“For WPP there are many advantages: we are able to continue our investment in talented employees while improving their understanding of the global economy and developing markets; we are better placed to advise clients on corporate social responsibility; but most of all as a Group we are able to use our expertise for the benefit of society. I’m very excited by the possibilities.”
“Being part of the TIE pilot has been worth every moment for us at Leo Burnett. We are thrilled to discover such an innovative and effective training experience which has the potential to be shaped to meet our objectives and values on both the individual and agency level. It really takes participants out of their comfort zone and the security blanket of “the team” and forces them to develop their leadership skills, as well as putting their core craft skills to a different use. The placement is very challenging but it has produced very real benefits to the individual in terms of performance, confidence, leadership and broadening perspectives and therefore ambition. From an agency perspective, this approach to training not only reflects our values but we’re very happy to have been able to help such an incredible organisation as Gestos and to have developed a relationship with them and Mart-Pet which we hope will continue.”
“Above all I think I’ve had a growth in confidence that I can tackle difficult and challenging situations and not just get through it, but actually thrive.”
“TIE is a unique way of developing communications professionals (call it ‘extraordinary training’ if you will). TIE nurtured the leadership skills that I needed to progress my career at Leo Burnett. It helped build the confidence in my own abilities and allowed me to do things that I didn’t think I could do. I’m not a strategic planner, or a communications/media planner, yet the placement required that I create a communications campaign from scratch, devise and conduct research, devise a communications strategy (considering all elements of communications rather than just advertising), lead the creative briefing process, plan media and create a comms plan, think about the role of public relations…all without the usual support and advice of my team, my superiors or partner agencies back in the UK.”
“In the past, our charitable contributions have primarily been discreet and financial. Over recent years our staff have told us they would prefer a more public and participative approach. The TIE initiative represents a great example of the type of project we want to pursue. It’s a well-run scheme and we can be confident of making a positive impact on the community. We also anticipate that our chosen candidate will develop real leadership skills.”
“We are delighted to be working with TIE as this opportunity provides a mechanism for us to support our culture of empowerment which originated in our roots as a start-up. We invest in like-minded people and review performance against shared values to create a motivated team who develop loyal relationships and go the extra mile. Working with TIE will enable us to support one of our employees not only in making a significant contribution to a much needed cause, but will also provide a life enriching experience that we believe will genuinely be valued for years to come. We have had a huge level of interest from the staff and the whole agency is excited about the journey someone is about to start.”
“At Wieden + Kennedy, we’re not do-gooders, but we want to do more good. People in our industry are experts at helping bring about behavioural change. So why can’t we use this special power for good, sometimes, rather than evil? This is why TIE is such a timely, wonderful and important creation, and why Wieden + Kennedy got involved at the outset. It affords our individuals the opportunity to contribute something meaningful to communities that genuinely need what our people can offer. The NGO* Plan (in Recife, Brazil) were thrilled with the positive contribution made by Penny Brough (the first of many ‘exchangees’ we will be sending from Wieden + Kennedy). Furthermore, Penny gathered an array of rewarding, rich and broad experiences that will be of enormous benefit to herself, and to Wieden + Kennedy, for many years to come.”
“As an ex-WPP Fellow, my background is in market research, advertising planning, brand consultancy and now communications strategy. Before TIE, I began to feel that perhaps I needed a more defined strategic specialism. However, one of the most surprising and satisfying elements of my TIE experience was discovering that all my strategic skills made me uniquely equipped to help Iracambi, the small NGO to which I was assigned. From business consultancy work to creative brand workshops (in Portuguese!) to developing a communications plan, my holistic background was my biggest asset.”
“The time I have spent here has been a great experience. Brazil is a complicated place, at times frustrating, but overcoming challenges of language and culture has been hugely rewarding.”
“Being a TIE volunteer in early 2011 was deeply special. I grew up in Bangladesh and believe that the best kind of development is the kind that delivers and leaves skills, rather than taking away local jobs. That’s why volunteering my skills appealed so much. And I love children. Living in lots of emerging markets has made me a firm believer in education as the thing that will make a difference, the education of young girls in particular. So for me to go out and work for a grassroots charity aiming to raise children’s literacy levels in Brazil by giving of my communications skills was a perfect fit.”
“I have realised that life is not all about work, sometimes you can gain more by slowing down a little. My biggest personal outtake of the whole trip; perfection is not always required and letting it get in the way of achieving anything does not help anyone. The trip has without a doubt changed my perspective on so many things in life and at work.”
“The experience has equipped me with a more practical approach to dealing with setbacks and changes, a realisation that you can over-plan things and sometimes the best approach is to wait and see. It has made me realise that the ideal process rarely happens and that there are always factors and limitations that mean you must always be flexible.”
“We are delighted to be working with TIE and looking forward to seeing the whole agency get behind the chosen candidate. TIE is a unique initiative that not only matches our core values of collaboration and innovation but also has a huge benefit to all involved. We can’t wait to get started.”
“The whole experience impacted me hugely, changed me, left me feeling stimulated – and connected. I returned with fresh and different eyes. To my New York work and world and life. What I did with the Brazilian charity was just a tiny start. Yet one that left me knowing, no question, I’d used my talents and privileged position to play my part.”
“TIE has really helped to strengthen Gestos’ vision and has significantly impacted on the lives of the people within our organisation. The TIE placement with Chris has really helped increase our self esteem as an organisation and has really helped our people be more open and better prepared to deal with different cultures. Overall an outstanding experience for us.”
“TIE is a unique scheme for those who contribute to it, and those who benefit from it. It forces you to feel uncomfortable, to have to so quickly embrace a new culture, to open your eyes to new problems and think differently about solving them. Waking up each morning not really knowing what will happen or what will be thrown at you is initially un-nerving but ultimately gives you a real buzz and sense of achievement. Having an ‘open brief’ but with a world of expectation and responsibility on your shoulders is frightening, but also really exciting. The immediacy of how quickly you can make an impact is incredible, how quickly things can happen and how easily you can apply yourself and do some good. What you take away from participating in a project with TIE is 1,000-fold: you achieve much, much more than you could ever learn taking a comms course in the UK or working in everyday communications. I would recommend the experience to anyone. I’d also highly recommend the cake.”
“The organizational work that Tiffany did with us (beyond the call of duty) also left us with a keen desire for more…huge progress was made – we now have a much clearer idea of what our priorities are, what our story is, who our key clients are and how we can proceed in our future communications. Her work has helped us focus clearly on what we do and who we are and how we can begin to become a more professional organization.”
“This bridging of talents will bring the EE Project onto another level of reach and action, through communication initiatives, which will in due time have great environmental and social impact in the city of Recife, in the Northeast region of Brazil. TIE has been a blessing to our Project from which many flourishing sustainable ideas with applicable solutions can begin to be brought into the light with communications campaigns. TIE shines a torch onto the solutions that enhance human development and defend the preservation of life.”
“The experience we had with TIE was wonderful. It gave us the opportunity to grow as an agency and to contribute to a great project. We are ready for more.”
“TIE is a great opportunity for learning with the best people from the communications industry. This project has changed Inata in many different ways – our clientes understand better the role of communications after the exchange; our students get an intensive preparation for working at professional agencies. TIE increases their opportunities of getting a job, and society gets an important benefit throgh the promotion of social causes. We had two great experiences, and are anxious for the third. TIE has made a big impact and difference in our work and lives.”
“Having Ryan work with the Solidarity Kitchen and create a campaign that communicates the true essence of GTP+ has been an incredible experience for everyone involved. Ryan has raised the self esteem of everyone within the organisation and it has been a very positive experience overall.”
“Working with TIE opened new horizons and provided a new understanding of how to communicate inside and outside our organisation. Our projects are really interesting but we need a new eye to help us communicate our ideas. TIE has been a great partner.”
“Good work doesn’t exist when it’s only made by one, or for one. A better world doesn’t exist when the work is only done by one, or for one. Because of this, the union between Mart Pet, TIE, Gestos, Leo burnett London and all of the professionals involved with the project was, and will be, so important. ”
