Especially Relevant in Thriving, Culturally Diverse Vancouver
VANCOUVER, Canada – As the advertising, marketing communications and media landscape continues to experience drastic change, the notion of fusion, of empowering agencies by blending cultures, ideas and disciplines, is critical to business success.
Over three days starting May 15, members of the ICOM network of independent marketing communications agencies will gather at their annual world meeting to hear what others are doing in the network to stay ahead of the game. Other important topics are the rapidly changing technology sector, what leadership is, how great teams and organizations pull together, and teamwork tactics.
“As independent agencies, we all know that working together helps us realize much greater potential,” said Bob Morrison, ICOM board chairman and CEO of member agency Morrison in Atlanta, USA. “We continuously help strengthen our members by deepening the skills and expertise within the network. By doing so, ICOM brings people around the world closer to brands through connected thinking.”
The meeting is hosted by Rethink, a top B2C Canadian creative and digital agency, which handles some of Canada’s most recognizable consumer brands and considers its name its one-word business model. Rethink executives Tom Shepansky, founding partner, and Glen Chalcraft, managing partner – business, in the Vancouver office, will open the meeting by welcoming their agency partners from all across the globe.
"Vancouver is a city of diversity surrounded by a unique natural setting. This rich blend of cultures and nature make it the perfect location to host this year's ICOM conference with the theme of “The Power of Fusion," said Chalcraft.
During the conference, principals and senior managers of ICOM agencies will share their observations of the industry from the good and bad news to the opportunities that lie ahead. They will talk about what each of their agencies will be doing differently this year and what their business priorities are for 2019.
Shepansky said, "It's always been a part of Rethink's culture to draw inspiration from all sorts of areas, both inside and outside of our market and industry. With a wide range of speakers and a network from around the world, the ICOM conference is a great venue to get inspired and uncover new business opportunities."
Among the guest speakers is Steve Clayton, chief storyteller and head of innovation, culture and stories team at Microsoft. He will talk about how communications and storytelling supporting a new business strategy and new corporate culture of business and culture change has been an integral part of accelerating the growth of the company.
Another guest speaker David Mead, partner of best-selling author Simon Sinek’s “Start with Why” team, will talk about how great teams and organizations pull together and do remarkable, rewarding things. “When we create an environment where people feel like they belong and operate in a ‘Circle of Safety’ the result is trust and collaboration—allowing people to spend their time and energy working together toward a higher cause that inspires them, rather than spending their time and energy protecting themselves from each other,” he said.
With a speech entitled, “Teamwork Tactics - Read between the Lines,” Frank Wolf, wilderness adventurer, expedition leader, filmmaker and writer with an environmental focus, will discuss how to successfully achieve goals by emphasizing the strengths of peers.
Rethink’s own Morgan Tierney and Leia Rogers will share what “Change Proposals” (CPs) are and how Rethink creates and applies them to drive agency culture while also making positive change. Marie Lunny, group account director, Rethink, Toronto, and Amanda Forgione, COO, Morrison, Atlanta, USA, will discuss how they are managing recent global account wins.