Rob Cottingham
Principal | Social Signal
Vancouver, BC, CANADA
Strategic communicator, bridging the online and offline worlds / Social Signal founder
Biography
* Leadership communications strategist and speechwriter for national political leaders, CEOs, provincial premiers, finance ministers and social change leaders
* Speaker and workshop leader, inspiring and educating audiences ranging from the Canadian Marketing Association to the Conference Board of Canada
* Humorist and cartoonist
For nearly 30 years, I have helped leaders in government, business and advocacy engage with audiences in both the digital and offline worlds.
I’ve written speeches for party leaders in national election campaigns, CEOs at public hearings, labour leaders at conventions, and Lieutenant-Governors delivering Speeches from the Throne. And I’ve coached leaders on speaking at everything from an intimate gathering of high-worth potential donors to nationally-televised debates.
I’ve been immersed in digital engagement from the days of dial-up online forums of the early 1980s. My wife Alexandra Samuel and I launched Social Signal in 2005, and created ground-breaking online community projects for clients including BC Hydro, TechSoup and Vancity.
I speak on leadership communications and online engagement. And I provide training and facilitation to government departments, political parties and conferences on everything from basic Internet skills to online advocacy.
My blog (http://robcottingham.ca/blog) launched in 2001, and now focuses on leadership communications. I also draw the Noise to Signal cartoon (http://robcottingham.ca/cartoon) on life, work and business in the digital era, and perform in a variety of venues as a standup comic.
Industry Expertise (9)
Writing and Editing
Political Organization
Corporate Leadership
Public Relations and Communications
Non-Profit/Charitable
Social Media
Advertising/Marketing
Internet
Government Relations
Areas of Expertise (8)
Internet and Society
Writing
Public Speaking and Leadership
Humor
Communications
Social Media
Leadership
Speechwriting
Education (2)
Carleton University: BA, Political Science, Journalism 1987
University of Ottawa / Université d'Ottawa: 1982
Affiliations (1)
- IABC
Links (3)
Languages (2)
- English
- French
Event Appearances (7)
The Soul of the Markete— no, wait.
Fireworks Factory Galiano Island, British Columbia
2013-06-11
Damn Near Brought the House Down
IABC/BC: If I Knew Then What I Know Now Vancouver, British Columbia
2013-04-03
Teh Funny
Northern Voice Vancouver, BC
2009-02-21
TMI: Sharing, oversharing and übersharing - where to draw the lines today
Social Media Week Blogging Summit Vancouver, BC
2011-09-19
Social Media and Sports Medicine
SportMedBC AGM North Vancouver, British Columbia
2011-09-24
Employer Branding and Social Media
BC Human Resources Management Association webinar Vancouver, British Columbia
2011-10-26
How a pigeon made me a better speechwriter
The Flame storytelling series Vancouver, British Columbia
2017-04-04
Style
Availability
- Keynote
- Panelist
- Workshop Leader
- Host/MC
- Corporate Training
Social