Human connection – real, human connection is a glorious thing. This month I got to see and finally meet fellow AMA Toronto members and others in our marketing community LIVE as we gathered for our first in-person event in over two years. It was glorious and for many, it was their first public event/outing since the pandemic began back in early 2020. We have more exciting, face-to-face opportunities to share this next month and we hope to see you there.
Celebrating 2022 Canada’s Marketing Hall of Legends
Despite the cold weather at the beginning of the month, Mother Nature shone on AMA Toronto as members gathered at the gorgeous Palais Royale on Lake Ontario on May 12th to celebrate Canada’s Marketing Hall of Legends honourees. Guests had a chance to mingle in person during an intimate cocktail event enjoying the in person event excitement once again. The industry’s most inspiring visionaries, enablers, builders and mentors who’ve had tremendous impact on the field of marketing throughout their careers were celebrated by peers, colleagues and family. Additionally, the Marketer-on-the-Rise award was also handed out to one of Canada’s top up-and-comers, Marie Chevrier Schwartz, founder and CEO of Sampler.
Hosted by the AMAzing Tony Chapman – a Marketing Legend inductee himself from 2008, the evening wasn’t just about awards. Tony held a relaxed and informative round table with all the winners who shared personal stories about their road to success.
Congratulations to all our 2022 winners – Chris Lang, former chairman, Lang Partnerships Network; Zak Mroueh, founder and chief creative officer, Zulu Alpha Kilo; Brenda Pritchard, partner, Gowling WLG; Dani Reiss, president and CEO, Canada Goose Inc;. Edie Weiss, president and CEO, Radke Film Group.
A Breakfast for Champions & Marketers
On the heels of our first in person Gala we are so excited for the marketing industry to come out and connect with each other again, at our upcoming annual signature CMO Panel event on June 8th at the beautiful Westin Harbor Castle in Toronto. Our first in-person CMO breakfast in over 2 years is an annual event that sells out quickly, so don’t miss your chance to connect live and in person with some of the top CMO leaders in the industry.
Each year AMA Toronto’s annual CMO series looks to bring together leading marketing executives for a town hall conversation about the state of marketing. The event leverages the latest findings from AMA’s Biannual CMO Survey, and looks to see how these findings align with the panel of speakers.
The most recent results talk about massive rebounds in marketing hiring, the growth of internet sales as a ratio of overall revenue, and how new developments in privacy will impact how we can go to market.
Hosted by AMA Toronto’s Vice President of Mentorship, Craig Lund, the event will feature distinguished panelists such as Tracey Cooke, Senior Vice President, Marketing & Communications, Nestlé, Fatima Israel, Chief Marketing Officer, EY Canada, Jason Test, Global Vice President, Digital & In-store Commerce Solutions, Paypal and Adam Jardine, CMO, Kijiji Canada. It’s going to be an excellent opportunity to fill the mind as well as the body. Get tickets soon before it sells out!
Click, Connect & Master
Speaking of the return to in person events, sharing a few more on the horizon. Next month on June 16th, AMA Toronto will be hosting a double cohort Mentor Exchange Graduation Gala where we’ll celebrate the graduates from 2022 and the last two years of the mentorship program. Hosted by Craig Lund, VP of Mentorship, this graduation party is a highly anticipated celebration and a memorable moment that connects AMA Toronto Mentors and Mentees and Alumni. One not to miss!! Also happening in June, our friends at IABC will be hosting their 2022 IABC World Conference in New York City June 26-29th – their first return to in person events in over three years! IABC will highlight inspiring global speakers covering today’s pressing topics with a diverse education experience from experts second to none in their field who are inspiring others and leading change. As partners with the IABC, AMA Toronto members will receive a 20% discount on their conference tickets with a special promotion code. Learn more and register here. And finally on June 29th, don’t miss the last of our three part Master Connect Knowledge Series with Walmart Connect.
Brand Leadership
Speaking of mentors, AMA Toronto mentor Peter Rodriguez has had a great impact on the program and we are lucky to have such diverse and seasoned mentors like Peter who brings a +25-year career in Media, Brand, Advertising and Marketing. He runs his own company Brand Igniter, and works with top companies in Canada helping marketers who want to learn how to champion their company’s brands(and even their own personal brands!). Peter has led marketing brand strategy for many of the world’s best known brands in Canada and globally, working in senior marketing roles for tier 1 companies including Pfizer, Nestle, J&J, Smucker and Kellogg. Peter has been making waves helping others build their brands through his proprietary program called BrandMI™ which is now available digitally and includes a personal branding webinar for professionals who want to build their personal brand and improve the marketing of their profile. He has also launched BrandTips™ Knowledge For Brand Management with regular blog updates. If you are interested in hearing more subscribe here.
Marketing for Startups + a new book from Dr. Alan Middleton
At AMA Toronto, we recognize and support those marketers who want to strike out on their own, or work for startups and small businesses. There is often a totally different approach to working with small and medium sized businesses and enterprises. We are proud to announce another exciting new book by Dr. Alan Middleton, a follow up to his highly successful book on Mentorship, published by the AMA Toronto. Coming this summer, his new book building on AMA Toronto’s series to empower leadership potential, is entitled “Marketing Matters for Small & Medium Enterprise (SMEs) – Now More than Ever” and features the importance of marketing for SMEs and why Canadian organizations do not spend sufficient attention, time or money on it relative to US SMEs. The book will include 8 Marketing Planning tools along with case studies from various small and medium enterprises who have made it, like Harry Rosen, Nature’s Path, Sleep Country, and Umbra. This book will be available on Amazon this summer, and will definitely be a must read. Pre-orders are available now.
With all the celebrations this past month, it’s been quite a whirlwind but I have taken some reprieve in finishing the book entitled “Essentialism – the disciplined pursuit of less” which has been an eye opener in so many ways – a highly recommended read. Next month, I am thrilled to release more of my leadership conversation interviews with the likes of Salah Bachir, Diane Brisboise and Zabeen Hiriji. Stay tuned for more as I share their words of wisdom to help empower your leadership potential.
Cheers,
Tina
