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Robert Berkeley  0:06  

Hello, and welcome to Inside Jobs a special edition this time round where we're breaking from our usual fare of talking to corporate creative leaders. And taking the time to catch up with Emily Ffoster, Ddirector of IHAF have who I know is a very busy woman, you'll know that IHAF have is the in house agency for the leading professional association for in house agencies and corporate creative organisations. But Emily right now you're pretty busy, Yeah..

 

Emily Foster  0:32  

That's right, Robert. We're pretty busy here on the IHAF have team and in fact, in just a few weeks, I have turns 14, so it's a joyful time of year around here.

 

Robert Berkeley  0:43  

Well, happy birthday. I have I can't believe at 14 years. And I can't believe you've been there all that time, though.

 

Emily Foster  0:48  

Have you? No, not 14 years? Not exactly. I won't tell you where I was 14 years ago.

 

Robert Berkeley  0:54  

Make me feel very, very even older. already feel better? Well, happy birthday to IHAF have 14 it's not a significant milestone 14, I guess. But it is it does show that the there has been a place for IHAF have and continues to be and you're still growing right as the as the trend continues towards the in house agency. Yeah,

 

Emily Foster  1:13  

Yeah, I think with the model becoming more prevalent in the marketplace and being talked about a lot more than it was 14 years ago, it's been really helpful that IHAF have to be able to have, you know, the data and the background that we have had for 14 years and be able to continue building the community that we have here within our membership and through our events and programmes.

 

Robert Berkeley  1:35  

Right. Yeah. So sSo obviously, that's key to it, the event, some programmes and every time there are more and more people wanting to come along to things like the roundtables that you've been running, but you've got your annual conference coming up.

 

Emily Foster  1:47  

Yeah. Yeah, that's right. Our annual conference is happening next month in November. So what's planned? For starters, if you don't know, our conference theme this year is future proof, which is really all about the skills and strategies that in house agencies need to future proof their teams and their talent. We landed on that as our theme this year. Because we know it's so easy for folks to get caught up in the day to day, people sometimes forget to take a step back and really consider the bigger picture. So this year's conference is all about encouraging people to do just that to step back and evaluate what the business and the marketplace are demanding of them as leaders and as in house operations.

 

Robert Berkeley  2:30  

Well, that sounds timely, Emily. So I've spoken to a number of guests on Inside Jobs. And while future proofing seems to be a key part of their objective, because things are changing so fast, they need to create a resilient organisation that's adaptable to pretty much anything that's around the corner. Anyway, so this year, we've got, I presume, another impressive array of brands speaking at the conference, who's stepping up to the mic this year?

 

Emily Foster  2:57  

Well, for our keynote sessions to share, we'll be hearing from Collin Wwhite head of Dropbox, Darren Abbott of Hallmark cards, and an interesting pairing of Alex Wwhite of Orvis and JerrettJared King from Coca Cola who I know is a podcast alum. Yes. Yeah, Alex and JerrettJared will be presenting together. We're also running a session on the future of talent, which will feature Boston University's student run ad agency called AdLabad lab. I'm really excited about. And in keeping with our future proof theme, we're offering a variety of skills labs as well.

 

Robert Berkeley  3:32  

So what skills lab is this? Is this like skills training?

 

Emily Foster  3:35  

Sort of? Yeah, we try to mix it up year to year. So this year, we've decided to offer a series of skills labs, which are essentially mini workshops on things like how to sell your work techniques for better brainstorming, agile practices, measuring team performance, things like that. We'll have about 10 Labs and all with attendees being able to choose the sessions and speakers that interest them most. Like I said, from creative to operations to agency culture and talent management. There's a lot there.

 

Robert Berkeley  4:054  

There's a lot there. So there's, there's a lot of information and opportunities to learn there for delegates coming to IHAF have right. Is there any opportunity to? Well, I know there is to let down their hair.

 

Emily Foster  4:16  

Yeah, as you know, Robert, there's always a few celebrations in store at the I have conference. We have the I have creativity awards, that happens on the evening of the first day. And we also have the in house agency of the year luncheon on the second day. So over the course of the two days at the conference, over 100 awards will be distributed. And that includes having a fun, cocktail reception and after party, plenty of smiling faces and lots of opportunities to toast our time together.

 

Robert Berkeley  4:45  

Do you know it's funny because when I think of the marketing industry and the in house agencies, I don't think of alcohol but obviously, I'm mistaken in that regard. So well, I'm particularly looking forward to that anyway. And of course, this year was a bit of a treat because you are asked me to be on the judging panel for the creativity awards, which, which I immensely enjoyed. It was much harder work than I had thought it would be. But you looked after us all very well. And well, the quality on offer, I have to say was absolutely outstanding. And if anyone out there, it's still trying to say that in house agencies can't match up toe to toe with traditional external creative agencies, then they just need to sit and watch the awards this year. And

 

Emily Foster  5:26  

Yyeah, I couldn't agree more. And I'm glad you enjoyed being a part of the panel this year.

 

Robert Berkeley  5:31  

So no, I certainly did. So. So once again, what's the date of this? And and can we still get tickets? Can people still get tickets?

 

Emily Foster  5:38  

Yes, in fact, we do still have tickets available, Robert, we do typically sell out for this event. But I'd love to offer today's listeners $200 off if they register by the end of October, subject to availability, of course, to take advantage of that they simply need to go to ij forum.org/, forward slash conference and enter promo code Inside Jobs one word on their registration form. But like I said, be sure to register soon because it's a limited time offer and we likely will sell out before November?

 

Robert Berkeley  6:09  

And is is it possible just to come to the awards evening and not come to the conference or vice versa?

 

Emily Foster  6:15  

Now we do sell the tickets as a bundle. So it is a two day ticket that you'd be purchasing. And it allows you access to all the conference sessions, including those skills labs that I mentioned, and all of our awards celebrations.

 

Robert Berkeley  6:27  

Got it. Okay. All right. Well, that's fantastic. Thanks. Thanks for the discount code. I'm sure our listeners will take advantage of that. So it's on November, the 13th and 14th. It's in Boston, Massachusetts, at the Rrevere Hhotel again,

 

Emily Foster  6:41  

yes, we're back at the revere, which I'm very excited about. And we'll have things that are a bit different from folks who have been to the revere in the past and then to the conference in the past. Again, we all like to shake things up a little bit and make sure that it's a new and exciting event for people whether it's their first time or if they've been with us for many years. Well,

 

Robert Berkeley  7:01  

I have to say I've been going for several years now. And you do build friendships and relationships along the way. I'm definitely going to be coming along again this year. And looking forward to meeting perhaps some of the listeners to Inside Jobs. At the same time. You've worked very hard and will continue to work very hard to make this an absolutely brilliant, polished and highly professional but great fun event. Emily, thanks so much for joining me on the Inside Jobs podcast.

 

Emily Foster  7:26  

Of course, you're most welcome, Robert. And thanks to you for being such a great partner for IHAFI have in the conference. I know that you'll be mingling with everyone during the creativity awards as Expressexpressed KCS is our sponsor for the evening that night. So, I hope everyone gets the chance to meet you there.

 

Robert Berkeley  7:41  

Mmingling is my middle name. 

 

Emily Foster  7:44  

Thanks, Robert. I'll see you soon. 

 

Robert Berkeley  7:46  

Bye Emily.