Culture, Comms & Cocktails

On this episode of Culture, Comms & Cocktails, Chuck Gose is joined by Jeremy Ball, who has earned the title of VP of Internal Comms, Philanthropy and Events at Big Lots. They talk about how the communications team rose to the challenge of keeping Big Lots employees in the loop through the pandemic; how they are encouraging good mental health and how they connect their people to their strategy. “Our entire work comes down to sharing the strategy of the company and helping people see themselves in that strategy.” Jeremy Ball Jeremy shares his experience of moving to two-way, digital communications. He credits his leaders for embracing their role as content creators and he highlights how employee ‘super users' can shape the conversation about topics like diversity, equality and inclusion. “The old way of communicating was just to put up a poster, share a flyer, send a message, post something on the internet and just share it. And we know that that's not how people consume information these days, right? It's now done in shorter clips of time. It's done in smaller bites of information. People want to like, and comment and love and forward and tag someone to say, Hey, did you see this? And so the value of that human nature is really what we've harnessed” Jeremy Ball Featured in this episode: Find out what makes the communications team at Big Lots so effective. Get some insight into how employees across multiple Big Lots locations and roles are kept informed, inspired and involved. Learn from Jeremy's description of how content, comments and interaction from leaders and employees is encouraged on their new digital employee experience platform. Pick up some tips on how your employees can help your organization with their recruitment needs. Be inspired by the impressive philanthropic achievements the Big Lots team have made for children's charities.

On this episode of Culture, Comms & Cocktails, Chuck Gose is joined by the inspirational Kelly McCarran, Corporate Communications Manager at Weatherford. They talk about how to keep employees connected to their company's culture, the role of data in communications and how to build humor into your messaging. Kelly shares some examples of the engaging campaigns she's led, using employee's stories. She describes the active role her leadership team have played in internal comms activities and talks about the importance of recognition in building an engaging culture. Featured in this episode: • Find out how Kelly chose internal communication as a career. • Learn about the cultural journey Weatherford has been on and how communication and sharing employee stories has been central to that. • Discover what Kelly uses the One Weatherford app to share, including how the ability to translate content has helped employees feel more connected. • Get some insight into the role leaders play in internal communication at Weatherford. • Listen in to Kelly's secrets for building humour into her communication in an effective and engaging way.

On this episode of Culture, Comms & Cocktails, Chuck Gose is joined by the amazing Shereen Daniels, managing director of HR Rewired and the HR Conversationalist. Shereen and Chuck discuss how HR professionals can rewire the culture of organizations to ensure they step up to the requirement to embed anti-racism and ensure racial equity. Shereen describes the maturity model she uses when working with CEOs to assess their current position and clarify their need to change. A prolific content creator and commentator, Shereen talks about how to recognize the potential you have to raise your voice, share your experience and be part of this essential cultural shift.

On this episode of Culture, Comms & Cocktails, Chuck Gose is joined by two amazing guests from Extreme Networks, Jasmine Davis, Internal Communications Manager, and Lisa Yeaton, Senior Social Media Specialist, as they talk about the intersection of internal communications and social media, the importance of video content, and how to keep CEOs real. Double the guests mean double the content! Listen in as Jasmine and Lisa give a unique perspective on how their roles form a ‘dream team’ for reaching employees and how data helps them target and customize what and how they present their content for maximum effectiveness.

Episode #48 - Nicole Alvino, SocialChorus by Chuck Gose, SocialChorus

With many workers going remote and frontline employees needing easier access to information, the digital employee experience (DEX) is at the top of mind for communicators, HR leaders and IT departments. Mike Walsh, product marketer at SocialChorus, joins the podcast to talk about recent research about DEX and trends we're seeing.

Comms transformation and digital transformation are both hot topics with internal communicators. And with the launch of CommunityONE, Kristen Cronyn is leading the charge at M&T Bank. As the Administrative Vice President, Employee Communication Product Owner, listen to Kristen share their early successes. And when a company focuses on the customer experience AND the employee experience, you know the results are going to be fantastic.

Burlington Stores faced the same challenge that a lot of retailers faced at the start of the pandemic. But their response, at least when it comes to internal communications, was a bit different. Karen DiScala, VP of communication at Burlington Stores, talked about their aggressive approach to keeping employees informed during the crisis. And the results were astounding and rewarding.

Go all the way back to the beginning of this podcast and you'll find that Rey Bouknight was the very first guest. And now he has joined SocialChorus as a strategic advisor. After leaving MGM Resorts, Rey then went to work for the Michigan Department of Health and led communication efforts during the pandemic.

episode 44, Kyla Turner, SocialChorus by Chuck Gose, SocialChorus

Culture, Comms, and Cocktails with host Chuck Gose from SocialChorus chatting with Alex Rose from Magellan

Episode #41 - Greg Monaco, Monaco Branding & Creative by Chuck Gose, SocialChorus

Shaw Industries has been a customer of SocialChorus for several years. But that doesn't mean they are done. Listen to Curtis Callaway, communications director, talk about all of the work they've put in to increase adoption amongst their most critical employee groups. And the effort paid off with the importance of communicating during the pandemic.

Every company has had challenges during the pandemic, but they are rarely the same. With UNFI, they’ve never been busier but still need to keep employees safe. Hear Mike Wilken, director of external communication & PR, share how they managed communication during multiple crises - including being in the city coping with George Floyd 's murder. Mike shares tactics they used to keep employees informed and get the engaged - including the sometimes difficult-to-reach non-wired employees.

Are you giving employees what they want? Are you asking them what they need. For Brittany Barhite, communications leader at Owens Corning, and the comms team there learned that their internal comms platform, which was originally intended for news and information, was being used to create a sense of community by Owens Corning employees. Hear Brittany share some of their big wins in 2020 (we should focus on the good things) and her advice on how to connect with non-wired employees and their leaders.

Launching a brand new internal comms platform is a lot of work, but work worth doing. But imagine launching one during a pandemic. . . in healthcare. That's what Lori Stewart and the communications team at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center faced this past Spring with the launch of HealthBeat Hub.

Rita Zonius is the director of The Enterprise Social Engineer and former head of internal digital communications for ANZ. Based in Melbourne, Australia, she joined the podcast to talk about the five steps leaders can take as we reset and think about performance differently during the current health crisis and (just as important) after it subsides. We also talked about the impact the pandemic will have on cultures and the employee experience.

For the past few months, I've been doing a live show with Rachel Miller from All Things IC called "Spin The Wheel." And we've been spinning the wheel on internal comms every week. Episode 7 was focused on building an investment in internal comms. I thought podcast listeners would enjoy the conversation. If you'd like to watch this episode or any of the past ones, go to http://youtube.com/socialchorus.

I first met Kristin Graham at Amazon's first-ever summit of their own internal communicators. I sat in on her session last February and knew I wanted to get her on the podcast. Then the pandemic hit but we did finally get it recorded. This is a different episode because we though it would be fun to go live for the interview. You can find the original video broadcast on LinkedIn, Twitter or YouTube.

So much can change in six months. When Chris Berger first appeared on the podcast, coronavirus wasn't even a whisper. Listen to this episode and hear Chris talk about how COVID-19 presented the greatest comms challenge of his career. And how they handled corporate messaging when news and advice was changing all the time across state lines. And Chris talks about his coffee venture - Sugar Creek Coffee (https://www.sugarcreekcoffee.com/) - and how it helps him focus on his day-to-day job because he's focused on roasting coffee, too. Culture, Comms & Cocktails is internal comms served straight up.

This is a difficult time for many. But even that even come close to the challenges that people are facing during the pandemic. For some, there are new challenges. For others, these challenges are simply exacerbated. I invited Dr. Leeno Karumanchery on to try and help make sense of all of it for us. He's the Chief Diversity Officer at MESH/Diversity and shares helpful thoughts for all of us. Culture, Comms & Cocktails is internal comms served straight up.

In the pandemic, the world is recognizing and celebrating the dedication and sacrifices of those medical professionals on the frontline. And while they might not be treating patients, healthcare communications pros like Paul Baltes are also going above and beyond. As the director of communications for Nebraska Medicine, listen to Paul share how they are informing and protecting employees, patients and the general community’s . Culture, Comms & Cocktails is internal comms served straight up.

Imagine around the same time a brand new company has formed (out of an old company) and then a pandemic hits. That's what Susan Cleveland and the team at Trane Technologies spent their March doing. Listen to their experiences of communicating during the health crisis and how a brand new internal comms platform - ClimateZone - became an invaluable resource. Culture, Comms & Cocktails is internal comms served straight up.

During the COVID-19 crisis, we know that employees want to hear from the experts over anyone else, including doctors. That's why I invited my friend Dr. Randy Sharma, aka The Rock Doc, to share what he's experiencing on the front lines of the pandemic, as well as advice for those feeling isolated during this strange time.

Just this week, Edelman released its Trust Barometer Special related to COVID-19 and it's both important and inspiring for communicators to listen to. Joining the podcast is Tamara Rodman, Executive Vice President of their Employee Experience practice. We discuss the 8 key findings from the report that impact communicators. You can get the full report for free: https://www.edelman.com/research/edelman-trust-covid-19-demonstrates-essential-role-of-private-sector

Southern Company Gas wanted to stand out in their industry and upgrade and update the employee experience. To deepen the connection between the employees and the business, the company launched FUEL - their workforce communication platform. Listen to J.P. Salman, director of internal communications and creative services, talk about the early success they've had and the ambitious goals for 2020. Culture, Comms & Cocktails is internal comms served straight up.

Not gonna lie, I'm a little disappointed that I didn't have to label this episode as explicit. Usually my conversations with Jenni Field get quite "colorful." Jenni will be joining FutureComms 2020 from the UK as one of our featured keynote speakers at the event. Want to know what she'll be talking about? Listen to the podcast. Culture, Comms & Cocktails is internal comms served straight up.

Few are bigger fans of Hilton than me. And that's one of the reasons why it was special to get Erica Cary from Hilton on the podcast. We talked about how they are focused on using technology to enhance the Hilton employee experience. And it shows with them recently being named #1 on Fortune 100's Best Places to work list. Culture, Comms & Cocktails is internal comms served straight up.

Ever worked in communication for a family-owned company? Listen to Mike Gloekler share how this has positively impacted the culture at McKee Foods. And in 2019, they launched MIX, a new internal communications platform for the company. And while communications made the investment, Mike knew it would take the support of all to make MIX the success it is today.

Tom Dykhuis grew up at Herman Miller, literally and professionally. Some time ago, he was an elementary kid running the halls of his dad's work. But now he's the Senior Manager of Internal Communications at the company. Listen to Tom talk about the drivers behind launching The Lounge, the company's new IC platform, and how leaders have been a driving force for its early success.

Communicators dream of having CEOs and other leadership members be enthusiastic about internal communications. And Bridget Therriault, System Director for Corporate Affairs at Main Line Health, and her team are living the dream. Listen to how their new internal comms platform, MLH To Go, has connected leaders with the teams and given all employees one platform that they can all use. And the creation, investment and launch of MLH To Go was centered all around an aging intranet.

A common theme in communications is about internal going external and external coming internal. But this is a unique case from Extreme Networks where their internal comms platform is being used to communicate and connect an external partner network - and the same platform is used to connect employees. Mitch Reyes is part of the marketing team who has led E360 to what it is today.

Internal communicators who are looking to be more efficient with their time but continue to build creative content would be wise to listen to Allison Nelik, VP of Internal Communications at MSCI. On this episode of Culture, Comms & Cocktails, Allison shares how they've streamlined their internal communication efforts, all the while publishing important news and information in more locations where employees want it. They've also expanded on internal podcasts, which will be of interest to those looking to launch their own company podcasts.

When many think of internal communications, we think of large corporations. And that's true. But also non-profits make investments in keeping employees in the know, too. Amy Hadsock is the Senior Director of News Channels for the American Cancer Society and she shares how ACS2Go has changed internal comms for the good there.

I've been connected on LInkedIn with Chris Berger for a few years now, and that included his time at Walmart to now being the Assistant Vice President of Corporate Communications at Atrium Health. Listen to hear about his strategy when it comes to leading the employee advocacy charge at Atrium, but he also shares additional insights into Teal Insider, their new internal communications platform. Culture, Comms & Cocktails is internal comms served straight up.

CSG heard from employees that employee communications needed more buzz. . . and so Kyla Shea, global communication strategist, and the CSG communications team delivered The Buzz this year. It's their one true global internal communications platform that sends relevant personalized news where employees are - whether that's on the web or on their phone. Listen to Kyla share how feedback is an important part of the culture at CSG and how it continues to improve The Buzz.

Delphi Technologies has been through a lot of changes in the past few years. And thankfully, Charlotte Riss, global internal communications manager, has been there leading the charge. Listen to her stories about wading through a company split and welcoming new CEOs, along with some of the communication challenges and opportunities with each.

It was a lot of fun working with Melissa Murray and the team at CP on implementing CP XChange, the company's primary internal communication platform. Being a 100+ year-old railway company, you can imagine some of the communication challenges they face. Union workforce. Workers away from computers and traditional access. Spread out over thousands of miles. But CP XChange has brought the company together.

I thought I had about heard it all when it came to creativity and internal comms. . . but I'm glad I hadn't. Listen to Kathy Craig from Whirlpool talk about their Whirlpool 360 internal communications platform and hear an event they conducted that wouldn't let employees "escape" without learning more.

This summer, SocialChorus shared the 2019 Internal Communicator Index, a new study that sheds some light on a few new IC trends and data points. Sonia Fiorenza, the VP of Communications & Engagement at SocialChorus, talks about why communicators should be paying attention, in addition to some of her own thoughts on the profession.

I took advantage of being at IABC World Conference and interviewed Mike Klein, Principal at Changing the Terms and long-time volunteer/agitator at IABC. In this conversation, we talked about how companies are missing out on discovering who their influencers are inside the business.

While at IABC World Conference this week, I spoke with Michael Nord, Client Relations Director at The Fifth Business and member of IABC's International Executive Board (IEB). No matter where we meet, I always enjoy conversations with Michael and hope you enjoy this one about his volunteer commitment to IABC and his journey along the way.

On this episode of Culture, I interview Michael Lund, product designer at SocialChorus. I ran into Michael at FutureComms in April and knew he'd share some great thoughts on the importance of design and important advice for communicators.

I thought it would be a good idea to interview communicators who were at this year's FutureComms event in New York City. And while it might have a been a good idea, I only had time to interview one. Listen to Joey Nord, director of corporate communications, at Ciox Health share her experiences in year 1 of using a new internal communications platform and what she wants to have happen in year 2.

How does your company communicate during acquisitions? Listen to Lindsay Williams, the director of digital communications at AccentCare, talk about how their internal communications platform is critical to bringing in these new employees. She also has great advice for internal communicators who get hung up on things being "perfect."

I have long thought that communicating to employees in the utility industry is perhaps a bit trickier than other industries. In this episode, I talk to Jaycee Breese, internal communications manager at Evergy. The company recently went through a merger and so we talked about how that has impacted the culture there. But perhaps most insightful is Jaycee's take on how data has changed how and when they communicate with employees.

Host Chuck Gose appeared on an episode of IC Unplugged and talked about the relationship between front line managers and internal communicators. The conversation was centered around results from this year's State of the Sector survey produced by Gatehouse. https://www.gatehouse.co.uk/stateofthesector/

Pleased to be joined on this episode of Culture, Comms & Cocktails with Shiv Singh, co-author of "Savvy: Navigating Fake Companies, Fake Leaders and Fake News in the Post-Trust Era." On this episode, we talk about what the world of fake news has done to corporate communications and what internal communicators can do about it. Shiv shares what communicators should find as very inspiring advice for how they can lead communications at companies in the post-trust era.

If you've traveled practically anywhere throughout the US, you've seen a Love's Travel Stops. Kyla Turner, communications manager, shares how her background at Southwest Airlines has made an impact on the culture at Love's, along with the success of employee-generated content for Love's Now, their internal communications platform. And you won't want to miss her cocktail recommendation at the end.

They said it wouldn't be easy getting a CIO on the podcast, but not every CIO is Susan Gerock from Washington REIT. She has a vision on what the role of CIO should be that communicators will love. Listen to her stories on why WashREIT made the investment in a new internal comms platform and her advice on why other CIOs should play an active role in internal communications.

The story about MGM Resorts and LEO was too big for just one podcast episode so I invited Kelley Tucky, Corporate VP of Events and Communication, to talk a bit more about leadership's involvement with LEO and what's the new internal comms platform has meant to the cultural evolution at MGM Resorts. Culture, Comms and Cocktails is supported by SocialChorus.