Exos

Clarity is caring in an ever-changing communications landscape.

My approach to communications has been shaped less by any single moment and more by the environments I’ve been fortunate enough to work in. I began my career inside fast-moving, high-performance cultures where expectations were high and storytelling had real impact. I learned quickly that communication isn’t just about sending a message but about connecting purpose, people and progress in a way that helps an organization move forward together. People want to be brought along the journey, no matter how winding the path may be. Nearly twenty years later, that belief still anchors me.

The experiences that left the deepest impression on me were the ones where my teams needed steady guidance through uncertainty. From a major brand shift to leadership transitions to company-defining events, it was in those moments that taught me communication is an act of service. It requires active listening, understanding what people need in order to feel valued and then crafting narratives that give them clarity and confidence in the future state.

As my roles in communications evolved across Fortune 100 companies like Whole Foods Market, JetBlue and Nike, Inc., so did my leadership style. I’ve learned to set processes that allow for structure while giving people the room to explore. I’m clear about the outcomes we need but flexible about how we get there. The best work happens when people feel safe enough to take risks and accountable enough to deliver.

"Communication isn’t just about sending a message but about connecting purpose, people and progress in a way that helps an organization move forward together."

Building trust across large, cross-functional groups is less about grand gestures and more about consistency, clarity and caring. People notice when you show up ready for a meeting, when you communicate clearly and when you treat everyone in the room with respect. Over the years, I’ve found that trust grows fastest when teams understand not just what we’re doing, but why we’re doing it. When you take the time to articulate the strategy behind the work, you create alignment that holds up even when plans shift, which they almost always do.

High-pressure moments are inevitable in communications and events. The stakes are high, timelines can be short and sometimes there is no room for error depending on the project. Early in my career, I thought that success was keeping it all together and handling everything on my own. I was going to be the “she can do it all” girl. Now I know that winning actually looks much more like trusting the people around you, communicating what you need and staying present enough to shift plans as plans shift. So now I’m the “she can do it all with some help from her team” girl. Pressure reveals your habits, so being able to build really good ones with yourself and your team is such a helpful unlock.

All that said, if I had to offer one skill that I’ve recently been focused on, it would be the ability to translate complexity into clarity. Whether it’s a brand narrative, a strategic plan, or a company announcement like the recent acquisition I supported, the work always comes back around to distilling the “why” and helping people connect to it. Earlier in my career, I always worried more about the final deliverable: the deck, the message and the leader's talking points. But I’ve realized that there’s more value in synthesizing, aligning and guiding people through the change vs. how much you produce to support it.

For emerging communications leaders, finding your voice and leadership identity takes time. What helped me most was learning to trust what feels authentic. Some leaders command the room, others have a quiet confidence, while others lead with data. The red thread among everyone I’ve learned from is that they know who they are, and they never waver from that. They make their “thing” their brand and become known for it.

My advice is simple: stay curious, build relationships and hone your superpower. Pay attention to what energizes you and what drains you. Notice when you feel most effective, and that will help you reveal where you are meant to lean in and serve. The world is evolving, and so is our industry, but if you can stay anchored to the value you bring and stay true to yourself, you’ll build a career that makes a meaningful impact. And remember, when people are clear on what matters to you, to your leaders and to your organization, they feel supported, grounded and cared for. Clarity is caring!