Get online professional development from IABC On Demand

What GLP-1 drugs can teach us about information overload at work 14 May 3:00 pm UK Time / 9:00 am CT Many organisations are suffering from what could be described as infobesity a constant stream of emails, alerts, updates and messages competing for the same limited slice of employee attention. The problem isn’t that communications teams aren’t working hard enough the problem is volume. When people are faced with hundreds of signals every day, the brain simply does what it’s designed to do: it tunes out. In this thought-provoking session, Sharon O'Dea uses the analogy of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs to explore what organisations can learn about communication overload. Just as GLP-1 drugs change how people experience hunger, Sharon argues that organisations need to rethink the way they “feed” employees information. Instead of constantly pushing more content, the focus should shift to information restraint  creating communication systems that prioritise relevance, quality and timing. Please join live if your timezone permits it.  IABC members will be able to watch the recording through the OnDemand portal ——— Speaker Biography:  Sharon O'Dea is co-founder of Lithos Partners, a boutique digital workplace and internal communications consultancy based in Amsterdam. She works with major global organisations — including global banks, professional services firms and world-leading universities — on intranet strategy, digital employee experience and communications design. Sharon is co-author of Digital Communications at Work: Designing Channels for Employee Engagement and Experience (Kogan Page, 2026), written with Jonathan Phillips. A regular writer and speaker, Sharon is a recognised voice on the future of work, communications technology and digital culture. Before founding her consultancy, Sharon held senior leadership roles in internal communications, including Head of Digital Communications at Standard Chartered. Read more

Topic: Patients are turning to AI for Health Information; for Canadians, the result isn’t ideal   Date:    Tuesday, April 28 5 pm EST/ 3pm MST   Agenda Item Description Details Welcome & Intro Nicole Housekeeping Introductions Sophie Nadeau - Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Canadian Medical Association, University of Regina, University of Ottawa | about.me Icebreaker Nicole Menti Exercise Where are you joining us from? Have you used AI to find health information? Were you satisfied with the results? Do you use AI as a healthcare communicator? Were you satisfied with the results? Ask group, then Sophie Presentation Sophie Doctors warn: Canadians are turning to AI for health information and it is hurting them Top level review and results of CMA study and data Provide link in advance for those who are interested: Doctors warn: Canadians are turning to AI for health information and it is hurting them | CMA [summary of key takeaways] Discussion Nicole Discussion Questions How is AI affecting your work? What opportunities and threats are you seeing? How is AI affecting your audiences? Do you have any solutions to the challenges you are seeing?   Conclusion & next steps Nicole Recap of key takeaways Menti Exercise Virtual engagement questions: What key takeaway will you apply from today’s conversation? Did this conversation meet your needs? Identify possible future topics and speakers for discussion   Read more

Case studies, patterns and mental readiness in a crisis Thursday, May 7 | 5:00 p.m. ET | 4:00 p.m. CT We are delighted to welcome Helio Fred Garcia for a 20-minute featured conversation, followed by a moderated panel discussion. Fred teaches management, leadership and communication at New York University’s Stern School of Business and at Columbia University’s graduate school of engineering. He is president of Logos Consulting Group, a management consulting firm advising leaders on making smart choices under stress, executive director of the Logos Institute for Crisis Management and Executive Leadership, and author of seven books, including The Agony of Decision: Mental Readiness and Leadership in a Crisis. For 45 years, Fred has helped leaders build trust, inspire loyalty and lead effectively. He is a coach, counselor, teacher, writer and speaker whose clients include some of the largest and best-known companies and organizations in the world.  Focus question for panel discussion How can communicators leverage case studies to help organizations make smart choices under stress – and execute them in ways that maintain or restore trust?   Learning outcomes ·       Identify common crisis response patterns ·       Reflect on how these patterns may manifest in your own organizational context ·       Coach decision-makers on how to use case studies as practical tools in crisis planning and training to strengthen judgment under pressure Read more

You're doing the work. Publishing content, pitching media, and showing up on social. But does any of it add up to something bigger — or does it feel like you're starting from zero every week? Visibility engineering is the discipline of making your brand the obvious answer when your audience is ready to act. It's not about being louder. It's about being strategically present in the right places, with the right proof, at the right time. In this 30-minute fireside chat, Gini Dietrich and Martin Waxman will unpack what it actually takes to build visibility that compounds — using the PESO Model® as the operating system underneath. What you'll walk away with: A clear definition of visibility engineering and why it matters now more than ever for communicators How to use paid, earned, shared, and owned media together so each channel reinforces the others The metrics that actually predict demand (hint: impressions aren't one of them) How to build corroboration loops — the mechanism that makes your expertise show up everywhere your audience looks A practical framework you can bring back to your team or your clients immediately Who this is for: This session is built for communicators who are tired of random acts of content and want a system they can actually measure. Whether you lead a team, run an agency, or work as a solo practitioner, you'll leave with tools you can use the same week. About Your Hosts: Gini Dietrich is the founder, CEO, and author of Spin Sucks, host of the Spin Sucks podcast, and author of Spin Sucks (the book). She is the creator of the PESO Model® and has crafted a certification for it in collaboration with the S.I. Newhouse School for Public Communication at Syracuse University. She is co-author of Marketing in the Round and co-host of The Agency Leadership podcast. She also holds “legend” status on Peloton. Martin Waxman is a digital communications strategist and educator specializing in generative AI and digital marketing. A former TV writer, journalist, and stand-up comic, he teaches at York University's Schulich School of Business and McMaster University.   Read more

15 April 2026 | 08:00 UTC | 18:00 AEST (Sydney/Melbourne) | 16:00 SGT (Singapore)   This member-only session is tailored for IABC members working across Australia and Southeast Asia, reflecting regional perspectives, time zones, and organisational contexts. Artificial intelligence is reshaping how organisations operate and communicate – faster, broader, and with growing autonomy. But as AI becomes embedded in everyday practice, the impact on human dignity as well as ethical questions can no longer be treated as secondary. Designed for senior communication professionals navigating AI adoption, and focused on ethical judgement not technical instruction, this webinar explores the challenges and responsibilities communicators face when introducing AI, from transparency and trust to stakeholder accountability and human oversight. Drawing on real-world examples and practical experience, the session will help participants think critically about where ethical judgement and human governance sit in an AI-enabled communication environment – and why communicators must play a leading role. This session focuses on the leadership and ethical responsibilities of communicators in an AI-enabled environment, rather than the technology itself. 1. Identify the ethical responsibilities communicators hold when AI is introduced into organisations and communication – regardless of who owns the technology. 2. Discuss how AI adoption changes expectations of leadership, transparency, and users’ trust in communication functions. 3. Evaluate how ethical judgement, accountability, and decision-making must remain human-led in AI-enabled communication environments. 4. Apply ethical leadership principles to real communication scenarios involving AI-supported content, analysis, or decision-making. 5. Recognise the strategic role communicators play in advising senior execs and guiding responsible AI use across organisations, teams, and stakeholders. Read more

26 March 2026 | Noon ET |  Virtual Independent consultants are wired to push through. But sustainable high performance runs on biology, and most of us are quietly running on fumes. Julia Mullins, Professional Certified Coach (PCC) and founder of Mullins Professional Group, brings a neuroscience-backed framework to help you understand what drives — and depletes — your mental energy as a consultant. Join us to: Show up to your work with more consistent energy and motivation. Make clearer decisions about what deserves your attention and what doesn't. Reduce the mental fatigue that accumulates across a demanding consulting schedule. Leave with a practical, science-backed framework to sustain your performance over the long term. Grounded in neuroscience and designed for the specific realities of independent consulting life, this session is a reminder that no one manages your energy but you. And that's actually good news. :) About IABC's Consultants SIG The IABC Consultants shared interest group provides a space for communication consultants to develop business connections, exchange ideas with their peers, and advance their careers through collaborative learning. We serve as a trusted resource where members can find real-time support, thoughtful conversations and valuable partnerships that enhance the services they deliver to clients. Read more