Earlier this week, I had the chance to join another gathering of the Boye & Company Digital Experience Leaders group, this time hosted in Toronto at the offices of Havas.
Havas is a global digital agency with more than 2,300 employees across 19 locations, and it served as the perfect backdrop for a day of conversation about the present—and future—of digital experiences.
The meeting opened with introductions from the group and remarks from Janus Boye, setting the tone for what these gatherings always seem to deliver: open dialogue among people who are navigating similar questions across agencies, brands, and platforms.
A Look Inside Havas
The Havas team kicked off the presentations with an overview of their organization, sharing insights into their customer base, operating model, and the technology platforms they are leaning into as we move deeper into 2026.
It was a valuable reminder that even among agencies operating at global scale, many of the challenges remain consistent: aligning platform strategy with customer needs, navigating rapid technology shifts, and maintaining differentiation in a crowded digital services landscape.
Story First, Format Second
The presentation that particularly resonated with me came from Sean Stanleigh, Director of Globe Content Studio at The Globe and Mail.
Sean spoke about the power of storytelling in modern media and how large news organizations navigate the constantly evolving digital landscape.
One line from his talk stuck with me:
“Story first, format second.”
It’s a deceptively simple idea, but one that feels increasingly important when technology platforms, formats, and distribution channels seem to change constantly.
The conversation quickly moved into the role of AI in news production and distribution. Sean posed a question that he returns to often:
“Do we feed the beast?”
In other words: how should publishers approach AI systems that rely heavily on their content to train and power new tools?
It’s a modern dilemma for journalism, and the discussion that followed was exactly the kind of nuanced conversation these gatherings are built for.
Personally, a lot of Sean’s points aligned closely with ideas I’ve been sharing around “Earnfluencing”—the concept that credibility, storytelling, and earned trust ultimately carry more long-term value than purely manufactured distribution. I was very locked in on this presentation and discussion.
The Open Forum
Beyond the formal presentations, some of the most valuable moments of the day came during the open discussions.
Topics ranged widely, including:
GEO/AEO (Generative Engine Optimization / Answer Engine Optimization)
How agencies are performing in the early months of 2026
The growing importance of digital sovereignty
The evolving relationship between content creators, platforms, and AI systems
These sessions often feel less like presentations and more like collaborative problem-solving among peers navigating the same industry shifts.
The Toronto Travel Hack
Part of the joy of these trips is the journey itself.
My preferred route into Toronto is flying Porter Airlines from Newark directly into Billy Bishop Airport, which sits on Toronto’s waterfront.
Billy Bishop is a fascinating travel quirk for a major global city.
Because of its short runway, the airport cannot accommodate most commercial jets. Instead, Porter operates De Havilland Dash 8-400 turboprop aircraft for regional routes.
The result is one of the most convenient travel experiences you can have when visiting a major city.
You land.
You clear customs.
You walk through an underground tunnel.
And suddenly you’re in downtown Toronto.
No long airport transfers. No highway traffic. Just step off the plane and into the city.
Lunch Before the Meeting
Before the afternoon sessions began, I took the short walk into the city for lunch at Gusto 101 with:
Janus Boye
Joel Varty, CTO of Agility CMS
Justin Cook, President of 9thCO
With Joel Varty at Jimmy’s Coffee
Pizza and pasta were exactly what the doctor ordered.
At one point I asked Joel if there was a nearby Tim Hortons. When in Rome… right?
Joel smiled and pointed next door.
“The best coffee in Toronto,” he said, “is actually right there.”
Instead of Timmy’s, I ended up at Jimmy’s Coffee, where a vanilla latte proved him absolutely correct.
Friends Old and New
One of the best parts of these Boye gatherings is reconnecting with familiar faces while also meeting new ones.
It was great catching up with several Canadian friends in the digital experience community and adding a few new connections to the mix, including:
Prakash Jha (Konabos)
Sanyam Chugh (Altudo)
Tiffany Moreside (Telus)
Jeff Demchuk (Tangerine)
After the meeting wrapped up, several of us continued the conversation over drinks and appetizers at Public Gardens Toronto.
Old fashioned, pints, and—yes—more pizza made their way around the table.
Toronto at night, even on a Wednesday in March, is alive with energy.
The Real Value of These Gatherings
Events like this reinforce something I’ve come to appreciate more each year:
The real value isn’t just in the presentations.
It’s in the relationships.
It’s the conversations between sessions. The shared questions about where the industry is going. The trust built between peers who are all navigating the same rapid shifts in technology, media, and digital experience.
And sometimes, it’s also just about the simple pleasure of stepping off a turboprop plane, walking into a city, and spending a day exchanging ideas with people who care deeply about the same craft.