Get online professional development from IABC On Demand

The IABC AI Leadership and Communication SIG has been created to support communicators navigating the leadership, ethical, and organisational implications of artificial intelligence – rather than the technology itself. This introductory webinar, designed exclusively for IABC members, enables the SIG founders, Neville Hobson and Silvia Cambié, to share why they formed the SIG, what it stands for, and how it approaches AI through a leadership and communication lens. Participants will learn about the SIG’s purpose, guiding principles, and planned activities, as well as how members can engage, contribute, and help shape its direction. The session also creates space for dialogue, questions, and early community building, establishing a shared understanding of how the SIG will support thoughtful, responsible leadership as AI continues to reshape communication practice.   Learning Outcomes: By the end of this session, participants will be able to: 1. Understand the purpose and scope of the IABC AI Leadership and Communication SIG. 2.  Identify how the SIG frames AI as a leadership and communication challenge, grounded in ethics and professional responsibility. 3.  Recognise the role IABC members can play in shaping responsible and ethical approaches to AI within the profession. 4.  Explore opportunities to participate in and contribute to the SIG’s planned activities and discussions. 5.  Connect with fellow IABC members interested in leadership-led, ethical perspectives on AI and communication. Speaker: Silvia Cambié and Neville Hobson Silvia Cambié has a background in technology, corporate communication and business journalism. As a former IBMer, she cares deeply about the dignity of work in the age of AI. A published author, she used to serve on IABC’s International Executive Board and as Chair of the EMEA region. Neville has served IABC in multiple volunteer leadership roles since he first joined in 1989. He has held senior roles at organisations including IBM, the Internet Society, and Scala Business Solutions, and co-founded pioneering digital ventures that helped shape social media’s early growth. He keeps a close eye on the evolution of digital communication and remains actively engaged in podcasting, blogging, and industry discussions. But his approach has changed: today, he prioritises work that aligns with his values and interests, not just professional demands.   Live Sessions:  The live one-hour session will take place at 11:00 AM CT on 11 February 2026.  Read more

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

You can’t fix a problem until you first identify what it is and why the current approach doesn’t work. In this dynamic session, Mary Lou Panzano admits her early-career mistakes and the lessons she learned. She reveals the research behind what most leaders get wrong when driving change and introduces ways to fix those problems. This candid session, sprinkled with humor, will deliver real-world stories, actionable takeaways, and leadership insights you can apply immediately in your organization, career, and life. => Learn the four main reasons why most change efforts fail => Discover a proven framework to achieve sustainable, people-centered transformation => Walk away with practical leadership behaviors that spark lasting change and real results Speaker: Mary Lou Panzano Mary Lou Panzano is an award-winning communications executive with over 35 years of experience in employee communications at global companies, empowering leaders to guide strategic organizational change. She is a certified leadership coach, communications advisor, speaker, and best-selling author, passionate about helping people succeed through any change they wish to make in their business or lives. Mary Lou is a featured author in the Cracking the Rich Code, Volume 18 anthology, and her solo book, Cementing Change: Cracking the Code for Communications that Work, will be published in 2026. Live Sessions:  The live one hour sessions will take place at 9:00 AM CT & 5:00 PM CT on 5 February 2026.  Read more

AI is changing how organizations create, share, and manage content. But in the rush to innovate, few are pausing to ask: Are we using it responsibly? Communicators are at the center of that conversation. We shape messages, define voice, and uphold organizational integrity. This session explores how communication leaders can craft ethical AI guidelines that protect trust while driving innovation. We’ll look at real-world examples of companies navigating the promise and pitfalls of generative AI, from internal content creation to brand storytelling. You’ll learn how to evaluate risk, build cross-functional partnerships with IT and legal, and write policies that empower teams to use AI confidently and transparently. Because when everyone has access to the same tools, ethical use becomes your competitive advantage, and communicators must lead the way in deciding how AI shapes our words, our workplaces, and our world. Key Takeaways Identify where AI introduces risk and opportunity in communication workflows Learn the essential components of an ethical AI use policy Explore frameworks for balancing agility, innovation, and accountability Leave with a customizable outline and sample language to start your own policy   Audience Level: Intermediate to advanced communicators, content strategists, and leaders managing AI adoption Read more

When attention is the scarcest resource in change, communication must work harder. Dr. Jen Frahm explores the intersection of applied neuroscience, agile change, and change communication to reveal how to achieve cut-through in complex environments. Together, we’ll unpack: How to create cut-through when audiences are tired, overwhelmed, or working in complex systems. How to communicate inclusively and respectfully with diverse audiences. How to foster clarity in times of extreme uncertainty and ambiguity. You’ll walk away with three brain-friendly communication techniques you can apply immediately to make your messages stick and your change conversations count.   Speaker Dr. Jen Frahm is the co-founder of The Agile Change Leadership Institute and builds change capability in organizations. She is a global expert on organizational change, communication and transformation, a tamer of ambiguity, speaker of truths, and solver of problems. An IABC recommended speaker, she is known for being at the frontier of business agility and change. She is the author of Change. Leader – The changes you need to make first (2021), Conversations of Change: A guide to workplace change (2017), and co-author of The Agile Change Playbook (2020). Her latest book Change. Communication will be published in 2026. She has designed and delivered change across multiple industries and professions, from wine sales to wedding dresses, veterinary products to energy retailers, nuns and engineers, big banks, small IT companies, publicly listed, privately owned and non-profit organizations, and across 28 countries. She now lives and works from Seddon on the land of the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung (Naarm / Melbourne), Australia. Read more

The PESO Model® is the operating system that accelerates marketing effectiveness by unifying siloed teams and efforts under a single integrated framework. Spin Sucks and IABC are joining forces to offer the PESO Model Certification to IABC members at a reduced cost to help them align their goals across Paid, Earned, Shared, and Owned (PESO) channels.  Join us for our quarterly town hall series, where the Spin Sucks and IABC leadership teams will discuss the most effective ways you can use PESO to support your marketing goals.   What We’ll Cover: What communicators need to know about visibility, credibility, and trust in today’s AI-influenced landscape Why traditional channel-first planning no longer works—and what to use instead How the PESO Model® integrates paid, earned, shared, and owned media into one strategic system Real-world examples of PESO in action (and where most teams go wrong) How to move from disconnected tactics to coordinated, measurable communications programs How the PESO Model® supports both individual contributors and senior leaders Practical ways IABC members can apply PESO immediately—regardless of team size or budget Who This is For: Communications professionals managing multiple channels and stakeholders Practitioners who feel stuck in execution mode and want to be more strategic Leaders responsible for proving the impact of communications work IABC members looking for modern frameworks that actually scale Read more