Learn a four-step strategy for finding your voice and writing from the readers’ point of view. This ability will help you engage your readers and move them to act.

• Specifically, you’ll learn how to:
• Take advantage of the formula readers use to decide what to read.
• Top 2 rewards of reading to boost interest in your message.
• Answer the No. 1 question your reader is asking about your piece.
• Make a 2-minute perspective shift to focus your message on reader value

About Ann Wylie

Wylie Communications President Ann Wylie provides writing, training and consulting to organizations like Coca-Cola, Toyota, NASA, Salesforce and Eli Lilly. Her workshops have taken her from Hollywood to Helsinki. There, she helps communicators polish their skills and find new inspiration for their work. Ann has earned 60 communication awards, including two IABC Gold Quills. She is author of RevUpReadership.com, a toolbox for writers. Thousands of communicators subscribe to her newsletter, Wylie's Writing Tips.

Ann is an IABC recommended speaker and a member of the 100 Club.

Generative AI can turbo-charge research for communicators, from horizon-scanning policy shifts to tracking issues, sizing up competitors, prepping leaders, and responding to crises.
But simply outsourcing your judgment to AI won’t cut it.

Instead, you’ll learn when to use which tool, how to force citations and provenance, and how to turn raw results into decision-ready briefs your stakeholders can trust.

In this example-packed session, Shel Holtz shows practical, ethical workflows for Public Affairs and Communications teams.

Key takeaways

• Choose the right copilot for the job: When to use ChatGPT Projects + Deep Research, Perplexity, Notebook LM, Custom GPTs/Gems, and other tools.
• Prompt patterns that keep you honest: Structure prompts to prioritize primary sources, require inline citations, extract dates/deadlines, and flag secondary coverage.
• Build reusable research assistants: Set up repeatable watchlists, weekly briefs, 30/60/90-day calendars, and risk heatmaps.
• Create source-grounded Q&A binders: Use Notebook LM to interrogate curated material (e.g., CEO speeches, filings) with verifiable citations.
• From findings to executive-ready outputs: Convert research into spokesperson notes, talking points, FAQs, and customer-facing summaries – fast.
• Safeguards that protect your credibility: Disclosure, provenance links, and “never auto-publish” guardrails for responsible AI use in comms.

Who should attend: Communicators in public affairs, corporate reputation, media relations, and executive communications who need trusted, timely insights without adding headcount.

About Shel Holtz, SCMP, IABC Fellow

Shel Holtz is senior director of Communications for Webcor, a San Francisco-based commercial general contractor and builder. Before joining Webcor in 2017, Shel consulted independently for 21 years, counseling organizations on adoption of digital technology for communication, internal communication, and crisis communication.

by Kaylee Holland - Most organizations see innovation as complex, time-consuming, and reserved for a select few. But according to innovation strategist and author Carla Johnson, that belief is exactly what’s holding companies back.

By Kaylee Holland - The Philadelphia Chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators is proud to announce the appointment of Rashi Iyer as its new chapter president starting January 1, 2026.

Across industries, DEI programs are facing both heightened expectations and growing pushback. Many of our members, whether in corporate, agency, or entrepreneurial roles, are navigating obstacles that range from budget constraints and policy shifts to public scrutiny and internal resistance.

This virtual panel will bring together leaders from various sectors who are guiding their organizations and private entities in their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) strategies. They will discuss how they support and evolve their initiatives, the challenges they currently face, and their preparations for the future. Expect an open conversation filled with real-world examples, practical tactics, and forward-looking insights on maintaining meaningful progress in DEI in today's climate.

Join us on January 13 for a candid discussion on how organizations can sustain their DEI commitments while addressing today’s challenges, preparing for future changes, and communicating with authenticity, clarity, and impact.

Panelists

	Janet M. Stovall, CDE — Founder & Principal, Pragmatic Diversity, LLC Founder of Pragmatic Diversity, Janet is a nationally recognized strategist who helps organizations embed inclusion into core business practices. A former Global Head of DEI at the NeuroLeadership Institute and Fortune 100 speechwriter, she is also a TED speaker and co-author of The Conscious Communicator.
	Ernest Owens — President, Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists; Author & Commentator Ernest is an award-winning journalist, author, and president of the Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists. Featured by The New York Times, The Washington Post, CNN, and NPR, he brings bold, intersectional insights into culture, politics, and equity. He is also the author of The Case for Cancel Culture.
	Jo Linda Johnson — Attorney & DEI Leader Jo Linda is an attorney and DEI leader with deep experience in federal and private-sector organizations. She specializes in equity-focused transformation, workforce development, and inclusive culture building, bringing a data-driven approach to advancing systemic change.

by Katrina Hook - As Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications at Radian, Rashi Iyer leads a wide-ranging portfolio that includes corporate and business PR, executive communications, crisis communications, philanthropy, and more. Her work not only shapes Radian’s narrative but also strengthens the company’s connections with stakeholders at every level.

It’s almost 2026, and the comms hiring market looks different—again. Roles that sat on hold are finally moving, but candidates are facing longer processes, higher bars and stiffer competition. If you’re job searching, hiring, or want to know what’s ahead, I’ll share what’s actually happening right now—and what it takes to stand out.

Free LinkedIn Live Event

Key Takeaways

• How today’s interview processes are structured—and what to expect
• Why take-home projects and live exercises matter, and what they reveal
• What hiring managers are really listening for in reference checks
• How smart follow-up can shift the outcome in your favor
• What companies expect around hybrid work and how to talk about flexibility
• The real markers of standout candidates in this market

Watch the promo video

About Brooke Kruger

Brooke Kruger is the founder of KC Partners, a leading communications search firm, and a go-to expert on communications hiring trends. She has a deep pulse on what’s happening in the job market, the skills that are in demand, how hiring is evolving, and what both companies and job seekers need to succeed. With 20+ years of experience advising organizations on talent strategy, Brooke delivers real-world insights and practical takeaways that help companies attract and retain top communications talent.

As a two-time keynote speaker at Mixing Board Live, Brooke has shared firsthand industry expertise on the state of communications hiring. She’s passionate about the future of work and frequently speaks on topics like shifting employer expectations, the role of AI in hiring, RTO, and how communications professionals can stand out in an increasingly competitive landscape.

Beyond the stage, Brooke is an active voice in the industry—engaging audiences as a frequent podcast guest and sharing thought leadership on LinkedIn and other platforms. She’s always up for a great conversation about career growth, hiring trends, and where the industry is headed next.

What Ferris Can Do For You

If you want to sharpen your storytelling skills and help your people improve theirs, look no further than the classic American film, "Ferris Bueller's Day Off."

In this engaging, practical session we'll unpack the movie's most important storytelling lesson and learn how it can help us connect with, captivate and compel any individual or audience to action — from customers and clients to colleagues and other key stakeholders.

That means:

• Identifying and rising above the ordinary information (the data, stats and info) that
• prevents us from delivering the big picture — the context, meaning and perspective;
• Drawing out the best stories from our customers, constituents, members and others;
• Creating more captivating campaigns, preparing winning pitches and presentations
• and extending our influence inside and outside the organization.

Come prepared for a substantive and interactive experience. And remember, the learning will come at you pretty fast — if you don’t stop and tune in you could miss it!

Who is Rob Biesenbach?

Rob Biesenbach specializes in helping busy professionals capitalize on the power of storytelling to engage and influence their most important stakeholders.

Through his workshops, speeches, books and coaching he has helped tens of thousands of senior executives, managers and other professionals become more effective, persuasive communicators. He’s the author of the Amazon bestseller "Unleash the Power of Storytelling: Win Hearts, Change Minds, Get Results."

Rob has worked with great organizations including AARP, Allstate, Caterpillar, Coca-Cola, Deloitte, Feeding America and Lockheed Martin.

In former lives, Rob was a vice president at Ogilvy, press secretary to the Ohio Attorney General, and a nonprofit and association executive in Washington, DC.

Innovation has a reputation problem - it’s seen as the domain of R&D teams, marketing visionaries, or people with the right title, degree, or budget. For communicators, it can feel like something that’s out of reach. Or simply not part of the job description. But that mindset keeps us stuck in rinse-and-repeat tactics, status quo messaging, and missed opportunities to influence what matters.

What if innovation wasn’t reserved for the few? What if it were a learnable, repeatable skill communicators could use to elevate their impact, shape culture, and drive meaningful change?

In this keynote based on her bestselling book RE:Think Innovation, Carla Johnson shares a proven framework that helps communicators connect the dots in new ways, unlock creativity on demand, and become go-to innovators inside their organizations. No guesswork. No gimmicks. Just a practical approach to thinking differently and communicating with greater purpose, clarity, and influence.

Watch the promo video

Audience Takeaways

1. Reframe innovation as a skill that communicators can use to shape culture, influence behavior, and build alignment across the business.

2. Learn why even the most well-intentioned teams struggle to innovate—and how communicators can become catalysts for change.

3. Discover the 5-step framework to consistently generate powerful ideas that drive engagement, action, and measurable results.

About Carla Johnson

No longer is the status quo the sure bet. In today’s world, standing still makes you a sitting duck. Disruption’s inevitable. But if anyone’s going to disrupt your organization, shouldn’t it be you?

As the world’s leading Innovation Architect, Carla Johnson has spent 20 years working with leaders, conducting research and authoring numerous books. She’s developed frameworks that teach people how to redefine what innovation means to them, and then equips leaders to make innovation everybody’s business.  

Carla’s approach transforms organizations by fusing visionary creativity with pragmatic innovation strategies. The result is a culture that becomes a playground of limitless potential while also experiencing unprecedented growth and alignment. 

By Kaylee Holland - The ability to negotiate, persuade, and influence others is essential for success in business communications. Understanding the psychology behind these abilities can set you apart from your peers by applying the tactics and seeing improvements in reaching your professional goals.