At last they’ve got it! In this complex world, CEOs are turning to their public relations leaders more than ever. They know they need someone to protect their organisation and to challenge when there are risks and issues down the track. That someone is their public relations leader who hold up a mirror so that organisations see themselves as others see them. Someone who isn’t afraid to be truthful about what needs to be fixed and how to do it. These leaders are informed and bold, they ‘do’ communication superbly, they are networked and influential, but most of all they keep their organisations safe. Find out how in this podcast with Professor Emeritus Anne Gregory PhD, a former Chair of the Global Alliance (GA) for Public Relations and Communication Management and a past President of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR), which she led to chartered status. A Board level appointee in public relations consultancy, for hospitals and Universities, she also runs her own consultancy, Practix Limited. 

 Professor Gregory is a member of the CIPR’s Board and #AI in PR Panel, leading work on the impact of AI on the profession.  She teaches and advises on public relations leadership, planning, ethics, evaluation and capability, including for the UK Government, the World Health Organisation in Australasia, Scandinavia, Asia, Africa and Europe.

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Our next guest is Angharad Planells, Head of Business Development and Culture at Gloucester titan Radioactive. Former journalist Angharad found her way into PR after spells at the BBC, national media and commercial radio stations. Now with more than a decade in public relations.

 Moving from years of strategic comms roles into a leadership role is a bigger shift than many people anticipate. Many people, and it’s not unique to the comms industry, learn and hone the skills they need to be an effective leader while on the job, more often than not making mistakes along the way. 

 In this episode, Angharad Planells talks about the most valuable leadership lessons she’s learned (some the hard way!) during the last 18 months, why taking time to work on herself makes her a better leader, and why the best thing every leader can do is to get out of the way.

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Fancy getting in the hot seat and sharing your CommsHero wisdom? Contact Asif Choudry

 You’ll find this podcast on Spotify, Apple and on our websitewww.commshero.com. Please leave a rating and review.

 This episode is sponsored by Blink. The world's first enterprise app designed exclusively for 

If you like getting down with digits and sexy with the spreadsheets, our next podcast is for you. Darryl Sparey is MD and Co-Founder of Hard Numbers, the (AMEC, PR Moment, PRCA and UK Agency of the Year) award winning, performance-driven communications consultancy. Hard Numbers combines killer creative with commercial acumen to create campaigns that drive a demonstrable return on investment. 

In this episode, you’ll learn all about the hard numbers (see what we did there) of measurement and why these shouldn’t be forsaken for the fluffy elements of PR, comms and marketing.

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Fancy getting in the hot seat and sharing your CommsHero wisdom? Contact Asif Choudry

 You’ll find this podcast on Spotify, Apple and on our websitewww.commshero.com. Please leave a rating and review.

 This episode is sponsored by Blink. The world's first enterprise app designed exclusively for frontline workers. 

 Tickets for #CommsHeroWeek are now available from our website! Tell a friend!

Jan Fitzgerald is a communications and media specialist. For the last 12 years Jan has worked largely across internal communications for remote workforces in transport, retail and construction. 

She specialises in content production, channels strategy and development, print vs digital alignment and insights analysis. Jan’s particular interest is in how to overcome remote workforces and targeting the less engaged. She loves working in internal comms because of the diversity and variety that every day brings in terms of people and work. There’s never a dull moment!

In this episode, we hear about the Linkedin conversation, which sparked the reason behind this podcast. Jan posted a really interesting set of analysis from some research that she conducted about print and the use of print and internal comms. Jan is a huge advocate of print and explains that in this day and age, digital is not always the most sustainable or appropriate option for the audience. 

There’s also a CommsHero podcast first, but we’ll let you listen to Jan to announce her BIG news…

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Tickets are now available for #CommsHero week, 19-23 September. The week long virtual event with over 35 sessions live streamed and available on demand for a year. Great value at £180 and you can find out more at www.commshero.com 

This episode is sponsored by Blink. The world's first enterprise app designed exclusively for frontline workers. For more details visit their website Joinblink.com

Lewis Williams is a PR professional from South Wales, currently working in-house in local government.

 Lewis started his #CommsHero journey four years ago as a postgrad Masters in PR and Communication Management. He is now gearing up to start a new role as Senior Communications Officer for NHS Blood and Transplant, England’s blood and organ donation service.

 Having recently blogged for the U.K. Government Communication Service to reflect on his time as an intern as part of their diversity internship scheme, in this episode he talks about how important this was to his career to date.

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Tickets are now available for #CommsHero week, 19-23 September. The week long virtual event with over 35 sessions live streamed and available on demand for a year. Great value at £180 and you can find out more at www.commshero.com 

This episode is sponsored by Blink. The world's first enterprise app designed exclusively for frontline workers. For more details visit their website Joinblink.com

After becoming a father in 2014, Frank quickly discovered how challenging it became to find time for exercise or afford the luxury of a gym membership and started focussing all his energy into providing a solution for clients to access Award Winning Personal Training anywhere in the world!

He's even trained Ruth Langsford for her appearance on BBC Strictly Come Dancing, and he's got a fantastic portfolio of celebrity and high profile clients. I might ask him later to namedrop a few, if he doesn't break any confidentiality agreements. Also, he's an award-winning trainer as well. And he's won awards for his great work, including most recently winner of Reigate & Banstead High Street Hero Award 2022, and 15 years experience in the health and fitness industry.

In this episode, CommsHero podcast host Asif Choudry and Frank Sinclair discuss the importance of exercising for your mental health, the challenges people face to keep motivated, how the pandemic has effected personal trainers and how Frank markets his personal training business.

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And you can follow us on Twitter @CommsHero

If you're listening on Spotify and Apple, please do leave a rating and review.

This episode of the podcast is sponsored by Blink, the world's first enterprise app designed exclusively for frontline workers and for more details, visit that website, join blink.com. 

If you’re a Digital PR pro, chances are you’ve learned a thing or two from our next guest who pretty much invented the internet. Andy Barr founder of 10 Yetis previously worked in-house on multi-media campaigns for the likes of AXA, Unilever, First Group, Whitbread and Midlands Electricity Board. His talents span effective crisis communications, award-winning media campaigns and creating highly engaging content across video, social media and PR. Our very own Mr. Worldwide has also advised the UK’s two largest political parties on digital campaigns and worked with Chinese government delegations on reviewing their approach to communications.

He has built a team of more than 25 skilled individuals at the agency and dedicates any time that he has to growing the business and delivering great results for clients. Andy is renowned for his hot takes on all things PR and communications and brightens up the industry with his daily GoGetEm morning tweets. In this episode, we chat to the Digital Demigod about all things Twitter. Is the Twitterverse as sinister as some make out or is it a beneficial tool for both communications and brand?

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Fancy getting in the hot seat and sharing your CommsHero wisdom? Contact Asif Choudry

 You’ll find this podcast on Spotify, Apple and on our websitewww.commshero.com. Please leave a rating and review.

 This episode is sponsored by Blink. The world's first enterprise app designed exclusively for frontline workers. 

 Tickets are now available for #CommsHero week, 19-23 September. The week-long virtual event with over 35 sessions live streamed and available on demand for a year. Great value at £180 and you can find out more at www.commshero.com

Our next guest will also be appearing as part of our stellar #CommsHeroWeek line-up. Katrina Wilcox is Head of Marketing and Communications at Housing 21, a leading not-for-profit provider of housing and care for older people. Katrina’s extensive experience in marketing and communications has been gained through a 20+ year career working across the healthcare, housing, education, manufacturing and publishing sectors. Her passion lies in working for purpose-led, not-for-profit organisations and she specialises in strategic planning, integrated campaign management, internal communications and employee engagement.

In this episode, we ask the question: what if we could inspire young people by sharing the multitude of options available in a comms career? With so many young people wanting a purpose driven career - one where they can really make a difference – working in not for profit, third sector or charity comms, or a career in comms in general, could be something to aspire to.

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Fancy getting in the hot seat and sharing your CommsHero wisdom? Contact Asif Choudry

 You’ll find this podcast on Spotify, Apple and on our websitewww.commshero.com. Please leave a rating and review.

 This episode is sponsored by Blink. The world's first enterprise app designed exclusively for frontline workers. 

 Tickets are now available for #CommsHero week, 19-23 September. The week-long virtual event with over 35 sessions live streamed and available on demand for a year. Great value at £180 and you can find out more at www.commshero.com. 

Our next guest crossed over from the dark side. Former Sith Lord (slash journalist) Glenn Bowley began his communications career in a housing association in St Helens before moving to Lancashire Constabulary as a press and PR officer. In 2013, Glenn was seconded to the Home Office to manage the media on the criminal investigation into the Hillsborough disaster. His brief was extended further to incorporate some stakeholder management. In 2019, Glenn joined the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) as Head of Communications.

 The DBS - created in the merger of the Criminal Records Bureau and the Independent Safeguarding Authority - is approaching its 10th birthday. Glenn’s role entails having oversight and responsibility for internal, external and strategic comms, and DBS’ editorial and design function, as well as growing its public profile.

 In this episode, Glenn talks about the power of communication, community and how teams that #CommsHero together, stay together.

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 Fancy getting in the hot seat and sharing your CommsHero wisdom? Contact Asif Choudry

 You’ll find this podcast on Spotify, Apple and on our websitewww.commshero.com. Please leave a rating and review.

 This episode is sponsored by Blink. The world's first enterprise app designed exclusively for frontline workers. 

 Tickets are now available for #CommsHero week, 19-23 September. The week-long virtual event with over 35 sessions live streamed and available on demand for a year. Great value at £180 and you can find out more at www.commshero.com

Nosheen Haque is a communications specialist based in Manchester. Nosheen has over 10 years’ experience of working with a variety of brands and organisations using PR and digital marketing to drive engagement, growth and brand value across a multitude of private and public sectors.

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Fancy getting in the hot seat and sharing your CommsHero wisdom? Contact Asif Choudry

 You’ll find this podcast on Spotify, Apple and on our website www.commshero.com. Please leave a rating and review.

 This episode is sponsored by Blink. The world's first enterprise app designed exclusively for frontline workers. 

 Tickets are now available for #CommsHero week, 19-23 September. The week-long virtual event with over 35 sessions live streamed and available on demand for a year. Great value at £180 and you can find out more HERE.