LEWIS Launches Rise Training Academy

Sydney, 26 November 2014 – LEWIS, the global communications agency, has opened the doors of its new training academy, Rise. Centered around a series of two-week intensive course in San Diego, California, the academy is a global initiative to equip PR professionals with business, leadership and marketing skills.
 
Rise aims to create the next generation of communications leaders. Demand is growing from clients for integrated campaigns that include almost every aspect of marketing from media relations to lead generation. Managing these campaigns requires a broad set of commercial and strategic skills. The academy will also support LEWIS’ growth. The agency grew 40% for its fiscal year end 31 July 2014 and is on target to reach $100 million in revenues by 2016.
 
“You can’t grow without talent and you can’t have talent without training,” said Chris Lewis, CEO. “Our industry knows there’s a shortage of talent. It has to respond with a greater investment in training. You can’t complain about the mosquitoes. You have to drain the swamp.”
 
Rise also incorporates an art-based training technique developed jointly by LEWIS and the Chelsea College of Arts in London. Delegates not only learn how to communicate more effectively using visuals, but are given practical art assignments that impact their approach to problem solving.
 
“Most training programs only teach people skills. Rise teaches people to think differently,” said George Blacklock, Dean of Chelsea College of Arts. “By awakening the right brain through practical art projects, people are able to see problems in a new light and come up with more creative solutions. Through several pilots, we have proven that art-based learning has a positive impact on delegates’ strategic, creative and leadership abilities.”
 
Course tutors include agency leaders as well as external speakers. Courses are held every two months and involve eight to ten delegates from across the agency. Delegates also work on personal development plans during the academy and receive on-going guidance afterwards to help realize these.
 
“It is crucial to mix delegates from different regions and cultures,” said Sarah Robinson, Global Talent Director at LEWIS. “They not only form strong bonds with their international peers, which directly impacts campaign effectiveness, but this also opens their minds to new approaches.”
 
Rise is currently open to LEWIS staff, but will be expanded to clients in 2015.
 
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