Under Embargo Podcast

Struggling with how to stand out in an evolving communications job market? Brooke Kruger, communications recruiter and founder of KC Partners, reveals critical skill shifts and career positioning strategies that helped comms professionals land roles as hiring trends rebound.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why AI proficiency and adaptability are now baseline requirements for PR and comms careers [00:00]

• How the fragmentation of media and new channels like podcasts and Substack are reshaping storytelling and candidate value [15:30]

• Practical LinkedIn tactics, personal branding, and the real impact of reporting structures on comms influence and compensation [28:45]

Brooke Kruger is a leading executive recruiter with over 25 years’ experience building communications teams for tech, startup, and VC-backed companies. She brings deep market insight into what skills, roles, and approaches stand out as the industry transforms.

Listen now to discover how to future-proof your communications career and navigate the shifting landscape.

Struggling with how to translate AI buzz into meaningful, practical impact for your communications strategy? Chris Gee, CEO and AI strategist, reveals specific workflows and skill shifts that enable PR teams to boost productivity, shape reputation, and position brands for visibility in AI-driven search.

In this episode, we explore:

• How AI accelerates slide and content creation for PR pros [00:04:00]

• Approaches to optimizing your brand’s presence and discoverability in LLM platforms

• Why multi-generational and continuous upskilling is key to navigating AI-driven workforce changes

Chris Gee is a digital communications executive, AI consultant, and founder of Chris Gee Consulting, with two decades advising agencies and brands on ethical AI adoption and digital innovation.

Listen now to discover how to level up your PR team’s strategy, efficiency, and competitive edge in the AI communications era.

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What happens when an engineer-turned-entrepreneur brings B2C energy to B2B enterprise software and a borderline obsession with fixing broken meetings? You get Alina Vandenberghe—co-founder and Co-CEO of Chili Piper, the woman who turned scheduling software into a billion-dollar empire while managing teams across 38 countries (and somehow still finds time to make her employees build AI agents).From starting work at 8 years old to building stealth iPad apps that caught Steve Jobs' attention, Alina's journey is equal parts inspiring and remarkable. In this episode, Becca sits down solo with one of enterprise software's most magnetic leaders to discuss how she turned corporate culture on its head.You'll discover:— Her early career wins (including a New York Times interview before she could barely speak English)— Chili Piper's radical approach to decision-making and culture design— Why every employee is required to build AI agents— How LinkedIn became her unexpected writing school— Why parenting, product-building, and personal growth are all connected by the same thread: curiosityThis episode is packed with tactical ideas and vulnerable reflections—from the power of documentation to the messiness of leadership to what it means to find joy while you're building something hard. Stick around for walkout songs, emoji debates, and a rapid-fire round featuring your favorite unhinged “hiccups or pinkies” question.

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What happens when comms pros finally take their own advice—and build platforms for themselves?In this episode of Under Embargo, we sit down with Gabrielle Ferree—former VP of Global Comms at Bumble, Slack, and Salesforce—who's stepping off the corporate ladder to launch Off the Record, a new coaching and community space for comms professionals who are tired of doing it all in isolation.We dig into:— Emotional labor and why it never shows up in your promotion packet— Post-COVID loneliness, leadership, and the death of swivel chair moments— Why being "just a manager" is actually the most important job in the room— The myth of the comms unicorn (spoiler: she doesn't need to be a media machine and a therapist)— Building your own playbook when no one's done this job beforeWhether you're a rising comms star or a battle-scarred VP, this conversation will hit. If you've ever juggled AI, crises, and emotional triage before your second coffee—this one's for you.

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In this episode of Under Embargo, Becca and Parry sit down with one of the best-kept secrets in enterprise comms—Alyssa Stone, head of Analyst Relations at Wiz (the cybersecurity darling recently acquired by Google).With 25 years across SAP, Okta, and Ariba, Alyssa's seen it all—massive analyst tours, impossible PR expectations, and the slow but steady evolution of how we engage the people who influence tech buying.She breaks down:— Why AR is not pay-for-play (and what it actually is) — How a single slide can prep execs better than any 30-page doc — Why empowered teams are Wiz's real secret sauce — And what Devil Wears Prada taught her about comms strategy (yes, really)Then, she opens up about parenting a neurodivergent child, building support systems inside companies, and why embracing brain differences isn't just the right thing to do—it's a competitive advantage.This one has it all: golf analogies, Swiftie walkout songs, hiccup debates, and real-life tactical wisdom from someone who's lived (and modernized) every version of comms.See you there?

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This episode is equal parts spicy comms truth and high-functioning marketing chaos (with a little ADHD sparkle on top).

We’re joined by Ashley Faus, Atlassian’s Head of Lifecycle Marketing and the author of Human-Centered Marketing: How to Connect with Audiences in the Age of AI.

We cover a lot of ground — and none of it is snackable. Modular, yes. Snackable, absolutely not.

•  Human connection vs. AI-generated sameness
•  The power of authenticity (real authenticity, not LinkedIn-polished perfection)
•  Why MQLs need to die
•  Brand vs. demand and why they're frenemies, not enemies
•  And yes, someone loses a pinky (you’ll have to listen)

This one is for the marketers who hate the word “marketer,” the comms pros tired of being called “PR,” and anyone trying to build trust while the robots learn to write press releases.

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The phrase “fractional comms leader” might sound like consulting fluff—but Roberto Muñoz is here to tell you it’s anything but.

In this episode, Becca and Parry get real with Roberto about:

— The rise of the fractional Chief Communications Officer — Why comms gets sidelined while marketing gets the glory — The C-suite’s collective misunderstanding of what comms actually does — How comms should never be reporting to marketing (we said what we said) — And what AI means for the future of measurement, media, and the PR pricing model

We talk measurement that matters (spoiler: it’s not impressions), why real thought leadership can’t be AI-generated, and the emotional gymnastics required to work in comms while being wildly underestimated by your peers.

And yes, there’s yelling about “thrilled to announce.”

This one’s for the comms pros who are sick of being the hospitality suite in the C-suite. If you've ever had to explain your value while delivering it, you're gonna feel this in your bones.

👊 No fluff. No filters. Just the truth about this wild industry we’re in.

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In this episode of Under Embargo, we’re joined by Linda Zebian, newly-minted VP of Communications at Muck Rack, for a conversation that’s equal parts insightful and unhinged—in the best way possible.Linda breaks down what it’s like to do PR for a PR tech company (spoiler: it’s very meta), how her time at The New York Times shaped her leadership, and why the work she’s doing now is the most meaningful of her career.We cover:— Building a comms function from scratch inside a fast-growth tech company— Why measurement in PR is broken—and what MuckRack’s doing to fix it— The real impact of AI on the industry (is sentiment the next frontier?)— Why PR still gets left off the thank-you email—and how we fix thatAlso not to be missed: whether you’d take $100M for a very specific and very weird demise.Yes, really.Whether you’re in-house, agency-side, or somewhere in between—this episode is for every comms pro who’s tried (and failed) to explain their job to their mom.

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What happens when you create the only legit LinkedIn influencer ranking platform in the world… and then make the algorithm public?

You get bribe offers. Hate mail from millionaires. And a viral loop so strong it powers a 6-person startup with zero outbound sales.

In this episode of Under Embargo, we sit down with Jeremy Boissinot, CEO and co-founder of Favikon, the platform quietly transforming the B2B creator economy. 

We cover:

• The gamification of influence — and why clout is currency
• LinkedIn’s ranking blind spots (and how creators are cashing in anyway)
• Why Favikon is thriving in a space most VCs wouldn’t touch
• The ethical chaos of ranking real people — and what comes next

Also discussed: algorithm conspiracies, fake engagement pods, and how much Becca had to pay to outrank Parry. (Spoiler: still TBD.)

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What is a Chief Business Officer, anyway?

This week on Under Embargo, Parry and I sat down with Robin Daniels—Chief Business & Product Officer at Zensai—for a conversation that honestly left me thinking about everything from go-to-market strategy to workplace happiness to ethical leadership. (No big deal, right?)

If you don’t know Robin, he’s held exec roles at LinkedIn, WeWork, Salesforce, Box, Matterport—the man’s got receipts. But what stood out most in this convo wasn’t the resume. It was how deeply he cares about people.

✨ On redefining the CBO role Robin’s not just leading marketing—he’s running a whole ecosystem of product, growth, and post-sales. He’s building categories, not just campaigns. Think: less “traditional CMO,” more “growth-obsessed storyteller-meets-operator.”

✨ On Zensai and the whole “human success” thing Zensai’s mission is all about helping people thrive at work. It’s not fluffy. It’s grounded in skills, growth, and motivation—and it speaks to that thing we all secretly want: to love how we spend our days. Robin’s all in on that mission, and it shows.

✨ On why culture is the strategy From his LinkedIn days to now, Robin’s learned that empathy isn't soft—it’s essential. One of my favorite moments? Him sharing how his team opened up through storytelling exercises. Made me want to do the same with mine. (And I just might.)

✨ On ethical leadership (aka: not being a jerk) We talked about that current in tech where leaders forget that actions = brand. Robin’s take? Lead with integrity, or don’t lead at all. Because the ripple effects—on people, on brand perception, on retention—are real.

✨ On marketing that actually matters Robin doesn’t have time for soulless campaigns. He breaks down why brand should be rooted in human connection, not product specs. (Preach!) It’s the kind of take that makes you want to rework your entire messaging doc.

Bottom line? This episode is a love letter to building real businesses—with people at the center.