Smart in Public

In this holiday special episode of the Smart in Public podcast, the Katies discuss their top PR campaigns in 2024, like Mastercard's wheelchair ball kid initiative, Dove's Face of Ten campaign, and the rise of women's sports. The conversation also touches on the US election campaigns and notable PR disasters, all while sharing personal anecdotes and insights about the importance of networking and self-awareness in the industry. 00:00 - Holiday Cheer and Podcast Introduction02:45 - Reflecting on 2024: Top Moments in PR05:52 - Innovative PR Campaigns: Dad Shift and Wicked09:01 - MasterCard's Wheelchair Ball Kid Initiative14:55 - Dove's Face of Ten Campaign: Addressing Tween Skincare17:56 - Celebrating Women's Sports: A Growing Movement21:00 - Jaguar's Controversial Ad and Its Impact23:59 - Jojo Siwa's Rebranding Journey32:18 - Lessons from CEO Interviews: What Went Wrong?40:42 - Reflections on Personal Growth and Professional NetworksConnect with us on: Instagram TikTok Web Have a topic or a guest idea? Email us at hello@smartinpublicpod.com

This week the Katies welcome Tarla Lambert-Patel, co-founder of Agenda Media, parent company to Women’s Agenda, Women’s Health News, The Crux podcast, and The Keynotes app. In this episode, they discuss the challenges of independent publishing and the importance of addressing women's issues in media. Tarla also shares tips for PR professionals who are looking to pitch and build campaigns around women's issues, curating event content with a publisher that delivers impact, and why International Women's Day shouldn't be the only time your company speaks out to support women.You can listen to the Women's Agenda podcast here: https://womensagenda.com.au/podcastsSkippers Paradise:01:39 - Tarla Lambert-Patel's Journey and Women's Agenda05:27 - Identifying the Gap: Women's Agenda's Mission07:43 - The Freedom of Independent Publishing10:02 - Challenges of Independent Publishing in Australia12:37 - Impactful Stories and Interviews15:28 - Navigating Sensitive Topics and Building Trust17:45 - Working with PR: Building Meaningful Stories20:22 - The Saturation of International Women's Day22:27 - Building Brand Partnerships Effectively27:25 - The Impact of Remote Work on Parents34:31 - Addressing Women's Health Issues in the WorkplaceAbout Tarla Lambert-PatelTarla is the co-founder of Agenda Media - parent company to Women’s Agenda, Women’s Health News, The Crux podcast, and The Keynotes app alongside her business partner, Angela Priestley. Across their mastheads, they engage more than a million Australian women every month and have achieved this as a wholly independent, women-owned and run entity. Tarla is also the editor-in-chief of Women's Agenda, Australia's leading online news site championing women in their lives and careers and she co-leads a team of exceptional journalists and producers. Women's Agenda has been in-market for 11 years, and was launched by Private Media in 2012 as a key career resource for women. Since then, it’s been established as a genuine staple in the Australian media landscape, covering everything from business, tech, and politics through to lifestyle, finance and leadership. It is the go-to news source for thousands.Connect with us on: Instagram TikTok Web Have a topic or a guest idea? Email us at hello@smartinpublicpod.com

It's a predictions episode, people! In episode 15, the Katies discuss industry trends, predictions for the year ahead, and best practices for 2025 communications program planning. Episode Timestamps00:00 - Introduction to the Podcast and Recap of Previous Episode04:43 - Reflections on Industry Layoffs and Support13:47 - Best practices for your 2025 communications program planning 32:20 - 2025 Communications Trends and Predictions35:52 - The Impact of AI on Communications43:55 - Dumb in privateConnect with us on: Instagram TikTok Web Have a topic or a guest idea? Email us at hello@smartinpublicpod.com

In episode 14 of the Smart in Public podcast, the Katies explore the evolving role of the Chief Communications Officer (CCO) and the importance of succession planning in communications. They discuss the rise of CCOs in the C-suite, the new 'CCO plus' role that encompasses a broader range of responsibilities, and the skills needed to prepare for a CCO position. The conversation also delves into the recent Jaguar rebrand and the controversial ad campaign that sparked discussions about brand strategy and audience engagement.Episode links:Axios Communicator ArticleSign up for the Axios Communicators Newsletter  Timestamps02:43 - The Evolving Role of the Chief Communications Officer (CCO)10:14 - Succession Planning in Communications19:22 - The Future of Communications Teams and CCO Responsibilities26:53 - The Importance of CEO-Communications Partnership29:19 - Analyzing Jaguar's Controversial Ad Campaign33:59 - Shifting Brand Identity and Audience Perception36:49 - Speculation on Jaguar's Future StrategyConnect with us on: Instagram TikTok Web Have a topic or a guest idea? Email us at hello@smartinpublicpod.com

If you're looking for an episode that feels like you're eavesdropping on some random gals chatting next to you, this hodgepodge of an episode is the one for you. The Katies have had some manic work schedules lately, so we thought we'd use this time to share some items that are top of mind. Do we talk about PR? Sure. Will you laugh more than you learn in this episode? Likely. We're just happy to be here, honestly. So grab a sandwich and a glass of wine and enjoy our happy ramblings. We'll be more productive next week, we promise!Episode Timestamps00:00 - Introduction and Life Updates05:57 - Adapting to a New Industry12:00 - Work Travel Experiences, Tips, & Self Care28:00 - The power of the PR community and ideas to bring Smart in Public listeners together32:13 - Looking Ahead: Upcoming Guests and Future PlansConnect with us on: Instagram TikTok Web Have a topic or a guest idea? Email us at hello@smartinpublicpod.com

In this week's episode, the Katies welcome Matt Fairhurst, co-founder and CEO of Skedulo, to the pod to discuss the partnership between a founder and a comms team. Fun fact: this episode isn't just for Comms people. It's also a great one to listen to if you're a founder wanting to explore how and when to bring comms support into your business, and identify the best strategies to improve your communications style as a leader. Topics include:How internal communications is critical for founders to maintain alignment and culture.Technology shifts that create opportunities for new businesses and communication strategies.How effective communication requires trust and transparency between leaders and teams.Company culture is a reflection of the founder's personality and values.All hands calls and their ability to provide a platform for transparency and team engagement.How storytelling enhances the memorability and impact of communication.How different cultures have varying expectations for communication styles and performance.Building relationships with external consultants can provide valuable perspectives.Communication is a skill that can be developed over time through practice.Leaders must adapt their communication style as their company grows and evolves.Episode time stamps:02:44 - The Impact of Technology on Business05:39 - The Importance of Internal Communications08:21 - Navigating External Communications10:56 - The Role of Transparency in Leadership13:33 - Building Company Culture Through Communication16:11 - The Value of All Hands Meetings19:01 - Storytelling as a Communication Tool21:54 - The Role of External Consultants in Communication24:40 - The Value of External vs. Internal Collaboration26:42 - Building Trust and Access in Consulting28:49 - Cultural Differences in Communication31:20 - Adapting Communication Styles Across Borders36:01 - Personal Anecdotes and Lessons LearnedConnect with us on: Instagram TikTok Web Have a topic or a guest idea? Email us at hello@smartinpublicpod.com

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the PR team at Intuit as we dive into this all too familiar case study focused on executive training, expectation setting, and article amendments. We'll dive into the various fallouts that can stem from a CEO interview, the importance of context when navigating article amendments, new ways of thinking around executive and journalist preparation, and what we would have done differently in the situation. It's a tough but critical topic for any PR person who manages the C-suite.Episode time stamps:1:14 - Case Study: Intuit and The Verge Interview4:35 - Analysis of Intuit's PR Response9:43 - The Importance of Executive Preparation14:40 - Navigating Media Relationships and Expectations20:57 - Preparing for Executive Interviews24:12 - Handling Unexpected Questions26:54 - Understanding the Journalist's Perspective28:17 - The Role of PR in Interview OutcomesConnect with us on: Instagram TikTok Web Have a topic or a guest idea? Email us at hello@smartinpublicpod.com

We’ve been getting a lot of listener emails – some with episode topic requests and some with quick questions. For this episode, we thought it would be fun to read the quick questions and answer on the fly! Hear our experiences and views on media accountability, navigating a PR career when you move internationally, the definition of comms and the role it plays throughout a business, and some PR horror stories that won't get us fired.Episode Timestamps:2:51 - Media accountability and journalism5:36 - Navigating career transitions when moving internationally8:37 - The definition of Communications and PR11:26 - PR horror stories and industry challengesWe'd love to hear from you. Email us with topic requests, questions, or feedback at hello@smartinpublicpod.com.Connect with us on: Instagram TikTok Web Have a topic or a guest idea? Email us at hello@smartinpublicpod.com

It takes a special leader to lead an agency and do it with heart and soul. In this episode the Katies are joined by Amanda (Mandy) Galmes, Managing Director and Managing Partner ANZ for Sefiani Agency, part of the Clarity Group. Mandy dives into all things agency talent, hiring, helping clients tell their stories - particularly around the growing field of responsible business - and the challenges with doing exec comms in this current climate. Episode timestamps:00:54 - Mandy's Journey into Public Relations04:30 - The Importance of People in Agency Work08:04 - Transitioning to Sefiani Agency12:12 - Sefiani's Approach to Strategic Communications13:09 - Agency Leadership and Client Relationships15:21 - Nurturing Young Talent in the Agency21:02 - The Evolving Landscape of Communications Education32:02 - Responsible Business and Media Challenges35:41 - Navigating Media Interviews and AuthenticityConnect with us on: Instagram TikTok Web Have a topic or a guest idea? Email us at hello@smartinpublicpod.com

This week the Katies welcome one of Australia's leading technology reporters and editors David Swan. David's currently the Technology Editor for The Age and Sydney Morning Herald, and was previously Technology Editor for The Australian newspaper. In 2024 he was awarded Australia's best technology journalist at The Lizzies, Australia's national IT Journalism awards. In this episode, we explore the relationship between comms people and media - including when we get it right and when we get it wrong. We also discuss some of the differences between US and Australia in terms of execs and media, David’s style of writing and journalism and his hot take on some of the recent CEO interviews that have made headlines.Episode Overview w/ Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction to David Swan and His Career Journey02:52  - The Challenges of Modern Journalism05:32 - A Day in the Life of a Technology Journalist08:03 - Navigating PR Relationships and Pitches10:47 - The Importance of Storytelling in Journalism13:35 - The Role of Fundraising Announcements16:06 - Cultural Differences in Journalism: US vs Australia18:42 - The Impact of Celebrity Access on Stories21:29 - The Importance of Genuine Communication23:51 - Reflections on Memorable Interviews26:48 - Advice for PR Professionals Pitching to Australia29:01 - Handling Tough Interviews and Executive Preparedness31:41 - The Personal Impact of Fatherhood on WorkConnect with us on: Instagram TikTok Web Have a topic or a guest idea? Email us at hello@smartinpublicpod.com