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You’re already using AI. The question is whether it’s helping you think better—or just helping you publish faster. In this advanced masterclass, journalist and thought-leadership expert Rhea Wessel shows communication professionals how to use AI as a strategic partner in thought leadership—helping them identify stronger ideas, sharpen their positioning, and build repeatable systems for high-quality content. This 2.0 masterclass focuses on how to use AI to analyze thought-leadership landscapes, identify gaps in the conversation, research audience pain points, and develop counterintuitive story angles that differentiate true thought leadership from marketing content. Participants will learn how to work with AI while maintaining strong editorial judgment, ethical guardrails, and a distinctly human point of view—so their ideas gain credibility, not just visibility. This masterclass is ideal for communication professionals who already use AI for writing or ideation and now want to use it more intentionally, strategically, and responsibly. You’ll learn how to: Identify gaps in a thought-leadership landscape (what’s being said—and what isn’t) Define and sharpen a personal or organizational thought-leadership niche Research the deepest internal and external pain points of your audience Generate strong, counterintuitive story ideas using AI Build a scalable thought-leadership engine without diluting voice or credibility Read more

In this course, you will learn what IABC specifically looks for in evaluating award entries allowing for consistent application and interpretation of criteria across our large number of evaluators.  As an evaluator, you are not setting the standards or criteria for the awards. You are scoring entries based on the criteria in the Evaluating Excellence Guide and providing feedback to entrants using your expertise. While this course is designed for the evaluation of IABC Gold Quill awards, it can be used to train evaluators for all types of IABC awards. Read more

Internal comms have never mattered more. And yet, it’s still one of the hardest functions to defend when budgets tighten. You’re the bridge between leadership and employees, the calm in every crisis, the voice that keeps people connected. But too often, your impact is felt but not seen – especially by the people holding the purse strings. This session is for internal communication professionals who are tired of being the “unsung heroes” and want to prove, with confidence, the real business value of what they do. What you’ll learn: How to frame comms results in the language executives understand: cost, productivity, and impact Practical ways to use data (without drowning in it) to show your influence How to turn your work into a story leadership can see, measure, and support Real examples from comms leaders who’ve earned a seat at the strategic table   After the session, we’ll share a set of practical follow-ups to help you put the ideas into action: A guide on getting buy-in from your CEO, written with insights from CEOs themselves A companion guide on winning over your CFO, co-written with finance leaders A new report on how internal comms can secure more budget and prove its value across the business.   Real perspectives. Real examples. Tools you can use straight away.     Speakers Andrew Avanessian, CEO, Haiilo Ann-Marie Blake, Co-Founder, True Comms After a career in senior in-house roles in major global organisations, Ann-Marie Blake co-founded True Communications in Feb 2023, an agency set up to help companies deliver change with their people rather than to them. Her impact on the communications world has been recognised with Fellowships of both the Chartered Institute of Public Relations and Centre for Strategic Communications Excellence   Ann-Marie is a Chartered PR Practitioner. She is a former IABC International Executive Board Member and currently chairs the IABC Heads of Communication Shared Interest Group. She is a winner of the 2025 Independent Impact 50 awards which celebrate the UK’s most influential independent practitioners in PR.     Read more

In this engaging and practical Master Class will empower communication professionals to elevate their influence and impact through the science of persuasion. Across three dynamic sessions, participants will explore how to cut through the noise of today’s complex information landscape, apply behavioural insights to better understand and reach their audiences, and use proven tools to confidently influence stakeholders and decision-makers. The program blends critical thinking, behavioural science, and modern engagement strategies to help participants navigate an era of information overload, polarisation, and AI-generated content. Participants will leave with a toolkit of practical techniques to identify bias, reframe issues for support, select the right channels, and confidently pitch ideas that stick. Ideal for professionals seeking to strengthen their strategic communication skills, this Masterclass will equip you to ask better questions, make smarter decisions, and drive meaningful change—whether you're engaging the public, stakeholders, or internal leaders.   Live Sessions:  The live one hour sessions will take place at 2:00 PM CT on November 5, 12 and 19.  Read more

A three-part online masterclass for leaders who want to ask better, tell less, and unleash a problem-solving capability in their team. As a leader, it’s tempting to step in with answers. It’s faster, it feels more helpful, and it demonstrates your expertise. But there’s a hidden cost. If every challenge lands with someone in your office, you’re solving one problem and creating another, a team that relies on you for solutions. This masterclass series will give you the tools you need to shift from being your 'team’s problem solver' to the leader of a problem-solving team. Across the series, you’ll discover how to listen deeply, ask powerful questions that spark innovation and insight, and apply a practical coaching and problem-solving framework that gets results. By the end, you’ll have the skills, tools, and confidence to turn everyday challenges into opportunities for growth, and a team that thrives without you holding all the answers. Learning Outcomes: • Master the art of deep listening to enhance understanding and trust • Ask questions that spark insight, ownership, and better solutions • Apply a proven coaching and problem-solving framework to real challenges • Build a culture where your team takes the lead in solving problems Across three interactive sessions, you’ll learn to listen deeply and ask powerful questions, apply a practical coaching and problem-solving framework, and then put it all into action to build a team that tackles challenges with confidence and creativity. Live Sessions:  The live one hour sessions will take place at 10:00 AM CT on October 8, 15 and 22.  Read more

Employees are overloaded, leaders expect proof of comms value, and AI is moving fast. The challenge for communicators is scaling reach and impact without losing the human touch. Simpplr’s 2025 State of Internal Communications and Intranet Technology report shows how IC is becoming a strategic driver, while revealing the biggest challenges teams face today. In this webinar, Ann-Marie Blake, Head of IABC’s Heads of Communication Shared Interest Group, and Regan, Simpplr’s Internal Communications Lead, will discuss the report’s findings and what they mean for your communications strategy. You will learn: How top-performing IC teams are delivering measurable business value Overcome the biggest barriers limiting effectiveness in 2025 The role of AI in shaping the future of communications  What data reveals about intranet technology’s role in today's workplace This is your opportunity to learn from the latest research and expert perspectives to advance your communications strategy with confidence. Sponored by Simpplr.  Read more