HOKA’s Post

Philip Edwards weighs in on creativity in the corporate world: "There is always interest in creativity and, more specifically, creative companies. As a consultant specializing in investments, my world view is focused on spreadsheets and PowerPoint presentations. Creativity does not often creep into my vocabulary, much less my work. However, I have had the opportunity to work with some very creative companies. It’s been one of the most enjoyable aspects of my career. One creative company that comes immediately to mind is Patagonia. Many companies are known for creative products – Apple, Telsa, Nintendo. While Patagonia also has creative products, there are more dimensions to its creativity, including the firm’s integration of sustainability with profitability, approaches to inspire the firm’s designers, environmental sourcing of materials, automation of product distribution, and dedication to supporting its employees. Every corner of the firm has a culture of developing creative approaches to managing the business." Thank you, Philip Edwards, for giving your perspective on what it means to be a creative company. It was illuminating to learn more about the potential depth and broad dimensions of corporate creativity. Are there other companies that you think would be worthy of inclusion on the GQ Magazine list? #corporatecreativity #patagonia #sustainabilitywithprofitability

Division sells but connectivity inspires; we believe the modern consumer wants a dialogue instead of lecture, and the brands of the future understand the reciprocity involved in growth and sustainability. Watching Don Draper wax poetic about his existential crises through the vehicle of American consumption both repelled our belief system and inspired our core desire to connect to something greater than ourselves. To understand post-contemporary (or post-apocalyptic) America, we must reflect on our relationship to storytelling; how we went from the “Mad Men” era to a Trump presidency, and how the fever-dream acid trip of yesteryear is infusing itself into the aspirational marketplace of a new, shaky idealism, AI considered. Can we shape-shift our conflicting narratives into something revolutionary? When the death throes end, something must rise from the smoke. Instead of aligning itself with the safety of what’s worked before, we question everything and follow the cookie crumbs of impactful storytelling toward a flux model of engagement with brands and artists that humanize the consumer experience. The way we operate in our jobs is inevitably changing with the world around us, with AI the more we enable all around us to be the creative directors of our own stories, to be better story tellers, and thus the better we can understand each other. — Introducing our brainchild, Special Treatment We are a bridge. Unapologetically positive and radically real.

interesting read and great to see Microsoft lead this chart

Is the creative industry drowning in a sea of uncertainty? I have made a commitment to be online in a more deliberate way over the next year. I have been on most of the popular social media platforms, newsletter sites, and various industry-related subscriptions. Here are some observations I have made: 1. The creative industry is going through it. Reports out of Hollywood indicate that post-production work is drying up. . Indie filmmakers say funding is almost non existent. Many are worried they wont make it to next year 2. A number of actors are reporting that even after working on large successful films, they have no prospective work. There is also a trend where many very famous actors are turning to theatre. Outside of the industry: 1. Generative AI is, in fact, on the rise. It is demonstrating that it is here to stay. Have a look at the video below of AI-generated content. 2. I get the sense that a lot of industries, especially creative industries, might be putting their heads down into R&D to carefully craft how AI and other technologies will be woven through their business structures. This kind of work takes time and money but could secure stakeholders' positions in the industry over the long haul. 3. Kamala Harris, a Black woman, becomes a US presidential candidate against a known bigot, Sonya Massey's murder by the police comes to light. Then, a POC teenager had his head stomped on by police in the UK. There is a saying around Hollywood 'Survive to 25'. If you want to be a part of this industry for the long haul. The world is still recovering from the pandemic. Industries are trying to protect themselves. There are wars in several parts of the world. As a Black woman, the climate indicates that there is a storm of misogynoir coming our way. The racists among us will be triggered, and we can't expect them not to be. This will affect all of our lives and livelihoods, and the creative industry is often the first to be deemed unnecessary. Here are things I think we should be doing: 1. Pay close attention to everything. It is all connected! 2. Strategize and plan meticulously! Read, research, delve into the past, and start conceptualizing the future you want. This is a perfect time to Radically Dream even bigger so that when the opportunity presents itself, you can strike—and strike hard. 3. This might not be a great time to take big risks unless your life suggest otherwise. 4. Lean into and/or create a community of people around you especially laterally. You will need each other to get through this. 5. Remain unrelentingly optimistic. We create the world. We change the world, and we can change it again. You must remain sure of this so that you do not cower in the face of opposing destructive forces.  What do you think? What have you been noticing in your area/region? Are you affected by any of these things? #CreativeIndustry #Film #GenerativeAI #Strategize #StayStrong #BlackWomen #SocialChange #IndustryInsights

I just LOVE reading Fast Company's list of the Most Innovative Companies for inspiration from companies that are redefining their industries and making a positive impact on the World! It's a beautiful reminder that innovation can come from anywhere. If Smucker's can turn the lunchtime staple, PG&J into the Uncrustable and create a billion-dollar brand, there's no limit to what you can achieve! How can you use your skills to disrupt the status quo and create value? What's your favorite from the list? What are you passionate about? Let's get inspired and get moving! #innovation #inspiration #FastCompany

#KantarBrandZ data shows that roughly 80% of brands fall short on consumer perceptions of difference. Difference is rare because difference is hard, and it's positioned to become even harder with advancements in #AI. See what Kantar's J. Walker Smith says about the benefits and risks of AI for brands in this MediaPost article: https://lnkd.in/dfKQVJru

As the #world faces huge #transformations in #technology, #AI development and working #environment changes, companies` core #value statements are facing #reinvention and distinctive expressions as well. . Below is very interesting article from #Harvard Business Review (#HBR) on that matter. . #business #companies #industry #changes https://lnkd.in/e-r4jpBy

𝟑 𝐖𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐇𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧-𝐂𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐀𝐈 Generative AI can only take you so far. Get the rest of the way there with human intervention. AI-generated content is here to stay. More and more businesses are using AI tools like ChatGPT to create content with unprecedented efficiency--and many consumers are on board with it. A 2023 MIT study revealed that readers even prefer AI-written copy to human-written copy in blind surveys.  However, AI-generated content still has its weaknesses--and that's where your marketing team comes in. By combining AI tools with human expertise, you can produce content more efficiently while differentiating your business. Here are three steps you can take to curate and improve AI-generated content and better connect with consumers. 𝟏. 𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐮𝐩-𝐭𝐨-𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 A common criticism of AI writing tools like ChatGPT is their reliance on outdated information. As of May 2024, GPT-4, the most current version of ChatGPT, can only use information as recent as April 2023--and there's no telling when a knowledge update will be released. Marketing content based solely on these AI tools' output risks being behind the times and missing out on more than a year's worth of insight, data, and trends. 𝟐. 𝐇𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 According to a Gallup report, 70 percent of our decisions are based on emotions, while 30 percent are based on rationality. Powerful stories can help brands influence readers' emotions and drive purchases, but AI tools like ChatGPT can only generate text based on data, patterns, and logic--rational factors. The result? AI tools aren't ideal for moving your audience's sentiments, making them a poor solution for telling emotional stories. 𝟑. 𝐂𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐰𝐞𝐛 𝐚𝐝𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 These addresses feature memorable keywords after the dot--like .community, .video, and .legal, which clarify your brand's goods, services, and message. In doing so, they help audiences quickly and easily understand and remember your brand's value, offerings, and digital location without having to do much research. 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐬, 𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬. https://lnkd.in/dWwQ4q_R #MarketingStrategy #AIMarketing #DigitalMarketing #HumanCuratedAI #MarketingTips #MarketingInnovation #AIinMarketing #FutureOfMarketing #TechInMarketing #MarketingTrends #ArtificialIntelligence #AIBusiness #MarketingGrowth #MarketingSuccess #AIIntegration #MarketingHacks #AIInnovation #MarketingTechnology #SmartMarketing #AIAndMarketing

#KantarBrandZ data shows that roughly 80% of brands fall short on consumer perceptions of difference. Difference is rare because difference is hard, and it's positioned to become even harder with advancements in #AI. See what Kantar's J. Walker Smith says about the benefits and risks of AI for brands in this MediaPost article: https://lnkd.in/eT2Qa9z4

Interesting article from Contagious: Begs the question, is history repeating itself out of cultural stagnancy? The 5 Takeaways: 1. Consider the limitations of market research. 2. Value the process. 3. Get over being wrong. 4. Be willing to have your most fundamental beliefs challenged. 5. Get weird. Maybe this explains Ad Agencies relying heavily on the resurrecting of nostalgic icons like Snoop Dog & Martha Stewart to sell beer, water and fire pits? Or the Entertainment industry in the retelling of stories that have already been told just updating characters culturally and using new cinematic tech? Growth is hard. Change is hard. But doing the hard thing (something different) has never been more necessary. And it could be the change needed to breath LIFE back into our culture and our creativity. https://lnkd.in/gDcBPJDj