Welcome to the Communications Business Advisor™ podcast with host Tara McDonagh. In this episode, Tara opens the new season with a declaration — not a trend forecast or resolution — naming the official word for communications professionals in 2026: authority.

Building on last year's word, no, Tara explains why the moment has shifted. While boundaries and discernment remain critical, communicators are facing a deeper challenge: being held accountable for outcomes without being empowered early enough to influence them. This episode unpacks why burnout, frustration, and stagnation persist even in "successful" roles — and why authority, not resilience or effort, is the missing piece. Tara reframes authority not as hierarchy or ego, but as earned weight, judgment, and influence that allows communicators to help the business think, not just speak.

In this episode, Tara covers:

• Why authority — not visibility, speed, or helpfulness — is the defining need for communicators in 2026
• How being "deeply accountable but not deeply empowered" leads to burnout and role erosion
• The difference between responsiveness and judgment, and why one gets rewarded while the other gets sidelined
• What authority actually means in communications (and what it definitely does not)
• How over-functioning and perpetual helpfulness quietly erode influence over time
• How strategic communications planning can reset leadership expectations and elevate the function
• Practical ways to start practicing authority without damaging trust or relationships
• Why authority is about business impact, not personal validation or ego

Visit taramcdonagh.com to learn more about working with Tara or sign up for her newsletter on advancing as a Communications Business Advisor:, Level Up: Be Extra and her Raise the Tide™ emails for women in the field Raise the Tide emails for women in the field.

This episode is sponsored by Raise the Tide™, a professional development ecosystem for women in communications - helping them grow, connect, and lead with confidence through mentorship, coaching, professional development and community.

If you found this episode valuable, please rate and review. We create a movement when we spread a message.

Welcome to the Communications Business Advisor™ podcast with host Tara McDonagh. In this bonus episode, Tara sits down with Raise the Tide™ members (and life admin evangelists) Amy Lockmiller and Jessica Onick to talk about something most senior communicators quietly struggle with: the invisible workload of running a life, a home, and a career all at once.

Instead of another conversation about "doing it all," they get honest about why it's not sustainable, how they've built support systems like house managers, family assistants, and concierge services, and why getting help isn't laziness or entitlement — it's a strategic decision that protects mental health, relationships, and career longevity. They share how they found their people, what they delegate, how they navigate guilt and "must be nice" criticism, and how this kind of support has directly impacted their work and families. Tara also explains why she openly talks about her own life admin support, and invites listeners to re-think what they're allowed to ask for in this season of their careers.

In this bonus episode, Tara, Amy, and Jessica cover:

• Why ambitious women in comms don't "suck at adulting" — they're trying to do an impossible load
• The concept of life admin and why it's just as real as your inbox and stakeholder list
• Jessica's journey from senior internal comms leader to solopreneur — and why a house manager became non-negotiable
• Amy's experience as a VP-level comms executive, mom of (soon) five, and how a family assistant changed everything
• The difference between childcare, cleaning, and true house / family management support
• Tactical examples of what their helpers actually do: calendars, appointments, errands, returns, laundry, meal prep, trip packing, organizing, and more
• How they each found their support (local mom / babysitter groups, services like Fay, and creative role descriptions)
• The mindset work: guilt, "must be nice," money, and redefining what you're "allowed" to spend on Viewing life admin support as an investment in mental health, marriage, parenting, and career growth
• What it models for kids when they see adults asking for help and valuing a "village" instead of martyrdom
• Tara's offer to share her own house assistant job description so listeners can adapt it for their lives

If you'd like a copy of the house assistant / life admin job description Tara referenced, reach out to [email protected] and her team will send it your way. We've also included a link to Faye, the family organizing service Amy uses, so you can explore whether a similar kind of support might be right for you.

Visit taramcdonagh.com to learn more about working with Tara or sign up for her newsletter on advancing as a Communications Business Advisor:, Level Up: Be Extra and her Raise the Tide™ emails for women in the field Raise the Tide emails for women in the field.

This episode is sponsored by Raise the Tide™, a professional development ecosystem for women in communications - helping them grow, connect, and lead with confidence through mentorship, coaching, professional development and community.

If you found this episode valuable, please rate and review — we create a movement when we spread a message.

Welcome to the Communications Business Advisor™ podcast with host, Tara McDonagh. In this episode, Tara gets real about one of the biggest myths she hears from women regularly: that they "suck at networking." Spoiler alert, they don't. They just don't network like men.

Tara explains how traditional, low-touch "networking" settings … PRSA or IABC events, chamber breakfasts,, award dinners, conference receptions … were built for how men connect and network, not women.. Instead of trying to "fix" women or force them to network like men, which doesn't work, Tara redefines what authentic networking looks like for women in communications today. Women's networking is grounded in connection, deep trust, vulnerability, reciprocity, friendship and shared growth.

From there, she opens up about her own year-end business planning retreat and what's next for Raise the Tide™ for women in the Communications field … including big news about its evolution into a full ecosystem designed to support every woman in the communications field, whether corporate, non-profit agency, or consultant and across geographies.

In this episode, Tara covers:

• Why women don't "suck" at networking … they just network differently than men.
• How gender and communication research explain why traditional networking fails many women
• The power of tight-knit, trust-based circles versus broad, surface-level events
• Why changing women isn't the answer … reshaping the environment is
• A behind-the-scenes look at Tara's business planning retreat (and her team's reaction!)
• What's ahead for Raise the Tide™ and how it's expanding into a full ecosystem:
  • The Surge — the original Raise the Tide program for women inside corporate communications
  • The Voyagers — for women consultants and agency owners, launching with an in-person business-planning retreat in San Diego (January 14–16)
  • The Shoreline — a new, accessible online community for women worldwide to learn, connect, and grow
  • The Breakwater — for women continuing to learn in good company after at least one year in The Surge
• Why Tara decided to stop keeping Raise the Tide small — and what it means for the women in the field
• Real stories of growth from program members: clarity, promotions, doubled budgets, 30% raises, and renewed confidence

If you've ever felt isolated, stuck, or unsure how to keep growing in this misunderstood field, Raise the Tide was built for you. And if you already have your footing, she asks for your help in spreading the word so more women can rise.

Visit taramcdonagh.com to learn more about working with Tara or sign up for her newsletter on advancing as a Communications Business Advisor:, Level Up: Be Extra and her Raise the Tide emails for women in the field Raise the Tide emails for women in the field.

This episode is sponsored by Raise the Tide™, a professional development ecosystem for women in communications - helping them grow, connect, and lead with confidence through mentorship, coaching, professional development and community.

If you found this episode valuable, please rate and review — we create a movement when we spread a message.

Welcome to the Communications Business Advisor™ podcast with host Tara McDonagh. In this episode, Tara steps back to reflect on the biggest insights emerging from her ongoing Path to the CCO+ conversations — and speaks directly to communications professionals who may feel that the CCO seat, or even strategic influence, still feels out of reach.

Drawing from her interviews with Judy Rader, Stephanie Roberts, Libby May, and Bianca Olson, Tara distills the common threads that define today's most successful communications leaders. She explores how communicators can elevate their roles from tactical execution to true business partnership — and why progress in this field is less about a single leap and more about consistent movement along a continuum of maturity and influence.

Tara shares what every communicator needs to know to advocate for their function, design structures that earn trust, and communicate with authority — even when the organization isn't "ready" yet. She also reframes ambition, structure, and business fluency as the cornerstones of lasting credibility, encouraging listeners to see themselves not as support players, but as essential architects of strategy and reputation.

In this podcast episode, Tara covers:

• The evolution of the Path to CCO+ series and what patterns have emerged
• Why no one's career path … or company … is ever truly "ready
• The myth of "it's different here" and the universal challenges communicators face
• Ambition as an asset: self-authorship and permission to claim your influence
• Business fluency as legitimacy: learn how your company makes and measures value
• Structure matters: centralization, visibility, and proximity to decision-makers
• From seat to strategy: shifting from communication about decisions to input on them
• Measuring what doesn't happen: recognizing and communicating the invisible wins
• Communications as governance: why the function now shapes risk, trust, and reputation
• Encouragement for communicators at every level: influence begins before the title

Visit taramcdonagh.com to learn more about working with Tara or sign up for her newsletter, Level Up: Be Extra.

This episode is sponsored by Raise the Tide™, a program designed for women in communications in corporate, healthcare, and higher education—helping them advance their careers through mentorship, professional development, and community.

If you found this episode valuable, please rate and review—it helps elevate our field and ensures more communicators have a voice at the table.

Welcome to the Communications Business Advisor™ podcast with host Tara McDonagh. In this episode, Tara sits down with Bianca Olson, Chief Communications Officer at HMH (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)—a learning company focused on the K–12 market—where she reports directly to the CEO.

Bianca traces her path from agency PR during the dot-com era to leading a modern communications function inside a complex, mission-driven organization. She shares how she broadened from external PR to a full corporate scope (internal, external, CSR, and more), why relationship-building is the cornerstone of strategic influence, and how communicators can be seen and used as critical business advisors rather than "order takers." The conversation digs into measurement (including the "invisible" wins), team design in different business models, and the future of the field amid polarization, AI, and shifting media.

In this podcast episode, Tara and Bianca cover:

• Career path: agency to in-house, and growing from specialist to enterprise-level leader
• Core skills of the craft: crisp writing, strategic storytelling, and making complex topics simple
• From tactics to strategy: building trust so partners seek counsel (not just press releases)
• Relationship-building that lasts: be likable without being an order taker; partner, don't placate
• Learn the business: curiosity, cross-functional fluency, and asking the "obvious" questions
• Team building: hire experts, empower them, and lead without "knowing it all"
• Structure realities: why the "right" comms org depends on industry, regulation, team expertise and goals
• Measurement that matters: quality over volume, trendlines over time, and narrating risk avoided
• Budget/resource advocacy: use metrics and executive-friendly rationale to win support
• Future of comms: polarization, evolving earned/owned media, AI's impact, and the "chief sense-maker" role Encouragement for rising leaders: stick with it—this work is impactful, rewarding, and growing in strategic importance

Visit taramcdonagh.com to learn more about working with Tara or sign up for her newsletter, Level Up: Be Extra.

This episode is sponsored by Raise the Tide™, a program designed for women in communications in corporate, healthcare, and higher education—helping them advance their careers through mentorship, professional development, and community.

If you found this episode valuable, please rate and review—it helps elevate our field and ensures more communicators have a voice at the table.

Meet Bianca Olson:

Chief Communications Officer

HMH

Bianca Olson is a seasoned communications and corporate affairs executive with deep experience driving strategic transformation and shaping identity. She brings a proven ability to lead through change, build trust across stakeholders, and craft compelling narratives that align purpose with performance.

As Senior Vice President and Chief Communication Officer at HMH, Bianca has been instrumental in guiding the company's evolution—from a traditional publisher to a modern technology-driven organization—while leading communications and corporate affairs at the intersection of innovation, impact and growth. Her leadership has helped define HMH's voice through major milestones including an IPO, multiple acquisitions, leadership transitions, and a private equity buyout, with a strong focus on change management and stakeholder alignment.

Over more than a decade at HMH, she has led external and internal communications and corporate social responsibility, helping the organization navigate complexity with clarity and confidence.

Bianca began her career on the agency side, where she advised Fortune 500 companies and mission-driven organizations on reputation management, media strategy, and stakeholder engagement. That experience honed her ability to manage high-stakes communications and laid the foundation for her thoughtful, high-impact leadership in-house.

She is known for her principled approach to sensitive issues, helping HMH communicate with authenticity in a polarized environment. Bianca has also championed thought leadership platforms that elevate executive voices and position the company as a forward-thinking force.

A trusted advisor to C-suite leaders and a collaborative partner across functions, Bianca brings a unique blend of strategic insight, operational rigor, and creative storytelling. She is passionate about aligning purpose with performance and believes in the power of communications to drive culture and earn trust.

Bianca is a graduate of Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, and lives in Marblehead, Massachusetts with her husband and son.

Welcome to the Communications Business Advisor™ podcast with host Tara McDonagh. In this episode, Tara sits down with Libby May, Chief External Affairs and Communications Officer at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU)—the nation's largest provider of nonprofit higher education, serving over 200,000 learners.

Libby shares how she built and now leads a 65-person External Affairs and Communications team encompassing communications, events, alumni engagement, donor and community relations, and government affairs—reporting to the university president. She explains why SNHU intentionally separates marketing from communications, how her centralized model and evolving structure strengthens reputation management and responsiveness in a highly regulated industry, and what it takes to grow a function from a team of one to a team of many.

Tara and Libby discuss:

• The scope and structure of a 65-person External Affairs and Communications team
• Why marketing and communications sit separately—and still work hand-in-hand
• Leading through regulation: how comms and government affairs integrate in higher ed and what similar highly regulated industries have in common.
• The difference between being "likable" and being an order taker—and how trust drives influence
• Centralizing communications: how to align internal, PR, and external relations for impact
• Measuring the "invisible" work of communications and taking credit for unseen wins
• Advocating for budget and resources: using evidence, readiness, and audience awareness
• The power of systems thinking: how being a "business advisor first" and a universal leader brings you a level further in your career
• Libby's evolution from agency leader to CCO—and how she shaped her own role
• Why curiosity, ambition, and continuous learning (including earning her MBA) fuel long-term leadership success
• AI as "the best intern you've ever had"—how to embrace technology while elevating "heart work"

Libby also reflects on the importance of being approachable and human as a leader, and the courage it takes for communicators—especially women—to own their ambition and advocate for their seat at the table. (YES!!)

Visit taramcdonagh.com to learn more about working with Tara or sign up for her newsletter, Level Up: Be Extra.

This episode is sponsored by Raise the Tide™, a program designed for women in communications in corporate, healthcare, and higher education—helping them advance their careers through mentorship, professional development, and community.

If you found this episode valuable, please rate and review—it helps elevate our field and ensures more communicators have a voice at the table.

Welcome to the Communications Business Advisor™ podcast with host Tara McDonagh. In this episode, Tara sits down with Stephanie Roberts, Chief Communications Officer at Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems, a global company within the Hitachi Ltd. family. Joining from Japan, Stephanie shares how she leads a 25+ person global function spanning Japan, the U.S., Europe, China, and Southeast Asia—and why Communications now reports directly to the CEO.

Stephanie walks through how she evolved Communications from a department nested under "sustainability" into a centralized, C-suite–level function that integrates corporate communications, branding, events & exhibitions, and digital. She also gets candid about advocating for resources, educating executives in different cultural contexts, and measuring the value of good counsel—especially the crises that never happen because Comms shaped smarter decisions upstream.

For anyone aiming to lead at the highest levels of Communications, this conversation is packed with practical guidance on structure, influence, and impact. In this episode, Tara and Stephanie cover:

• Why Communications moved to report to the CEO—and what changed
• Team design at a global scale: four sub-teams (Corporate Comms, Brand, Events/Exhibitions, Digital) and why internal + external were combined
• Centralizing the function to align messaging and increase effectiveness across regions
• Benchmarks vs. business need: how to size and shape a team without "comparison traps"
• Educating executives (and peers) so Comms is required in the room, not invited late
• Measuring the "art" of counsel: using outcomes, behavior change, and credible anecdotes
• Budget & headcount advocacy: tying roles to business risk, reputation, and AI-era search visibility
• Skills for senior leaders: relationship-building, tenacity, and being a truth-teller
• Global realities: leading in Japan, KPI-heavy cultures, and the rise of internal comms
• The field's opportunities and pressures: crisis readiness, employee engagement, AI ethics
• Career advice: raise your hand for hard assignments—the moves that accelerate growth

Visit taramcdonagh.com to learn more about working with Tara or sign up for her newsletter, Level Up: Be Extra.

This episode is sponsored by Raise the Tide™, a program designed for women in communications in corporate, healthcare, and higher education—helping them advance their careers through mentorship, professional development, and community.

If you found this episode valuable, please rate and review—it helps elevate our field and ensures more communicators have a voice at the table.

Meet Stephanie Roberts:

As Chief Communications Officer at Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems (HIES), Stephanie Roberts is responsible for the company's internal and external communications and branding strategy. She serves on the senior executive committee, leading a global team across internal and external communications, media relations, branding, crisis communications, social media, the company website, events and more.

More than three years ago, Stephanie moved to Tokyo as the first expat sent to HIES' HQ. She also works with teams across the Americas, China, Southeast Asia and EMEA and, driven by her passion for storytelling and exploring different cultures, has traveled to more than 30 countries.

Follow Stephanie Roberts on LinkedIn to continue the conversation and learn from her global perspective on Communications leadership.

Welcome to the Communications Business Advisor™ podcast with host Tara McDonagh. In this episode, Tara sits down with Judy Rader, Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs and Chief Communications Officer at Constellation, the nation's largest producer of clean energy.

Judy shares what it takes to lead a 60-person corporate affairs function at a Fortune 200 company, why she holds both the CCO and SVP of Corporate Affairs titles, and how her team secured and maintains its critical seat at the executive table.

For anyone aspiring to a leadership role in communications, this conversation is packed with actionable advice on building business acumen, developing your team, and proving your value as a strategic business advisor. In this podcast episode, Tara and Judy cover:

• The rise of the Corporate Affairs Officer
• What B2C Comms. can learn from B2B
• The model for Communications and Corporate Affairs at Constellation
• The team size, structure, reporting structure and approach to filling gaps needed in the team (hint: a review of the current structure and design is needed)
• The three critical skills required for a CCO (beyond knowing Comms).
• Training and development approaches for advancing comms. as advisors
• Navigating today's changing environment as a Communications and Corporate Affairs leader

Visit taramcdonagh.com to learn more about working with Tara or sign up for her newsletter, Level Up: Be Extra.

This episode is sponsored by Raise the Tide™, a program designed for women in communications in corporate, healthcare, and higher education—helping them advance their careers through mentorship, professional development, and community.

If you found this episode valuable, please rate and review—it helps elevate our field and ensures more communicators have a voice at the table.

Meet Judy Rader:

Judy Rader is the senior vice president of Corporate Affairs and chief communications officer, leading integrated marketing communications strategy, planning and execution for Constellation and managing the company's brand and reputation.

She serves on the Constellation Executive Committee, which sets strategy and direction for the company.

Rader's team of about 60 professionals has expertise across a wide range of corporate affairs disciplines, including:

• reputation and brand management, advertising, customer marketing, employee communications, media relations,
• public affairs and advocacy, issues/crisis management, digital/social media, community relations, charitable giving and
• foundation management. Under her leadership, the team is responsible for enhancing and protecting Constellation's
• reputation with all internal and external stakeholders, strengthening Constellation's brand awareness and favorability,
• fostering employee trust and engagement, and advancing the company's policy and business objectives through
• compelling communications, marketing and community support.

As part of her role, she oversees Constellation's philanthropic activities, including more than $18 million in annual company, employee and foundation giving and the volunteer efforts of the company's nearly 14,000 employees. She also serves as executive director of the Constellation Energy Foundation.

A Fortune 200 company based in Baltimore, Md., Constellation is the nation's largest producer of clean, emissions-free energy and a leading supplier of energy products and services. The publicly traded company produces about 10 percent of America's clean energy, making it a leader in the clean energy transition.

Community Work

Rader is a member of the Board of Directors and chair of the marketing committee for the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center, and a member of the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements, PAC 7 Committee on Radiation Education, Risk Communication and Outreach.

Educational Background

Rader has a master's degree in integrated marketing communications from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism. She earned bachelor's degrees in journalism and English from the University of Maryland.

Welcome to the Communications Business Advisor™ podcast with host Tara McDonagh. In this episode, Tara kicks off a new season by tackling one of the most pressing questions for senior communications professionals: what does a clear career path look like in a field that often feels misunderstood, oversimplified, and muddy?

The Reality of Q4 for Comms Teams Tara opens with a candid look at the fall and winter season—when benefit enrollments, IT security pushes, engagement surveys, and town halls collide with corporate restructuring, financial reporting, and external events. It's a whirlwind that leaves communications leaders carrying the weight of competing priorities while fighting to remind colleagues of the real purpose of the function: advancing business goals and protecting company reputation. It can feel impossible to think of something as long-term as career path advocacy when it's so busy all the time.

Why Career Pathing Feels Elusive Communications pros - especially around that director level - often find themselves forging their own paths. Tara highlights the isolation many feel when they're the highest-level communicator in their organization, expected to act as both strategic advisor and often, execution arm too. She acknowledges the frustration of being underestimated, but reminds listeners that communicators consistently shine when given even a crack in the door to demonstrate their value.

The Path to the CCO (and Beyond) This season, Tara is launching a series of conversations with Chief Communications Officers and SVPs in our field across industries. They'll share the skills, experiences, and hard truths that shaped their journeys. Listeners will hear what it's like in the CCo seat, the skills required to get there, and help communicators chart a more visible career path in communications leadership … as we normalize the CCO position everywhere.

Visit taramcdonagh.com to learn more about working with Tara or sign up for her newsletter, Level Up: Be Extra.

This episode is sponsored by Raise the Tide™, a program designed for women in communications in corporate, healthcare, and higher education—helping them advance their careers through mentorship, professional development, and community.

Tara is hosting a Raise the Tide Open House on Sept 19. Click here to pre-register.

If you found this episode valuable, please rate and review—it helps elevate our field and ensures more communicators have a voice at the table.

Episode 29 of the Communications Business Advisor™ podcast with host, Tara McDonagh, dives into Raise the Tide™, a program for women leaders and emerging leaders in the communications field working in a corporate (or related) environment. Tara unpacks exactly what Raise the Tide™ is, why it was created, and how it works.

Raise the Tide™ is a complete program for women in the Communications field that involves community, coaching, mentorship, counsel, and professional development specifically for women in corporate communications roles. Unlike other programs,, Raise the Tide™is created specifically for women in this field working in corporate and does not seek to change women, but rather creates space for them to grow.

Built on Tara's vast experience in communications and her academic study of gender differences, this program is uniquely equipped to address the challenges and celebrate the strengths of women communicators.

Crew members are placed in small groups where they engage in monthly meetings, stay connected through active group messaging, and benefit from one-on-one coaching sessions for personalized goal setting and progress. From strategic mentorship matches to a curated retreat experience, Raise the Tide™ offers everything women need to advance their careers with confidence, clarity, and camaraderie.

Visit RaiseTheTide.com to learn more and fill out the interest form. Many participants get company sponsorships for the program while others invest in the program themselves. Both options can lead to a highly rewarding and in some cases "life changing" experience (as stated by some women).

If today's insights resonated with you, please rate and review this episode—it helps spread the message and supports the growth of our profession.