Gambel's 2020 Wrapped
From free meals for essential personnel to musical tributes keeping spirits high, New Orleans has inspired us to keep moving forward and stay as resilient as ever this year. Our team here at Gambel has worked tirelessly and changed a lot over the past year. We are sharing our stories of evolving, adapting and "pivoting", lessons this year has taught us, and tips for moving into the future. Thank you for being a part of our year.
Saying Goodbye
By Betsie Gambel, Founder
2020 comes to a close with a sigh of relief. For me, the year at times seemed to be dominated by sadness, beginning with the death of my 92-year-old mother. And as I said goodbye to each friend or relation, it seemed that I was burying a part of myself. I felt paralyzed and lost, maybe even seeking my younger self, carefree and cared for. It never ceases to amaze me that God gives me what I need when I need it. Such was the case when I read an essay this morning by Chelsea Ohlemiller entitled Happiness, Hope and Harsh Realities. Her message reminded me that amidst these losses, I am still here. Living. Breathing. Being. Ohlemiller reminds us, “We need to remember this simple truth in grief. We remain. We hold purpose that remains to be achieved. We hold love left to give. Influence left to gift. Legacies left to create and craft.”
As I reflect on my mom who lived each day to the fullest, Joanie Hartson who saw the world in joyful pink, Ruby Smith who was committed to faith and family, Clyde LeBlanc whose 14 children carry his legacy, and Norma Jane Sabiston whose talents helped shape communities, I hope I am blessed with “more days, more breaths, more moments and more memories.” And it is in gratitude to those who have entrusted their gifts to me that I will strive to be the best person I can be.
The losses we have experienced in this pandemic year, be they loved ones, economic, health or quality of life, should not deter us; rather, they should inspire our quest to fulfill God’s purpose for each of us to embrace life. Live your life espousing those qualities you most admired in the people you bid goodbye.
And while this year’s farewells may have been heart wrenching, the year is punctuated by the joyful births of Miles and Luca Valentino and Thomas Sellers Meric IV, and Baby Boy Fletchinger expected any day. Let us be the light for them as they grow to carry our torch.
Focus on What Matters
By Anna Ledonne, Creative Director
2020 has been a year of massive transformation. From the way we work to the way we communicate, life beyond 2020 is in many ways, a brave new world. Our roles throughout society have shifted and superfluous activities have fallen away, leaving room for only what we deem essential — our top priorities.
As a creative director, I feel called to help people define and position themselves in this new age. We have the opportunity to intentionally shift our brands and the way in which people engage with them. We have an opportunity to redefine our purpose and hone in on the “why” behind our businesses. If you have taken the time to look inward and get clear on your organization’s purpose over the past nine months, this may look like rebranding or a re-design, or maybe it requires doubling down on your mission and serving people with new and improved content they need right now.
We also have an opportunity to redevelop the way we are connecting with our audiences. Now is the time to launch that new online platform you have been thinking about for years, or the delivery service you have always thought would be useful.
Whatever you do, make sure you are entering this new world with fresh eyes. Don’t simply go back to the way things were before — improve on your ideas, lean into new strategies and create a narrative around your business that shows your audience that you are focused on what matters, now and for the future.
All I Want for Christmas is Zoom
By Dominique Becnel, Communications Strategist
This year has made it challenging to connect with colleagues, family and friends. Though Zoom fatigue has plagued everyone during the pandemic, I am thankful for what technology has allowed us to do.
Zoom and other platforms like it have allowed me to share client stories via virtual media opportunities, brainstorm with the Gambel Girls, participate (and win!) trivia night with Jefferson Chamber Young Professionals and say Thanksgiving grace with extended family. All in all, this platform has allowed us to continue doing great work for clients and connect to loved ones near and far in the midst of this isolating pandemic.
Planning (and Adapting) During a Pandemic
Carlisle Rieveschl, Communications Associate
In a year full of uncertainty, adapting to your environment has been an essential survival skill. As someone who this year graduated college (virtually, of course), moved back to New Orleans and started a career during the height of a pandemic, I’ve definitely learned how to roll with the metaphorical punches.
Planning is an essential part of public relations; however, it is important to consider that life is going to throw you curve balls. When it comes to planning social media posts, for example, it is helpful to create a social media calendar to map out posts in advance. This year, however, it was a challenge to stick to a social media calendar due to many events being postponed or canceled. Though it’s impossible to predict when events will be canceled, I quickly learned the value of keeping evergreen content in my back pocket every month to fill holes in the social media calendar should they arise.
The biggest lesson I have learned in 2020 is that you cannot anticipate the unexpected, but you can have a backup plan in place for when it happens!
Leading Through Crisis
By Amy Boyle Collins, CEO
“Crisis” comes from the Greek language and means: the management of choices at a turning point. With this encouraging tidbit of knowledge, we put ourselves in a frame of mind to aptly handle a myriad of potentially damaging situations. Contrary to popular opinion, the first step in crisis management is not to write a media statement. Instead, you must begin by analyzing the situation, identifying choices to be made and evaluating what’s at stake with each decision.
It’s fundamental to our practice as communicators that we think about our audience first and foremost — and that’s no different in a crisis. So, what do we need more than anything else to effectively manage a crisis? What is necessary to effectively make choices at a turning point? It’s leadership — the ability to lead, guide and move people in the midst of potential chaos. That’s the difference maker.
Over the years working with clients on everything from dealing with criminal behavior to natural disasters, I have noted common attributes in strong leaders that allow them to skillfully navigate an issue and optimize an outcome. Leaders stay calm, they are consistent and they reduce their emotional response. They are strategic and intentional about the decisions they make and the way in which they communicate. They are focused on their stakeholders, and they seek to simplify what is complex. These are all valuable lessons for leading in any crisis, even a global pandemic.
Media Relations in the Time of COVID
By Rachel Strassel, Senior Communications Strategist
There are very few industries that have not been impacted by COVID-19, if any at all. Media relations is no different. Nearly 40,000 American journalists and content creators have been furloughed, laid off or have taken pay cuts since the pandemic began, according to a recent New York Times report.
Even before the pandemic, navigating the ever-changing media landscape was an ongoing challenge for PR professionals. Now, we’re faced with the complex task of telling our clients’ stories in a news cycle that is almost completely dominated by the pandemic. Add a contentious election year to the mix, and it’s difficult — but not impossible — to secure coverage.
While these changes continue to affect how we do our jobs, it’s important to remember that media relations is still an essential part of communications. How we represent our clients is perhaps more important now than ever. To cut through the clutter, we have doubled down on what we know works — offering our clients as a resource to the journalists we work with, finding fresh angles and compelling stories to share and remembering the foundations of PR protocol when pitching. It may require extra work, but by doing so we can represent our clients and assist hardworking journalists in the best ways possible. It’s important to remember we’re all in this together.
Virtual Press Conferences
By Emily Dowsett, Communications Strategist
Prior to New Orleans going into lockdown, we were in the midst of planning a major press conference. Needless to say, the onset of COVID forced our hand — either cancel or pivot to a virtual format.
We chose virtual. At the time this format was rarely used, but nine months and multiple virtual press conferences later, I can safely say that I’m a fan. While lacking in in-person interaction, the virtual format allows greater opportunities for attendance, speaker participation, analytics reporting and follow-up — all at a significantly lower cost.
As in-person press conferences slowly make their return, I encourage clients to continue to consider the virtual option as well!
An Evolution in Brand Storytelling
By Erin Larmann Reynaud, Marketing Strategist
For brands to survive in the time of COVID-19, they must continue to build a strong emotional connection with their key stakeholders. Brands should lean on storytelling to build long-lasting relationships based on trust and transparency.
In 2021, we will see brands approach storytelling in new and creative ways. Brand stories will be highly visual and layered across marketing channels revealing the full story gradually, much like a chapter book. We will also see more brands using their customers to tell their story. Sharing real life user experiences makes a brand more approachable and authentic. Let’s all get ready for the new year and new possibilities.