Mental Health Matters
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When World Mental Health Day came around on October 10, its significance took on greater importance this year perhaps more so than other times. Back in July, the Mentally Healthy 2020 survey found that the media, marketing and creative industry’s mental health has not improved since their 2018 inaugural study, with 56% of the […]
A silver lining to our great WFH disruption
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2020 will be a year to remember…or possibly more accurately one to forget, the world has changed and can now be categorised as pre-COVID and post-COVID. We have all been forced to adapt, innovate and as my colleague Natalie previously discussed ‘pivot’ has become the new necessary. However, with all this accelerated change, we at […]
A Big Fat Greek Crisis
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Fans of the 2002 US rom com My Big Fat Greek Wedding might recall the seminal role played by actor Michael Constantine as father of the bride Toula. His character’s name was Kostas “Gus” Portokalos. Gus was the Windex-toting father who believed the blue cleaning fluid was a wonder spray with mystical healing properties and […]
Pivot Relations: a new job title for 2020
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Like the word unprecedented, pivot has become a bit cliché. But in these strange times of working through a global pandemic, I do believe my job title should definitely include the ‘p’ word. Reacting to change – some of it historic and, yes, unprecedented is a daily occurrence. In the past three months, we have […]
When life serves you Zoom meetings, make the bed!
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Transitioning into full time employment after graduation can be pretty daunting, particularly due to one crucial life skill you don’t learn in university: the nine-to-five routine. Long gone are the 11am wake-ups, rushing to your midday tutorial and clocking off for the day by 2pm. But what about when that nine-to-five workday from the office […]
Can women be women in the finance industry?
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Could the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic drive deeper reflection and positive action on the issues of equity for females in finance and in the broader Australian community? The picture is quite stark, leading us at Madden to discuss the role of women in finance as well as the difficulties females face to not […]
Women in financial services and diversity
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Well before the coronavirus pandemic, many women in Australia faced an uphill equity battle with their retirement savings and simple literacy regarding money. Madden & Assoc. caught up with Financial Advisor and Co-founder of Fox & Hare, Jess Brady to discuss her defining purpose to help guide more women into a stronger position with their […]
Finding the positives within a global pandemic – Through the eyes of a millennial PR
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Some of the Madden team’s remote working stations. There is no doubt this is a time of great unknown and the upheaval to each of our lives is unlike anything we have experienced before. As a late twenties PR practitioner, if someone had told me this time last year, I would essentially be ‘locked […]
Contagion, COVID-19 and Communication
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A much-used expression in financial markets says that ‘past performance is no guarantee’ of future returns. Such pragmatic words are a blunt warning to investors that what goes up can come down. History may not help an investor make a safe financial bet, but lessons from the past can help guide our communication response to […]
Can robo fill the gap?
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In these days of fractured wealth sector business models, amid the green shoots of ethical, quality financial advice in Australia, does digital advice automation hold the key to a sustainable future built on serving the unmet needs of more advice consumers? Can the ‘fin-bots’ or ‘robos’ or ‘goals based digital providers’ build on the momentum […]
Coffee with… Gemma Acton, Network Finance Editor, Seven News
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A true professional and a pleasure to listen to, Gemma Acton has spent over 10 years in the finance industry, with her career spanning over multiple continents. After moving back to Australia from London, her current role sees her covering business and finance for Seven News. We were lucky enough to sit down with her […]
How to navigate a new internship
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In my final year of my communications degree, and despite a couple of internships under my belt, I found myself unsure of where I wanted to land in the media landscape. Finance was not an industry I pictured myself in at the beginning of my university career. But come this final year and wanting to […]
Coffee with… Darren Snyder, Managing Editor, Money Magazine
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One of the financial services industry’s most esteemed journalists, Darren Snyder moved into the role of managing editor at Money in March of this year, after previously spending four years as editor at the Financial Standard. We sat down to get his insights on the transition from trade to consumer, the biggest issues in the […]
Be a Thought Leader, Not a Thought Loser – Part 2. Execution
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In the first part of this three-part blog, we discussed why attempts at creating ‘thought leadership’ can actually undermine your ability to cut through the clutter and ensure that your voice is heard effectively. In part two, we discuss the key issues to consider in the execution phase. Don’t skimp on the quality of […]
Be a Thought Leader, Not a Thought Loser
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Part 1. Conception ‘Thought leadership’ offers many benefits for organisations and individuals. Executed well, your intellectual capital can generate awareness of your capabilities, expertise, and values, bolster brand awareness, create new conversation opportunities with prospects and other stakeholders, and increase business with existing clients. There are times, however, when attempts at creating thought leadership can […]
Thought leaders run dry
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As the nation’s political strategists and pollsters begin unpacking lessons from a quite remarkable weekend federal election result, many with leadership aspirations in the financial sector might now think about popping their heads above the parapet. Even without the distractions of an election campaign, senior journos and commentators I speak to have lamented a serious […]
Coffee with… Wouter Klijn, Director of Content, i3 Insights
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Wouter Klijn is a veteran of the institutional investor space in Australia, having spent much of his 20-year editorial career working for specialist media titles including Investor Weekly and The Insto Report. We sat down to get his views on the financial services industry’s shift away from product, the positive impact of tech on journalism […]
Hayne’s 76-point vintage uncorks a beginning, not an end
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After a year of testimony drawn from 130 witnesses, made over seven public hearings, based on 10,000 submissions, the Hayne Royal Commission into Misconduct in Banking and Financial Services ended on Monday with a resoundingly modest point score just shy of 80. That is the total number of key recommendations – 76 – that will […]
How to use social media if you donut know
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One of the most common questions asked of us by clients is: what do we do about our social media? Unlike comms industry colleagues working with luxury brands, or fast-moving consumer goods, the highly-regulated world of financial services offers fewer opportunities to get creative with your socials. Yes, everyone loves a well-constructed and genuinely original […]
There’s an art to being stuck in the middle
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As a PR consultant, sometimes we get caught between what the journalist wants and what the client wants. Unfortunately, their two needs aren’t always the same. Enter the middle woman/ man. Your role is essentially to manage the process of lifting the media presence of your clients whilst also providing your network of journalists with […]
Lunch with… Jason Spits, Senior Journalist, Risk Info
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One of the financial services industry’s most respected trade journalists, Jason has worked in finance media and communications for around 20 years, including roles with Money Management and the Financial Planning Association. We sat down to get his take on the impact of the Royal Commission, how technology will play into funds management and life […]
Making the switch from journalist to the PR person journalists don’t hate
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As published in Mumbrella: After deciding to make the switch to PR, Sarah Kendell promised herself she wouldn’t become one of the PRs she used to hate. Here, she details exactly how she did it. Earlier this year, I made the move from journalism to PR, which was both an exciting and daunting prospect. […]
Defining our MAX factor in an issues-rich world
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Our growing business is in the running as a finalist for ‘Public Relations Company of the Year.’ How good is that? It’s a significant honour for our passionate team of consultants, and especially poignant given the current enormous public focus on the reputation of banks and providers to the wealth sector. The sector needs good […]