The world is constantly in a state of chaos—from an unexpected crisis at work to the personal high stakes of having a baby during a global pandemic. How do you find the calm confidence needed to navigate those moments when you feel most exposed?

This week on Amplify, Jess sits down with Caitlin Gardner, a veteran crisis communications expert who is the founder of Blooming Communications. Caitlin's professional life involves helping Fortune 500 companies communicate with calm maturity during crises. Her personal life, however, includes having a baby at the peak of the 2020 pandemic while her husband lost his job—a high-stakes moment that uniquely prepared her for the work she does today.

Caitlin shares how to apply the lessons learned in the delivery room to the boardroom, giving you the practical tools to handle unexpected public scrutiny, internal high stakes, and even the double-edged sword of going viral.

Tune in for:

• Caitlin's incredible story of delivering a baby in April 2020, juggling a crisis communications job in the hard-hit cruise industry, and the power of focusing on one goal in a chaotic environment.
• The concept of the "Reputation Bank Account": making positive deposits so you have the benefit of the doubt when you need to make a withdrawal (like when you fumble publicly).
• The difference between good-intentioned feedback and negative trolling, and the importance of assuming good intent in professional communications.
• Caitlin's take on cancel culture, and why brands and people must define their core values to maintain clarity in polarizing times.
• Why it’s essential to be prepared for the worst-case scenario (the "tabletop exercise") so you can be agile and confident when chaos hits.
• How to handle the urge to jump on viral trends and why every piece of content—even your social media hook—needs a strategic rationale and intentionality.
• A key reminder for leaders: You don't get to choose when the stakes are high for others, so be thoughtful about how you deliver high-stakes feedback.

About Caitlin Gardner:

Caitlin Gardner is the Founder of Blooming Communications, a strategic communications consultancy. She is an expert in high-stakes communications, reputation management, and crisis preparedness, helping clients bring "calm confidence" to moments of unexpected chaos.

Resources & Links:

• Follow Caitlin Gardner on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caitlingardner/
• Blooming Communications: https://bloomingcom.com
• Amplify with Jess is produced by Walk West and brought to you by Mic Drop Workshop.