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In our rapidly shaping and shifting world, there is nothing more important than strong leadership. An organization can get along without it in a status quo environment – but the moment crisis rears its head, leaders are needed. Leaders who project strength, communicate clearly and show empathy.

There’s one thing we can be sure of in volatile times: it’s not a question of “if” the next crisis will come, it’s “when”. So, building competency in crisis communications should be a priority for every company and every leader.

Understanding crisis communications management

Crisis was once a term reserved for headline-grabbing events such as oil spills, plane crashes, large corporate scandals or major economic volatility. But in today’s deeply interconnected world, information is available to many different audiences, each with their own priorities. This means something that was previously a minor issue – only of interest to people inside or close to a company – can now be disseminated worldwide in an instant, finding that audience to whom it matters most. A small slipup can impact a company’s reputation and do lasting damage, sometimes more than a major event. Accounting mistakes, social justice issues, supply chain disruptions, privacy and cybersecurity, geopolitical events and workplace dynamics are just a few issues leaders need to navigate today. And they must navigate very quickly and very publicly.

Key elements of crisis communications and management

At ChangeMakers, we focus on five key elements that leaders need in a crisis:

Vision: Communicating a clear and compelling vision for your organization. Your stakeholders – the public, employees, shareholders – need to know your continued purpose and motivation regardless of the circumstances.

Agility: Adapting quickly to ever-changing circumstances and making decisions based on incomplete or uncertain information and communicating well.

Empathy: Showing an understanding of the lived experience and responding to the needs of your employees, customers and other stakeholders. Empathy and compassion should be visible in all communication.

Resilience: Demonstrating you can manage these setbacks and maintain a composed and calm demeanour throughout, while supporting others through transparent and open communication.

Collaboration: Working quickly to use your networks to find solutions to complex situations.

With so much at risk, more should be done to prepare.

A recent poll of executives* who’ve experienced crisis events shows that:

  • 38% had not anticipated the risk.
  • 24% anticipated the risk but weren’t prepared.
  • 64% reported the crisis set their company back financially.
  • 35% reported it impacted their ability to retain and recruit talent.

Clearly, more can and should be done to prepare leaders for a crisis – before it hits. Though we can’t know specifics of tomorrow’s crises, we can strengthen our vision, agility, empathy, resilience and collaboration through rigorous and data-informed training.

ChangeMakers Training Academy

The ChangeMakers Training Academy was created to answer this very challenge. We help leaders identify and strengthen the skills needed in crisis… skills that enhance and protect your reputation and maintain and build trust throughout any crisis.

We will help you prepare for any situation through: 

  • Risk audits
  • Rigorous simulations 
  • Understanding your stakeholders and issues
  • Data-driven tools focused on protecting, promoting and evolving your reputation
  • Communicating with empathy and transparency

Reputation capital matters more than ever. ChangeMakers Training Academy prepares leaders and their teams to step up when it matters most. Change is always coming – don’t wait for it to tap you on the shoulder. Be prepared to face it with readiness and determination.

*Source: https://senateshj.com/campaigns/crisis/

About the author
Vasie Papadopoulos / Vice President, Corporate Communications
Vasie is a seasoned communications leader with deep expertise in both public and private sector organizations. Her experience ranges from developing strategic communication plans, data-driven business strategies, creating unique company initiatives to leading and training organizations and executives on thought leadership, media training, public outreach, and crisis communications in complex and highly regulated sectors. When she isn’t working, she travels photographing the world.

International Communications Veteran Jorge Ortega Joins ChangeMakers USA as Executive Vice President, Client Success

WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 10, 2025) — ChangeMakers, a leading North American communications and marketing firm focused on reputation and social impact, has appointed Jorge Ortega as Executive Vice President, Client Success and a member of the firm’s U.S. leadership team. 

A former senior leader at two multinational agencies, Ortega brings decades of experience advising public and private sector clients on CEO communications, leadership development, brand strategy, and crisis response. He will report to Robert Gemmill, President of ChangeMakers, USA.   

“Jorge is a major addition to the ChangeMakers team,” Gemmill said. “The trust he has earned from C-suite executives is evident by his deep relationships and broad experience across sectors. His leadership will be key as we grow our U.S. business and deliver the results our partners expect.”  

 Ortega joins ChangeMakers from CRA | Admired Leadership, where he served as Managing Director. He previously led Edelman’s southwest region and held senior roles at Burson. His career spans reputation strategy, brand communications, and high-stakes crisis response.  

“Jorge’s appointment reflects our commitment to building a leadership team with both insight and impact,” said Mario Simon, CEO of ChangeMakers. “His integrity and experience align with our mission to navigate complexity for our clients.” 

Ortega joins the ChangeMakers U.S. team, which specializes in helping clients anticipate and navigate complex, high-stakes communication situations.  The firm uses its proprietary Reputation Score© AI platform to inform counsel and to measure and predict reputational impact in real time. 

 “I’m eager to bring my experience advising global clients to help ChangeMakers grow and deliver meaningful results,” Ortega said.  

About ChangeMakers 

 For more than 40 years, ChangeMakers has helped organizations solve complex communications challenges by blending strategy, creativity, and insight. With more than 400 professionals across 10 locations in North America, we partner with clients to build stronger brands, navigate change, and drive meaningful impact. From corporate reputation and brand storytelling to social purpose and executive advisory, ChangeMakers brings together diverse expertise to help clients lead with confidence and clarity. 

Reputation Score© helps organizations build resiliency amidst imminent US-Canada tariffs

Built on a history of peaceful trade, defense and diplomacy, Canada and the United States have shared one of the world’s most interdependent economic relationships since the early 20th century.

A storied united front, the two countries boast the world’s longest undefended border and exchange nearly two billion dollars in goods and services daily.  

In recent weeks, these longstanding bilateral ties have been tested. Unprecedented trade turbulence from the Oval Office, with the threat of tariffs (and temporary reprieves) on Canada and Mexico, have set off a chain of panic across North America. 

While it may feel impossible to plan as an organization amidst evolving timelines, we’ve developed communications and crisis-preparedness strategies, rooted in real-time data, to prepare for what could lie ahead in this climate of economic unrest.  

To better understand the impact of these tensions and inform recommendations, our Data Intelligence team applied the ChangeMakers’ proprietary Reputation Score©, drawing insights from the fall-out around this conflict. Tracking the fluctuation in trends, habits, audience sentiment, and key developments in consumer behaviour, we examined the reputational outlook of key sectors in the three-week window following the initial tariff declarations.  

Here’s what you need to know about the reputational industry shifts, consumer reactions, and key strategies to prepare for what could lay ahead.

Cross-Border Reputation: The Power of Perception 

As expected, both countries experienced a notable dip reputationally following the announcement of tariffs.  

While Reputation Score allows brands, businesses, and executives to track their health and navigate reputation, we used this tool to understand how the threats of tariffs have impacted cross-border reputation from a geotargeted perspective.  

Digital conversations, particularly within pro-Trump communities, have fueled anti-Canada sentiment, while anti-tariff discussions have largely focused on Trump himself rather than offering support for Canada. This demonstrates how trade disputes quickly become emotionally charged, influencing how businesses and brands are perceived. 

Industry Impact: Key Sectors in Focus 

Despite a brief recovery during the 30-day reprieve, several industries have been hit reputationally as a result of the tariffs discourse. In examining the sector-specific impact, actionable strategies can be implemented by businesses within these spaces to mitigate for further risk.  

With heightened consumer anxiety, organizations must be proactive in developing communications and operational strategies that shape their narratives and prepare for potential backlash in an unpredictable policy environment. 

Consumer, Lifestyle & Tourism 

The initial tariff threat, coupled with uncertainty about its duration, has fuelled a surge in “buy local” rhetoric in Canada. Prime Minister Trudeau’s call for domestic vacations spurred a 150% increase in searches related to Canadian vacations. Similarly, Google search data shows a significant spike in “Made in Canada” queries leading up to the tariffs. 

While Canadian consumers may express loyalty to domestic brands, North America’s deeply integrated supply chain makes complete economic independence unrealistic. Businesses should expect continued emotional rhetoric but prepare for practical consumer behavior that blends patriotism with necessity. 

Actionable Strategies:  

  • Establish a clear brand narrative to navigate consumer sentiment. 
  • Scenario plan for potential tariff-related price shifts. 
  • Monitor online discourse and adapt marketing strategies accordingly. 

Agriculture 

Canada and the U.S. have long relied on each other for agricultural trade, but tariffs have sparked discussions about reducing dependence on American imports. February saw a 575% increase in social media mentions of buying Canadian agricultural goods, signalling a shift in public sentiment. 

Political rhetoric around Canada’s supply-managed sectors is also naturally intensifying. Businesses should explore new trade partnerships if possible, while strengthening domestic production. 

Actionable Strategies:  

  • Diversify supply chains when possible, to mitigate reliance on U.S. markets. 
  • Amplify real-world stories about tariff impacts to foster industry advocacy. 
  • Stay attuned to political developments that could shape future trade policies. 

Energy 

Canada’s oil and gas sector, responsible for over 60% of U.S. energy imports, faces a 10% tariff as of February 27, threatening price stability and supply chain reliability. For Canadian oil producers, this would represent a nearly US$7-billion hit to their profit. Negative sentiment around Canadian energy exports has spiked, with unfavourable opinions outpacing positive ones by a ratio of 5.5:1. 

As tariffs exacerbate uncertainty, the sector may see renewed calls for energy diversification, increased domestic investment, and stronger regulatory support for green energy initiatives. 

Actionable Strategies:  

  • Explore alternative energy markets and partnerships, when possible. 
  • Identify champions who can advocate for industry stability. 
  • Align with public sentiment by investing in energy efficiency and sustainability. 

Tech & AI 

Hard tech goods moving across the border would be directly impacted by prospective tariffs, while AI and digital services remain vulnerable to broader geopolitical tensions. The AI arms race is becoming a critical point of cooperation, with both nations keen on outpacing China’s advancements. 

Given the sector’s rapid evolution, businesses must approach AI policy with strategic foresight, ensuring alignment between corporate values and technological adoption. 

Actionable Strategies: 

  • Develop a robust AI policy that integrates security and compliance. 
  • Stay ahead of government regulations that may impact AI and cloud services. 
  • Monitor geopolitical trends to anticipate shifts in the digital economy. 

Automotive & Transportation 

No industry is more vulnerable than North America’s auto sector, where just-in-time supply chains depend on frequent cross-border movement of parts. While tariffs threaten efficiency, public discourse remains surprisingly muted—only 10% of trade-related conversations focus on the auto industry, suggesting that consumers are more concerned with direct consumer goods price increases. 

Actionable Strategies: 

  • Strengthen advocacy efforts to highlight the sector’s economic impact. 
  • Develop contingency plans for potential supply chain disruptions. 
  • Align internal teams across legal, government relations, and communications. 

Preparing for What’s Next 

As the trade pendulum continues to swing and timing remains uncertain, here’s how to stay ahead: 

  1. Anticipate long-term changes: The tariff debate is fluid, but consumer sentiment and economic behavior will have lasting effects. Expect stakeholders to be driven by the emotion of the situation and communicate accordingly. ​ 
  1. Stay agile: The ability to pivot quickly in response to new developments will be crucial for business survival. 
  1. Engage in digital advocacy: The online environment is ripe for brands to take a stance and rally support in a strategic, measured way. Create opportunities for your leaders & advocates to champion industry-wide causes.  

Amidst this volatile time, organizations must be proactive, adaptable, and ready to engage with the evolving trade landscape. Through strategic communications, supply chain diversification, and targeted advocacy, now is the time to take decisive action.   

Kenny Cameron / Senior Account Manager, Data Intelligence

With over five years of experience in public relations and data analytics, Kenny is an expert in reputation risk management and data-driven communications. Leading ChangeMaker’s Data Intelligence team in Canada, Kenny takes a client-focused approach to social listening and analysis that culminates in actionable takeaways to tackle complex communication challenges.

Rachel Cohen / Senior Account Manager,  Reputation Management 

With a passion for relationship-building and storytelling, Rachel is a trusted communicator, supporting clients through effective reputation management, crisis preparedness and brand strategy. Joining ChangeMakers with roots in the social-change space, Rachel thoughtfully advises and trains partners from a cross-border perspective on the evolving communications, as well as media landscapes in both countries.  

ChangeMakers Reputation Index Reveals the Impact of Change Events on Corporate Reputation

Washington, DC, January 28, 2025 —The inaugural ChangeMakers Reputation Index highlights the powerful connection between change events and corporate reputation, uncovering the significant positive and negative impacts of how change is managed. The annual analysis examines 25 companies experiencing five types of change events, both planned and unplanned, and finds that immediacy – both of communication and strategy when a pivot is required – plays a critical role in shaping long-term reputational outcomes. Companies that handle change effectively often bolster their reputation, while those that falter under pressure risk substantial harm. 

“In today’s environment, the highest value driver for any organization or individual is reputation,” says Mario Simon, CEO of ChangeMakers. “Preparing for, responding to, recovering from, and even harnessing significant change events is a top priority for any company. This exciting research clearly demonstrates how reputational impacts can and should be managed. Poorly communicated or delayed responses to change events can leave significant value on the table and, in extreme cases, be financially devastating. We have cracked the quantifiable code to manage that for our clients and achieve the best outcomes.” 

Importantly, the study revealed that planned business changes—such as seemingly innocuous events such as brand changes and leadership transitions—can have reputational risks as significant as those stemming from unexpected crises. 

Key Findings: 

  • Merger & Acquisition Transactions: While mergers and acquisitions often deliver a short-term boost to a company’s reputation, this positive impact tends to fade quickly among stakeholders not directly involved or affected. 
  • Brand Change: Contrary to expectations, brand changes frequently lead to both immediate and long-term damage to reputation. This is often a result of missteps in communication strategy, undermining the intended positive outcomes.
  • Financial Change: Financial changes produce mixed reputational effects, with positive or negative impacts typically short-lived. However, significant mismanagement can exacerbate negative perceptions. Notably, the absence of proactive, targeted communication with key audiences often results in muted or underwhelming reputational outcomes, even when changes are objectively positive. 
  • Leadership Transition: The reputational effects of leadership transitions hinge significantly on whether the departure is planned or unplanned. How the transition is communicated and managed plays a critical role in shaping public perception. 
  • Public Crisis: The reputational impact of a public crisis is highly contingent on preparation and the company’s ability to respond swiftly and effectively. Organizations that demonstrate readiness and transparency are better positioned to mitigate both immediate and long-term damage. 

The ChangeMakers Reputation Index establishes the new industry benchmark for measuring how companies navigate change events and underscores the importance of proactive reputation management. It is powered by the proprietary ChangeMakers Reputation Score©, which uses a wide range of sources to determine a numeric measurement of reputation in near real-time.  

To explore the full findings and gain actionable insights from the study, download the report at https://thechangemakers.com/us/reputation-index-2024/. 

About ChangeMakers:  

ChangeMakers is a 400+ person independent reputation management, social impact and marketing firm with offices throughout North America. ChangeMakers combines deep business specialization with human-centered strategies, working alongside our clients to strengthen their reputation and succeed in a disruptive world.  

About ChangeMakers Reputation Index: 

It is the most extensive review of impact to corporate and organizational reputation before, during, and after significant change events. Depending on the circumstance, reputation-altering events can be planned, unexpected, or both. This is the inaugural release of this important research driven by the ChangeMakers Reputation Score©, a unique and proprietary tool that measures brand’s reputation in real-time—mainly when the stakes are high. It analyzes data sources beyond the digital and social media space to include the most important factors to corporate executives and boards. Organizations are chosen based on our independent analysis of publicly available sources, such as industry rankings, financial reporting and market intelligence, while also seeking sector diversity.    

Media Contact:  

Caroline DeSilva /Senior Vice President, ChangeMakers 
caroline.desilva@thechangemakers.com 

In this age of disruption, change is the only constant. It is critical in this complex, competitive environment, for brands, businesses, and executives to know exactly where they stand.

Navigate your corporate reputation in real-time.

ChangeMakers Reputation Score© technology assess your organization, analyzes how competitors compare, predict reputational risks in advance, and creates opportunities for future growth.

Find out more about how we can help

BC Government – Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Training

ChangeMakers designed an engagement program seeking to gather input from people with lived and living experience of poverty across BC. To ensure accessibility and inclusivity, we built in measures including honouraria, translation and interpretation, counselling, wellness supports, and coverage of other costs such as transportation, childcare, and food when necessary. 

Expertise

Social Impact Consulting

Working with the BC Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction (SDPR), we were brought on to design and lead province-wide engagement to inform an update to TogetherBC: BC’s Poverty Reduction Strategy. As part of the strategy’s legislation, it must be updated every five years. We designed a robust engagement program seeking to gather input specifically from people with lived and living experience of poverty across BC. This included regional Town Halls, small group sessions, an online survey, DIY conversation toolkit, and other tactics including working with the Minister to host roundtable conversations. To ensure accessibility and inclusivity, we built in measures including honoraria, translation and interpretation, counselling, wellness supports, and coverage of other costs such as transportation, childcare and food when necessary. The project engaged approximately 10,000 people across British Columbia, including approximately 12% identifying as Indigenous. We crafted a What We Heard Report which will be presented to government to inform an update to the poverty reduction strategy in 2024.

Situation

Based on extensive initial engagement in 2017-18, TogetherBC, British Columbia’s Poverty Reduction Strategy, was released in 2019 and sets a path to reduce overall poverty in BC by 25% and child poverty by 50% by 2024. With investments from across Government, TogetherBC reflects government’s commitment to reduce poverty and make life more affordable for British Columbians. It includes policy initiatives and investments designed to lift people up, break the cycle of poverty and build a better BC for everyone.

Targets, timelines, and accountability for TogetherBC are laid out in the Poverty Reduction Strategy Act. This act states that the strategy is to be updated every five years. To inform the update to the strategy, the Government of BC engaged us to design, facilitate and report back on what poverty currently looks like across BC and potential solutions to addressing it from the perspective of those with lived and living experience and community members.

COVID-19, the housing crisis, climate emergencies and inflation are some major local and global events that have significantly impacted British Columbians. Government needed to understand the experiences on the ground and how these events have impacted certain populations and issues in different ways, as well as solutions that are making a difference, new programs and services needed, and where government can prioritize over the next five years of the strategy.

Problem

Since the current government in BC came into power, more than 378,000 people have been lifted out of poverty, including 104,000 children. However, much of this can be attributed to COVID-19 relief supports from the federal government, as well as other temporary measures during the pandemic. Other important actions have been completed that are making a difference in reducing poverty, but for some groups, it is still not enough and challenges remain.

Hearing directly from people with lived and living experience was also a direct mandate of this engagement, which presents major challenges requiring innovative thinking to ensure accessibility and very low barriers to participation.

Solution

We designed and facilitated a comprehensive engagement program resulting in a What We Heard report summarizing all the input from throughout the engagement period. Engagement tactics for this project included:

  • 5 virtual, regional town halls
  • 30 small group sessions, both in-person and virtual throughout BC, in partnership with community and service organizations
  • 4 roundtable sessions with the Minister
  • Online survey accessible through the GovTogetherBC website
  • DIY Conversation Toolkit with up to $2000 in funding available for groups to host their own sessions
  • Consultation website and opportunity for written submissions

To ensure accessible engagement options, we coordinated significant supports including the following:

  • Wellness support sheet for all sessions
  • Language interpretation for virtual and in-person sessions when requested
  • ASL and captioning for all town halls and for small group sessions when requested
  • $100 honoraria for small group session participants and $30 honoraria for town hall participants
  • Food/catering for all in-person small group sessions and roundtables
  • Up to $2000 in supports for each organization looking to host their own conversations

Promotion of the opportunity to engage was conducted through widespread community outreach, including through organizations on the ground, digital channels, and ministry offices. A QR code and link to the engagement website was included on two rounds of income assistance payments, as well as the myselfserve.gov.bc.ca website where individuals can access their government assistance information.

Results

The project remained on time and on budget, despite a large scope with a higher than average amount of expenses. The project engaged approximately 10,000 people across BC, including:

8,337 survey responses, which included:

  • 77% currently live in poverty
  • 69% self-identified as living with a disability
  • 44% identified as living with mental illness, substance challenge, or addiction
  • 12% identify as Indigenous
  • Over 300 downloads of the conversation toolkit and 18 organizations receiving funding support to host their own conversations
  • Approximately 500 people in attendance through town halls, Minister’s roundtables, and small group sessions, including approximately half of which with lived and living experience
  • Approximately 100 written submissions though the consultation website

Change events will impact you both planned and unexpected. From M&A Transactions, Rebranding, Financial Change, Leadership Transition, and Public Crisis.

Learn from others who are navigating change this year.

Dive into our Reputation Index 2024 to uncover how major events impact brand reputation- and learn what it takes to protect your biggest corporate asset- Your Reputation.

Download the report PDF now

Data Intelligence

Services

  • [01]
    Audience, stakeholder and customer analysis
  • [02]
    Board and Executive Advisory
  • [03]
    Brand Positioning
  • [04]
    Business and Marketing Strategy
  • [05]
    ChangeMakers Reputation Score – powering Reputation Scorecard and Predictive Analysis
  • [06]
    Corporate and Organizational Strategy
  • [07]
    Data Intelligence and Analytics  
  • [08]
    Employee Experience and People Consulting
  • [09]
    Growth Strategy
  • [10]
    Transformation and Change Management

Change events will impact you both planned and unexpected. From M&A Transactions, Rebranding, Financial Change, Leadership Transition, and Public Crisis.

Learn from others who are navigating change this year.

Dive into our Reputation Index 2024 to uncover how major events impact brand reputation- and learn what it takes to protect your biggest corporate asset- Your Reputation.

Download the report PDF now

Sponsor Energy

Sponsor Energy Inc is a private, Alberta-based energy provider that believes in keeping prices on power and gas as low as possible and in making a difference in the communities they serve. With some of Alberta’s lowest and most competitive fixed-rate options, Sponsor Energy ensures their customers receive exceptional value without compromising quality.

Expertise

Marketing

Services

Creative Concepting
Creative Production
Creative Strategy
Media Planning, Buying & Post- Campaign Analysis

Sponsor Energy campaign - website and Song advert ad

Energy Crunch

In the fall of 2023, Albertans faced a cost of energy crisis. Within a deregulated energy market that was supposed to provide more choice and lower costs, the price of electricity had exploded. On top of rampant inflation affecting Albertans’ grocery bills, interest payments and rent, expensive electricity was the last straw. Albertans were feeling increasingly ignored by government and taken advantage of by the big companies who they felt were price-gouging them and calling it inflation.

Time to be Loud!

Sponsor Energy Billboard - Utility bill so high you'd rather live in the dark ages?

We knew the level of outrage at high energy prices wasn’t going away any time soon, so we embraced it. We knew we had to be as loud as possible for as long as possible if we were going to achieve aggressive growth targets before the market shifted again.

To break through to a cynical and disaffected audience, we needed to give voice to that anger. We decided to be a brash, combative truth teller that was firmly on the side of all Albertans struggling with their electricity bills. Our mission was to bring Power to the People.

Sponsor Energy - Wall poster ads

With this brand positioning, we got into market with snappy headlines on an eye-catching electric pink background. The headlines ensured we were top of mind with the audience and always positioned the big utility companies as a shared enemy we were collectively fighting against.

These headlines came to life in OOH billboards and wild postings across the province. We created attention-grabbing radio spots designed to highlight the frustration Albertans felt at their sky-high electricity bills. This brand awareness push was supported by a lower-funnel digital buy focused on driving conversion and conquesting anyone searching for the big providers. As the cold weather drove electricity demand, and prices went up, we leveraged The Weather Network to get in front of Albertans in another smart, targeted manner.

Flip Off!

While our initial communication was in market to keep new customers flowing in, we worked on a way to create a big splash – an emotionally fueled way to convince Albertans to break up with their energy provider. We channeled Morgan Wallen, Luke Coombs and Oliver Anthony in a country rock song for the ages. Our lyrics gave voice to what our audience really wanted to tell their energy providers – FLIP OFF!

We partnered with local up-and-coming singer Garrett Gregory to record the song and released 30-second lyric videos on Sponsor Energy’s social media channels, along with a province-wide radio and digital-audio buy which drove massive impact with our audience.

Download video transcript (TXT)

Generating Power

Our creative grabbed Albertans’ attention and continued to drive new customers for Sponsor Energy, generating between 750 and 1,000 new sign-ups per week for the four months we were in market as well as increasing searches for Sponsor Energy more than 600%.

The Flip Off song was so well received that Garrett is now releasing it as part of his own catalog, which means it will soon take on a life of its own.

Sponsor Energy - Social media ads examples
Tired of the big four monopoly? Get out of Jail. - Sponsor Energy - Billboard ad
How many lightbulbs does it take to change your utility provider. One. - Sponsor Energy - Billboard ad

Helping leaders build organizational readiness and resilience.  

For more than 40 years, we have delivered training services informed by a deep understanding of the North American media landscape, trends in issues management and crisis communications. 

From government officials to c-suite executives, we are proud to work alongside the world’s biggest brands and help non-profit, private, as well as public sector leaders put big ideas onto the public agenda.  

Our team has built training programs that go beyond theory, bringing our real-world experience to deliver workshops that prepare organizations for meaningful communications with the media, analysts, regulators, customers, shareholders and employees.   

Invest in your reputation with the ChangeMakers Training Academy.  

  • Spokesperson Media Training   
  • Issues and Crisis Communications   
  • Plain Language Writing and Editing   
  • Communications Planning 101 
  • Effective Presentations   
  • Dealing with Disruptions   
  • Public Engagement  
  • Brand Journalism for Social Media  

We’re happy to also offer customized training based on organizational or leadership needs. 

When it comes to training, we adapt to your organization’s needs. Sessions can be facilitated in a group setting as well as one-on-one, in-person and virtually. Workshops can be regularly planned and scheduled or set up due to an urgent issue (e.g., resulting in a high-stakes interview).  

We create custom simulations that introduce participants to the critical components of a crisis communications plan and give them an opportunity to practice the key steps in response planning and communications.

Roanne Argyle
Roanne Argyle
She/Her
President, Reputation Management
Robert Gemmill
Robert Gemmill
President, U.S.
Kim Blanchette
Kim Blanchette
She/Her
EVP, Castlemain
Megan Gabrial
Megan Gabriel
EVP, Reputation, Risk, & Advisor
Vasie Papadopoulos
Vasie Papadopoulos
VP, Corporate & Public Affairs
Hilary Friesen
Hilary Friesen
She/Her
VP, Social Change
Stasa-Veroukis-Regina
Stasa Veroukis-Regina
Director, Class Action Advisory and Communications
Rachel Cohen
Rachel Cohen
Senior Account Manager
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