Dear comms...

Government affairs is something that used to be done behind closed doors (or over long lunches). Not anymore. In this special bonus episode, we're joined by Katarina Wallin Bureau - General Manager of Strategic Relations at Microsoft - to unpack how government affairs, communications, purpose, and influence now sit firmly on top of each other. Katarina shares what effective policy engagement  looks like, why purpose only matters if it shapes  decisions, and the courage it takes to challenge leaders when their actions don’t match their narrative.

Connect with Katarina on Linkedin here

Imogen Hitchcock and Amanda Pierce have a clear purpose: creating communications (and communicators) that spark action, drive growth, and build lasting influence. Between them, there’s not a question or crisis they haven’t faced. From the everyday “could you just…” to high-stakes challenges, they’re here to share their insights and help you thrive.

They'd love your stars, favourites, and follows. Please, give them the social validation they crave ;) 

If you’ve ever wished for a crisis handbook you could keep in your top drawer - this is probably as close as it gets. In the final episode of our Crisis Series, we bring everything together into ten practical rules to help you lead, communicate, and stay sane when things go very wrong.

Whether you’ve been with us since the first episode or you’ve skipped straight to the cheat-sheet, this conversation is your crisis kit bag in 15 minutes.

Imogen Hitchcock and Amanda Pierce have a clear purpose: creating communications (and communicators) that spark action, drive growth, and build lasting influence. Between them, there’s not a question or crisis they haven’t faced. From the everyday “could you just…” to high-stakes challenges, they’re here to share their insights and help you thrive.

They'd love your stars, favourites, and follows. Please, give them the social validation they crave ;) 

The headlines have faded, but the real work’s only just beginning.

In this episode, Imogen and Amanda look at what happens once the immediate crisis has passed - and how to rebuild trust for the long term. They share their three Rs framework - review, rebuild, reassure - and unpack what meaningful recovery looks like in practice: visible leadership, clear communication, and consistent follow-up. With lessons from Volkswagen’s slow road back and a few honest reflections on what companies often skip, this conversation is about turning recovery into resilience.

Imogen Hitchcock and Amanda Pierce have a clear purpose: creating communications (and communicators) that spark action, drive growth, and build lasting influence. Between them, there’s not a question or crisis they haven’t faced. From the everyday “could you just…” to high-stakes challenges, they’re here to share their insights and help you thrive.

They'd love your stars, favourites, and follows. Please, give them the social validation they crave ;) 

What do you say when everything’s going wrong — and how do you say it without sounding like a corporate robot?

In this episode of Dear Comms…, Imogen and Amanda dig into the language of crisis. From holding statements and empathy to legal sign-off and tone, they explore what makes a message land when the pressure’s on. Expect practical frameworks (the four Cs: concern, control, clarity, commitment), a few “please never say this” examples, and a reminder that silence and legalese can do more damage than the crisis itself.

Useful info: 

WINS

American Airlines (2025 midair collision)
After a tragic midair collision, American Airlines swiftly activated its crisis plan. CEO Robert Isom delivered a heartfelt video within hours, expressing condolences and promising transparency during the investigation. The response was praised for its empathy and clarity and reputation metrics stayed steady.
Axios

London Drugs (2024 cyberattack)
When a ransomware attack forced temporary closures, the retailer communicated promptly with customers and staff. They engaged cybersecurity experts, maintained pharmacy access, and issued transparent updates - preserving trust in a tough moment.
solvcommunications.ca

Jet2 TikTok response (2025)

When Jet2’s jingle “Nothing beats a Jet2 holiday” was hijacked on TikTok to highlight travel chaos, their agile response won hearts. Rather than push back, they leaned into the meme -posting tongue-in-cheek content, engaging creators, and restoring engagement.
PR.co

FAILS

CS Energy (2025 power station explosion)
After a blast, internal holding statements remained unpublished for nearly a week, despite being prepared. The delay sparked public outcry and internal shakeups, revealing a breakdown in both corporate culture and trust.
The Courier-Mail

Social Media Tone Gone Wrong: British Museum (2024)
A tongue-in-cheek meme aimed at riding a TikTok trend backfired spectacularly when the comment about women visiting exhibitions to meet men was labelled sexist. Their delayed apology only made matters worse.

American Eagle “Great Jeans” campaign (2025)

An ad intended as a playful pun ("Genes"/"Jeans") sparked fierce backlash for perceived eugenic undertones. Their dismissive response—“It’s about the jeans”—only amplified the criticism and drove media uproar.
PR.co

Astronomer’s Kiss-Cam Scandal (2025)

At a Coldplay concert, Astronomer Inc.'s CEO was caught on a public kiss-cam with the head of HR. The incident triggered questions about ethics and workplace culture. Their unprepared reaction and lack of transparency made internal dissent worse.
PR.co

Imogen Hitchcock and Amanda Pierce have a clear purpose: creating communications (and communicators) that spark action, drive growth, and build lasting influence. Between them, there’s not a question or crisis they haven’t faced. From the everyday “could you just…” to high-stakes challenges, they’re here to share their insights and help you thrive.

They'd love your stars, favourites, and follows. Please, give them the social validation they crave ;) 

In the second episode of our crisis comms series, we're now in the thick of it. The phone's ringing, your inbox is having a meltdown, and someone's just uttered "Crisis Team - Assemble!)

We'll break down how you handle those first chaotic hours, how to tell if it’s really a crisis or just a very noisy issue, and why the best teams make decisions fast (and avoid endless committee debates). 

We'll chat about holding statements, social media spirals, and the importance of a good crisis log. Plus, the importance of practice, practice, and practice

Imogen Hitchcock and Amanda Pierce have a clear purpose: creating communications (and communicators) that spark action, drive growth, and build lasting influence. Between them, there’s not a question or crisis they haven’t faced. From the everyday “could you just…” to high-stakes challenges, they’re here to share their insights and help you thrive.

They'd love your stars, favourites, and follows. Please, give them the social validation they crave ;) 

When a crisis hits, it’s rarely out of the blue. In the first episode of our crisis comms series, we'll look at “before”. Before it all goes wrong, that is. We'll explore how to spot trouble early, prepare your teams, and protect your reputation.

We'll talk about slow-burn issues, how to create a culture where people are happy to speak up, and give you some practical tools you can put in place right away. Whether it’s supplier problems, social media storms, or tone-deaf comms, this one’s about turning gut instinct into good systems.

Imogen Hitchcock and Amanda Pierce have a clear purpose: creating communications (and communicators) that spark action, drive growth, and build lasting influence. Between them, there’s not a question or crisis they haven’t faced. From the everyday “could you just…” to high-stakes challenges, they’re here to share their insights and help you thrive.

They'd love your stars, favourites, and follows. Please, give them the social validation they crave ;) 

Why is it that leaders still flinch when they hear the word “storytelling”? And why do comms teams so often find themselves fighting to prove it isn’t just fluff? In this episode of Dear Comms…, we sit down with Rachael Warner — comms trainer, writer, and founder of what she calls “zero-bullshit communications” — to unpack the myths, fears, and real opportunities around storytelling at work.

Together, we’ll explore why storytelling still gets side-eyed in leadership circles, what a good narrative actually looks like, and how internal comms can move from message service to strategic advisor. 

Useful links:

• Follow Rachael on LinkedIn here 
• Subscribe to the Comms Nerd here 

Imogen Hitchcock and Amanda Pierce have a clear purpose: creating communications (and communicators) that spark action, drive growth, and build lasting influence. Between them, there’s not a question or crisis they haven’t faced. From the everyday “could you just…” to high-stakes challenges, they’re here to share their insights and help you thrive.

They'd love your stars, favourites, and follows. Please, give them the social validation they crave ;) 

Why does it always feel that comms and legal are at loggerheads when we’re meant to be protecting the same business? In this candid chat with Julian Hilton-Johnson (who's both an ex-lawyer and an ex-global comms lead), we unpack the tension. Legal precision vs public clarity, “sign-off” culture vs partnership, and risk avoidance vs opportunity. Expect practical fixes, horror stories, and why your WhatsApps may come back to haunt you. Spoiler: lawyers are humans too.

Useful links

• Follow Julian on Linkedin
• Read more about Purple Maze Consulting
• Get to grips with Deepwater Horizon 
  • https://bryghtpath.com/deepwater-horizon-case-study/
  • https://www.aboutresilience.com/a-deep-dive-into-bps-deepwater-horizon-spill-a-case-study/
• Get down with the kids and understand the whole Blake Lively discussion
  • https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cewxj0qw2p9o
  • https://www.thecut.com/article/blake-lively-lawsuit-against-justin-baldoni-explained.html
    
    

Imogen Hitchcock and Amanda Pierce have a clear purpose: creating communications (and communicators) that spark action, drive growth, and build lasting influence. Between them, there’s not a question or crisis they haven’t faced. From the everyday “could you just…” to high-stakes challenges, they’re here to share their insights and help you thrive.

They'd love your stars, favourites, and follows. Please, give them the social validation they crave ;) 

You’ve spent years leading communications. You know how to shape a message, manage a crisis, coach leaders,  bring clarity where there’s chaos. But what if all that experience was just the beginning — and your next chapter looked nothing like your current one? 

In this episode of Dear Comms…, we talk to Jocelyn Penque-Saunders, a former global comms leader who walked away from the corporate world to become a dating coach. Yes, really. 

We explore: 

• How comms skills — from storytelling to audience insight — transfer far beyond the boardroom 
• Why identity and purpose matter more than job titles 
• What it takes to leap into something new 

Whether you’re feeling restless, burned out, or just curious about what’s possible, this conversation is your reminder that there is life after comms — and it might be somewhere completely different to what you imagined. 

Useful links: 

• Follow Jocelyn on Linkedin here
• Find out more about Dating Breakthrough here
• Discover the Dating Classroom here

Imogen Hitchcock and Amanda Pierce have a clear purpose: creating communications (and communicators) that spark action, drive growth, and build lasting influence. Between them, there’s not a question or crisis they haven’t faced. From the everyday “could you just…” to high-stakes challenges, they’re here to share their insights and help you thrive.

They'd love your stars, favourites, and follows. Please, give them the social validation they crave ;) 

When you think politician, you don't often think "honesty, transparency, straight answers"... but that doesn't mean that there's nothing to learn from our political friends. 

In this episode, we’re joined by Daisy Powell-Chandler, political strategist turned corporate comms adviser and host of Why Everybody Hates You. Daisy shares what decades in campaigning have taught her about understanding your audience, building purpose and vision that actually drive action, and communicating the unpopular stuff with integrity. 

We also explore the mistakes political and corporate communicators both make (yes, not answering the question is on the list), the tactics worth stealing, and why your audience doesn’t need to share your purpose to trust you. 

Useful links

• Connect with Daisy on Linkedin
• Catch up on Why Everybody Hates You here

Imogen Hitchcock and Amanda Pierce have a clear purpose: creating communications (and communicators) that spark action, drive growth, and build lasting influence. Between them, there’s not a question or crisis they haven’t faced. From the everyday “could you just…” to high-stakes challenges, they’re here to share their insights and help you thrive.

They'd love your stars, favourites, and follows. Please, give them the social validation they crave ;)