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.