Canright Communications

Content that connects

Networking

Canright Calendar

Grape-Hyacinth in Rosemary’s Garden
Collin & Christina Canright

The Canright Calendar is a weekly email of networking events in Chicago. View all of our events here. Sign up for the list here. If you have any other suggestions you’d like us to consider, send them to Alexandra at alexandra@canrightcommunications.com.

WEEK OF 04-23-2025

This spring, elevate your leadership journey with a series of inspiring, future-focused events. Learn how to lead with purpose and presence in the Emerging Leaders Toolkit workshop, explore Chicago’s long-term economic potential with top executives and innovators, and gain essential insights into thriving in the age of AI with Google’s Liora Gross. Whether you’re building your personal brand or preparing for a rapidly changing workplace, these events offer actionable strategies and fresh perspectives to move you forward.

Emerging Leaders Professional Development Toolkit Series: From Invisible to Influential: Lead with Purpose & Elevate Your Brand
Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce
April 29, 2025
Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP
151 North Franklin Street, Suite 2500, Chicago
Step into the spotlight as a leader others want to follow—while putting joy at the foundation of your success. This interactive workshop, led by Bose Akadiri, Founder of Goal and Grind, is designed for ambitious professionals ready to stop blending in and start leading with confidence. Walk away with a clear leadership blueprint, an attention-grabbing personal pitch, and the tools to position yourself as an emerging leader—all while keeping joy at the center of your goals.
Register

Chicago Rising: Shaping a Brighter Economic Future
Executives’ Club of Chicago
May 7, 2025
Ivy Room
12 E Ohio St #100, Chicago
Join us at this dynamic, forward-looking panel discussion bringing together top voices from Chicago’s business and economic community. With insights drawn from World Business Chicago’s 2050 report, the session will explore key trends, innovative strategies, and policy initiatives that are fueling Chicago’s economic transformation.

Our distinguished panel features Michael Gregory, Chief Economist from BMO, who will provide expert analysis on economic trends and market forces shaping our region. The CEO of World Business Chicago Phil Clement will offer insights into economic development strategies driving growth and investment in the city. Two organizations will share their perspective on how Chicago is the right city for their organizations’ growth Felipe Capella, CEO of Loadsmart, will be in conversation with Maria Bocanegra, President of Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas.
Attendees will gain a balanced perspective—from established corporate leadership to emerging entrepreneurial voices—on how the city is evolving and what opportunities lie ahead.
Register

May Luncheon: Thriving as a Leader in the AI Era with Google’s Liora Gross
Professional Women’s Club of Chicago 
May 13, 2025
Union League Club of Chicago
65 West Jackson Blvd. Chicago
The rise of artificial intelligence is transforming how work gets done. How can you adapt, innovate, and succeed as a leader in this new business landscape? Join us for a special luncheon presentation from Liora Gross of Google, who will share how AI is already changing the workplace, what lies ahead, and what you can do now to prepare. No matter your industry or role, this is a must-attend for every professional ready to claim their place in the AI era.

Liora Gross specializes in executive development at Google, working with senior leaders to navigate and capitalize on the complexities of rapid technological and organizational change. Her expertise lies in future-readiness, with a particular focus on building leadership capacity to thrive amidst ambiguity. Previously, she established and led the Center for Creative Leadership’s global digital transformation practice and served as General Manager for Sub-Saharan Africa, driving strategic growth and impact in diverse markets.
Register

Sexual Assault Awareness Month
This year’s theme, “Together We Act, United We Change,” highlights the importance of working together to address and prevent sexual abuse, assault, and harassment. This campaign focuses on enhancing public understanding of sexual violence, amplifying the voices of survivors, and empowering us to work together to promote the safety and well-being of others. Everyone in our communities deserves to live in safe and supportive environments where they are treated with respect. When our workplaces, schools, and communities work together to uphold safety and respect, we make progress in preventing sexual abuse, assault, and harassment.
Learn more

Arts Corner
Canright account manager Alexandra Sulack is an opera singer and voice teacher. She curates arts recommendations for you.

Titanique
Mar 25 – Jul 13, 2025
Broadway in Chicago
All aboard NYC’s must-sea musical comedy! When the music of Céline Dion makes sweet Canadian love with the eleven-time Oscar®-winning blockbuster film “Titanic,” you get Titanique, off-Broadway’s most award-winning splash hit, which turns one of the greatest love stories of all time into a hysterical musical fantasia. Want to find out what really happened to Jack and Rose on that fateful night? Just leave it to Céline Dion to enchant the audience with her totally wild take, recharting the course of Titanic’s beloved moments and characters with her iconic song catalog. Sailing on fierce powerhouse voices in show-stopping performances of such hits as “My Heart Will Go On,” “All By Myself” and “To Love You More” – backed by the unparalleled energy of a full live band – Titanique is a one-of-a-kind theatrical voyage bursting with nostalgia, heart and campy chaos.

Tickets & More Info

If you have any other suggestions you’d like us to consider, send them to Alexandra at alexandra@canrightcommunications.com.

Toward Connected Finance

This post grew out of watching demos at Finovate Fall 2023, in New York. Given that 2023 is the year of AI, it was no surprise that AI played some role in most of the demos and many of the panels. 

The main essence I noticed in the demos was their focus on applications that connect to banks to supplement their clients’ financial needs. Many of the FinTech firms seek to provide their systems on a white-label or affiliate means to gain access to bank customers. 

My initial assumption is that I was seeing embedded finance, and some of the firms characterized themselves as such. Embedded finance is generally defined as the integration of financial services into systems from nonfinancial businesses. 

One of the best examples is the insurance offers that pop up after booking a flight. I first came across the term some years ago in relation to payments, where the payment itself is not really noticeable to the consumer. Uber became the embodiment of that idea, where the payment is part and parcel of the app that booked a ride.

The demos as a whole seemed to be much more than that to me. And anyway, a long-time Finovate attendee told me that while this year’s theme was clearly AI, last year it was embedded finance, preceded by crypto, and by buy now pay later (BNPL) before that.

So what to call this? My staff and I put a lot of emphasis on finding the right term to convey the purpose, uses, and benefits of technology. Labels may be restrictive but they also help people build a mental framework to provide context and meaning that leads to easier-to-understand utility and ultimately better marketing and sales.

I settled on Connected Banking. “Connected” is more understandable and useful than “embedded.” FinTech applications are connected to banking and other platforms and organizations through APIs to provide broader service offerings to customers that would be difficult or impossible for banks to build themselves. 

Read more…

To learn more about how Canright can help you maximize your CRM systems to improve your marketing and communications strategy, contact us at collin@canrightcommunications.com
www.canrightcommunications.com

Tools of the Trade: Technical Writing Systems

Technical communication has evolved over the years, and today, several systems cater to diverse needs in this domain.

Professional Technical Communications

First up, we have tools that are the darlings of the technical communication world. Adobe and MadCap are at the forefront with offerings like FrameMaker and RoboHelp. While they’re known for their depth and precision, they do require a bit of elbow grease to master.

Next in line is Help+Manual. It’s versatile, handling both manuals and online guides. However, its interface feels like a throwback, which some might find nostalgic, while others might think of it as simply old-fashioned. Still, many businesses have it as their mainstay.

Software Development Documentation

For those deep in the world of code, documenting APIs, and processes, there are tools tailored just for you.

Confluence, part of the Atlassian suite, is a common pick among developers. It integrates seamlessly with other Atlassian tools, but it could use some sprucing up when showcasing documentation to external audiences.

Then there are platforms like Docusaurus and Hugo. They’re dynamic and customizable, but be ready to roll up your sleeves – they demand a fair bit of technical know-how for setup and tweaking.

And for API Documentation? Redoc stands out. It lays out API specs in a neat, organized manner, simplifying the entire documentation chore.

SaaS Tech Comms Platforms

The SaaS scene also has some contenders. Paligo, though a newer kid on the block, packs a punch by blending the best of tools like FrameMaker with software development documentation systems. It’s feature-rich, but brace yourself for some setup time and a learning curve.

On the other hand, GatherContent is all about structure and scalability. It keeps content neatly organized in shared projects, offering a centralized hub for all your documentation.

WordPress as a Documentation Tool

WordPress isn’t just for bloggers. With the right plugins, it morphs into a robust documentation platform. It’s intuitive for users, but if you’re aiming for a unique look, you’ll need a decent grasp of design and HTML.

Things to Keep in Mind

When you’re on the hunt for a documentation system, there are some important pointers to keep in mind:

  • Ease of Writing and Maintenance: Aim for something that various team members can use, not just the tech-savvy ones.
  • Secure Access: Layered security is a must to keep your content safe.
  • Brand Alignment: Your content should feel like an extension of your brand.
  • Smooth Content Distribution: Your audience should have a hassle-free experience accessing your content.
  • Organized File Management: Keeping content versions and updates streamlined is key.

Knowing the strengths and quirks of each system will steer you toward the right choice for your technical communication journey.

To learn more about our services, contact us at collin@canrightcommunications.com.

Enhancing Our Marketing and Communications Strategy: How Canright Harnesses Salesforce CRM

At Canright Communications, we’ve recognized the power of integrating technology into our marketing and communication strategies, and CRM tools like Salesforce are essential to our approach. In this week’s newsletter, we’ll take you through how we use Salesforce to streamline our communications and marketing efforts, including maintaining multiple lists and integrating with Mailchimp for effective segmentation.

Embracing Salesforce CRM

As a technical communications agency, we understand the significance of staying connected with our clients, prospects, and partners. Our journey with Salesforce began with the realization that manual processes were hindering our ability to provide personalized and timely communication. Salesforce offered us a solution to manage our relationships and data in a way that aligned perfectly with our goals.

Centralizing Data

One of the most significant advantages of Salesforce for us has been the ability to centralize our sales and marketing data. We maintain detailed profiles of our contacts, clients, and leads, allowing us to understand their preferences, interactions, and engagement history, as well as our sales-oriented contacts and pipeline.

Maintaining Multiple Lists

Segmentation is key to delivering targeted messages that resonate with our audience. Within Salesforce, we’ve set up multiple lists that categorize our contacts based on their industry, geography, engagement level, and more. This segmentation allows us to tailor our communications and marketing efforts, such as newsletters and email campaigns, more effectively.

Integration with Mailchimp

To take our segmentation strategy to the next level, we’ve integrated Salesforce with Mailchimp. This integration enables us to sync our segmented lists seamlessly. When someone subscribes to our newsletter or interacts with our content, Salesforce can sync their information with the appropriate list in Mailchimp. This ensures that our subscribers receive content that aligns with their interests.

Marketing Analytics and Insights

The powerful reporting and analytics tools within Salesforce and Mailchimp allow us to measure the success of our campaigns. We can track open rates, click-through rates, and conversion rates for each segment, enabling us to fine-tune our strategies for maximum impact.

At Canright Communications, Salesforce CRM has become an invaluable tool in our communications and marketing arsenal. By centralizing our data, maintaining multiple lists, and integrating with Mailchimp, we’ve transformed our approach to communication.

The ability to deliver personalized and timely messages to our clients, prospects, and partners has not only improved engagement but has also strengthened our relationships. As technology continues to evolve, we’re excited to continue leveraging the power of Salesforce to stay at the forefront of effective marketing and communications strategies. 

To learn more about how Canright can help you maximize your CRM systems to improve your marketing and communications strategy, contact us at collin@canrightcommunications.com
www.canrightcommunications.com

Thought Leadership in the Digital Age: Leveraging Online Platforms to Make an Impact

Online platforms provide an accessible and scalable way to disseminate ideas, build communities, and engage in meaningful conversations. Through various channels such as blogs, podcasts, videos, and social media, thought leaders can connect with audiences across geographical boundaries, cultural differences, and time zones.

What is Thought Leadership?

Thought leadership is the art of influencing and inspiring others through innovative ideas, valuable insights, and unique perspectives. It goes beyond traditional expertise by offering forward-thinking solutions and pushing boundaries in a given field. Thought leaders are individuals who possess deep knowledge, experience, and credibility within their industry, and they actively contribute to shaping the future by sharing their expertise.

Building an Authentic Online Presence

To establish thought leadership in the digital age, it is crucial to cultivate an authentic online presence. This begins by clearly defining your niche and the unique value you bring to the table. By identifying your area of expertise and focusing your efforts, you can position yourself as an authority in that particular field. Consistency is key in maintaining an authentic presence. Regularly sharing high-quality content that reflects your insights, experiences, and vision will help you gain credibility and build a loyal following.

Engaging with Your Audience

One of the fundamental aspects of thought leadership is engaging with your audience. Online platforms offer a range of tools and features that facilitate interaction and dialogue. Responding to comments, answering questions, and participating in discussions demonstrate your willingness to connect with your audience and add value to their lives. Actively listening to feedback and incorporating it into your work further enhances your credibility and fosters a sense of community.

Collaboration and Partnerships

In the digital age, thought leadership is not confined to individual efforts. Collaborating with other thought leaders and organizations can amplify your impact and create a stronger collective voice. Online platforms provide opportunities for partnerships, joint ventures, and co-creation of content. By working together, thought leaders can tackle complex issues, leverage each other’s networks, and foster a more comprehensive understanding of the topics at hand.

Staying Agile and Adaptable

The digital landscape is ever-changing, and to remain at the forefront of thought leadership, it is essential to stay agile and adaptable. Embrace emerging technologies, experiment with new formats, and constantly evaluate the effectiveness of your online presence. Pay attention to trends, evolving audience preferences, and the overall digital ecosystem. By adapting to the evolving digital landscape, you can continue to innovate and maintain your relevance as a thought leader.

To learn more about our services, contact us at collin@canrightcommunications.com.