Manager, Marketing and Communications, Toronto Gold
From an early age, Simon was interested in the world and how it works. Coming from an international background in Hong Kong and earning an international relations and political science degree at the University of Toronto, Simon wanted to get into the finance industry while also leveraging his writing skills. After completing a certificate in corporate communications at Seneca College, and working in marketing and communication at Sears, he started to plan his next move.
Simon currently leads communications strategy at Toronto Gold. The company specializes in purchasing scrap gold and reselling it to refiners. “Think of it as a foreign exchange, which converts one form of currency to another,” he said. In a communications capacity, this means communicating changes and shifting perceptions. “I strategize communication for internal procedural changes and execute content changes on the website,” says Simon. “It’s working to dispel negative perceptions around selling and buying gold, and helping people understand that it is just another asset.”
His interest in change management communications and professional growth extends into Simon’s membership experience at IABC/Toronto. Joining the association in 2014, Simon first explored mentorship opportunities and met up with a mentor to share ideas about careers in communications and work-life balance. After a five-year hiatus, Simon rejoined the association to sharpen his skills and reconnect with peers. Now volunteering with the team organizing the 2022 OVATION Awards, Simon creates unique content for an event emerging from virtual to physical. “Volunteering has challenged me to think like a project manager,” says Simon. “Out of this experience, I’m realizing that a large part of corporate communications is strategy in addition to writing, understanding our audiences and project management.”
The past five years have brought new perspectives to his career. Given all the financial and technological shifts, and the changing global economy, how do you communicate business changes to an audience that may already feel overwhelmed? While exploring this question, Simon continues to build his skills and widen his network within communications.
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