Travelport’s Guinness World Record Campaign
Russ with Anne
Anne Kerr described Travelport’s ground breaking campaign, which featured British adventurer Jamie McDonald (Adventureman) visiting all seven new wonders of the world in under seven days using only public transport. The campaign demonstrated the capabilities of Travelport’s technology platform, Travelport+, while boosting employee morale during a post-Covid recovery period.
By taking a people-first approach, Travelport involved employees throughout the campaign.
Highlights included appointing a “Chief Adventure Officer” from the team, hosting a global live watch party, and engaging employees with competitions and gamification.
The results were impressive: 70% of employees attended the watch party, 63% participated in activities, and employee pride increased from 69% pre-Covid to 86%. The campaign also delivered a 70% increase in sales leads and a $12 million revenue pipeline.
Anne highlighted how creative, employee-focused initiatives can simultaneously drive engagement and commercial success.
PIB Group’s Internal Podcasting Success
Andy Jones (Left) with Debbie and Russ
Andy Jones shared how PIB Group, a global insurance intermediary operating across the UK, Ireland, mainland Europe, and India, celebrated its tenth anniversary by tackling communication challenges through podcasting. Working with Debbie West and the team at Audere Communications, PIB launched a podcast to unite employees, foster engagement, and offer deeper insights into organisational priorities.
The podcast, led by candid conversations between senior leaders Brendan and Ryan, highlighted PIB’s history, future direction, and vision. The high-quality production allowed for engaging promotional content, generating excitement among employees.
Andy emphasised the importance of podcasts as a tool to make employees feel valued and connected. Feedback from the workforce was overwhelmingly positive, with even senior managers gaining new insights from the episodes.
Andy recommended working with experts and integrating podcasts into broader campaigns to maximise their impact.
Generation Alpha in the Workplace
Russ with Pia
Pia de Malherbe provided a forward-looking perspective on Generation Alpha, comprising individuals born between 2010 and 2025. With the oldest members nearing 15 years old, this tech-savvy generation is expected to enter the workforce around 2030. Pia described them as “social, global, and mobile,” having grown up in a world dominated by iPads, smartphones, and social media.
Generation Alpha inherits values like diversity, sustainability, and inclusion from their Gen Z predecessors but now expects these principles to be foundational in workplace culture. Pia highlighted five key areas employers must address to attract and retain this cohort: purpose and relevance, sustainability, diversity and inclusion, brand storytelling, and digital-first solutions.
Businesses are already adapting, with Unilever leveraging social media and podcasts to share employee stories, while Mercedes-Benz invites children to its factories for interactive experiences, inspiring them with evolving industry trends. Pia emphasised that companies must offer flexibility, continuous learning, and opportunities for professional growth to meet the expectations of this ambitious generation.
Oak Engage’s Partnership with Halfords Autocentres
recording with Katy
Katy Mogra discussed Oak Engage’s transformative partnership with Halfords Autocentres, a predominantly deskless workforce operating on outdated, paper-based systems. Oak Engage introduced a branded mobile app called ‘Connect,’ which centralised access to policies, updates, and documents while enabling two-way communication.
The app achieved a 71% adoption rate, significantly improving productivity and operational efficiency. Employees could easily access critical information, fostering better engagement and customer service. The app’s onboarding features also improved retention by helping new hires integrate into the company culture. Katy highlighted Oak Engage’s commitment to innovation through AI tools, including an assistant to streamline content creation and upcoming analytics features. She also pointed to the growing importance of short-form video content for internal communications, reflecting trends inspired by platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels.
Final Thoughts
This episode showcases how innovative internal communication strategies, from podcasting and creative campaigns to digital transformation and preparing for future generations, can drive engagement, connection, and organisational success. Each guest brought actionable insights and real-world examples, demonstrating the power of people-first approaches and tailored solutions.
