Smart in Public

Most PR professionals think investor relations is just about spreadsheets and earnings calls—but John Cummings, Managing Director, CFO, and COO at Smith Point Capital, proves that IR is actually advanced brand storytelling attached to VERY big dollar signs. In this episode of Smart in Public, John unpacks how investor relations professionals master the art of narrative control when (sometimes!!) billions of dollars hang in the balance.From his unconventional path from political science to the C-suite, John reveals why the best IR professionals think like strategic communicators, and breaks down how to craft company narratives that resonate with skeptical audiences, manage crisis communications when stock prices are plummeting, and why understanding your audience's motivations is everything—whether you're talking to institutional investors or employees who just got equity.Note: All three speakers were in different countries when we recorded this episode, so thank you in advance for being nice to us about the audio!!Chapters02:54 - Career Journey: From Political Science to CFO05:57 - Understanding Investor Relations: A Deep Dive08:58 - The Role of Communication in Investor Relations11:41 - Building Trust: The Foundation of Effective Comms14:43 - Investor Perspectives: Crafting the Right Narrative17:32 - Valuation Risks: The Long Game in Business20:30 - Crisis Management: Navigating Market Reactions23:40 - Employee Engagement: The New Paradigm of Ownership26:30 - Balancing Integrity and Messaging in Comms31:27 - Integrity in Communication32:59 - Timing for Investor Relations36:44 - Crafting the Investor Relations Narrative39:45 - Navigating Mergers and Acquisitions42:41 - Pathways into Investor Relations47:37 - Key Mottos in Investor RelationsAbout John:John Cummings is the Managing Director  CFO, COO with Smith Point Capital Management. Prior to joining Smith Point, John was Senior Vice President of Finance, Corporate Development, and Investor Relations for Celonis SE.Before Celonis, John was Senior Vice President of Finance for Salesforce, where he was head of Investor Relations and was recognized by Institutional Investor Magazine as the number-one ranked IR professional for the software industry for five consecutive years.  Later he was responsible for Corporate Financial Planning & Analysis, overseeing the company’s $17 billion annual budgetJohn began his career with Government Investment Management Corporation, a long-short hedge fund where he served as an equity analyst. In connection with his work there, John served as a representative to the Asia Pacific Policy Center, a Washington, D.C.-based think-tank on economic and security policy, and served as an adviser to Malaysia’s former Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim.Connect with us on: Instagram TikTok Web Have a topic or a guest idea? Email us at hello@smartinpublicpod.com

In today's episode of the Smart in Public podcast, the Katies welcome Daniella Vallurupalli, VP and Head of Global Communications at Cloudflare, to demystify the role of communications professionals during the IPO process. Daniella shares the importance of preparing for an IPO well in advance (with some incredibly helpful tips on how to do that), how to get a S.E.A.T. at the table throughout the entire process, and the unique challenges faced by comms teams when trying to navigate a time at the company where it's likely it's everyone's first rodeo -- even your stakeholders. We cover key strategies for tracking media, maintaining transparency, identifying who your new best friends on the leadership team (looking at you IR and legal), and preparing executives and employees for messaging beyond IPO. Thank you so much Daniella for coming on the show!Chapters07:18 - The Importance of Communications in IPOs12:23 - When to Start Preparing for an IPO15:55 - Key Steps for Comms Professionals Pre-IPO19:08 - Tracking Media and Conversations22:40 - Maintaining Regular Announcements During Quiet Periods24:01 - Understanding the S1 Document27:28 - The Role of Comms During the IPO Process30:25 - Cultural Shifts in Comms Pre and Post-IPO33:18 - Balancing Transparency with Regulation36:02 - Preparing Executives for Public Speaking39:15 - Mock Earnings Calls and Their Importance43:50 - Celebrating the IPO Day46:17 - Final Thoughts and Advice for Comms ProfessionalsConnect with us on: Instagram TikTok Web Have a topic or a guest idea? Email us at hello@smartinpublicpod.com

In this week's episode of the Smart and Public podcast, the Katies dig into the crisis recently faced by Qantas, Australia's most well-known national airline, following a significant data breach earlier this month. Hot topics were the implications of the breach on customer trust and loyalty, the challenges of crisis communication in today's instant-info digital age, and the importance of CEO messaging and transparency in rebuilding brand reputation. A use case that we touched on was the lessons learned from CrowdStrike's response to their own breach one-year on, which we thought was a great example of the need for ongoing communication and humility in leadership during crises, even after the fact. If you're someone who pays attention to the cover art -- yes we talk about the poop cruise show on Netflix... rude not to, really!Chapters02:27 - The Qantas Crisis: Background and Context07:33 - Understanding the Data Breach and Customer Impact12:57 - Crisis Communication Strategies and Challenges16:19 - Trust Erosion and Customer Loyalty22:45 - Lessons from CrowdStrike's Response to Their Breach30:37 - The Importance of Ongoing Communication in Crisis Management36:52 - Recommendations for Brands in CrisisConnect with us on: Instagram TikTok Web Have a topic or a guest idea? Email us at hello@smartinpublicpod.com

In this episode of the Smart in Public podcast, the Katies welcome friend of the pod and everyone's favorite startup journalist Alex Konrad, Founder & Editor of Upstarts Media. The big topic on the table was getting a better sense of the direction startup news reporting is heading -- from industry predictions all the way down to some real tactical stuff like how to pitch Substack journalists. The conversation also covers the challenges of navigating the media landscape, the role of AI in journalism, best practices for pitching stories, and what makes a compelling startup narrative. Alex shares insights on emerging trends in venture capital and his vision for the future of Upstarts Media, emphasizing the importance of authenticity and resilience in both journalism and entrepreneurship.Thank you so much Alex for coming on the pod!! Subscribe to Upstarts Media here: https://www.upstartsmedia.com/Follow Alex on Twitter: @alexrkonradChapters00:00 - Introduction to Upstarts Media and Alex Konrad03:56 - The Vision Behind Upstarts Media07:56 - Navigating the Media Landscape: Choosing Stories Wisely12:01 - The Role of AI in Journalism14:59 - Advice for Comms Professionals in a Changing Media Environment19:59 - What Makes a Compelling Founder Story?25:46 - Global Relevance in Startup Stories28:14 - Spotlight on Underrated Startups29:35 - AI's Impact on Healthcare and Beyond32:23 - The VC Landscape: Trends and Insights33:53 - Emerging Managers in Venture Capital36:13 - The Evolution of Investment Strategies38:07 - Substack Recommendations and Insights40:59 - Future Directions for Upstarts MediaConnect with us on: Instagram TikTok Web Have a topic or a guest idea? Email us at hello@smartinpublicpod.com

It's Season 2 of the Smart in Public podcast! The Katies kick off the new season with something old and something new, because we can't stop trying to understand the world that is Bezos, even if it means we're talking about them for the third time since the inception of the podcast. The implications on celebrity culture and brand perception are just too good. We also get pretty spicy on the New York mayoral race, highlighting the generational shift in politics, the importance of authenticity in communication, and the need for political candidates and brands to adapt to new media landscapes and engage with the public on a more personal level.Chapters02:45 - The Spectacle of the Bezos Wedding05:56 - Celebrity Culture and Brand Impact09:00 - Lauren Sanchez: Identity and Public Perception12:47 - The Media's Role in Celebrity Events17:52 - Transitioning to More Meaningful Topics18:00 - Catching Up on Current Events18:39 - The New York City Mayoral Race20:44 - Generational Shift in Politics22:37 - The Role of Communication in Campaigns24:44 - Authenticity in Political Messaging27:29 - The Importance of Relatability in Leadership29:41 - The Future of Political Engagement31:43 - Closing Thoughts and Future OutlookConnect with us on: Instagram TikTok Web Have a topic or a guest idea? Email us at hello@smartinpublicpod.com

Moving forward, let's just assume all episodes are hot takes, ok?? Today, the Katies dissect the article 'You are the brand now' written by Kira Klaas in her On Brand Substack to unpack the evolving landscape of personal branding and its implications for corporate strategy and consumer behavior. We know that individuals are becoming brands themselves, and recognize the importance of visibility over skill, but how does that affect the changing expectations of employees in the workplace and how corporations partner with them? We also ask ourselves some big hairy questions that Kira raises in the article around the political implications of individual influence and what happens when non performing workers get all the glory online.You can read the full articles we reference here:Kira's full 'You are the brand now' article on Substack: https://kiraklaas.substack.com/p/you-are-the-brand-nowScott Galloway's related post: https://www.profgalloway.com/people-are-the-new-brands/Thank you to Kira writing this deeply thought-provoking article! Connect with us on: Instagram TikTok Web Have a topic or a guest idea? Email us at hello@smartinpublicpod.com

In Episode 36 of the Smart in Public Podcast, the Katies kick off with a shameless plug of the launch of Boysen's new business, Comms People and there was not a dry pit in the house as she talked about it for the first time publicly. The hot takes were really about the insights Boysen pulled from the Haymaker Media Summit, which mainly focused on the evolving role of AI in journalism and the importance (and hesitation) of go-direct communication strategies in public relations. We chat through the balance between go-direct and traditional earned media, highlighting the need for PR professionals to adapt to changing dynamics in the industry. Other topics include:The evolving landscape of media and journalism in AIGo-direct's  implications for CEO leadershipThe importance of building authentic relationships between journalists and PR professionalsThe shift towards analysis over opinion in journalismAnd the hottest take of all -- the legal ramifications for US companies using TikTok.If you wanted a discussion around the challenges and opportunities in modern media, emphasizing the need for transparency and genuine engagement - you got it!Connect with us on: Instagram TikTok Web Have a topic or a guest idea? Email us at hello@smartinpublicpod.com

In episode 35 of Smart in Public, Fana Yohannes, Founder of Flora by Fana and Here to Help (H2H), joins the Katies on the pod to chat personal and professional branding, building a future-proof network, navigating the job market, and the importance of a consistent online presence (with tips on how to actually do it without burning out). The evolution of networking is ongoing in the digital age, and Fana walks us through how to effectively develop content creation strategies for social media, and the role of platforms like Substack for both personal and professional impact. We also learn about the significance of engagement (including timing and formats) and how to manage our illusive overlord, the algorithm, to enhance visibility and attract opportunities.  Thank you so much Fana for joining us! If you're keen to continue to learn from Fana you can follow her on instagram at:@itsfanay @here2helpTakeawaysYour online presence is crucial for job searching.Consistency on LinkedIn can attract opportunities.Engagement is key to increasing visibility.Video content is essential in today's digital landscape.Networking has shifted to a digital-first approach.Repurposing old content can be effective.Substack serves as a valuable supplementary platform.Reels require a more polished approach than TikTok.Practice makes progress in content creation.Connect with us on: Instagram TikTok Web Have a topic or a guest idea? Email us at hello@smartinpublicpod.com

This week on Smart in Public, the Katies welcome Cristin Culver, founder of Common Thread Communications, to the pod. Cristin's approach to comms is unique -- and it has to be given she works across the Fintech, Proptech, and Legaltech industries. Her highly ROI driven comms strategies remove the safety net of saying 'comms is hard to measure' from her vocabulary, and her clients love her for it.Learn how Cristin uses hybrid comms strategies, including the power of local storytelling, and hear her perspectives on the role of AI in modern PR. We dive into the significance of understanding local markets and the dynamics between B2B and B2C communications, and also learn a little bit about Cristin's challenges in the kitchen. Huge thank you to Cristin for coming on the pod - we laughed A LOT and learned even more in this one, and think you will too.TakeawaysThe importance of building trust in regulated industries.Using local storytelling as a powerful tool for client engagement and trust-building in a community.Why hybrid communication strategies are essential for modern PR success.When understanding local markets is crucial for effective communication.Where AI is transforming the landscape of communications and making it more efficient.Why the dynamics of B2B and B2C communications are intertwined in real estate.Why local media remains a trusted source for community engagement.How consultants can provide valuable insights into local storytelling strategies.Why the evolution of communications requires adaptability and innovation.Where personal anecdotes can humanize the PR process and connect with audiences.Chapters02:16 - Cristin Culver's Journey in PR and Consulting04:42 - Navigating the Challenges of Consulting06:09 - The Importance of Trust in Regulated Industries08:39 - Hybrid Communication Strategies for Success11:21 - The Power of Local Storytelling14:20 - Researching and Planning for Local Storytelling18:11 - The Landscape of Local Media20:28 - Tactical Approaches to Local Communications30:22 - The Old School Newsroom Dynamics32:16 - The Power of Local News and Paid Segments34:12 - Startups and Local News Strategies36:51 - Building Trust Through Local Stories39:29 - The Importance of Local Expertise41:47 - Real Estate Communications Challenges46:07 - B2B and B2C in Real Estate Comms47:53 - The Golden Era of CommunicationsConnect with us on: Instagram TikTok Web Have a topic or a guest idea? Email us at hello@smartinpublicpod.com

It's another Hot Take episode and The Katies are in a mood. Hot Take #1 (2:02): Emma Grede's statements around work-life balance were not completely out of line - she was just lacking tangible examples in her messaging. Hot Take #2 (25:30): X's search for a new comms lead validates that comms is a critical role at the leadership table.TakeawaysWork-life balance is often viewed differently by CEOs and employees.CEOs need to provide examples of HOW they maintain work-life balance to set a new executive standard in answering the work-life balance question.Every time a women gets asked about work-life balance, a fairy dies.If you' ask about flexibility in an interview, don't position it as work-life balance.Work-life balance looks different for everyone based on personal circumstances.X has an opportunity to reinvent itself by starting its own news publication to reposition the way it delivers news; the traditional X feed would be the comments section (we want credit for this!!)To manage a tough exec and/or founder, you need teammates that back you when you're not in the roomConnect with us on: Instagram TikTok Web Have a topic or a guest idea? Email us at hello@smartinpublicpod.com