Everything Speaks: Recent Episodes

Double Forte

Join our #podcast for insight about the modern workplace, email etiquette, public speaking tips, work-life balance and of course #millennials. Remember, everything you say and do says something about your potential. Everything speaks.

Interested in being on the show? Please email: DFContentTeam[at]double-forte[dot]com

What you will learn in this episode:

Why specific gratitude is far more powerful than generic praise
How public recognition helps shape culture and reinforce the behaviors you want repeated
Why timing matters when saying thank you
How gratitude builds trust, creates reciprocity, and turns one-time experiences into lasting relationships
Ways leaders can make appreciation authentic, meaningful, and memorable every day

Communications is the CENTER OF ALL THINGS. Lee Caraher talks all things communications – from language to format to channel, from employee engagement to great leadership, from PR to social media, and reputation management to personal branding and crisis communication, bringing you key insights from her experience and expertise that can be used in the day-to-day to make your work, your PR, your culture, and your potential … WORK.

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
Website: https://double-forte.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leecaraher/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher

What you will learn in this episode:

Why most "PR problems" are actually decision-making problems in disguise
How crises are built over time through small decisions, avoided actions, and tolerated behaviors
Why speed without clarity (fast and fuzzy) makes crises worse
A simple framework for crisis communication
Why the best communicators are strong decision-makers who ask hard questions

Communications is the CENTER OF ALL THINGS. Lee Caraher talks all things communications – from language to format to channel, from employee engagement to great leadership, from PR to social media, and reputation management to personal branding and crisis communication, bringing you key insights from her experience and expertise that can be used in the day-to-day to make your work, your PR, your culture, and your potential … WORK.

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
Website: https://double-forte.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leecaraher/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher

What you will learn in this episode:

Why overexplaining is often a symptom of lack of decision making
How unclear decisions lead to long, confusing, and ineffective understanding and engagement
Why more words don't equal more clarity
How people respond to unclear communication
A simple shift to create messaging that is shorter, stronger, and more trustworthy

Communications is the CENTER OF ALL THINGS. Lee Caraher talks all things communications – from language to format to channel, from employee engagement to great leadership, from PR to social media, and reputation management to personal branding and crisis communication, bringing you key insights from her experience and expertise that can be used in the day-to-day to make your work, your PR, your culture, and your potential … WORK.

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
Website: https://double-forte.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leecaraher/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher

What you will learn in this episode:

Why messaging failures actually start internally instead of the market or media
The three root causes of bad messaging
How the "consensus trap" waters down strong ideas into forgettable language
Clarity can feel risky but confusion is what really kills your message
A practical framework to create messaging that is clear, repeatable, and usable

Communications is the CENTER OF ALL THINGS. Lee Caraher talks all things communications – from language to format to channel, from employee engagement to great leadership, from PR to social media, and reputation management to personal branding and crisis communication, bringing you key insights from her experience and expertise that can be used in the day-to-day to make your work, your PR, your culture, and your potential … WORK.

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
Website: https://double-forte.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leecaraher/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher

What you will learn in this episode:

Why leader silence creates more anxiety than actually saying the wrong thing
The real role of a leader in uncertain times
A simple 3-step framework: Acknowledge, Humanize, Direct
How to show empathy without over-sharing or losing authority
Why repeating your message during uncertainty is critical to keeping teams aligned and moving forward

Communications is the CENTER OF ALL THINGS. Lee Caraher talks all things communications – from language to format to channel, from employee engagement to great leadership, from PR to social media, and reputation management to personal branding and crisis communication, bringing you key insights from her experience and expertise that can be used in the day-to-day to make your work, your PR, your culture, and your potential … WORK.

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
Website: https://double-forte.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leecaraher/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher

What you will learn in this episode:

Why simplifying a message is actually harder than making it complex
The difference between context and over-explanation
How to distill a complex strategy into one clear, actionable statement
Why leaders must lead with the decision, not the build-up
How clarity drives alignment and action instead of confusion and inaction

Communications is the CENTER OF ALL THINGS. Lee Caraher talks all things communications – from language to format to channel, from employee engagement to great leadership, from PR to social media, and reputation management to personal branding and crisis communication, bringing you key insights from her experience and expertise that can be used in the day-to-day to make your work, your PR, your culture, and your potential … WORK.

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
Website: https://double-forte.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leecaraher/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher

What you will learn in this episode:

Why employees are your first and most important audience
Why an external-first PR strategy creates confusion and inconsistency
What happens when teams are left to fill in the gaps when they don't get it
How to equip employees with the tools they need to be confident and credible ambassadors
A practical approach to aligning internal and external messaging so your story actually lands

Communications is the CENTER OF ALL THINGS. Lee Caraher talks all things communications – from language to format to channel, from employee engagement to great leadership, from PR to social media, and reputation management to personal branding and crisis communication, bringing you key insights from her experience and expertise that can be used in the day-to-day to make your work, your PR, your culture, and your potential … WORK.

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
Website: www.double-forte.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leecaraher/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher

What you will learn in this episode:

Why "bad PR" is often a symptom, not the problem, and what leaders should be looking at instead
The critical question to ask first when you get bad press
How business decisions, behavior, and culture drive reputation more than messaging ever will
Why you can't communicate your way out of a bad experience
How to rebuild trust by making changes visible, clear, and grounded in real action

Communications is the CENTER OF ALL THINGS. Lee Caraher talks all things communications – from language to format to channel, from employee engagement to great leadership, from PR to social media, and reputation management to personal branding and crisis communication, bringing you key insights from her experience and expertise that can be used in the day-to-day to make your work, your PR, your culture, and your potential … WORK.

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
Website: www.double-forte.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leecaraher/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher

What you will learn in this episode:

Why nodding and silence are misleading signals, and what they often really mean
The difference between presenting information and truly communicating it
How to use simple techniques and better questioning to test real understanding
Why friction, questions, and even disagreement are signs of engagement
How to create conversations that help your team own the message and act on it, not just hear it

Communications is the CENTER OF ALL THINGS. Lee Caraher talks all things communications – from language to format to channel, from employee engagement to great leadership, from PR to social media, and reputation management to personal branding and crisis communication, bringing you key insights from her experience and expertise that can be used in the day-to-day to make your work, your PR, your culture, and your potential … WORK.

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
Website: www.double-forte.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leecaraher/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher

What you will learn in this episode:

The Streisand Effect, and how trying to suppress information often backfires
How the current social media landscape makes the Streisand Effect more dangerous than ever
How overexplaining signals nervousness rather than confidence and invites deeper scrutiny
How real examples from companies such as Oracle and Peloton can teach us how defensive responses can have serious repercussions
What three critical questions every leader should ask before responding to a public relations issue

Communications is the CENTER OF ALL THINGS. Lee Caraher talks all things communications – from language to format to channel, from employee engagement to great leadership, from PR to social media, and reputation management to personal branding and crisis communication, bringing you key insights from her experience and expertise that can be used in the day-to-day to make your work, your PR, your culture, and your potential … WORK.

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
Website: www.double-forte.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leecaraher/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streisand_effect

What you will learn in this episode:

How AI didn't kill originality, but simply exposed how little there was in the first place
Why most "expert content" is built to avoid risk, offense, and standing out
Why clear beats clever and concrete beats conceptual every single time
How to break through the noise by being human and admitting uncertainty to build trust
How to reclaim your originality by prioritizing conviction and clarity over algorithmic optimization

Communications is the CENTER OF ALL THINGS. Lee Caraher talks all things communications – from language to format to channel, from employee engagement to great leadership, from PR to social media, and reputation management to personal branding and crisis communication, bringing you key insights from her experience and expertise that can be used in the day-to-day to make your work, your PR, your culture, and your potential … WORK.

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
Website: www.double-forte.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leecaraher/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher

What you will learn in this episode:

Why the title of "thought leader" is something earned from others, not a label you give yourself
What the critical difference is between attention and authority in a landscape of endless content
How consistency and repetition differentiate true thought leaders from self-proclaimed ones
Why your ideas need to be tested and challenged for them to be trusted
Why context is king, and how skipping to conclusions erodes trust

Communications is the CENTER OF ALL THINGS. Lee Caraher talks all things communications – from language to format to channel, from employee engagement to great leadership, from PR to social media, and reputation management to personal branding, and crisis communication, bringing you key insights from her experience and expertise that can be used in the day-to-day to make your work, your PR, and your culture, and your potential …WORK.

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
Website: www.double-forte.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leecaraher/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher
Edelman Trust Barometer: https://www.edelman.com/trust/2026/trust-barometer
MIT Sloan Management Review: https://sloanreview.mit.edu/

What you will learn in this episode:

Why behavior patterns speak louder than verbal intentions
What it means for a leader to have a follow-through problem rather than a communication problem
How to distinguish when to take responsibility and when to genuinely apologize
Why women tend to apologize more than men, and how to mitigate that without fully removing apologizing from your leadership toolbox
How to incorporate acknowledgement, ownership, and change into your apologies to build trust and accountability

Communications is the CENTER OF ALL THINGS. Lee Caraher talks all things communications – from language to format to channel, from employee engagement to great leadership, from PR to social media, and reputation management to personal branding, and crisis communication, bringing you key insights from her experience and expertise that can be used in the day-to-day to make your work, your PR, and your culture, and your potential …WORK.

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
Website: www.double-forte.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leecaraher/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher

What you will learn in this episode:

Why the traditional "feedback sandwich" fails to meaningfully change behavior
Why waiting too long to provide feedback creates resentment
How to use ground language to signal a corrective conversation
How to shift from a "hint and hope" approach to a more direct form of feedback
Why your feedback should be timely, specific, observable, connected to impact, and based on unmistakable expectations

Communications is the CENTER OF ALL THINGS. Lee Caraher talks all things communications – from language to format to channel, from employee engagement to great leadership, from PR to social media, and reputation management to personal branding and crisis communication, bringing you key insights from her experience and expertise that can be used in the day-to-day to make your work, your PR, your culture, and your potential … WORK.

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
Website: www.double-forte.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leecaraher/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher

What you will learn in this episode:

Why the messenger matters just as much as the message
How authority is created or damaged depending on the messenger
Why letting the wrong person deliver a message creates doubt, friction, and wasted momentum
Who should own the announcement of new leadership and reporting changes
What it looks like to correctly pass the baton between leaders

Communications is the CENTER OF ALL THINGS. Lee Caraher talks all things communications – from language to format to channel, from employee engagement to great leadership, from PR to social media, and reputation management to personal branding, and crisis communication, bringing you key insights from her experience and expertise that can be used in the day-to-day to make your work, your PR, and your culture, and your potential …WORK.

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
Website: www.double-forte.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leecaraher/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher

What you will learn in this episode:

Why the right person must be the one to deliver bad news
How failing to own a difficult decision leads to downstream damage
What it means to commit "organizational malpractice" by outsourcing humanity
Why your reputation is built in the worst five minutes of someone else's career
How to maintain future talent pipelines and customer relationships by prioritizing ownership, respect, clarity, and accountability during layoffs and terminations
Why your presence is required in times where your absence would be noticed

Communications is the CENTER OF ALL THINGS. Lee Caraher talks all things communications – from language to format to channel, from employee engagement to great leadership, from PR to social media, and reputation management to personal branding, bringing you key insights from her experience and expertise that can be used in the day to day to make your work, your PR, and your culture and your potential WORK. Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
Website: www.double-forte.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leecaraher/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher

Communications is the CENTER OF ALL THINGS. Lee Caraher talks all things communications – from language to format to medium, from employee engagement to great leadership, from PR to social media, and Reputation management to personal branding, bringing you key insights from her experience and expertise that can be used in the day to day to make your work, your PR, your culture, and your potential WORK.

What you will learn in this episode:

How to end your thoughts with authority instead of unintentionally weakening your point
Why phrases like "does that make sense?" and "is that ok?" undermine your credibility
What your audience hears when you keep talking after you've already made your point
How to invite feedback and collaboration without giving away your expertise
Why standing on your point builds trust faster than over-explaining yourself

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
Website: www.double-forte.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leecaraher/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher

Communications is the CENTER OF ALL THINGS. Lee Caraher talks all things communications – from language to format to medium, from employee engagement to great leadership, from PR to social media, and Reputation management to personal branding, bringing you key insights from her experience and expertise that can be used in the day to day to make your work, your PR, your culture, and your potential WORK.

What you will learn in this episode:

Why "get to the point" never does
What people actually mean when they say "get to the point"
Why speed without structure weakens your message and kills impact
How to build a bridge from data to meaning instead of dumping information
Why leading with conclusions often confuses rather than convinces

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
Website: www.double-forte.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leecaraher/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher

Communications is the CENTER OF ALL THINGS. Lee Caraher talks all things communications – from language to format to medium, from employee engagement to great leadership, from PR to social media, and Reputation management to personal branding, bringing you key insights from her experience and expertise that can be used in the day to day to make your work, your PR, your culture, and your potential WORK.

What you will learn in this episode:

Why deflecting compliments unintentionally disrespects the person giving them
How saying "thank you" strengthens confidence without crossing into ego
What a compliment represents in professional relationships
Why shrinking in response to praise robs others of a meaningful connection moment
What your response to recognition communicates about your leadership
Why honoring the giver of a compliment matters just as much as accepting it

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
Website: www.double-forte.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leecaraher/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher

Communications is the CENTER OF ALL THINGS. Lee Caraher talks all things communications – from language to format to medium, from employee engagement to great leadership, from PR to social media, and Reputation management to personal branding, bringing you key insights from her experience and expertise that can be used in the day to day to make your work, your PR, your culture, and your potential WORK.

What you will learn in this episode:

Why limited partners (LPs) publicly expressed frustration with Kirkland & Ellis, including the infamous "Fire K&E" comment
How poor communication resulted in the loss of hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of time and investments
How demeanor and style can hurt a big company, and the cost of repairing when reputation is damaged
How to excel in your role and be someone others genuinely want to work with
What Kirkland & Ellis is doing to rebuild trust (including banning a certain phrase)

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
Website: www.double-forte.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leecaraher/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher

Communications is the CENTER OF ALL THINGS. Lee Caraher talks all things communications – from language to format to medium, from employee engagement to great leadership, from PR to social media, and Reputation management to personal branding, bringing you key insights from her experience and expertise that can be used in the day to day to make your work, your PR, your culture, and your potential WORK.

What you will learn in this episode:

How deep preparation before a client meeting builds trust, demonstrates value, and separates you from other agencies
Why the way you conduct yourself during a knowledge transfer tells a client everything they need to know about you
Why showing up unprepared signals disrespect and puts you in a hole before the relationship even starts
What type of questions you should ask to demonstrate your understanding of the client's business and priorities
How "dumb questions" can ruin your credibility before you've even begun the relationship

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
Website: www.double-forte.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leecaraher/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher

Communications is the CENTER OF ALL THINGS. Lee Caraher talks all things communications – from language to format to medium, from employee engagement to great leadership, from PR to social media, and Reputation management to personal branding, bringing you key insights from her experience and expertise that can be used in the day to day to make your work, your PR, your culture, and your potential WORK.

What you will learn in this episode:

How jargon and acronyms impact clarity and productivity
The hidden cost of trading clarity for cleverness
How unclear communication directly impacts time, money, and trust
Why clear communication is the foundation of strong leadership
How to "kill the jargon" with practical steps

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
Website: www.double-forte.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leecaraher/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher
David Burkus: https://davidburkus.com/

Communications is the CENTER OF ALL THINGS. Lee Caraher talks all things communications – from language to format to medium, from employee engagement to great leadership, from PR to social media, and Reputation management to personal branding, bringing you key insights from her experience and expertise that can be used in the day to day to make your work, your PR, your culture, and your potential WORK.

What you will learn in this episode:

Why avoiding "enemies" doesn't make conflict go away
How emotional intelligence shapes resolution
Skills for mindful communication that help calm conflict before it escalates
Words and phrases to stop using, and what to say instead to create connection instead of confrontation
How to model the calm you want reflected back

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
Website: www.double-forte.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leecaraher/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher
How to Talk to Your Enemies: 101+ Ways to Turn Hostility into Peace

Communications is the CENTER OF ALL THINGS. Lee Caraher talks all things communications – from language to format to medium, from employee engagement to great leadership, from PR to social media, and Reputation management to personal branding, bringing you key insights from her experience and expertise that can be used in the day to day to make your work, your PR, your culture, and your potential WORK.

What you will learn in this episode:

Why conflict avoided is conflict multiplied
Why timing is everything, and how to pick the right moment to resolve issues
How to frame requests and offers so colleagues don’t feel attacked
Real-world examples of using this process to handle common frustrations
How adopting this structure builds trust, accountability, and better communication across your team

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
Website: www.double-forte.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leecaraher/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher
“Conflict Avoided is Conflict Multiplied” Dr. Jordan B. Peterson
Conflict At Work: Resolve To Stop Wasting Time
Lee’s Books: https://leecaraher.com/books/
Additional Resources: https://double-forte.com/resources/

Communications is the CENTER OF ALL THINGS. Lee Caraher talks all things communications – from language to format to medium, from employee engagement to great leadership, from PR to social media, and Reputation management to personal branding, bringing you key insights from her experience and expertise that can be used in the day to day to make your work, your PR, your culture, and your potential WORK.

What you will learn in this episode:

Why being early and choosing the right seat can set the tone for the entire evening
The unspoken signals your phone sends when it’s on the table
The simple etiquette of napkin use (and why it matters more than you think)
How to pace yourself with food and alcohol to keep the focus on conversation
The etiquette of ordering: how many courses, how to share apps, and how to handle wine
Why being a good host is really about making others feel respected and comfortable

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
Website: www.double-forte.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leecaraher/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher

Communications is the CENTER OF ALL THINGS. Lee Caraher talks all things communications – from language to format to medium, from employee engagement to great leadership, from PR to social media, and Reputation management to personal branding, bringing you key insights from her experience and expertise that can be used in the day to day to make your work, your PR, your culture, and your potential WORK.

What you will learn in this episode:

How to use AI for inspiration without letting it override your own voice
Why AI should be treated as a pencil, not a pen
What makes AI valuable for brainstorming, but risky for decision-making
Why AI is only as good as the prompts and data you give it
How AI can produce false information, hallucinations, and even imaginary experts
Why it’s essential to verify every single fact AI provides

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
Website: www.double-forte.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leecaraher/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher

Communications is the CENTER OF ALL THINGS. Lee Caraher talks all things communications – from language to format to medium, from employee engagement to great leadership, from PR to social media, and Reputation management to personal branding, bringing you key insights from her experience and expertise that can be used in the day to day to make your work, your PR, your culture, and your potential WORK.

What you will learn in this episode:

Why pencils represent a fresh start
How a “pencil mindset” encourages editing, flexibility, and humility
The danger of permanent thinking
Why pens signal finality when collaboration still needs to happen
How your team’s work improves when everyone embraces imperfection first
Ways to draft better messages, frame ideas for feedback, and lead with a pencil, literally or digitally

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
Website: www.double-forte.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leecaraher/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher

Communications is the CENTER OF ALL THINGS. Lee Caraher talks all things communications – from language to format to medium, from employee engagement to great leadership, from PR to social media, and Reputation management to personal branding, bringing you key insights from her experience and expertise that can be used in the day to day to make your work, your PR, your culture, and your potential WORK.

What you will learn in this episode:

Why crisis communications are essential for all leaders
How to prepare a crisis communication plan in advance
What four essential steps to take immediately when a crisis happens
What to avoid when communicating in the event of a crisis
How companies like Tylenol, Starbucks, and United Airlines have tackled crisis communication
Why it is vital to build trust over time to aid in crisis recovery

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
Website: www.double-forte.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leecaraher/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher

Communications is the CENTER OF ALL THINGS. Lee Caraher talks all things communications – from language to format to medium, from employee engagement to great leadership, from PR to social media, and Reputation management to personal branding, bringing you key insights from her experience and expertise that can be used in the day to day to make your work, your PR, your culture, and your potential WORK.

What you will learn in this episode:

Five things you can do today to feel less anxious about speaking up
How preparing in points instead of paragraphs makes you more effective in meetings
How your posture and breathing shape your confidence in meetings
Why practicing out loud helps you sound more natural and polished
Why it’s important to have a recovery line in case you get off track when speaking

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
Website: www.double-forte.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leecaraher/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher

Communications is the CENTER OF ALL THINGS. Lee Caraher talks all things communications – from language to format to medium, from employee engagement to great leadership, from PR to social media, and Reputation management to personal branding, bringing you key insights from her experience and expertise that can be used in the day to day to make your work, your PR, your culture, and your potential WORK.

What you will learn in this episode:

Why vague prompts result in garbage results
How to give direction that’s kind and effective
The hidden power of context, and why hoarding it only slows your team down
Why “do whatever you want” is a creativity killer, not a freedom pass
What to include in a great prompt whether you’re talking to ChatGPT or Carol from accounting
The real reason clarity signals respect

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
Website: www.double-forte.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leecaraher/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher

Communications is the CENTER OF ALL THINGS. Lee Caraher talks all things communications – from language to format to medium, from employee engagement to great leadership, from PR to social media, and Reputation management to personal branding, bringing you key insights from her experience and expertise that can be used in the day to day to make your work, your PR, your culture, and your potential WORK.

What you will learn in this episode:

What today’s shifting media landscape means for public trust in news and information
Why confidence in traditional media has declined sharply since the 1970s, and what that says about where people look for information
What generational differences reveal about how Americans consume news
What PR and marketing professionals need to understand about how and where their audiences consume media
Why fact-checking, platform fluency, and understanding new media players are essential for communicators today

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
Website: www.double-forte.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leecaraher/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher

Communications is the CENTER OF ALL THINGS. Lee Caraher talks all things communications – from language to format to medium, from employee engagement to great leadership, from PR to social media, and Reputation management to personal branding, bringing you key insights from her experience and expertise that can be used in the day to day to make your work, your PR, your culture, and your potential WORK.

What you will learn in this episode:

Why rushing to the bottom line without the setup kills your message’s impact
What most people who say “get to the point” are actually asking for
Why context is more important than speed
How stories and data need each other to make a point that sticks
How to structure your message for clarity and impact

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
Website: www.double-forte.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leecaraher/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher
Nancy Duarte: https://www.duarte.com

Communications is the CENTER OF ALL THINGS. Lee Caraher talks all things communications – from language to format to medium, from employee engagement to great leadership, from PR to social media, and Reputation management to personal branding, bringing you key insights from her experience and expertise that can be used in the day to day to make your work, your PR, your culture, and your potential WORK.

What you will learn in this episode:

Why adaptability is the key to being trusted and understood in your communications
How tailoring your messages boosts your credibility and persuasiveness
Why a one-size-fits-all approach to communication doesn’t work
What it means to “mirror, not mimic” for authentic connection
Why listening is one of the most important communication skills

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
Website: www.double-forte.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leecaraher/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher

Communications is the CENTER OF ALL THINGS. Lee Caraher talks all things communications – from language to format to medium, from employee engagement to great leadership, from PR to social media, and Reputation management to personal branding, bringing you key insights from her experience and expertise that can be used in the day to day to make your work, your PR, your culture, and your potential WORK.

What you will learn in this episode:

How to manage deadlines with clarity in a professional environment
Why it is important to define what success means for you on a personal level
Why holding out for your “dream job” isn’t wise
How to temper expectations of job growth and promotions after graduation
How to build stability and make yourself more hireable
What to do financially to set yourself up for success in the long term

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
Website: www.double-forte.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leecaraher/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher

Communications is the CENTER OF ALL THINGS. Lee Caraher talks all things communications – from language to format to medium, from employee engagement to great leadership, from PR to social media, and Reputation management to personal branding, bringing you key insights from her experience and expertise that can be used in the day to day to make your work, your PR, your culture, and your potential WORK.

What you will learn in this episode:

The weight your words carry, whether you want them to or not
Why context is so critical to your message
Why you need diverse perspectives and voices to bring insight and speak up if something doesn’t sound right
How to pause, reflect, and review before sending out your message
What the cost of NOT choosing the right words can be

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
Website: www.double-forte.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leecaraher/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher

Communications is the CENTER OF ALL THINGS. Lee Caraher talks all things communications – from language to format to medium, from employee engagement to great leadership, from PR to social media, and Reputation management to personal branding, bringing you key insights from her experience and expertise that can be used in the day to day to make your work, your PR, your culture, and your potential WORK.

What you will learn in this episode:

How your emails speak for you, whether you want them to or not
Which emails qualify as your responsibility vs. not your responsibility
Why you should establish communication norms for your organization
When you should chime in if you are cc’d on an email
How unsolicited emails can impact the way your business is seen

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
Website: www.double-forte.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leecaraher/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher

Communications is the CENTER OF ALL THINGS. Lee Caraher talks all things communications – from language to format to medium, from employee engagement to great leadership, from PR to social media, and Reputation management to personal branding, bringing you key insights from her experience and expertise that can be used in the day to day to make your work, your PR, your culture, and your potential WORK.

What you will learn in this episode:

Why saying “I don’t know” can damage trust when the answer is your responsibility
How to respond professionally when you truly don’t have the answer
The difference between honest gaps in knowledge and avoidable ignorance
How to maintain leadership credibility by handling uncertainty with clarity
What to say to turn “I don’t know” into accountability

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
Website: www.double-forte.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leecaraher/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher

Communications is the CENTER OF ALL THINGS. Lee Caraher talks all things communications – from language to format to medium, from employee engagement to great leadership, from PR to social media, and Reputation management to personal branding, bringing you key insights from her experience and expertise that can be used in the day to day to make your work, your PR, your culture, and your potential WORK.

What you will learn in this episode:

When it is appropriate to use “I don’t know” as a valid answer
What to communicate after saying “I don’t know” to provide clarity and expectations
Why it is important to focus on what you do know in times of uncertainty
What to say in a situation where you should know the answer, but need more time
What it says about you when you try to “fake it ‘til you make it”

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
Website: www.double-forte.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leecaraher/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher

Communications is the CENTER OF ALL THINGS. Lee Caraher talks all things communications – from language to format to medium, from employee engagement to great leadership, from PR to social media, and Reputation management to personal branding, bringing you key insights from her experience and expertise that can be used in the day to day to make your work, your PR, your culture, and your potential WORK.

What you will learn in this episode:

Why you need to reinforce roles and expectations, even if they haven’t changed
How to set expectations early through effective recruiting and onboarding
Why it is important to communicate roles, goals, and expectations at the beginning and throughout every project
How to ask for clarification during changing times if you are not in a leadership position

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
Website: www.double-forte.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leecaraher/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher

Communications is the CENTER OF ALL THINGS. Lee Caraher talks all things communications – from language to format to medium, from employee engagement to great leadership, from PR to social media, and Reputation management to personal branding, bringing you key insights from her experience and expertise that can be used in the day to day to make your work, your PR, your culture, and your potential WORK.

What you will learn in this episode:

How to replace common phrases to foster better communication and collaboration in the workplace
Why you should replace “but” with “and” in your responses
How “I told you so” is wasting your time and energy
How your communications may be impacting your efficiency
Why the word “should” is so disruptive when addressing an issue

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
Website: www.double-forte.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leecaraher/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher

Communications is the CENTER OF ALL THINGS. Lee Caraher talks all things communications – from language to format to medium, from employee engagement to great leadership, from PR to social media, and Reputation management to personal branding, bringing you key insights from her experience and expertise that can be used in the day to day to make your work, your PR, your culture, and your potential WORK.

What you will learn in this episode:

How authenticity builds trust and makes you a more effective leader
Why authenticity makes people happier and more productive
How to show up authentically online through responsiveness and transparent communication
Why self-reflection and consistency are so crucial to presenting yourself authentically
How to be adaptable to various scenarios while staying authentic to yourself

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
Website: www.double-forte.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leecaraher/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher

Communications is the CENTER OF ALL THINGS. Lee Caraher talks all things communications – from language to format to medium, from employee engagement to great leadership, from PR to social media, and Reputation management to personal branding, bringing you key insights from her experience and expertise that can be used in the day to day to make your work, your PR, your culture, and your potential WORK.

What you will learn in this episode:

How consistency in your language, message, and behavior makes you a better communicator
Why consistency is more than repetition of your message
How to create a pattern people can rely on to boost your credibility
What you can do to identify ways to be more consistent in your communications
Why feedback loops are so important for consistency and clarity

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
Website: www.double-forte.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leecaraher/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher
Why Communication Consistency Is Vital To Your Business

Communications is the CENTER OF ALL THINGS. Lee Caraher talks all things communications – from language to format to medium, from employee engagement to great leadership, from PR to social media, and Reputation management to personal branding, bringing you key insights from her experience and expertise that can be used in the day to day to make your work, your PR, your culture, and your potential WORK.

What you will learn in this episode:

What is getting in the way of your ability to communicate clearly
Why it is important to use clear language
How to edit your communications to drive more clarity
How active language makes your message clearer and more engaging
Why you should define your main point before speaking or writing

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
Website: www.double-forte.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leecaraher/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher

Communications is the CENTER OF ALL THINGS. Lee Caraher talks all things communications – from language to format to medium, from employee engagement to great leadership, from PR to social media, and Reputation management to personal branding, bringing you key insights from her experience and expertise that can be used in the day to day to make your work, your PR, your culture, and your potential WORK.

What you will learn in this episode:

What makes empathy a fundamental skill for great communicators
How empathy can build trust and enhance influence
What you can do to improve empathy in your communications
How empathy can be used across the business for better results
How reading and observing interactions can improve your emotional intelligence

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
Website: www.double-forte.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leecaraher/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher

Communications is the CENTER OF ALL THINGS. Lee Caraher talks all things communications – from language to format to medium, from employee engagement to great leadership, from PR to social media, and Reputation management to personal branding, bringing you key insights from her experience and expertise that can be used in the day to day to make your work, your PR, your culture, and your potential WORK.

What you will learn in this episode:

How to strike the balance of coming across as confident, but not arrogant
What research says about the influence confidence has on how your message is perceived
How to portray confidence in communications with a few small adjustments
How your inflection and word choice can undermine your authority
What steps to take to balance your assertiveness with humility

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
Website: www.double-forte.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leecaraher/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology: https://faculty.wharton.upenn.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Voice-Persuades.pdf

Communications is the CENTER OF ALL THINGS. Lee Caraher talks all things communications – from language to format to medium, from employee engagement to great leadership, from PR to social media, and Reputation management to personal branding, bringing you key insights from her experience and expertise that can be used in the day to day to make your work, your PR, your culture, and your potential WORK.

What you will learn in this episode:

Why it is so important to deliver the message you want by matching your nonverbal communications to your verbal communications
What falls under nonverbal communications and how they act as cues to underscore our words
What it says about you when your nonverbal communications are misaligned with what you are saying
How to practice your nonverbal cues to ensure your message is properly understood and acted upon
Why it is crucial to be aware of our nonverbal communications not just when we are speaking, but also as listeners

Resources:

Albert Mehrabian’s Studies in Nonverbal Communication
Website: https://leecaraher.com/
Website: www.double-forte.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leecaraher/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher

Communications is the CENTER OF ALL THINGS. Lee Caraher talks all things communications – from language to format to medium, from employee engagement to great leadership, from PR to social media, and Reputation management to personal branding, bringing you key insights from her experience and expertise that can be used in the day to day to make your work, your PR, your culture, and your potential WORK.

What you will learn in this episode:

Why you need to turn off your “knowing mode” to become a more active listener and a better leader
How our desire to immediately resolve familiar situations is inhibiting our communication and collaboration
How “knowing mode” can lead to bad decisions and alienate team members
What skills to practice to put yourself in “not-knowing mode” to become a better active listener
How asking open-ended questions and holding back the solution to a problem can help your team gain new skills

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
Website: www.double-forte.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leecaraher/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher

Communications is the CENTER OF ALL THINGS. Lee Caraher talks all things communications – from language to format to medium, from employee engagement to great leadership, from PR to social media, and Reputation management to personal branding, bringing you key insights from her experience and expertise that can be used in the day to day to make your work, your PR, your culture, and your potential WORK.

What you will learn in this episode:

How strong communication skills can help you become a top performer
Why active listening is one of the most important communication skills you can possess
What differentiates active listening from simply listening
How you can demonstrate to your colleagues that you are actively listening
What impact active listening will have on your team, company, and culture

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
Website: www.double-forte.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leecaraher/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher

Communications is the CENTER OF ALL THINGS. Lee Caraher talks all things communications – from language to format to medium, from employee engagement to great leadership, from PR to social media, and Reputation management to personal branding, bringing you key insights from her experience and expertise that can be used in the day to day to make your work, your PR, your culture, and your potential WORK.

What you will learn in this episode:

What research says about the ROI when employees feel appreciated in the workplace
How a lack of appreciation in the workplace can impact retention and productivity
Why it is important to learn how people like to receive appreciation
What showing appreciation says about you and the person receiving it
How appreciation can support the longevity of your business

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
Website: www.double-forte.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leecaraher/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher

Communications is the CENTER OF ALL THINGS. Lee Caraher talks all things communications – from language to format to medium, from employee engagement to great leadership, from PR to social media, and Reputation management to personal branding, bringing you key insights from her experience and expertise that can be used in the day to day to make your work, your PR, your culture, and your potential WORK.

What you will learn in this episode:

Why it is necessary to repeat yourself to ensure your message is understood and acted upon
How the constant media cycle impacts our ability to remember messages
How repetition can build credibility and improve memory
Why it is helpful to rephrase your message and deliver it in different methods to help clarify it and give new context
How to use the 1-5-10 rule in your company to ensure your message is understood and remembered

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
Website: www.double-forte.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leecaraher/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher
Zig Ziglar Books

Communications is the CENTER OF ALL THINGS. Lee Caraher talks all things communications – from language to format to medium, from employee engagement to great leadership, from PR to social media, and Reputation management to personal branding, bringing you key insights from her experience and expertise that can be used in the day to day to make your work, your PR, and your culture and your potential WORK.

What you will learn in this episode:

What questions you need to answer to develop a successful social media strategy
Why it is important to understand each platform and who is on them
Why organic growth is such a vital piece of any good social media strategy
How to use your organic growth to build community and use the algorithm to your favor
How to use paid social to test strategies and get your content seen by more of your audience
What types of strategies you can deploy with influencers to build your social presence

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
Website: www.double-forte.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leecaraher/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher
https://double-forte.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Double-Forte_POV_Paid-or-Organic-Social-Media.pdf

Communications is the CENTER OF ALL THINGS. Lee Caraher talks all things communications – from language to format to medium, from employee engagement to great leadership, from PR to social media, and Reputation management to personal branding, bringing you key insights from her experience and expertise that can be used in the day to day to make your work, your PR, your culture, and your potential WORK.

What you will learn in this episode:

Why it is vital to explain the “why” before the “what”
How not understanding the “why” behind our work and our roles can result in frustration, inefficiency, and higher turnover
What it says about you as a leader when you take the time to explain the “why” behind an ask
How putting the “why” before the “what” opens up conversations and can lead to new ideas
How explaining the “why” will drive up understanding, drive down frustration, and increase efficiency

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
Website: www.double-forte.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leecaraher/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher

Communications is the CENTER OF ALL THINGS. Lee Caraher talks all things communications – from language to format to medium, from employee engagement to great leadership, from PR to social media, and Reputation management to personal branding, bringing you key insights from her experience and expertise that can be used in the day to day to make your work, your PR, and your culture and your potential WORK.

What you will learn in this episode:

Why you should never respond to an email if you’re angry
How to calm yourself down to respond with calmness and clarity
What to respond when you want to de-escalate a tense email
What your response to a heated email says about you
Why your commitment to a relationship should be top of mind when responding to an angry email

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
Website: www.double-forte.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leecaraher/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher
Calm App
Ron Weasley gets a howler

Communications is the CENTER OF ALL THINGS. Lee Caraher talks all things communications – from language to format to medium, from employee engagement to great leadership, from PR to social media, and Reputation management to personal branding, bringing you key insights from her experience and expertise that can be used in the day to day to make your work, your PR, and your culture and your potential WORK.

What you will learn in this episode:

Communications is the key to great inter-generational workforce dynamics
Why the “problem” with Gen Z employees is not a new problem
How organizations and managers can help Gen Z employees with workplace readiness
Why it is so important to communicate expectations explicitly from day 0 with all new employees
What an onboarding process for a new Gen Z employee could look like to help them succeed
Action steps to take to build a culture that evolves and lets everyone shine, regardless of generation

Resources:

Fortune Story: https://fortune.com/2024/09/26/bosses-firing-gen-z-grads-months-after-hiring/

Dr. Akilah Cadet is the Founder and CEO of Change Cadet, an organizational development consulting firm that offers services that support embedding belonging into overall company culture, identity and strategy. As a Forbes Next 1000 Entrepreneur her work is behind some of the biggest brands you use everyday. Dismantling white supremacy through storytelling is at the core of her work as a leader, speaker, creative director, producer, writer, editor, co-owner of the Oakland Roots and Soul soccer teams, and author of White Supremacy is All Around: Notes From a Black Disabled Woman in a White World. She literally has all the degrees, lives in and loves Oakland, CA, celebrates her disability, is a proud Beyoncé advocate, and has an incredible shoe game.

Karen Catlin is a highly acclaimed author and speaker on inclusive workplaces. She has published four books: Better Allies®: Everyday Actions to Create Inclusive, Engaging Workplaces (2019), The Better Allies Approach to Hiring (2020), Belonging in Healthcare (2022), and The Better Allies Way: A Workbook for Being More Inclusive at Work (2024). She also emails a roundup of “5 Ally Actions” to over 60,000 newsletter subscribers every week. Previously, Karen spent 25 years building software products and serving as a vice president of engineering at Adobe. During that time, she witnessed a sharp decline in the number of women working in tech. Frustrated but galvanized, she knew it was time to switch gears and focus on creating more inclusive workplaces where everyone could do their best work and thrive. A self-professed public speaking geek, Karen is a highly sought-after and engaging presenter who has delivered talks at hundreds of conferences and corporate events.

What you will learn in this episode:

What it means to be an “accomplice,” and how it differs from being an “ally”
Why allyship can feel performative, and what it actually means to be an ally
How to use your voice and platform to do the work as an accomplice
Why we must become comfortable with being uncomfortable to be better accomplices
How we can become role models for the behaviors involved in making a meaningful difference

Resources:

Website: https://www.changecadet.com/
LinkedIn Personal: https://www.linkedin.com/company/changecadet/
Facebook Business: https://www.facebook.com/changecadet
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/changecadet/
Twitter: https://x.com/changecadet?
Website: https://betterallies.com/
LinkedIn Personal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kecatlin/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/betterallies

Dr. Gena Cox, an organizational psychologist, leadership coach, and keynote speaker, is deeply knowledgeable about the human experience at work. In her work, she equips leaders with people-centered, psychology-backed techniques to drive employee retention and performance in the face of volatility.

Gena spent decades advising corporate leaders on enhancing organizational culture using insights from applied research. This taught her that Respect is a potent yet overlooked antidote to employee discontent. Simultaneously, she coached executives on how to enhance their influence and impact. She noticed that familiar leadership models were too convoluted for volatile times. Leaders need simple, repeatable models they can learn quickly and easily implement.

These insights prompted Gena to create her transformative “R-E-S-P-E-C-T” and “Yes … And” frameworks and write her award-winning Amazon best-selling book Leading Inclusion. Her forthcoming 2025 book examines how small behavior changes can build connections at work.

Gena’s work has been featured in Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, Fortune, Forbes, and Market Watch/Barrons, among others.

What you will learn in this episode:

How the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor impacted diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace
How an inclusive culture impacts company performance and retention
Why it is important to focus on fixing culture instead of thinking of DEI as a fix
What respect accomplishes that other terms fail to capture in company culture
Why companies should institute a respect ethos to hold employees accountable for behaviors

Resources:

Website: https://genacox.com/
Book: Leading Inclusion
LinkedIn Personal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/genacox/
LinkedIn Business: https://www.linkedin.com/company/feelshuman/
Freebies for your audience: https://genacox.com/inclusionresources/

Communications is the CENTER OF ALL THINGS. On the pod, Lee interviews interesting communications pros, CEOs, branding experts, and authors to bring key insights that can be used in the day to day to make your work, your PR, your marketing WORK. Occasionally, she goes it alone to share her thoughts and insights on key topics of the day in solo shows.

Today is a Solo Show with your host, Lee Caraher.

What you will learn in this episode:

Why momentum is crucial to building and maintaining relationships in media relations
How to leverage small successes to create bigger opportunities
How to start building momentum for your brand to build a solid foundation
Why smaller publications are critical to the flywheel approach
How your continuous efforts will pay off in the long run for your brand

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
Website: www.double-forte.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leecaraher/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher

Linda Yates The Image Energizer is a highly sought international Keynote Speaker, Leadership Consultant, Executive Coach, Corporate Trainer, Author, Stylist, and Voice-Over Talent. Linda has produced over 300 educational seminars on helping individuals and businesses uncover, realize and accomplish their goals.

She has motivated over 12,000 individuals representing Fortune 500 companies throughout North America including CVS/Aetna, Delta, Wells Fargo, Fannie Mae, Microsoft, Johnson Controls, and Office Depot on their internal processes and corporate initiatives. She is also an adjunct instructor at Florida Atlantic University.

Her focus in working with individuals and organizations is to teach them how to become profitable in communicating their image.

Author of: 6 Steps to ENERGIZE Your Personal Brand Beyond the Clothes Image & Presence Uncover the Possible 12 Steps to Success And Host of the IntHERrupt podcast which focuses on Empowering Women Leaders

Linda believes that Nothing Is Impossible!

Married to her best friend and mother to three amazing individuals. Linda has run in all 50 states, and grew up barrel racing!

What you will learn in this episode:

How your face is speaking for you, whether you want it to or not
How to align your body to match what you want to communicate
Why body language and facial expressions are so important over video
How to demonstrate interest and participation during communications
What to do to become more aware of your body language

Resources:

Website: https://lhyatesconsulting.com/
LinkedIn Personal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lhyates/
Facebook Business: https://www.facebook.com/lindahyatesconsulting/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/lhyates
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lhyatescoach/

Communications is the CENTER OF ALL THINGS. On the pod, Lee interviews interesting communications pros, CEOs, branding experts, and authors to bring key insights that can be used in the day to day to make your work, your PR, your marketing WORK. Occasionally, she goes it alone to share her thoughts and insights on key topics of the day in solo shows.

Today is a Solo Show with your host, Lee Caraher.

What you will learn in this episode:

Lee’s six summer reading recommendations to become a better communicator by fall
How to become a better leader through Leadership and the Art of Conversation
How to create a repeatable message that carries impact through Talk Triggers
How to present with confidence and be compelling through Better Presentations
How to emulate super communicators to become one yourself through Supercommunicators
How to connect with your audience through representation and new points of view through Speaking While Female

Resources:

Book Recommendations:
- Leadership & The Art of Conversation by Kim Krisco: https://a.co/d/37iHpQJ
- Talk Triggers by Jay Baer & Daniel Lemin: https://a.co/d/2mQzGzO
- Breaking Through: Communicating to Open Minds, Move Hearts, and Change the World by Sally Susman: https://a.co/d/aVWEJFn
- The Non-Obvious Guide to Better Presentations: How to Present Like a Pro (Virtually or in Person) by Jacqueline Farrington: https://a.co/d/ds5tAOK
- Supercommunicators: How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection by Charles Duhigg: https://a.co/d/dv3JzuC
- Speaking While Female: 75 Extraordinary Speeches by American Women by Dana Rubin: https://a.co/d/3pjmWhL
Website: https://leecaraher.com/
Website: www.double-forte.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leecaraher/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher

Maggie Zeman is the REAL DEAL and brings her energy, expertise and optimism to the table every single day.

She is SVP at Double Forte, and GM of the New York practice and the wine and spirits group, a practice she built from the ground up. Prior to Double Forte, Maggie founded a digital marketing and communications agency, growing the business to profitability before merging with Double Forte in 2011. She continues to drive corporate and brand communications leadership strategies while advising wine and spirits executives on strategic industry thought leadership, crisis management and elevated storytelling designed to build awareness and momentum for their businesses and brands.

Maggie serves as Vice Chair on the Board of Directors for the Alzheimer’s Association New York Chapter serving also as chair of the annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s and contributing to a 30% fundraising growth YOY from 2021 to 2022. Maggie is a sought-after speaker on wine and spirit industry trends, media training, and digital marketing.

What you will learn in this episode:

How the pandemic impacted media relations
Why it is detrimental to think of media relations as transactional
Why it is crucial to build personal connections in PR
Why you need to be of service to your media connections to maintain relationships
How to get started building media relations in today’s environment

Resources:

Website: http://www.double-forte.com/
LinkedIn Personal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maggiezeman/
LinkedIn Business: https://www.linkedin.com/company/double-forte/

Dr. Akilah Cadet is the Founder and CEO of Change Cadet, an organizational development consulting firm that offers services that support embedding belonging into overall company culture, identity and strategy. As a Forbes Next 1000 Entrepreneur her work is behind some of the biggest brands you use everyday. Dismantling white supremacy through storytelling is at the core of her work as a leader, speaker, creative director, producer, writer, editor, co-owner of the Oakland Roots and Soul soccer teams, and author of White Supremacy is All Around: Notes From a Black Disabled Woman in a White World. She literally has all the degrees, lives in and loves Oakland, CA, celebrates her disability, is a proud Beyoncé advocate, and has an incredible shoe game.

What you will learn in this episode:

How to be an accomplice instead of an ally
How public entities have entitled private entities to backpedal their approach to DEI
How hiring great people still requires a DEI approach
Why diversity is a numbers game that favors diversity
How we can work to dismantle build equality every day

Resources:

Website: https://www.changecadet.com/
LinkedIn Personal: https://www.linkedin.com/company/changecadet/
Facebook Business: https://www.facebook.com/changecadet
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/changecadet/
Twitter: https://x.com/changecadet?

Over his career, Brent Hafele has led in either a CEO or C-Suite role in multiple businesses and nonprofits on the local, national, and international levels. As a consultant and coach, he’s walked with hundreds of CEOs and other executives all over North America. Brent knows the joy and the stress, the excitement and the loneliness, the blessing and the curse of leading organizations. Brent is currently the President of Vibrancy Unlocked. He helps leaders and teams release resistance, achieve goals, and live vibrantly.

What you will learn in this episode:

What common misconceptions people have about listening effectively in a professional setting
The 3 levels of listening and how they impact communications
How to overcome all of the “noise” to become good listeners
Practical exercises that can be done daily to improve your listening ability
How to know what questions to ask in a conversation

Resources:

Website: https://www.vibrancyunlocked.com/
Linkedin Personal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brenthafele/
LinkedIn Business: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vibrancy-unlocked/

Communications is the CENTER OF ALL THINGS. On the pod, Lee interviews interesting communications pros, CEOs, branding experts, and authors to bring key insights that can be used in the day to day to make your work, your PR, your marketing WORK. Occasionally, she goes it alone to share her thoughts and insights on key topics of the day in solo shows.

Today is a Solo Show with your host, Lee Caraher.

What you will learn in this episode:

How conflict obscures clarity
How to clear the air when conflict arises
When the best time is to resolve conflict
How to use the communication wheel to address conflict with clarity
Why it is best not to wait to bring up concerns

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
Website: www.double-forte.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leecaraher/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher
Communications Wheel: https://www.leecaraher.com/blog/the-tough-conversation-resolving-conflict-clearing-the-air-amp-moving-forward-together

Communications is the CENTER OF ALL THINGS. On the pod, Lee interviews interesting communications pros, CEOs, branding experts, and authors to bring key insights that can be used in the day to day to make your work, your PR, your marketing WORK. Occasionally, she goes it alone to share her thoughts and insights on key topics of the day in solo shows.

Today is a Solo Show with your host, Lee Caraher.

What you will learn in this episode:

How a company’s values guide its culture, decisions, and goals
Why it is critical to define each value and describe the behaviors associated with them to create clarity and understanding
How to divide your values into core, aspirational, accidental, and permission to play based on The Advantage by Patrick Lencioni
A detailed examples of Double Forte’s values and how they are defined
How articulating your values sets you up for success when employees are underperforming or not in alignment

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
Website: www.double-forte.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leecaraher/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher
The Advantage by Patrick Lencioni

The Advantage: Why Organizational Health Trumps Everything Else In Business

Communications is the CENTER OF ALL THINGS. On the pod, Lee interviews interesting communications pros, CEOs, branding experts, and authors to bring key insights that can be used in the day to day to make your work, your PR, your marketing WORK. Occasionally, she goes it alone to share her thoughts and insights on key topics of the day in solo shows.

Today is a Solo Show with your host, Lee Caraher.

What you will learn in this episode:

What ghosting says about you as a person and as a business
Why it is so important to protect your reputation and credibility
How ghosting can impact opportunities years down the line
Steps to avoid ghosting and how to deliver bad news while maintaining a relationship
Why it is vital to close the loop on any communication

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
Website: www.double-forte.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leecaraher/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher

Communications is the CENTER OF ALL THINGS. On the pod, Lee interviews interesting communications pros, CEOs, branding experts, and authors to bring key insights that can be used in the day to day to make your work, your PR, your marketing WORK. Occasionally, she goes it alone to share her thoughts and insights on key topics of the day in solo shows.

Today is a Solo Show with your host, Lee Caraher.

What you will learn in this episode:

How small changes in your communications can have a monumental impact
Why the word “but” is a barrier to collaboration
How to replace the word “but” with “and” to have more productive conversations
How to use the improv “yes, and” in your communications to collaborate better
What you can do to identify “buts” in your own conversations and rectify the problem

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
Website: www.double-forte.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leecaraher/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher

Communications is the CENTER OF ALL THINGS. On the pod, Lee interviews interesting communications pros, CEOs, branding experts, and authors to bring key insights that can be used in the day to day to make your work, your PR, your marketing WORK. Occasionally, she goes it alone to share her thoughts and insights on key topics of the day in solo shows.

Today is a Solo Show with your host, Lee Caraher.

What you will learn in this episode:

How to drive clarity with shared definitions of key terms
Why companies need a clear vision, mission, values, goals, and strategy
Why acronyms are so detrimental to clear communication
How to define vision, mission, and values to ensure clarity within your company

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
Website: www.double-forte.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leecaraher/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher

Maggie Zeman is the REAL DEAL and brings her energy, expertise and optimism to the table every single day.

She is SVP at Double Forte, and GM of the New York practice and the wine and spirits group, a practice she built from the ground up. Prior to Double Forte, Maggie founded a digital marketing and communications agency, growing the business to profitability before merging with Double Forte in 2011. She continues to drive corporate and brand communications leadership strategies while advising wine and spirits executives on strategic industry thought leadership, crisis management and elevated storytelling designed to build awareness and momentum for their businesses and brands.

Maggie serves as Vice Chair on the Board of Directors for the Alzheimer’s Association New York Chapter serving also as chair of the annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s and contributing to a 30% fundraising growth YOY from 2021 to 2022. Maggie is a sought-after speaker on wine and spirit industry trends, media training, and digital marketing.

What you will learn in this episode:

What a Chief Communications Officer does and how the role has changed over time
How social media has changed the “public” in PR
The difference between the CCO and the CMO
How a company’s handling of layoffs can impact involuntary churn and productivity
Why some companies choose to utilize a fractional CCO or CMO

Resources:

Website: http://www.double-forte.com/
LinkedIn Personal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maggiezeman/
LinkedIn Business: https://www.linkedin.com/company/double-forte/

Maggie Zeman is the REAL DEAL and brings her energy, expertise and optimism to the table every single day.

She is SVP at Double Forte, and GM of the New York practice and the wine and spirits group, a practice she built from the ground up. Prior to Double Forte, Maggie founded a digital marketing and communications agency, growing the business to profitability before merging with Double Forte in 2011. She continues to drive corporate and brand communications leadership strategies while advising wine and spirits executives on strategic industry thought leadership, crisis management and elevated storytelling designed to build awareness and momentum for their businesses and brands.

Maggie serves as Vice Chair on the Board of Directors for the Alzheimer’s Association New York Chapter serving also as chair of the annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s and contributing to a 30% fundraising growth YOY from 2021 to 2022. Maggie is a sought-after speaker on wine and spirit industry trends, media training, and digital marketing.

What you will learn in this episode:

What constitutes an effective press release
What challenges communications professionals are facing today
How to determine if something is newsworthy
Why distribution is so important when running a press release
How to use your press release to extend a conversation with your audience
Why you should never use AI to write your press release

Resources:

Website: http://www.double-forte.com/
LinkedIn Personal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maggiezeman/
LinkedIn Business: https://www.linkedin.com/company/double-forte/

Maggie Zeman is the REAL DEAL and brings her energy, expertise and optimism to the table every single day.

She is SVP at Double Forte and GM of the New York practice and the wine and spirits group, a practice she built from the ground up. Prior to joining Double Forte, Maggie founded a digital marketing and communications agency, before merging with Double Forte in 2011. She continues to drive corporate and brand communications leadership strategies while advising wine and spirits executives on strategic industry thought leadership, crisis management and elevated storytelling designed to build awareness and momentum for their businesses and brands.

Maggie serves as Vice Chair on the Board of Directors for the Alzheimer’s Association New York Chapter, serving also as chair of the annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s and contributing to a 30% fundraising growth YOY from 2021 to 2022. Maggie is a sought-after speaker on wine and spirit industry trends, media training, and digital marketing.

What you will learn in this episode:

Why you must assume the person you are speaking to does not understand your acronyms and lingo
How to use more inclusive language to make everyone feel welcomed and included
How complex language makes consumers feel like outsiders and loses business
Why inclusive language should start from the inside of your company
How to identify and eliminate exclusive language in your communications

Resources:

Website: http://www.double-forte.com/
LinkedIn Personal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maggiezeman/
LinkedIn Business: https://www.linkedin.com/company/double-forte/
3 Simple Things That Could Save the Wine Industry in 2024, with Maggie Zeman

Communications is the CENTER OF ALL THINGS. On the pod, Lee interviews interesting communications pros, CEOs, branding experts, and authors to bring key insights that can be used in the day to day to make your work, your PR, your marketing WORK. Occasionally, she goes it alone to share her thoughts and insights on key topics of the day in solo shows.

Today is a Solo Show with your host, Lee Caraher.

What you will learn in this episode:

Why PR takes so long
The role of Public Relations
How PR is different from advertising and marketing
What the timeline looks like to see results with PR and media relations
How PR and strategic communications can create lasting results for your business if done correctly

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
Website: www.double-forte.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leecaraher/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher

Maggie Zeman is the REAL DEAL and brings her energy, expertise and optimism to the table every single day.

She is SVP at Double Forte, and GM of the New York practice and the wine and spirits group, a practice she built from the ground up. Prior to Double Forte, Maggie founded a digital marketing and communications agency, growing the business to profitability before merging with Double Forte in 2011. She continues to drive corporate and brand communications leadership strategies while advising wine and spirits executives on strategic industry thought leadership, crisis management and elevated storytelling designed to build awareness and momentum for their businesses and brands.

Maggie serves as Vice Chair on the Board of Directors for the Alzheimer’s Association New York Chapter serving also as chair of the annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s and contributing to a 30% fundraising growth YOY from 2021 to 2022. Maggie is a sought-after speaker on wine and spirit industry trends, media training, and digital marketing.

What you will learn in this episode:

What makes wine PR different from PR work in other industries
How to get a job in wine PR
Why education is absolutely crucial for working in the wine industry
How wines are scored and what that means for distribution
Why you need to be deeply interested in wine if you want to get into the industry

Resources:

Website: http://www.double-forte.com/
LinkedIn Personal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maggiezeman/
LinkedIn Business: https://www.linkedin.com/company/double-forte/
WSET Resources: https://www.wsetglobal.com/

Maggie Zeman is the REAL DEAL and brings her energy, expertise and optimism to the table every single day.

She is SVP at Double Forte, and GM of the New York practice and the wine and spirits group, a practice she built from the ground up. Prior to Double Forte, Maggie founded a digital marketing and communications agency, growing the business to profitability before merging with Double Forte in 2011. She continues to drive corporate and brand communications leadership strategies while advising wine and spirits executives on strategic industry thought leadership, crisis management and elevated storytelling designed to build awareness and momentum for their businesses and brands.

Maggie serves as Vice Chair on the Board of Directors for the Alzheimer’s Association New York Chapter serving also as chair of the annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s and contributing to a 30% fundraising growth YOY from 2021 to 2022. Maggie is a sought-after speaker on wine and spirit industry trends, media training, and digital marketing.

What you will learn in this episode:

Why the State of the US Wine Industry Report from SVB is a wakeup call to wine businesses and the industry as a whole
Where opportunities exist for wine companies to gain traction and turn around a stagnant market
Why education, communication, and innovation should be at the forefront of the wine industry to shift demand
How shifting demographics are impacting the wine industry, and Maggie’s expertise on how businesses can attract younger audiences to improve the current 0% growth the industry is facing
Why internal communication should be at the forefront of all business plans before taking the message public

Resources:

Website: http://www.double-forte.com/
LinkedIn Personal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maggiezeman/
LinkedIn Business: https://www.linkedin.com/company/double-forte/

Alex McKinnon is a visionary leader in inspiring teams to build brand value through strategic innovation in design and marketing across products and services globally at start-ups to billion-dollar companies.

Over the past 30+ years Alex has leveraged his innovation expertise to solve increasingly complex problems. His BA at Duke and MBA from Northwestern’s Kellogg School were a solid foundation.

His formative years in Design and Marketing in Spain were at Sara Lee and then Braun. Ten more years at Braun included roles of increasing global responsibility in Germany, Scandinavia, and USA, achieving record growth in the health and oral care businesses.

Running Gillette’s toiletries business broadened his consumable products expertise. His subsequent leadership roles at Bell Sports, Sylvan Learning, and Hampton Products gave him invaluable middle market and private equity exposure and success. The last ten years have been exceptionally rewarding as Alex conceived, founded, and launched the award winning Kinn brand of pet care products across B2B and B2C channels.

What you will learn in this episode:

What alarming research results led to the design and creation of the Kleanbowl from Alex’s company, Kinn Inc.
How the Kinn Kleanbowl offers a quadruple bottom line value proposition for pets, people, planet, and profit
What inspired Alex to write the article for Private Directors Association
The Five Cs for Storytelling as a Communications Strategy
Building brand value through strategic innovation
Why great storytelling can become a cornerstone of company culture

Resources:

Website: https://kinninc.com/
LinkedIn Personal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amckinnon/
LinkedIn Business: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kinn-inc-/
Private Directors Association: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/private-directors-association%C2%AE-charlotte-chapter_shareyourstory-privatedirectorsassociation-activity-7147994980546969600-0JXX?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop

Lisen Stromberg is CEO of PrismWork, a culture innovation and leadership transformation consultancy providing C-suite executives, start-up entrepreneurs, and leaders across the globe with the data-driven insights and tools they need to achieve breakthrough success and impact.

Lisen is also a best-selling author, award-winning writer, and in-demand speaker who has been on stage at numerous high-profile conferences around the globe including SXSW, Cannes Lions, and at companies including Microsoft, Twitter, and many others. Her latest best-selling book, Intentional Power: The 6 Essential Leadership Skills for Triple Bottom Line Impact, provides leaders at every level with the tools and insights they need to drive better business results for the benefit of all stakeholders.

Lisen has served on numerous non-profit and start-up boards. When she isn't working with clients or speaking on stage, Lisen co-teaches a class at Stanford University on leadership in the new world of work. She earned her BA at Dartmouth College, has an MBA from UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business, and an MFA from Mills College.

What you will learn in this episode:

The conflict between what people think leadership is vs. what it actually needs to be
What attributes are at the core essence of modern leadership
Why communication is not just the words you use, and other components of communicating intentionally
Why the idea of transparency in communication is challenging for some employers
How you can uplevel your power skills

Resources:

Website: https://www.lisenstromberg.com/
Website: https://www.prismwork.com/
LinkedIn Personal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisenstromberg/
LinkedIn Business: https://www.linkedin.com/company/prismwork/
Intentional Power:The 6 Essential Skills for Triple Bottom Line Impact

Sharon Toerek is Founder of Toerek Law, where she leads her national law practice on helping advertising, marketing and creative services professionals protect and monetize their intellectual capital and manage the legal implications of their marketing and advertising work. Sharon provides proactive, strategic counsel to communications, marketing, advertising and creative agencies on legal and business issues they face continually in their work, including:

-agency-client relationships, including agency service contracts -agency-freelancer relationship management -trademark and brand protection matters -influence marketing, social media and content marketing legal compliance -copyright protection, licensing and transfer of creative content -advertising law

Sharon is an approved participant on the 4A’s Legal Consultants Panel, and a Past President of the American Ad Federation (AAF) Cleveland.

Sharon is also the Publisher of the marketing industry legal blog Legal + Creative. Sharon created the Legal + Creative Agency Protection System, a comprehensive legal education resource and toolkit for marketing, ad and creative services agencies. She is also the creator and host of The Innovative Agency, a podcast about innovation and trends in the marketing agency world.

What you will learn in this episode:

Why you need professional legal (and accounting) support so you can put your full focus on running a good service business
What you can learn about a potential client during the negotiation process
The 3Ds – creating a strong statement of work around your Dollars, Deadlines, and Deliverables
How to approach the topic of AI in your contracts and discussions
Why clarity at the beginning of a relationship is so vital to success

Resources:

Website: legalandcreative.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharontoerek/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SharonToerek
The Innovative Agency Podcast
www.agencylegalprotection.com
kayla@legalandcreative.com
sharon@legalandcreative.com

Communications is the CENTER OF ALL THINGS. On the pod, Lee interviews interesting communications pros, CEOs, branding experts, and authors to bring key insights that can be used in the day to day to make your work, your PR, your marketing WORK. Occasionally, she goes it alone to share her thoughts and insights on key topics of the day in solo shows.

Today is a Solo Show with your host, Lee Caraher.

What you will learn in this episode:

What it means to be positively predictable
How predictability drives clarity, which leads to effective leadership
The benefits of repeating yourself
How predictability creates stability, and how that can help you attract and retain talent
Why you need to be predictable about how you signal change
How clarity impacts every part of the organization, both internally and externally

Resources:

Why being predictable is actually a great thing according to science: https://www.fastcompany.com/90444591/why-being-predictable-is-actually-a-great-thing-according-to-science
Website: https://leecaraher.com/
Website: www.double-forte.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leecaraher/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher

Communications is the CENTER OF ALL THINGS. On the pod, Lee interviews interesting communications pros, CEOs, branding experts, and authors to bring key insights that can be used in the day to day to make your work, your PR, your marketing WORK. Occasionally, she goes it alone to share her thoughts and insights on key topics of the day in solo shows.

Today is a Solo Show with your host, Lee Caraher.

What you will learn in this episode:

Why clarity should be on your list of words to live by in 2024 (and beyond)
How becoming clear about YOU helps you be a better communicator
How you can use assessment tools to better understand yourself and your colleagues
Why your company’s values should be tied to associated behaviors
What active communication looks like, and why your job as a communicator is never complete

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
Website: www.double-forte.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leecaraher/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher

Assessment Resources:

Myers Briggs: https://www.mbtionline.com/
Enneagram: https://www.integrative9.com/
DISC: https://www.everythingdisc.com/
Strength Finders: https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/253868/popular-cliftonstrengths-assessment-products.aspx

Communications is the CENTER OF ALL THINGS. On the pod, Lee interviews interesting communications pros, CEOs, branding experts, and authors to bring key insights that can be used in the day to day to make your work, your PR, your marketing WORK. Occasionally, she goes it alone to share her thoughts and insights on key topics of the day in solo shows.

Today is a Solo Show with your host, Lee Caraher.

What you will learn in this episode:

5 trends you should be staying on top of to be relevant in 2024
How to explore generative AI with curiosity while prioritizing quality and human connection
Why continued education should be on your list for 2024 – and how it can help you upscale personally and professionally
How workplaces are evolving and what they need to do to stay successful
Why sustainability is critical for any company looking to attract a younger audience
How all of these things, along with your effectiveness, integrity, social responsibility, and more, define your brand value

Resources:

Double Forte 2024 Trend Report
Website: https://leecaraher.com/
Website: www.double-forte.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leecaraher/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher

Communications is the CENTER OF ALL THINGS. On the pod, Lee interviews interesting communications pros, CEOs, branding experts, and authors to bring key insights that can be used in the day to day to make your work, your PR, your marketing WORK. Occasionally, she goes it alone to share her thoughts and insights on key topics of the day in solo shows.

Today is a Solo Show with your host, Lee Caraher.

What you will learn in this episode:

Why every company should be starting (if they haven’t) and continuing (if they have) their diversity, equity, and inclusion journey
How diversity and inclusion in the workplace makes us stronger and generates better results
How language plays a crucial role in operationalizing inclusion and transforming our understanding
What it truly means to use inclusive language in the workplace
How our culture and upbringing impacts the language we use
Why it is important to understand the origin of the phrases we use and adapt accordingly

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
Website: www.double-forte.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leecaraher/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher

Additional Resources:

CNN – Everyday words and phrases that have racist connotations
Entrepreneur – Why Businesses Need to Take Inclusive Language Seriously
Inc. – 4 Words You Should Stop Using at Work – and What to Say Instead
Stanford University – Elimination of Harmful Language Initiative
Witty.Works – Inclusive Language: Handbook To Make it Work at Your Organization

Justin’s been in marketing since he was a kid when his mom asked him to design the invitations to her tea party. That was the gateway drug.

In middle school, he dabbled in logo design with his friends.

In high school, his art teacher said, “You should try a career in graphic design.” So he went to the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire, where he got a BA in graphic design.

He went to work full time growing a non-profit with new marketing methods, in many cases doubling their income from various events or campaigns. Then he moved to a B2B manufacturer, where his award-winning work enabled them to grow from $70M to $90M ARR. Realizing he was an entrepreneur, he made the leap to business ownership in 2018.

Today, he helps executive coaches and solopreneurs attract ideal clients with click-worthy videos for social media.

What you will learn in this episode:

Why now is the best time to get into short-form videos
Why you should be spending your time where you are most valuable
How to provide value, insight, and entertainment through your videos
What it says for you when you produce consistent, valuable content

Resources:

Website: https://www.dialogwith.us/
LinkedIn Personal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinvajko/
LinkedIn Business: https://www.linkedin.com/company/dialog-design-co/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jvajko

Specializing in public relations spanning lifestyle, healthcare, life sciences and financial industries, Rebecca Eisenberg brings ten plus years of experience and numerous media relationships. Though garnering press coverage for clients is her main focus, Rebecca has extensive experience with branding, events and marketing strategy.

Her passion for storytelling combined with her love of building and nurturing relationships make her a valuable addition to any team, successfully garnering top-tier press placements for clients across the board.

What you will learn in this episode:

How the right data can help you stand out in today’s media landscape
How to use data to validate your story and gain credibility
What types of data you can use to effectively tell your story
How adding data to your pieces can help gain trust with reporters and editors
Why it matters how you present your data
How to play the long game with reporters by giving them valuable content over time

Resources:

Website: https://network.ex.plo.re/
LinkedIn Personal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/becca-eisenberg/
LinkedIn Business: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ex-plo-re/
LinkedIn Double Forte: https://www.linkedin.com/company/double-forte/
The Report: The Irrefutable Power of Data in Media Relations chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://double-forte.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/POV_PowerOfData_DoubleForte.pdf

Heather Kernahan is a global business leader who has been featured in Fast Company, Fortune, Thrive Global, Biz Women, and Ad Week. She currently serves as the CEO of Hotwire Global, an award-winning global tech communications and marketing consultancy who have worked with companies such as Meta, Adobe, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and Honeywell. She was named one of the San Francisco Business Times 100 Most Influential Women and North America Innovator of the Year by Provoke Media. She serves on the board of ICCO, is a Trustee of IPR, and is past Board Chair of the PR Council.

Kernahan is a sought-after speaker on business-leadership topics and has taken the stage at Fortune Global Forum discussing Innovation on the Fast Track, at the NASDAQ Entrepreneurial Center as a keynote and workshop facilitator on unlocking authentic leadership, and at Chief discussing High Stakes Leadership. She is a strategic adviser and has been a mentor to leaders, entrepreneurs, and start-ups through work with NASDAQ Entrepreneurial Center, Company VenturesNYCs foremost venture community, Scotians Global Advisors, Cleantech Open, Womens Startup Lab and the LAGRANT Foundation. She is a venture capitalist and LP with Women Who Invest and Portfolia.

Taking action in the areas of inclusion, belonging, and education is important to her. She has been part of the launch team of the Say Gap, a program developed by the PRCouncil to train women and other underrepresented leaders to speak on stage and be interviewed by the press. She co-founded The 10, a group of women in leadership who are working to have more women leaders write and publish their first business books, as well, she serves on the Citizens Bond Oversight Committee for the College of Marin.

Heather grew up in Canada and has since held senior marketing and leadership roles at start-up, mid-size, and global tech companies in Canada and the US, where she has been part of teams building the future. She received her masters in Business Administration in Sustainable Enterprise from Dominican University of California. She lives in the San Francisco Bay area with her husband and children.

What you will learn in this episode:

What inspired Heather to write her book, Unstuckable
Why it is vital for women to write more business books
How becoming an author can give you credibility and access to the media
Why you will get nothing in business if you can’t communicate
How Heather and “The Ten” can help women who want to become authors learn the ropes

Resources:

Website: https://www.hotwireglobal.com/
LinkedIn Personal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heatherkernahan/
LinkedIn Business: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hotwireglobal/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/hkernahan
Unstuckable

Rachel Huff, President and Founder of Victoire & Co, sits at the intersection of great companies and great agencies. Her passion lies in building brand-agency partnerships that drive long-term success. With a keen understanding of clients communications and business needs and a network of trusted agency connections, she specializes in guiding companies toward their best agency fit.

Her work doesn’t end with the initial matchmaking. Through strategic guidance and ongoing support, Rachel helps companies maximize their agency relationships to unlock their full brand potential. She also helps agencies grow their top line by sharpening their marketing and new business approach.

Before founding Victoire & Co, Rachel led business development and agency marketing at Weber Shandwick and 360PR+, drawing from a decade on the account side developing integrated communications campaigns for brands including John Hancock, Verizon, Ocean Spray, DraftKings, CVS, Life is Good, and Boston Scientific.

What you will learn in this episode:

Why professionals with agency experience aren’t always the best at finding new clients that are a good fit
Double Forte’s 4 rules for working with a new client
What it means when a customer asks for more dynamic teams
How your approach to presenting results can make you more adaptable and transparent
Why it is our job to make our clients easier
What kind of questions agencies should be asking

Resources:

Website: https://www.victoireco.com/
LinkedIn Personal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelmhuff/
LinkedIn Business: https://www.linkedin.com/company/victoireco/

As the Chief Content Officer for Double Forte, Liz combines her PR, marketing and writing skills to counsel clients on their content and social media strategies and to maintain the editorial calendar and voice for the agency. Over the years she has worked as the Vice President of Marketing for an international flooring company and led media and communications programs for a range of clients from Fortune 100 companies to early-stage startups in the technology, consumer and professional services industries.

An award-winning writer, Liz is the author of two books about the challenges of working women balancing career and caregiving. She is also active in the influencer community: Liz runs an online community with thousands of members, and her first blog was named one of the Best Blogs for Women by Fortune Magazine several years in a row.

Liz is active in her community and serves on her town’s Finance and Warrant Committee. She is also committed to supporting other women and co-founded both SheStarts, an organization for women entrepreneurs, as well as Women In Democracy-Dedham, a non-partisan group that seeks to engage more women in local politics.

What you will learn in this episode:

How the need and desire for companies to comment on social topics has impacted brand communication
What questions to ask yourself as a company to determine what to communicate and whether or not to take a stance
Why companies need to live their values, not just post them on a wall
How not communicating anything can result in a bigger backlash
Why conviction is vital when taking a stance

Resources:

Read Liz’s article “Profit, People and Purpose: How CEOs and Companies Can Be Their Most Authentic Self in the Transparent Age”: https://double-forte.com/profits-people-

Lee’s the host of Everything Speaks, the founder and CEO of Double Forte, a 20-year old awesome independent national PR and strategic communications firm, and the author of two pragmatically optimistic books about creating valuable, high producing and positive workplaces and teams. She’s been there and done that.

Communications is the CENTER OF ALL THINGS. On the pod, Lee interviews interesting communications pros, CEOs, branding experts, and authors to bring key insights that can be used in the day to day to make your work, your PR, your marketing WORK. Occasionally, she shares her thoughts and insights on key topics of the day.

What you will learn in this episode:

Why the word “like” should not be used as a filler or to indicate inclusion
What you are actually saying when you use “like” in written speech
Why using “like” as a filler in spoken word undermines your authority and makes you seem uncertain
Tips you can use to break out of the habit of using “like” in your everyday vocabulary
Why precision language is so important for conveying your thoughts and being understood

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
Website: www.double-forte.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leecaraher/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher

Apps Mentioned:

Speeko
Orai
Astound

Lee’s the host of Everything Speaks, the founder and CEO of Double Forte, a 20-year old awesome independent national PR and strategic communications firm, and the author of two pragmatically optimistic books about creating valuable, high producing and positive workplaces and teams. She’s been there and done that.

Communications is the CENTER OF ALL THINGS. On the pod, Lee interviews interesting communications pros, CEOs, branding experts, and authors to bring key insights that can be used in the day to day to make your work, your PR, your marketing WORK. Occasionally, she shares her thoughts and insights on key topics of the day.

What you will learn in this episode:

How intention is at the heart of being understood when communicating
The 9 steps for breaking down intention to be a more effective communicator
Why you need to give as many cues as possible to be heard and understood
Why it’s important to reinforce your message in different modalities at different times
How your words, tone, energy, and body language work together (or against each other) to convey a message
Why it’s essential to determine the when, where, and how of the message you are sending

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
Website: www.double-forte.com
Double Forte Resources: https://double-forte.com/resources/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leecaraher/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher
Books mentioned:
Breaking Through: https://www.amazon.com/Breaking-Through-Communicating-Hearts-Change/dp/1647823951/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?keywords=breaking+through&qid=1692816930&sr=8-2-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1:
Communicating to Open Minds, Move Hearts, and Change the World by Sally Susman
The Nonobvious Guide to Better Presentations by Jacqueline Farrington

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Jacqueline Farrington has over 20 years experience as a change maker, empowering leaders and their teams to spark transformation and innovation through communications. Known for her refreshingly direct yet supportive and science-backed approach, Jacqueline works with senior and board-level leaders as the founder and president of Farrington Partners, Inc. She blends her experience in the performing arts, vocal pedagogy, communications, psychology, and organizational and executive coaching to help her clients find unique communication solutions around challenges such as digital transformations, organizational cultural change, the Great Resignation, or engaging in conversations on social justice.

Her clients include multinationals such as Amazon and Microsoft, as well as startups and nonprofits. She proudly served for many years as TEDxSeattles Senior Speaker Coach, where she sourced, vetted, and prepared speakers for yearly sold-out audiences of 3,000. She was thrilled to see several speakers from that event move on to the global TED stage. In addition to teaching at Yale, she has lectured and taught at the London Business School, Rutgers University, Imperial College, and other institutions.

Her book, “The Non-Obvious Guide to Better Presentations: Presenting Like a Pro (Virtually or In-Person)” is the winner of the International Book Awards Best Business Book in Communications/PR and the Axiom Book Awards Gold Medal Best Business Books of 2023 in Networking.

What you will learn in this episode:

How to prioritize awareness and intention to make better presentations
What vocal pedagogy is, and how it incorporates curiosity into communication
How you can become more aware of the way you speak
Why you should be thinking of your presentations as performances
How rehearsal can keep your brain free to focus on connecting with your audience
What strategic presence is, and how it can help us adapt to deliver our message in any situation

Resources:

Website: https://farringtonpartners.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacquelinefarrington/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/farringtoninc

Peter Winick is the Founder and CEO of Thought Leadership Leverage. For the past two decades he has helped individuals and organizations build and grow revenue streams through designing and growing their thought leadership platforms as well as acting as a guide and advisor for increasing business to business sales of thought leadership products.

His clients come from a diverse set of backgrounds and specialties. They include New York Times bestselling business book authors, members of the Speakers’ Hall of Fame, recipients of the Thinkers50 award, CEOs of public and privately held companies, and academics at prestigious institutions such as Yale, Wharton, Dartmouth, and London School of Business.

Peter has built his career and Thought Leadership Leverage to serve the needs of these individuals and others like them. Specifically, he uses his entrepreneurial experience and spirit along with a passion for using relationships to leverage growth.

What you will learn in this episode:

Why the title of thought leadership is never something you should be giving yourself
What has changed in the ecosystem of thought leadership
Why you need to work backward to reach your preferred market
How the expectations of brands have evolved, especially post-2020
How to use thought leadership to reach your employees
Why psychographics are so much more valuable for thought leaders than demographics

Resources:

Website: https://thoughtleadershipleverage.com/
LinkedIn Personal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterwinick/
LinkedIn Business: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thoughtleadershipleverage/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/peter.winick

Gabriel Munoz began his career at Double Forte with a background in content creation, media relations, digital marketing, food & beverage and retail industries. He was hired as an intern and within two months, was promoted to an Account Coordinator. In a short amount of time, Gabriel has been given the opportunity to delve deep into all things PR. Whether it was building influencer relations, creating media lists, working with media or traveling for events at the drop of a hat, Gabriel continues to adapt well under pressure while always staying positive. Previously, he had worked as a Media Relations Intern at the Commonwealth Club of California located right off the Embarcadero in San Francisco. A graduate of San Jose State University, Gabriel received a BA in Public Relations with an academic focus in Photography.

What you will learn in this episode:

How AI can be helpful to companies looking to gain more time for strategic tasks
The dangers of AI and how it can lead to more mistrust
How to dip your toes into AI in a structured way
Why it’s important to set up boundaries for yourself or your company before diving into AI
Why everyone in communications needs to proceed with using AI
How to make sure you don’t use AI as a crutch in your career

Resources:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/gabrielmunoz21
Website: portfolium.com/gabruul
Gabriel’s blog post: https://double-forte.com/the-future-is-here/

Dana Rubin is an author, consultant, speechwriter, and speaker who’s on a mission to encourage more women to put their views into the public square. She created the Speaking While Female Speech Bank to broaden our understanding of the role of women orators in history. It’s the world’s largest online archive of women’s speeches from around the world and across time, free for anyone to use. Dana has just published a women’s speech anthology, “Speaking While Female: 75 Extraordinary Speeches by American Women,” which tells the story of America through the voices of women from 1637-2021. Dana leads workshops that support women to be thought leaders, subject matter experts, brand ambassadors, and role models for future generations.

What you will learn in this episode:

Why it is crucial to have more women as subject matter experts to put their knowledge and expertise into the world
What sparked the inspiration for Dana to create the database of women’s speeches across US history
How Dana came up with the criteria for the 75 extraordinary speeches in her book
What Dana hopes will change for women when they hear and know the history of the these women orators before us and the obstacles they faced to be heard and respected
How people can use the book “Speaking While Female”
The critical importance of having a resource that values these speeches and shares the stories of women that have been left out of history books

Resources:

Website: https://speech.studio/
LinkedIn Personal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danarubin/
LinkedIn Business: https://www.linkedin.com/company/speaking-while-female/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dana.rubin.731/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SpeakingWFemale
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/speakingwhilefemale/

Gena Cox is an organizational psychologist, executive coach, and speaker. She helps leaders enhance their impact and influence to meet the new demands of a disrupted work world. Gena also focuses on how leadership and culture drive inclusion and talent optimization. She is the author of the award-winning book Leading Inclusion, a guidebook for executives who want to lead inclusion from the top of their organizations.

What you will learn in this episode:

Why organizational psychology is critical for creating a respectful workplace
How 2020 completely changed the human element of work
Gena’s advice around the complexity of language and responding to a misunderstanding in a way that communicates understanding and a commitment to do better
Why inclusion should always top diversity in the business world
How the murder of George Floyd changed the conversation around DNI in companies
What leaders can do to impactfully embrace DNI in a way that creates a sustained change in behavior in the company

Resources:

Website: https://genacox.com/
Book: Leading Inclusion
LinkedIn Personal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/genacox/
LinkedIn Business: https://www.linkedin.com/company/feelshuman/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/genacox2020/

Minette Norman is an author, speaker, and leadership consultant who previously spent decades leading global technical teams in the software industry.

Minette has extensive experience leading internationally distributed teams and believes that when groups embrace diversity in all its forms, breakthroughs emerge, and innovation accelerates. Her most recent position before starting her own consultancy was as Vice President of Engineering Practice at Autodesk. Responsible for influencing more than 3,500 engineers around the globe, she focused on state-of-the-art engineering practices while nurturing a collaborative and inclusive culture.

Minette is a keynote speaker on topics of inclusive leadership, psychological safety, collaborative teams, and empathy. Named in 2017 as one of the Most Influential Women in Bay Area Business by the San Francisco Business Times and as Business Role Model of the Year in the 2018 Women in IT/Silicon Valley Awards, Minette is a recognized leader with a unique perspective.

Minette is the co-author of The Psychological Safety Playbook: Lead More Powerfully by Being More Human. Her second book, The Boldly Inclusive Leader, will be published in August 2023.

Minette holds degrees in Drama and French from Tufts University and studied at the Sorbonne Nouvelle in Paris.

What you will learn in this episode:

How communications fosters a psychologically safe work environment
The 5 big plays of psychological safety
How to manage your reactions to create a workplace that encourages feedback and dissenting viewpoints
How embracing risk and failure will actually lead to better outcomes long term
Why every leader should admit fallibility to allow their employees space to speak up
How to utilize pre and post-mortem blamelessness to identify problems and solve them without creating a hostile environment
What you can expect from Minette’s newest book, Boldly Inclusive Leader

Resources:

Website: https://www.minettenorman.com/
LinkedIn Personal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/minettenorman/
LinkedIn Business: https://www.linkedin.com/company/minette-norman-consulting/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/minetten/
Twitter: twitter.com/minettenorman
The Psychological Safety Playbook

Shira Miller, CPCC, is a two-time TEDx speaker, Author, Certified Professional Co-Active Coach and Chief Communications Officer of National DCP, the $2 billion supply chain company serving Dunkin. Her book, Free and Clear: Get Unstuck and Live the Life You Want, features a step-by-step process for getting unstuck and staying that way for good. Getting unstuck is her superpower, and Miller is passionate about teaching people how to do the same for themselves. Over the past few decades, she has transitioned from financial ruin to prosperity, chronic health challenges to a constant state of wellness, obesity to sustaining a healthy weight, divorce to lasting love, and an unfulfilling career to a purpose-driven life.

In her current corporate job, Miller is responsible for all aspects of brand management, internal and external communications. Prior to joining NDCP, Miller served as President of award-winning boutique PR firm Shira Miller Communications; Director of Corporate Communications for billion-dollar retail company American Retail Group; Director of Marketing Communications for Morrison Management Specialists, which is now a billion-dollar division of Compass; PR Manager for The Shepherd Center; Community Relations Manager for Days Inns of America; and Weekend Bureau Coordinator for the NBC News Southeastern Bureau.

The popular keynote speaker has been recognized with over 40 communications awards, including Public Relations Society of America’s National Bronze Anvil Award for Consumer Media Relations, and being named an honoree in Ragans Top Women in Communications Awards, Class of 2021, in the Trailblazer category. She has been featured in Authority Magazine, Thrive Global, Shape, Health, First for Women, Quick & Simple, the Atlanta Journal Constitution, Emory Magazine, UpJourney and Grit Daily. The Emory University alumnae lives in Atlanta, Georgia with her husband.

What you will learn in this episode:

What crisis looks like in the world of supply chain management
Why it is critical to build a good foundation for communication if you want to take the leadership track in your career
How the desire for authenticity, adaptability, brand reputation, and employee retention has resulted in the rise of the Chief Communications Officer
The difference between being nice and being kind in a professional setting
Why providing clear, constructive feedback – even when it isn’t easy to hear – is more kind than telling someone what they want to hear
What inspired Shira to write her book “Free and Clear: Get Unstuck to Live the Life You Want”

Resources:

Website: https://shiramiller.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theshiramiller/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theshiramiller/
Free and Clear: Get Unstuck to Live the Life You Want

As a professional speaker, consultant, advisor, and author, Shawn Casemore has traveled the globe to help companies introduce what he calls Unstoppable SellingTM. Shawn is the Owner and Founder of Casemore and Co. Inc., a global consulting company helping business owners, sales executives, and sales leaders accelerate their sales results.

Shawn delivers keynotes at large conferences and events as well as company kickoffs on topics related to selling in today’s economy. He also frequently writes for publications such as Forbes, Fast Company, Entrepreneur, and dozens of other online and print publications.

What you will learn in this episode:

The philosophy behind The Power of Saying “Unfortunately, No”
The power of the pushback in sales and negotiation
How to respectfully pushback
How to use “Unfortunately, No.” as a transitional phrase
Why saying “Unfortunately, No.” can actually build value and increase customer interest
How to make sure that the language we use specifically throughout the sales process is ensuring that there are no surprises for our prospects

Resources:

Website: https://shawncasemore.com/
LinkedIn Personal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawncasemore/
LinkedIn Business: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shawncasemore/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UnstoppableSalesMachine/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ShawnCasemore
The Power of Saying, “Unfortunately, No.”

Lee’s the host of Everything Speaks, the founder and CEO of Double Forte, a 20-year old awesome independent national PR and strategic communications firm, and the author of two pragmatically optimistic books about creating valuable, high producing and positive workplaces and teams. She’s been there and done that.

Communications is the CENTER OF ALL THINGS. On the pod, Lee interviews interesting communications pros, CEOs, branding experts, and authors to bring key insights that can be used in the day to day to make your work, your PR, your marketing WORK. Occasionally, she shares her thoughts and insights on key topics of the day.

What you will learn in this episode:

Where the CEO of Miller-Knoll went wrong on her viral rant to her employees
How to foster a psychologically safe work environment
What the phrase “tell me more” actually says to your employees and colleagues
Why curiosity is the CEO’s superpower
How seeking input results in better decisions for your organization
Two books you need to add to your list to improve your leadership and curiosity

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
Website: www.double-forte.com
Double Forte Resources: https://double-forte.com/resources/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leecaraher/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher
Tell Me More by Michael Sherlock
The Psychological Safety Playbook by Karolin Helbig & Minette Norman

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Tell Me More: How to Ask the Right Questions and Get the Most Out of Your Employees (The Shock Your Potential Series)

Lee’s the host of Everything Speaks, the founder and CEO of Double Forte, a 20-year old awesome independent national PR and strategic communications firm, and the author of two pragmatically optimistic books about creating valuable, high producing and positive workplaces and teams. She’s been there and done that.

Communications is the CENTER OF ALL THINGS. On the pod, Lee interviews interesting communications pros, CEOs, branding experts, and authors to bring key insights that can be used in the day to day to make your work, your PR, your marketing WORK. Occasionally, she shares her thoughts and insights on key topics of the day.

What you will learn in this episode:

Why if you say “stay calm” you will do more harm than good
Real-life examples of CEOs and governments telling people to “stay calm” and the not-so-calm results
What you are really communicating when you tell someone to “stay calm” or “be calm”
Better alternative approaches you can take to effectively communicate during crisis or conflict
How avoiding the term “be calm” can validate the feelings of the people in your own life

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
Website: www.double-forte.com
Double Forte Resources: https://double-forte.com/resources/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leecaraher/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher

Lee’s the host of Everything Speaks, the founder and CEO of Double Forte, a 20-year old awesome independent national PR and strategic communications firm, and the author of two pragmatically optimistic books about creating valuable, high producing and positive workplaces and teams. She’s been there and done that.

Communications is the CENTER OF ALL THINGS. On the pod, Lee interviews interesting communications pros, CEOs, branding experts, and authors to bring key insights that can be used in the day to day to make your work, your PR, your marketing WORK. Occasionally, she shares her thoughts and insights on key topics of the day.

What you will learn in this episode:

Why the golden age of social media is over, and what that means for brands and businesses
How to balance the four pillars of media to stay adaptable in the constantly changing landscape of social media
Why you need to own your messaging on social media before someone else does it for you
How to create an ecosystem of awareness to allow your consumers to know you better
Why you should never put all of your eggs in another company’s basket for media exposure

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
Website: www.double-forte.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leecaraher/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher

Richard A. Moran, a popular, long time San Francisco based business leader, workplace pundit, bestselling author, consultant and venture capitalist, is a General Partner at Tonic Bioventures. He is best known for his series of humorous business books beginning with bestselling, “Never Confuse a Memo with Reality” that started the genre of “Business Bullet Books.”

Moran previously served as President of Menlo College, CEO and Vice Chairman at Accretive Solution, as a Partner at Venrock, Chairman of the Board at Portal Software, and as a Partner at Accenture. Moran has served on the Boards of Glu Mobile Games, Winery Exchange, and Mechanics Bank among others. He currently serves on the boards of AxoProtego, LBA Logistics, New Day Investing, World Wide Women and others.

Moran is active also in the technology ecosystem in Ireland and is a member of the Global Irish Network, a network launched in 2010 and that is comprised of 350 of the most senior Irish and Irish connected business people from over 40 countries.

Moran is a radio personality featured on KCBS Radio in San Francisco. He is The host of “In the Workplace,” a program that discusses workplace issues and airs weekly to over a million listeners. He is also a frequent contributor as an Influencer on LinkedIn.

What you will learn in this episode:

How removing “whatever” from your vocabulary can change your life
Why you convey a message of indifference and lack of motivation when you use the phrase “whatever”
What the “2 minute rule” is, and why it’s the best way to make decisions
Why a gut decision is only good when it is informed
How you can improve your life by making small choices and moving on without overthinking
Why your actions need to be led with intent

Resources:

Website: https://www.richardmoran.com/
LinkedIn Personal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardamoran/
LinkedIn Business: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tonic-bioventures/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/richmoran
Books: Never Say Whatever, Never Confuse A Memo With Reality, The Thing About Work

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The Thing About Work: Showing Up and Other Important Matters [A Worker's Manual]

Michelle Gladieux is author of “Communicate with Courage: Taking Risks to Overcome the Four Hidden Challenges” and President of Gladieux Consulting, a Midwest-based offering top-notch seminars in communication and leadership topics around the U.S. She provides executive coaching and facilitates strategic planning for clients in diverse industries, in governments, at non-profits, and in academia. She has 18 years of collegiate teaching experience at three universities in her home state of Indiana, accepting her first adjunct faculty position at age 23.. She’s worked as a Corporate Human Resources and Training Director in the cold storage, robotics, and construction industries and enjoys visiting conferences as a keynote speaker and workshop presenter.

Michelle has mentored thousands of people and her positive effect on those she advises is evident even after just one interaction. Her clients and friends are delighted that she’s finally documented some of her best tips (AKA “Pro Moves”) in “Communicate with Courage”.

What you will learn in this episode:

How being a better communicator will improve your work life balance
Why you should think of Michelle’s book, “Communicate with Courage” as a bravery manual to turn risk into reward
What 4 challenges stand in our way to prevent us from being the best communicators
How communicating with courage will help you achieve the life you want
What leaders can learn from the power of communication
The 4 types of power, and why you should pick only one to focus on
Why everyone should be implementing the 1% rule to be 37% better by the end of the year

Resources:

Website: https://gladieuxconsulting.com/
LinkedIn Personal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellegladieux/
LinkedIn Business: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gladieux-consulting/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GladieuxConsulting
Communicate with Courage: Taking Risks to Overcome the Four Hidden Challenges

Lee’s the host of Everything Speaks, the founder and CEO of Double Forte, a 20-year old awesome independent national PR and strategic communications firm, and the author of two pragmatically optimistic books about creating valuable, high producing and positive workplaces and teams. She’s been there and done that.

Communications is the CENTER OF ALL THINGS. On the pod, Lee interviews interesting communications pros, CEOs, branding experts, and authors to bring key insights that can be used in the day to day to make your work, your PR, your marketing WORK. Occasionally, she shares her thoughts and insights on key topics of the day.

What you will learn in this episode:

How miscommunications happen in the workplace
Why vague deadlines like “end of day” are ineffective
How specificity in your communications can make you better at delegating
Why you need to be specific about time, time zone, and format

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
Website: www.double-forte.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leecaraher/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher

Lee’s the host of Everything Speaks, the founder and CEO of Double Forte, a 20-year old awesome independent national PR and strategic communications firm, and the author of two pragmatically optimistic books about creating valuable, high producing and positive workplaces and teams. She’s been there and done that.

Communications is the CENTER OF ALL THINGS. On the pod, Lee interviews interesting communications pros, CEOs, branding experts, and authors to bring key insights that can be used in the day to day to make your work, your PR, your marketing WORK. Occasionally, she shares her thoughts and insights on key topics of the day.

What you will learn in this episode:

How and why corporate profile building is dependent on so many other things
Why local media is a business’s best tool for getting national coverage
Why it is critical for you to understand your own backyard to grow as a company
Why your products and services need to be the center of attention before your company can be talked about
How to leverage local op-eds to get your stories picked up by more news outlets
Why the journey to national coverage is just as important to driving business as the destination

Resources:

Website: www.double-forte.com
Website: https://leecaraher.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher

Lee’s the host of Everything Speaks, the founder and CEO of Double Forte, a 20-year old awesome independent national PR and strategic communications firm, and the author of two pragmatically optimistic books about creating valuable, high producing and positive workplaces and teams. She’s been there and done that.

Communications is the CENTER OF ALL THINGS. On the pod, Lee interviews interesting communications pros, CEOs, branding experts, and authors to bring key insights that can be used in the day to day to make your work, your PR, your marketing WORK. Occasionally, she shares her thoughts and insights on key topics of the day.

What you will learn in this episode:

How you need to navigate and communicate in the unpredictable world fo 2023
Why we are never going to be “post-pandemic”
Why the last few years have caused consumers to reevaluate value
How practicing Radical Empathy is the game changer we’re all looking for
Why hybrid work is here to stay, and the power going back to employers is a fallacy
Why social and environmental transparency is essential moving forward
How brands can use service and communications to stay relevant
How the pandemic caused consumers to center on wellness

Resources:

Trendwatch 2023 Report download
Website: https://leecaraher.com/
Website: www.double-forte.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leecaraher/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher

Joanna Bloor has transformed thousands of lives worldwide as a career futurist. A former Silicon Valley executive, TED speaker, and trusted advisor to leaders worldwide, she’s been described as a glittering buzzsaw that cuts through all the workplace BS. She offers thought leadership about the future of work and gives talks on creating thriving organizations where team members are known and wanted for what they want to offer.

Joanna’s upcoming book, Tales of Potential: The Cinderella Story You Haven’t Heard, flips the script on a famous and underestimated fairy tale ingenue to reveal real-life success lessons hidden in plain sight. The reframed story has much to teach modern professionals of all genders about the true nature of ambition, courage, risk-taking, generosity, and the key actions to take if you want to manifest your most sparkling future self.

What you will learn in this episode:

Why you need to choose words that describe your potential and own them
How knowing your potential can help you navigate a fulfilling career
Why it’s important to do “potential interviews” with your coworkers to understand what they see for your future
How understanding what you offer and want to offer can help with salary negotiations
How the power of your word choice can reflect the way you present yourself

Resources:

Website: https://joannabloor.com/
LinkedIn Personal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannabloor/
LinkedIn Business: https://www.linkedin.com/company/theamplifylab/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JoannaBloor
Book: https://www.talesofpotential.com/

Howie Chan is a brand and marketing strategist focused on companies, products, and services that impact our health. He is the Principal and Founder of Healthy Brand Consulting, previously he was the Managing Director of Brand Strategy for Real Chemistry, an MM+M Gold winner for Large Healthcare Agencies. His experience is diverse within healthcare, having worked with startups and Fortune 500 companies, across medical devices, biotech, digital health, hospitals, payers, pharma, and consumer health brands. Howie lives in Minnesota with his wife and two kids, braving the winters and enjoying the lakes in the summer.

What you will learn in this episode:

What it means to be a healthy brand
How finding your center can help you stay relevant without completely changing your company
How the alignment of your values and your customers’ values impacts your business
Why your business needs to stick to one singular message to be memorable
Howie’s top questions to understand his clients’ needs

Resources:

Website: https://www.howiechan.com/
LinkedIn Personal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/howiechaniam/
LinkedIn Business: https://www.linkedin.com/company/healthy-brand-with-howie-chan/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/howie.chan.31/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/howiechaniam

Nancy McGrory Richardson has over 30 years of B2B & B2C communications designing and implementing hundreds of strategic marketing programs; both external and internal. Nancy’s background includes Fortune 100 companies, entrepreneurial enterprises, and not-for-profits with experience in manufacturing, energy, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, automotive, defense, chemicals, and technology as well as numerous downstream industries and audiences.

Nancy is an expert in risk communications and has a strong acumen for commercializing products. As an expert facilitator, she is skilled at engaging key audiences, opinion leaders, and stakeholders in collaborative initiatives.

Nancy is currently the Chief Communications Officer for Jaunt Air Mobility. Her responsibilities cover all Marketing Communications functions sales support, public relations, tradeshows, website, and social media. She supports overall business management, commercialization strategies, planning, and execution.

What you will learn in this episode:

What questions you need to be asking to better understand your client’s needs
Why everything you send to your client says something about you and your work
How the differences in generational behavior can help us learn about our audiences and how we communicate to them
What the role of a chief communications officer entails, and how it has changed over the years
Why curiosity is the most important prerequisite for anyone looking to get into PR

Resources:

Website: https://jauntairmobility.com/
LinkedIn Personal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-mcgrory-richardson-502a7677/
LinkedIn Business: https://www.linkedin.com/company/jauntair/?viewAsMember=true

Lee McEnany Caraher is the founder and CEO of Double Forte, a 20-year-old national public relations and communication agency headquartered in San Francisco that works with beloved consumer, technology, and wine brands. Lee is a highly sought-after communications expert known for her business-building acumen and insights. She’s a straight shooter with a big laugh that keeps her out of more trouble than it gets her into.

Lee is also an acclaimed author and speaker and a recognized expert on creating high-performing, positive, intergenerational workplaces. Through her work, she shows companies and nonprofits how to embrace the qualities of different generations, reduce negative interactions between people, and see the big benefits of changing the definition of loyalty from a long tenure of employment to a lifetime of loyalty regardless of employment status.

Lee is active in her community, having served on the Board of Governors of Public Advocates and the Executive Board of Wisconsin Farm Technology Days. She recently served as Secretary on the Board of Directors of the PR Council, the national trade association for Public Relations agencies. She previously served on the boards of KQED Public Media, San Francisco’s Grace Cathedral, The Marine Mammal Center, Community Gatepath, and St. Paul’s Choir School, among others. A graduate of Carleton College, Lee has a degree in medieval history, which she finds useful every day—especially during a pandemic. She splits her time between San Francisco, Eau Claire, and New York.

What you will learn in this episode:

What it means to be a toxic A-player
What it says about you as a leader to allow toxic behavior
The various types of toxic players in the workplace
How toxic behavior can impact your team, company, and overall performance
What steps you can take as a leader to address toxic A-players on your team

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher

Lee McEnany Caraher is the founder and CEO of Double Forte, a 20-year-old national public relations and communication agency headquartered in San Francisco that works with beloved consumer, technology, and wine brands. Lee is a highly sought-after communications expert known for her business-building acumen and insights. She’s a straight shooter with a big laugh that keeps her out of more trouble than it gets her into.

Lee is also an acclaimed author and speaker and a recognized expert on creating high-performing, positive, intergenerational workplaces. Through her work, she shows companies and nonprofits how to embrace the qualities of different generations, reduce negative interactions between people, and see the big benefits of changing the definition of loyalty from a long tenure of employment to a lifetime of loyalty regardless of employment status.

Lee is active in her community, having served on the Board of Governors of Public Advocates and the Executive Board of Wisconsin Farm Technology Days. She recently served as Secretary on the Board of Directors of the PR Council, the national trade association for Public Relations agencies. She previously served on the boards of KQED Public Media, San Francisco’s Grace Cathedral, The Marine Mammal Center, Community Gatepath, and St. Paul’s Choir School, among others. A graduate of Carleton College, Lee has a degree in medieval history, which she finds useful every day—especially during a pandemic. She splits her time between San Francisco, Eau Claire, and New York.

What you will learn in this episode:

How PR has risen in credibility and importance in the last 20 years.
What has and has not changed in the world of PR over the last 20 years
How social media has pushed communications to continuously adapt
Why journalism is more important than ever, and what is getting in the way of their stories
Why it is crucial for your business to have a plan in place for every worst-case scenario
How the role of the Chief Communications Officer has evolved over time

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher

Over a 40-year career, James Hipkin has worked in marketing and advertising at a high level. Since 2010, he has built his clients’ businesses with digital marketing.

James is an accomplished, forward-thinking marketing professional. His clients included Sprint, Apple, Wells Fargo online bank, Nestlé, and Toyota. They appreciate his practical, no-nonsense approach. He has the scars and many stories to share.

His stories are always valuable and entertaining. His humor and infectious good-natured approach to marketing are fun and practical. But he never loses track of what’s important. Marketing, done well, creates value for customers and the business.

What you will learn in this episode:

What inside-out marketing is, and why it is ruining your website
Why you should switch from a call to action on your website to pathways instead
What your pathways tell you about your customers
Why your “sales calls” should be treated as enrollment conversations
What steps your website should follow in order to effectively guide your customer to your solution to their problem
How you can optimize your website to get someone to take action in the six seconds they take to make a decision
James’s one tip for 2023 to have a better website

Resources:

Website: https://inn8ly.com/
LinkedIn Personal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jameshipkin/
LinkedIn Business: https://www.linkedin.com/company/inn8ly/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jhipkin
Website Audit: https://inn8ly.com/six-second-website-audit/

Lee McEnany Caraher is the founder and CEO of Double Forte, a national public relations and communication agency, based in San Francisco, that works with beloved consumer, technology, and wine brands. Lee is a highly sought-after communications expert known for her business building acumen and insights. She’s a straight talker with a big laugh that gets her out of more trouble than it creates.

Lee is also an acclaimed author and speaker and a recognized expert on creating high performing, positive, intergenerational workplaces. Through her work, she shows companies and non-profit organizations how to embrace the qualities of different generations, reduce negative dynamics between people, and how to recognize the significant benefits of shifting the definition of loyalty from a long tenure of employment to a lifetime of allegiance regardless of employment status.

Lee is active in her community and sits on the Board of Governors of Public Advocates and the Executive Board of Wisconsin Farm Technology Days, 2021. She recently served as Secretary on the Board of Directors of the PR Council, the national trade association for Public Relations agencies. She previously served on the boards of KQED Public Media, San Francisco’s Grace Cathedral, Community Gatepath, and St. Paul’s Choir School, among others. A graduate of Carleton College, Lee has a degree in medieval history which she finds useful every day – especially during a pandemic. She splits her time between San Francisco, Eau Claire, and New York.

What you will learn in this episode:

What is thought leadership and why does it matter
What makes a person a thought leader
Why a servant leadership mindset is essential for thought leaders
How relevancy, longevity, and context make thought leaders stand out
How to become a thought leader
Where do you need to show up to be a respected thought leader

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
Website: https://double-forte.com/
LinkedIn Personal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
LinkedIn Business: https://www.linkedin.com/company/double-forte/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leecaraher/

Patti P. Phillips, Ph.D., is the CEO of the ROI Institute, a researcher, and the author of Show the Value of What You Do. Her workshops and conference presentations inspire audiences to align their work with outcomes that matter. When she is not consulting with clients, researching, or writing books, Patti supports the work of other organizations through board service. She serves on the UN Institute for Training and Research board of trustees, International Federation of Training and Development Organizations board, The Conference Board Human Capital Advisory Council, and the Institute for Corporate Productivity People Analytics Board. Patti has been recognized for her thought-leadership by organizations such as the Association for Talent Development, Center for Talent Reporting, and the Thinkers50 Marshall Goldsmith Achievement for Coaching. She has written or contributed to over 50 books describing how individuals can demonstrate the value of their work.

Jack J. Phillips, Ph.D., Chairman of the ROI Institute and author of Show the Value of What You Do isan award-winning thought leader in the field of talent development. As a teacher, consultant, and coach, he helps individuals show the value of their work in all types of organizations. Dr. Phillips has taught his proprietary methodology to over 50,000 professionals and managers in over 70 countries. He is a global keynote speaker and has written over 100 hundred books, all focused on the importance of showing the value of the work. He has been recognized for his thought leadership by the Association for Talent Development, Thinkers50 Top Coaches, the International Society for Performance Improvement, the Society for Human Resource Management, and Meeting Professionals International. Dr. Phillips has served as an engineer, trainer, learning manager, HR executive, general manager, president, and college professor. He serves as chair of ROI Institute, a globally recognized consulting firm.

What you will learn in this episode:

Why measuring your business ROI is so important for any team
How to build a successful PR and communications strategy by focusing on ROI
Why you should focus on the intended impact of your message and plan your campaigns around that
Why you need to understand your business objectives
The steps to building a strong and effective communications campaign by focusing on ROI
Jack and Patti’s rallying cries for 2023

Resources:

Website: http://roiinstitute.net/
LinkedIn Personal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pattipphillips/
LinkedIn Personal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-phillips-phd/
LinkedIn Business: https://www.linkedin.com/company/roi-institute-inc/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ROIInstitute/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/roi_institute
Book: https://www.amazon.com/Show-Value-What-You-Measuring/dp/1523002271/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1AN8AC50E6O6C&keywords=show+the+value+of+what+you+do&qid=1655389630&s=books&sprefix=show+the+value+o%2Cstripbooks%2C93&sr=1-1

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Heather Hawkins is a seasoned brand messaging and communications team leader with a passion for the brands that help improve lives– from wearables, biohacking and transformative tech through gear, nutrition and healthtech. If it helps people perform better at home, at work or at play, she creates strategic programs proven to amplify smart messaging internally and externally by leveraging all the tools in the earned and owned toolbox.

What you will learn in this episode:

Why your business plan needs to include a consistent repetition to establish a reputation that sticks
How to utilize repetition properly without muddying your message
How everything speaks for you, including your packaging, swag, and company-branded clothing
Why your employees are your most important ambassadors and how your culture is vital to your reputation
What radical authenticity is and why it matters to your brand

Resources:

Website: https://elevation-strategy.com/
LinkedIn Personal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heatherhawkins/
LinkedIn Business: https://www.linkedin.com/company/elevation-strategy/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ElevationStrategy/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/elevation_strat

Del Esparza is the CEO of Esparza Advertising. Founded in 2000, Esparza is a New Mexico based business that provides strategic marketing, advertising, and business solutions to a broad range of national public and private clients, including Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Oppenheimer Funds, PNM, BMW, Mini, and many other fine organizations.

Author of “The Next Dinosaur,”a book published in 2021 as a guide for small to mid-sized businesses to transition from bricks and mortar models to e-commerce, Esparza has always been committed to giving back to small to midsize companies and supporting them in the ever-changing advertising industry.

Brandale Mills Cox, Ph.D., principal and founder of Inclusive Market Research Group, has over 12 years of marketing and public relations experience, with nearly 7 years of research experience. Her research specialization include Black consumer insights, media audience insight and focus group facilitation. She is also a skilled branding and public relations consultant with evidence of multicultural marketing strategies. She has also been recognized as Albuquerque Business First’s “40 under 40.”

What you will learn in this episode:

How social and political unrest during the 2020 pandemic led to a shift in buyer behavior
Why values and how companies express them matter to today’s consumers
How companies can build successful DEI (diversity, equity, inclusion) initiatives that do not feel performative or patronizing
Why a solid online presence is an absolute necessity for any company
What “cancel culture” really means and how to recover from a misstep as a brand
Why it is critical to connect with your consumers and ask them questions instead of assuming you know everything about them

Resources:

Website: https://esparza.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/delesparza/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/esparza-advertising/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/delesparza
Website: https://www.inclusivemarketresearchgroup.com/

As the Chief Content Officer for Double Forte, Liz combines her PR, marketing and writing skills to counsel clients on their content and social media strategies and to maintain the editorial calendar and voice for the agency. Over the years she has worked as the Vice President of Marketing for an international flooring company and led media and communications programs for a range of clients from Fortune 100 companies to early-stage startups in the technology, consumer and professional services industries.

An award-winning writer, Liz is the author of two books about the challenges of working women balancing career and caregiving. She is also active in the influencer community: Liz runs an online community with thousands of members, and her first blog was named one of the Best Blogs for Women by Fortune Magazine several years in a row.

Liz is active in her community and serves on her town’s Finance and Warrant Committee. She is also committed to supporting other women and co-founded both SheStarts, an organization for women entrepreneurs, as well as Women In Democracy-Dedham, a non-partisan group that seeks to engage more women in local politics.

What you will learn in this episode:

How the decentralized newsroom has added challenges to media relations
What new KPIs (key performance indicators) PR firms have added this year
How strategies have adjusted due to the influx of freelance journalists
Why helpful, positive news is in demand now more than ever
How focusing on your own backyard can increase engagement and lead to national coverage
Liz’s 4 tips for a solid media relations strategy for 2023

Sara Goldvine is Vice-President of Communications with BC Housing (British Columbia). Sara brings broad experience from the public, non-profit, and private sectors to her role. She has a track record of effecting meaningful change in purpose-driven organizations through leadership roles with Coast Capital Savings, TVO, Toronto Community Housing, the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, and the B.C. Legislature.

Outside of work, Sara serves on the Board of Governors for the Business Council of B.C. and the Board of Directors for the Cedar Cottage Food Network. She holds an Accredited in Public Relations (APR) designation from the Canadian Public Relations Society, has a Master of Communications Management from McMaster University, and a Bachelor of Arts, Political Science from the University of British Columbia (Honours)

What you will learn in this episode:

Why Sara believes staying curious is the best thing someone in PR can do
Why listening is the best way to make your company relevant
Why it’s important to listen to and amplify the voices of those who do not have a seat at the decision-making table
How two-way communication can make us better advocates
Sara’s critical rules for ethical, impactful storytelling

Resources:

Website: https://www.bchousing.org/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saragoldvine/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/saragoldvine

Sara Goldvine is Vice-President of Communications with BC Housing (British Columbia). Sara brings broad experience from the public, non-profit, and private sectors to her role. She has a track record of effecting meaningful change in purpose-driven organizations through leadership roles with Coast Capital Savings, TVO, Toronto Community Housing, the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, and the B.C. Legislature.

Outside of work, Sara serves on the Board of Governors for the Business Council of B.C. and the Board of Directors for the Cedar Cottage Food Network. She holds an Accredited in Public Relations (APR) designation from the Canadian Public Relations Society, has a Master of Communications Management from McMaster University, and a Bachelor of Arts, Political Science from the University of British Columbia (Honours)

What you will learn in this episode:

Why Sara believes staying curious is the best thing someone in PR can do
Why listening is the best way to make your company relevant
Why it’s important to listen to and amplify the voices of those who do not have a seat at the decision-making table
How two-way communication can make us better advocates
Sara’s critical rules for ethical, impactful storytelling

Resources:

Website: https://www.bchousing.org/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saragoldvine/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/saragoldvine

Sara Goldvine is Vice-President of Communications with BC Housing (British Columbia). Sara brings broad experience from the public, non-profit, and private sectors to her role. She has a track record of effecting meaningful change in purpose-driven organizations through leadership roles with Coast Capital Savings, TVO, Toronto Community Housing, the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, and the B.C. Legislature.

Outside of work, Sara serves on the Board of Governors for the Business Council of B.C. and the Board of Directors for the Cedar Cottage Food Network. She holds an Accredited in Public Relations (APR) designation from the Canadian Public Relations Society, has a Master of Communications Management from McMaster University, and a Bachelor of Arts, Political Science from the University of British Columbia (Honours)

What you will learn in this episode:

Why Sara believes staying curious is the best thing someone in PR can do
Why listening is the best way to make your company relevant
Why it’s important to listen to and amplify the voices of those who do not have a seat at the decision-making table
How two-way communication can make us better advocates
Sara’s critical rules for ethical, impactful storytelling

Resources:

Website: https://www.bchousing.org/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saragoldvine/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/saragoldvine

Courtney Lukitsch is the Founder and Chief Communications Officer of 20-year consultancy Gotham PR, with offices in NYC, Miami and London. Gotham PR has clients in the US and 30 countries globally.

What you will learn in this episode:

Why companies need to focus on being significant, not just successful
Courtney’s crucial steps for putting together a significant business
Why you should always surround yourself with experts
Ways your effectiveness may be diluted if you aren’t working where you’re most valuable
The significance of understanding your mission and values in order to establish goals
Why the function of public relations is so critical for businesses, and how it has evolved over time

Resources:

Website: https://gothampr.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtneylukitsch/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Gothamist1

Courtney Lukitsch is the Founder and Chief Communications Officer of 20-year consultancy Gotham PR, with offices in NYC, Miami and London. Gotham PR has clients in the US and 30 countries globally.

What you will learn in this episode:

Why companies need to focus on being significant, not just successful
Courtney’s crucial steps for putting together a significant business
Why you should always surround yourself with experts
Ways your effectiveness may be diluted if you aren’t working where you’re most valuable
The significance of understanding your mission and values in order to establish goals
Why the function of public relations is so critical for businesses, and how it has evolved over time

Resources:

Website: https://gothampr.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtneylukitsch/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Gothamist1

Courtney Lukitsch is the Founder and Chief Communications Officer of 20-year consultancy Gotham PR, with offices in NYC, Miami and London. Gotham PR has clients in the US and 30 countries globally.

What you will learn in this episode:

Why companies need to focus on being significant, not just successful
Courtney’s crucial steps for putting together a significant business
Why you should always surround yourself with experts
Ways your effectiveness may be diluted if you aren’t working where you’re most valuable
The significance of understanding your mission and values in order to establish goals
Why the function of public relations is so critical for businesses, and how it has evolved over time

Resources:

Website: https://gothampr.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtneylukitsch/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Gothamist1

Lee McEnany Caraher is the founder and CEO of Double Forte, a national public relations and communication agency, based in San Francisco, that works with beloved consumer, technology, and wine brands. Lee is a highly sought-after communications expert known for her business-building acumen and insights. She’s a straight talker with a big laugh that gets her out of more trouble than it creates.

Lee is also an acclaimed author and speaker and a recognized expert on creating high-performing, positive, intergenerational workplaces. Through her work, she shows companies and non-profit organizations how to embrace the qualities of different generations, reduce negative dynamics between people, and how to recognize the significant benefits of shifting the definition of loyalty from a long tenure of employment to a lifetime of allegiance regardless of employment status.

Lee is active in her community and sits on the Board of Governors of Public Advocates and the Executive Board of Wisconsin Farm Technology Days, 2021. She recently served as Secretary on the Board of Directors of the PR Council, the national trade association for Public Relations agencies. She previously served on the boards of KQED Public Media, San Francisco’s Grace Cathedral, Community Gatepath, and St. Paul’s Choir School, among others. A graduate of Carleton College, Lee has a degree in medieval history which she finds useful every day – especially during a pandemic. She splits her time between San Francisco, Eau Claire, and New York.

What you will learn in this episode:

The importance of backing up your verbal support for social causes and movements as a company with real proof of action
What it means to be a slacktivist, and why your company should avoid it at all costs
Why programs and monetary support are essential for backing up your claims
What “cancel culture” really means, and how it can be used as a tool to connect with your audience more transparently
The steps you can take as a company to begin establishing your values and behaviors and what issues you will and will not align with
Why it’s expensive to be a slacker

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher

Emily Smith is not only Vice President at Double Forte, but she is also an incredible mentor and an amazing caretaker of those on her team and at the agency.

Emily is an energetic communications and PR professional with more than fourteen years of experience developing and executing strategic campaigns with proven results.

She is a highly motivated, thoughtful, and supportive manager who leads with kindness and integrity, and she is guided and driven by community building and social good. She values creative thinking, collaboration and building purpose and positivity in the workplace.

What you will learn in this episode:

How the 24-hour news cycle can affect our mental health
How our backgrounds can influence what news stories impact us
Why it’s important to balance heavier news stories with something more lighthearted
How taking action after reading something that sparks emotion can help remove some of our anxious energy
The importance of demonstrating patience in the workplace and meeting people where they are

Resources:

Website: https://double-forte.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilygsmith1/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/double-forte/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DoubleFortePR/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/doublefortepr

Michael T. Caraher is a recent college graduate and young professional. He earned two degrees at St. Olaf College and is currently an account coordinator at Gravitate PR.

He joins the show today to share his insights about how to approach your first job out of college and also shares his journey from college graduate to working in the PR field, moving across the country, and the challenges and conflicting advice he got along the way.

What you will learn in this episode:

How Michael analyzed the skills he cultivated through his education in music to transfer them into a professional career in PR
How a job in PR trains you to be a good employee anywhere
Why PR professionals are facing a challenge getting their stories picked up by media outlets
What advantages (if any) Michael believes he has from growing up with a mother in PR ( 😀 )
Michael’s advice for anyone looking to start their career in Public Relations

Resources:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michaeltcaraher

Anna is an Assistant Account Executive at Double Forte and joined us more than a year ago after graduating from the University of California, Santa Barbara. She earned her BS in Psychological and Brain Sciences in three years, which less than 4% of UCSB 2020 graduates were able to accomplish.

Prior to joining Double Forte, Anna worked as a marketing intern at a luxury real estate and property development agency in Prague, Czech Republic. She worked alongside the head of marketing to shape and execute general and social media marketing strategies, which included an innovative influencer campaign with a former Miss World. Anna continued to work for the agency remotely from Santa Barbara and San Francisco in 2020, supporting the social media content, English translations, and influencer relations.

Anna is a San Francisco native and loves the amazing food, culture, and lifestyle that the city offers.

What you will learn in this episode:

How remote work has shaped recent graduates’ early careers
Anna’s three strategies for feeling more connected when working remotely
How moving around during the day can help you find balance
The power of the emoji and why over-communication is key in a remote work environment
How to find the balance between being together and maintaining flexibility while working with a remote team

Resources:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/anna-roy-626335190

Gabriel began his career at Double Forte with a background in content creation, media relations, digital marketing, food & beverage and retail industries. He was hired as an intern and within two months, was promoted to an Account Coordinator. In a short amount of time, Gabriel has been given the opportunity to delve deep into all things PR. Whether it was building influencer relations, creating media lists, pitching to outlets or even traveling to Los Angeles to support the Double Forte team at E3 2019, Gabriel continues to adapt well under pressure while always staying positive.

Previously, he had worked as a Media Relations Intern at the Commonwealth Club of California located right off the Embarcadero in San Francisco. As a current six-year employee at Starbucks, he is the winner of the 2018 District Barista Championship and a Partner of the Quarter recipient. A graduate of San Jose State University, Gabriel received a BA in Public Relations with an academic focus in Photography. Currently, Gabriel resides in the East Bay, with a planned move to the city in the next year.

What you will learn in this episode:

What causes celebrity fascination and why we revel in their downfall
A brief history of Britney Spears’s conservatorship and how the #FreeBritney movement came to be
What drove Gabriel to write his blog about Britney Spears and all of the misinformation surrounding her situation
Why it’s crucial to stay relevant and curious in the field of public relations
How the way we speak about female celebrities directly affects the way that we speak about all women
Why it’s important to encourage people to be who they are, both in the workplace and in the world

Resources:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/gabrielmunoz21
Website: portfolium.com/gabruul

Lisette Paras is the president & founder of Gravitate PR, a marketing communications firm that specializes in transforming high-growth technology companies into category leaders. Lisette has a wide breadth of experience in a career that’s spanned in-house corporate, multinational, and boutique PR agencies, working primarily with enterprise technology brands. She started her career in Australia, where she led Asia Pacific regional PR campaigns before moving to the Bay Area a decade ago.

What you will learn in this episode:

How to help clients distinguish between urgency and reality
Why it’s important to ensure your message stays relevant for all audiences and regions
Why you need people who know each industry and stay current on related trends
The importance of staying curious and asking questions in a PR career
What Lisette’s process looks like with her clients, and why she emphasizes an in-depth kickoff
The pros and cons of being an in-house PR professional as opposed to an agency

Resources:

Website: gravitatepr.com
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/lisetteparas
Twitter: https://twitter.com/misslisette

Jen is a champion of the midlife woman and a cheerleader for ALL women. She’s an entrepreneur, life and business coach for women, podcaster, and motivational speaker. She puts women first and lets them know they are Not Too F***ing Old!™ to have the life and business they desire. Jen hosts The Jen Marples Show podcast, which was recently featured in Marin Magazine. The show is dedicated to helping and inspiring midlife female entrepreneurs to achieve the business and life they desire. Jen is an accomplished 25+ years marketing executive who ran her successful, SF-based firm, Koa Communications, for 12 years. She’s been helping women for decades achieve life and career success and currently offers 1×1 private coaching, workshops, and events and is a frequent speaker around the Bay Area. She also sits on the board of the Sparkle Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to serving struggling, single working moms.

What you will learn in this episode:

Why it was important for Jen to make her personality front and center in her new business
The importance of authenticity and speaking your truth to find the right people for your business
Why “limiting language” can actually attract people if it’s paired with self-awareness and matching actions
How trying to appeal to everyone with generalized language can hurt your business
Jen’s advice to people who are afraid of using tough language in their business

Resources:

Website: www.jenmarples.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/245742097240264/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenmarples/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenmarples/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jen_marples

Lee McEnany Caraher is the founder and CEO of Double Forte, a national public relations and communication agency, based in San Francisco, that works with beloved consumer, technology, and wine brands. Lee is a highly sought-after communications expert known for her business building acumen and insights. She’s a straight talker with a big laugh that gets her out of more trouble than it creates.

Lee is also an acclaimed author and speaker and a recognized expert on creating high performing, positive, intergenerational workplaces. Through her work, she shows companies and non-profit organizations how to embrace the qualities of different generations, reduce negative dynamics between people, and how to recognize the significant benefits of shifting the definition of loyalty from a long tenure of employment to a lifetime of allegiance regardless of employment status.

Lee is active in her community and sits on the Board of Governors of Public Advocates and the Executive Board of Wisconsin Farm Technology Days, 2021. She recently served as Secretary on the Board of Directors of the PR Council, the national trade association for Public Relations agencies. She previously served on the boards of KQED Public Media, San Francisco’s Grace Cathedral, Community Gatepath, and St. Paul’s Choir School, among others. A graduate of Carleton College, Lee has a degree in medieval history which she finds useful every day – especially during a pandemic. She splits her time between San Francisco, Eau Claire, and New York.

What you will learn in this episode:

What unsolicited emails say about you, even if it’s part of your job to send cold emails
Why breaking the rules of email structure to get engagement gets you ignored
How the tactics you employ to get someone’s attention speaks for you
What a good email communication looks like
The history of communication in the workplace
Why you should do research on someone before sending an unsolicited email

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher

Tom Tonkin is the CEO and Founder of The Conservatory Group, an organization that provides high-touch services to business executives that want to improve themselves, their team, and their environment.

Tom has over 25 years of experience working as an executive in Corporate America. His industry background includes Healthcare, Insurance, and Telecommunications, with a focus on organizational behaviors. He holds a Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership from Regent University (Virginia Beach, VA) and a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership, with honors, with a focus on Leadership and Management from Regis University (Denver, CO). He has also received multiple business certifications and is a leadership expert.

What you will learn in this episode:

Why musicians make great coworkers and communicators
How you can mold your identity through behaviors and communication
The importance of context when deciding your identity
Why you need to look at the behaviors of those you admire to reflect their identity
How knowing who you are makes work and life more efficient
Why sincerity is more important for building relationships than authenticity

Resources:

Website: https://salesconservatory.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drtomtonkin/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrTomTonkin

Billie delivers a coaching experience that transforms how an actor acts and business people communicate. Clients have said, “It seems she has a mysterious or supernatural power that influences the creativity, confidence, and best abilities of a speaker or performer. What Billie does is magical.”

Billie has been a professional actor for over forty years, appearing in lead roles in Equity productions, featured television appearances, and numerous national and regional commercials. An acting coach for decades, she founded two acting academies and five acting workshops in four states. Billie has produced and hosted guest-artist workshops including such notable instructors as Academy Award winner Alan Arkin.

Twenty years ago Billie had an idea. She founded Billie Shepard & Associates, leveraging her acting experience and unique training methods into the business arena; transforming corporate speakers into influential leaders. Her clients include Facebook, Uber, Intuit, Rackspace, as well as many financial and medical research companies. This March Billie had another idea! She merged her presentation-training methods with the virtual needs of our times and created a powerful blend of the two; training business people how to enhance their on-camera VIRTUAL presentation and leadership skills.

Her book, The Billie Shepard Presentation Method, which describes her coaching methods and participant breakthrough stories of success, is available on Amazon.

What you will learn in this episode:

How improv can help you become a more adaptive communicator
How to utilize the “gifts” Zoom provides to captivate your virtual audience
Why intention is the most important tool for communicating
Why you should never plan to present the same way you rehearse
The importance of adapting to your audience while presenting
Where you can get Billie’s book, The Billie Shepard Presentation Method

Resources:

Websites:
- http://www.billieshepard.com/intro/
- http://www.billieshepard.com/about-us/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/billie-shepard-59b3534/

Don’t be fooled by the name, the hair color, or crazy shoes. Michael Sherlock is serious about business. She is dedicated to creating positive, productive, and profitable workplaces, and helping individuals, and businesses unlock their ultimate potential.

Before launching her global training company, Shock Your Potential, Michael was Vice President of US Sales for two multi-national medical device companies, responsible for net revenue exceeding $75 million and as many as 500 employees at a time. Michael was also chosen as #12 of the Top Female Entrepreneurs to Watch in 2021 by EnterpriseLeague.com, is part of the Big 50 Top Entrepreneurs to Watch in 2022 by Success Sisters Magazine, and is a frequent media expert concerning hiring and employee management on local and national news outlets such as 6ABC in Philadelphia and Daily Blast Live.

What you will learn in this episode:

Why the best leaders listen and learn before they lead
How the phrase “tell me more” can make your team better problem solvers
How to improve your sales strategy by solving instead of selling
The importance of being vulnerable as a leader
Michael’s “Urgency Structure,” and how it has led to better internal communications

Resources:

Website: shockyourpotential.com
shockyourmediapotential.com
shockyourpotentialbookstore.com
kukuabiz.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MichaelSherlockSpeaks
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelasherlock
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MichaelSSpeaks

Robert L. Dilenschneider formed The Dilenschneider Group in October 1991. Prior to forming his own firm, Mr. Dilenschneider served as president and chief executive officer of Hill and Knowlton, Inc. from 1986 to 1991.

He has counseled major corporations, professional groups, trade associations and educational institutions, and has assisted clients in dealings with regulatory agencies, labor unions, consumer groups and minorities, among others.

Mr. Dilenschneider has authored 17 books — including the best-selling Power and Influence, A Briefing for Leaders, On Power, The Critical 14 Years of Your Professional Life, Moses: C.E.O — and The Critical 2nd Phase of your Professional Life. Most recently, he published 50 Plus!—Critical Career Decisions for the Rest of Your Life.

Mr. Dilenschneider started in public relations in 1967 in New York, shortly after receiving an M.A. in journalism from Ohio State University, and a B.A. from the University of Notre Dame.

What you will learn in this episode:

How the constant changes in our society impact the ways we communicate
How Robert’s book, The Public Relations Handbook, helps PR professionals navigate the 2020’s and beyond
The role of corporations in our society, and what that implies for communicators within these corporations
What the scope of work looks like for a PR professional today, and how we can learn to adapt
Why we use measurements in PR, and what Robert views as the most important thing to measure
What is “pay to play” content, and why do PR professionals have to be careful about how they approach it
Robert’s advice for those looking to get into PR as a career

Resources:

Website: robertldilenschneider.com
Robert’s book: The Public Relations Handbook

Dina Denham Smith knows what it takes to make it in changing environments – we can all use her wisdom right now! Dina is the founder and owner of Cognitas, an executive and team coaching firm. Her clients include premier brands such as Adobe, Netflix, PwC, Gap, Dropbox, Stripe, and numerous high-growth start-ups. She specializes in helping her clients lead and thrive in fast-paced, constantly changing, and uncertain environments.

Earlier in her career, Dina was a management consultant with PwC and led numerous teams and projects to help companies scale and implement large-scale strategic change. Following that, she held executive-level positions at both a digital marketing agency and a private equity firm.

In her coaching practice, Dina helps leaders and teams solve their most pressing challenges, enhance their effectiveness, and capitalize on untapped opportunities.

Dina is a regular contributor to HBR, Fast Company, and Forbes, writing about leadership and strategies for high performance.

What you will learn in this episode:

How to recover from making a mistake at work
The difference between intent and impact – and why it matters in an apology
Why it’s essential to ask for feedback when making amends
How to communicate with a colleague who says “yes” but means “no”
Why what you say is just as important as how you say it
How to respectfully say “no” to your boss

Resources:

Website: https://www.dinadsmith.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dina-denham-smith-11699/
Twitter: @DinaDSmith

Joel Schwartberg is a presentation skills ninja who shares his incredible experience and expertise generously for a wide range of organizations and companies. Currently Senior Director of Strategic and Executive Communications for a major U.S. nonprofit, Joel Schwartzberg teaches effective presentation techniques to clients including American Express, State Farm Insurance, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Comedy Central, and the Brennan Center for Justice. Joel’s books include The Language of Leadership and Get to the Point! and his articles appear in Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, CNBC, and Toastmaster Magazine. A frequent conference presenter and workshop leader, Joel is also a former National Champion competitive public speaker who was inducted into the National Forensic Association Hall of Fame. Follow him on Twitter @TheJoelTruth or contact him at www.joelschwartzberg.net

What you will learn in this episode:

3 Tips for how to effectively participate in a video call
How raising your volume increases your positive impression
The importance of knowing the point you want to make and reverse-engineering your presentation to center around it
Why you should always aim to make an impact with your communications
The power of words, and tactics you can use to appear more confident and competent
Why you should consistently build your communication around what your audience needs to hear rather than what you want to say

Resources:

Website: https://www.joelschwartzberg.net
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joelbschwartzberg/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joelschwartzberg/
Book: Get To the Point
Book: The Language of Leadership
Twitter: @TheJoelTruth

Tiffany Castagno is CEO & Founder of CEPHR, LLC, an HR Consultancy Firm in Pittsburgh, PA. Their mission includes supporting Start-ups and Non-profits through focused partnering. They assist in building out their client’s programs, processes, policies, procedures, and infrastructures to develop a strong employer brand and culture.

Tiffany is extremely passionate about cultivating the evolution of the HR profession toward new strategic heights. She has practiced Human Resources for 14 years and enjoys volunteering her time in the Community.

Tiffany is also a co-author of Can a Zebra Change Its Stripes?, a children’s book in the series Bruno’s Amazing Adventures. In addition to running a super successful business, one of Tiffany’s missions is to change the world, one child at a time.

What you will learn in this episode:

How bringing your authentic self to work increases your performance
The unintended message leaders convey when they do not allow employees to express their emotions in the workplace
What beneficial environment leaders cultivate when they provide employees space to express themselves emotionally
How allowing employees to express themselves improves productivity
How human resources can use their position to empower and maximize human potential
What the future of work looks like in a post-pandemic world

Resources:

Website: https://www.cephrconsulting.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cephrllc
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiffanycastagno/
Twitter: @castagno_tmc

Elizabeth Bachman is THE go-to person for advanced level training in Speaking, Presentation Skills, Sales, and Leadership.

With a lifetime spent perfecting the art of presenting, she helps high-level clients master a message that brings the funding they need, the allies they want, and the recognition they deserve.

A nationally and internationally sought-after speaker and strategist in Silicon Valley, Elizabeth works with leaders and influencers who need to become concise and compelling presenters. She helps them present as smart, down-to-earth, friendly, and even funny – while still being taken seriously.

Elizabeth is also the host of the international podcast: Speakers Who Get Results, where she interviews experts on presentation skills, leadership, visibility, and cross-cultural communication.

Having spent over 30 years directing such luminaries as Luciano Pavarotti & Placido Domingo in more than 50 operas around the world, Elizabeth brings a wealth of tools to help business professionals become respected presenters. Fluent in 5 languages, she brings her global experience to her clients.

What you will learn in this episode:

How the glass ceiling affects women in business, and the skills you need to overcome it
Valuable tips for addressing a language barrier when speaking or presenting
Elizabeth’s advice for giving a memorable and engaging speech
How Elizabeth takes communications from “boring to bravo”
The difference between single-focused and multi-focused people, and how it impacts women in particular
Why it’s helpful for women to have allies in the room, and how we can work to help each other be heard

Resources:

Website: https://elizabethbachman.com/podcast/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StrategicSpeakingForResults
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethbachman/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/StrategicSpkg4

As the Chief Content Officer for Double Forte, Liz combines her PR, marketing and writing skills to counsel clients on their content and social media strategies and to maintain the editorial calendar and voice for the agency. Over the years she has worked as the Vice President of Marketing for an international flooring company and led media and communications programs for a range of clients from Fortune 100 companies to early-stage startups in the technology, consumer and professional services industries.

An award-winning writer, Liz is the author of two books about the challenges of working women balancing career and caregiving. She is also active in the influencer community: Liz runs an online community with thousands of members, and her first blog was named one of the Best Blogs for Women by Fortune Magazine several years in a row.
Liz is active in her community and serves on her town’s Finance and Warrant Committee. She is also committed to supporting other women and co-founded both SheStarts, an organization for women entrepreneurs, as well as Women In Democracy-Dedham, a non-partisan group that seeks to engage more women in local politics.

What you will learn in this episode:

Why context is vital for every aspect of communication
How context ties into client services and PR
Tips for keeping context front and center – even in long email chains
How to utilize context in social media strategy
The importance of asking “why” as much as possible

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher

Leslie Van Every is a marcom maven/writer/crafter extraordinaire/mama/lover of all things vintage except vintage beliefs. With more than 20+ years of marketing communications and writing experience, Leslie is invested in helping teach others the power of the written word. Currently, she’s the head of content and communications for Future Family, a company dedicated to helping people afford fertility treatment. As a woman of color whose father was deeply committed to Civil Rights, Leslie picked up the torch and founded Solidarity Sundays; a nationwide activist community started in January 2016 that is still going strong with hundreds of monthly in-person and online meetings.

What you will learn in this episode:

The importance of clear and consistent messaging in communications
Leslie’s efficient process of getting to a positioning statement
Why it’s essential to incorporate a human element into your content strategy
Leslie’s recommendations that can help anyone getting started in communications become stronger in their craft
How a background in communications helped Leslie become an effective activist
Themportance of positioning yourself to be in charge of ordering dessert (pro tip: order everything on the dessert menu)

Resources:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leslievanevery/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/futurefamilyfertility

Debra Roberts, LCSW is an author, conversation expert, trauma consultant, and developer of The Relationship Protocol communication model. Debra’s practical approach can be used for interactions from the boardroom to conversations across your kitchen table.

What you will learn in this episode:

Who Debra Roberts is, and how she uses her background in social work and EMDR therapy to improve communications in the workplace
How 2020 caused businesses to shift their mindset around mental health in the workplace
Debra’s four steps for managing employee conflict in a compassionate and effective way
How Debra’s outline for effective communication can help people speak in a more thoughtful way
Debra’s two pieces of advice for anyone wanting to become a better communicator today

Resources:

Website https://www.therelationshipprotocol.com
The Communication Protocol System: https://www.therelationshipprotocol.com/the-communication-protocol
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheRelationshipProtocol
Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debra-roberts-99b620b3/

Greg Chiemingo is an experienced communications expert who brings his special blend humor, precision, and prescience to every situation. A 25+ year veteran working with pioneering technologies and platforms, he’s been at the edge of innovation for almost his entire career. He led communications for Sega’s first online gaming networks, launched Xbox Live for Microsoft, and introduced the world to the first three generations of Microsoft’s Surface tablet computer. Since returning to the Bay Area from Seattle in 2016, he’s worked with a wide range of startups bringing AI, ML, and edge computing systems to multiple industries. Greg is most excited about AR as a platform to bring more equitable access to technology for people everywhere and change the way people experience our shared world. He has an M.A. from Emerson College in professional writing and B.A. from Rutgers University in English.

What you will learn in this episode:

How Greg moved through his career and his take on the future of augmented reality technology
The importance of accessibility in technology and how Greg and his team are challenging the industry to make technology accessible for all audiences
Greg’s opinions on intrusive marketing and how the use of personal data needs to shift
Why the success of a company is its greatest marketing tool, and how Greg uses this knowledge to recruit top talent

Resources:

Website: https://lightship.dev/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/greg.chiemingo
Twitter: @gchiemingo
Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gchiemingo

Laurie Gilbertson is a former New York City sex crimes, organized crime, and homicide prosecutor, television legal analyst, educator, and entrepreneur. As the owner of Tribeca Blue Consulting, she helps professionals communicate with clarity, confidence, and creativity in their public speaking, presentations, trial work, and media appearances.

What you will learn in this episode:

Laurie Gilbertson’s background and how she went from an NYC prosecutor to a business owner and communication consultant
How Laurie’s skills from the courtroom directly translate to essential skills needed in the boardroom
Laurie’s process for taking on new clients and how she sets them up for success
The importance of storytelling and tips from Laurie on how to be an excellent storyteller
Laurie’s three most important skills she learned as a prosecutor and how you can use them to be an effective communicator

Resources:

Website: www.tribecablueconsulting.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauriegilbertson/

Lee McEnany Caraher is the founder and CEO of Double Forte, a national public relations and communication agency, based in San Francisco, that works with beloved consumer, technology, and wine brands. Lee is a highly sought-after communications expert known for her business-building acumen and insights. She’s a straight talker with a big laugh that gets her out of more trouble than it creates. Lee is also an acclaimed author and speaker and a recognized expert on creating high-performing, positive, intergenerational workplaces. Through her work, she shows companies and non-profit organizations how to embrace the qualities of different generations, reduce negative dynamics between people, and how to recognize the significant benefits of shifting the definition of loyalty from a long tenure of employment to a lifetime of allegiance regardless of employment status. Lee is active in her community and sits on the Board of Governors of Public Advocates and the Executive Board of Wisconsin Farm Technology Days, 2021. She recently served as Secretary on the Board of Directors of the PR Council, the national trade association for Public Relations agencies. She previously served on the boards of KQED Public Media, San Francisco’s Grace Cathedral, Community Gatepath, and St. Paul’s Choir School, among others. A graduate of Carleton College, Lee has a degree in medieval history which she finds useful every day – especially during a pandemic. She splits her time between San Francisco, Eau Claire, and New York. What you will learn in this episode:

How acronyms actually add time to your day
Why it’s essential to speak inclusively and use language everyone can understand
How using acronyms in business can lead to resentment and exclusion
How acronyms in conversation can cause listeners to lose attention
The importance of speaking up if someone is using jargon in conversation

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher

Rob Castaneda found his passion for technology and training as a 17-year old, working on the Sydney helpdesk of a Silicon Valley software company. Within three years he had worked in various departments of the company, ranging from pre-sales, training, and support to research & development. In 2000, Rob moved to Silicon Valley to work for a startup, and also contributed to and co-authored several books and publications related to Enterprise Java. In 2001, Rob started his company ServiceRocket, which is headquartered in Palo Alto, California and has grown to more than 170 employees worldwide with offices in the U.S., Australia, Chile, and Malaysia. Rob’s leadership style of thinking team and sharing knowledge is part of what has helped him build a successful global company, completely boot-strapped, having received no VC funding, and has most recently landed him a spot in the Silicon Valley’s Top 40 under 40.

ServiceRocket is a unique Customer Success company focused on ensuring enterprises and users successfully incorporate software into their businesses and lives – so they use it, love it and buy more. Through training, utilization and support, ServiceRocket creates long-lasting, loyal relationships between software companies, enterprises and their software by delivering these elements to enable customer success.

What you will learn in this episode:

Rob Castaneda’s background and how he has built his business around empathy, communication, and meaningful relationships
How Rob fosters belonging in his company through t-shirts, mantras, and the “rocketeer” title
The methods Rob uses to keep his employees feeling connected and motivated despite cultural differences
Why Rob spends over a third of his time focused solely on communicating with his employees
How ServiceRocket uses the Kolbe personality test to understand their employees and the best communication methods to use based on the results
The importance of thinking from the bottom-up and why companies need to be open to adapting

Resources:

Website: https://medium.com/@robertcastaneda
Website: https://www.servicerocket.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robertcastaneda
Twitter: @robertcastaneda
Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertcastaneda

Victoria is the Founder & CEO of Dewpoint Communications, Inc., a firm focused on helping people-powered businesses communicate better with their employees every day. Victoria works with clients ranging from high-growth startups to Fortune 50 companies.

Her global business experience includes more than 15 years of internal communications and engagement expertise. She has served as a trusted strategic advisor to dozens of CEOs and executives in 15+ industries & sectors.

Victoria is highly regarded as an expert in leading employee experience and future of work in the communications profession. She has published research on the subject, and is a sought-after speaker and facilitator.

She is also a certified Strategic Communications Management Professional (SCMP,) the highest global communications certification available and the only professional communications certification in the world to achieve ANSI ISO 17024. She holds a BA from Skidmore College, and an MA from Kings College London, as well as a PG Dip in Communications Management from Massey University and a Cert MS in Business Administration from Victoria University Wellington.

Victoria is also a global Past Chair of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC.)

What you will learn in this episode:

How Victoria’s international experience helped her be super valuable and understand employee communication
Why employee communications are so vital to the success of any business
Victoria’s breakdown needs hierarchy and how it can guide companies to communicate effectively
The cultural difference between generations, and how shifting communications can help retention rate with millennials and younger generations
How to get through to executives to make them understand the importance of employee communication
Why we are currently experiencing a “once-in-a-generation” opportunity to rethink communications in the workplace
Victoria’s advice for one new practice you can implement today to be a better communicator with your employees

Resources:

Website: Download our Insights Report: The New Rules of Employee Experience & Communications
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dewvictoria/

Lee McEnany Caraher is the founder and CEO of Double Forte, a national public relations and communication agency, based in San Francisco, that works with beloved consumer, technology, and wine brands. Lee is a highly sought-after communications expert known for her business-building acumen and insights. She’s a straight talker with a big laugh that gets her out of more trouble than it creates.

Lee is also an acclaimed author and speaker and a recognized expert on creating high-performing, positive, intergenerational workplaces. Through her work, she shows companies and non-profit organizations how to embrace the qualities of different generations, reduce negative dynamics between people, and how to recognize the significant benefits of shifting the definition of loyalty from a long tenure of employment to a lifetime of allegiance regardless of employment status.

Lee is active in her community and sits on the Board of Governors of Public Advocates and the Executive Board of Wisconsin Farm Technology Days. She recently served as Secretary on the Board of Directors of the PR Council, the national trade association for Public Relations agencies. She previously served on the boards of KQED Public Media, San Francisco’s Grace Cathedral, Community Gatepath, and St. Paul’s Choir School, among others. A graduate of Carleton College, Lee has a degree in medieval history which she finds useful every day – especially during a pandemic. She splits her time between San Francisco, Eau Claire, and New York.

What you will learn in this episode:

Why keeping in touch with former employees can be advantageous to your business
How policies against rehiring can hurt your business
Why it’s vital to create a corporate alumni program and how to run it successfully
What an employee returning to your company says to current employees and those looking to work at your company

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher

When teams need to change, Sarah Noll Wilson gives them the tools to steer their own ship.

Sarah Noll Wilson is on a mission to help leaders build and rebuild teams. Her goal is to empower leaders to understand and honor the beautiful complexity of the humans they serve. Through her work as an executive coach, an in-demand keynote speaker, researcher, and soon-to-be author, Sarah helps leaders close the gap between what they intend to do and the actual impact they make. Sarah creates a safe, honest environment, preparing people to deal with real-world conflict, have more meaningful conversations, and create purposeful relationships. Working with CEOs, HR leaders, and organizations that care deeply about their employees and understand the connection between employee development, employee satisfaction, and organizational success, Sarah specializes in transforming relationships from good to great.

With 15+ years in leadership development, Sarah earned a Master’s Degree from Drake University in Leadership Development and a BA from the University of Northern Iowa in Theatre Performance and Theatre Education – no wonder clients love the energy she brings to their teams! She is certified in Co-Active Coaching, Conversational Intelligence, and is a frequent guest lecturer at universities. When she isn’t helping people build and rebuild relationships, she enjoys playing games with her husband Nick and cuddling with their two fur babies, Seymour and Sally.

What you will learn in this episode:

How to use conversations as a tool for connection, rather than as a transaction
What curiosity means and how to use it to have more meaningful and empathetic conversations
How to network effectively by treating it as an opportunity to truly get to know people
How to handle conversations in conflict and make them productive
What are regrettable events and how to navigate them
How to navigate conversations around change
How to communicate during a crisis situation

Resources:

Email: hello@sarahnollwilson.com
Subscribe to Sarah’s Newsletter: https://sarahnollwilson.com/signup/
Webinar: What’s Next? Creating Possibilities for Your Post-Covid (Work) Life
Website: www.sarahnollwilson.com/
LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahnollwilson
- www.linkedin.com/company/sarahnollwilson
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SarahNollWilsonInc
Twitter: www.twitter.com/sarahnollwilson

Lee McEnany Caraher is the founder and CEO of Double Forte, a national public relations and communication agency, based in San Francisco, that works with beloved consumer, technology, and wine brands. Lee is a highly sought-after communications expert known for her business-building acumen and insights. She’s a straight talker with a big laugh that gets her out of more trouble than it creates.

Lee is also an acclaimed author and speaker and a recognized expert on creating high-performing, positive, intergenerational workplaces. Through her work, she shows companies and non-profit organizations how to embrace the qualities of different generations, reduce negative dynamics between people, and how to recognize the significant benefits of shifting the definition of loyalty from a long tenure of employment to a lifetime of allegiance regardless of employment status.

Lee is active in her community and sits on the Board of Governors of Public Advocates and the Executive Board of Wisconsin Farm Technology Days, 2021. She recently served as Secretary on the Board of Directors of the PR Council, the national trade association for Public Relations agencies. She previously served on the boards of KQED Public Media, San Francisco’s Grace Cathedral, Community Gatepath, and St. Paul’s Choir School, among others. A graduate of Carleton College, Lee has a degree in medieval history which she finds useful every day – especially during a pandemic. She splits her time between San Francisco, Eau Claire, and New York.

What you will learn in this episode:

How simplifying your language will make you a powerful communicator
Two ways to simplify your language
How to simplify your communication with a clear intent and direction
How you can provide positive feedback that helps people progress
How and why to remove any extraneous language to be understood

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher

Lee McEnany Caraher is the founder and CEO of Double Forte, a national public relations and communication agency, based in San Francisco, that works with beloved consumer, technology, and wine brands. Lee is a highly sought-after communications expert known for her business-building acumen and insights. She’s a straight talker with a big laugh that gets her out of more trouble than it creates.

Lee is also an acclaimed author and speaker and a recognized expert on creating high-performing, positive, intergenerational workplaces. Through her work, she shows companies and non-profit organizations how to embrace the qualities of different generations, reduce negative dynamics between people, and how to recognize the significant benefits of shifting the definition of loyalty from a long tenure of employment to a lifetime of allegiance regardless of employment status.

Lee is active in her community and sits on the Board of Governors of Public Advocates and the Executive Board of Wisconsin Farm Technology Days, 2021. She recently served as Secretary on the Board of Directors of the PR Council, the national trade association for Public Relations agencies. She previously served on the boards of KQED Public Media, San Francisco’s Grace Cathedral, The Marine Mammal Center, Community Gatepath, and St. Paul’s Choir School, among others. A graduate of Carleton College, Lee has a degree in medieval history which she finds useful every day – especially during a pandemic. She splits her time between San Francisco, Eau Claire, and New York.

What you will learn in this episode:

What is ghosting, and how eliminating it can help improve your business
How leaving people hanging hurts your reputation
Why you should prioritize communicating with the people who are closest to you
How being predictable can benefit your business
Why is a monthly or weekly newsletter the most important way to communicate in your business
How your communication can help you achieve your goals in 2022

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher

Lee McEnany Caraher is the founder and CEO of Double Forte, a national public relations and communication agency, based in San Francisco, that works with beloved consumer, technology, and wine brands. Lee is a highly sought-after communications expert known for her business-building acumen and insights. She’s a straight talker with a big laugh that gets her out of more trouble than it creates.

Lee is also an acclaimed author and speaker and a recognized expert on creating high-performing, positive, intergenerational workplaces. Through her work, she shows companies and non-profit organizations how to embrace the qualities of different generations, reduce negative dynamics between people, and how to recognize the significant benefits of shifting the definition of loyalty from a long tenure of employment to a lifetime of allegiance regardless of employment status.

Lee is active in her community and sits on the Board of Governors of Public Advocates and the Executive Board of Wisconsin Farm Technology Days, 2021. She recently served as Secretary on the Board of Directors of the PR Council, the national trade association for Public Relations agencies. She previously served on the boards of KQED Public Media, San Francisco’s Grace Cathedral, Community Gatepath, and St. Paul’s Choir School, among others. A graduate of Carleton College, Lee has a degree in medieval history which she finds useful every day – especially during a pandemic. She splits her time between San Francisco, Eau Claire, and New York.

What you will learn in this episode:

Why getting bad publicity is not PR’s fault, but a bad business decision
How a good intention with bad execution can result in bad publicity
Why it is not the PR representative’s job to cover up bad decisions
What are the two ways you can respond to bad publicity
Why it’s especially important to be authentic in our current world
What happens when you respond to criticism with defensiveness
How the timing of your bad decisions can impact the judgment that you receive

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher

Lee McEnany Caraher is the founder and CEO of Double Forte, a national public relations and communication agency, based in San Francisco, that works with beloved consumer, technology, and wine brands. Lee is a highly sought-after communications expert known for her business-building acumen and insights. She’s a straight talker with a big laugh that gets her out of more trouble than it creates.

Lee is also an acclaimed author and speaker and a recognized expert on creating high-performing, positive, intergenerational workplaces. Through her work, she shows companies and non-profit organizations how to embrace the qualities of different generations, reduce negative dynamics between people, and how to recognize the significant benefits of shifting the definition of loyalty from a long tenure of employment to a lifetime of allegiance regardless of employment status.

Lee is active in her community and sits on the Board of Governors of Public Advocates and the Executive Board of Wisconsin Farm Technology Days, 2021. She recently served as Secretary on the Board of Directors of the PR Council, the national trade association for Public Relations agencies. She previously served on the boards of KQED Public Media, San Francisco’s Grace Cathedral, Community Gatepath, and St. Paul’s Choir School, among others. A graduate of Carleton College, Lee has a degree in medieval history which she finds useful every day – especially during a pandemic. She splits her time between San Francisco, Eau Claire, and New York.

What you will learn in this episode:

How stories help people to remember things
Why storytelling is one of the best and most efficient things you can do
What questions can you ask yourself to find your businesses best stories
Why facts and figures are essential parts of your stories
How to help people connect with facts and figures during a presentation with storytelling

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher

Kristen Link is an Executive Public Speaking Coach and storyteller in Silicon Valley. After earning a computer science degree from Fitchburg State University, she began her career in Silicon Valley at Hewlett Packard, she began in technical roles and sales and marketing before moving into leadership training. Her varied jobs often included conveying technical information to non-technical audiences. The skills she learned about storytelling and simplifying information are the foundation of what I share with Double Forte’s clients.

She works with global business leaders at Amazon, eBay, Intuit, Palo Alto Networks, Stanford Graduate School of Business, TEDx San Francisco, The Hershey Company, VMware, Zoom, etc. She offers workshops, one-on-one coaching, and team coaching. Kristin can often be found deeply listening to her clients, honored to hear their stories, and helping them create meaningful change.

What you will learn in this episode:

How to lead with the conclusion to hook your audience fast
Focus on the impact of your story, what’s the big take-away
How to become more confident when public speaking or presenting
Stop using jargon and acronyms – tips and practices to get rid of them
Why technical talk doesn’t belong in your presentation or pitch technical
Why you should attempt to answer questions with a clear headline

Resources:

Website: https://kristinlinkcoaching.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristinlink1/

Daniel Lemin (like lemon) is a digital reputation, online reviews and word-of-mouth advisor, and bestselling author with an affinity for gin, jazz, and dogs. His most recent book, Talk Triggers, is co-authored with Jay Baer and explores the world of word-of-mouth advocacy.

What you will learn in this episode:

How to handle clients who would prefer to pay for word-of-mouth
How to steer conversations that you ultimately cannot control
What are talk triggers in B2B businesses, and why it’s more important in B2B than B2C
Why a talk trigger can’t be fake, and how they differ from stunts
What are the four parts of a talk trigger
Why listening to your customers is scary and essential for marketers

Resources:

Website: https://www.talktriggers.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniellemin/

Lee McEnany Caraher is the founder and CEO of Double Forte, a national public relations and communication agency, based in San Francisco, that works with beloved consumer, technology, and wine brands. Lee is a highly sought-after communications expert known for her business building acumen and insights. She’s a straight talker with a big laugh that gets her out of more trouble than it creates.

Lee is also an acclaimed author and speaker and a recognized expert on creating high performing, positive, intergenerational workplaces. Through her work, she shows companies and non-profit organizations how to embrace the qualities of different generations, reduce negative dynamics between people, and how to recognize the significant benefits of shifting the definition of loyalty from a long tenure of employment to a lifetime of allegiance regardless of employment status.

Lee is active in her community and sits on the Board of Governors of Public Advocates and the Executive Board of Wisconsin Farm Technology Days, 2021. She recently served as Secretary on the Board of Directors of the PR Council, the national trade association for Public Relations agencies. She previously served on the boards of KQED Public Media, San Francisco’s Grace Cathedral, Community Gatepath, and St. Paul’s Choir School, among others. A graduate of Carleton College, Lee has a degree in medieval history which she finds useful every day – especially during a pandemic. She splits her time between San Francisco, Eau Claire, and New York.

What you will learn in this episode:

What does it mean to be an empathetic leader, and how can empathy help your business thrive
What does being empathetic say about you
What qualities illustrate empathy in the workplace
How empathetic leadership reduces stress, even in hard times
Why empathetic leadership leads to employee retention and increased performance
The “We,” not “Me,” approach to employee relationships

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher

Sabrina Horn is an award-winning CEO, communications expert, and C-suite advisor. She is also a bestselling author of Make It, Don’t Fake It: Leading with Authenticity for Real Business Success (Berrett-Koehler, June 2021). Her career is highlighted by 25 years as Founder, CEO, and President of Horn Group, the iconic U.S. tech communications agency she founded in Silicon Valley at age 29. Her firm counseled thousands of tech executives and their companies through rapid growth, category creation, brand transformation, global expansion, IPOs and acquisitions, pivots, and crisis matters.

Sabrina sold Horn Group in 2015 to Finn Partners, a global marketing agency, and was appointed Managing Partner of their Technology Practice. She is currently CEO of HORN Strategy, LLC, a consulting firm focused on helping entrepreneurs and CEOs navigate the early stages of their start-up companies. Horn currently holds board member and advisory seats for: 4CRisk.ai, Boston University Alumni Council, Dieu Donné, Dogly.com, Illuminate Ventures, KloudGin, and The Jordan Edmiston Group. Horn has a B.A. in American Studies from Hobart/William Smith Colleges and an M.S. in Public Relations from Boston University. She has two amazing daughters Grace and Christina, and two very large golden doodles.

What you will learn in this episode:

How the concept of faking it until you make it began
Why faking it until you make it is a bad mantra
How to discern aspiration from white lies
Why it’s important to choose honesty during moments of pressure
What is the difference between hype and awareness
How to communicate with concise delivery
Why leaders must tirelessly talk about their core values

Resources:

Website: https://sabrinahorn.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sabrinahorn/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/horn-strategy-llc
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sabrinahorn

Tony Richardson is the Founder and CEO of Capital Catalyst Group LLC. A retired U.S. Air Force officer, he has led teams and provided valuable strategic leadership and communication strategies to C-Suite clients from the US Department of Defense, Department of State and
several major Fortune 500 companies.

Tony is a native of Columbus, Mississippi, and has a wife, Ena, and two children, TJ and Gabby. In addition to enjoying family fun time, he is an avid reader, auto and videogame enthusiast and sports fanatic.

What you will learn in this episode:

How Tony’s experience in the Air Force gives him a leg up in the commercial world
Why it’s important to ask the right questions while making decisions
What is the impossible triangle and how it provides the foundation of all communication, leadership, and influence
Why we remember leaders that remain engaged and communicate well
How challenges differ between those in the private sector and the Air Force
How those that we have relationships with influence us
Why silence is the most powerful form of communication

Resources:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh1RdxqDlBANdxfzZQJY84A
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ccgceo/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ccgceo
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ccgceo

Matt Moseley is a communication strategist, author, speaker, and holds five world records for long-distance open water swimming. Spending his career at the intersection of public policy, business and government, he is principal and CEO of the Ignition Strategy Group, which specializes in high-stakes communications and issue management for companies of all sizes. He is the author of the recent book, Ignition: Superior Communication Strategies for Creating Stronger Connections.

What you will learn in this episode:

Why our ability to communicate is our secret sauce as humans
How improv can build your communication skills
What is the meaning of the word “politics” and what you can learn from it
How do you build trust with people with whom you disagree
What three questions can help you be a better communicator
Why the hero’s cycle is the best way to learn to write a story
The three key components of a communication strategy
How can we help companies remain humble

Resources:

Book: Ignition: Superior Communication Strategies for Creating Stronger Connections
Book on Kindle: Ignition: Superior Communication Strategies for Creating Stronger Connections
Website: https://ignitionstrategygroup.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-moseley-131b6b6/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/showupmatt

Kate is a Board Director at ABD Insurance and Financial Services and a Business Advisor and Executive Coach. She is also an author and a Senior Fellow at Georgetown University.

Kate is a passionate advocate for diversity at the highest levels of business and is a firm believer that unwavering optimism can transcend even the most daunting systemic barriers in the workplace. She has spent decades as an executive coach, bringing out brilliance in leaders and their teams. Kate launched her career as a member of Palm Inc.’s founding management team before becoming a Senior Vice President at SanDisk.

She has subsequently served as CEO and COO for several start-ups and privately held companies and serves as an Independent Board Director. Kate now applies her expertise to research gender equity in the C-Suite as a Senior Industry Fellow at Georgetown University.

Kate is a guest lecturer at Stanford Graduate School of Business, University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, and Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business. She is the author of The Moonshot Effect: Disrupting Business as Usual.

What you will learn in this episode:

How your demeanor and your presence speaks for you
Why we value confidence over competence
How preparation relates to a lot of anxiety
How having composure helps you be less reactive under pressure
The difference in how men and women self-talk
How awareness helps develop a calmer presence
What three-phase process can you use to become less reactive and project confidence

Resources:

Website: https://www.composurethebook.com/
LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-purmal-922133/
- https://www.linkedin.com/company/composure-the-book
Twitter:
- https://twitter.com/purmal

After spending 25 years building software products and serving as a vice president of engineering at Adobe, Karen Catlin witnessed a sharp decline in the number of women working in tech. Frustrated but galvanized, she knew it was time to switch gears.

Today, Karen coaches women to be stronger leaders and men to be better allies. Her client roster includes Airbnb, DoorDash, eBay, Intel, and Intuit, as well as motivated entrepreneurs and individuals. Karen’s coaching offerings include tactics for increasing visibility, being more strategic, managing stakeholders, negotiation, and cultivating ally skills. Her writing on these and related topics has appeared in Inc., the Daily Beast, Fast Company, and The Muse, and she’s consulted on articles for the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and the New York Times. In late 2014, Karen started the Twitter handle @betterallies to share simple, actionable steps that anyone could take to make their workplaces more inclusive. That Twitter handle became the inspiration for her books, Better Allies®: Everyday Actions to Create Inclusive, Engaging Workplaces and The Better Allies Approach to Hiring. She continues to tweet and blog for Better Allies, and she also emails a roundup of “5 Ally Actions” to her subscribers every week.

A self-professed public speaking geek, Karen is a highly sought-after and engaging presenter who has delivered talks at hundreds of conferences and corporate events. She speaks on a variety of topics, including inclusive workplaces and women in leadership. Her TEDx talk, “Women in Tech: The Missing Force,” explores the decline in gender diversity in tech, why it’s a problem, and what can be done about it. In addition to speaking herself, Karen is determined to change the ratio for who is on stage giving keynotes and other presentations. To support her goal of bringing more diversity to speaker lineups at tech industry events, she coauthored the book Present! A Techie’s Guide to Public Speaking with Poornima Vijayashanker.

Karen is a graduate and active alum of Brown University, serving as an advisor to the university’s Computer Science Diversity Initiative and mentoring students on how to launch their careers. She’s also a member of the board of directors of DigitalNEST and on the advisory boards for the Women’s CLUB of Silicon Valley and WEST (Women Entering & Staying in Technology). In 2015, the California State Assembly honored Karen with the Wonder Women Tech Innovator Award for outstanding achievements in business and technology and for being a role model for women.

What you will learn in this episode:

Why Karen wanted to make workplaces more inclusive
How our words and our actions can speak to people about being more inclusive
What simple, everyday actions and language can we take and use to be more inclusive
What is the difference between intending to be an ally vs being an ally
How do you interject without making the perpetrator look bad
How to seek common ground before educating someone
What phrases or language is surprisingly racist or non-inclusive
What behaviors and language can we stop doing and uses to be better allies

Resources:

Website:
- https://karencatlin.com/
- https://betterallies.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kecatlin/
Twitter:
- https://twitter.com/kecatlin
- https://twitter.com/betterallies
Instagram:
- https://www.instagram.com/karencatlin/
- https://www.instagram.com/betterallies/

Kim Sample, CEO of The PR Council, the national association for public relations firms, focuses on helping the PR Councils’ 130+ member agencies thrive and elevating the PR profession overall. Before joining the PRC in August 2018, Kim was the founder/CEO of Emanate, a $35 million, 100+ person international marketing communications agency. During her tenure Emanate was named PR WEEK Agency of the Year and CRAINS Best Places to Work in NYC, and the team’s work for clients was recognized with numerous industry awards. Kim also worked at Ketchum, Marina Maher Communications, and Golin earlier in her career, and has served Fortune 500 clients across a number of industries, including financial services, travel and hospitality, CPG, and consumer electronics.

What you will learn in this episode:

What CEOs and CMOs need to understand about the function of public relations
How the rise of social media has impacted the public relations industry
Why PR professionals are great negotiators
How quickly can you tell if your PR strategy is working
What are the most important things success measurements in PR
What’s the most important for companies to do to get their message across

Resources:

Website: https://prcouncil.net/
LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/susanksample/
- https://www.linkedin.com/company/council-of-public-relations-firms/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theprcouncil/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PRCouncil

Brian K. Wright is a writing coach, ghostwriter, radio show host, and magazine publisher who helps people share their message with the world and monetize their expertise.

With extensive experience as a college instructor, Brian has created and implemented strategies to help people craft their stories. His bestselling book series, Success Profiles: Conversations With High Achievers has featured celebrities such as Kevin Harrington, Chris Powell, Jack Canfield, Marshall Sylver, Sharon Lechter, Tom Ziglar, and many more.

He has been featured on the nationally syndicated TV show, The List, as well as Entrepreneur, Authority Magazine, The Good Man Project, and numerous podcasts.

What you will learn in this episode:

What is the one thing that successful people all have in common
How successful people remain aligned towards their goals
Saying no helps you focus
What you can learn from others’ rock-bottom moments in life
How books help position someone as an expert and generate leads
Why you should use more whitespace when writing
Let your clothing speak for you too
What are you telling your friends when you ask for their work for free

Resources:

Website:
- https://briankwright.com/
- https://successprofilesmagazine.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-k-wright-25955b52/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brian.k.wright.12/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MrBriankwright

Lee McEnany Caraher is the founder and CEO of Double Forte, a national public relations and digital media agency, based in San Francisco, New York and Eau Claire, WI that works with beloved consumer, technology, and wine brands and professional services companies. Lee is a highly sought-after communications expert known for her straight-talk, practical strategic counsel, and business-building acumen. And she has a big laugh that gets her out of trouble (sometimes).

What you will learn in this episode:

What is uptalk, and how it differs from straight/declarative talk
What does uptalking say about you
How questions when they are not intended take away your power
Why do women tend to uptalk more than men
How uptalk impacts your credibility and influence
When is it okay to use uptalk
How do you stop uptalking

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher
Book: Leadership and the Art of Conversation
Book: Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High
Book: Radical Candor: How to Get What You Want by Saying What You Mean

Lee McEnany Caraher is the founder and CEO of Double Forte, a national public relations and digital media agency, based in San Francisco, New York and Eau Claire, WI that works with beloved consumer, technology, and wine brands and professional services companies. Lee is a highly sought-after communications expert known for her straight-talk, practical strategic counsel, and business-building acumen. And she has a big laugh that gets her out of trouble (sometimes).

What you will learn in this episode:

What “ghosting” says about you in business
How “ghosting” impacts your reputation
Why do people “ghost,” and do they mean to be rude
How to handle potential clients that ghosted you
Why closing the conversation helps maintain your reputation
What to do if or when you “ghost” someone

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher
Book: Leadership and the Art of Conversation
Book: Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High
Book: Radical Candor: How to Get What You Want by Saying What You Mean

Lee McEnany Caraher is the founder and CEO of Double Forte, a national public relations and digital media agency, based in San Francisco, New York and Eau Claire, WI that works with beloved consumer, technology, and wine brands and professional services companies. Lee is a highly sought-after communications expert known for her straight-talk, practical strategic counsel, and business-building acumen. And she has a big laugh that gets her out of trouble (sometimes).

What you will learn in this episode:
Respecting people is not just lip service. People know if you respect them by how you behave with them – in person, on email, by Zoom, and in Slack or text.

How you unintentionally communicate that you don’t respect your colleagues
Being late to a meeting is disrespectful and wasteful. Showing up right “on time” is late. Don’t be late.
Why having your phone out tells people you’re waiting for something better to pop up
Deadlines aren’t about you. How missing a deadline affects others.
Why you should know and stick to communication norms in your organization

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher

Lee McEnany Caraher is the founder and CEO of Double Forte, a national public relations and digital media agency, based in San Francisco, that works with beloved consumer, technology, and wine brands. Lee is a highly sought after communications expert known for her business-building acumen and insights.

What you will learn in this episode:

What it really says when you are assigned a task
How you respond to an assignment speaks loudly! How to respond well.
How one assignment impacts an entire team – how you do your assignment speaks to your team
What is the first thing you should do when you receive a task
What uncompleted work or missed deadlines says to the team
Good work lessons from Devil Wears Prada – show you respect the work, and think things through

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher

Lee McEnany Caraher is the founder and CEO of Double Forte, a national public relations and digital media agency, based in San Francisco, that works with beloved consumer, technology, and wine brands. Lee is a highly sought after communications expert known for her business building acumen and insights.

What you will learn in this episode:

Why it’s important to use language with precision
How the word ‘try’ can be perceived as bad when used in the future tense
Why you should always ask specific questions
How to speak to convey confidence
What two words should be eliminated to reduce ambiguity

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher

Amy Blaschka has made a career offering stories as a service. From her degree in film to her three decades spent branding products, places, and people, to founding her strategic writing practice, Amy has always understood the power of weaving a compelling tale. These days, she’s a social media ghostwriter (yep, that’s a thing) who helps leaders craft their stories to communicate and connect better by magnifying their reach and impact. (Think personal branding and thought leadership.) Amy also writes engaging, original, and authentic career stories for her clients to position them for success and change how others perceive, pay, partner with, and promote them. As a longtime Leadership Contributor for Forbes, Amy covers personal transformation and its impact on career growth. She also regularly creates and shares original content through her popular Illuminate Me newsletter and active social media channels.

What you will learn in this episode:

How Amy as a “Social Media Ghostwriter” helps clients with their brand and message
How Amy translates clients’ insights into key takeaways for content
Why the key to communicating effectively is in actively listening and asking questions
Why showing that you’re truly listening creates trust
Why social media content is a “long game” that pays off over time
How listening to others can amplify your own voice and impact
Why people connect to authenticity more than to perfection

Amy’s Recommended Reading: “Think Again” by Adam Grant

What Amy’s Watching: “Nobody” starring Bob Odenkirk (Better Call Saul)

Amy’s Favorite App: Apple Notes

Resources:

Subscribe to Amy’s Newsletter: www.substack.amyblaschka.com
Website: www.amyblaschka.com
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/amyblaschka/
Twitter: @amyblaschka
Forbes page: www.forbes.com/sites/amyblaschka
Instagram: www.instagram.com/amyblaschka/
Clubhouse: www.joinclubhouse.com/@amyblaschka

Shannon Adkins is a thought leader and CEO at Future State, a woman-owned, employee-owned consulting company with a triple bottom line where people get to be themselves. They bring value to their clients in Life Sciences, Technology, Healthcare and Consumer Goods by understanding the journey they are on throughout their transformation.

After years of working for startups, tech companies, and in corporate America, getting her MBA, and starting a family, Shannon decided she wanted to work somewhere where she could be fully expressed as a mom, a volunteer, and a badass business woman. So, she went back to Future State. The changes she initiated led to revenue doubling in 24 months, new offerings, new clients in new industries, new teams and leaders, and a new name, Future State. In 2015, she became the CEO and made sure to continue to grow and evolve, officially making it a B-Corp.

Shannon challenges herself to always ask “why,” and to make sure the answers contribute to creating a world that works for everyone. An eternal optimist, she believes the right team of people can find a radical solution to any problem. Weaving together the opportunity, the business needs and the collected wisdom of its stakeholders, these solutions become clear and executable strategies that lead to continual success.

What you will learn in this episode:

The difference between being in the C-suite and being a change agent in a company
Why it’s important to communicate with employees after being acquired
The benefits of having a communication plan for acquisition
Why employees leave after acquisition
How to create space for open communication with employees

Best Advice: “Love People”

Book Shannon is reading: Networked, Scaled, and Agile: A Design Strategy for Complex Organizations by Amy Kates and Greg Kesler

Great TV Shannon enjoys: The Handmaid’s Tale

Shannon’s Favorite App right now: Microsoft Teams

Resources:

Website: https://futurestate.com/
LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannonadkins/
- https://www.linkedin.com/company/future-state-ca
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/futurestateinc/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/futurestateinc

Lee McEnany Caraher is the founder and CEO of Double Forte, a national public relations and digital media agency, based in San Francisco, that works with beloved consumer, technology, and wine brands. Lee is a highly sought after communications expert known for her business building acumen and insights.

What you will learn in this episode:

Why it’s okay to bring our emotions to the workplace
When we shouldn’t try to resolve conflict
How to differentiate from facts and assumptions
How to use the Communication Wheel for conflict resolution
Why we should start conversations with facts instead of feelings

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher

Deborah Thomas-Nininger the founder of DTN Productions International, a company that provides training on all areas of international and domestic protocol specializing in “Reputation Management” and communication effectiveness.

DTN organized the international etiquette training for the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta for Coca-Cola and is a frequent subject of interviews, which often appear in publications both nationally and internationally.

Deborah brings over thirty years of business etiquette, communication and self-presentation expertise, rooted in behavioral science and successful human interaction. Her most popular topics include Grow Your Backbone, EQ, Gravitas, Presentation Skills, Reputation Management, Practicing Mindfulness, Autopilot Habits, to name a few.

Her first two books Reputation Management – Building Your Brand and Tweetables for Life will be available summer 2021 and her MiniManners series is set to launch in fall 2021.
Deborah continues to spread her contemporary approach to effective H2H (human to human) communication and social courtesies via workshops, keynotes, webinars, and podcasts.

What you will learn in this episode:

How to politely exit a conversation
The difference between men and women in the workplace
How etiquette rules differ from Boomer/Gen-X and Millennial/Gen-Z
The behaviors that people exhibit but don’t realize are rude
How to be assertive when addressing others’ etiquette
How your body language and manners could prevent you from getting a job

Resources:

Website: https://www.dtn-productions.com/
LinkedIn:
- https://linkedin.com/in/deborahthomasnininger
- https://www.linkedin.com/company/dtn-productions-international—hallmark-of-etiquette/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DTNEtiquette
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DTNEtiquette

Karen Eber is an international consultant, keynote and TED speaker. Karen is the CEO and Chief Storyteller of Eber Leadership Group. She helps companies reimagine and evolve how they transform culture. This includes building empathic and curious leadership and teams, and helping leaders influence and inspire with storytelling.

Karen works with Fortune 1000 companies such as General Electric, ADP, Heinz Kraft, Kate Spade, Facebook and guest lectures in Universities like Emory and Purdue.

Karen has 20+ years of experience and has been a Head of Culture, Chief Learning Officer and Head of Leadership Development at General Electric and Deloitte. She is a four-time American Training and Development winner and lives in Atlanta, GA.

What you will learn in this episode:

Why stories are more effective than data in building trust
How storytelling affects our brains
The difference between storytelling and lying
Data informed decisions vs data driven decisions
Why people respond to vulnerability
How to discover good ideas for stories

Resources:

Website: https://www.kareneber.com
TedX Talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/karen_eber_how_your_brain_responds_to_stories_and_why_they_re_crucial_for_leaders
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kareneber/
Instagram: https://www.instagramcom/kareneber1
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/kareneber1

Lee McEnany Caraher is the founder and CEO of Double Forte, a national public relations and digital media agency, based in San Francisco, that works with beloved consumer, technology, and wine brands. Lee is a highly sought after communications expert known for her business building acumen and insights.

What you will learn in this episode:

How to deal with trolls
How to use your critics to grow
Why it’s important to respond to customer complaints
What you should always assume about reviews
How to create an escalation protocol
What to do if someone lies about a situation
Why Lee doesn’t believe in cancel culture

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher

Lee McEnany Caraher is the founder and CEO of Double Forte, a national public relations and digital media agency, based in San Francisco, that works with beloved consumer, technology, and wine brands. Lee is a highly sought after communications expert known for her business building acumen and insights.

And she’s on a mission to help businesses of all sizes - from the small to the ginormous - communicate. Not just try to say something. Not dance around and try to avoid the conversation. But to actually convey a relevant message and HEAR a response to communicate with the people who matter to them directly and honestly to make their businesses stronger, their teams happier and more productive, and their customers more loyal.

What you will learn in this episode:

Why it’s important to tell people the whole story
The difference in communication between successful and least successful teams
How employee’s beginning to speak up benefited Lee’s business
Why repetition and reminding people is necessary
How open communication allowed a company struggling through the pandemic to change their trajectory and begin to grow

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/

Lee McEnany Caraher is the founder and CEO of Double Forte, a national public relations and digital media agency, based in San Francisco, that works with beloved consumer, technology, and wine brands. Lee is a highly sought after communications expert known for her business building acumen and insights.

Lee is also an acclaimed author and speaker and a recognized expert on creating high performing, positive, intergenerational workplaces. Through her work, she shows companies and non-profit organizations how to embrace the qualities of different generations, reduce negative dynamics between people, and how to recognize the significant benefits of shifting the definition of loyalty from a long tenure of employment to a lifetime of allegiance regardless of employment status.

Lee is active in her community and sits on the Board of Governors of Public Advocates and the Executive Board of Wisconsin Farm Technology Days, 2021. She is also on the Board of Directors of the PR Council, the national trade association for Public Relations agencies. She previously served on the boards of KQED Public Media, San Francisco’s Grace Cathedral, Community Gatepath, and St. Paul’s Choir School, among others. A graduate of Carleton College, Lee has a degree in medieval history which she finds useful every day. She splits her time between San Francisco, Eau Claire, and New York.

What you will learn in this episode:

How you become a better listener
What body language says
The difference between curious questions and questions seeking affirmation
How listening helps to increase productivity
How to listen for input
The best questions to ask for input
The importance of explaining your decisions
How asking for input benefits your employees

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher

Lee McEnany Caraher is the founder and CEO of Double Forte, a national public relations and digital media agency, based in San Francisco, that works with beloved consumer, technology, and wine brands. Lee is a highly sought after communications expert known for her business building acumen and insights.

Lee is also an acclaimed author and speaker and a recognized expert on creating high performing, positive, intergenerational workplaces. Through her work, she shows companies and non-profit organizations how to embrace the qualities of different generations, reduce negative dynamics between people, and how to recognize the significant benefits of shifting the definition of loyalty from a long tenure of employment to a lifetime of allegiance regardless of employment status.

Lee is active in her community and sits on the Board of Governors of Public Advocates and the Executive Board of Wisconsin Farm Technology Days, 2021. She is also on the Board of Directors of the PR Council, the national trade association for Public Relations agencies. She previously served on the boards of KQED Public Media, San Francisco’s Grace Cathedral, Community Gatepath, and St. Paul’s Choir School, among others. A graduate of Carleton College, Lee has a degree in medieval history which she finds useful every day. She splits her time between San Francisco, Eau Claire, and New York.

What you will learn in this episode:

What everything communication means
The types of guest to look forward to in upcoming episodes
What topics the podcast will cover during season 2
The purpose of the Everything Speaks podcast

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher

Lee McEnany Caraher is the founder and CEO of Double Forte, a national public relations and digital media agency, based in San Francisco, that works with beloved consumer, technology, and wine brands. Lee is a highly sought after communications expert known for her business building acumen and insights.

Lee is also an acclaimed author and speaker and a recognized expert on creating high performing, positive, intergenerational workplaces. Through her work, she shows companies and non-profit organizations how to embrace the qualities of different generations, reduce negative dynamics between people, and how to recognize the significant benefits of shifting the definition of loyalty from a long tenure of employment to a lifetime of allegiance regardless of employment status.

Lee is active in her community and sits on the Board of Governors of Public Advocates and the Executive Board of Wisconsin Farm Technology Days, 2021. She is also on the Board of Directors of the PR Council, the national trade association for Public Relations agencies. She previously served on the boards of KQED Public Media, San Francisco’s Grace Cathedral, Community Gatepath, and St. Paul’s Choir School, among others. A graduate of Carleton College, Lee has a degree in medieval history which she finds useful every day. She splits her time between San Francisco, Eau Claire, and New York.

What you will learn in this episode:

Why you can never over communicate
The biggest red flag in communication
What the first mantra of communication is
How to talk with your teammates or coworkers
Why being repetitive is not inefficient and how to use it in your workflow
The best software and apps to make repetition easier
How to surround people with the message that they need to be successful
Lee’s recommendation of her favorite book on communication “Leadership and the Art of Conversation” by Kim Crisco

Resources:

Website: https://leecaraher.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher

Our final episode of Everything Speaks... but don't worry! It's not over. We will continue to talk about the modern workplace on our new podcast, Millennial Minded: Career Advice No One Tells You. Links below. Thanks for all the support! http://millennialmindedpodcast.com/ https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/millennial-minded/id1292364929?mt=2

Running a small to medium-sized business isn't easy. In fact, most businesses don't make it past the five-year mark. But Double Forte has been around since 2002, and to celebrate our fifteenth anniversary we created a special narrative episode of Everything Speaks. In this episode, we explore the challenges and rewards of running a medium-sized business. Over the last fifteen years, we've witnessed the dramatic change in the communication industry. But for us, one thing has remained consistent.

Beliefs drive your life. If you’re consumed by worry, fear and self-doubt, it can wreak havoc on your career and ultimately your personal happiness. Fortunately, we can influence how we think and today Kim Ades, a frame of mind coach, joins us to show how greatness comes from how you think.

Tom Mulliez was checking the boxes on a scripted path to career success. After attending McGill University, majoring in International Business and Marketing, Tom got ready to join the family business. But after some unforeseen circumstances, Tom was forced to recalibrate, wondering what the hell he wanted to do. So, he sold everything and moved to Costa Rica.

Lyndsay Phillips is a serial entrepreneur, podcast host and CEO who has explored multiple careers. She’s naturally driven and a self confessed organizational freak who’s never had an issue chasing down #success. But what about balancing it all? And by “it all” we mean work, a family, an income, personal happiness and everything else that goes into living a fulfilled life.

A dream job allows you to contribute in a meaningful way to something you care about. It’s also challenging, keeps you on your toes and makes you learn new skills. In 2001 Mac Prichard started an informal email listserv, called Mac’s List, highlighting job opportunities in Portland, Oregon. Mac’s List has grown immensely and today Mac joins us to shed light on how to chase down your dream job.

Joe Kashurba set out to create an easy to use web design platform. Unfortunately, the venture wasn’t a success and after college Joe moved back in with his mom. Slowly Joe began gaining clients. Suddenly he was working so many hours it wasn’t sustainable. Joe joins us to talk about the challenges and joys of starting your own business.

As an eagle scout, leader of the neighborhood gang, and head of his rock and roll band, Hans Finzel has been a natural #leader since day one. But Hans is of the belief that leaders aren’t born, they’re made. Now a bestselling #author and #coach, Hans chats with Lee about why if you stop learning today, you’ll stop leading tomorrow.

In 2006 James Colburn was at a vacation home trying to relax on Christmas Eve. He had surpassed all of his financial goals and his career was thriving, but he couldn’t stop thinking about what else he could be doing to achieve success. Author, coach and speaker, James joins us to talk about his book Resucceed and gives us his advice on how people can slow down and gain fulfillment both in their career and their personal life.

A startup told Phil Wilkins that he wasn’t getting a position because he didn’t have a college degree. Not one to back down, Phil pointed out that some of the most successful entrepreneurs didn’t finish college. Years later Phil is a sales director and on his way to the top. What made the difference? He got a degree in baddasery and learned to condition himself to view mistakes as learning opportunities.

Erin Routzahn was happy working at Acceleration Partners but she was open with her supervisors that she was eager for a new challenge. Today, Erin joins us to share valuable insight into how you can make a smooth transition between jobs.

While sitting at a wedding in Florida, Heidi Krupp vocalized to her friends that she was interested in starting her own communications firm. Unfortunately, Heidi was in debt and her parents were scraping together money to help support her. Let’s be real. Success is never easy. It requires perseverance and a willingness to ask for help. And there’s no better example than Heidi Krupp, who joins us today to show us that there’s no straight line to success.

Derek Volk is a Maine businessman, volunteer, philanthropist, softball coach and President of Volk packaging corporation. He chats with Lee about running the family business and shares the story behind the unexpected success of Chasing the Rabbit, his book about a dad’s life raising his son on the spectrum.

After Linda Yates had a little run in with a manager at a restaurant in Detroit, she became hyper aware of her image. So aware that it haunted her for 18 years and resulted in a book, entitled, Beyond the Clothes. What Linda realized is that everything we do is broadcasted. How you dress, the language you use and how you carry yourself in a room are all contextual clues about who you are both as a person and a professional.

Jessica O’Neil is a vacationista at Disney. Yeah, it’s a sweeeeet gig. But she didn’t get her dream job right away. During the recession Jessica worked at a collections agency, calling people to ask for money they didn’t have. But even during hard times, Jessica remained true to something she’d learned early in her career. Today she sits down with Lee to tell listeners how they can grow to find a career they love.

Fred Bateman and Lee Caraher are both CEO’s of PR agencies based in San Francisco. On paper they might be rivals, but fortunately for us, they’re good friends. Today they sit down to talk about running an agency and why they both subscribe to the philosophy that you should prioritize relationships over your bottom line.

Claudia Shapiro worked at Double Forte securing media placements like it was her day job. Well, because it was. But when Claudia took a good, hard look at how her career was unfolding, she realized that her personality was a better fit for sales. So, Claudia found a job at a successful startup called, Nerdwallet. Today, she's back home with her DF family to talk about why it’s never too late to change your career. “Sometimes you get really comfortable in your career and it takes a bit longer to take that inside look and say, “am I still happy.” - Claudia Shapiro

Canadian, Phil Wilkins, dropped out of college because he didn't know what he wanted to do besides party. But then he met a girl and realized he needed to pull his act together. Phil married his college sweetheart and now sings a different tune, that gratitude is at the center of career growth. You can’t do it on your own.

Unfortunately, most workplaces (even the most well intentioned), have unconscious bias. But fear not listeners! Today we have Andie Kramer, author of Breaking Through Bias, to give us her techniques to protect and support your fellow colleagues. “Women need to protect each other, support each other and validate each other's ideas.” - Andie Kramer

Michele Moyer was excelling at her communications career. But after taking some time off to travel, and volunteer, Michele found out she was pregnant. She quickly realized that being a parent isn’t easy. She, like many others, missed her career and the professional network she’d been so close to. Then, a traumatic event changed Michele’s life forever and she realized that her family is all that matters.

As a millennial, Katie Larkin-Wong brings something different to the workplace. She’s a litigation associate at Latham & Watkins, a law firm focused on white collar and antitrust matters. Katie joins Lee to talk about her progress in the industry and gives us some examples on how millennials shaking things up in the workplace. "One of the places millennials really have an advantage is diversity." - Katie Larkin-Wong

Robert Kueffer's background doesn’t necessarily match his current responsibilities. But when you hear Robert’s story, you start to understand how a lifetime of experiences came together to lead him to John Snow Research and Training Institute where he handles digital marketing and design.

What can you do if you’re unhappy with where you are today? Make #change! Which is easier said than done. But we’ve got some #inspiration for you this week. Jamie King is a running fiend, writes for the Huffington Post Post and founded her own company, Fit Approach.

Ok, let’s say your boss sends you a friend request on Facebook. Do you accept? Do you ignore? Do you block them? Lee sits down with Scott Steinberg, a futurist and one hell of a smart dude, to answer those questions.

Lisa McDonough and Lisa Allanson are both Australian. And they both have over twenty years of experience in Human Resources Management and #Leadership Coaching. They run Teen Hackz, a company that works to empower #teens to focus on the things that energize them, rather than the things that they think they 'should' be doing. Today, the Lisa’s join Lee to talk about young people can prepare themselves for the workplace.

Even if you’re an extrovert you may not like networking events. Small talk can be exhausting and meeting new people isn’t easy. BUT whether you like it or not, networking is essential to your career. The more people you know, the more job opportunities you will have. So, sit back and listen to Lee’s 8 ways to improve your networking skills.

Being a good employee is straightforward. You get things done on time. But being a good manager, is more complex. Now, you’re responsible for helping other people work to the best of their ability. Luckily, Lee can help. In this episode, she breaks down what to expect if you’re new to management and gives tips on how to lead a more effective team.

Sometimes generations can have a different definition for the same word and that causes conflict. In this episode of Everything Speaks, Lee breaks down 4 pain points for millennials in the workplace. They include: dress code, deadlines, drafts, and she weighs in on the debate, are millennials always late?

After working at SEGA, Sony, and Rocket Science, Haven Carter was at the forefront of entertainment technology. But despite her success, Haven was overworked and unhappy. Then, she discovered meditation and a new way of approaching her career. Today she joins Lee to talk about her current role as a peak performance coach and shares her insight for being more mindful.

K.J. Dell’Antonia is a columnist and contributing editor for The New York Times’ Well Family page, a contributor to the Sunday Review and co-host of the #AmWriting podcast. Currently on book leave, K.J. joins Lee to talk about how she ended up at The New York Times, why it’s important to take a professional approach to a creative career, and shares her insight into how to pitch a story in an effective way.

Getting hired is a numbers game. The more jobs you apply for, the more likely you are to find a match. But there are creative ways to make yourself stand out during the application process. Audra Knight, a recruitment marketing strategist at Tenable Network Security, returns to Everything Speaks to share her three step process for landing a job. She covers how to find the job, how to apply for the job, and what to do when you get called in for an interview.

Lisen Stromberg was excelling at her career. But after the birth of her second child she realized that there was no place for her to be a mother in such a competitive work environment. So, she pivoted, starting a consulting practice that works with companies to attract, retain and promote #women. She sits down with Lee to talk about how we can bring our true, authentic selves to work and contribute to a thriving #workplace.

Does your college major determine your professional #career? Most of the time, yes. But there are exceptions, like Scott Cook, an account executive at Lessonly. Scott received a master’s in trumpet performance but realized that although music was his passion, he didn’t want to turn it into a professional career. Today Scott joins Lee to talk about how he leveraged his connections to find a job that fit his diverse skill set.

Karen Catlin spent 25 years building #software products. She started her career writing code, but moved into executive leadership to become the vice president at Adobe Systems. But today Karen has a new role. She’s an advocate for #women in #tech. She coaches women to be stronger leaders and encourages men who want to be better allies. Today, she sits down with Lee to talk about #diversity in tech, networking and why it’s important to become a better public speaker.

From a young age Julia Waneka was interested in rhetoric and #storytelling. After majoring in #communication at the University of Colorado at Boulder, she moved to San Francisco to immerse herself in the #tech scene. Now, Julia is the communications director at Whistle, a pet-tech company. Today she sits down with Lee to reflect on how crucial her first #internship was and how it set her on a path for future success.

Lee Caraher sits down with Audra Knight, a #recruitment marketing strategist at Tenable Network Security. Together they talk about talk about how to control your #online profile to reflect the job you want, not the job you have. Plus, Audra shares some tricks of the trade including how scan for keywords on #LinkedIn and how to searching through someone’s #Twitter account to find their strengths and interests.

Prior to starting her own company, Emilie Aries experienced a personal and professional low. She was tired, exhausted and felt unfulfilled by her work. Spurred into action by the potential for something better, Emilie founded Bossed Up, a nationwide training company that helps woman navigate career transition with a special eye towards burnout and crafting a happy, healthy and sustainable career path. Today, Emilie sits down with Lee to talk about the easiest path to success.

Lee sits down with Caitlin Scott, a senior communications counselor at Full Court Press Communications. Caitlin has a background in traditional #PR, but moved to her current position at Full Court to work with foundations, #non-profits, start ups and other mission based organizations to help them achieve #socialchange. She feels fortunate to have found a #career that blends her love of politics, communications and PR and encourages others to do the same.

Lee sits down with Tricia Denci. As a senior in College Tricia signed on to be a part time #intern at Double Forte. Skip ahead five years and now Tricia is an account manager, focusing on #PR related to #wine and artisan food. Tricia talks to Lee about how she has moved up the ranks at Double Forte and why she recently decided to move to New York City.

Amy Vernetti is the director of #leadership #recruiting at Moonshots where she recruits and hires executives for Google’s the next generation of big ideas - projects like driverless vehicles, drones and balloon powered internet. Amy joins Lee to give insight about how young people can create an interesting #narrative about themselves and shares best practices for getting hired.

Lee sits down with Shawn Murphy, the CEO and Founder of Switch and Shift, a consultancy firm dedicated to developing positive #business and #leadership practices. Shawn is also the author of The Optimistic Workplace, a book that teaches you how to cultivate a positive work environment. Shawn talks to Lee about #millennials, and why he believes they approach their careers with a different mindset.

Mara Kolesas has a very diverse work background having been a University professor, United Nations consultant and strategic planner for equity diversity at UC Berkeley. Today she’s a professional #stylist, #fashion consultant and founder of Good Fit Style and she joins Everything Speaks to talk about her belief that how you dress says something about who you are.

Lee sits down with John Bragle, Director of Choirs and Instructor of voice at the Interlochen Arts Academy. As an educator he works with students to fine tune their #performance #art. With that experience, John knows a lot about #millennials and the next generation of young people who were raised in a world of text messages and emoticons. What does #professionalism mean to a millennial?

Lee Caraher sits down with Emily Drewry, a freelance writer and #socialmedia editor at Forbes Magazine. As a #millennial and recent college grad, Emily reflects on her experience transitioning from Northwestern University to the workplace, elaborating on the five things no one tells you about your first job.

Lee Caraher sits down with Joe Kowalke, a Director at Double Forte, to talk about meeting participation, and what it means for your #career. Whether you’re meeting with a client, having an internal brainstorm, or giving a presentation, everything from body language to tone of voice, affects the meeting. So remember to slant - sit up, lean forward, ask questions, nod and talk.

Kimberly Strenk is the founder and president of Five Two SQ Integrated #PR, a firm that works with premium specialty brands in the areas of food, fashion and beauty. In this episode of Everything Speaks she maps out her #career path, discussing how she helps #businesses find their own unique voice, and in the second half of the interview she dives into the details of her renowned internship program.

Lee Caraher sits down with Jerry Ervin, President and CEO of Paragon Strategies, a #management training company that works with businesses to build effective #leaders. On this episode, Jerry discusses two important roles in everyone’s business career - a #mentor and a #coach. What’s the difference? Why is each role important? Does everyone need a coach?

Lee Caraher sits down with Jerry Ervin, President and CEO of Paragon Strategies, a #management training company that works with businesses to build effective leaders. For this episode, Jerry and Lee talk about managing up and discuss why it is such a crucial part of running an efficient and successful #business.

Lee Caraher sits down with Jerry Ervin, President and CEO of Paragon Strategies, a management training company that works with businesses to build effective leaders. On this episode Jerry discusses the first time manager - giving insight about how to navigate this new and challenging responsibility.

Lee Caraher sits down with Kate Taylor, a personal #stylist and image consultant, to talk about how someone’s image (what you wear, cleanliness, etc.) can affect their #career.

Eating is not a race. Chew with your mouth closed. Don't get drunk. These are simple rules but people still forget when they sit down for a #business dinner. Listen to Lee break down the rules of restaurant etiquette.

Lee Caraher sits down with Barbara Jones, founder of One2One Network, to talk about harnessing the power of influencers on #socialmedia.

Are the skills you learn in PR and Marketing relevant in other careers? Julie Kim sits down with Lee Caraher to discuss why she believes that her previous experiences in #PR allowed her to start her dream #business, Saison Beauty.

No matter where you work, #email is essential. It powers modern day #business. and allows people to communicate. But not everyone fully harnesses the power of email.

Lee Caraher chats with Dave Yeman, a fellow CEO and author about some helpful hints and tricks in the area of #publicspeaking.

No matter where you work, #email is essential. It powers modern day #business. and allows people to communicate. But not everyone fully harnesses the power of email.

It's 9pm and you receive a high importance email from the CEO. Do you respond immediately? Wait until the morning? Lee discusses how to establish a work-life #balance with your #email.

Author of Millennials & Management, Lee Caraher, discusses 5 ways for millennials to thrive in the office (part 1).

Should #millennials try things the old way before proposing an alternative? What's at the root of inter-generational conflict? Lee (the millennial whisperer) Caraher discusses that and much more on episode 4 of Everything Speaks.

Lee Caraher sits down with Andy Cunningham, Founder at Cunningham Collective, to discuss marketing strategies and career insight.

Lee shares some personal experiences about how she and other people she knows have created terrible #impressions and stood out for the wrong reasons – reasons that create gossip – gossip that gets in your way of making a #positive impression.

Will Taylor sits down with Lee Caraher to discuss his internship at Double Forte.

Welcome to Everything Speaks, a #podcast led by Lee Caraher, CEO of Double Forte, a PR & marketing agency based in San Francisco. Join Lee each week to hear insight about the modern workplace, her experience working with #millennials and recent graduates, and her belief that everything you do says something about your potential - everything speaks!

Someone sends you a high importance email. Do you feel compelled to respond immediately? What if you need to buy some time to think of a response?