This past week, Ragan Communications held its annual Communications Week. It’s been a thrill to see it grow and expand, far beyond where we started in New York nearly ten years ago. I founded this week in 2014 to connect, inform and inspire those who are in and interested in PR. The Ragan team has taken the conference to the next level.
This year, the mission was to celebrate and collaborate on how to best accelerate the role of the communicator in organizations worldwide. The energy was felt far beyond the conference’s Future of Communications main stage in Austin, Texas. Event organizers led physical and virtual attendees through a jam-packed week of educational and networking events across the globe, designed to inspire participants to “lead the way” through impactful communications.
We had team members on the ground, and online, across multiple continents, excited and eager to take part in what has become a global phenomenon for innovative communications professionals. Read on for our highlighted takeaways.
In Austin | The Future of Communications
Communicators like Dustee Jenkins, Chief Public Affairs at Spotify, took the stage to speak on important topics, including the art of data-driven storytelling and why repetition and magic (yes, you heard that right) are key components to a successful campaign.
Event organizers at Ragan Communications also released some compelling data in conjunction with corporate research firm HarrisX. Did you know that 82% of CEOS have a positive opinion of AI and are leaning into it?
I had the opportunity to moderate a panel discussion with Trovon C Williams, Senior VP of Marketing and Communications at the NAACP, and Matt Ward, Head of Communications at Corebridge Financial, about the use of data in storytelling. We discussed how to lean into data to better understand your audiences, as well as use the data to elevate the stories and messages they want to hear. Both Trovon and Matt shared a few dos and don’ts to keep in mind when it comes to data:
Do leverage multiple data sources, including owned and third-party data.
Don't operate in a silo; take an integrated approach.
Do keep it simple and use a few key data points to support your story.
It's important to remember that data is only as good as the insights it provides. It's crucial to combine data with experience and instincts to guide you toward the right narrative.
A recap of the Future of Communications conference is available here.
In London | GWPR Communications Week
Caroline Brunton, a U.K.-based, Kite Hill PR Senior Account Manager, attended an adjacent event, Global Women in PR.
AI was a hot topic. Many expressed that though there is uncertainty regarding AI’s role across various industries, it’s our role as communicators and leaders to inspire, be creative, and promote connectivity and curiosity about the tools and solutions available to us.
This is also where flexibility and collaboration are key. Many communicators touched on the unfair dichotomies that exist at the leadership level in business; be risk-averse, but go for the gamble; be tech-savvy but stay human.
Online | PRC Event
Rounding out the busy week, our SVP Charlyne McWilliams attended the PR Council’s virtual event, Rebooting Your Mental Operating System to Lead the Future. Speaker Rishad Tobaccowala, Chief Growth Officer at Publicis Groupe, provided steps to ensure we are able to excel in the ever-present shifts in society and our business so that we can remain relevant and effective.
He shared three things people can do to properly upgrade their mental system: 1) Dedicate one hour per day to learning something new. 2) Step outside of “cuddle puddles,” where everyone thinks the same, and share your unique perspective, building a case for an opposing view. 3) Spend some time being creative, whether it is writing or building something. By making something, we are stretching our brains to create instead of constantly focusing on the tactical activities of our day.
Kudos to everyone who hosted successful events during this year’s Communications Week. I’m already looking forward to next year, which will mark the 10-year anniversary of the event’s founding.
- Tiffany Gurnaccia, CEO and Founder