Managing in a downturn

Podcast series

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Welcome to Strategy Talks — with Dean & Helen: The PwC Managing in a Downturn Podcast Series.

Hosted by Dean Mullett, co-lead of the Restructuring and Distress Strategy Group and the Credit Crisis Task Force at PwC, and Helen Mallovy Hicks, a partner in the Dispute Analysis & Valuations Group of PwC's Advisory Practice, this series of audio podcasts explores key issues affecting businesses in Canada, and shares strategies companies can use to address them. Helen and Dean interview a number of PwC thought leaders about the recession, and offer insight and practical advice on how you can survive — and even thrive — in this troubled economy.

Episodes

Episode 23: Commercial Real Estate: Emerging Trends

Hosts: Dean Mullett, Helen Mallovy Hicks
Guests: Holly Allen, Chris Potter
Release date: October 29, 2009
Running time: 18:11 minutes
Dean and Helen explore the ups and downs of commercial real estate in Canada with their guests Holly Allen, a partner in PwC’s Commercial Real Estate practice, and Chris Potter, leader of the Canadian Real Estate Tax practice.
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Episode 22: Currency Fluctuations in the New Economy

Hosts: Dean Mullett, Helen Mallovy Hicks
Guests: Vanessa Iarocci, Rozanne Kibel
Release date: October 29, 2009
Running time: 18:22 minutes
Dean and Helen talk with Vanessa Iarocci, a vice-president in the Corporate Finance practice and editor of PwC's Capital Markets Flash, and Rozanne Kibel, a director in the Corporate Finance practice, about the ups and downs of currency in these challenging economic times.
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Episode 21: Internal Audits - A New Strategic Position

Hosts: Dean Mullett, Helen Mallovy Hicks
Guests: Mike Harris, Matthew Wetmore
Release date: October 15, 2009
Running time: 27:14 minutes
Dean and Helen talk with Mike Harris, leader of the Corporate Governance practice and Matthew Wetmore, a partner in the Internal Audit practice of PwC. They discuss how to make internal audits work for you in a time of crisis.
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Episode 20: Extracting Value in a Down Economy – The Mining Industry in Canada

Host: Dean Mullett
Guests: Paul Murphy, Normand Champigny
Release date: October 1, 2009
Running time: 20:23 minutes
Dean Mullett talks with Paul Murphy, the national leader for the Mining industry group of PwC Canada, and Normand Champigny, who works in the firm's Mining Centre of Excellence in Canada.
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Episode 19: Sustainability Practices Make Good Sense for Your Business

Hosts: Dean Mullett, Helen Mallovy Hicks
Guest: Wendy Potomski
Release date: August 14, 2009
Running time: 16:40 minutes
Dean and Helen talk with Wendy Potomski, vice president of PwC’s Sustainable Business Solutions and Climate Change Services practice. She shares key sustainability strategies that are especially important in a down economy.
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Episode 18: Litigation – 3 Keys to Success

Hosts: Dean Mullett, Helen Mallovy Hicks
Guests: Robert Martin, Gerry Ranking
Release date: July 30, 2009
Running time: 23:44 minutes
Helen and Dean welcome Robert Martin, a partner in PwC’s Advisory Services practice, and Gerry Ranking, the chair of Fasken Martineau’s litigation department in Ontario. They discuss the top three things you should always do when faced with litigation issues.
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Episode 17: Performance Management – 7 Practices that Drive Superior Results

Hosts: Dean Mullett, Helen Mallovy Hicks
Guests: Stuart Smith, Gregory Richards
Release date: July 2, 2009
Running time: 19:42 minutes
Dean and Helen talk with Stuart Smith, a vice president in PwC's Advisory Service practice, and Greg Richards, the Cognos Professor of Performance Management with the Telfer School of Management at the University of Ottawa. They discuss the seven key practices of an effective performance management strategy.
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Episode 16: Performance Management – Why Now?

Hosts: Dean Mullett, Helen Mallovy Hicks
Guests: Philip Townsend, Kevin Wennekes
Release date: June 19, 2009
Running time: 18:54 minutes
Dean and Helen talk with Philip Townsend, a PwC Advisory Services partner, and Kevin Wennekes, vice-president of research with the Canadian Advanced Technology Alliance (CATA). They discuss why performance management is important in both good and bad financial times.
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Episode 15: Oil and Gas – How the Changing Prices May Affect your Business

Host: Dean Mullett
Guests: Scott Bolton, John Williamson
Release date: June 12, 2009
Running time: 23:54 minutes
Dean Mullet interviews Scott Bolton, a PwC Advisory Services partner, and John Williamson, a PwC Audit and Assurance Group partner, about the oil and gas industry and how it is being affected by the current economy.
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Episode 14: Tax Strategies to Save You Cash

Hosts: Dean Mullett and Helen Mallovy Hicks
Guests: Doug Frost, Janice Russell
Release date: June 5, 2009
Running time: 17:58 minutes
Helen and Dean welcome Doug Frost, PwC Mergers and Acquisitions Tax Services national leader, and Janice Russell, a Corporate Tax partner. They discuss how tax credits and other strategies can save money in a tight economy.
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Episode 13: Fraud: It Can Happen to You

Hosts: Dean Mullett and Helen Mallovy Hicks
Guests: Steven Henderson, Sarah MacGregor
Release date: May 29, 2009
Running time: 19:21 minutes
Helen and Dean welcome Steven Henderson, a PwC Advisory Services partner and Sarah MacGregor, a director in PwC's Advisory Services practice. They talk about ways in which a company's fraud risk may increase during a recession.
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Episode 12: Fairness Opinions and the OSC Ruling — Why Directors Should Care

Hosts: Dean Mullett and Helen Mallovy Hicks
Guest: William K. Orr, Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP
Release date: May 22, 2009
Running time: 22:04 minutes
Helen and Dean welcome Bill Orr, a partner in the law firm Fasken Martineau. Bill talks about the future usefulness of fairness opinions in light of recent decisions made by the Ontario Securities Commission, and why this might be important — especially in today's economic climate.
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Episode 11: Estate Freezes to Save Taxes

Hosts: Dean Mullett and Helen Mallovy Hicks
Guests: Kathy Munro, Wesley Mark
Release date: May 15, 2009
Running time: 18:47 minutes
Helen and Dean welcome Kathy Munro, a Tax Services partner of PricewaterhouseCoopers, who works in the High Net Worth Tax Services practice, and Wesley Mark, a partner in the Advisory Services practice of PwC and a member of the Valuation & Strategy Advisory group. They give listeners two different viewpoints on how an estate freeze could help your business manage through this troubled economy.
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Episode 10: Smarter IT Management Can Lower Costs

Hosts: Dean Mullett and Helen Mallovy Hicks
Guest: Robert Scott
Release date: May 8, 2009
Running time: 24:16 minutes
Helen and Dean welcome Robert Scott, an Advisory Services partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers, and national leader of the firm's IT Effectiveness practice. Robert talks about how information technology investments and management practices can help companies run more efficiently and reduce overall operating costs.
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Episode 9: Managing Risk — What Directors Need to Know

Host: Helen Mallovy Hicks
Guests: Mike Harris, Brenda Eprile, John Clappison
Release date: May 1, 2009
Running time: 28:44 minutes
Helen welcomes three guests: Mike Harris, leader of the Corporate Governance practice at PwC; Brenda Eprile, a partner, Risk Practice Leader for the GTA and National Internal Audit Practice Leader at PwC; and John Clappison, a former PwC partner and current director of a number of boards. The group explores why the role directors play in risk management may be more important now than ever before.
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Episode 8: Innovation in a Downturn

Hosts: Dean Mullett and Helen Mallovy Hicks
Guest: Chris Dulny
Release date: April 24, 2009
Running time: 15:58 minutes
Helen and Dean welcome Chris Dulny, a partner in the Assurance and Advisory Services Group of PwC. Chris talks about how crucial it is for technology companies to keep investing in innovation, especially during troubled financial times.
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Episode 7: Private Equity in a Troubled Economy

Hosts: Dean Mullett and Helen Mallovy Hicks
Guest: Peter Dale
Release date: April 17, 2009
Running time: 21:57 minutes
Helen and Dean welcome Peter Dale, national leader of PwC's Private Equity practice. Peter offers an overview of how the face of private equity has changed recently, and what key challenges will be for the future.
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Episode 6: Dealing with Your Banker

Hosts: Dean Mullett and Helen Mallovy Hicks
Guest: Vince De Luca
Release date: April 9, 2009
Running time: 17:32 minutes
Helen and Dean welcome Vince De Luca, a managing director of PwC's Corporate Finance practice. Vince talks about how important it is for private companies to keep the lines of communication with their banker open at all times.
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Episode 5: The Recession's Impact on the Accounting World

Hosts: Dean Mullett and Helen Mallovy Hicks
Guest: Michael Walke
Release date: April 3, 2009
Running time: 16:58 minutes
Helen and Dean are joined by Mike Walke, a partner with PwC and Audit and Assurance Credit Crisis leader. Mike explores some of the key challenges to financial reporting in troubled times, and how to better manage.
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Episode 4: Why Cash is King in a Tight Economy

Hosts: Dean Mullett and Helen Mallovy Hicks
Guest: Calum Semple
Release date: March 27, 2009
Running time: 21:48 minutes
Helen and Dean are joined by Calum Semple, a lead partner in the Restructuring and Distress Strategy Group at PwC. Calum helps us understand ways companies may be able to improve their cash line and liquidity during the downturn.
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Episode 3: How Will a Recession Affect the Value of My Business?

Hosts: Dean Mullett and Helen Mallovy Hicks
Guest: Ken Goodwin
Release date: March 20, 2009
Running time: 14:32 minutes
Helen and Dean interview Ken Goodwin, a partner in the Dispute Analysis & Valuations group at PwC. Ken sheds light on valuations and answers questions on how your business might be valued differently in a tight economy.
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Episode 2: Restructuring in a Down Economy

Hosts: Dean Mullett and Helen Mallovy Hicks
Guest: Dave Planques
Release date: March 13, 2009
Running time: 23:04 minutes
Helen and Dean speak with Dave Planques, leader of the Corporate Advisory & Restructuring group. Dave discusses some of the key differences between restructuring a company in good times, and in bad.
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Episode 1: Surviving the Economic Crisis — PwC's Perspective

Hosts: Dean Mullett and Helen Mallovy Hicks
Release date: March 6, 2009
Running time: 12:46 minutes
Dean Mullett and Helen Mallovy Hicks introduce the podcast series Strategy Talks, and offer real-world coping strategies for businesses in this economic downturn.
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