Let the Sponsorship Madness Begin
I was lucky this weekend, lucky to be in Chicago, lucky to be inside the United Center for the 2026 TIAA Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament Championship, and lucky to be in a city that was fully alive for St. Patrick's Day.
Building a Team is Like Building a Sponsorship Portfolio
There is no question that, as business leaders, we use an overwhelming amount of sports analogies.
Is that because so many business leaders come to their roles after occupying similar positions in their playing career, even if it was their high school team?
What happens when labels meet logos?
What happens when labels meet logos?
That's what I set out to discover at the Milano Cortina Olympics.
How would a city so renowned for the Duomo, its architecture and its style, meld with an event that is driven so mightily by commercial interests?
Upon arrival in Milano, I had my answers.
Super Bowl LXROI
I am risking massive trademark issues by adding the ROI acronym to the Roman numerals representing the 2026 Super Bowl.
Hopefully, the event's patrons, who likely generated something in the neighbourhood of US$600 million for the Bay Area, will forgive me.
If ROI is under scrutiny, this room matters
This April in Pittsburgh, we’re bringing together leaders who are being asked harder questions, and who want better answers.
The SponsorshipX ROI Forum is a focused experience designed to help you make smarter sponsorship decisions, communicate value more clearly, and build confidence around ROI in a landscape that’s evolving fast.
SponsorshipX ROI Forum 2026
I’ve been thinking a lot about ROI lately.
Not ROI as a metric on a slide, but ROI as a feeling, the quiet confidence you have when you know an investment made sense. Or the knot in your stomach when you’re preparing to explain one that didn’t.
Feedback and Future Requests Wanted!
Do you experience anxiety about annual performance reviews?
Whether you are the reviewer or the reviewee, it can often be a dreaded moment. Or maybe that’s just me.
Giving as an Economic Tool
Today, in more than 90 countries around the world, it is Giving Tuesday. This is the day when individuals, companies, foundations and governments are invited to give to the charities that matter most in their lives.
Everyone’s a Changemaker
Bill Drayton, the man who coined the term Changemaker, also coined the expression “Everyone’s a Changemaker”.
If Drayton had attended the SponsorshipX Changemakers Summit in Toronto last week, I think what he would have seen is that everyone wants to be a Changemaker. Some are there and others are on their way.
Get Ready for the Changemakers Summit in Toronto!
I wanted to take a moment to give you a rundown of what is happening at the SponsorshipX Changemakers Summit. It will be an action-packed few days, so get ready to soar!
Crankworx at 20: From Volunteer Days to Global Stage
This week in Whistler, the world's biggest mountain bike festival turns 20. Crankworx has evolved from a local celebration of the sport into a global brand with stops in New Zealand, Australia, Europe, and Canada. I had the chance to sit down with the man steering the ride, Darren Kinnaird, Managing Director of Crankworx Events Inc.
The Bricklayer, the Bot, and the Changemaker
The timeless craft of a bricklayer requires a rhythm for their craft, a keen eye for levelling and patience of Job. From the preparation of the site to the accumulation of tools to the all-important corner leads, there are no shortcuts in the process. Each buttered brick needs to be checked and double-checked, and the instincts of a master are earned, not learned.
Why Doesn’t Cannes Award Sponsorship Lions?
The Cannes Lions celebrate creative excellence and effectiveness in every sector and discipline of the industry as one of the most prestigious awards in the marketing industry.
If so, why is there no category for Sponsorship Marketing?
Cannes Winners – Inspiration or Education?
Is there a difference between Inspiration and Education in your mind? You may believe that Inspiration sends you northward on a new path and that Education provides you with the knowledge to navigate that journey.
Cannes deux mille vingt-cinq
On a first-day tour of the Cannes Lions footprint by a delightfully knowledgeable staffer, I learned that the 2025 festival was supported by over two hundred and thirty (230) partners.
Paying It Backward
Suppose there was ever a case in sponsorship of a property reaping what it sows positively. In that case, the recent announcement that Stripe has become the new title sponsor of the Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition in Ireland is just that.
31 Years of Leadership Lesson
Last week, T1, known at various times as Trojan Sports Marketing, Trojan Sports & Event Marketing, TrojanOne, and TrojanOne Integrated Brand Activation, turned thirty-one.
Is the night mayor a new sponsorship opportunity?
The City of Toronto is about to appoint its first-ever Night Mayor. Technically, the job title is "Manager of the Night Economy," though I think the nickname is cooler. Night Mayor. (Not Nightmare for the record!)
A May Bouquet of Sponsorship Flowers for You!
Podcasts, SPX Basecamp, Virtual ROI Forum, YouGov Women's Sports Sponsorship Study, and ROI Forum Delegate eBook All Coming Your Way!