Manifesto Agency

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the VP Brand of a financial services company

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Provide global access to reliable financial services that inspire confidence and transform lives

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Manifesto Agency to accomplish?

• Tight timeline
• Product naming
• Product positioning and messaging

SOLUTION

How did you find Manifesto Agency?

Other

Why did you select Manifesto Agency over others?

• Great culture fit
• Company values aligned
• Brand capabilities

How many teammates from Manifesto Agency were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

Working within our parent brand, Manifesto partnered with us to deliver:

1. New product name
2. Product description
3. Product key promise and reasons-to-believe

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Manifesto was able to deliver multiple product names and a final name that positively tested with consumers and met our goals.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Manifesto was very responsive, provided a clear roadmap and dates for the scope of the work and was very timely in deliverables. They did this despite being given a very tight turnaround time.

What was your primary form of communication with Manifesto Agency?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Manifesto Agency authentically understood our brand and customer. They were also flexible as we moved the goal post multiple times due to internal strategy changes.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Manifesto Agency could have done differently?

It's always difficult for an agency to work with our company, as we value authenticity in our brand above all else. My one wish in working with Manifesto is for them to have a writer on staff who can deliver on not just the functional, but the emotional part of branding, especially in positioning and messaging.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Vice President, Marketing & Communications of BellXcel

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

BellXcel is a nationally-recognized nonprofit that empowers youth program providers with innovative solutions, services and resources to scale and create meaningful impact across a variety of settings and communities.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Manifesto Agency to accomplish?

• Naming of our new SaaS solution, messaging & positioning support

SOLUTION

How did you find Manifesto Agency?

• Online Search
• Other

Why did you select Manifesto Agency over others?

• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Company values aligned
• the quality of their prior work shared during the pitch process

How many teammates from Manifesto Agency were assigned to this project?

6-10 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

We needed strategic support with clear messaging for our all-in-one youth-first solution, both internally and externally. We also needed a new name with clear pronunciation, spelling, and an identity that reflected our easy-to-use online platform to excite and inspire the marketplace and our own employees.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

From the very first meeting our team felt confidence in our choice to work with Manifesto. While we did not set out to establish a new brand name for our solution, their compelling work around our messaging so clearly illuminated the need to take this important next step, and we haven't looked back! 

We first introduced our new messaging at a company-wide convening and the buy-in and excitement were immediate. As we are actively rolling out this new branding, we are finding it easy to share the value of our solution to stand out amidst a competitive field.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

It was great to have a consistent point of contact that kept track of all the milestone deliverable dates. Despite a large scope of work that naturally took an extended period of time, the process has consistently moved along at an appropriate pace.

What was your primary form of communication with Manifesto Agency?

• In-Person Meeting
• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Manifesto had such a willingness to collaborate, gave us access to numerous skill sets, and became a catalyst in helping us build third-party relationships with both a web and PR partner. They are strategically minded and keep our goals and objectives at the forefront of everything.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Manifesto Agency could have done differently?

When two companies come together, there’s always a learning curve when it comes to balancing scheduled timelines and finding a sweet spot for flexibility as various needs arise. As we navigated that learning curve, Manifesto worked with us to identify solutions as we moved through the engagement.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Director of Marketing of a consultancy and marketing research firm

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

The company is a nationally recognized strategic consultancy and marketing research firm that provides clients with timely, fact-based insights and actionable solutions through industry-centered expertise.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Manifesto Agency to accomplish?

• We needed to create an entirely new brand narrative and strategy while maintaining the name and historical equity of the brand.

SOLUTION

How did you find Manifesto Agency?

Referral

Why did you select Manifesto Agency over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Manifesto Agency were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

Manifesto performed extensive qualitative research including:

• investigating the category/competition; auditing, evaluating and assessing current strategic and brand work
• creating/directing/leading a group whiteboard immersion session to align the greater team on direction and objectives, and 
• synthesizing all the inputs to create a new and salient brand strategy and narrative that was enthusiastically endorsed by all stakeholders.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

We are still rolling out the work that Manifesto partnered with us on, but are excited to see the results!

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Manifesto delivered items on time, managed expectations well, and and did an excellent job of communicating efficiently throughout the process.

What was your primary form of communication with Manifesto Agency?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

The quality of work was excellent, and they made the project seamless. They always over delivered, which is rare these days.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Manifesto Agency could have done differently?

I was happy with every aspect of the project!

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the VP of ESG of Bacardi

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Producer of spirits

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Manifesto Agency to accomplish?

• Create a best in class ESG report

SOLUTION

How did you find Manifesto Agency?

Referral

Why did you select Manifesto Agency over others?

Company values aligned, Other

What was the size of Manifesto Agency’s team?

2-5 Employees

What was your primary form of communication with Manifesto Agency?

Virtual Meeting, Email or Messaging App

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

What started as an effort to elevate our ESG report has become a fruitful, years-long partnership defined by trust, creativity, and a shared passion for ESG.

Manifesto has transformed our report—and its accompanying elements—and continues to push the boundaries of how we tell stories under the Good Spirited banner, articulating our efforts through bespoke video and social content, strategy presentations, our global website, and beyond.

They've delivered throughout multiple years, an incredible ESG Report and GRI Index, engaging videos, power point presentations, custom photagraphy, amazing content writing, etc.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

• ESG Report feedback & reach

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Fantastically. Manifesto is extremely collaborative, and has really become an extension of the Bacardi ESG team. And that collaborative nature has been an essential component of the continued success of our partnership.

There is a tremendous amount of information that flows between our two teams, which requires an extremely dialed project management approach and an inherent understanding of our strategy and programs. Manifesto delivers on time and continually exceeds expectations.

Communication is key, and we continually identify ways we can evolve our project management approach as a means of ensuring success.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

We love working with them. I’m always impressed by the level of strategic thinking Manifesto brings to the project, which is matched by an incredible attention to detail. It allows us to move with ease from ideation to development and ultimately completion every year.

They find effective and gentle ways to push us creatively, which nets us an absolutely breathtaking finished product. Their design skills are unmatched. And they even look for ways to add value on projects that aren’t in our scope of work.

They really demonstrate what it means to be a good partner, keeping our best interests and the success of the project at heart.

Are there any areas for improvement or something {provider_name} could have done differently?

Nope!

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the marketing manager for FlexGen. We provide battery energy storage and integration and installation services for utility-scale batteries and commercial-scale energy-storage projects.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Manifesto Agency?

We were undergoing a brand refresh and wanted a partner with deep expertise in our field to provide competitor research and niche market identification. We'd already created a new logo that we wanted to build our look and feel around. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

During the discovery and research phase, we had a kickoff meeting where they did a round of interviews with our stakeholders and leadership to identify our strategy. They honed our understanding of what our internal stakeholders felt the company stood for so, which allowed us to come up with the right mission and vision statements.

We then transitioned into our brand's visual guide, where we developed a visual concept around the logo we'd created. We were able to move into naming exploration, brand architecture, and messaging after that. 

They mostly helped us with the frontend of our brand, distilling our message about what the brand should stand for and aligning our leadership behind that point of view. In terms of brand deliverables in general, they put together a messaging matrix, insights around our visual identity, typography, photography direction, and brand voice. Some other concrete deliverables were a 60-page proposal template, our general presentation look and feel, and master slides around presentations. They also created business cards. 

At some point, we will want to do a website refresh, and they did provide guidance on what they that could potentially look like. If we decide to move forward with that, they have those services for us.

What is the team composition?

Though we started off with a larger group because there were more pieces at play, Chris (Account Director) was always our project manager. Allison (Director of Strategic Partnerships) was involved in the beginning, playing a critical role in understanding what we needed and helping us find the right team within Manifesto to assign to us. They have people that specialize in niche fields. As the project progressed, the people we worked with were narrowed down to only a couple. Everyone was nice to work with. 

How did you come to work with Manifesto Agency?

After some fairly extensive online research, we put the top five agencies through an interview process to find out who was going to be the best fit. I really liked the Manifesto team; they definitely stood out to us as really down to earth and knowledgeable.

How much have you invested in them?

We spent close to $180,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began our engagement with them in mid-November 2021, and we worked with them until mid-July 2022.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? 

While it was an ambiguous project, Manifesto did a great job sticking to the timelines and deliverables they promised. Rather than craft a campaign with specific metrics we could calculate, they helped our brand solidify its message and clarify its look and feel to ensure our customer base saw us as professional. Therefore, instilling confidence in us as a brand was our main takeaway. They helped us hone our messaging and create the look and feel needed to align with that vision.

Our brand awareness has definitely increased. I don’t know if it can be completely attributed to Manifesto's brand refresh, as the market is heating up overall, but everything that they did moved us toward having consistent look and feel for our brand and helping people understand the brand. 

Internally, people love the brand and are really excited. Our organization felt very industrial and masculine before, whereas now, the brand reflects the innovation within the company. We're more like a software company than we are a construction company. Speaking only of the visual identity that Manifesto crafted, our customers understand that we are not just a construction company, that we do so much more than what our previous brand showed.

How did Manifesto Agency perform from a project management standpoint?

We didn't engage with them through any specific platform but we had a weekly meeting where we could chat through the upcoming deliverables and tasks that we'd gotten done, as well as give any feedback from leadership within our team. It was done through both emails and Zoom calls.

There were a few tasks that slipped through the cracks, but those weren't completely Manifesto's fault. We didn’t always get back to them in a timely manner. I didn't fault them for that.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I really liked how they instantly felt like part of our team. Allison, Chris, and their CEO met me for coffee in Nashville when I was at a conference, and we just chatted. They were very willing to understand our business and go the extra mile to help. Having someone that's kind and also excited about your brand is half the battle; it was very much a pleasure to work with them. Our collaboration didn’t feel forced, and Manifesto was happy to move our brand forward in the market.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Engagements could always be cheaper, but Manifesto certainly delivered the quality that we paid for. This type of engagement is always going to be expensive, and as a fairly young company, sometimes it’s hard to come up with the budget to allow that, but we did some fundraising and were able to continue our mission.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be as responsive as possible so that their creative team has enough time to move forward and complete tasks within their deadlines. I think this was probably the most crucial aspect of the project. Manifesto was great about having open conversations and brainstorming sessions so that we could really work through all the different aspects of our brand. Go into the project with an open mind and provide Manifesto's team with the time that it needs to do all the discovery work.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am Chief Marketing Officer for Ascension Wisconsin Healthcare.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Manifesto Agency, and what were your goals?

We faced an internal challenge of rallying our primary care physicians around a future strategy for the company. There was little engagement around the mission of our healthcare system. And primary care physicians needed to know that they were being heard.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I had previously engaged Manifesto around opportunities while I was Communications Director at GE Healthcare. Having acquired a series of local hospitals across the region as part of a national acquisition strategy, we came to discover that doctors in our own network were sharing candid feedback with their patients that demonstrated they didn’t believe in the mission. And most importantly, that they didn’t feel heard. We engaged Manifesto to work with an executive team to craft a strategy and create an event that would bring these doctors from across our region together to share in casting vision for our future.

Describe the scope of their work in detail, including any steps and the final deliverables.

We asked Manifesto to develop a comprehensive strategy and event plan that would bring together our primary physicians from across the region and help cast the collective vision for where our healthcare company is headed. It included all elements of strategy (including key stakeholder interviews, multiple presentations to an executive team as well as planning and executing the event.

DELIVERABLES OVERVIEW:

• Concept & strategy, account service and creative development within the estimated scope of hours of this agreement to shape the look, feel, experience & content for the event.

DISCOVERY

• In-person interviews with key groups (serve line leaders, HR AMG groups, etc. within scope of hours, and within planning parameters)
• Review of model community survey results
• Identification of KPI’s agreed upon by both parties
• Audience definition (Benchmark belief identification in strategic framework that informs event architecture, content and approach)

CONCEPTING

• Development of a strategic approach, event construct and run of show (choice of video, presentation style, featured speakers) solidified in a singular deck for internal key stakeholders.

INITIAL EVENT PLANNING

• Event design & ideation
• Content delivery ideation (choosing what videos, stories to be told, etc.)
• Venue prospecting, negotiating & booking
• Element bidding, pricing, etc.

EVENT PRODUCTION

• Asset production (videos, presentations, photography, collateral, etc.)
• Event production including but not limited to:
• Staging, A/V, Lighting
• Event execution & event staffing
  • Event elements including but not limited to:
  • Food & Beverage,
  • Signage (CTA),
  • Giveaway items

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

The Manifesto team consisted of an account lead, a senior level strategist, some of the partner’s time, an account coordinator and designer at a later stage of the project.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

The event was considered a success, but also came just before an unexpected announcement around staff reduction. Because of the sensitivity surrounding workforce engagement, we were unable to leverage the content created on-site for further employee engagement. If given the opportunity, we would work with Manifesto again.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

We had weekly meetings. The Manifesto team was very inclusive, proactive and responsive.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Manifesto's sweet spot is employee engagement and brand alignment. I felt that the Manifesto team really stayed focused on new ideas on how to engage our primary care physicians and clinical specialists. They cared about our mission to serve the poor and underserved with personalized and compassionate care.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

Nothing I can think of.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Senior Manager of Branding and Corporate Communications Channels for a global government contractor. Our contracts with federal, state, and local governments across nine geographies include healthcare, technology, consulting, and workforce services.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Manifesto Agency, and what were your goals?

In the wake of a shifting business strategy and overdue need to break down silos across operations and geographies, we sought an agency partner for a global rebrand to create a newly refreshed brand indicative of who we are today. With only a subtle brand shift from nearly a decade ago over our 45+ years in business, and a widened audience seeking human-centricity as service providers, we wanted to reinvigorate our brand with a new look and feel reflective of our common mission across all nine regions we serve, globally.

Among this rebrand was the consideration of cultures, our distinct color palette, and the global nature of our work that must appeal to a wide range of target audiences. We sought more than just a visual brand rollout, but an overhaul of the brand’s system of beliefs, intended to lift the eyes of all employees, partners, and stakeholders around a new, global vision.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Our search was primarily driven online where we discovered Manifesto with their stellar reviews and impressive portfolio featured on their website. Out of the multiple agencies we evaluated, including three creative agencies with which we currently do business, we selected Manifesto because we not only wanted a ‘fresh pair of eyes’ on this project, but were also drawn to their unique approach and strategy outlined in their proposal. With all that in mind, we decided they were the right partner for us.

Describe the scope of their work in detail, including any steps and the final deliverables.

• Develop a bold global brand identity with a new look and feel that considers our complexities around sub-brands and audiences
• Understand the current brand equity and affinity in the market, as well as show an understanding for the industry as a whole
• Develop an identity that considers our current geographies and the possibility of expansion into future markets, and accessible to all audiences
• Support our strategy to navigate the internal climate for the preparation of a rollout
• Identify our company’s onlyness and fertile visual identity territory through audience, stakeholder, and market research
• Establish a new logo system, including a color palette and typeface refresh
• Explore how the updated visual identity translates across assets and visual brand touchpoints

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

The team included an account lead, a creative lead, and strategy support staff. Manifesto’s model involves bringing in a cast of characters across their team to support at the right time, when needed, in the project.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

The project concluded and we are currently rolling out the global brand. Our new visual identity was met with positive feedback, and we gave Manifesto Agency the credit! They may support us on brand awareness campaigns in the future.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

Weekly meetings with concise agendas and high-level notes. Google Drive for documents and Sheets for project timeline management.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Branding a global company with so many audiences and key stakeholders is no small task. Manifesto came alongside me personally to help navigate some of the internal hiccups of the culture that made the rebrand challenging. I felt like I could lean on them as a partner for the duration of the project. Their model of friendship first, business second meant we build good rapport through the highs and lows.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

Exploring an online project management tool that is not Google based would make collaboration easier and more efficient. While I’m often faced with application blocks working for a government contractor, talking our CISO in to unblocking all Google apps for a group of users was no easy task. Possibly a tool like Smartsheet that’s open to the web for any user could help organize rounds of revisions, feedback, and creative/proof reviews in a central place for easier reference later.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Worldwide Consumer Talent Acquisition Marketing Team / Art Director.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Manifesto Agency?

We looked to Manifesto to create a messaging strategy / platform and a unique visual identity system for our MBA Pathways program. We leveraged their strategy and creative services to accomplish this work.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Our WW Operations team was referred to Manifesto based on other Amazon projects the agency had previously worked on.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

• Research, insights & messaging development
• Program visual system and style guide creation
• Asset development for deployment

What was the team composition?

The team included an account lead, a creative lead, and senior copywriter as well as creative & strategy support staff.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

The Pathways recruitment team loved the new creative and adopted it fully. The new strategy created a consist and delightful experience for Pathways candidates.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We had weekly meeting with the Manifesto team to discuss progress and review the work to date. The Manifesto team was highly collaborative, took and implemented feedback well, and always came prepared with data and insights.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Manifesto has supported us at Amazon to take bigger steps as a team. We think of them as an extension of us and our team as they have continued to tackle new assignments and deliverables that come up. We can rely on Manifesto to deliver high-caliber messaging and creative execution—innovating while staying within our Brand guidelines.

Is there any area for improvement or anything that could have been done differently?

We greatly valued the quality and thoughtfulness of the work produced by Manifesto. At times they have struggled to move at the pace or within certain budget requirements needed. Ideally, it would be great to have an option for lighter-weight, speedy, and agile support as well as the more in-depth work we have come to associate Manifesto with.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Director of Marketing, Neurology, Quest Advanced™ Diagnostics

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Manifesto Agency, and what were your goals?

Manifesto was hired to help us create an Alzheimer’s awareness campaign for Quest Advanced™ Neurology and our ongoing role in helping to shape the future of early dementia detection.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

We were interested in a strategic collaborator that could help us take our positioning to the next level.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and marking tools used.

• Strategy and campaign approach framework
• Essential message & narrative creation
• Development of treatment (writing, visual direction)
• Creation & curation of anthemic video content
• Social launch strategy for campaign

How many resources from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

The team included an account lead, a creative lead, senior copywriter and involvement from the partners at varying points in the project.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

Manifesto had been an ally in helping us at Quest make bolder moves. They were an extension of our team. We like to think of 

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Very effective - the team has been attentive to our needs and timelines.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Most impressive is the team I get to work with. The Manifesto team is composed of servant-hearted people who really care about the individuals behind the brands they serve. When fully engaged, they help us solve strategic business challenges through the work we do together—whether arming the sales force with a rally cry or capturing the nuanced narrative of an Alzheimer’s awareness initiative.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

Their strengths are creative and strategy, with an ability to leverage collaborations to accomplish a wide variety of deployment. To shore up their offering, they work with agencies (like a PR firm) or a production company so they can be more full-service when needed. They’re more specialists than generalists. Also, sometimes they are so focused on the strategic goals of the program, it can impede them from diving into the work immediately. This is a pro and a con. Some other firms might start developing content faster with little to no direction. Manifesto prizes strategy and getting off on the right foot, so you’ll never be short on strategic input from Manifesto. Overall, we are very pleased, which is why we continue to use them.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a former Director of Social Impact for a large, global, purpose-driven, consumer products brand

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Manifesto Agency, and what were your goals?

Sustainability Strategic Messaging and Master Platform Development: The work outlined in the scope covers strategic, creative and administrative work

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Manifesto came recommended for another project for the brand. That work did not proceed, but the impression made and connection built in the scoping of that project positioned them to be asked to take on this project.

Describe the scope of their work in detail, including any steps and the final deliverables.

Phase 1:

• Kickoff & Immersion
• Client Team Kickoff Meeting
• Alignment on working roles and responsibilities
• Overview of three month working schedule
• Initial dive into thoughts and considerations for strategic and creative direction
• Alignment on KPIs
• Discovery Review of existing research, data, and project/market background information and partner sentiment
• Immersion with key Store Managers, employees and other key internal stakeholders (employee comms, etc.)
• Recap deck from session that would include initial insights and an outline of strategic recommendations on campaign approach
• Full-Day Immersion Session
• Full-day session to prioritize programs and key messages and develop ideas and starting points for our
• Creative process

Phase 2:

• Messaging and Campaign Exploration
• Messaging Framework Development and refinement of recommended messaging framework based on previously aligned direction from partner immersion and other key factors.
• Campaign Ideation
• Development of three (3) overarching campaign platforms that include: Narrative for each concept Headline and/or call to action Mood board/mood images Visual look and feel Activation Ideas (2-3 activation tactics for each idea) Timeline and roadmap for deployment of selected concept

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

2-4 throughout the project. CEO Head of Comms Account Manager Project Manager

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

The time spent with Manifesto was beneficial in a variety of ways from helping us think about our goal from an outside perspective, to conducting the discovery phase and hearing from important internal voices that we had not heard from before to pulling it all together into an achievable, focused plan.

The greatest challenge I think they faced in working with us was in helping to gain greater internal alignment. At the beginning of the project, there was very limited attention and interest in the work. Our internal teams were at odds with the priority. But, by the end of the project, there was a room of ~25 cross-functional team members excited about how to use this body of work going forward.

That internal alignment could not have been achieved without the effort, understanding and patience of the Manifesto team. While there was a pause in launching the project, the plan was later infused in major company announcements and strategies.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

Working with the Manifesto team was both easy-going and completely structured. The account manager and I spoke weekly by phone and as often as needed by email. Milestones were clear and achieved consistently by the Manifesto team.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Working with Manifesto was unique and enjoyable due to their deep branding expertise and knowledge. They really took the time to understand our brand, mission and goals. Throughout the time we worked together, it felt more like they were part of our brand and team rather than an external consultant.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

None come to mind.