By Kaylee Holland - Growing up in a small rural farming town about an hour and a half from Philadelphia, I had little exposure to professional communications organizations beyond what I learned in the classroom. So, when I received an email from my professor announcing an internship opportunity with IABC Philadelphia, I was unsure what the organization was or what it could offer me. I had never heard of IABC before, and I questioned how it would be relevant to my future career. However, after spending just a few minutes researching IABC and its mission, I quickly realized how valuable this opportunity could be—especially as a young, aspiring communicator preparing to enter the professional world.

An interview by Kaylee Holland -

Q: What drew you to storytelling as the core of your work?
Rob Biesenbach explains that storytelling has always been embedded in his career as a communications and public relations professional. However, his passion intensified in the early 2000s when he began taking improv and sketch comedy classes at Second City. “That just was so mind-expanding and enriching,” he says. “It really deepened my understanding of storytelling and my passion for it.” Through that experience, Biesenbach realized that storytelling principles drawn from performance could be applied to help people communicate more effectively in professional settings.

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.