In The Business Of Something – Details, episodes & analysis

On this episode of In The Business Of, we tune into the world of sonic branding with Jennifer Manning, Associate Creative Director of Copy, and Jesse Yuen, Managing Director of Culture to Brand at ATB. Together, they share how the financial institution went beyond the traditional jingle to build a full sonic identity that’s as flexible as it is memorable.

From testing sound to see what emotions it sparks, to partnering with Canadian dream-pop artist Munya, Jennifer and Jesse walk us through the creative journey of finding ATB’s brand voice through music. They discuss why sonic cues are eight times more effective than visual logos, how consistency in sound helps stretch marketing dollars further, and why banks—yes, banks—have more to say (and sound like) than you might think.

Whether you’re a marketer, a creative, or just someone fascinated by the way sound shapes emotion, this episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at how ATB turned music into a powerful branding tool.

What do you do when your only proof of work is a haiku—and it actually lands you a job? Jon Manning reflects on his path from actor to award-winning copywriter, the highs and lows of freelance life, and his return to agency work with Brandish. We talk about staying curious, surrendering control (acquiescing—look it up), and what it means to “flex” in this industry. Whether you’re a writer, creative, or just figuring it out as you go, this episode’s got something for you.

On this episode of In The Business of Something, our guest is Chris Henderson, Partner and Chief Strategist at Y Station. This episode is hosted by ACE Vice President Adam Rozenhart and ACE Past President Pablo Herrra Cruz. 

Adam and Pablo sit down with Chris to learn about how the world of market research intersects with our industry, including how proper engagement and consultation unlock critical insights that go above and beyond our typical assumptions. It's a job that takes you from the front lines of engagement on topics like affordable housing and houselessness, to combing through pages and pages of research, to finally consolidating it all down into a digestible report. 

Chris also shares his journey from starting in public advocacy at the University of Alberta's Student Union, to leaping into the world of public relations and communications for Calder Bateman, and finally to going out on his own to start Y Station with ambitions to grow beyond Alberta. 

Maybe you're curious about understanding issues deeper or maybe you still don't know what public engagement is - either way, Chris would like you to smash the play button and learn more about life in research and engagement! 

On this episode of In The Business of Something, our guest is Teresa Sturgess, Marketing Instructor at NAIT (Northern Alberta Institute of Technology). We sit down with Teresa, and ACE President Karla McNeil, to learn about Teresa's journey from working for some of the top agencies and reputable brands in Canada to becoming a local advertising legend with her Promotional Campaign Planning course at NAIT. 

Teresa talks about what inspired her to make the move from industry to teaching, how she stays connected with the industry to keep classes relevant, and how this next generation of students is approaching their career paths. 

If you know Teresa, you're already hitting play - and if you don't, well you are in for a treat! 

On this episode of In The Business of Something, our guest is Lynda Vang, Communications Specialist at Amii (Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute). We sit down with Lynda, and ACE Communications Chair Kian Javier, to learn all about the world of communications and storyelling at Western Canada's only AI Institute. And no, ChatGPT did not write this episode description - this is 100% human-certified content. 

Lynda talks about the importance of storytelling in helping people along the journey of AI literacy to learn how the technology fits within their lives - including researchers, businesses, and everyday people like teachers and students. We also dive into how you can do globally impactful work from anywhere, which is evident in Lynda's work being published across the globe from outlets like New York Times and Wired. 

Learn how Lynda's gone from an Education major, to working at Berlin Communications and Banff Centre, to ending up at one of the most coveted organizations in Edmonton. 

On this episode of In The Business of Something, our guest is Janelle Janis, Executive Director of Event & Business Development at Explore Edmonton. We sit down with Janelle, and ACE Awards Co-Chair Michele Fowler, to learn all about the world of Explore Edmonton's Sport & Culture team. Janelle and Michele are part of bringing some of the largest sports and culture events like the Heritage Classic, FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, and JUNO Music Awards to our city.

We learn about Janelle's journey following her passion as a UofA Pandas student-athlete turned sports marketing pro, helping bring some of the biggest sporting events in the world to our city - including the Women's FIFA World Cup which was a dream come true for her. Janelle also speaks about the importance of language in womens' sports and how Edmonton can bring more equitable sports into the global spotlight. 

Welcome back for another season of In The Business of Something! The podcast that demystifies the world of advertising and highlights the amazing people in the industry. 

We're excited to kick off the season with Nicola Pringle, an award-winning, locally revered Art Director from ZGM Modern Marketing Partners. Over the course of her career, Nicola has shaped countless brands and marketing campaigns through her incredible artistry and powerful ideas. 

In this episode, Nicola chats with Adam Rozenheart and Brooke Langmaid, from the ACE board, about her journey getting into the world of advertising - including all the big arm-pinching moments and lessons learned along the way. 

Welcome to In The Business of Something, the podcast where we demystify the world of advertising and highlight the unique stories of the people in our industry.

In today’s episode, we get into the business of Toni Benning who is wrapping up her degree at the University of Alberta. We spoke with Toni about:

• What it’s been like as a student in the last few years
• Her plans after graduation
• How the job search is going
• Navigating the pressures of graduating and beginning a career
• What are her career aspirations are

Events:

• Ad Club of Edmonton Events

Welcome to In The Business of Something, the podcast where we demystify the world of advertising and highlight the unique stories of the people in our industry.

In today’s episode, we get into the business of Jeff Cheung who is an award-winning creative. Jeff’s resume includes Ogilvy, Juniper Park, TBWA Vancouver, BBDO and most recently lg2 as Creative Director. He also was one of the judges for the upcoming ACE Awards! 

 We  talk with Jeff about:

• His first couple of years at lg2 
• Slackamole and life as a CD
• Building the Dominos brand by putting pizza over everything
• Snickers “Suit Swag” activation with the Toronto Raptors
• Staying true to yourself and embracing vulnerability
• His experience judging the ACE Awards and the creativity in Edmonton

Events:

• Party with the Ad Gods at the ACE Awards 

Welcome to In The Business of Something, the podcast where we demystify the world of advertising and highlight the unique stories of the people in our industry.

In today’s episode, we get into the business of Puneeta McBryan who is the Executive Director at Edmonton Downtown. We talk with Puneeta about:

• What exactly is a Business Improvement Area (BIA) and how does it intersect with marketing?
• Place brands and why Edmonton Downtown needed one
• The process of branding a place 
• Non-straightforward career paths in advertising 
• Boomer-free career planning advice 
• Embracing uncertainty and staying open to opportunity

Resources:

• Money Feels Podcast 
  • Episode 3: Timelines + Building Your ‘Ideal’ Life
  • Episode 6: The Monetization of Self
  • Episode 11: Setting Financial Goals 

Events:

• ACE Student Resume Building Workshop at DDB