Masters of Comms

Your Frontline Isn’t Disengaged. Your Comms Are.

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 07:45:00 +0200

Why do so many companies say their frontline is disengaged, when the real issue might be the way they communicate? In this episode of Masters of Comms, we sit down with Pinaki Kathiari, CEO of Local Wisdom, to unpack why internal comms adoption does not fail because of the platform, but because too many organizations still rely on an old broadcast mindset.

From meeting employees where they are to building real participation beyond likes and comments, Pinaki explores what it takes to create communication that feels relevant, human, and useful for frontline teams. He shares practical examples of how stronger community, better listening, and small changes in approach can improve trust, belonging, and adoption.

Whether you’re a communication director or a C-level leader, this episode is packed with actionable insights to help you move from pushing messages to creating communication people actually want to engage with.

Pinaki advised us to read "Don't Believe Everything You Think" by Joseph Nguyen.

Lamar advised us to read "Start with Why" by Simon Sinek.

Want Better Employee Engagement? Start With Recognition.

Tue, 29 Apr 2025 15:45:00 +0200

How do you turn a reward program into a culture-building tool? In this episode of Masters of Comms, Rochelle Oakley, Internal Comms, Culture & Engagement Partner at Beazley, shares how her team successfully rolled out a shared incentive plan, boosting participation, recognition, and trust across a global workforce.

From tailoring communications for different cultural contexts to ensuring leadership buy-in and meaningful non-monetary rewards, Rochelle gives us all her tips and tricks.

Whether you're building a culture of recognition or launching a new incentive program, this episode is packed with real-life tactics and global insights you can use right away.

Rochelle advised us to read "Successful Employee Communication: A Practitioner's Guide to Tools, Models and Best Practice for Internal Communication" by Sue Dewhurst & Liam Fitzpatrick.

The 3 Pillars of Internal Comms: How to Make Them Work Together?

Thu, 10 Apr 2025 08:00:00 +0200

Are you ready to level up your internal communications? Masters of Comms is pleased to welcome Pravin Patil, VP-Corp Comm & Head-IC at Axis Bank. In this epsisode we dive into understanding the 3 key pillars for successful internal comms and how to best align them for superior results.

Join us as Pravin reveals how when branding, content & technology join forces, internal communications shine bright.

Pravin advised us to read "Ikigai: Japanese Art of staying Young.. While growing Old" by Keira Miki.

Inside Domino’s: Aligning Franchisees & Employees Through Change

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 09:30:00 +0200

Most internal comms teams have a tough enough job aligning employees. But what if the people wearing your brand don’t actually work for you? In this episode of Masters of Comms, we sit down with Stacie Barrett, Director of Internal Communications at Domino’s, to unpack how the global pizza giant keeps franchisees, frontline workers, and corporate teams aligned—even through massive transformations. It's the perfect episode to learn how to cut through the noise and drive real engagement.

Stacie advised us to read "How the word is passed" by Clint Smith.

What Is Organizational Culture? Create, Celebrate, and Lead It!

Thu, 23 Jan 2025 09:00:00 +0200

What is culture, really? Is it something you can define, or does it live in the unseen moments of our teams? In this episode of Masters of Comms, we sit down with Shane Hatton—global author, leadership coach, and culture expert—to dive into the heart of workplace culture.

From navigating the “Leadership Dilemma” to creating “team memes” that stick, Shane unpacks the conversations every leader needs to celebrate what matters and challenge what doesn’t. Discover how to make culture explicit, align your teams, and design a workplace where people truly belong.

Shane advised us to read The Moment of Lift, by Melinda Gates.

00:00 Welcome to Masters of Comms

00:37 Meet Shane Hatton

01:39 Defining Culture

04:27 Challenges in Building Culture

07:43 The Importance of Explicit Culture

09:46 Conversations to Foster Engagement

13:55 Using Language to Shape Culture

21:54 Measuring and Tracking Culture

24:49 Final Thoughts and Recommendations

27:50 Conclusion and Farewell

How to Make Internal Communication More Inclusive?

Tue, 08 Oct 2024 05:30:00 +0200

Have you been procrastinating making your internal communication more inclusive? Not anymore.

Masters of Comms is pleased to welcome Aniisu Verghese, founder of Intraskope. In this episode, we dive into what it means to have inclusive internal communication, why it is so important in the post-pandemic workplace, and how to make employees' voices heard in your organization. Join us to uncover practical steps to create an inclusive internal communication strategy.

Aniisu advised us to read "The Best Place to Work: The Art and Science of Creating an Extraordinary Workplace" by Ron Friedman, PhD.

00:00 Welcome to Masters of Comms

00:45 Meet Aniisu Verghese, Founder of Intraskope

02:02 Understanding Inclusivity in Internal Communications

04:44 The Importance of Inclusivity Post-Pandemic

06:30 Challenges in Implementing Inclusive Communications

08:15 Real-World Example: Tesco's Inclusive Storytelling

10:36 Measuring Success in Inclusive Communications

11:43 Top Recommendations for Inclusive Internal Comms

12:49 Aniisu's Books on Communication

14:27 Aniisu's Book Recommendation

15:20 Conclusion

Takeda: Crafting a World-Class Employer Brand

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 09:00:00 +0200

Join us for a riveting episode of Masters of Comms featuring Diana Macovei from Takeda, where we delve into the nuanced world of employer branding. Explore how Takeda has mastered the art of fostering a vibrant workplace culture that not only attracts but also retains top talent on a global scale. From aligning internal stakeholder visions to effective storytelling that resonates worldwide, uncover the strategies that position Takeda as a top destination for pharmaceutical professionals. Tune in to gain valuable insights and actionable strategies that will help you transform your workplace into an environment where employees are empowered to succeed and thrive.

Diana advised us to read "Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead" by Sheryl Sandberg.

Who Is Responsible for Internal Communication?

Thu, 27 Jun 2024 06:30:00 +0200

Are you struggling to determine who is responsible for internal communication? Master of Comms is pleased to welcome Nandini Chatterjee, ex-CMO of 21 years at PwC, India. In this episode, we dive into which departments are responsible for which parts of internal communications and understand how best they can work collaboritively.

Join us as we finally reveal the secret answer to "who is responsible for internal communication" and help you elevate your internal communications in the process.

Nandini recommends us to read Booming Digital Brands, written by Harsh Pamanani.

Navigating Change: Elevating Global Initiatives Through Communication

Tue, 11 Jun 2024 10:00:00 +0200

Tune into this episode of Masters of Comms for a deep dive into the art of change management with Hannah King, Head of Global Employer Brand and Recruitment Operations, at Straumann Group. Discover how a global leader in dental solutions navigates the complex dynamics of introducing new technologies and processes across varied cultural landscapes. We'll explore the strategies that ensure smooth transitions, foster employee buy-in, and align internal communications to drive successful organizational change. Join us to learn about the tools and techniques that make change management at Straumann Group a blueprint for success in any industry.

Hannah recommends us to watch the Mr. & Mrs. Smith TV series, created by Donald Glover and Francesca Sloane.

Video at the Heart of your Internal Communication Strategy

Thu, 23 May 2024 09:00:00 +0200

Are you ready to smartly integrate videos into your internal communication strategy? Master of Comms is pleased to welcome Asha Panicker, independent consultant in content strategy & corporate communication. In this episode, we dive into the role of videos in business communication, real life use cases of the use of video in internal communication, the rise of smart videos and ways to measure effectiveness of video communication. Join us as we reveal the power of videos to make your internal communications future ready.

Asha recommends to watch the drama series "One Day" and the movie "12th Fail" directed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra.

How to communicate with employees during a merger

Tue, 26 Mar 2024 10:15:00 +0200

Is your organization heading for a merger? Effective employee communication is key to ensure its success. Master of Comms is pleased to welcome Preeti Sharma to guide us on the subject. Join us to reveal a step by step guide on how to ensure successful employee comms before, during and after a merger!

Preeti' advised to read "Winning Minds: Secrets from the Language of Leadership" by Simon Lancaster.

Managing internal communication for a fast-growing organization

Tue, 05 Mar 2024 09:30:00 +0200

Is your organization undergoing a season of fast growth? Are you struggling to keep up with your internal communications? Master of Comms is pleased to welcome Anshul Sharma, Head of Communications & PR at Schbang. In this episode he spills the beans on how Schbang leaned in on transparency, brutal honesty and clarity to scale their internal comms as the company has been growing at an incredible pace. Join us to learn how to successful scale up your internal communications in a fast growing environment!

Anshul recommends us to watch "Interstellar" directed by Christopher Nolan.

EVP: Building Stronger Employer Brands with Effective Communication

Tue, 27 Feb 2024 09:00:00 +0200

Join us on 'Masters of Comms' as we unravel the intricacies of Employee Value Propositions (EVPs) with Alastair Atkinson from ScarlettAbbott, a leading expert on the subject. Discover how a well-crafted EVP not only prevents costly employee turnovers but also becomes a magnet for attracting ideal talent, blending tangible benefits with the unique cultural ethos of your company. Alastair demystifies the difference between EVP and employer brand, emphasizing the need for authenticity in your EVP to resonate with both current and prospective employees. Tune in for an episode that transforms your perspective on EVPs, making them a cornerstone of your employer branding strategy.

Alastair advised us to read "The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle" by Stuart Turton.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Employee Value Proposition (EVP)

00:37 Welcome to Masters of Comms Podcast

00:54 Guest Introduction: Alastair Atkinson

01:20 Alastair's Journey in Communication and Engagement

02:33 Overview of ScarlettAbbott

04:14 Understanding the Concept of EVP

05:08 The Importance of a Strong EVP

07:49 EVP and Employer Branding

10:35 The Importance of Articulating EVP Clearly

12:33 Examples of Companies with Effective EVP

15:14 Strategies for Conveying EVP

19:54 Resources and Tools for Developing and Communicating EVP

23:38 Keeping EVP Relevant and Resonating

26:20 Final Advice and Best Practices for Strengthening EVP

28:23 Alastair's Book Recommendation

Experience Architects: Building Engagement in the Real & Virtual Worlds

Tue, 23 Jan 2024 14:45:00 +0200

Dive into the future of work with Paul Bennun on our latest episode! As we embrace the era of hybrid working, the workplace undergoes a dynamic shift. Join Paul as he unravels the secrets behind crafting an exceptional employee experience at DAZN, where digital channels and physical spaces seamlessly blend. Discover the challenges faced and how to strike the perfect balance between the virtual and real realms.

Paul recommended the following book: "Antifragile: Things That Gain from Disorder" by Nicholas Taleb.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

00:58 Guest Introduction: Paul Bennun

01:54 Understanding DAZN

02:57 The Impact of Hybrid Working on Employee Experience

06:39 Balancing Physical and Digital for Inclusion

09:27 The Role of Leadership in Employee Experience

17:10 Measuring the Impact of Employee Experience Initiatives

18:11 Key Recommendations for Improving Employee Experience

19:26 Closing Remarks and Book Recommendation

Elevating Your Brand: The Strategic Role of Thought Leadership

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 14:00:00 +0200

Are you struggling to set up a successful thought leadership program? Masters of Comms is pleased to welcome Peter Yorke from SunTec. In this episode, he shares their success story with clear tips on how to identify, nurture and motivate thought leaders in an organization. Join us to learn how to start and expand a successful thought leadership program and help distinguish your brand!

How to Manage the Blending of Internal & External Comms

Fri, 08 Dec 2023 07:00:00 +0200

Are you struggling to navigate the blurring lines between internal and external comms? Masters of Comms is pleased to welcome Amit Govind, Head of Internal Communication & Social Media at Tata Consultancy Services. In this episode we talk about the role of social media, mobile and storytelling in internal comms and unpack what goes into the practical process of making it a reality. Join us as we uncover the secrets to successful blended communication!

00:30 Introduction of Amit Govind

01:27 Understanding Tata Consultancy Services

04:16 Blurring Lines Between Internal & External Comms

05:53 The Role of Social Media in Internal Comms

06:14 The Importance of Employee Engagement in Internal Comms

07:49 The Impact of Mobile & Social Media in Communication

10:05 The Power of Storytelling in Internal Comms

10:23 Successful Vaccination Campaign – A Case Study

13:04 The Role of Different Departments in Communication

15:43 Challenges and Solutions in Blended Communication

21:13 The Importance of Measurement in Blended Communication

24: 21 Top 3 Recommendations for Successful Blended Communication

27:45 Conclusion & Final Thoughts

The Power of Influence: How Effective Communication Fuels Social Selling Success

Thu, 09 Nov 2023 11:00:00 +0200

Join us in this exciting episode as we delve into "The Power of Influence: How Effective Communication Fuels Social Selling Success." We sat down with industry expert, Sandy Adam of Quest Software to uncover the secrets of building a thriving social selling strategy that has the potential to transform your business. Discover the journey of a company that initially took the leap into social selling, faced challenges, and reaped incredible rewards.

00:38 – Introduction of Sandy Adam, Global Sales Enablement Senior Manager.

00:52 – Sandy's Career Journey and Role at Quest Software

2:59 – Understanding Quest Software and Its Impact

4:28 – The Genesis of a Social Selling Strategy

7:37 – Integration of Social Selling within Existing Sales Strategy

10:48 – Content Strategy and Communication Tailoring

14:59 – Engaging and Training Sales Teams

20:30 - Measuring ROI and Success of the Program

23:21 - Key Recommendations & The future evolution of the program at Quest

27:15 - Sandy's Book and Film Recommendations

Challenges = Opportunities: Uncover How to Turn Brand Hurdles Into Success Stories!

Tue, 17 Oct 2023 09:00:00 +0200

Join us in this exciting episode, as we delve into the world of employee advocacy and its profound impact on building a strong brand reputation. Discover the secrets to harnessing the power of internal team members and external partners to take your brand to new heights. From uncovering the missing elements in your content strategy to creating consistent and fun experiences, we'll explore proven strategies to turbocharge your brand reputation. Get ready to revolutionize your brand's image. Tune in now and embark on a journey towards building a rock solid reputation through the strength of your internal & external allies.

00:30 – Introduction of Daniela Delgado, Marketing & Communications Manager at SolidCAD

1:04 – What is SolidCAD?

2:24 – Why Employee Advocacy was selected to transform communications

4:04 – The challenge of Brand Consistency

5:10 – Who gets to participate in the program?

6:48 – What's the importance of training?

9:17 – Partners are the future!

12:02 - 3 Recommendations on implementing Advocacy to improve brand reputation

14:08 - Daniela's Film Suggestion

Employee Advocacy: How to Unleash and Scale with a Global Workforce

Thu, 21 Sep 2023 09:00:00 +0200

In this episode, we're taking you on a journey to explore the dynamic world of employee advocacy on a global scale. Join us as we dive deep into the strategies and insights needed to elevate your advocacy program to new heights.

Our expert guest, Joe Morris, Head of Social Media & EA at Capgemini shares their wealth of knowledge on embracing a worldwide approach to advocacy. Discover the critical role of audience segmentation and how it empowers your team to deliver targeted, impactful messages to diverse audiences across the globe.

But that's not all. Joe also emphasizes the foundation of advocacy programs: leadership. Learn how to start at the top, gaining leadership buy-in and support to supercharge your advocacy efforts.

Tune-in to learn how to transform your employee advocacy program on a global scale!

www.mastersofcomms.com

Recruitment Amplified: Harnessing Employee Advocacy in the Talent Race

Tue, 08 Aug 2023 10:45:00 +0200

Are you ready to supercharge your recruitment efforts and win the talent race? Masters of Comms is pleased to welcome Wendy Alexander, Talent Scout at POET. In this episode, we dive into the game-changing strategy of "Employee Advocacy" and how it can revolutionize your hiring process. We explore the power of tapping into your most valuable asset - your employees - to become your brand ambassadors.

Join us as we reveal the secrets of harnessing "Employee Advocacy" to skyrocket your brand's visibility and attract top-talent. Wendy reveals what she is doing to transform the recruitment game through this innovative approach.

Wendy advised us to read How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie and 12 Rules for Life - An Anecdote to Chaos by Jordan B. Peterson.

Episode summary:

0:59 Introduction of Wendy Alexander

2:16 Overview of POET

4:07 Challenge building a recruitment advacacy program

6:52 Encouraging employees to become Advocates

12:32 Aligning Employee Advocacy with Corporate Brand

16:29 Measuring the Success of Recruitment Advocacy

18:41 Wendy's 3 Key Recommendations

21:04 Wend's Book Suggestion

Unleashing the Power of Executive Thought Leadership to increase brand engagement

Mon, 10 Jul 2023 09:00:00 +0200

Masters of Comms is excited to welcome Sarah Goodall, CEO at Tribal Impact. Sarah is here to unveil her secrets to building an impactful executive thought leadership program. Discover her key recommendations to start and scale leadership advocacy as one of the pillars to a strong brand strategy.

Sarah advised us to read: A Beautiful Constraint by Mark Barden & Adam Morgan, Atomic Habits by James Clear and The Midnight Library by Matt Haig.

Episode summary:

0:59 Introduction of Sarah Goodall

1:26 Overview of Tribal Impact

3:07 Overall challenges of Leaders on Social Media

6:25 Impact of Social Leadership Advocacy

8:07 Building Trust & Credibility with Employees

11:02 Establishing the pillars to engage the workforce

16:02 It's all about measurement

20:06 Key communication recommendations for professionals

22:26 Sarah's Book Recommendation

Mastering Comms Channels in Decentralized Organizations

Wed, 14 Jun 2023 09:00:00 +0200

Masters of Comms is pleased to welcome Paul Osgood, Global Head of Internal Communications at Clifford Chance. Paul is here to share his recommendations on how to you build consistent communication channels in decentralized organizations! Find out how he embeds consistency that brings people together whenever and wherever they reside.

Keeping Your Top Talent when Inflation's Heating Up!

Tue, 07 Mar 2023 09:00:00 +0200

Masters of Comms is pleased to welcome Dani Lindley, Director of Marketing, Comms & Collaboration at Bip Group. Dani is here to share her recommendations on how to keep your top talent when inflation's heating up! Uncover her approach to engaging employees with honest & transparent communication strategies to retain talent in a continuously changing economic environment.

Building an Impactful Employee Advocacy Strategy in a Sensitive Industry

Mon, 30 Jan 2023 09:00:00 +0200

Masters of Comms is excited to welcome two expert guests from Nuspire, Francie Dudrey, Senior Director of Content Marketing & Corporate Communications and Rebecca Schloesser, Corporate Communications Coordinator. They will share their recommendations on how to build an impactful employee advocacy strategy in the secretive industry of cyber security. Discover how they have implemented an environment of transparency, enabling them to engage employees and attract new talent… while keeping their clients' secrets safe.

Why Storytelling is so Important to Your Corporate Comms Strategy

Wed, 09 Nov 2022 09:00:00 +0200

Masters of Comms welcomes Sam Bleazard, Employer Brand Content Producer at Fortnum & Mason, where he has put a modern spin on a heritage internal comms brand. Sam is recognized with more than 25 years of experience, where he has been successfully transforming comms strategies at leading organizations. Sam shares his insights on how to implement an impactful storytelling strategy at traditional organizations and beyond. Uncover Sam’s key takeaways for introducing storytelling into an organization, which compels audiences to take an active role in internal communications.

Sam advised us to read:

You Are Not a Gadget: A Manifesto by Jaron Lanier

Ten Arguments for Deleting Your Social Media Accounts Right Now by Jaron Lanier

Internal Comms + DE&I : How Do You Make Them Work Together?

Fri, 07 Oct 2022 09:00:00 +0200

Masters of Comms receives Advita Patel, Director & Founder of CommsRebel. For more than 20 years, Advita has assisted corporations to transform their internal communication strategies. Based on her strong experience, Advita shares with us her vision and recommendations on building impactful Diversity, Equity & Inclusion internal comms strategies. Discover tools to help you reach your implementation objectives, from objections to engagement in global businesses.