Smart in Public Surviving the Communications Career Hunger Games w/ Gab Ferree
This week the Katies had Gab Ferree, founder of Off the Record and former VP of Global Communications at Bumble, on the show and she doesn't hold back. For the listeners, our emotion-driven chat and sentence-finishing will be a fun ride, but trust me when I say editing this episode was a (worth-while) nightmare. 😂
If you're tired of surface-level industry conversations and want the unfiltered truth about where communications careers are heading, this one's for you.
What makes this episode essential listening:
🚀 The business mindset shift - Why successful communications professionals are thinking like business strategists first, communicators second
🤖 AI reality check - How to leverage artificial intelligence in communications while protecting the human elements that actually matter
💼 Career navigation secrets - Straight talk about job market trends, skill evolution, and what companies are really looking for when hiring communications professionals
🤝 Community building insights - Behind-the-scenes look at building communities like Off the Record and Comms People, and why authentic professional communities are more crucial than ever
The episode covers:
- Why PR professionals struggle with self-promotion (and how to fix it)
- Aligning communications strategy with real business impact and ROI
- Career transition strategies in today's volatile job market
- The future of communications roles and required skills
- Ethical considerations for AI in content creation and communications
- Why diverse hiring practices are reshaping communications teams
- How traditional PR education models are becoming obsolete
Perfect for: Communications professionals, PR practitioners, marketing leaders, career changers, and anyone building their personal brand in the communications space.
Key insight: The most successful communications professionals of 2025 won't just be great storytellers—they'll be business-minded strategists who can prove ROI while maintaining authentic human connection in an AI-driven world.
From hiring practices to education evolution, Gab breaks down exactly what's working (and what isn't) in today's communications landscape. No industry jargon, no sugar-coating—just actionable insights you can use immediately.
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Have a topic or a guest idea? Email us at hello@smartinpublicpod.com