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There’s something about the start of a new year that fills us with anticipation and hope. As we kick off 2025, many of us take time to reflect not only on our professional goals as communicators, but on our personal development as well.

In honour of this, PIC’s own Brent Artemchuk took time to explore how we plan on improving ourselves in the coming year. Seeing the thoughtful answers, it got us thinking: how do you, our PIC community, want to give yourself your own “glow-up” in 2025? After reading Brent’s column, I encourage you to spark conversations with friends and colleagues about your own aspirations for the year ahead.

In this issue, we welcome new PIC member Rachel Starkman, and share what our friends Sharon Aschaiek and Lisa Gibson have been up to. In Book Nook, Catharine Heddle has once again piqued our interest with her review of a new read, the 2024 worldwide bestseller Supercommunicators. (Thank you, Catharine, for another great recommendation!)

Missed an issue in 2024? Not to worry – we’ve pulled together the details of all of our 2024 issues for easy reference.

Happy reading and all the best in 2025!

If you have any comments or questions, ideas for professional development topics, or wish to volunteer with PIC, reach out to me at toronto-sig@iabc.to. I’m always happy to hear from you.

The PIC executive highlights their glow-up plans for 2025

By Brent Artemchuk

Lately, I’ve been obsessed with the concept of micro-learning. At its core, it’s about dedicating a small amount of time (usually less than 20-minutes) each day to learning something. It’s designed to replace aimless scrolling on your phone and to reduce learner fatigue.

I plan to fully embrace micro-learning in 2025. I’m going to devote time daily to learning about a topic I’m unfamiliar with, growing a skill or improving a personal habit such as mindfulness. There are already apps available to aid in micro-learning, but I think I’ll do my own research and pick my own subjects.

This obsession had me wondering if others on the PIC executive had plans to glow-up their professional or personal lives this year. Their responses to my question left me so inspired that I decided to share them in The Buzz.

Our overall hope is that when you read these replies, you’ll be motivated to think about your own glow-up plans for 2025. Here’s to a new year of growing and glowing!

Marie-Lauren Gregoire Drummond, SCMP (she/her): In 2025, I will be entering a new chapter: motherhood. And while I’m raising a baby over the next year, I also want to attend more workshops, write a little more and keep up my GCCC certification for SCMP while not in a full-time capacity. Balancing a little bit of professional development while focusing on motherhood will be my priority for 2025.

Catharine Heddle (she/her): I’m always looking to develop professionally, so I plan to attend the AI in Communications conference in Toronto in April. I’m looking forward to digging deeper into the possibilities.

Kathryn Hollinrake (she/her): Personally, I’m continuing to put myself in discomfort’s way by taking improv classes. Totally coincidentally, a client wrote a book on improv in life and business, which I highly recommend: The "Yes, And" Business Evolution – Improv Skills for Leadership and Life by Tracy Shea-Porter. If you read her book, you’ll understand at least partially why I keep taking improv classes, and why you might want to consider taking them, too. I’m also taking continuing education courses in health and wellness, another way I am working on my mental and physical health while positioning myself to contribute to others’.

Sue Horner, SCMP (she/her): On a personal level, one of the ways I want to contribute to work-life balance (and fun!) in 2025 is by seeing more movies in theatres. In the past, I’ve often noticed movies I wanted to see but waited too long to act – movies are only briefly in theatres before they move to streaming services. Also, I’ve never been to the Toronto International Film Festival and I’m hoping some of the PIC members who are avid TIFF goers will guide me on getting there.

Trish Tervit (she/her): 2025 will be a year dedicated to achieving balance and fulfillment in my work life. My top priority is to establish a well-structured routine that prevents overwork and reduces the risk of feeling overwhelmed. This will involve setting realistic expectations with clients, being transparent about what I can deliver and by when, and consciously avoiding overpromising. My ultimate goal is to find a “flow” in my work – a state where I feel energized, creative and financially successful, while maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

Andrea Walasek (she/her): In 2025, I hope to grow personally by committing to continuously upgrading my skills. With my IABC/Toronto membership, I have a world of knowledge available at my fingertips. I plan to take every opportunity to continue growing my skill set by attending as many professional development sessions as I can to expand my knowledge and learn from the experience of others in our ever-evolving field.

Welcome new member

Rachel Starkman (she/her)

Toronto | LinkedIn profile | rachel.starkman@gmail.com

Rachel is a seasoned communications and marketing leader with expertise spanning tech, real estate and Tier-1 consumer packaged goods brands across B2B and B2C sectors. Skilled at managing change and fostering cross-functional relationships, she aligns cultural improvements with business goals. As Global Head of Internal Communications at EcoOnline, she designs strategic programs to drive engagement and business clarity. Passionate about creating impactful narratives, she leads with a people-first mindset to deliver meaningful results.

Member news

Sharon Aschaiek (she/her) of Higher Ed Communications is adapting her business to better align with her values and her desire to be of service. Her new offering, Communications for Jewish Initiatives, will support organizations and causes working to advance Jewish rights, safety and inclusion. Sharon is helping Jewish and Israel-focused foundations, advocacy groups, cultural centres and service organizations with using effective communications to counter Jew-hate, clarify misconceptions about Judaism and Israel, build solidarity with concerned allies, attract more donors and members, and strengthen Jewish communities.

Lisa Gibson (she/her) has crossed another item off her bucket list. She’s written a book, Shine the Spotlight on You! It’s a step-by-step guide to building confidence, overcoming imposter syndrome and amplifying your personal brand. The book launched January 7 and you can find it online. Lisa would love your feedback; get in touch with her at lisa@ignitecommunications.ca.

Last call for the virtual forest therapy session on Jan. 21

As you work on your 2025 to-do list, take a few calming minutes for yourself. Join in a restorative virtual forest therapy session, presented by PIC in partnership with the IABC Consultants Shared Interest Group.

Our forest therapy guide is Monique Giroux (she/her), a Reiki practitioner, coach, bestselling author and former professional communicator.

During this session, especially designed for independent communicators, we will:

• Get a taste of the healing practice of forest therapy
• Learn simple, practical activities to enhance our personal well-being
• Deepen our connection with nature.

Free for IABC members of any chapter; $30 for non-members ($33.90 with HST).

Book Nook: Why are some people so good at connecting?

By Catharine Heddle

The 2024 worldwide bestseller Supercommunicators by Charles Duhigg is a great analysis of why some people are so good at connecting with others.

The book’s premise is that there are three main types of conversations, and to communicate successfully, you need to know which type of conversation you’re having:

1. What’s this really about? – a practical conversation to which it helps to bring a decision-making mindset.
2. How do we feel? – a conversation that benefits from an emotional mindset.
3. Who are we? – a conversation that calls for a social mindset.

Using a blend of psychology and neuroscience, Duhigg explains that supercommunicators are people with the natural or learned ability to recognize and lean into the type of conversation they’re having, put people at ease and create authentic connections. They are empathetic and vulnerable, listen actively and ask questions, share what they think and use their words and body language to make others feel comfortable doing the same. They’re also skilled at steering conversations in a productive direction.

Many communicators already share these qualities — that’s why we chose this profession.

What I found intriguing was the idea that we may be able to help our clients spot these supercommunicators within their organizations, learn from them and potentially harness them to advance organizational goals. Imagine having a couple of such naturally skilled facilitators on your employee advisory panel for a major change project? Even one could make all the difference.

The book also contains anecdotes from the corporate world, including an interesting window on the inner workings at Netflix. Definitely worth a read, in my opinion.

Would you like to read along with me? Next, I’m planning to read Get It Done: Surprising Lessons from the Science of Motivation by Ayelet Fishbach.

Have you read an interesting or helpful book lately? Share it with PIC members in this column! Email me at catharine@lamplightercommunications.com.

Your guide to The Buzz in 2024

We want each issue of The Buzz to offer advice and inspiration for indies. In case you’d like to revisit past issues, we’ve pulled the details together in one place to help you find the meeting recaps, 3x3 participants and PIC Personalities appearing in 2024.

January: New beginnings

• Arlene Amitirigala wonders if it’s time to embrace something new
• New beginnings for 3 members: Yvonne Catty, ABC; Jacqui d’Eon, P.Eng., ABC, MC; and Ali Wines
• Buzzy Bits with Jacqui and Arlene
• PIC Personality: Meet Trish Tervit by Brent Artemchuk
• Member news: Jacqui DeBique and Sue Horner are new SCMPs
• Welcome back Ali Wines
• PIC testimonial: Christopher Trotman

February: Positioning your business / Black History Month

• How to support clients in recognizing #BlackHistory Month, by Marie-Lauren Gregoire Drummond, SCMP
• Recap of “Becoming a unicorn: How to make yourself a category of one” by Sarah L. Manley Robertson, ABC, SCMP, Prosci
• 3x3: Positioning your business with diversity in mind; Brent Artemchuk talks to Priya Bates, ABC, MC, SCMP, IABC Fellow; Cyrus Mavalwala, ABC, MC; and Sabita Singh, ABC
• Buzzy Bits with Christopher Trotman
• Welcome Rasha Fawakhiri, Lisa Gibson and Trisha Richards
• PIC testimonial: Jacqui DeBique, SCMP

March: International Women’s Day / Women’s History Month

• Women still breaking barriers, by Marie-Lauren Gregoire Drummond, SCMP
• 3x3: Linda Bicho-Vachon, Matisse Hamel-Nelis, ADS, CPACC, and Kathryn Hollinrake chat with Jacqui d’Eon, P.Eng., ABC, MC
• Welcome Heather Redfearn
• PIC testimonial: Alix Edmiston, ABC

April: The value of volunteering

• The rewards of volunteering, by Marie-Lauren Gregoire Drummond, SCMP
• 3x3: Why the PIC exec members volunteer; Brent Artemchuk gets the scoop from Jacqui DeBique, SCMP; Marie-Lauren Gregoire-Drummond, SCMP; and Lisa Marchitto
• Recap of “The art of business development” by Sarah L. Manley Robertson, ABC, SCMP, Prosci
• Buzzy Bits with Sarah 
• Welcome Heather Whyte
• PIC testimonial: Nathalie Noël

May: Collaboration

• Two heads are better than one, by Marie-Lauren Gregoire Drummond, SCMP
• Top tips from the #FindYourPossible Career Expo, with Yasmine El Shafei, SCMP; Matisse Hamel-Nelis, ADS, CPACC; Kathryn Hollinrake; and Sabita Singh, ABC
• With Canadian Jewish Heritage Month underway, Sharon Aschaiek reflects on the responsibilities of communicators in responding to rising antisemitism
• Heather West describes the “Portraits & Productivity” co-working event in April
• PIC Personality: Catharine Heddle by Sue Horner, SCMP
• PIC testimonial: Sarah L. Manley Robertson, ABC, SCMP, Prosci

June: Pride, pricing and people

• Marie-Lauren Gregoire Drummond, SCMP, reflects on how we value our work and our worth
• Tips for being effective allies in a conversation between The 519 and Sue Horner, SCMP
• Ali Wines recaps the “Pricing Secrets From the Pros” session in May
• Welcome new members Colleen Finnegan and Andrea Walasek
• PIC Personality: Matisse Hamel-Nelis, ADS, CPACC, by Sue Horner, SCMP
• Member news: Priya Bates, ABC, MC, SCMP, IABC Fellow, found out her book is an award finalist; Nathalie Noël named IABC/Toronto’s Volunteer of the Year; Sarah L. Manley Robertson, ABC, SCMP, Prosci, elected president of CPRS Nova Scotia
• PIC testimonial: Catharine Heddle

July/August: Ahh, summer

• Meet the new PIC executive
• PIC Personality: Andrea Walasek by Sue Horner, SCMP
• Compassionate communications by Arlene Amitirigala
• Member news: Ali Wines has a new certification
• PIC testimonial: Cyrus Mavalwala, ABC, MC

September: Fall renewal

• Andrea Walasek reflects on summer and looks forward to fall
• Celebrating 25, one more time: Ellen Gardner, ABC, recaps the August social that closed our 25th anniversary year; photo collage
• Diverse Threads: a new series exploring DEI best practices; Priya Bates, ABC, MC, SCMP, IABC Fellow, talks to Brent Artemchuk about creating a client DEI strategy
• PIC Personality: Lisa Gibson by Sue Horner, SCMP
• Book Nook: a new column by Catharine Heddle sharing recommended reading; in this, she looks at Invisible Influence by Jonah Berger

October: A.I. for Indies

• Andrea Walasek muses on the connections we make with and without AI and the camaraderie of the PIC community
• Recap of Lisa Gibson’s AI talk Oct. 1 by Adrienne Jackson, ABC
• 3x3: Augustine Fischer, Matisse Hamel-Nelis, ADS, CPACC, and Cyrus Mavalwala, ABC, MC, answer Sue Horner’s 3 questions about how they use AI
• Member news: Alix Edmiston, ABC, has a new book; Matisse wrote a guide to action on the 94 Calls to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report
• Book Nook: Catharine Heddle shares a new comms must-read, Talk, Inc.: How Trusted Leaders Use Conversation to Power their Organizations, by Boris Greysberg and Michael Slind

November: Connections

• Andrea Walasek reflects on the importance of the connections we cultivate throughout our lives
• Diverse Threads featuring Sabita Singh, ABC, looks at how organizations can demonstrate their support of DEI via LinkedIn
• PIC Personality: Heather Redfearn by Sue Horner, SCMP
• Member news: Linda Bicho-Vachon, Adrienne Jackson, ABC, and Nathalie Noël are active in IABC; Lisa Marchitto earned an IABC Silver Leaf
• Book Nook: Catharine Heddle shares a new book, Fire Weather: The Making of a Beast by John Vaillant

December: Sharing the gift of expertise

• Andrea Walasek recognizes PIC members’ eagerness to share the gift of our resources, knowledge and insights
• Recap of the Nov. 19 session on “Effective freelance partnerships” by Sarah L. Manley Robertson, ABC, SCMP, Prosci
• 3x3: Priya Bates, ABC, MC, SCMP, IABC Fellow; Jacqui d’Eon, P.Eng., ABC, MC; and Matisse Hamel-Nelis, ADS, CPACC, answer Brent Artemchuk’s 3 questions on the value of speaking at conferences
• Part 2 of Diverse Threads – Sabita Singh, ABC, tells Brent Artemchuk how LinkedIn should/could evolve
• Book Nook: Guest post by Jacqui d’Eon, P.Eng., ABC, MC, on The Immortal’s Secret by Alix Edmiston, ABC

See you on social media!

Build and strengthen your connections, advance your business and network with other PIC members on social media. In case you missed them, recent posts shared on our social media channels include these:

Prioritizing your professional development and combining technical skills with essential soft skills are key to success for independent contractors.

IABC offers Invaluable opportunities to connect and succeed, says fellow indie Ruth E. Thaler-Carter. She suggests 3 ways to make your IABC membership work for you, like “seek ways to share knowledge.”

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Who we are

Professional Independent Communicators (PIC) is a special interest group of IABC/Toronto. PIC’s mission is to support independent IABC/Toronto communicators through professional development, networking and marketing. The Buzz informs members about upcoming events, shares professional development tips from past meetings and keeps us connected.

IABC connects communicators from around the world with the insights, resources and people they need to drive their careers and their professions forward.

Editor: Sue Horner, SCMP

Executive team

Chair: Andrea Walasek | Past Chair: Marie-Lauren Gregoire Drummond, SCMP | Membership: Kathryn Hollinrake | Communications & Social Media: Brent Artemchuk, Sue Horner, SCMP | Programming: Catharine Heddle, Trish Tervit