This week on Pontoon’s Reimagine Now podcast, Shannon Robertson, Podcast host and Director of Strategic Insights at Pontoon, discusses the transformative power of naturopathic medicine within corporate settings with Dr. Julie Hwang, CEO and Clinic Director of Aurum Medicine and Wellness Corp. Dr. Julie's innovative methodologies revolutionise conventional wellness programs, integrating a holistic approach to achieving both personal and professional excellence. She talks about the foundational principles of naturopathic medicine and illustrates the importance of person-centric education and the far-reaching impacts of preventative strategies on corporate productivity. Listen as Shannon and Dr. Julie explore mental and emotional wellness in the workplace, emphasising the need for nuanced approaches that cater to individual employee needs and progress metrics that guide successful implementation.

Quotes

• "Stress management doesn't sound preventative. It's like someone is stressed and then we treat it. But what would be a preventative way to approach that is to talk about mental health earlier on and start to educate employees about what they have access to in terms of support. A lot of times they're not willing to be vulnerable with their colleagues or in professional environments, and I think that's good… if there are ways to educate the employees about, not just the advantage of using those, but also demonstrating the benefits of using those therapies, that might be a low cost to them, already covered under insurance, that's a great place to start. I usually suggest that if businesses have the bandwidth for mental health already there, that they should emphasize that because that will get people also over the hump of starting to invest in their health and well-being.” -Julie Hwang [09:03]

• “We're seeing a big need for more integrative and holistic ways to support mental health. People are starting to recognize from a functional medicine perspective, this is a big part of our work. The premise of it is the gut brain access. So connecting the mind and the gut, the digestion, but bringing in multiple ways to support mental health, I think that's going to be necessary moving forward." -Julie Hwang [34:32]

Key Topics

• Applying naturopathic medicine's foundational principles within corporate wellness can significantly affect productivity and well-being.
• Preventative strategies such as sleep optimization, nutrition, and stress management are essential for creating a healthy workforce.
• Education and personalized health management are crucial for employees to understand and take charge of their wellness.
• The connection between gut health and mental well-being is a critical aspect of holistic health in the workplace.
• Corporate leaders should exemplify holistic health practices and create an environment that prioritizes employee well-being.

Timestamps

(01:51) Applying naturopathic medicine principles to improve workplace wellness

(10:31) Addressing the mental and emotional aspects of workplace wellness

(18:50) Challenges in implementing workplace wellness programs

(27:16) The role of nutrition in workplace wellness

(34:32) Trends in corporate wellness

(44:03) The role of corporate leaders in promoting holistic health within organizations

(46:30) Leading by example: taking vacations and focusing on wellness

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Pontoon Solutions

This week on Pontoon’s Reimagine Now podcast, Shannon Robertson, Director of Strategic Insights at Pontoon and host of the podcast, explores the ever-evolving realm of influencer marketing with social media extraordinaire Laurie Ferraro. Laurie has cultivated a successful career as a social media influencer, harnessing the power of online platforms to shape personal branding and foster corporate collaboration. Shannon and Laurie discuss the profound impact of digital transformation on human resource management and corporate engagement strategies. They also discuss the need for a strategic fit between influencers and products, the role of genuine interest in product endorsement, and the simplicity of communication processes for efficacious influencer marketing campaigns.

Quotes

• "The most important thing is to find the influencer who is the right fit for your product or your brand. This is probably one of the most common mistakes I see. Brands partnering and aligning with influencers who might have a large following or a beautiful aesthetic, but that doesn't necessarily fit their brand messaging. And then of course you're not going to have a successful outcome from that or potential not to have as successful of an outcome. So the right audience demographic for your product allows you to directly speak to your target market.” -Laurie Ferraro [01:41]

• “It takes time and commitment and consistency with any type of messaging in the marketing and advertising world to gain success, that applies to the influencer industry as well. So I think in terms of overcoming those challenges, I think research in terms of finding the fit is just vetting your influencers, knowing the industry, and it takes time. You get to know the different corners of social platforms and prioritize long term relationships. It's always about managing expectations and expectations that are realistic." -Laurie Ferraro [21:59]

Key Topics

• The alignment of influencer values and brand messaging is paramount for successful marketing collaborations.
• Authenticity and audience engagement are crucial in distinguishing effective influencer campaigns.
• Viewing corporate life through the lens of "employee influencers" offers unique, relatable insights for potential hires.
• Influencer marketing is particularly potent for reaching niche audiences, with long-term partnerships enhancing product familiarity.
• There are specific challenges and misconceptions in influencer marketing, such as immediate result expectations and creative control that businesses need to navigate.

Timestamps

[01:27] Integrating influencers into your marketing strategy

[04:12] Building long-term relationships with influencers for greater success

[08:49] Impact of influencer marketing on talent acquisition and recruitment

[13:59] Crucial metrics for measuring influencer marketing success

[19:01] Utilizing micro and nano influencers for niche markets

[21:33] Overcoming challenges: research, long-term relationships, managing expectations

[27:03] How to balance transparency with brand aesthetics in influencer partnerships

[28:28] Connect with Laurie

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Pontoon Solutions

Shannon Robertson

This week on Pontoon’s Reimagine Now podcast Shannon Robertson, Director of Strategic Insights at Pontoon, speaks with Brandon Mina, CEO of Xemoto Media, and Vanessa Garro-Peeters, Vice President of Customer and Partner Success. Shannon, Vanessa, and Brandon discuss the impact of influencer marketing on talent acquisition and recruitment. They highlight how companies are using social media platforms to curate their public personas and attract top talent. Influencer marketing is no longer just about product promotion but also about shaping employer branding and company culture. By partnering with influencers, companies can showcase their authenticity and create a sense of belonging for potential employees. Listen as Shannon, Vanessa, and Brandon share how companies can navigate ethical considerations and ensure transparency when working with influencers.

Quotes

• “I think ultimately we're seeing a strategic shift where recruitment is synonymous with brand building. Companies are curating their public personas on social platforms, ensuring that their mission and culture resonate with a much broader audience. And this isn't just about tapping into a talent pool. It's really about creating an aspirational brand that top talent naturally gravitates towards.” -Brandon Mina [02:01]
• “I think social media has done a phenomenal job at giving a voice to minority groups that otherwise wouldn't be seen or heard. I think that there is visibility for companies. So it's not just we say that we have a mission, let's see it. Let's see the people who are representing your company and so they have to fulfill those mission statements.” -Vanessa Garro-Peeters [15:07]

Key Topics

• Influencer marketing is reshaping talent acquisition and recruitment by creating aspirational brands that attract top talent.
• Companies can use influencers to showcase their authenticity and create a sense of belonging for potential employees.
• Influencer marketing is transforming traditional onboarding and training processes, making them more interactive and relatable.
• Influencer marketing plays a crucial role in promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion within organizations.
• Companies must navigate ethical considerations and ensure transparency when working with influencers.

Timestamps

[02:01] Influencer marketing's impact on talent acquisition and recruitment

[06:43] Future trends in influencer marketing for HR professionals

[09:24] Leveraging influencer trends to enhance human capital development

[12:57] Using social media to authentically represent skills and talents

[15:07] Influencer marketing and diversity, equity, and inclusion

[21:41] Impact of social media on workplace culture and communication

[24:03] Navigating different generations' use of social media

[26:15] Talent acquisition, employee advocacy, and culture

[26:44] Insights and strategies for navigating human capital in a digitalized world

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Pontoon Solutions

Shannon Robertson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-elizabeth-robertson/

Brandon Mina: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandonmina/?originalSubdomain=ca

Vanessa Garro-Peeters: