, why not choose to actively seek out the positive. I find it energising and creatively inspiring to hear about good people and groundbreaking projects. Wondering where to start?   Choose…   Positive journalism Positive.news Goodgoodgood.co   Positive individuals David Heiatt - The Chicken Shed Chronicles is my favourite weekly newsletter https://lnkd.in/eQiMursA Per Hakansson - Love the simple mantra of fewer better things https://lnkd.in/eSEe8Jjc Positive organisations Nesta - An innovation agency for social good https://www.nesta.org.uk/ Poscasts The Hidden 20% - Inspirational people who think differently https://lnkd.in/emQeQ5sf At work Make a point of celebrating good news, innovation, breakthroughs, hurdling hurdles and achieving good things. https://lnkd.in/gPKGmJJz   Curating a more positive news feed has had a direct impact on my mood and my approach to life and work. Why not track your mood and give it a go (https://moodapp.io/). It's not always easy but it is a choice.   Enjoy your day   #positivenews #choosegood

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How to admit soiling yourself while successfully arguing writers should retain their dignity in the creative process 😃 💩 Only the inimitable Dave Harland could make such a case. And he's right. So much about AI copy generators focuses on the output – what we CONSUME: is it better than humans (yet)? But all that misses the point of the creative process – how the writing is PRODUCED. AI is a useful tool. But it can't replicate the plethora of incidents and accidents (hints and allegations) that make up individual human experience. Like the one Dave had on his school trip to the Jorvik Viking Centre. #Copywriting #AICopywriting #Writing #ChatGPT

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🚨Pitch Positive Pledge only works when its two way…how can we expect clients to learn better behaviours if we don’t teach them. Behaviour change takes years of undoing and nudging towards the end goal. 💡It’s important and OK to say no if those behaviours aren’t observed. More importantly let the client or intermediary know why you have declined and what they could do better next time. It’s not a game of stick or twist…positively we are trying to do this every day Publicis Media Starcom but it’s a collective and considered decision. Our people 🙌 need to come first and that’s where it starts. Second, third and fourth is every other factor.

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Spotify have launched a “Q4 is Calling experience”, a three-day takeover of London's iconic red telephone boxes, to ring in the start of the festive season on Spotify. The activation aims to highlight the huge opportunity for brands to reach their audiences through Spotify Advertising across key Q4 moments including Black Friday, the Festive Season, and the New Year. Spotify’s Q4 Activation Guide revealed insightful data around the festivities: • It’s not just the festive music that starts early – consumers are planning, and even buying their gifts as early as October with 1 in 4 Spotify users starting their festive shopping during this month. • 80% of Spotify users streamed music while Christmas shopping and 2 in 3 Spotify listeners streamed podcasts while Christmas shopping. •57% of Gen Zs say brands who advertise on Spotify tend to be trustworthy. What do you think about Spotify's first venture into OOH marketing? 🎄 #ALMarketing #Spotify #OOHMarketing #Q4

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KWINKIDINK RECORDING! Were you unable to make it to the live stream? Fear not. We now have a recording that we can share! Simply use the link below to donate £10, send us a screenshot of your payment confirmation and we will send you the recording! If you bought tickets to our live stream but would still like a recording, the cost is only £5! All profits going to Mind 💚 https://lnkd.in/ef6Ta__5

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When your client drops you a line to say that your Meta Ads work has contributed to their brilliant sustainable British vodka achieving its highest ranking on Amazon since launch...cheers to that! 🍸 Me: celebrates, then immediately starts to think about how we can push this product even higher up the ranking and get it to No.1! Brands: keep telling your employees/freelancers/agencies they're doing a good job. Positive feedback keeps a workforce happy and boosts innovation and motivation. It's a win-win. #MetaAds #PaidSocial #PositiveFeedback

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The birth of our men’s mental health campaign✨✏️ When it came to brainstorming ideas for our spec ad, we knew we wanted to create something truly impactful, something that would resonate with people on a deeper level. We threw so many ideas around, but, as an in-house project, so many ideas didn’t feel right- they didn’t feel like they were our stories to tell. One topic that kept coming up a lot was mental health. As something that had touched us all to some degree, it felt like the right choice- a topic we could understand, empathise with, and do justice. This choice was so different from our first spec ad, which was a brand promo for Salomon's walking boots, set in the Peak District. While that absolutely showcased our creativity and ability to tell a story, this one delved so much deeper into human experience and raw subject matters. Once we were committed to the topic, we poured our heart and souls into crafting a message and storyline that would hit home. If we were going to tackle a topic like this, we knew we had to do it right. And now, here we are, with a campaign video we couldn’t be more proud of. It was a project born from passion and empathy, with a hope to make a difference to even just one life. I really hope that this can continue to spark meaningful conversations, break down barriers, and inspire a positive change. Let’s truly listen. https://lnkd.in/ed6WBNNM #mensmentalhealth #specad #inspiration

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Please join me for this webinar - I doubt you could ask for insights from two better placed, market-leading, award-winning B2B Editors, who have driven the success of their subscription-led businesses. Catrin Griffiths Alastair McLellan

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What does it really take to stand out in London’s packed leisure scene? Here’s how we're helping clients keep customers engaged and coming back for more: 1️⃣ Exclusive Membership Perks: Offering a loyalty program or exclusive access to events for members can build a strong community around your brand. 2️⃣ Seasonal Events & Activations: Keep things fresh by hosting regular themed events, from seasonal pop-ups to unique collaborations that draw attention. 3️⃣ User-Generated Content Campaigns: Encourage your customers to share their experiences on social media. This not only creates buzz but also builds credibility and trust. What’s your go-to strategy for driving engagement at your venue? 💭

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👏 Today PRWeek x People Like Us shared the results of their fourth gender and ethnicity pay gap study for the PR sector. They secured their highest number of entrants to date, though with a notable continued resistance from the largest agencies to take part. With the help of Labour’s plans of new legislation to make ethnicity pay gap reporting mandatory, they may not have a choice. Good. Well done to Sheeraz Gulsher, Mike Levaggi and John Harrington for their tireless push to help make our industry more inclusive. 👀 We’re so proud to be a part of this initiative to allow agencies to demonstrate their yearly progress. We like to be transparent so here's how Shape History did: - Gender: Women are paid 100% of the mean average, and account for 68% of senior staff and 67% of the workforce. This has given us a 2024 score of 100/100, compared to 97/100 last year. - Ethnicity: Those from ethnic minority backgrounds are paid 96% of the mean average, and account for 37% of senior staff and 43% of the workforce. This has given us a 2024 score of 96/100, compared to 97/100 last year. Transparency around pay gaps is such a crucial step in addressing race and gender equity in the workplace. If you want to chat/brainstorm about any of this - initiatives that can help or challenges and how to overcome them - let me know! https://lnkd.in/eZPjUKmb

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At AFFINITY Group, our new Growth Accelerator positioning isn’t just about driving business success — it’s about sparking a broader conversation at the highest levels. By aligning the vision of CEOs and CMOs, we’re empowering leaders to implement changes that deliver measurable impact and sustainable growth. Ready to see the difference this approach can make for your business? Let’s talk. Have a read of our chat with Mediaweek Australia:  https://lnkd.in/g4vT3Up3 #GrowthAccelerator #PotentialRealised #AFFINITY 

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💡We've been fortunate enough to have some amazing guests on Status Update since we launched the podcast last year, and our latest episode with Toby Addison is without doubt one of the most unique and insightful conversations we've had. 👉🏼 We set out to answer the question: "Are brands doing enough in their diversity and inclusion efforts, or is merely just a tickbox exercise?" It also allowed us to hold a mirror up to our own activity at Disrupt Marketing. 🔗 Links for the podcast in the comments - available everywhere! #statusupdate #podcast #creatoreconomy #dei #influencermarketing #digitalstrategy

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 🔔 PSA: The early bird entry deadline for the Prolific North Marketing Awards is 2nd July.    In case you missed it, these awards are the North’s flagship marketing event, where we shine a spotlight on the most incredible teams, campaigns & leaders from across the industry.    🏆 33 categories   👩‍⚖️ 20 independent judges  🍾 1 bloody good party Got something or someone you want to celebrate this year?   Save yourself the stress of running around last minute (and some cash) by getting your entry started this week.     👇  Link in comments to browse all the categories (give us a shout if you have any questions) #Marketing #MarketingAwards #ProlificNorth

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Who needs information when you have advertising? The OOH mavens say the great thing about outdoor is it can't be skipped, blocked avoided etc. But you know what? If people want to skip, block and avoid your ads, well, eventually they'll figure out a way (see below), even with outdoor. People love great content, which sometimes happens to be advertising... https://lnkd.in/eahAmPtt

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