Communications Business Advisor

Welcome back to the Communications Business Advisor™ podcast with host Tara McDonagh. In this solo episode, Tara explores a counterintuitive pattern she sees repeatedly in her work with communications leaders: many talented communicators don't stall in their careers because they're underperforming. They stall because they've become exceptionally good at being helpful.

Helpfulness builds trust early in a career. It creates reputation, reliability, and momentum. But over time, that same instinct can sneakily become a ceiling. When leaders experience communications primarily as the function that executes, smooths, and fixes, it becomes harder for them to experience communicators as strategic partners whose judgment shapes decisions.

This episode unpacks how that shift happens, why it's so common in the communications field, and what communicators can do to reposition themselves from executor to advisor.

• Why many communications leaders plateau not from lack of talent, but from being too helpful
• The difference between being needed for execution and having authority in decision-making
• How communicators unintentionally train organizations to experience them as executors
• The subtle signals that shape whether leaders bring communications in early or late
• Why authority is built through consistent behavior, not titles or structural changes
• The connection between strategy and executive behavior change
• How communicators can shift from refining decisions to reframing them
• Why the transition from tactician to strategist is especially difficult in a misunderstood field
• The role of judgment, business framing, and questioning assumptions in building authority

Helpfulness builds credibility. Judgment builds authority.

The organizations' communicators serve don't need more messaging volume. They need communicators whose insight and judgment shape better decisions before messaging ever begins.

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 — it helps more communicators find the show and strengthens our collective voice.

Until next time, keep advising. Always keep advising.

Welcome back to the Communications Business Advisor podcast. In this solo episode, Tara shares an update, perspective, and invitation. Because right now, if there's one way to describe the collective experience of communications leaders, it's this … it's a lot.

The world feels heavy. The mental swivel factor is high. We are absorbing headlines, advising executives, managing reputational risk, running teams, parenting, partnering, and trying to remain reasonably stable humans.

Tara shares a personal story about a crisis in her own family that revealed something important about high-functioning leaders: when things get overwhelming, many of us isolate. We narrow the world. We close ranks. We "handle it."

But while isolation can often feel like control, it actually makes the load heavier.

And for women in communications leadership, that isolation is frequently normalized.

This episode explores why connection, not withdrawal, is what allows us to move forward.

• The "mental swivel" reality of modern communications leadership
• Why high-functioning women default to isolation during crisis
• The difference between professional processing and emotional processing
• How isolation slowly becomes normalized in leadership roles
• Why communications leadership is uniquely heavy right now
• The cost of carrying complexity alone
• Why connection is not weakness, but a leadership strategy
• How peer spaces reduce the invisible weight of this work
• What authentic leadership looks like during polarized and uncertain times

Tara also shares an update on the Raise the Tide ecosystem and why it exists — not as generic professional development, but as intentional connection and growth for women in communications leadership and emerging leadership..

• Shoreline: The brand new, Raise the Tide community space for connection and ongoing growth in any location or professional environment (agency, consultant, in-house, non-profit). For listeners interested in exploring Shoreline, Tara shares a limited-time discount code for early members (code: NEWCREW)

• Surge: The deeper, more intensive leadership experience for in-house women leaders and emerging leaders with coaching, mentorship, and an in-person retreat. After the upcoming April retreat, Surge membership will close for at least six months to allow the group to deepen.

Learn more at raisethetide.com.

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.

Until next time, keep advising. Always keep advising.

Welcome to the Communications Business Advisor™ podcast with host, Tara McDonagh. In this episode, Tara continues the Path to CCO+ series with Laura Duda, Senior Vice President and Chief Communications Officer at Goodyear. Laura shares what it really means to lead communications at the enterprise level, how she built her path from "writer first" to executive leader, and what communicators need to develop if they want a true seat (and voice) at the decision-making table.

From navigating matrixed teams and "shadow communicators," to earning authority through stakeholder insight, to leading through volatility, AI, and modern crisis dynamics, this conversation is packed with practical guidance for directors, VPs, and emerging comms leaders.

• What the CCO role looks like at Goodyear
• The scope of Laura's remit across internal + external comms and closely adjacent functions
• Team size and global structure
• How to lead in matrix environments and work effectively with "shadow communicators"
• Laura's career path: from writer to executive leader, including a pivotal industry switch
• What "authority" really means in communications: shaping decisions, not just messaging
• The uniquely cross-stakeholder lens communicators bring to the leadership table
• The CCO skills that matter most: business fluency and humility (especially across generations)
• Navigating today's reality: AI, volatility, and modern crisis dynamics
• Why data-driven response protects leaders from overreacting to "viral" noise
• Advice for directors/VPs who feel stuck: assess your readiness, pursue stretch work, and evaluate whether your environment will sponsor your growth

Laura's message is clear: authority is earned daily through credibility, stakeholder insight, and business fluency. Leadership at the CCO level requires both confidence and humility. The path isn't always linear, but communicators who keep learning, keep showing up, and choose growth-oriented environments give themselves the strongest chance to 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 — it helps more communicators find the show and strengthens our collective voice.

Until next time, keep advising. Always keep advising.

Meet Laura Duda

Laura Duda is Senior Vice President and Chief Communications Officer of The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. As the Chief Communications Officer, Duda leads all internal and external communications for the company, including public and media relations, employee communications, corporate reputation management, philanthropy and community relations, as well as Goodyear's fleet of world-famous airships.

Duda joined Goodyear in 2016, serving as Vice President of Communications for the company's Americas business unit. Before joining Goodyear, Duda led corporate, utility and commercial communications for Chicago, Illinois-based Exelon Corporation and corporate and utility communications for Tampa, Florida-based TECO Energy, Inc.

Raised in St. Petersburg, Florida, Duda attended Western Carolina University, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Writing & Editing. She later received her Master of Arts degree in Mass Communication from University of Florida and her Master of Business Administration degree from The University of Tampa. She is accredited in Public Relations, is a member of the Arthur W. Page Society and is a graduate of Leadership Tampa, Leadership Greater Chicago and Leadership Akron.

In 2023, Duda was named a Top 50 Chief Communications Officer by the National Diversity Conference. In 2020 and 2021, she was named to the National Diversity Council's Power 50, honoring women in the C-suite from top corporations who endeavor to improve not just companies, but communities as well.

She has also been named to PR Week's Hall of Femme, recognizing inspiring women who set the bar higher within their organizations, nominated by their peers and colleagues, and as one of the Women of Note by Crain's Cleveland Business. Duda is an executive sponsor of the Goodyear Black Network, a board member of the Humane Society of Summit County, United Way of Summit & Medina and the Greater Akron Chamber of Commerce. She is a trustee of the Institute for Public Relations and serves on the editorial board of Corporate Communications Review. She served as the 2024-2025 co-chair for the Harvest for Hunger campaign supporting the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank.

Welcome to the Communications Business Advisor™ podcast with host Tara McDonagh. In this episode, Tara sits down with Anthony Farina, a seasoned global communications leader whose career spans journalism, government, and corporate communications at the highest levels. Anthony currently leads Corporate Communications for Fujifilm in the Americas and previously served as Chief Communications Officer at CSL, where he built a global communications function from the ground up.

Together, Tara and Anthony explore what it really takes to grow into senior leadership in communications — not just in title, but in influence. From building strategy-first teams and earning executive trust, to navigating career trade-offs, mentoring the next generation, and giving back to the field, this conversation is packed with practical wisdom and lived experience.

• Why Communications should be treated as a vocation
• Why great CCOs focus on three things: strategy and governance, removing obstacles, and being the team's chief cheerleader
• Building a global communications team from zero to 65 people
• How to prove the value of communications through strategy
• Challenging industry "groupthink" by hiring for diverse backgrounds and perspectives
• Developing teams through professional growth, not just output
• What hybrid and remote work require from communicators who want to stay visible and trusted
• The power of listening as a leadership skill
• The difference between self-promotion and self-advocacy
• Why shining a light on others' work builds credibility faster than talking about your own
• Advice for directors and VPs aiming for CCO roles: start behaving like the role you want
• The responsibility senior leaders have to give back through mentoring, teaching, and guidance
• Why passion for the field and generosity with what you know creates lasting impact

Tara and Anthony close with a shared belief: communications leaders have both the opportunity and the responsibility to elevate the field by developing people, not just delivering outputs. Authority is earned through strategy, helping transfer your knowledge, and sustained leadership.

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 — it helps more communicators find the show and strengthens our collective voice.

Until next time, keep advising. Always keep advising.

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.

• 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.

• 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.