The Crux of the Story

As communicators, it is important to understand world events from multiple perspectives. The New Humanitarian partners with local news sources to get in-depth, long term coverage of significant events from the people directly impacted by the events including the recent earthquake in Syria and Turkey.

A discussion with Richard Bowman and David Boyle about their new book “Prompt: A Practical Guide to Brand Growth Using Chat GPT,” which offers tips and insights for communicators on how to use human creativity to curate effective content to boost your brand.

“We are not going to let one week in December define us.” Southwest Airlines’ chief administration and communications officer, Linda Rutherford, gives Mike and Gary a “behind the scenes” perspective on the challenges faced and on the ground strategies implemented during Southwest Airlines’ winter storm disruption. Decision-making “in the fog of battle” is tough, and Rutherford offers clear advice for communicators looking to manage a crisis through uncertainty with compassion and action.

As communicators are increasingly tasked with engaging all of their stakeholders, organizational listening becomes essential, whether in corporations or non-profits. Quinnipiac University strategic communication professor and senior research fellow at The Page Center, Katie Place explains her research on organizational listening and marginalized publics and how companies can engage all stakeholders in new ways, simply by taking the time to sit down and listen. Denise Sevick Bortree of the Arthur W. Page Center at Penn State highlights free training modules they have produced to equip communicators to be effective listeners. Denise also highlights the upcoming Page Center's Annual Awards for Integrity on February 22 at 7 p.m. EST, which will recognize three public communications leaders who have demonstrated the value of “truth well told.”

Nobel laureate, holocaust survivor, and former BU professor Elie Wiesel did not let his circumstances define him but used them in a positive way to make the world better. Today, one of his former students, Ingrid Anderson, continues his legacy at Boston University's Elie Wiesel Center for Jewish Studies. In this episode Anderson talks about the importance for business leaders to educate themselves on current cultural issues surrounding antisemitism, to positively impact both internal and external stakeholders.

What is PwC’s My+? What does governance mean in a communications context? How does communication function in one of the Big Four? In this episode, we are joined by PwC’s US and Mexico Communications Leader Megan DiSciullo. In her role, Megan is responsible for leading 170+ communications practitioners across a range of disciplines. Prior to joining PwC, Megan spent nearly nine years at Edelman in its business and social purpose practice. Tune in to hear about the lessons learned from PwC's reorganization change, what it's like to work remotely at PwC, and the company’s first DE&I Transparency Report.

What are the key takeaways in an investor relations course at Boston University College of Communications (BU COM) look like? What is an Account Supervisor at Prosek Partner's typical day like? Is an MBA required for communicators? In this episode, we welcome a panel of BU alums who are working in financial communications: Sarah Dasher, Lindsay Jablonski, and Shaye Spector. Professor Sarah Dasher is teaching investor relations at COM. She has over 15 years of experience in strategic communications, including serving as Cisco's global activations insights lead. Lindsay is a Prosek Partners Account Supervisor. She assists alternative asset management clients in the credit, hedge fund, and private equity industries with media relations and brand building. Shaye is an Assistant Account Executive at Prosek as well. She was the Editor-in-Chief of the BU COMmunicator during her time at BU. Listen in to learn how to develop business expertise, what to do when clients approach you for support, and how to keep up to date with the business world.

What is a company’s role in national security? How do communications professionals navigate large mergers and acquisitions? How is corporate political spending bad for business and democracy? In this 90th episode, we look back at the show's fourth season (episodes 69-80). We covered everything from politics to sports to economics. Subscribe to the podcast feed on SoundCloud, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. Check out more episodes by visiting thecruxpodcast.org.

How do we define impact? What role does leadership play in ESG impact investing? How should small and large businesses approach ESG issues? In this episode, we welcome Nick Andreou and Marya Besharov to discuss their MIT Sloan Management Review article titled ”Rethinking How We Measure Companies on Social and Environmental Impact.” Marya Besharov is a professor of organizations and impact and academic director at the University of Oxford’s Skoll Center for Social Entrepreneurship at Saed Business School. Nick is the founder of Impact Edge Consulting and a visiting fellow at the center. Tune in to hear about the Skoll Center and its work, how to build a winning business, and how communicators can push companies to bridge the gap between ESG aspirations and reality.

What are the key findings in Peppercomm/Ragan Corporate Character Barometer? Why don’t communicators have a handbook for navigating social or political issues? Why does humor play such an important role in business settings? In this episode, we welcome Peppercom CEO Steve Cody. Steve is also the current chairman of the Institute for Public Relations, a longtime member of the Arthur W. Page Society, a member of the advisory councils of the College of Charleston and the University of Florida, and was named one of Northeastern University’s 100 most successful alumni. But most importantly, he is a lifelong comedian, climber, and dog lover. Tune in to hear Steve’s perspective on Adidas’s relationship with Ye, Ruder Finn’s acquisition of Peppercom, and find out whether if you need to be funny to work at Peppercom.