August had a sense of old institutions meeting new questions. New Scientist turned 70. The Africa Food Systems Forum turned 20. Our first Influence Economy report asked what happens when trusted institutions stop commanding attention.
In New York, meanwhile, some things remained reassuringly analogue: journalists, oysters and a Mets game.
We also welcomed some new faces, said goodbye to others and made the most of what was left of summer.
Work 💪
Influence Economy: when trust isn’t enough
For decades, organisations have been told that if people trust you, they will listen to you.
That no longer looks quite so simple. Leaders with decades of expertise and institutional authority now compete for attention with people who have a fraction of either, and often lose.
Our first Influence Economy report looks at why: who shapes opinion now, what has changed, and what organisations can learn from the people who have adapted fastest. It is a global, data-led snapshot, not an endorsement of the people or organisations featured.
We have already been using the findings in our work with clients. Since launch, they have also prompted discussion in Earned First, Baduel Briefing, M&M, PRMoment and PRovoke, as well as rather a lot of LinkedIn debate.
Next up, our Global Chief Client Officer Steph Bailey takes the argument to Soho House in London, with New York to follow.
You can download the full report here.
The report is the start of an annual commitment: to repeat the research each year, track how influence is changing and keep our work with clients grounded in what the evidence shows.
New Scientist at 70: from the space race to AI
New Scientist turns 70 this year. Its history stretches from the space race to AI, seven decades in which science has changed the world it was trying to understand.
We’ve been working with the team on the anniversary: launching a new B2B offering and building towards a September event at the Science Museum, using the last 70 years as the way into the next.
More than 200 people have already signed up, with speakers from across science and innovation joining them.
AFS at 20: new voices in Kigali
Africa’s food systems employ more people than any other part of the economy, yet the continent still imports tens of billions of dollars of food each year and remains highly exposed to drought, conflict and rising costs.
For 20 years, the Africa Food Systems Forum has brought governments, businesses and others together around how Africa feeds itself — and how it creates more jobs and investment in doing so.
This year in Kigali, it also started changing the way those conversations happen. A new Food Festival took the programme beyond the conference room, connecting food with culture, tourism and investment, while young entrepreneurs, creators and influencers were given more room alongside the established voices.
Woodrow supported the Forum for the third year running. Twenty years in, AFS is not short of established voices. This year, it made more room for some new ones.
Woodrow 🌱
New York: our first media mixer
If you are going to fill a room with journalists in Manhattan, oysters are a fairly persuasive organising principle.
Reporters from TIME and Inc. joined freelance writers, newsletter editors and specialist journalists over cocktails and a steadily diminishing mountain of shellfish.
By the end, the shells had piled up and nobody seemed particularly keen to leave.
We may have found our format.
Colin makes PRWeek’s 40 Under 40
PRWeek named Colin Hart to its 40 Under 40 this month.
He joined Woodrow last September to build our US office and now leads the growing New York team and client base.
Colin’s great quality is calm. He has a way of making difficult moments feel more manageable for everyone around him, without ever making light of them.
The recognition feels thoroughly deserved.
People 🧑🤝🧑
Anusha heads for Barcelona
After two years at Woodrow, Anusha is leaving us for Barcelona to study for a Master’s degree in international affairs.
We’re very sorry to lose her, though it is difficult to begrudge someone Barcelona and a subject they love.
Anusha made Woodrow a better place to work. The playlists helped too.
We’ll miss her enormously.
Goodbye to Lucy
Lucy joined us for a summer placement and became part of the London team very quickly.
She threw herself into the work, took on whatever came her way and was a lovely person to have around while she did it.
A summer goes quickly. This one felt particularly short.
Thank you, Lucy.
Welcome, Alexa
We were very happy to welcome Alexa Rooney as our first Senior Account Executive in New York this month.
She has joined at a busy moment, with UNGA and Climate Week just around the corner, and has already settled into the team.
It is lovely to have her with us.
London in New York
Juste and Sophie both spent time with our New York team and clients in August.
There is something very good about colleagues who usually occupy a square on a screen suddenly turning up at the next desk.
More of that, please.
Six years of Ashlie
Ashlie celebrated six years at Woodrow this month, making her one of the longest-standing people in the company.
She has been here through a great deal of change and remains one of the people who has helped make Woodrow what it is.
As Ashlie put it:
“Over my 6 years, I've seen Woodrow through a lot of different phases, and it just keeps getting better. For me its the team: it's an honour to work with such smart, funny and talented people from all over the world. And I'm so proud of the work we have done and continue to do. Here's to the next 6!”
Six years is a lot of Woodrow. We’re very grateful Ashlie has given them to us.
Summer at Woodrow
The Woodrow summer picnic started in the early days of the company, when Charlie would head to Primrose Hill to clear his head and look out over London. Before long, it became something the whole team did.
This summer was the seventh.
The London team went back to Primrose Hill with pizza, drinks and ring toss, making the most of a properly sunny afternoon before heading to The Queen’s for a pint.
In Kenya, the team held its first summer picnic together as a group of seven — a lovely marker of how much the office has grown.
And in New York, the tradition became a baseball game at Citi Field, with the Mets taking on the Padres over hot dogs and drinks.
The Mets lost. Everyone else had a very good afternoon.
Woodrow and babygros
August brought two very happy pieces of news: the arrival of baby Tylus and baby Rafferty.
Huge congratulations to Colin and Lily, and to their families. We hope they are enjoying those first few weeks together — sleep deprivation and all.
We were also very happy to welcome David back from parental leave after some precious time at home with his family and newborn.
Lots of love to all of them.
Join us
We have a few more good people to find.
In London, we are hiring at Account Director level and above. In Nairobi, we have openings for Account Managers and Associate Directors.
If you are curious about life at Woodrow — or know somebody brilliant who might be — get in touch at careers@woodrowcommunications.com.
