Employee Communications 2021 Conference
Communicating with Intention
August 25 - 27, 2021
Our Connect 21 conference theme, “Communicating with Intention,” will highlight the strategic role of internal communicators and the importance of communicating for impact. EC and IC pros do not simply deliver messages, they shape the employee experience through the creation of communication strategies and tactics that directly impact what employees Do, Say, Think, and Feel.
Coming off of one of the more challenging years for most comms pros, we aim to provide new insights, highlight success stories, and bring confidence to attendees who are looking to make an impact in their role and within their organization.
Day One
Wednesday, Aug. 25
Welcome
10-10:15 a.m. EDT
Keynote Address: From Panic to Purpose in a Post-Pandemic World
10:15-11:15 a.m. EDT
Clarity, focus, vulnerability and courage are all words that link to intentional and influential internal communication. We will discuss being human, the future of work, the role of the internal communicator and how things will change in a post pandemic world.
Learn about:
- The future of work and the importance of communication- The need to be intentional – exploring what this means for us as communicators but also what this means for the work that we do
- The importance of middle managers drawing on the latest Line of Sight research
- How to be a strategic partner to the leadership team
- Stories from Jenni’s work that explore the role of the communication function and the importance of ownership of channels
- The correlation between intention and trust and how this links to engagement across an organisation
- The role of influential internal communication
Jenni Field, Founder, Redefining Communications
Session One
11:15 a.m.-12 p.m. EDT
Building community post-Covid is harder than ever now that most teams are highly distributed. Learn how to help employees build stronger connections using measurement, strategic planning, technology and more.
Cheryl Ross
Break
12-1 p.m. EDT
Fireside Chat with Michelle Olson, APR and Anthony Bolton
1:00-1:45 p.m. EDT
Sponsor Session
2-2:15 p.m. EDT
Session Two
2:15-3 p.m. EDT
Session participants will explore how a small organization identified the need for internal communication changes, appealed to leadership to receive buy-in, coached fellow employees to participate in the audit and embrace the results, and implemented
large changes effectively for the good of the organization.
Elizabeth Chentland, Aaron Copley-Spivy
Panel Discussion
3-3:45 p.m. EDT
Merck for Mothers
Merck for Mothers is a major global initiative from Merck to help ensure no woman dies in childbirth. Jacque Caglia, is the director of global communications for the program, and has built an incredible employee ambassador program with 800+ ambassadors
in 46 countries.
Learn more about the mission-driven communications and how the internal engagement led to their global ambassador program.
Beyond the mission, they also have a transformation story – as they navigated leadership transitions and the spin-off of a large business unit – in addition to the obvious pandemic challenges.
Jacque Caglia, Director
of Global Communications, Merck for Mothers
Mike Schaffer, Group Senior Vice President, Corporate Digital Innovation, Marina Maher Communications
Day One Wrap-Up
3:45-4 p.m. EDT
Day Two
Thursday, Aug. 26
Keynote One
10-11 a.m. EDT
Communicating with Intention: Why Your Mindset Matters
Rachel Miller
Session 1
11-11:45 a.m. EDT
It's Time to Bake!: Embedding Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion into Internal Communications
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and Internal Communications are often seen as separate arms within an organization or company; however, they are very interconnected. When creating internal communications strategies and goals, you must bake in DEI to enrich your culture, drive advocacy, increase workforce diversity, and promote a culture of inclusion and belonging. This will directly drive employee engagement and foster a better workplace for you and your peers. I will share tools, tips, strategies, and initiatives using DEI to help elevate your internal communications plans, and by extension, the company’s operating model.
Jenna Pantin, Head of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Internal Communications, New York Road Runners (NYRR)
Sponsor Session
11:45 a.m.-12 p.m. EDT
Break
12-1 p.m. EDT
Keynote Two
1pm-1:45 p.m. EDT
Who Moved All the Furniture Around?
Tips for working with a person with a disability in your office. An interactive talk about how to effectively and properly communicate with people with disabilities in the workplace.
Dave Bahr
Session Two
2-2:45 p.m. EDT
Returning to Work? Mind the Communications Gap
There are now dozens of employee communications solutions on the market with some claiming to solve the many challenges that internal communications professionals face in their day-to-day work. But do they really?
Jeff Corbin
Sponsor Session
2:45-3 p.m. EDT
Break
3-3:15 p.m. EDT
Session Three
3:15-4 p.m. EDT
Building a Purpose-Driven Culture
Join us for an impactful discussion about the link between purpose and culture. Walk away with new tools to help you attract and retain your best talent and build a healthy, purpose-driven culture.
Karen Bailey
Day Two Wrap-Up
4-4:15 p.m. EDT
Networking & Happy Hour
4:15-5 p.m. EDT
Join us as we grab a beverage of choice and talk face-to-faceDay Three
Friday, Aug. 27
Day Three Kickoff
10-10:15 p.m. EDT
Coffee and Comms Networking Tables
10:15-11 a.m. EDT
Grab your coffee and start the day with some networking. Meet in small groups and automatically shift to a new table every 9 minutes!
Closing Keynote -
From Awareness to Advocacy: the Role of Internal Comms in Supporting Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (Panel Discussion) 11 a.m.-12 p.m. EDT
Since the summer of 2020, communicators have become increasingly aware of the crucial role they play in advancing diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging inside their organizations. In this panel discussion, employee engagement expert and CEO of Brilliant Ink, Ann Melinger, will talk with three Diversity, Equity and Inclusion specialists about how internal communicators can take their awareness to the next level, becoming active advocates and allies. There will be plenty of time for attendees to tap into the panel’s expertise, so come with your questions, and walk away with the knowledge and tools to drive lasting change.
Ann Melinger, CEO, Brilliant Ink
Andrea Wicks Bowels, Independent Consultant
Farida Habeeb, PhD, Senior Strategist, Brilliant Ink
Trevor Jenkins, Founder, Jenkins Coopers
Thank-you's
12-12:15 p.m. EDT
Registration
Registration Type | |
PRSA Employee Communications Section Member | $399 |
| $499 |
| $599 |
Hardship | $150 |
*Global Alliance members qualify for the PRSA member rate.
Gold Sponsor
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Silver Sponsor
