IABC Philadelphia members can attend the event for 50% off the registration price. Contact [email protected] to receive the code.

Over the past three years, corporate communications professionals have elevated the practice of agile, timely, and strategic storytelling. Communications is no longer a function that is designed to respond reactively, but one that is positioned to lead and shape conversations. It is also an arena where mistakes can happen — sometimes very publicly. There are valuable opportunities to learn from these mistakes as much as our successes.

At this year’s conference, we will examine what we’ve learned and answer the questions that are top of mind, including: what will shape our strategies as we go forward? What do we need from our leaders to get the job done? And how will the practice continue to evolve?

Join fellow communicators to hear from leaders of some of the world’s most relevant brands as we explore what comes next for the practice.

Who Should Attend: This conference is designed especially for senior-level professionals and their teams responsible for shaping and executing on their organization's communications strategy for both external and internal audiences.

Presenters

• Jonathan Adashek, chief communication officer and SVP of marketing and communications, IBM
• Kelly Clausen, head of corporate communications and marketing, Etsy
• Ed Harnaga, senior VP, chief communications officer, Pfizer
• Jennifer Lowney, global head of communications, Citi
• Dev Pragad, president and CEO, Newsweek
• Frank X. Shaw, chief communications officer, Microsoft

Mark your calendar. Details coming soon.

Leaders make an impact, and they wield influence. People listen to what they say, respect them, and follow their instructions. They control resources, shape situations and control outcomes. In other words, they have power.

As communicators, we’re used to supporting, equipping, and enabling leaders in our organizations. Our job is to make them look good – and become even more influential. But are we selling ourselves short in the process?

As communications professionals, we don’t always feel powerful. Many communications colleagues over the years have observed that we often don’t get the respect our expertise deserves, or the resources we need to do our job effectively.

In our 60-minute online session on February 22^nd, we’ll look at how we can change this.

• First of all, we’ll take a quick look at the theory and what academic research tells us about leadership. What makes someone a leader? Why are some people influential and others not? What is it about them that makes other people want to like them, trust them, listen to them, and do what they say?
• Second, we’ll look at leadership “presence”. The good news is that there are several core components of leadership. We’ll break these down into areas you can work on, and tangible things you can do to convey a greater sense of power with your colleagues and stakeholders.
• Finally, I’ll share a framework that will help you to put these learnings into practice over the next three months.
• We’ll also have time throughout the session for Q&A.

As a result, you’ll leave the session understanding exactly what you need to do to become more influential and make a greater impact in your organization.

February 22, 2023
Noon - 1:00 p.m. ET

About the presenter

Kathryn Kneller has 15 years of experience helping senior leaders to communicate more effectively at some of the world’s biggest companies.

Since 2008, Kathryn has held communications leadership roles with clients including HSBC, AstraZeneca, Unilever and Shell, working as an independent consultant since 2013.   

Alongside this work, she also runs Internal Comms Mastery - a training and coaching service that helps communications professionals to do great work, make an impact and build brilliant careers. 

She holds a bachelor's degree in English Literature and History from Cambridge University, and speaks French, German and Spanish She holds a post-graduate diploma in Japanese from Nihon University in Tokyo.

Panelists

Lynn Perry Wooten
Lynn Perry Wooten, a seasoned academic and an expert on organizational development and transformation, is the ninth president of Simmons University. She is the first African American to lead the University. Specializing in crisis leadership, diversity and inclusion, and positive leadership, Dr. Wooten is an innovative leader and prolific author and presenter. Dr. Wooten holds a bachelor’s degree from North Carolina A&T State University, where she was valedictorian; an MBA from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business; and a doctorate from the University of Michigan. In addition, she received a Certificate in Advanced Educational Leadership from the Harvard University Graduate School of Education. She is the author of nearly 30 journal articles, more than 15 book chapters and four books. Beyond all her accomplishments, Dr. Wooten currently serves on the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, the Boston Public Library Board of Trustees, the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Trustee Advisory Board, the JFK Library Foundation Board of Advisors, the Fenway Alliance Board of Directors, The George School Board of Trustees, the MASCO Board of Directors, and the GBH Board of Trustees.

Richard Levick
Richard Levick, Esq. is Chairman & CEO of LEVICK, representing countries and companies in the highest-stakes global communications matters. Mr. Levick has been honored multiple times on the prestigious list of “The 100 Most Influential People in the Boardroom” and has been named to multiple professional Halls of Fame for lifetime achievement. He is the co-author of four books and is a regular commentator on television and in print. Richard hosts the daily podcast for the Corporate Counsel Business Journal which draws the highest profile guests from former U.S. Attorneys General to former legal counsels to U.S. presidents.

Carey Dearnley
Carey Dearnley is a Senior Consultant at Local Wisdom, and is positioned as an Executive and Sales Communication Leader at Janssen Pharmaceutical. She is responsible for driving the organization’s strategic narrative, town halls, senior leader communications, special projects, and change management. In her two decades of experience, Carey has worked as a press secretary on Capitol Hill and in various agency and in-house roles, where she has been a strategic partner to leaders on crisis and issues management, executive positioning, change management, employee engagement, thought leadership and brand strategy and reputation.

David KIucsik
Corporate crises have characterized (some would say "plagued") David KIucsik’s professional life from his first job as a newspaper reporter, right thru his communications work for a global chemical company. He provides that unique perspective for clients, via his own Same Page consultancy on reputation risk, as well as Princeton Strategic Communications, a full-service agency.

Moderators

Rick Alcantara
Rick Alcantara is president of Rick Alcantara Consulting. He advises corporate, nonprofit and government clients on public relations, crisis communications, social media and digital marketing. He is president of IABC Philadelphia, past president and current director-at-large of PRSA Philadelphia, and a member of PRSA's Counselor's Academy.

Audra Hession
Audra is executive vice president of marketing and communications at OWL Services and founder and CEO of Unbridled Communications. She is also president of IABC New York Tristate.

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