IMC Talent Q tackles issue of effective people management
Organizations need talented people more than talented people need organizations. So says Robert P. Gandossy, one of the world’s foremost experts on developing talent and leadership and founder of the annual Top Companies for Leaders study. But at a time when staffs are less loyal to employers, how does an organization identify, recruit, engage and reward the people who will make it successful? This question is the focus of the Medill IMC Talent Q symposium, which will take place Tuesday, Nov. 15, at Northwestern University.
The brainchild of Medill’s Integrated Marketing Communications graduate program, the IMC Talent Q will feature IMC graduate students and industry professionals sharing the latest research and insights on successful talent cultivation.
Keynoting the event is Dana Anderson, senior vice president of marketing, strategy and communications at Kraft Foods, who will undoubtedly inspire attendees to toss aside conventional thinking and take what she calls “leaps,” an idea that aligns with the new risk-taking philosophy being embraced by Kraft.
In addition to the findings that Medill IMC students will share from their research on the traits of effective marketing communications professionals, a panel of industry leaders will lead a discussion on effective talent cultivation. Panelists include Fred Cook (president & CEO of GolinHarris), Jill Perkins (senior consultant at Towers Watson), Melanie Steinbach (managing director at Russell Reynolds Associates), Sherman Wright (co-founder and managing partner of CommonGround Marketing) and Dan Jessup (head of people strategy at Groupon).
The event couldn’t be more timely. According to Marty Kohr, adjunct lecturer and Medill IMC Talent Q advisor, the magnitude and velocity of change in the marketplace have never been greater, nor has the need to better understand the talents and skills of the people who drive effective marketing communications.
And who better to learn from than the event’s A-list group of speakers. “I have been inspired by the individual accomplishments and collective wisdom of the panelists,” said panel moderator and Assistant Professor Dan Gruber. “I look forward to a lively, engaging and enlightening panel.”
Kohr agrees and congratulates the Medill IMC students for taking on this quest. “The students benefited from the journey and their efforts will help fellow students better prepare for the future as well. The same is true for our alums, our faculty and our corporate partners. We know identifying, developing and retaining top talent is a critical issue for all successful managers,” he said.
Visit the IMC Talent Q website to learn more and to register for free. Can’t attend the event? It will be live streamed and archived on the IMC Talent Q website.
Have a question for one of the panelists? Include it in the comments or tweet it with the hashtag #IMCTalentQ and we’ll ask it during the Q&A session.
Follow IMC Talent Q on Twitter: @IMCTalentQ, @danielagruber, @MartyKohrNU, @fredcook, @danjessup
Category: Brand Strategy, Corporate Communications, Medill IMC
