Comms Coffee Club Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

In this special episode of the Comms Coffee Club Podcast, Max Forsyth, Founder and Managing Director of Comms Search & Selection, answers your questions from a LinkedIn Live AMA session earlier in 2024. The advice is still as relevant now as it was a few months ago.

Max shares invaluable advice on navigating today's challenging communications job market, including what recruiters look for, how to stand out in a competitive field, and the different types of recruitment processes you may encounter. Whether you're a job seeker or a hiring manager, this episode provides practical insights and tips that apply to both the UK and US markets. Don't miss Max's expert perspective on hiring trends, recruitment timelines, and the future of communications roles.

Interested in Career Opportunities or Looking to Hire Into Your Comms Team?

Learn about opportunities and insights into the world of in-house communications with Comms Search and Selection.

Visit https://www.commssearch.com/

Follow Us for More:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/comms-search-selection/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/comms_search_selection/

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In this episode of the Commons Coffee Club podcast, host Max Forsyth chats to Wendy Serafin, a fractional communications leader from Chicago who has led and advised on comms, PR and brand for FinTech companies, including TruStage Ventures, FIS and OppFi. We discuss how she got into comms as a career, what it was like taking OppFi public and the groundwork required to do so, leading communications and brand for The Mom Project and her current career as a fractional CCO to start-up and early seed stage ventures.

Looking for Your Next Communications or IR role, or Looking to Hire Into Your Comms or IR Team in the UK or USA?

Learn about opportunities and insights into the world of in-house communications with Comms Search and Selection.

Visit https://www.commssearch.com/

Follow Us for More:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/comms-search-selection/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/comms_search_selection/

Wendy's LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/wserafin/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's Comms Coffee Club Podcast 2023 Christmas Wrap-Up. We discuss the surprising number of Fortune 500 Chief Communications Officers and how it compares to the FTSE 100, why companies should put a board-level communication professional in post in 2024, why communications recruiting processes are taking so long and driving hiring managers and candidates mad, crisis communications on X Streams, IBM and Red Hat, Blackstone's Christmas video and plans and wishes for 2024.

Looking for Your Next Communications or IR role, or Looking to Hire Into Your Comms or IR Team in the UK or USA?

Learn about opportunities and insights into the world of in-house communications with Comms Search and Selection.

Visit https://www.commssearch.com/

Follow Us for More:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/comms-search-selection/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/comms_search_selection/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A special episode of the Comms Coffee Club podcast as we revisit a LinkedIn Live webinar we hosted with Herdwick Communications last month on how brands and corporations can and should communicate and PR effectively in the Middle East.

With COP 28 currently in Dubai and the increasing strength and power of financial powerhouses and sovereign wealth funds in the region and within global companies, it is now more critical than ever for brands and corporates to get up to speed with their public relations and communications in the region.

Looking for Your Next Communications or IR role, or Looking to Hire Into Your Comms or IR Team in the UK or USA?

Learn about opportunities and insights into the world of in-house communications with Comms Search and Selection.

Visit https://www.commssearch.com/

Follow Us for More:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/comms-search-selection/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/comms_search_selection/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever wondered what it takes to lead with confidence and credibility in corporate communications?

Louise Thompson, Founder of Louise Thompson Leadership Coaching, takes us through her exciting career transition from PR agencies and AOL to the San Francisco tech start-up scene and the NHS to today, where Louise's passion for coaching and leadership development takes centre stage as she fearlessly tackles the everyday struggles that many communications leaders face today.

From micromanagement to a lack of trust in teams, leaders are often plagued by challenges that can obstruct their path to success. In this episode, Louise teaches comms leaders to recognise their unique value as leaders and utilise coaching models to set clear goals and create tangible outcomes. We also venture into the often misunderstood world of performance appraisals, exploring how to make the most of them and devising strategies to cope with negative feedback from CEOs or senior executives with unrealistic expectations.

Looking for Your Next Communications or IR role, or Looking to Hire Into Your Comms or IR Team in the UK or USA?

Learn about opportunities and insights into the world of in-house communications with Comms Search & Selection.

Visit https://www.commssearch.com/

Follow Us for More:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/comms-search-selection/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/comms_search_selection/

Louise's website: www.louisethompsoncoaching.com

Louise's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louisecthompson/

Louise's substack: https://leadwithintention.substack.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

James Banks tells the Comms Coffee Club Podcast about his journey from serving as a British Army Officer in Iraq and Afghanistan to being a journalist and war correspondent to his current career leading corporate communications and media relations for infrastructure and manufacturing giants AECOM and Rolls Royce.

We discuss loads, from some of his favourite media and PR campaigns at AECOM to media training and advising CEOs on media engagement, life as a broadcast breaking news journalist, and his career in the British Army, including the time he had to ensure an ITV journalist's safety amidst a crossfire in Afghanistan.

Looking for Your Next Communications or IR role, or Looking to Hire Into Your Comms or IR Team in the UK or USA?

Learn about opportunities and insights into the world of in-house communications with Comms Search & Selection.

Visit https://www.commssearch.com/

Follow Us for More:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/comms-search-selection/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/comms_search_selection/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join the Comms Coffee Club podcast as we sit down with Natasha Plowman, an ESG and sustainability-focused corporate communications expert who has led teams and corporate affairs for global blue-chips, including HSBC, Diageo and Coca-Cola.

Natasha's journey from activist to corporate affairs professional brings unique and insightful perspectives to critical conversations about Australian and UK politics, responsible FMCG communications, and how financial services can contribute towards a more sustainable future.

Tune in as we discuss her experiences advocating for charities, collaborating with responsible brands, and dissecting complex political systems.

Looking for Your Next Communications or IR role, or Looking to Hire Into Your Comms or IR Team in the UK or USA?

Learn about opportunities and insights into the world of in-house communications with Comms Search & Selection.

Visit https://www.commssearch.com/

Follow Us for More:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/comms-search-selection/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/comms_search_selection/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join the Comms Coffee Club Podcast and the brilliant Michael Osborne, Head of PR & Comms at Maples Group and formerly of Ashurst and Clifford Chance, as we explore legal PR and corporate communications and how to work effectively with lawyers and Partners at global and magic circle law firms.

We cover everything from his start on the student newspaper at Durham University, working agency-side with Fishburn Hedges, and then his in-house role as Head of PR at Clifford Chance. Listen as Michael offers invaluable insights on crafting successful PR campaigns, leveraging technology and AI in communications, and the importance of risk-taking to support growth in an instinctively conservative industry that is corporate law.

Looking for Your Next Communications or IR role, or Looking to Hire Into Your Comms or IR Team in the UK or USA?

Learn about opportunities and insights into the world of in-house communications with Comms Search & Selection.

Visit https://www.commssearch.com/

Follow Us for More:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/comms-search-selection/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/comms_search_selection/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join us on the Comms Coffee Club Podcast this week as we sit down with the incredible Madeleine Little. Madeleine's career in PR and corporate communications began after reading a small job advert in the back of the Financial Times one evening and has since led her to work with leading CEOs, shape the future of communications, and support business growth strategies at leading brands across commercial real estate, risk management & insurance, and data & insights industries, including JLL, Aon and Dun & Bradstreet.

We start with unexpected entry into the communications and PR at Citigate Dewe Rogerson to her transition from agency to in-house and then moving to Singapore to lead APAC communications for JLL. Madeleine takes us on a global tour of the communications industry as we dissect the intricate customs and challenges that emerge when crossing borders. From the sector-specific press offices and press release pigeonholes of Japan to India's insatiable appetite for information, we examine the unique communication styles of various countries.

We also delve into the complexities of content-heavy communication briefs, address the issues of budget and headcounts, and emphasise the importance of clarity and structure in any organisation. The highlight of our conversation is Madeleine's insights into her favourite CEO to work for from a communications perspective, Julie Page, at Aon. We dissect the strategies, planning and importance of authenticity and empathy for CEOs.

Looking for Your Next Communications or IR role, or Looking to Hire Into Your Comms or IR Team in the UK or USA?

Learn about opportunities and insights into the world of in-house communications with Comms Search and Selection.

Visit https://www.commssearch.com/

Follow Us for More:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/comms-search-selection/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/comms_search_selection/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join the Comms Coffee Club podcast and this week's special guest host, AI-generated Isabella, as we chat with Max Forsyth, founder and managing director of Comms Search & Selection and host of the Comms Coffee Club podcast. Max takes us through his fascinating journey from sports journalism to setting up his in-house communications recruitment firm and his vision for the podcast. Listen as he discusses the best campaigns he's worked on and gives us an exclusive peek into the Coms Coffee Club Patreon channel, which offers early access to events and exclusive insights. 

Our conversation also covers communications teams' challenges, such as tracking customer sources and delivering bad news during restructuring. Hear about one comms professional's experience with Swiss Re and the strategies to launch a new product. Lastly, we examine the turbulent recruitment market, and Max offers invaluable advice for hiring managers and candidates alike. Don't miss his take on the strategic importance of communications in the post-Covid world and the potential for growth in the AI space. Tune in for this informative and insightful conversation with Max Forsyth.

Looking for Your Next Communications or IR role, or Looking to Hire Into Your Comms or IR Team in the UK or USA?

Learn about opportunities and insights into the world of in-house communications with Comms Search & Selection.

Visit https://www.commssearch.com/

Follow Us for More:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/comms-search-selection/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/comms_search_selection/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.