The Business Communicators

The personal information of millions of Americans were exposed due to data breaches in 2019, and Google’s Threat Analysis Group (TAG) reported over 40,000 nation-state hacking attacks in the last year alone. In recent weeks U.S. government agencies and medical institutions leading the COVID-19 pandemic response experienced cyberattack spikes.

Clearly businesses and public institutions are in the crosshairs of opportunistic and professional hackers. What can you as your organization’s professional communicator do to help protect your organization?

Angela Haun and Brad Culp join The Business Communicators for an in-depth discussion on digital security and how communicators play a crucial role in the cyber world. This episode focuses on COVID-19 and medical espionage, the importance of staying vigilant while working remotely, how to create relatable content for your stakeholders and key tips on staying cyber secure. 

Connect with The Business Communicators on Twitter and Instagram, and find out more about our chapter at IABCHouston.com. And, if you haven’t done so already, be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave us a five-star review. Questions or comments? Send us an email at [email protected].

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Tracey Shappro does it all. As the president and CEO of Vision Production Group in Houston, Texas, she brings her experience working with major global brands to the latest episode of The Business Communicators podcast to share her insights on the importance of effectively engaging audiences during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

As a two-time Emmy-Award winner and two-time honoree as “One of the Top 100 Producers in America” by AV Producer Magazine, Tracey will dive into:

• the importance of pivoting your creative style to bring the most value for you clients;
• integration of emerging technology like AR/VR and drone cinematography into your portfolio;
• advice on navigating challenges throughout your career; and
• adapting to change as a business owner.

Connect with The Business Communicators on Twitter and Instagram, and find out more about our chapter at IABCHouston.com. And, if you haven’t done so already, be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave us a five-star review. Questions or comments? Send us an email at [email protected].

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Courtney Phillips is a mental health warrior and spends her time advocating in the community and sharing stories of hope and healing through her outreach initiative, Hope for Invisible Wounds, which provides resources and tools for those suffering from mental anguish. 

Courtney brings her more than 14 years of strategic communications and public relations experience across the federal government, healthcare and corporate sectors, to The Business Communicators podcast to share insights into her personal story, her advocacy efforts, the role of corporate communications plays in creating a culture of care, and so much more. 

GIVEAWAY: As a token of our appreciation, we’re doing a giveaway for our listeners. From now until July 8, if you leave a five-star review and a comment on iTunes for this podcast you will be eligible to a free Google Nest Mini. Here’s how you win. Once you leave the review, screen cap it and email it to [email protected]. Then, on July 9, we’ll use random.org to select the winner. It’s the easy, so don’t miss out!

Connect with The Business Communicators on Twitter and Instagram, and find out more about our chapter at IABCHouston.com. And, if you haven’t done so already, be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave us a five-star review. Questions or comments? Send us an email at [email protected].

Resources

• SAMSHA National Helpline | 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
• National Suicide Prevention Crisis Lifeline  | 1-800-273-8255

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Jim Karrh, a professional speaker, consultant, host of the Manage Your Message Podcast, and the author of The Science of Customer Connections, joins The Business Communicators podcast to discuss the importance of building lasting connections, managing your message as a communicator, and tips on helping professionals talk about their businesses more effectively.

In this episode, Jim brings his decades of expertise into the conversation by leveraging his experience from serving on the faculty of three universities and contributing his research in top peer-reviewed journals. He offers his analysis on COVID-19 creating a shift in the way businesses are valuing the marketing and communicating field, pivoting our message from one of self-interest to one that places our clients and customers at the forefront, and so much more.

Connect with The Business Communicators on Twitter and Instagram, and find out more about our chapter at IABCHouston.com. And, if you haven’t done so already, be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave us a five-star review. Questions or comments? Send us an email at [email protected].

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Sam Chen, host and anchor of the "Face the Issues" talk-show, political strategist, college professor and author joins The Business Communicators to discuss trending topics in the world in 2020 – the media environment, Election 2020, COVID-19 and an evolving communications landscape. Tune in for Sam’s unique insight on a variety of current narratives from a communications perspective, where he’ll address these questions and more:

• As a news talk host, how do you frame a political conversations in an era when people try to avoid these discussions?
• What is a critical takeaway from the pandemic from a communications perspective?
• As a COVID-19 patient, what did you discover about communications and technology during your time of social isolation?
• How do corporations ‘turn the page’ to transition out of COVID-19 communications, while maintaining a tone of empathy and care?

Regardless if you’re listening in June 2020 or many months down the road, we’ll unpack valuable lessons learned during these challenging times and how communications can lead change during crises. Plus, you’ll want to hear more on Sam’s book, Thirteen Minutes: Winning, Losing, and Living as Taught by the 2016 Election, and how you can win a signed copy!

Connect with The Business Communicators on Twitter and Instagram, and find out more about our chapter at IABCHouston.com. And, if you haven’t done so already, be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave us a five-star review. Questions or comments? Send us an email at [email protected].

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On this episode of The Business Communicators, we welcome Chris Griesemer, principal at Voice for Any Choice, an accomplished voiceover actor and podcast host. With nearly 20 years in the business and hundreds of projects from commercials to video games under his belt – along with hosting his podcast on the side – Griesemer has established a successful career with his unique talent, powered by his passion for what he does. While some might assume it was an easily built profession for someone with a natural ‘ear’ for imitating voices from different cultures to celebrities, it was from humble beginnings and hard work that he was able to create his niche in the market of voiceover talent.

During this episode, Griesemer shares his story of overcoming teenage insecurities to discover his path to becoming a professional voice actor. Despite his young age and having no formal training or experience in the industry, Griesemer’s perseverance, passion and pursuit of opportunities led him to work for notable clients including international beverage companies, major retailers, travel and entertainment businesses and more. In his work, he brings the ‘voice’ of varying cities and countries to life through impressions, expanding his reach to international clients as he can easily communicate messages as a ‘local’ – all from his home office in central Texas. His story gives us an inside look at a unique facet of the communications field, and reminds us of best practices and key focus areas that resonate with our profession: quality and the creative process.

You won’t want to miss the entertainment and insight with Chris Griesemer in this special episode. You never know – you might even hear a familiar voice during the show!

Connect with The Business Communicators on Twitter and Instagram at @BizCommunicator, and find out more about our chapter at IABCHouston.com. And, if you haven’t done so already, be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave us a five-star review. Questions or comments? Send us an email at [email protected]. 

Connect with Chris Griesemer

• Voice for Any Choice
• Twitter
• The Wiki Walks Podcast

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In this timely episode of The Business Communicators, Mike Klein, Founder and Principal at the internal and change communication consultancy, Changing the Terms, joins the podcast to tackle a serious topic dominating our world in early 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic has swept across the globe and continues to threaten livelihoods and lives.

As this ‘new world’ of communicating during a pandemic is unprecedented and like nothing else we’ve seen in our lifetimes, it has presented an opportunity for increasing connectedness with others via mobile and digital communications platforms. But how do we best apply these technological resources to serve our audiences as communicators? How do we navigate conducting ‘business as usual’ without being tone-deaf to the personal impacts that many continue to face as a result of this disease?

Tune in for Mike’s professional insight on communicating during this health crisis, where he’ll answer critical questions including these and more:

• Are businesses seeing the value of internal communications in this unique environment, and is it a stable trend?
• How do we pivot from managing the current situation to planning for post-pandemic communications?
• Can we maintain this new level of interconnectedness after the crisis passes?
• How do we convey empathy in communicating difficult news with employees?

Plus – we’ll discuss mental health and how it’s being recognized in the business world now more than ever before. Regardless if you’re listening in April 2020 or many months down the road, we’ll unpack practical applications for communicating during any crisis impacting audiences on a personal level.

Following our conversation with Mike Klein, Allysun Theuhmayzing joins the show to share insights into her California-based bakery, Madam Confection, and how she is navigating the COVID-19 pandemic as a small business owner. Allysun shares great tips on how your kids can learn the practical skills of cooking in an educational way, how social media has helped her business, and why this pandemic is allowing her to think differently and creative moving forward.

Connect with The Business Communicators on Twitter and Instagram, and find out more about our chapter at IABCHouston.com. And, if you haven’t done so already, be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave us a five-star review. Questions or comments? Send us an email at [email protected]. 

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The Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has disrupted the global markets and the pandemic is now impacting many within our own community. Schools have closed, local businesses have shuttered, and many are unsure of the long-term implications to their careers and personal health.

In this time of uncertainty, how can we navigate the COVID-19 crisis as communicators? Join The Business Communicators and our panel of experts for an informative discussion on crisis management during the COVID-19 pandemic. Featuring former Harris County Judge Ed Emmett, Pierpont COO Clint Woods, and Dr. Chris Yandle, our panel will share insights into government and corporate response, working remotely, and the importance of maintaining a focus on mental health for you and your family.

In this episode, listeners will hear advice on:

• Tips and approaches for sustaining good mental health during this crisis
• How corporations should balance taking care of their employees and their business
• Do’s and Don’ts for employee comms
• Lessons learning from the first month of the COVID-19 response

Connect with The Business Communicators on Twitter and Instagram, and find out more about our chapter at IABCHouston.com. And, if you haven’t done so already, be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave us a five-star review. Questions or comments? Send us an email at [email protected]. 

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Preacher Lawson, a comedian and alum from America’s Got Talent and the star of Get To Know Me on BET Plus, joins The Business Communicators ahead of his national tour stop in Houston.

With more than 1 million followers across his digital media platforms, Lawson has gained a loyal following and now hosts his own stand-up comedy tour across the U.S. However, despite his swift rise to comedic fame in just a few years, Lawson’s road to success was not without struggles and obstacles to overcome along the way.

In this episode, Lawson shares his story of perseverance and drive to achieve his goals, and how these life lessons can be applied to the professional world. Overcoming fear, financial struggles and competition on America’s Got Talent, Lawson highlights his journey and shares his keys to reaching personal and career goals. As communicators, his story reminds us of the importance of employing character attributes such as self-confidence, persistence and grit achieve success in our professional pursuits.

You won’t want to miss the laughs and life lessons with Preacher Lawson in this special episode! Also, be sure to catch Preacher March 12-14 at the Houston Improv. 

Click here to buy tickets.

Connect with The Business Communicators on Twitter and Instagram, and find out more about our chapter at IABCHouston.com. And, if you haven’t done so already, be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave us a five-star review. Questions or comments? Send us an email at [email protected]. 

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Brian Sullivan, a Senior National Correspondent at CNBC, joins The Business Communicators to cover all things ‘media’ in 2020.

Drawing from his 20 years of financial journalism and television experience, Brian shares his insights from the field in facing today’s media affairs challenges, ever-changing communications platforms, and the continuously evolving landscape of the industry in which today’s business communicators work.

Tune in to hear Brian’s take on a variety of topics, including:

• The global energy market adapting to the energy transition
• The impact of the Coronavirus on the global economy
• How the rise of social media has changed traditional media affairs, and the strategies developed to combat these inherent challenges
• Why social media strategy and content should be customized for specific platforms – there is no successful ‘one size fits all’ scenario
• The status of the communications industry – is this a turning point?

You won’t want to miss this exclusive interview with one of today’s notable media correspondents covering the hottest U.S. and world stories!

Connect with The Business Communicators on Twitter and Instagram, and find out more about our chapter at IABCHouston.com. And, if you haven’t done so already, be sure to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and leave us a five-star review. Questions or comments? Send us an email at [email protected]. 

Additional Links

• Follow Brian Sullivan on Twitter

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