The Pivot with Ken Evans

S8:E10 Leading social good, life-long learning and community connection with Linda Hazzan of Toronto Public Library

As the biggest and busiest library in North America, the Toronto Public Library exemplifies community and connection in ways that few other organizations, brands and institutions do. And beyond enriched book borrowing, access to physical and digital resources and quiet study spaces, the Toronto Public Library actively partners with local community organizations such as newcomer organizations, senior organizations, youth agencies supporting at-risk youth and public health. Tune in now to learn more from Director, Communications, Programming & Customer Engagement, Linda Hazzan. Visit Toronto Public Library: https://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/ [https://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/]

S8:E9 Queering Theatre with Katie Clarke

What does it mean to live outside of norms, and break, experiment and play with them? How can we push the limits of what we think we know about the world around us? Behind the power of Buddies' creative programming and yearning in bringing stories to life, it's no surprise that folks from all across Canada are making the time to see their shows and experience the essence of theater. Queering the form of theatre and queering performance art in fun and cutting-edge ways! Fact: Buddies is the largest and longest running queer theatre in the world and a central hub and cultural destination for artists and queer-trans people! Tune in as we explore these questions and more with special guest Katie Clarke (they/them), Marketing Manager at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre. Follow Katie: https://www.instagram.com/buddiesto/p/C-LlyjWylJf/ [https://www.instagram.com/buddiesto/p/C-LlyjWylJf/] Visit Buddies: https://buddiesinbadtimes.com/ [https://buddiesinbadtimes.com/]

S8:E8 The AI Revolution with Mohit Rajhans

Mohit Rajhans returns to The Pivot to discuss all parts artificial intelligence. Where we are, what we can expect and how AI adoption and practices have rapidly evolved in the race for efficiency. Mohit breaks down the opportunities from both marketing and technological lenses that teams and organizations would find useful. Also discussed: Automation disruption, co-pilots, and the Gen Alpha effect tied to AI and office culture. Teams must prepare themselves for the disruption they're going to see. The question is, how do you want to see it disrupt what you do? We're going to see cost pressures associated with infrastructure that AI has been committed to within the last three years. We have to start thinking about how different companies are using information and resources. Speed to iteration, speed to market and speed to being able to adjust to your client needs are going to be critical in the next 12-18 months. Amid the AI arms race, Deepseek is a reminder that it can be used in so many different ways that aren't as clear as initially thought. Follow Mohit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mohitrajhans/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mohitrajhans/] Mediologist, Mohit Rajhans is a nationally syndicated subject matter expert with over 20 years of experience in media, technology, and digital transformation. His unique blend of corporate and media expertise has driven his success as a media consultant, helping companies, students, and associations navigate the rapidly evolving digital landscape. Mohit contributes weekly to both national and international industry programs, providing insights on the intersection of media, AI, and content strategy. An avid film culture enthusiast, and the founder of Dadspotting.com, a platform dedicated to the parenting market. Through his website ThinkStart.ca, Mohit teaches microskills designed to help professionals stay ahead in the digital age. As the author of multiple books, including the Amazon Canada #1 Book Rethinking Your Content and Navigating the Social Media Shift, Mohit's currently finds himself working with briding legacy media to new opportunities with his program Rethinking with AI. His recent accomplishments include winning Best of the Stage in the Innovation category from Smart Meetings International and delivering a keynote on AI workflows at IBC in Amsterdam. Recognized as a trailblazer by the ReelWorld Festival, Mohit serves on the iEmmys jury and has collaborated with The Walrus to release the podcast The Future of the Internet.

S8:E7 Fuelling Business Success with Patrick Gill, Senior Director, Operations & Partnerships, the Business Data Lab (BDL)

Amid timely Canadian macroeconomic updates, we chat with Patrick Gill of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce to explore some of the present shocks and potential challenges Canada faces. From labour disruptions and technological advancement, to much-needed business investment and population changes, this is a taping you'll want to pay close attention to. As we move in 2025, we expect tension and inflationary pressures as we aim to solve our productivity problem, enhance our competitiveness and fuel Canadian business success. Through informed data analysis, we can make smarter policy-making decisions and navigate turbulence with greater grit and effectiveness. Plus: Really cool tidbits on the Canadian Chamber of Commerce's Business Data Lab, helping connect Canadian business owners and businesses to useful resources and information. And, the democratization of data, powered by artificial intelligence.

S8:E6 Luxury Retail Marketing with Wes Wolch, SVP Marketing at Holt Renfrew

In this latest installment of The Pivot, we sit down with Wes Wolch to explore the essence of luxury retail marketing, and the moves Holt Renfrew is making to transform the consumer experience. An expressive dialogue that helps us rethink how we should define and drive marketing of today and tomorrow.