When it comes to investor relations, an organization’s communication strategy should be a key instrument to support its business strategy. While this may seem obvious, so often we get this wrong. In this episode, CJ hosts a masterclass on investor relations with Samuel Levenson and Jon Neitzell of the Arbor Advisory Group, focusing on the strategic role of IR in driving company valuation. They cover what “audience opportunity” really means and what to do when you've attracted the wrong investors. They talk about metrics, KPIs, and OKRs, plus why management credibility and conveying conviction can make or break your IR strategy. They also discuss what has changed in the IR profession over time and what hasn’t (but probably should) before suggesting changes you can make to drive impact immediately.

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LINKS:

Samuel Levenson on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/samlevenson/

Jon Neitzell on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-neitzell/

Arbor Advisory Group: www.arboradvisorygroup.com/

CJ on X (@cjgustafson222): https://x.com/cjgustafson222

Mostly metrics:

http://mostlymetrics.com

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TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00) Preview and Intro

(03:10) Sponsor – Pulley | Tropic | NetSuite

(07:53) How Your Communication Strategy Should Support Your Business Strategy

(10:38) Why You Should Speak to Different Investors Differently

(12:11) Defining “Audience Opportunity”

(15:24) Sponsor – Planful | Tabs | Rippling Spend

(19:18) What To Do if You Have the Wrong Investor Base

(22:16) Management Credibility and Conveying Conviction

(25:01) Metrics Your Investors Should Be Measuring

(32:42) The Metrics That You Should Disclose Versus Guide To

(35:45) The Science of the Story Versus the Art of the Story

(38:54) Actively Versus Passively Managed Assets

(40:50) Working Back to the OKRs That Drive the KPIs

(46:58) Why the IR Profession Hasn’t Changed Much Over Time

(51:11) The Shift in Communications in Recent Years

(54:05) Why Production Quality Is Important for Earnings Calls and Investor Days

(58:25) How IR Job-Related Technology Has Changed

(1:00:07) Changes To Make To Drive Impact Immediately

(1:04:23) “Data Transfers Conviction”

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Rick Wilson & Michael Waldman