Flying high

Flying high

Wisdom 💡:  In his latest thought leadership piece, Peppercomm’s Chris Tingzhang Liang explores how Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways are doing more than flying passengers around the world; they’re taking their home countries’ reputations to new heights. From sky-high luxury to exceptional service, these Gulf carriers are turning every flight into a first-class introduction to the UAE and Qatar. Drawing on his research at NYU, Chris reveals how positive brand experiences can shape perceptions of entire nations, proving that reputation is built through actions, not just advertising. The takeaway for PR pros? You can’t simply wing a great reputation; your brand has to deliver on its promises before the story can truly take flight.

A toast to tea

Wit 😁:  Welch’s is serving up a juicy dose of holiday drama with “Before the Toast,” a five-episode microdrama starring familiar faces from Disney Channel and Glee. Packed with nostalgic stars, family chaos and over-the-top antics, the social-first series puts sparkling juice at the center of the season’s festivities. By tapping into Gen Z’s appetite for bite-sized storytelling and millennial parents’ love of a throwback, Welch’s is proving that nostalgia and entertainment can be a winning holiday cocktail. After all, when life gives you holiday drama, why not pour yourself a glass and raise a little Welch’s?

Higher ed, higher stakes

Wit 😁:  Colleges and universities are learning that picture-perfect campuses and promises to “shape tomorrow” aren’t enough to make the grade with today’s prospective students. With enrollment pressures mounting and families questioning the return on investment, higher ed institutions need to ditch cookie-cutter campaigns and get serious about proving their value. From spotlighting career outcomes and unique strengths to elevating faculty thought leadership, the smartest schools are building brands rooted in substance, not slogans. Whether you’re attracting tomorrow’s students or navigating today’s headlines, the lesson is the same: strong reputations aren’t built on glossy brochures and wishful thinking; they require doing your homework.

Pepper Pick

Pop culture junkies, this one’s for you! 🧠 Think you know your celebrity gossip, iconic TV moments and entertainment trivia? Put your knowledge to the test with 20 questions designed to separate the casual scrollers from the pop culture connoisseurs.