Now in its fifth year, Kite Hill’s industry event series Communications Week® concluded its annual conference with successful events in New York City, Toronto, Chicago, London and Hamburg. Founded in NYC, 2018 was the first year the event expanded globally.
The 2018 theme “Workforce of the Future” was addressed at each event, discussing the most pressing issues in each marketplace. Our New York City events kicked off at Blender Workspace, featuring speakers from companies such as Business Wire, Away and Johnson & Johnson, as well as executives from agencies such as Ruder Finn, Ketchum and Kite Hill PR.
Speaking to the future of the PR, media and marketing industries, sessions examined not only the tools and skills needed to be successful in our industry, but the kinds of people and talent companies will continuously want to attract and retain. Sessions dove deeper into the importance of building a healthy and trustworthy external relationship with partners and vendors, and how these relationships will result in better quality work and a more engaged workforce. As covered in PRWeek, our “Workforce of the Future” event stressed the importance of PR professionals not only being an expert in their space, but making efforts to better understand marketing and other business departments.
The week continued with events at Viacom’s Sky Square Amphitheater, including our “The Human Factor” conference which looked at holding a closer lens to the people-centric issues that will impact the future of the PR industry. Sessions addressed how leaders can encourage a low-stress environment while setting up their teams for success. Executives from companies such as WHOSAY, Bloomberg, Thrive Global, MSNBC & NBC News, among others, addressed pressing industry issues such as the importance of creating and fostering a diverse culture and work/life integration.
Communications Week® continued across the pond with London’s event, “Meeting the Needs of Next Gen Talent.” With a panel discussion led by our own UK VP Tom Kirkham, the event featured panelists from companies such as Luminous PR, ICCO, PRCA, Reuben-Sinclair, The PR Networkand Women in PR UK. The panel dove into the challenges we face as an industry in attracting and retaining a talented workforce. The conversation then shifted towards the importance of positivity in PR. Panelists shared insights and tips not only on how we can make sure we are promoting the positives of PR, but actionable ways we can ensure we are living out these values in our own workplace.
Communications Week® once again brought together top talent to discuss how we can improve our industry, as well as how we can better ourselves as professionals. As our fearless founder and CEO Tiffany Guarnaccia, also the founder of Communications Week®, shared with attendees, "Take control and manage up. You're in control of your own universe."
- Kara O'Donnell, Senior Account Executive