Agenda

A continental breakfast will be provided during check-in.  

• Jesse Scinto (’12 SPS; MC), Deputy Program Director and Lecturer, Strategic Communication

• Kristine Billmyer, Ph.D., Program Director, Strategic Communication; Professor of Professional Practice; Dean Emerita, Columbia University School of Professional Studies

• Troy J. Eggers, Dean, Columbia University School of Professional Studies

In the face of rampant disinformation and eroding trust, Melissa Fleming will outline a forward-looking strategy. Delving into the challenges of our digital age, she will examine how communicators can not only avoid being part of the problem, but actively help create positive social change. Fleming will explore the pivotal role of solutions journalism in reshaping the information environment and present the “Verified” model developed by the United Nations to rebuild a foundation of trust and credibility.

• Melissa Fleming, U.N. Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications; 
  Author, A Hope More Powerful Than the Sea

‘Some people see things as they are and say why; futurists dream things that never were and say why not?’ Successful communicators are keen observers of the cultural and technological changes shaping society. But true leaders are able to see a bit further, imagining alternative futures. This panel focuses on how to be a futurist and how to build a futures practice.

• Mark Truss (moderator), Lecturer, Strategic Communication; Chief Research Officer, VML

• Emma Chiu, Global Director, VML

• Chris Perry, Chairman, Weber Shandwick Futures; Author, Perspective Agents: A Human Guide to the Autonomous Age

• Sree Sreenivasan (’93 JRN), CEO & Co-Founder, Digimentors 

Lunch will be provided for all conference attendees. 

The core of a communicator's role has always been to bring people and entities together through effective communication that builds clarity, consensus, and trust. This is critical in business, social, and political environments. Yet in today's sensitive, complex and ambiguous times, we must reflect on what other timely skills and competencies are needed for communicators to succeed in their roles.

In 2023, the Strategic Communication program established its first-ever Advisory Board composed of prominent professionals from world-class organizations. In this panel, Board members will explore essential qualities for effective communication and discuss how to cultivate them.

• Susan Betts (moderator), Tech-Focused Global Brand Strategist; Advocate for Diverse & Inclusive Futures; Former Google and Microsoft Brand Strategy Senior Director

• Cameron Batten, SVP & Chief Communications Officer, Volkswagen Group of America

• Jason Cone, Chief Public Policy Officer, Robin Hood Foundation

• Ethan McCarty, Lecturer, Strategic Communication; CEO, Integral

• Margenett Moore-Roberts, Principal Consultant, The Moore-Roberts Group

• Amanda Muñoz (’11 SPS), VP, New Product Go-to-Market & Innovation, Dow Jones/The Wall Street Journal

Coffee and tea will be provided during the break. 

Communicating vision makes or breaks an organization in today’s competitive environment.

We will unpack the secrets to organizational transformation: 

• Developing a simple, clear and compelling vision

• Relentlessly executing a plan that brings the vision to life

• Communicating, communicating, communicating the vision, plan and progress to all

Session leader Ray Day will draw on what he learned firsthand about vision and communications during the transformation of Ford – as recorded in the book American Icon: Alan Mulally and the Fight to Save Ford Motor Company.

We also will explore why words matter more than ever in today’s polarizing communications environment.

• Ray Day, Vice Chair, Stagwell; 2025 Chair, Public Relations Society of America

Design thinking is an iterative problem-solving method used to gain insight and ideate solutions for virtually any type of organizational or business challenge. At the heart of its approach is gaining a deep understanding of the needs of people and “finding the problem to solve”  before moving into ideation or recommendations. In this session, we’ll cover 

1. What is design thinking 
2. How we can gain inspiration from design thinking not only as a problem-finding and problem-solving framework, but as a communication framework 
3. How prioritizing communication “the problem” over “the solution” can garner greater buy-in and action from stakeholders 

• Carolyn Hou, Founder, Arlo Labs; Women In Innovation New York Chapter Lead

Are you interested in better overcoming uncertainty, better managing everyday challenges, and more easily bouncing back from difficulties to reach your potential? Building resiliency can help! While this has always been an important topic, now more than ever it is emphasized given the unprecedented turbulence that we are facing.  This breakout will be a collaborative discussion with interactive exercises to help each of us gauge where we are and where we want to be on the resiliency spectrum.  You will leave the session with some action items to help you reach your resiliency goals and better adapt to change.

• Marianne Bellino, Leadership Development Executive

Coffee and tea will be provided during the break. 

Recognizing by what means culture shapes the way we communicate, and how language use reflects our cultural values is fundamental to effectively communicating change across cultures. Through examples and use cases, this workshop will highlight the language, social and cultural variables most germane to successfully managing change in global workplaces, and the strategies for forming productive relationships and averting misunderstanding and failure. Participants will apply their newly-acquired knowledge and strategy to a complex cross-cultural business scenario.

• Kristine Billmyer, Ph.D., Program Director, Strategic Communication; Professor of Professional Practice; Dean Emerita, Columbia University School of Professional Studies

Amidst the escalating culture wars targeting ESG as either woke capitalism or greenwashing or “dead,” the term "ESG" has come to mean everything and anything. Yet the ideas behind ESG are now fundamental to any organization and its stakeholders. In this session, we look at how communicators can best navigate the quickly changing terrain of industry trends, regulatory requirements, and the accelerating environmental and social impacts that will shape the next decade.

• Trisha Bauman ('18 SPS), Capstone Advisor, Strategic Communication; Principal & Founder, TJBauman

In this session on "Applied Generative AI for Strategic Communications," Director David Sánchez Carmona will explore the strategic edge that Generative AI brings to the field of communications. This session will delve into the practical applications of Generative AI in formulating effective communication strategies. Participants will gain insights into how Gen AI can enhance creativity, generate effective content, and adapt messaging to diverse audiences. Key takeaways will include an understanding of the potential and risks, and how to leverage these tools to gain a competitive advantage.

• David Sánchez Carmona, Director, Generative AI, ML/AI Strategist, Data Science, Business Analytics, APCO Worldwide

Coffee and tea will be provided during the break. 

This hour features true stories of courage and change told by current students and alumni of the Strategic Communication program. Find the inspiration you need to meet the future from within our own community.

• Lauren Glover (’19 SPS; MC), Lecturer, Strategic Communication; Managing Director, Blue Seedling
• Meredith Davis ('24 SPS)
• Jaliah Robinson ('24 SPS)
• Grace Pardede ('24 SPS)
• Yajing (ChiChi) Wang  (‘24 SPS)
• Randa Albattal ('24 SPS)

Attendees are invited to join the networking cocktail reception.