Katherine Gougeon
Katherine is an award-winning marketer and nationally published journalist who helps executives and organizations create world-class strategic communications.
After 8 years of working agency-side as a strategist and senior writer on pharmaceutical, healthcare, packaged goods, retail and travel accounts, Katherine founded an ideas company dedicated to generating chemistry between brand and audience. For flagship client IKEA Canada, she created a series of national news campaigns that garnered accolades (and replication) from IKEA worldwide, won an ACE award, and inspired Marketing Magazine to name IKEA ‘(PR) Marketer of the Year’. As longtime brand and communications advisor to FreshTV, Katherine guided the company's narrative and strategic messaging as it evolved from a boutique animation studio to one of the world's biggest and most beloved producers of family entertainment.
Today, Katherine works with decision makers across all sectors, using her journalistic instincts to develop bullet proof positioning and communications that stand apart, ring true and generate momentum for organizations and those who lead them.
Katherine also contributes to national publications like The Globe & Mail and FASHION where she has interviewed CEOs, scientists, economists, futurists, best selling authors and even a murderous socialite. She enjoys blogging about marketing, culture and media moments that pack an outsized punch.
Pat Pirisi
As an accomplished writer, strategist, and long time Creative Director, Pat has created countless integrated multi-channel campaigns on some of the world’s leading brands. Pat has won hundreds of awards — One Show, D&AD, CA, Cannes, as well as all the Canadian shows — and his work has been featured on CNN, CBC News, Global News, CTV News, Breakfast Television, The Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, National Post, Buzzfeed, Huffington Post, Adweek, AdAge and countless other news and media outlets on multiple occasions.
Pat has judged numerous advertising award shows, as well as having written for the Globe & Mail, National Post, and many other industry magazines on the subjects of advertising and marketing.
As an industry veteran, Pat has world class experience leading brands like Wal-Mart, Rogers Communications, Apple, Chrysler, Nissan, The City of Toronto, Ontario Ministry of Environment, Hershey, Cadbury, Heinz, AB InBev, Under Armour, Home Depot, Pfizer, Shire, CIBC, TD Bank, GE Capital, Unilever, Nestle, and many more. His non-profit work includes the likes of Diabetes Canada, Canadian Cancer Society, Imagine Canada, Alzheimer Society Canada, Kids Help Phone, Concerned Children’s Advertisers, among others.
Pat is a graduate of the University of Toronto having completed a 4-year co-specialist program with a double major in English and Philosophy.