Everything Speaks

Communications is the CENTER OF ALL THINGS. On the pod, Lee interviews interesting communications pros, CEOs, branding experts, and authors to bring key insights that can be used in the day to day to make your work, your PR, your marketing WORK. Occasionally, she goes it alone to share her thoughts and insights on key topics of the day in solo shows.

Today is a Solo Show with your host, Lee Caraher.

What you will learn in this episode:

• Why clarity should be on your list of words to live by in 2024 (and beyond)
• How becoming clear about YOU helps you be a better communicator
• How you can use assessment tools to better understand yourself and your colleagues
• Why your company's values should be tied to associated behaviors
• What active communication looks like, and why your job as a communicator is never complete

Resources:

• Website: https://leecaraher.com/
• Website: www.double-forte.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leecaraher/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher

Assessment Resources:

• Myers Briggs: https://www.mbtionline.com/
• Enneagram: https://www.integrative9.com/
• DISC: https://www.everythingdisc.com/
• Strength Finders: https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/253868/popular-cliftonstrengths-assessment-products.aspx

Communications is the CENTER OF ALL THINGS. On the pod, Lee interviews interesting communications pros, CEOs, branding experts, and authors to bring key insights that can be used in the day to day to make your work, your PR, your marketing WORK. Occasionally, she goes it alone to share her thoughts and insights on key topics of the day in solo shows.

Today is a Solo Show with your host, Lee Caraher.

What you will learn in this episode:

• 5 trends you should be staying on top of to be relevant in 2024
• How to explore generative AI with curiosity while prioritizing quality and human connection
• Why continued education should be on your list for 2024 – and how it can help you upscale personally and professionally
• How workplaces are evolving and what they need to do to stay successful
• Why sustainability is critical for any company looking to attract a younger audience
• How all of these things, along with your effectiveness, integrity, social responsibility, and more, define your brand value

Resources:

• Double Forte 2024 Trend Report
• Website: https://leecaraher.com/
• Website: www.double-forte.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leecaraher/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher

Communications is the CENTER OF ALL THINGS. On the pod, Lee interviews interesting communications pros, CEOs, branding experts, and authors to bring key insights that can be used in the day to day to make your work, your PR, your marketing WORK. Occasionally, she goes it alone to share her thoughts and insights on key topics of the day in solo shows.

Today is a Solo Show with your host, Lee Caraher.

What you will learn in this episode:

• Why every company should be starting (if they haven't) and continuing (if they have) their diversity, equity, and inclusion journey
• How diversity and inclusion in the workplace makes us stronger and generates better results
• How language plays a crucial role in operationalizing inclusion and transforming our understanding
• What it truly means to use inclusive language in the workplace
• How our culture and upbringing impacts the language we use
• Why it is important to understand the origin of the phrases we use and adapt accordingly

Resources:

• Website: https://leecaraher.com/
• Website: www.double-forte.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leecaraher/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher

Additional Resources:

• CNN – Everyday words and phrases that have racist connotations
• Entrepreneur – Why Businesses Need to Take Inclusive Language Seriously
• Inc. – 4 Words You Should Stop Using at Work – and What to Say Instead
• Stanford University – Elimination of Harmful Language Initiative
• Witty.Works – Inclusive Language: Handbook To Make it Work at Your Organization

Justin's been in marketing since he was a kid when his mom asked him to design the invitations to her tea party. That was the gateway drug.

In middle school, he dabbled in logo design with his friends.

In high school, his art teacher said, "You should try a career in graphic design." So he went to the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire, where he got a BA in graphic design.

He went to work full time growing a non-profit with new marketing methods, in many cases doubling their income from various events or campaigns. Then he moved to a B2B manufacturer, where his award-winning work enabled them to grow from $70M to $90M ARR. Realizing he was an entrepreneur, he made the leap to business ownership in 2018.

Today, he helps executive coaches and solopreneurs attract ideal clients with click-worthy videos for social media.

What you will learn in this episode:

• Why now is the best time to get into short-form videos
• Why you should be spending your time where you are most valuable
• How to provide value, insight, and entertainment through your videos
• What it says for you when you produce consistent, valuable content

Resources:

• Website: https://www.dialogwith.us/
• LinkedIn Personal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinvajko/
• LinkedIn Business: https://www.linkedin.com/company/dialog-design-co/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jvajko

Specializing in public relations spanning lifestyle, healthcare, life sciences and financial industries, Rebecca Eisenberg brings ten plus years of experience and numerous media relationships. Though garnering press coverage for clients is her main focus, Rebecca has extensive experience with branding, events and marketing strategy.

Her passion for storytelling combined with her love of building and nurturing relationships make her a valuable addition to any team, successfully garnering top-tier press placements for clients across the board.

What you will learn in this episode:

• How the right data can help you stand out in today's media landscape
• How to use data to validate your story and gain credibility
• What types of data you can use to effectively tell your story
• How adding data to your pieces can help gain trust with reporters and editors
• Why it matters how you present your data
• How to play the long game with reporters by giving them valuable content over time

Resources:

• Website: https://network.ex.plo.re/
• LinkedIn Personal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/becca-eisenberg/
• LinkedIn Business: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ex-plo-re/
• LinkedIn Double Forte: https://www.linkedin.com/company/double-forte/
• The Report: The Irrefutable Power of Data in Media Relations chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://double-forte.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/POV_PowerOfData_DoubleForte.pdf

Heather Kernahan is a global business leader who has been featured in Fast Company, Fortune, Thrive Global, Biz Women, and Ad Week. She currently serves as the CEO of Hotwire Global, an award-winning global tech communications and marketing consultancy who have worked with companies such as Meta, Adobe, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and Honeywell. She was named one of the San Francisco Business Times 100 Most Influential Women and North America Innovator of the Year by Provoke Media. She serves on the board of ICCO, is a Trustee of IPR, and is past Board Chair of the PR Council.

Kernahan is a sought-after speaker on business-leadership topics and has taken the stage at Fortune Global Forum discussing Innovation on the Fast Track, at the NASDAQ Entrepreneurial Center as a keynote and workshop facilitator on unlocking authentic leadership, and at Chief discussing High Stakes Leadership. She is a strategic adviser and has been a mentor to leaders, entrepreneurs, and start-ups through work with NASDAQ Entrepreneurial Center, Company VenturesNYCs foremost venture community, Scotians Global Advisors, Cleantech Open, Womens Startup Lab and the LAGRANT Foundation. She is a venture capitalist and LP with Women Who Invest and Portfolia.

Taking action in the areas of inclusion, belonging, and education is important to her. She has been part of the launch team of the Say Gap, a program developed by the PRCouncil to train women and other underrepresented leaders to speak on stage and be interviewed by the press. She co-founded The 10, a group of women in leadership who are working to have more women leaders write and publish their first business books, as well, she serves on the Citizens Bond Oversight Committee for the College of Marin.

Heather grew up in Canada and has since held senior marketing and leadership roles at start-up, mid-size, and global tech companies in Canada and the US, where she has been part of teams building the future. She received her masters in Business Administration in Sustainable Enterprise from Dominican University of California. She lives in the San Francisco Bay area with her husband and children.

What you will learn in this episode:

• What inspired Heather to write her book, Unstuckable
• Why it is vital for women to write more business books
• How becoming an author can give you credibility and access to the media
• Why you will get nothing in business if you can't communicate
• How Heather and "The Ten" can help women who want to become authors learn the ropes

Resources:

• Website: https://www.hotwireglobal.com/
• LinkedIn Personal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heatherkernahan/
• LinkedIn Business: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hotwireglobal/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/hkernahan
• Unstuckable

Rachel Huff, President and Founder of Victoire & Co, sits at the intersection of great companies and great agencies. Her passion lies in building brand-agency partnerships that drive long-term success. With a keen understanding of clients communications and business needs and a network of trusted agency connections, she specializes in guiding companies toward their best agency fit.

Her work doesn't end with the initial matchmaking. Through strategic guidance and ongoing support, Rachel helps companies maximize their agency relationships to unlock their full brand potential. She also helps agencies grow their top line by sharpening their marketing and new business approach.

Before founding Victoire & Co, Rachel led business development and agency marketing at Weber Shandwick and 360PR+, drawing from a decade on the account side developing integrated communications campaigns for brands including John Hancock, Verizon, Ocean Spray, DraftKings, CVS, Life is Good, and Boston Scientific.

What you will learn in this episode:

• Why professionals with agency experience aren't always the best at finding new clients that are a good fit
• Double Forte's 4 rules for working with a new client
• What it means when a customer asks for more dynamic teams
• How your approach to presenting results can make you more adaptable and transparent
• Why it is our job to make our clients easier
• What kind of questions agencies should be asking

Resources:

• Website: https://www.victoireco.com/
• LinkedIn Personal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelmhuff/
• LinkedIn Business: https://www.linkedin.com/company/victoireco/

As the Chief Content Officer for Double Forte, Liz combines her PR, marketing and writing skills to counsel clients on their content and social media strategies and to maintain the editorial calendar and voice for the agency. Over the years she has worked as the Vice President of Marketing for an international flooring company and led media and communications programs for a range of clients from Fortune 100 companies to early-stage startups in the technology, consumer and professional services industries.

An award-winning writer, Liz is the author of two books about the challenges of working women balancing career and caregiving. She is also active in the influencer community: Liz runs an online community with thousands of members, and her first blog was named one of the Best Blogs for Women by Fortune Magazine several years in a row.

Liz is active in her community and serves on her town's Finance and Warrant Committee. She is also committed to supporting other women and co-founded both SheStarts, an organization for women entrepreneurs, as well as Women In Democracy-Dedham, a non-partisan group that seeks to engage more women in local politics.

What you will learn in this episode:

• How the need and desire for companies to comment on social topics has impacted brand communication
• What questions to ask yourself as a company to determine what to communicate and whether or not to take a stance
• Why companies need to live their values, not just post them on a wall
• How not communicating anything can result in a bigger backlash
• Why conviction is vital when taking a stance

Resources:

• Read Liz's article "Profit, People and Purpose: How CEOs and Companies Can Be Their Most Authentic Self in the Transparent Age": https://double-forte.com/profits-people-

Lee's the host of Everything Speaks, the founder and CEO of Double Forte, a 20-year old awesome independent national PR and strategic communications firm, and the author of two pragmatically optimistic books about creating valuable, high producing and positive workplaces and teams. She's been there and done that.

Communications is the CENTER OF ALL THINGS. On the pod, Lee interviews interesting communications pros, CEOs, branding experts, and authors to bring key insights that can be used in the day to day to make your work, your PR, your marketing WORK. Occasionally, she shares her thoughts and insights on key topics of the day.

What you will learn in this episode:

• Why the word "like" should not be used as a filler or to indicate inclusion
• What you are actually saying when you use "like" in written speech
• Why using "like" as a filler in spoken word undermines your authority and makes you seem uncertain
• Tips you can use to break out of the habit of using "like" in your everyday vocabulary
• Why precision language is so important for conveying your thoughts and being understood

Resources:

• Website: https://leecaraher.com/
• Website: www.double-forte.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leecaraher/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher

Apps Mentioned:

• Speeko
• Orai
• Astound

Lee's the host of Everything Speaks, the founder and CEO of Double Forte, a 20-year old awesome independent national PR and strategic communications firm, and the author of two pragmatically optimistic books about creating valuable, high producing and positive workplaces and teams. She's been there and done that.

Communications is the CENTER OF ALL THINGS. On the pod, Lee interviews interesting communications pros, CEOs, branding experts, and authors to bring key insights that can be used in the day to day to make your work, your PR, your marketing WORK. Occasionally, she shares her thoughts and insights on key topics of the day.

What you will learn in this episode:

• How intention is at the heart of being understood when communicating
• The 9 steps for breaking down intention to be a more effective communicator
• Why you need to give as many cues as possible to be heard and understood
• Why it's important to reinforce your message in different modalities at different times
• How your words, tone, energy, and body language work together (or against each other) to convey a message
• Why it's essential to determine the when, where, and how of the message you are sending

Resources:

• Website: https://leecaraher.com/
• Website: www.double-forte.com
• Double Forte Resources: https://double-forte.com/resources/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leecaraher/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/leecaraher
• Books mentioned: Breaking Through: https://www.amazon.com/Breaking-Through-Communicating-Hearts-Change/dp/1647823951/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?keywords=breaking+through&qid=1692816930&sr=8-2-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1: Communicating to Open Minds, Move Hearts, and Change the World by Sally Susman The Nonobvious Guide to Better Presentations by Jacqueline Farrington