Hot Topics

Hot Topics are conversations with Exchange members on a variety of “hot” topics that affect our organizations, our clients, our work and how we deliver strategic communications. Hot Topics sessions may be developed around a major news event or issue that could provide insight, instruction or food for thought. Some sessions may feature experts delivering a formal presentation with time for Q&A.

Informal or formal every Hot Topics session is designed to help the busy communication executive stay connected in a way that's time and cost efficient.

Best of all, Exchange members can participate at no cost.  Non-members can participate for a fee of $75.

Upcoming Hot Topic Sessions

Wednesday, March 27, 2013
12:00 Noon Eastern
The Naked Company: Why Organizations Must Have Engaged Employees in Today's Transparent World
Barbara Fagan-Smith, CEO of ROI Communication
Barbara will be joined by Brad Whitworth, senior communication manager at Cisco in San Jose, California.

Brad's team focuses on external and internal communications for the company’s emerging solutions ecosystems group.  Before joining Cisco in 2007, Brad worked for Hewlett-Packard, PeopleSoft and AAA. During his tenure at HP, his cutting-edge research proved the link between leadership communication and employee performance. Brad’s research, writing and presentations at more than 250 conferences and workshops have earned him recognition as a thought leader in the field of organizational communication. Brad served as chairman of the 16,000-member International Association of Business Communicators and was named an IABC Fellow in 1996. He holds an MBA from Santa Clara University and bachelor's degrees in both journalism and speech from the University of Missouri.

The rapid rise of social media has empowered employees and customers alike, giving them a platform of unprecedented reach and resonance. While some companies are proactively engaging customers through new media, fewer are focusing on the audience that ultimately makes or breaks their own success: employees.

Barbara will discuss:
• The impact of technology on the evolution of the corporate experience – yesterday, today and tomorrow
• The power that employees have today to shape a company’s reputation in an instant
• Why companies must proactively and authentically engage their employees
• Five steps you can take today to move your communication program into this new world 

Barbara Fagan-Smith, CEO of ROI Communication, helps companies bring their best to the world through the power of communication. Building on more than two decades of experience in corporate communication and journalism, she leads ROI's work with Fortune 500 companies, helping them engage and empower employees to contribute, collaborate and advocate for the company, internally and externally, through the power of communication. Prior to founding ROI Communication, Barbara held senior communication positions at Quantum Corporation and Simply Interactive, and was a producer based in London for ABC TV News. Barbara was named one of Silicon Valley's 100 most influential women in 2011 by the San Jose/Silicon Valley Business Journal, and ROI was named one of Silicon Valley's fastest growing companies. 

REGISTER

Wednesday, February 6, 2013
12:00 Noon Eastern
A Journey of Growth: Creating an Experiential Customer-Focused Brand
Lynne Adame, Market Senior Director, Health Care Communications, Sodexo, Inc.

You can’t just tell associates to “go out and be nice”; effective organizational change requires a thoroughly constructed business plan complete with strategic research, implementation and evaluative campaigns and cross-company commitment. In 2004, Sodexo Health Care made a commitment to the journey. They took a hard look at the nature of their businesses, employees, competition and customers.

 Hear how Sodexo’s senior leadership changed its culture and strengthened its position in the industry by narrowing and focusing on the results of their research. They created a new “bottom line” and a new culture - one which revolves around the customer experiences -  and now forms the basis of their brands and culture. Sodexo learned to differentiate themselves in the marketplace and fight rapid commoditization by empowering people to be brand ambassadors and creating an experiential customer-focused brand which can be replicated - which positively changed their culture.

REGISTER 

You can also register by sending an e-mail to Fred Droz at
fred.droz@thecommunicationexchange.org or by calling Fred at 866-463-6226




Hot Topics programs are a member service of The Communications Leadership Exchange.