There was a time when it looked like virtual reality (VR) would never be able to shake its clunky image. From the release of Nintendo’s Virtual Boy in 1994 to Google’s low-price headset, Google Cardboard, it was hard to hear about a new iteration of VR without the additional point of ‘unfulfilled expectations’. Despite numerous rollouts from various tech giants promising that the next release would ‘finally’ nail VR, the technology continued to be viewed as not much more than a gimmicky gaming accessory. However, perhaps we had the wrong idea about VR all along. Instead of thinking about VR h ..read more

When your organisation is gearing up for a rebrand, it can feel like you’re walking a tightrope. How do you balance maintaining your current brand’s presence while preparing for a new identity? The journey of rebranding is intricate, requiring a nuanced approach to PR and communications that keeps your audience engaged and prepares them for change – all without losing momentum. Here’s how you can navigate these waters safely. 1. Maintain continuous engagement First and foremost, it’s crucial to never hit the pause button on your PR and communications. Completely halting your outreach can ca ..read more

The first Monday in May isn’t just any old Monday. If you’re like me, you live for the thrill of staying up all night, watching celebrities pose in avant-garde haute couture. You deliver scathing commentary on off-theme attendees like you’re the editor of Vogue. You search for the story in every outfit. What am I talking about? It can only be the Met Gala. From a reputational standpoint, the Met Gala is fascinating. A large number of people don’t understand its purpose, because the dominant focus is on the red carpet. Yet, it’s often described as the event of the year. To answer the burning ..read more

The term ‘FemTech’ was coined by Ida Tin in 2016 (Co-Founder of Clue), just eight years ago. As I write this, my Word Document doesn’t even recognise the word, giving it a firm underscore in red. So, safe to say it’s pretty new to the scene. But, like every different flavour of technology, it did not just spawn out of thin air and its roots go back a long way. In the 1800s, for instance, women began using diaphragms for contraception. And prior to this, whilst maybe the word ‘tech’ can’t be applied, there was certainly a lot of – shall we say – ‘creativity’ in how women prevented pregnancy, o ..read more

In September 2020, Wrexham AFC, a little-known Welsh football team, burst onto the mainstream when out of the blue they were bought by an unexpected duo. They were playing in the fifth and lowest tier of the English football league system at the time, having suffered decades of neglect and decline. The duo in question were world-famous movie star Ryan Reynolds, and (as the joke goes) his lesser-known TV-star sidekick, Rob McElhenney. This month they secured their promotion to League One, their second successive promotion, putting them in the third tier and back on the map of relevance. On t ..read more

Everyone wants to be involved in exciting and relevant conversations. Think back a time to when you’ve been with a group of friends, and they’re excitedly discussing a TV show you haven’t seen. You likely felt excluded, perhaps even compelled to watch the show just to take part in the conversation. As those in PR know well, companies are no different. Everyone wants their company to be in the limelight, so naturally, they gravitate towards getting involved with newsworthy topics of the moment. While it can be tempting to throw your company’s name in the hat in the hope of getting the right ..read more

A reputation can be described as the intangible essence of your organisation, shaped by the perceptions of everyone from employees to shareholders, customers to prospects. But what exactly does that mean in practical terms? I’m just about to embark on my first cruise, so it got me thinking: is there an analogy to be drawn between reputation and the art of sailing? Well, in the vast and often turbulent waters of the business world, organisations must navigate through ever-changing currents, unpredictable storms, and shifting tides. Just as a ship relies on its rudder, captain and team to s ..read more

The recent strikes by the Screen Actors Guild‐American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry, but their impact extends far beyond Hollywood. The strikes began on 14 July 2023 as the actors’ union and AMPTP (the representative body for film and television studios) could not settle on a new contract. This strike also coincided with the Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike, and so Hollywood was at a standstill until a deal was finalised on 9 November. The actors were fighting for multiple changes throughout the industry, with ..read more

“Potato!” Ah, right, my two-year old wants that mash potato she didn’t finish earlier, I better go get it. “No, potato”, she says again but pointing at her craft box. “Oooh, you’re asking for your Play-Doh.” I wasn’t listening intently enough, and instead heard what I wanted to hear – her wanting more of the wonderful meal I prepared, of course! Miscommunication and misunderstanding are part and parcel of life. They happen often, and if corrected in good time, no big deal. But what happens when there’s a communication breakdown that is left unaddressed? The relationship breaks down ..read more

We often consider translation to be at the heart of communicating across borders. You take a piece of content in one language, often English, and translate it into another – French, German, take your pick. But then, what happens when a word isn’t translatable? And what about local cultural context? A viral clip of an Irish rugby coach leading La Rochelle through France’s Top 14 competition got me thinking about this very topic. For leaders, and the organisations that they represent, translation is often just the first step of a longer journey. So, how can tech companies build upon translati ..read more