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We are delighted to bring you an insightful conversation with Mignon van Halderen—Author of the definitive book Thought Leadership: how to take a progressive position towards societal change, Partner at the Reputatie Groep (Reputation Group), and academician. In conversation with Pavan R Chawla, Founder-Editor of Mediabrief.com

If you have read her work, this podcast episode is your chance to hear her elaborate on the "fuzzy" nature of corporate influence. Joined by host Pavan R. Chawla, Mignon argues that thought leadership is not something you can claim—it is "in the eye of the beholder".

Key moments in this conversation:

• Authenticity vs. Claims: Why boasting about the "caliber" of your staff isn't enough.

• Novel Points of View: How to find a fresh perspective that "triggers" your audience, using examples like Dove and major societal themes like inclusivity and climate change.

• From Reactive to Proactive: Mignon explains why companies need a narrative "backbone" to stop scrambling for answers on big issues.

• A Strategic Playbook: Mignon invites listeners to use her insights as a "playbook" to engage stakeholders and collaborate on important themes.

This episode is essential listening for every custodian of Brand and C-Suite Reputation.

Tune in to this episode of CommsCast, The Reputation Podcast Powered by Adfactors PR, to hear Mignon van Halderen share her expertise.

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In this episode of COMMSCAST, The Reputation Podcast powered by Adfactors PR, Srikanth Ayyappan, Senior Director, Marketing and Strategy, Parexel India, joins Christina Dsouza Lasrado, Group Head – Integrated Healthcare Practice (IHCP), Adfactors PR, for a deep-dive conversation on what it takes to communicate in one of the world’s most regulated industries.

Srikanth shares his career journey from IBM and Agilent to Parexel, reflecting on curiosity, adaptability, and resilience as defining traits for communicators. He explains how healthcare marketing sits at the intersection of authenticity, empathy, compliance, and technology — and why simplifying complex ideas for patients, caregivers, and stakeholders is both a challenge and a responsibility.

The conversation explores:

• Marketing in highly regulated environments and why authenticity and clarity matter
• The balance of credibility and empathy in storytelling
• The evolving role of generative AI as a “super-assistant” — powerful but not a replacement for human creativity and judgment
• Reputation as a shared responsibility across the organization, not just leadership
• The value of client–agency partnerships rooted in clarity, credibility, and trust
• Srikanth’s advice to young professionals on simplifying complexity, focusing on people, and connecting the dots across silos
• His recommended must-read: The Brand New 50 by Tom Peters, on building authentic personal brands

A thoughtful, wide-ranging dialogue, this episode is packed with insights for communicators in healthcare, regulated industries, and beyond.

Listen now to COMMSCAST, The Reputation Podcast powered by Adfactors PR — featuring Srikanth Ayyappan in conversation with Christina Dsouza Lasrado — for a compelling perspective on the evolving craft of communication.

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How does a central bank earn and maintain public trust over decades? What is the real art of crisis communication in the financial world? And how can communications leaders shape narratives in an institution as opaque and mission-critical as the Reserve Bank of India?

In this insightful episode of CommsCast – The Reputation Podcast powered by Adfactors PR, host Manibalan Manoharan, Senior Group Head – Digital at Adfactors PR, is joined by Alpana Killawala, veteran communicator and former Head of Communications at the RBI, who, for the past four years and more, serves as Strategic Advisor at Adfactors PR.

Alpana shares her learnings from working with six Governors of the Reserve Bank of India, shaping the RBI’s external and internal communication strategy during some of India’s most significant economic transitions. Drawing from her book A Fly on the RBI Wall, she offers stories, lessons, and behind-the-scenes insights on what it takes to communicate for a central bank that balances confidentiality with credibility.

Tune in to learn about:

• RBI’s evolving communication strategy
• How media relations were managed across governors
• Best practices in financial PR and strategic communication
• Transitioning from journalism to institutional communications
• Reputation management in high-stakes policy environments

Whether you're a communications professional, financial analyst, journalist, or student of public affairs, this episode offers a rare view into the storytelling and transparency that shape India's financial messaging.