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Speaker: Karen Johnston, Director of Communications, IC Thrive While one might assume that the presence of a designated internal communicator implies a mandate, the harsh truth is that without an explicit mandate, internal communications professionals can have a hard time taking a strategic seat.  There’s no rule for what a mandate looks like – different organizations can have wildly different expectations and goals, thus wildly divergent mandates. Regardless of the structure, setting out a mandate for the get-go will inform your function and relationship with the leadership team. Instead of getting caught in the crosshairs of countless side projects, you will be able to move forward towards the bigger picture.  When we talking about it being our time, we are referring to not only having the confidence to step up in the role and deliver on what is expected, but actively, creatively and strategically help set the agenda. It's about time we shine! Read more

Speaker: Chris Graham, Principal, TellPeople Drawing upon the history of livestream opera (popularized by New York’s Metropolitan Opera), the history of the cubicle, and best practices from successful remote work environments, the session teaches participants how to make optimum use of virtual communication tools in the short term, and how to effectively integrate these tools into their work in the long term (after COVID subsides).  Specific lessons include how to: •    Make meaningful connections over virtual platforms •    Hold attention from a virtual audience that is easily distracted •    Create a remote work environment where people can connect and thrive •    Recreate “informal” or “spontaneous” office connections while working remotely  The session will conclude with specific exercises and a customized summary of key points to support post-session learning and development. Read more

Speaker: Shel Holtz, Director, Internal Communications, Webcor The hottest communication technology trend is live streaming. It is easier than ever to broadcast live simultaneously to multiple channels, including Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube.  While the World Wide Web introduced the ability to make on-demand content available to a vast audience, there are huge benefits to live streaming. While most web content is passive, live streams are two-way and interactive. It also delivers a sense of excitement recorded video cannot. And, of course, live streams can be recorded and archived for those who were not able to watch in real-time.  The tools for live streaming are getting easier to use, whether you want to install software or use a Software as a Service (SaaS) utility like the one IABC uses for its monthly Circle of Fellows broadcast.   As a bonus, the session will also cover live-streaming audio, like the red-hot app, Clubhouse. Read more

Speaker: Brie Thorsteinson-Ogle, Principal, Skipti Strategic Consulting Communicators are at the forefront of disruption as sense-makers, bridge-builders and early-adopters, so isn’t it about time we tested a new, future-forward approach to strategic problem solving? Our ability to transform effectively to the “new normal” may depend on it. Design Thinking (DT) is a relatively new framework that bridges the divide between creativity and logic-giving teams a clear path to shift from today’s problem solvers to tomorrow’s problem finders in even the most disruptive environment.   This session introduces a communications-focused DT approach before breaking out into small, moderated groups for a DT problem-solving simulation using real-world challenges of participants. Engagement activities like polling, chats, individual callouts and the use of platform features will happen every 2-3 minutes. Participants leave with a digital toolkit featuring a step-by-step guide to DT for communications, DT resources, and the confidence and knowledge that comes from creating quick but effective solutions the DT way. Read more

Speakers: Joanne B. Henry, President, PR for Good and Donna Itzoe, Senior Vice President of Communications and Marketing, Global The Internet of Behaviors (IoB) is the holy grail for communicators like us – those who care about what our audience does, not what they say they are going to do. Suddenly, all the tools to track behavior from REM sleep to eating habits, eco-buying , employee health habits and supplier relationships are in the palm of our hands. How could we NOT use this wealth of information to recruit and retain employees and to create AI driven products and services that improve our bottom line – if not the world!? If your organization is using or considering  IoB and AI tools as part of your communications work, it’s time to examine your initiatives through a values lens. For example, an organization’s core values of  transparency, technology innovation, equity or creating a culture of respect for the individual could each translate to a  different approaches to the use of IoB and AI driven tools. This session takes research from one of the leading trends researched by the IABC Trends Watch Task Force and examines our roles as communicators in working with these new capabilities.  Task force chair Joanne Henry, SCMP, and Trend Task Force member Donna Itzoe will host a short panel discussion to keep you thinking long after the conference ends.  Read more

Speaker: Susan Walker, AES Research and Rachel Tolhurst, Head of Internal Communications Group Strategy, Amey plc Social media has become part of everyday life.  An integral part of our organisational communication toolkit, it has new prominence today in our present and future age when many work from home. Now it's the time to assess the impact of e communication and value to the business so we need fresh ways of evaluating our e-communication from apps to zoom. Our session will share this learning:  Equal? Better? Worse? To give context and perspective,  benchmark channels and e-usage:  Effectiveness: measure how well the channels work now and ways to improve in the future Evaluate: the impact of e-communication on organisational campaigns and goals Experience: how people use your website to identify the ease or difficulty of navigation Engage: how the approach, appearance and language interest and involve your audience Educate: return with greater understanding of e-communication measurement, a practical toolkit and learning to share with colleagues Read more