Podcasts about internal comms

Are your internal emails building trust—or fueling confusion? Is poor communication quietly killing your company culture? In this vibrant conversation, host Nicole Greer sits down with Alejandra Ramirez, a seasoned internal communication strategist and founder of Ready Cultures. With two decades of experience and a passion for creating thriving organizational cultures, Alejandra shares her signature "3H Framework"—Head, Heart, and Hands—a powerful approach for crafting clear, connected, and actionable internal messages.Together, Nicole and Alejandra dive deep into the importance of communication as a culture-building tool, explore how to establish trust and alignment across teams, and offer real-life stories, practical tips, and ready-to-use tools. Whether you're rolling out a new system, navigating change, or just tired of seeing those dreaded one-letter replies to thoughtful emails (yes, we're talking about that infamous “k”), this episode will inspire you to level up your messaging game and build a more vibrant, connected workplace.Vibrant Takeaways from this episode:[00:04:40] Craft with intention: Every message should clarify the facts (head), connect emotionally (heart), and direct next steps (hands).[00:22:26] Communication builds trust: Transparency isn't about having all the answers—it's about showing you care and sharing what you know.[00:30:33] Process matters: Good communication requires not just good words, but a thoughtful system for how and where messages are delivered.[00:34:46] The 3H Framework works beyond email: Whether you're speaking at a town hall or dropping a quick Slack message, applying Head, Heart, and Hands ensures your message lands with clarity and impact.FREE DOWNLOAD from Alejandra:https://www.readycultures.com/3h-frameworkConnect with Alejandra:Website: https://www.readycultures.com/Email: alejandra@readycultures.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/malejandraramirez/Also mentioned in this episode:Change by John Kotter https://a.co/d/5kgfYT9Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman https://a.co/d/5kgfYT9Listen today at vibrantculture.com/podcast or your favorite podcast platform! Learn more about Nicole Greer, the Vibrant Coach: https://www.vibrantculture.com/

Join Staffbase Head of Content Brian Tomlinson as he sits down with Honeywell Chief Communicator Stacey Jones to break down what it takes to lead communications at a global scale. Stacey shares how she and her team align 100,000 employees worldwide around a North Star strategy, simplify complex corporate narratives, and ensure transparency during massive transformations — including a $9B M&A journey. In this episode, Stacey also explores the evolving role of AI in communications, the biggest mistakes leaders make when communicating change, and why quality — not quantity — matters in comms measurement. Whether you're leading through transformation, building a stronger storytelling approach, or looking to future-proof your comms strategy, this episode is packed with actionable insights to help you lead with clarity and impact.

This is a rapid-fire, real-time episode designed for Heads of Internal Communications & Change Management who are facing massive shifts in how organizations engage, inform, and align employees. Inspired by Marketing for the Now, we'll tackle what's changing this very moment and how leaders must adapt—fast."Quiet Cutting" & Employee Distrust – The impact of workforce changes on internal brand perception.Real-Time Leadership Visibility – Why employees expect CEOs to communicate like influencers.The Evolution of Town Halls – Why static, one-way comms are dead & what's replacing them.Crisis Comms in the Viral Era – How to manage internal narratives before they go external.

This episode features an interview with Matt Rivera, Chief Marketing Officer at Day & Zimmermann and Gary Sevounts, Chief Marketing Officer at Simpplr. Matt has worked for Day & Zimmermann for 34 years, from payroll administrator to the first person in the marketing department. He leads a diverse team of marketers and communications professionals who contribute to a cohesive, professional and high-performing marketing organization. Gary is a veteran CMO with a track record of building high-growth demand and revenue engines, effective marketing teams, differentiated brands, and establishing categories. Previously, he was CMO at Malwarebytes, Socure, and Equifax's Identity and Fraud Division.In this episode, Miriam, Matt, and Gary explore the connection between customer experience and employee experience, the importance of authenticity and transparency in storytelling, and leveraging AI to enhance communication and measurement.-------------------“ With the automation that we have today for the employee experience, you can do that and then transfer it right over into the external marketing. You're tweaking the message. But it's the same types of messaging. It's the same campaigns. We're looking at the same analytics. All of those things really start connecting a lot. I think, in a lot of cases, the employee experience and what you're doing there, if you're doing it right, it's authentic, can really drive some of the marketing stuff too.” – Matt Rivera“ Brand starts internally.  It starts with a mission and starts with the employees believing in why. Why did we start the company? Why are we doing what we're doing all day long? Why are we passionate about it? In the companies that I worked with and I dealt with, when there is that connection and it's genuine, employees become ambassadors. In the companies where that connection doesn't exist, people don't believe it and it's just words, then it can take a negative turn really quickly.” – Gary Sevounts-------------------Episode Timestamps:*(02:51): Matt and Gary's career journeys*(07:01): Getting to know Matt and Gary*(08:41): Exploring the connection between CX and EX*(12:56): The art of great storytelling *(24:15): Marketing strategies for Internal Communications*(35:36): Leveraging technology for employee engagement-------------------Links:Connect with Matt on LinkedInLearn more about Day & ZimmermannConnect with Gary on LinkedInConnect with Miriam on LinkedInCohesion PodcastAbout Simpplr

Why it matters:Internal communicators often feel like they're working alone—overwhelmed and under-resourced. But the truth? You're surrounded by potential contributors who can help extend your reach and impact.What's happening:In this episode, Chris Willis talks with Thereasa Roy, Director of Product and Content Marketing at OffSec, about how internal comms teams can:Activate leaders and department heads to contribute meaningful content.Transition from content creators to strategic editors-in-chief.Build stronger collaboration across departments to enhance alignment.The bottom line:Internal communications is a team sport. Learn how to mobilize your organization's leaders and unlock hidden resources to drive better engagement and business outcomes.Listen now and discover how to extend your internal comms team—without adding headcount.

EPISODE 158 | Debbie DeWitt, marketing communications manager for Visix As we step into 2025, internal communication professionals face new challenges and opportunities. From prioritizing manager and frontline communications to addressing information overload, the landscape continues to evolve. Join us as we break down the latest insights and strategies to help internal communicators navigate the year ahead. We explore key trends like streamlining communication channels, embracing new mediums, and leveraging data analytics to improve effectiveness. We'll also discuss the ongoing importance of leadership participation, the role of personalization in cutting through the noise, and how generative AI is reshaping communication strategies. Get tips to help you take stock of last year's IC efforts Explore longtail priorities that continue to resonate and evolve Hear what's top of mind for communications pros this year (lots of stats and links!) Understand the impact of 7 of the top internal communications trends Discover how to avoid common communications planning mistakes See the full transcript HERE Need more advice on crafting visual communications? Grab our free Communications Planning Guide HERE  

Join IABC Ottawa hosts Anu Sharma and Aishwarya Chauhan as they explore the evolving world of internal communications in the latest episode of The Voice Podcast. In this insightful conversation, Wemimo Onikan, an expert with over 13 years of experience in internal and external communications, shares practical strategies for effectively engaging employees, measuring communication success and fostering a connected workplace culture. She highlights combining data-driven insights with qualitative feedback to create meaningful and impactful communication. Wemimo's rich experience across the non-profit, public and private sectors enables her to offer valuable advice on elevating an organization's mission through strategic internal communications and employee engagement. Besides, discover useful resources recommended by Wemimo to enhance your skills as a communicator, like Rachel Miller's Candid Comms Podcast, Craig Smith's Engage in Internal Comms and Brené Brown's Dare to Lead audiobook. Listen to the episode filled with actionable tips, leadership lessons and inspiration for those looking to make a meaningful impact in internal communications. Click the link to tune in now! Have questions or feedback? Reach out to us at vpdigital@ottawa.iabc.com 

On the podcast today I'm chatting with Will Hart about the launch of PRmoment Leaders 3rd semester, from late Jan to April 2025.We also talk about the PR agency market currently and where it's at after an eventful 2024.Before that, the breaking news is that the PRmoment Awards final entry deadline is the 17th January. Don't miss the opportunity to create proof points of the quality of your agency's work.Thanks so much to the PRmoment Podcast sponsors the PRCA.2 mins Will reminds us about what PRmoment Leaders is all about?5 mins What are the challenges faced by PR agency directors currently - the people who are likely to be the future leaders of their businesses.“They are too time poor… delegation is an important theme for these people.”“A  PR agency's greatest strength is also its greatest weakness. People often work down a level because they are so great at individual relationships, clients don't let them go. They get trapped in their client relationships."“There is an ongoing experiment in optimising hybrid working.”“Everyone is dealing with huge ongoing disruption and change. And the pace just gets quicker.”9 mins Will, through PRmoment Leaders, has a unique perspective on the PR agency market atm:“One huge difference I see is the difference between the independent agencies and the holding company firms.”“From the people we have in our cohort, you've got to feel positive about the new business environment.”Here's the link Ben Smith mentioned to the show with Warren Johnson on a previous PRmoment Podcast.14 mins Will talks about PR agency talent trends.17 mins Will talks us through the Masterclass speakers for the third semester of the agency cohort of PRmoment Leaders. More info about this semester here.1. Jonathan Hughes Edelman, EMEA COOHow to create and lead a PR agency in a constant state of evolution2. Jonny Bentwood Golin, global head, data & analyticsWhy data storytelling matters and how to do it well3. Charlotte West, Lenovo, VP global corporate commsFuture-proofing the agency/client relationship4. Howard Jones, Telecoms sector, comms directorWhat is the role of earned media in today's integrated world?5. Jo Patterson. Zeno London, managing directorPR agency governance. Not as boring as it sounds6. Adrian Ma, Fanclub PR, founder and managing directorWhat's the point of purpose (when almost everyone is doing it)?22 mins Will talks about PRmoment Leaders In-House programme for the second semester of PRmoment Leaders:1. Caroline Fisher, ASICS, comms director How PR is taking the lead in integrated campaigns2. Sheeraz Gulsher,People Like Us & Braver, founderHow to improve the diversity, inclusion and retention of PR teams3. Marsid Greenidge. Vesuvius, group head of commsPR and Internal Comms - how does the relationship work best?4. Richard Baines, The Amber Group, founder & directorHarnessing personality types for team success5. Sian O'Keefe, FMCG comms directorHow to build and maintain great agency partnerships

In this episode, we tackle the growing challenge of email fatigue and explore why traditional newsletters often go unread. Kath makes a compelling case for converting your company newsletter into an engaging mini podcast—a modern, inclusive, and multitasking-friendly way to communicate with your audience.She highlights the limitations of newsletters, such as crammed text and low engagement, and explains how audio newsletters can reach clients who may have disengaged or never read your emails. Audio content allows listeners to consume information on the go or while multitasking, offering a solution that values their time while still getting your message across effectively.Kath emphasizes the inclusivity of audio formats, catering to those who prefer listening over reading or who find reading challenging. By offering both audio and transcribed versions, businesses can ensure they're accessible to all. She reminds us that 80% of business comes from existing or past clients, making this a powerful way to reconnect and reengage.If you're an accountant, financial advisor, lawyer, or any professional sending regular newsletters, this episode is for you! Learn how to position yourself as a leader in your field by embracing audio and transforming your newsletter into a mini podcast.Key Takeaway: Stop relying solely on newsletters. Switch to audio and watch your engagement soar while fostering stronger client connections.4oSend us a textSupport the showProduced by https://voiceitpodcastagency.co.uk

Live from the Shaker Green Room at RecFest USA, Chad & Cheese corner Audra Knight, the employer branding wizard at Foundation Medicine, to spill the tea on how companies can stop being boring and actually build a brand people care about. Audra preaches the gospel of internal communications, because apparently, it's not enough to just have a logo and a “We're Hiring!” post on LinkedIn. She dishes on the art of getting your employees to share their stories without bribing them (much), making your company seem like a place where people want to work—not just survive. Audra also marvels at the endless buffet of fancy branding tools out there, hinting that maybe picking the right ones is better than throwing spaghetti at the wall. Her secret sauce? Tailoring messages to different roles like a personal shopper for job seekers. Oh, and she's not here for performative diversity—she's all about the real deal. Because in employer branding, authenticity isn't just a buzzword—it's the only thing standing between you and a talent drought.

Live from the Shaker Green Room at RecFest USA, Chad & Cheese corner Audra Knight, the employer branding wizard at Foundation Medicine, to spill the tea on how companies can stop being boring and actually build a brand people care about. Audra preaches the gospel of internal communications, because apparently, it's not enough to just have a logo and a “We're Hiring!” post on LinkedIn. She dishes on the art of getting your employees to share their stories without bribing them (much), making your company seem like a place where people want to work—not just survive. Audra also marvels at the endless buffet of fancy branding tools out there, hinting that maybe picking the right ones is better than throwing spaghetti at the wall. Her secret sauce? Tailoring messages to different roles like a personal shopper for job seekers. Oh, and she's not here for performative diversity—she's all about the real deal. Because in employer branding, authenticity isn't just a buzzword—it's the only thing standing between you and a talent drought.

Live from the Shaker Green Room at RecFest USA, Chad & Cheese corner Audra Knight, the employer branding wizard at Foundation Medicine, to spill the tea on how companies can stop being boring and actually build a brand people care about. Audra preaches the gospel of internal communications, because apparently, it's not enough to just have a logo and a “We're Hiring!” post on LinkedIn. She dishes on the art of getting your employees to share their stories without bribing them (much), making your company seem like a place where people want to work—not just survive. Audra also marvels at the endless buffet of fancy branding tools out there, hinting that maybe picking the right ones is better than throwing spaghetti at the wall. Her secret sauce? Tailoring messages to different roles like a personal shopper for job seekers. Oh, and she's not here for performative diversity—she's all about the real deal. Because in employer branding, authenticity isn't just a buzzword—it's the only thing standing between you and a talent drought.

When we mutter the phrase "internal comms" to many of our clients, we see them shudder. "Do we have to get them involved? They're always a blocker to our plans!" We've heard it all before... So in this ep, Ash and Han address why internal comms *must* be involved in your marketing for learning initiatives, and how to make the whole thing smoother.  Happy listening guys!    LINKS: Internal comms, friend or foe?

In this episode (part 2 of 2), we talk with Joanna Parsons about the power of measurement in internal communications. Joanna, author of Innovative Internal Communications, explains why many comms teams avoid measurement, how to align goals with business strategy, and practical ways to demonstrate value. We also explore how measuring impact can elevate internal comms from a tactical function to a strategic partner.Why it matters:Without clear metrics, internal comms risks being undervalued. Measurement shows leadership the real business impact — from reducing attrition to improving alignment.The big picture:Effective measurement connects comms to outcomes that matter: savings, revenue, or employee engagement. It's not just about people listening — it's about showing how comms moves the business forward.What's next:Learn how to build a measurement framework, communicate value to leadership, and start experimenting with data-driven strategies to strengthen your comms career.

In this episode, guest Mary Barnes stresses linking change management and Internal comms and the importance of "calming the chaos" that often accompanies organisational change. She discusses how new leaders sometimes implement structural changes merely to leave their mark, causing confusion and disruption. Instead, she advocates for a more thoughtful approach that prioritises stability, allowing teams to adapt without constant upheaval. It's a compelling perspective on how to manage change without causing unnecessary disruption and stress among employees.

This episode features an interview with Shaun Randol, Founder of Mister Editorial, a mixternal communications newsletter. Shaun has spent a large portion of his career piloting communications for international companies such as Bloomberg and BlackRock.In this episode, Shawn and Shaun discuss the myth of planning in storytelling, the importance of adapting to new technologies, and maintaining a strategic perspective on the evolution of communications work.-------------------“I think those of us who have 10 to 15 years left in their career, can't ignore [AI]. They should embrace it, learn to use it. Dial in to one or two tools or use cases and become deeply expert at it immediately. Change comms, multimedia, photography, graphics, storytelling, whatever it is. Pick one or two because there's many of them out there and just get known for it as soon as possible, because that expertise will be needed.” – Shaun Randol-------------------Episode Timestamps:*(02:26): Getting to know Shaun*(09:12): Where Shaun stands today on AI replacing people*(14:19): How technology changes the way we communicate*(18:45): Shaun's opinion on slowing down generative AI*(29:36): Shaun's advice for comms professionals using AI*(35:44): Other ways comms professionals can embrace AI-------------------Links:Connect with Shaun on LinkedInConnect with Shawn on LinkedInCohesion Podcast

Meet Pat Taggart, a documentary filmmaker specialising in corporate video storytelling. Together we explored the transformative role of video in internal communications. The discussion covers the evolution of video technology, the importance of authenticity, and the shift towards more organic content facilitated by smartphones. We also explore the benefits of enabling comments on internal videos to foster engagement and the pitfalls of overly scripted content.

On today's episode, we discuss the impact of ‘gamification' on the digital retail space, how to hit the right notes in your internal comms, and Deloitte's advice for elevating technology conversations in the boardroom. Links:https://www.managementtoday.co.uk/shein-temu-tiktok-shop-chinese-e-commerce-platforms-existential-threat/indepth/article/1884882https://www.managementtoday.co.uk/great-transformation-chiefs-know-internal-comms/indepth/article/1883084https://www.managementtoday.co.uk/round-up-ai-quantum-readiness-value-boardroom-alliances/food-for-thought/article/1884746Credits:Presenters: Antonia Garrett Peel and Éilis CroninProducer: Inga MarsdenArtwork: David Robinson Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gina Butchin and Kristin Beers, of Nautilus Insurance, join Jim Flynn and Natasha Suber to talk about podcasting as an internal comms strategy. Interested in learning how to enrich the lives and careers of your team with a "snackable" podcast? Listen to this episode of the IMCA peer2peer podcast.

Special Guest: May Holloway May is an award-winning and transformational Internal Communications leader with a proven track record of consistently exceeding stakeholder expectations and organisational objectives. In three years at the British Transport Police she transformed Internal Comms and delivered measurable change. Recognised as an inspirational and strategic thought leader by colleagues and wider industry. Extensive experience in building high-performing teams at pace, aligning work to best practice, creating compelling content and campaigns – all with the goal to make people feel informed, connected and purposeful. Join us as we discuss why communicators should have personality! Host: Jo Moffatt

Special Guest: May Holloway May is an award-winning and transformational Internal Communications leader with a proven track record of consistently exceeding stakeholder expectations and organisational objectives. In three years at the British Transport Police she transformed Internal Comms and delivered measurable change. Recognised as an inspirational and strategic thought leader by colleagues and wider industry. Extensive experience in building high-performing teams at pace, aligning work to best practice, creating compelling content and campaigns – all with the goal to make people feel informed, connected and purposeful. Join us as we discuss why communicators should have personality! Listen Live (Archive Available) Host: Jo Moffatt

In less than 20 minutes a week, we'll introduce you to an expert or business owner with deep experience in what they do. Grow you, grow your team, grow a small business. In this episode of "Grow a Small Business," hosted by Michael Denehey, we welcome Evan Batten, Founder of Move You Media, to share his insights on empowering businesses with effective social media strategies. With over 30 years of media experience, Evan discusses how small businesses can create authentic video content to drive engagement and growth. Tune in to learn practical tips and the importance of storytelling in your business communication. Key Takeaways for Small Business Owners: Modular Approach to Social Media Content Creation: Project V Framework: Evan Batten discusses how Project V offers a modular approach to creating social media content. This framework includes one-to-one coaching, 24-hour video on-demand content, and the Blueprint Builder strategy to help businesses understand why they are making videos, who the audience is, and where the videos will be shown. Empowering All Staff to Create Content: Inclusive Training: Project V's approach ensures that everyone in the organization, from the CEO to entry-level employees, can participate in content creation. This democratizes the process and leverages the unique perspectives of all staff members. Overcoming Comfort Barriers: By involving even those least likely to be comfortable with technology or on-camera work, Project V helps build confidence and skills across the organization. Enhancing Communications Efficiency: Immediate Content Creation: Instead of waiting for scheduled shoots, staff can create and share content immediately. This is particularly useful for capturing spontaneous moments or addressing timely events. Support for Comms Departments: Comms departments can benefit from the influx of content created by staff, enabling them to focus on editing and strategizing rather than content generation. Our hero crafts outstanding reviews following the experience of listening to our special guests. Are you the one we've been waiting for? Practical Tips for Creating Engaging Videos: Getting Outside: Recording videos outdoors can significantly increase engagement and make content more dynamic. Eye Contact with the Lens: Maintaining eye contact with the camera lens, rather than the screen, helps create a more authentic and engaging connection with the audience. Evan suggests marking the lens on your phone with a small sticker or liquid paper to easily find and focus on it. Flexibility in Content Creation: Reduced Pressure: Staff can record videos at their own pace and comfort, reducing the pressure and stress associated with scheduled video shoots. Adaptability for Leaders: Leaders traveling or working under tight schedules can record videos when they feel most prepared and energetic, ensuring the best possible presentation. Building Authentic Connections: Universal Applicability: The methods taught in Project V are applicable across various sectors, from charities to finance, enabling all types of organizations to make authentic connections with their audience. One action small business owners can take: One action small business owners can take, as advised by Evan Batten, is to start creating authentic video content using their smartphones. By focusing on storytelling and capturing real moments, they can engage their audience and enhance their business's online presence. Do you have 2 minutes every Friday? Sign up to the Weekly Leadership Email. It's free and we can help you to maximise your time. Enjoyed the podcast? Please leave a review on iTunes or your preferred platform. Your feedback helps more small business owners discover our podcast and embark on their business growth journey.

“It became really clear what we could do and do well with the resources that we had, and those were limited resources. And I never stopped talking about what we could do with more.” --Jessica Onick  The dirty word on this episode of the podcast is “prioritization.” Host, Tara McDonagh has invited Jessica Onick, Senior Director of Internal and External Communications at GitHub to share how prioritizing and setting boundaries ended up doubling the size of her team in just over a year.   In this episode of the Communications Business Advisor Podcast, Tara and Jesscia talk about:  Jessica's experience losing staff and being required to prioritize  How to go about the prioritization process and be intentional, NOT ruthless The art of telling others, “No, it's not a priority” Determining where you're really needed to do it all, where to guide, and where to empower self-service Using up-front prioritization as a framework for the day-to-day Growing your team and budget as a result of the prioritization process   Links & Resources:  Jessica Onick on LinkedIn –– www.linkedin.com/in/jessicaonick Raise the Tide - Join the movement.  If the topic of today's episode of the Communications Business Advisor Podcast resonated with you, please take a moment to share this episode with someone, drop a rating, or leave a review. We can ignite a movement when we share the message.  Visit taramcdonagh.com to learn more about how to work with Tara. Or follow her content on LinkedIn at: Tara McDonagh where she posts five days a week on comms.-focused topics.   The Communications Business Advisor Podcast is brought to you by Raise the Tide, the unique coaching, community and professional development program that elevates corporate women communications leaders and emerging leaders in the communications field.

This episode features an interview with Jordan Katz, Chief Insights Officer at Simpplr. Jordan advises organizations on the influential use of data and analytics to develop strategies that predict outcomes and increase performance. Prior to Simpplr, he was one of the Heads of Employee Experience Strategy at Qualtrics and has consulted hundreds of SaaS companies and global organizations.In this episode, Shawn and Jordan dig into Simpplr's 2024 State of Internal Communications Report. They discuss the most surprising results, creating highly effective teams, and using AI to tailor messages.-------------------“We're creating not a time machine, like go back in time machine, but a save you time, reduce friction. Where everything is served up at your fingertips in a way that not only helps you get your job done, helps you be more productive, reduces cycle time on search and access to information. And by the way, can help you eliminate some of the administrative tasks or recognize your peers or any of the things that you want to do on a day-to-day basis that are not the high value stuff that drives crazy impact at your job. But instead, helps lift you up so you can do the best work that you can possibly do in the most efficient manner possible.” – Jordan Katz-------------------Episode Timestamps:*(03:45): Rapid fire questions*(10:43): Surprising results from the State of IC Report *(18:59): How AI can improve IC messaging*(30:12): Jordan's advice for implementing an intranet*(35:17): What makes highly effective IC teams*(46:56): What's next for IC in 2025-------------------Links:Connect with Jordan on LinkedInRead Simpplr's State of Internal Communications ReportConnect with Shawn on LinkedInCohesion Podcast

EPISODE 137 | Guest: Debbie DeWitt, marketing communications manager for Visix What are internal communications professionals focused on this year? In this episode, we take a look at multiple surveys and sources to see what the top themes and priorities are, and discuss how they might affect digital signage managers. Some trends have continued from last year, while others present brand new challenges and opportunities in our rapidly changing IC environment. Hear how 2023 trends have continued to evolve Discover how hybrid work, new tech and channel mix are changing workflows Explore how people experience (PX) is becoming more crucial Learn how IC pros are making content more engaging Understand the continued, and increasing, importance of AI See the full transcript HERE Download our free Guide to Better Communications in the Agile Workplace

We're delving deep into the world of AI once again on the podcast! This time, we're exploring the role of AI in internal communications. It's not just about content generation, it's also about delivery. AI can ensure that the right content reaches the right audience at the right time. An often-overlooked aspect, but crucial nonetheless! We use the analogy of AI as the plumbing that delivers content, while humans or AI create the content. This episode will illuminate how AI can be a powerful tool in shaping and delivering internal communications.

There's new evidence that you should reconsider sharing links in your social media posts. Also, why your thought leadership approach might be stuck in “mutually assured irrelevance.” Plus, a new report on challenges in internal communications, the increase in distractions at work, and more! WHAT DO YOU THINK? We want to hear from you! Contact us with your comment about the topics we talk about in this episode. Or, are you looking for advice on some aspect of your communications or marketing work? Ask away! We may include your comment or question on next month's show.  Send us a message Record an audio comment or question, click the microphone at the bottom of HansonandHunt.com. EPISODE SUMMARY The social media productivity report Who sends traffic on the web? Spotlight: Auntie Anne's The 2024 state of internal communications B2B thought leadership impact report Closing: Reasons why employees are distracted ARTICLES AND LINKS The Social Media Productivity Report Who sends traffic on the web and how much? The art of making pretzels part of every conversation The 2024 state of internal communications Is your thought leadership stuck in ‘mutually assured irrelevance'? Reasons why employees are distracted FOLLOW HANSON AND HUNT Show page - HansonandHunt.com Apple Podcasts Spotify RSS feed SIGN UP FOR ARIK'S WEEKLY NEWSLETTER Subscribe MARKETING PODCAST NETWORK Hanson & Hunt is part of the Marketing Podcast Network, a community of like-minded podcasters in collaboration to offer advertisers a more effective and efficient way to reach prospective customers. Learn more at MarketingPodcasts.net. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ever wondered how to build an effective internal communications team from scratch? Meet Emily Hecker, the author of "Me, Myself, and IC: A Guide to Building Internal Communications as a Team of One." Emily shares her expertise in building internal communications teams from scratch, offering tips on resourcefulness, credibility, and trust. The episode provides listeners with foundational tips on becoming a successful internal communicator, even with limited resources.

If you have ever attended one of Shel Holtz's presentations, you will know that, more often than not, it's standing room only. Shel has a remarkable ability to anticipate what's next for internal communication, a knack for seeing what's around the corner and an in-depth understanding of how technology is revolutionising our world of work. Since Chat GPT was made public in November 2022, AI has dominated the headlines. So, who better but Shel to talk us through the implications for internal communications? His insights are fascinating. For years at the forefront of technology and communication, Shel is currently Senior Director of Communications at Webcor, a California-based building and engineering company. He's the author of several essential communications books and the co-host of For Immediate Release, a podcast for comms professionals now into its eighteenth year. Share your thoughts on this, or any other episode of The Internal Comms Podcast, using the hashtag #TheICPodcast. Happy listening! Learn more about the opportunities for AI to transform your internal communications in a Creativity now! webinar from AB: https://abcomm.co.uk/abthinks/best-tools-for-creating-ic-audio-content/

In today's episode we highlight 3 books recommended by 3 of our 2023 podcast guests and an ask for you (see below!) 1) Mistakes Were Made But Not By Me - Why We Justify Foolish Beliefs, Bad Decisions & Hurtful Acts by Carol Travis & Elliott Aronson Recommended by Samuel Salzer from E40 How to build Habits that Stick. 2) A more Beautiful Question: The Power of Inquiry to Spark Breakthrough Ideas by Warren Berger Recommended by Melina Palmer E43 Applying Behavioural Science to Internal Comms 3) Made to Stick By Chip & Dan Heath Recommended by Nedra Weinreich E57 Top Mistake When Communicating Mental Health Perfect for colleagues secret santas or your 2024 reading list. Do you want to join the Bootcamp BookClub? We're touting for interest. Would you enjoy a relaxed, informal bookclub reading the latest behavioural science, marketing & comms books and... coming on the podcast to talk about it (not obligatory!) We are at the very early stages. We all love books, read books, share books - seems bonkers not to talk books too! Email ruth@behaviourchange.marketing and we'll chat!

Michael and Robin are joined today by Carolyn Clark.  Carolyn is the VP of Employee Experience Strategy and Transformation at Simpplr, where she elevates the employee experience by driving innovation and revitalizing how employee communication is delivered. Prior to Simpplr, she led internal and HR communication at companies like Yahoo, Pandora, and GoDaddy. We discuss elevating the employee experience, the impact of AI on EX and Internal Communications, and trying to turn Blowing Rock, North Carolina, into a technology hub.   

Our guest is a Formula One industry expert who discusses the challenges of internal communication and employee engagement in high performance teams. We explore how Formula One teams, despite employing thousands of people, face routine communication challenges like any other organisation. However, what sets them apart is their relentless focus on performance and ensuring that everyone understands their role in driving success. The interview uncovers valuable lessons that can be applied to internal communication practices in other industries.

It's often said we must understand the past to build the future, and that sentiment sits at the very heart of this episode. This week on The Internal Comms Podcast we welcome professors Michael Heller and Joe Chick, of Brunel University. Michael and Joe were recently awarded a considerable grant from the UK government to write an institutional history of the internal comms function in the UK – and they join host Katie Macaulay to discuss IC's humble beginnings and its evolution over time. Internal communications is nothing new, of course. As you'll hear, it has a rich and vibrant history, dating all the way back to the 1800s. So why this research? And why now? Through their work, Michael and Joe hope to give us IC practitioners a clearer sense of our occupational history, and in turn enhance our professional identity. For too long internal communicators have been seen as lesser than other comms professionals, and legitimising our journey to the present day is just one way we can secure our seat at the top table. Join us on a fascinating journey through the history of the profession, one we think will inspire and energise you to build the new era of IC. As always, share your thoughts of this or any other episode of The Internal Comms Podcast using the hashtag #TheICPodcast. And thanks for listening.

The Internal Marketing Podcast is the unique podcast series that 'flips' the marketing conversation, from external to internal, sharing everything you need to know, to build the company brand and drive growth, by engaging and empowering its employees to become advocates of the company brand. If you're not already subscribed to The Internal Marketing Podcast, then join the 'internal marketing tribe' and subscribe, leave a review and share the podcast with anyone in your network whom, you believe, will find it valuable. Thanks for listening! ABOUT  CHRISTINE GRITMONChristine empowers professionals to step into their personal brands in a bigger, bolder way on social media. You CAN do it—she'll teach you how! She's spoken on stages worldwide and is a frequent expert guest on podcasts, live streams, Twitter chats, and blog posts, as well as hosting her own weekly Adweek Podcast, Let's Talk About Brand, and its companion Twitter chat, #ChatAboutBrand. You can follow Christine on Twitter (@cgritmon) or on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinegritmon/?originalSubdomain=uk) ABOUT KERRY-ANN STIMPSON (The Internal Marketing Podcast's Producer and Host)Kerry-Ann is the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) of the JMMB Group, a financial services group of companies, headquartered in Kingston, Jamaica, with operations across the Caribbean. She is also the producer and host of The Internal Marketing Podcast, a personal passion project that was borne out of her belief that a company's growth and marketing strategies can't succeed, unless company employees (its most powerful advocates) are authentically engaged and empowered to deliver on the brand promise and to become advocates of the company brand. You can follow and connect with Kerry-Ann on LinkedIn. ABOUT WORKSHOP  (The Internal Marketing Podcast's Season 3 Sponsor)Workshop is an internal communications platform for creating beautifully branded, employee-specific campaigns. It replaces any internal email tool that you have and integrates with the other communication channels your team uses the most (including Slack, SharePoint, and Microsoft Teams). Head over to useworkshop.com/marketing to get a ton of awesome (and FREE) content and resources about how you can create and implement internal marketing campaigns and employee advocacy programs for your company. Also, sign up for their Happy Monday Club newsletter here.

Our summer break is drawing to a close, Katie has dusted off her mic and we're ready to launch Season 10 of The Internal Comms Podcast! This season, we'll be welcoming more of the bright lights in the communications industry to the hot seat. Packed with insights from some of the most influential comms leaders from all corners of the globe, this season is a must-listen for anyone honing their internal comms craft. We can't wait to share these episodes with you. Stay tuned!

How will the planned merger of Saudi-Backed LIV Golf with the PGA Tour help or hurt their image and reputation? In this episode, crisis communication expert Andy Barr discusses how the deal could impact the two organizations, and what government executives and business leaders can learn from the pending merger.Quotes“Effective resolution requires constant communication, transparency, and unwavering dedication."-Andy Barr"My advice to people is to go out and meet the ones who caused the biggest headaches during the crisis."-Andy BarrFeatured GuestAndy BarrCrisis Management and Leadership ExpertLinkedln: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-barr-ab77291/Chapters00:25 - Introduction01:03 - Insights with Andy Barr: A Career in Crisis Communication05:16 - The Power of Preparedness: Briefing Key Personnel09:33 - Sport Washing: The Saudi Government's Strategy11:11 - Brands in the Golf Sector: New Opportunities13:11 - The Challenge of Investigative Articles and Media Scrutiny14:41 - Navigating Brand Risks in the Merged Golf Industry16:09 - PGA's Crisis Mishap: The Merger Misstep17:58 - Learning from Mistakes: The Impact of Internal Comms on Brand Reputation20:06 - Dark and Concerning: High-Impact Crisis Examples22:21 - ConclusionProduced by Heartcast Mediahttp://www.heartcastmedia.com

Joanna Parsons is the Founder and Director of The Curious Route and one of the leading experts in internal communication across the UK and Ireland. Joanna's experience spans non-profit, government (the police force), and corporate domains. She brings new thinking and approaches to key employee events and environments to stimulate curiosity, develop connections, and nurture shared understanding of culture across disparate and distributed employee groups. Joanna shares the benefits of “unlearning” especially to collaborate effectively as we establish new ways of working. KEY TAKEAWAYS   [02:39] Joanna is very curious about people, culture, social norms, and human behavior.   [03:35] At 12 years old, Joanna starts reaching out through communications.   [04:23] Joanna starts in internal communications for an NGO in India but changes sector to satisfy her ambitious nature.   [05:42] Getting to know her audience, Joanna draws on storytelling to create compelling messages.   [06:55] Changing company cultures can be jarring, but Joanna acclimates easily in financial services.   [07:54] Communication challenges across sectors are similar—eg relating to jargon and leadership communications.   [08:34] A poor personal experience of corporate induction, Joanna boldly gamifies the process.   [10:49] A speed dating approach builds relationships between new recruits and employees and executives.   [13:52] Joanna shares how the new onboarding process energized long-time employees as well.   [15:00] Having real conversations matters for building ties with new employees.   [16:05] The Irish police force recruits Joanna into a recommended new Head of Internal Comms role.   [16:45] Joanna walks into a divided “us vs them” culture—she loves a good challenge!   [18:05] After a great time in the interview, Joanna thinks they will never pick her.   [19:26] Joanna spends the first three months visiting people, listening, and watching.    [20:15] Understanding an organization's information flow takes time, patience, and observation.   [21:47] Building relationships in personal ways and showing respect are critical for developing trust.   [23:42] After demonstrating she listened and is offering relevant solutions, leaders invite her to help them.   [24:43] During an early lockdown, the Swiss police reach out to the Irish police with a dance challenge!   [26:33] Once posted, the video goes viral and other groups start sending in their own versions.   [27:53] The dance challenge and great empathy demonstrated by the police during the pandemic changed public perception and improved trust in the Irish police.   [30:40] Internal communications is centered on shared understanding across all employees emphasizing the organization's vision, mission, and values.   [32:42] “Unlearning” previous habits can be a helpful approach for adapting to new ways of working.   [34:21] The Curious Route describes Joanna's approach to work and her newsletter.   [36:16] IMMEDIATE ACTION TIP: First—when creating a communication, think about the audience, not yourself, and connect it to them. Second—when you are writing something, get to the point. Say what you want to say, say it quickly, and stop. RESOURCES   Joanna Parsons on LinkedIn Joanna's website TheCuriousRoute Joanna's newsletter The Curious Route An Garda Síochána Dance Challenge Smart Brevity: The Power of Saying More with Less QUOTES (edited)   “It is really all about understanding the people before you start trying to create a message.”   “Even though you can switch industries—I was in the charity sector then financial services, then policing, and now in tech—all the communication challenges are actually more similar than different.”   “The first three months, it probably just looked like I was drinking coffee. This is where all my sociology training came in because I just listened and observed and ask questions.”   “The trick for anyone that is Head of Communications is to build really strong relationships across the organization.”   “The core of a really good internal communications function is to create a shared understanding across all the employees.”

While it's great interviewing your clients and customers to develop case studies and testimonials for external marketing purposes, it's equally important to share this information with your own team. These stories can be powerful content, and your employees should be seeing them too. Not only when they click on your website, but have them presented in a way that addresses them as team members and partners all working towards the same goals. In this episode of the Content 10x podcast, host Amy Woods looks at the benefits of sharing customer stories internally (the good one and even the not so good ones!) Plus, seven engaging ways to do it.Find out: Why it's important to repurpose customer stories internally What can be learned from customer stories 7 ways to repurpose customer stories for internal communication Important links & mentions: 6 ways to repurpose your client case studies https://www.content10x.com/repurpose-your-client-case-studies/ Our case studies page https://www.content10x.com/case-studies/ Content 10x https://www.content10x.com/ My book: https://www.content10x.com/book (Content 10x: More Content, Less Time, Maximum Results) Amy Woods is the CEO and founder of Content 10x, the world's first and longest-running specialist content repurposing agency that partners exclusively with B2B tech and professional services businesses. Amy is a best-selling author, hosts two content marketing podcasts (The Content 10x Podcast and B2B Content Strategist), and speaks on stages all over the world about the power of content repurposing. Join hundreds of business owners, content creators and marketers and get content repurposing tips and advice delivered straight to your inbox every week https://www.content10x.com/newsletter

Welcome to episode 85. This episode is for you if you're interested in understanding how a project management team and an account management team work together in an internal communications agency. Sara and Lindsay are heads of department at US-based Brilliant Ink. They joined me to talk through their years of experience running this model. This episode could be interesting for you, if you're an account manager doing both project management and account management and you're curious to see how an agency separates them. It could be that you're a head of department and thinking about setting up this model to work for your agency and you want to know the nitty-gritty, because Lindsay and Sara really share all the details. They share: why they did this in the first place how it was working before how it's working now who manages the client relationship and what does each role do If you're interested in finding out about account management training, I've just updated my website with all my courses and prices. https://www.accountmanagementskills.com I'm also launching a new training course, 'Managing Difficult Client Conversations'. If you'd like to get onto the waitlist to be notified as soon as we go live, please use this link to register your interest: https://accountmanagementskills.activehosted.com/f/5

This episode features an interview with Katherine King, Director of Employee Communications at Etsy. She has been with the global ecommerce company since 2018, serving the internal communications function through Etsy's massive growth. Previously, Katherine was a dialogue strategist where she developed brands' customer-facing tone of voice for clients like American Express, Gerber, and Southwest Airlines.In this episode, Amanda and Katherine discuss the spectrum of tone and voice, key business relationships that improve employee communications, and helping leaders develop empathetic messages.-------------------“A reliable tone breeds familiarity, and familiarity is the precursor to trust. The more that we can breed familiarity with leadership and their authentic voice, the greater trust the team will have and the better the business will be. And I know that that seems like a big jump, but there is actual data backing up how trust impacts your business' bottom line, and its employees' trust in their employer. And that's everything from NPS to retention and engagement – these are all things that do affect your bottom line.” – Katherine King-------------------Episode Timestamps:*(02:17): Katherine's background*(06:31): Segment: Story Time*(11:29): Segment: Getting Tactical*(12:02): Key relationships that help employee comms*(21:18): Segment: Ripped From The Headlines*(21:46): How Katherine helps leaders build empathy and compassion*(25:23): Why tone of voice matters*(28:01): Katherine explains the spectrum of tone and voice*(38:17): Segment: Asking For a Friend-------------------Links:Connect with Katherine on LinkedInEdelman Trust BarometerConnect with Amanda on LinkedInwww.simpplr.com/podcast

The Internal Marketing Podcast is the unique podcast series that 'flips' the marketing conversation, from external to internal, sharing everything you need to know, to build the brand and drive growth, by engaging and empowering company employees to become advocates of the company brand. If you're not already subscribed to The Internal Marketing Podcast, then join the 'internal marketing tribe' and subscribe, leave a review and share the podcast with anyone in your network whom, you believe, will find it valuable. Thanks for listening! ABOUT  CHRISTINA GARNETTAward-winning community builder and advocacy strategist Christina Garnett uses audience intelligence and social listening to learn more about audiences and determine needs and behaviors. Her work serves to help brands better connect with their current customers, potential customers, and fans.Christina is featured in HubSpot Academy's Social Media Certification course and social listening courses, Semrush Academy's social listening course, and is a partner for On Deck's Community Builder Program, teaching a module on advocacy as a community growth lever. She has been a speaker for events like the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity (Hubilo-BizBash), INBOUND, Digital Summit, Social Fresh, Adapted Digital Media Summit, and MnSearch Summit. You can also find her featured in HubSpot, Social Insider, and Talkwalker ebooks and articles in Adweek, The Next Web, and Meltwater.She is the Principal Marketing Manager - Offline Community & Advocacy @t HubSpotYou can follow Christina on Twitter (@ThatChristinaG) or on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinamgarnett/) ABOUT KERRY-ANN STIMPSON (The Internal Marketing Podcast's Producer and Host)Kerry-Ann is the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) of the JMMB Group, a financial services group of companies, headquartered in Kingston, Jamaica, with operations across the Caribbean. She is also the producer and host of The Internal Marketing Podcast, a personal passion project that was borne out of her belief that a company's growth and marketing strategies can't succeed, unless company employees (its most powerful advocates) are authentically engaged and empowered to deliver on the brand promise and to become advocates of the company brand. You can follow and connect with Kerry-Ann on LinkedIn. ABOUT WORKSHOP  (The Internal Marketing Podcast's Season 3 Sponsor)Workshop is an internal marketing and employee communications platform for creating beautifully branded, employee-specific campaigns. It replaces any internal email tool that you have and integrates with the other communication channels your team uses the most (including Slack, SharePoint, and Microsoft Teams). Head over to useworkshop.com/marketing to get a ton of awesome (and FREE) content and resources about how you can create and implement internal marketing campaigns and employee advocacy programs for your company. Also, sign up for their Happy Monday Club newsletter here.

This episode features an interview with Will Leahy, VP of People Development and Business Partners at Greenhouse; and Layla Kajer, Director of People Experience at Greenhouse. Will leads people development, focusing on optimizing performance, career growth, and driving culture. Layla spearheads people experience where she creates productive, connected, and empowering work environments for employees. In this episode, Amanda sits down with Will and Layla as they dive into psychological safety, vulnerability, and leading by example.-------------------“The power of vulnerability is limitless and it takes bravery and it takes courage. [...] That vulnerability from a leader actually creates a space where someone else is going to model that behavior. That is the cornerstone, in my opinion, of psychological safety is vulnerability. And that can launch into all kinds of other good things and relationship building and team norms and all that good stuff. But it just starts with being human, in my opinion.” – Will Leahy-------------------Episode Timestamps:*(02:09): Will and Layla's backgrounds*(07:40): Will and Layla explain the mission of Greenhouse*(09:38): Segment: Story Time*(10:11): The importance of psychological safety in the workplace*(22:57): The impact of layoffs on psychological safety*(25:28): Segment: Getting Tactical*(29:32): How Greenhouse is ensuring behaviors are mirrored by leaders and employees*(40:25): How Greenhouse is tackling DE&I*(47:30): Segment: Asking For a Friend-------------------Links:Connect with Will on LinkedInConnect with Layla on LinkedInGreenhouse's Inclusive Communications GuidelinesConnect with Amanda on LinkedInwww.simpplr.com/podcast

This episode features an interview with Laila Tarraf, author of Strong Like Water. After losing her parents and husband, Laila learned that compassion was essential in her personal and professional life. Prior to writing her book, Laila served as the Chief People Officer for Allbirds and Peet's Coffee, and was the Vice President of HR for Walmart.com. In this episode, Amanda sits down with Laila to discuss leading with love, harmony between company values and felt experience, and psychological safety.-------------------“It matters more that what your stated values are mirror the felt experience, than what those stated values are. There's a cognitive culture, which is what you say your values are and the stated words. And then there's the emotional culture. It's like, ‘Okay, but how does it feel? How are people talking to me? How are we relating to each other?' And the greater the dissonance between those two things, that's where you run into issues because then, employees are like, ‘Well, we say it's this, but what I'm seeing is this.' And that's where trust breaks down. And so it actually hurts you to have these beautifully well-articulated values and the accouterments that come with whatever you think employees are looking for; free lunches or workout rooms, but you're not able to talk to your manager. You're not clear on what your role is. Conflict is swept under the rug, So, it becomes passive aggressive. It's all of those things. It's your felt experience really, that is the true culture and the other things become like window washing and that actually ends up hurting you because then you lose the trust.” – Laila Tarraf-------------------Episode Timestamps:*(01:52): Laila's background*(05:58): Segment: Story Time*(06:14): Laila discusses her book Strong Like Water*(17:17): Laila's advice for leading with courage and love*(27:49): Segment: Ripped From The Headlines*(28:29): Skills leaders need to have to guide employees through challenging times*(31:24): Segment: Asking For a Friend*(31:49): What future changes in leadership Laila expects-------------------Links:Visit Laila's WebsiteFollow Laila on InstagramConnect with Laila on LinkedInConnect with Amanda on LinkedInwww.simpplr.com/podcast

This episode features an interview with Hannah Bolte, Director of Marketing and Communications at Lozier Corporation. Starting as a print and television reporter, Hannah uses her journalism expertise to craft internal, external, and crisis communications strategies and content.In this episode, Amanda and Hannah discuss Lozier's mobile-first employee experience platform, reaching deskless workers, and intentional communications.-------------------"The bulk of our employees work in a manufacturing facility. They don't have email access and their jobs are in the plant, it's not sitting at a desk. We approached the intranet in finding an intranet that would work for us with a sense of, ‘We can't reach those employees right now,' aside from all those things that you said, like a flier in the break room, providing information to supervisors to say at startup meetings. But, how do you engage them beyond their day-to-day? How do you make them feel like they're part of something bigger? How do you make them realize their impact on the company, on the community? So, mobile-first was a non-negotiable thing for us. We had to make sure that it was accessible by all of our employees at any point in time." – Hannah Bolte-------------------Episode Timestamps:*(01:47): Hannah's background*(08:09): Segment: Story Time*(09:13): Why Lozier created a mobile-first employee experience platform*(11:58): Segment: Getting Tactical*(12:27): Hannah explains the ins and outs of LozierLink*(29:30): Segment: Ripped From The Headlines*(32:49): Segment: Asking For a Friend-------------------Links:Connect with Hannah on LinkedInConnect with Lozier Corporation on LinkedInConnect with Amanda on LinkedInwww.simpplr.com/podcast

This episode features highlights of past guests as they open up their playbooks and give advice on employee feedback, building culture through technology, getting a seat at the table, and measuring ROI.In this episode, you'll hear from the following internal communications leaders:Parag Kulkarni, CTO at SimpplrNatalie Ridsdale, Director of Internal Communications at Levi Strauss & CoMichelle Press, Director of Corporate Communications at Envoy SolutionsRajamma Krishnamurthy, Senior Director of HR Technology at MicrosoftWendy Pfeiffer, CIO at NutanixChase Warrington, Head of Remote at DoistKristin Hancock, VP of Community & Engagement at ICologyBeth Collier, Founder of Beth Collier ConsultingVictoria Dew, CEO of Dewpoint CommunicationsTina Hawkins, Senior Director of Internal Communications at NBAParalee Johnson, Senior Manager of Community & Content at SimpplrDebbie Gunning, VP of People at Human InterestBen Matthews, Senior Director of Internal Communications at NVIDIAMary Poppen, Chief Strategy & Customer Officer at involve.aiJason Anthoine, Managing Founder at AudacityPinaki Kathiari, CEO & Owner of Local Wisdom-------------------“I like actually asking people, ‘What did you think? How could we have done better?' I want that feedback because your playbook can be your playbook, but it needs to be somewhat flexible to understand what is hitting and what is missing in terms of the communications. I think getting that feedback is important as a communicator.” – Michelle Press“You're going to see a continued move towards more distribution, more flexibility in the workspace, more control over how you control your workday. Not just where you work, but when you work. As you embrace more asynchronous communication and a focus on outputs and documentation and things like this, sort of the core principles of remote work, you find that it's very easy to make the next leap, which is to something called the non-linear workday. Where you're basically able to choose when you work, not just where you work. And as long as you're delivering, then you're accepted as having done your work well.” – Chase Warrington“For a long time, we've talked about having a seat at the table. And sometimes I think, especially for communications, it's just like, be the table. You be the table. And then you have people come to your table. Stop waiting to get a seat at other people's table. You form the strategic imperative and have people come work in that way with you.” – Victoria Dew“The best piece of advice that I can give somebody just starting out in their career is remembering grace for yourself. I think it's really, really important. To what we spoke about earlier, about beating ourselves up and that pressure to get it right every time. If you can learn to give yourself grace and move on and learn from that, you will find yourself a whole lot happier in this field and able to contribute the awesomeness that you bring and the skillsets and the important value that's needed.” – Paralee Johnson“I think what's important about ROI is that comms does need to take accountability for making business changes. And in order to take accountability for it, we just need to know what that is. [...] I think the key metrics will always net out to, ‘Did we produce the outcome that we wanted? What are we going after? Are we trying to reduce turnover? Are we trying to increase productivity? Are we trying to reduce injury in the workplace? Are we trying to increase employee satisfaction?' Things like that, we want to really hook ourselves onto. And we really need to understand if we do do this, how do we know that we're making a difference? It's important to be able to know that. And it's important to be able to decide how many of these things we're going to tackle within a given period of time. So, the outcome should always be measurable.” – Pinaki Kathiari-------------------Episode Timestamps:*(01:16): Parag, Natalie, and Michelle discuss using surveys to collect employee feedback*(02:30): Rajamma, Wendy, and Chase discuss building culture through technology*(05:20): Kristin, Beth, Victoria, and Tina discuss getting a seat at the table*(08:08): Paralee and Debbie share internal communications career advice*(09:19): Ben, Mary, Jason, and Pinkai discuss measuring ROI-------------------Links:Connect with Amanda on LinkedInwww.simpplr.com/podcast

This episode features an interview with Chase Warrington, Head of Remote at Doist, a leading remote-first company. Having worked remotely since 2009, Chase has managed teams across all timezones and is passionate about the future of work. He has been named a LinkedIn Top Voice for Remote Work, a Global Top 50 Remote Enabler by Remote.com, and is a frequent contributor to the world's top remote-work outlets such as Forbes, BBC, and AP.In this episode, Amanda and Chase dive into remote work; discussing challenges, experience, and what companies get wrong.-------------------“What I would love to see those same leaders do though, is to stop saying you can't build team culture in a remote environment, or you can't collaborate, or we can't do good brainstorming sessions, or have good relationships with our employees, or mentor our team because that is not true. And you're seeing it being done at scale now. Companies with tens of thousands of employees going remote. We're a team of 100 and in 35 different countries, and at one time, we were seen to be one of the big ones that were doing fully remote work. And so, it is being done. And I do think those companies will continue to see an exodus of talent if they don't invest in at least trying to make it work on some level.” – Chase Warrington-------------------Episode Timestamps:*(02:13): Chase's background*(06:20): Segment: Story Time*(09:43): Chase explains the nuances of remote work*(17:53): Segment: Getting Tactical*(18:17): Problems that Chase is solving in remote work*(22:18): Things companies get wrong about remote work*(27:46): Breaking remote experience into subsets*(30:02): Segment: Ripped From The Headlines*(30:22): Chase's thoughts on back to office mandates*(33:05): Segment: Asking For a Friend-------------------Links:Connect with Chase on LinkedInDo You Need a Head of Remote? White PaperFollow Chase on TwitterThe Async Newsletter by TwistConnect with Amanda on LinkedInwww.simpplr.com/podcast

This episode features an interview with Pinaki Kathiari, CEO and owner of Local Wisdom, a digital communications agency. Pinaki's experience spans two decades serving global Fortune companies, startups, and multi-industry agencies. He's also the co-founder of Resource Hero, Vice President of Professional Development for the IABC Tristate Area Chapter, and a Business Mentor for WOMEN Unlimited, Inc. In this episode, Amanda sits down with Pinaki to discuss his communications team maturity model, the ROI of employee recognition, and the value of a digital communications presence.-------------------“If people don't know how they're actually, or really making a difference, then they kind of lose sight of why they're here. So we all do that. It feels like being in a conversation with two other people who are speaking another language. Kind of like, ‘why am I here and how am I even contributing?' [...] I think leaders want to quantify investment into recognition systems and programs. And that I get, because that takes some funds and investment and planning. But I also think that recognition doesn't have to take a large investment. Like I said, simply adding a topic to your leader's speaking points; it's the littlest thing you could do that doesn't cost really anything. Because at the end of the day, we work better as friends and friends show appreciation to each other.” – Pinaki Kathiari-------------------Episode Timestamps:*(02:12): Pinaki's career journey*(10:02): Segment: Story Time*(10:58): How Pinaki quantifies the ROI of employee recognition*(17:16): How leaders can institute employee recognition*(22:41): Segment: Getting Tactical*(23:07): Pinaki explains his communications team maturity model*(29:37): Must-haves for a good internal comms team*(34:15): Metrics internal communicators can use to show ROI*(38:40): Changes to the communications team maturity model-------------------Links:Connect with Pinaki on LinkedInFollow Pinaki on InstagramFollow Pinaki on TwitterLocal WisdomConnect with Amanda on LinkedInwww.simpplr.com/podcast

This episode features a roundtable discussion with Carolyn Clark, VP of Employee Experience Strategy and Transformation at Simpplr; Julie Miller, Senior Internal Communications Specialist at Simpplr; and Paralee Johnson, Senior Manager of Community and Content at Simpplr.In this episode, Carolyn, Julie, and Paralee discuss how they wish Internal Comms to be perceived, learning from their mistakes, and trends they're looking forward to in 2023.-------------------“We could do everything possible in our tool belt of tools for comms and something can still fail in the eyes of stakeholders. It's really important not to tie our value to the success of a particular program, that we don't necessarily own, to the success of the things that we do, per se. Because, sometimes you can do all of the things in your comm playbook, you can throw everything at the world at it, and maybe it's actually not what the audience needed or wanted. And then the organization or the stakeholders have to go back and reassess, ‘What are we actually doing? Was this to check a box? Was this some larger business goal that maybe really wasn't what they needed or wanted?'” – Paralee Johnson-------------------Episode Timestamps:*(02:37): The panelists discuss their backgrounds and roles at Simpplr*(08:11): How Internal Comms is viewed and how they wish that would change*(10:54): How to show the value of data*(14:31): How to create a unified understanding of success*(16:41): How to onboard stakeholders*(20:44): The panelists discuss past mistakes and how they learned from them*(32:57): How the panelists found their voices to speak up*(39:13): What Internal Comms can learn from other departments*(50:03): Rapid fire Internal Comms questions-------------------Links:Connect with Carolyn on LinkedInVisit Carolyn's websiteConnect with Julie on LinkedInFollow Julie on InstagramFollow Julie on BehanceConnect with Paralee on LinkedInSimpplr BlogConnect with Amanda on LinkedInwww.simpplr.com/podcast

Hello and welcome back to Equity, a podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines.This is our Wednesday show, where we niche down to a single person, think about their work and unpack the rest. This week, Natasha interviewed Vijay Chattha, a startup comms leader who has spent over 20 years in the storytelling world. Chattha is the CEO and founder of VSC and founding partner of VSC Ventures, a $21 million investment vehicle to back startups. Here's what we spoke about:How his clients are reacting to the downturn in terms of their openness, vulnerability, and general hunger to tell their storyThe difference between pitching a VC and pitching a journalist (lol)How startup's goal with media coverage can sometimes inherently clash with the media's goal to cover a startup (and why we disagree on the importance of disclosing valuations)The best framework for the different types of media form out there, from Twitter to billboards to earned media.How the #MeToo movement impacted leadership styles and changed accountability for the betterIf we're getting closer to a more transparent ecosystem, or more opaque oneAnd of course, we end with a lightning round - including but not limited to Chattha's biggest pet peeve with journalists.Equity drops every Monday at 7 a.m. PT and Wednesday and Friday at 6 a.m. PT, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto, a show that interviews founders, a show that details how our stories come together and more!

Hello and welcome back to Equity, TechCrunch's venture capital focused podcast where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines.Today we have something a bit different for you. In light of the never-ending Musk-Twitter saga, and news that the new social media CEO had cut its corporate communications staff to the bone -- and then some. So to get more perspective on the role that a corporate comms team plays in both startups and public companies alike, we wrangled two folks who have just that experience set:Kelly Boynton, senior director of communications at GustoKeyana Corliss, until recently the head of global communications and PR at DatabricksThe pair discussed the role that comms plays in companies both internally and externally, and why it deserves a seat at the decision-making table. Given the media furor surrounding Musk himself, you can imagine that we had a lot to talk about.Oh, and Keyana has a podcast that Alex was a guest on, in case you want to hear more from her! Regular service returns tomorrow!Equity drops at 7 a.m. PT every Monday and Wednesday, and at 6 a.m. PT on Fridays, so subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify and all the casts. TechCrunch also has a great show on crypto, a show that interviews founders, one that details how our stories come together, and more!