Category Archives: PR Insights

Poll: Have the Responsibilities Changed Between Agencies and Brands?


The dynamic between large agencies, brands and the service providers they work with  might be shifting. Are large agencies stepping away from the “project manager” role and starting to favor the end client working directly with third-party organizations? Are brands preferring to manage the projects in-house? In this short video, D S Simon Media CEO Douglas Simon speculates on possible explanations. What’s your take?

Torod Neptune’s Paladin Awards Speech


The PRSA Foundation announced in March that Lenovo’s Chief Communications Officer Torod Neptune would be the 2019 Paladin Award Honoree. The honor goes to one communication professional every year who has made a “significant and measurable impact on the advancement of Diversity and Inclusion in the public relations sector”.

During the evening, Torod gave a speech emphasizing how nobody truly accomplishes anything “on their own”, which is why he felt so reluctant to accept the spotlight. However, he appreciates the opportunity to motivate further change in the industry, and emphasized the importance of not just talking about D&I, but making real decisions and changes to advance the industry in the right direction.

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Candid Thoughts from PR Pros on Diversity & Inclusion in the Industry


PR Pros from Advancement Project, Hilton, LinkedIn and KPMG gathered at the 2019 Paladin Awards to discuss D&I, the theme of the evening. Chris Keuchenmeister, SVP of Communications at PepsiCo, moderated the panel, sparking conversation regarding successful D&I initiatives as well as stories of perspective regarding being a diverse talent.

The panel featured Cedric Brown, Digital Campaign Strategist at Advancement Project; Natalie Godwin, Director of Global Corporate Communications at Hilton; Imani Greene, Senior Communications Leader at LinkedIn; and Christina Tso Metz, Director, Corporate Communications for KPMG.

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How The Advancement Project Works Helps Organizations Improve D&I


Cedric Brown, Digital Campaign Strategist, Advancement Project spoke with Douglas Simon, CEO, D S Simon Media at the Paladin Awards. Key points included steps being taken to improve D&I at their organization, among partners and how individual employees can make a difference. Cedric was also featured in a panel of diverse professionals, where he got to continue his discussion of the impact various environments with different levels of diversity had on his career.

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You Don’t Need To Have D&I In Your Title To Make An Impact


Natalie Godwin, Director of Global Corporate Communications, Hilton spoke with Douglas Simon, CEO, D S Simon Media at the Paladin Awards. Key points included steps being taken to improve D&I at their organization, among partners and how individual employees can make a difference. Natalie was also featured in a panel of diverse professionals, where she and others had the opportunity to share their unique perspective and personal stories. A key takeaway from her thoughts is that everyone in an organization can make small decisions that add up to creating a more diverse and inclusive environment.

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What Is LinkedIn’s Approach To Building An Inclusive Work Environment?


Imani Greene, Senior Communications Manager, LinkedIn spoke with Douglas Simon, CEO, D S Simon Media at the Paladin Awards. Key points included steps being taken to improve D&I at their organization, among partners and how individual employees can make a difference. Imani was also one of four featured in a panel of diverse professionals, where she shared stories and reiterated the view she’s taken from LinkedIn—Diversity and Inclusion requires a third aspect, Belonging.

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2019’s Paladin Award Honoree – Torod Neptune


Torod Neptune, CCO, Lenovo and 2019 Paladin Award Honoree spoke with Douglas Simon, CEO, D S Simon Media at the Paladin Awards. Key points included steps being taken to improve D&I at their organization, among partners and how individual employees can make a difference. Later that evening, Torod accepted the Paladin Award. Speaking to those in attendance, he explained that he owes the honor to all those in his life who have supported him. He also emphasized the progress made in PR industry on the D&I front, while energizing the crowd to continue to take action and make improvements any ways they can.

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