In this episode of WordBirds, Chris Willis interviews Dave Guarino, Head of Global Communications at Wolters Kluwer.

What it's about: Understanding the journey to a C-suite position in communications provides invaluable lessons for aspiring leaders.

• Dave shares his transition from stick-ball fanatic to financial compliance to corporate communications.
• Offers practical advice on building a career in communications.

The big picture: Strategic thinking and effective team leadership are crucial for success in corporate communications.

• Dave emphasizes the importance of these skills in his roles as CCO.

Yes, and: This episode is a must-listen for anyone aiming for the C-suite or just starting in the field.

• Provides valuable insights on what it takes to succeed in corporate communications.

In this episode of WordBirds, Chris Willis interviews Joanna Parson, CEO of The Curious Route and author of Innovative Internal Communications.

Why it matters: Joanna’s journey from a curious thinker to a leading internal communications expert offers valuable insights and practical advice on rethinking internal comms strategies.

Driving the news: Joanna shares key takeaways from her new book and discusses how curiosity can drive innovation and improve communication within any organization.

What’s next: Tune in to explore how these insights can be applied to enhance internal communications in your own organization.

Yes, and: This is part 1 of 2 episodes speaking with Joanna Parsons. Part 2, coming soon, focuses on the measurement of internal comms!

Navigating crisis communications

In this episode of WordBirds, Chris Willis sits down with communications expert Roberto Munoz (Fannie Mae, HSBC, Tesco) to explore the critical role of crisis communications.

Why it matters: Effective crisis communication can be the difference between maintaining your brand's reputation and losing it. Roberto shares strategies from his experiences with major brands like Tesco and Fannie Mae.

• Balancing speed and accuracy during a crisis.
• Ensuring your message aligns with your brand's values.

Details: Roberto provides actionable insights to help businesses prepare for and navigate crises.

• The importance of having a crisis communication plan.
• Tips for staying calm and focused under pressure.

What’s next: Whether you're preparing for a crisis or navigating one, this episode offers valuable strategies to help your business emerge stronger.

We're back with Season 6! And we're kicking off with Eleanor Hawkins, Axios Communications Strategist and writer of the Communicators newsletter. Eleanor spent years as a communicator in media and politics and now covers the topics and trends that impact how organizations, leaders, and employers communicate.

Listen in to hear Eleanor and Chris dig into the…

• Changing role of the communicator over the last few years
• Ways technology is changing how communicators work
• Insights from her reporting

As well as a sneak peak of upcoming topics you'll hear throughout this season of WordBirds.

In this episode, we're thrilled to have Kristine Englert, Director of Customer Marketing at Mirakl, sharing her wealth of experience in the dynamic realm of marketing. Our host, Chris, dives into Kristine's journey, shedding light on impactful campaigns that transcend marketing channels.

Kristine kicks off by unveiling the secret behind her most successful campaign — a data-driven initiative that became a versatile asset across various marketing facets. Emphasizing the pivotal role of understanding your audience, after all it’s the linchpin between success and failure in marketing.

We discuss the intricacies of marketing with customers rather than just to them. Kristine unfolds the art of showcasing the mutual benefits of collaboration, debunking the notion of customers doing marketers a favor. Drawing from her experiences at Mirakl and Perfecto, Kristine shares anecdotes of both triumphs and learning opportunities, including the strategic blunder of misaligned campaigns and the lessons learned. After all, customer marketing should also benefit the customer too!

Join us as Kristine unravels the tactics behind creating content that resonates beyond marketing, the importance of customer-centricity, and the strategies to forge lasting relationships for mutual growth. This episode promises valuable insights into the evolving landscape of customer marketing strategy and the art of leveraging collaboration for enduring success.

We consider the existential future of content on this week’s episode, with Phyllis Davidson — VP, Principal Analyst at Forrester — who doesn’t hold back in her Provocative Statement of the Day. We also cover everything from content experimentation and strategy to the future of the content landscape and role of generative AI, in this insightful interview with a content celebrity!

Primary and derivative content creation takes center stage as Phyllis unravels the success story behind the best content campaign she’s been involved in. Phyllis sheds light on why this model continues to be a game-changer for B2B enterprises, drawing from her rich experience as an analyst. She also advocates for more interactive content experiences to drive greater engagement.

As we venture into the realm of experimentation, Phyllis explains the potential power it could have if companies stopped using experimentation just for content promotion instead of the primary content asset itself. Later in the interview, Phyllis challenges conventional norms, offering a visionary perspective on a future where content as we know it might cease to exist — a real Provocative Statement of the Day (PSOTD)!

Join us as we navigate these thought-provoking topics with Phyllis Davidson, a distinguished expert from Forrester, in an exploration that transcends the boundaries of traditional content discussions.

With such a crowded digital marketplace, how can your organization cut through the noise and build relationships with your messaging? Amanda Proscia has the answers in this episode of WordBirds.

This week we dive into the world of public relations (PR) and marketing with the Co-founder of Lightspeed PR/Marketing and bestselling author of PR Confidential: Unlocking the Secrets to Creating a Powerful Public Image, Amanda Proscia. With over 30 years of experience, Amanda shares her wealth of knowledge on the intricate dance between PR and marketing. One key take away is the crucial role PR plays in ensuring consistent and newsworthy messaging — and why PR should always have a seat at the marketing table.

The conversation unfolds into the essence of crafting messages that resonate with your target audience and media outlets. Amanda emphasizes the necessity of creating content that goes beyond mere marketing tactics, underlining the importance of newsworthiness. She introduces her three I's methodology — Innovation, Impact, and Insight — as a guiding framework to evaluate the likelihood of media coverage. This methodology serves as a compass for navigating the complex landscape of storytelling, offering a valuable perspective on how to engage with the news media effectively.

Join us as Amanda Proscia shares her invaluable insights, shedding light on the dynamic interplay between PR and marketing in the ever-evolving realm of public image creation and suggesting new PR strategies that go beyond conventional norms.

How can we get customers to share their stories with us? For this conversation, Chris spoke to Christine Bottagaro, Chief Marketing Officer at Alviere.

We delve into the strategies behind unlocking the invaluable narratives of happy customers and how to transform them into compelling case studies and brand advocacy. And here’s a hit, it’s all about working with your customers instead of asking them for favors! There’s an art to enticing customers to share their stories authentically and the significance of weaving these stories into the fabric of your organization.

Christine also explains how content weaves its way through your entire organization — meaning no department, not even accounting, can risk deviating from your messaging. Because ultimately, content reverberates as much internally as it does externally, and consistency fosters a sense of unity and identity. Christine explores the power of internal communication in driving brand perception and understanding across your organization, which means every content touchpoint is another opportunity to connect with both your internal and external audiences.

In her Provocative Statement of the Day, Christine suggests that marketing needs to carry a revenue number, just like sales do. Because a shift towards measurable accountability emphasizes marketing's contribution and is essential for a holistic understanding of its impact. Join us as we explore these key insights, unlocking the secrets to successful customer advocacy, internal communication, and the evolving role of marketing in today's dynamic landscape.