Paradigm - Message Makers: Episode 1

Dan Gibbons, Internal Communications & Engagement Manager at Capita, is our guest for podcast episode three. He shares a refreshingly honest look at his career journey and what effective internal comms really looks like in a large, complex organisation. Dan's path into communications wasn't planned. Having worked across learning and development, video editing, marketing and comms, he explains how internal communications became the place where all those skills came together. For Dan, the appeal lies in the people side of the role - engagement, understanding behaviour, and helping people feel connected at work. Like many in the profession, he didn't set out to work in internal comms, but discovered it as a niche with real impact. The conversation explores the balance between data and instinct. Dan highlights how metrics like readership, engagement rates and surveys are essential for shaping strategy and winning stakeholder buy-in, particularly when time and cost are involved. At the same time, gut feeling still plays a valuable role, especially when data shows that an idea simply isn't landing. Working at Capita brings unique challenges, from navigating shared values and tone of voice to embedding culture at scale. Dan shares how Capita developed a culture code rooted in employee insight, collaboration and line manager buy-in, alongside a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion.  The episode also touches on where internal comms sits within organisations, the risks of underestimating its value, and the exciting opportunities technology presents for engaging people in new, creative ways.

In this second episode of Message Makers, host Owen sits down with Iain Lumsden, Head of Events, Activations and Social Impact at ING Australia, to explore culture, connection and the evolving role of comms in a digital-first, global organisation. Iain has spent more than 20 years in communications, starting in financial services before moving into telecoms, where he and Owen worked together at O2. Internal communications has always been central to his career, and for the past decade he's brought that expertise to ING Australia, one of the country's original online-only banks. As a challenger brand with no physical branches, ING prides itself on not "feeling like a bank". Ian describes a playful, slightly irreverent culture - or "wonky", as they call it - that shapes everything from advertising to internal tone of voice, while still balancing professionalism. That strong culture, combined with long tenure and close relationships, helps comms land more effectively. The conversation explores how ING connects local teams to its global strategy, with leaders from Amsterdam visiting regularly to build understanding and celebrate success. Iain also reflects on cultural differences between working in the UK and Australia, highlighting the remarkable diversity of ING's workforce, with more than 50 languages spoken. They discuss ING's unwavering commitment to inclusion, and how AI tools like Copilot can support, but never replace, human creativity and collaboration in communications.  

In episode one of Message Makers, Paradigm Creative MD Owen Vittanuova sits down with Beth Fear, Senior Internal Communications Manager at Capgemini, to chat curiosity, clarity and connection in communications. Beth's career in comms began by accident… moving from a call centre job while studying PR. This sparked a lasting interest in helping people understand change. Since then, she's worked across industries from retail to IT, learning that while every organisation has its quirks, great communication always relies on empathy, honesty and human connection. Now leading internal comms for Capgemini's Cloud Infrastructure Services sector  - a community of around 34,000 within a global workforce of more than 340,000 - she shares how consistency and collaboration are key and all about enabling dialogue to align strategy, tone, timing, and channels across cultures and time zones. The conversation explores how Capgemini connects a worldwide workforce, from practical planning tools that keep teams aligned to sessions that allow space for honest conversations. Learn how success in comms is shifting. Beth says it's no longer about clicks and read rates, but about whether messages genuinely build trust and connection. It's a great watch/listen with interesting discussions on balancing technology and humanity, and how AI can support creativity without replacing it.