Incite Brilliance

In this episode of Insight Brilliance, Cathy speaks to Sam Boniface, UK Communications Lead at Avon International, about how one of the world’s most recognisable beauty brands continues to reinvent itself 140 years on. From empowering women before they had the right to vote, to embracing omnichannel retail, social commerce and AI, Sam shares how Avon is balancing heritage, innovation and community while staying true to its core mission of belonging and opportunity.

Cathy chats to Paps Shaikh from Good Vibration about the power of meditation in a corporate environment to help reduce stress and bring harmony back to a team.   

In this episode, Cathy’s joined by Janet Leighton, Timpson’s Director of Happiness, to explore how the long-standing family business has built a high-trust, people-first culture through “upside-down management.” Janet shares how Timpson hires for personality over CVs, runs with just two core rules, and measures support through a single-question Happiness Indes – all designed to give frontline colleagues true autonomy. The conversation also dives into the practical reality of workplace happiness, from financial and emotional wellbeing support to weekly lotteries and “Great Culture Month,” offering clear lessons for organisations looking to create engaged, resilient teams.

Cathy chats to Sam McNeill from Song Division about harnessing the power of music to engage employees.

New host Cathy Phillips chats to Jason from The Humour Connection about how laughter in the workplace helps create a sense of belonging and connection.

Never make assumptions about people. To assume, as the saying goes, makes an ass of anyone who thinks human behaviour is predictable. Client director Kelly Blakey reveals how honest conversations powered a culture change within a police force – and how we can use discussion to make comms campaigns genuinely effective.

Whether you’re hiding in a cave from a hungry bear or wilting under an overwhelming workload – it all feels the same to our nervous system. That’s why as internal communicators we’re meeting a fundamental human need for safety and trust, says Helena Morley of TrustFord.

Are you free to bring your whole self to work? And how does that fit with a cohesive workplace culture? The answer lies in understanding our true motivations – and how we can use that knowledge to be successful at work and in life. Kay Vessey talks about a tool that can help us to do that.

Outdated work structures are killing employees’ sense of vocation, says Helen Bissett, founding director of H&H. And in spite of global investment in employee engagement, studies tell us many people are still as disconnected as ever. So how can we fix this – and does it all start with conscious leadership?

Good intentions are not enough to make DEI programmes successful, says Melody Moore, our guest from Liberare Consulting. What we’re talking about is a culture change – and as with any transformation, internal communicators play a crucial role in making it work for all the right reasons.

Does anyone go to work planning to do a bad job? Or wanting to feel bored at work? Kirsty Beckett doesn’t think so. Find out how you can inspire and motivate people to do their best work, by giving them a clear purpose that truly resonates with them.

Hybrid working can be a game-changer. But only if both employer and employee commit to making it work. The key is to boost our VQ – or Virtual Intelligence. In this episode, H&H founding director Hannah Thoresby reveals a model for developing the vital skills and behaviours to keep colleagues connected, productive and creative in the digital environment.

When your comms need to transcend language and geography, try music. In this episode, Jane Halford, H&H client director, shares stories about using music to build connections at a deep, emotional level – and how it can unite people in the most unlikely scenarios!