The Crux of the Story

Nobel laureate, holocaust survivor, and former BU professor Elie Wiesel did not let his circumstances define him but used them in a positive way to make the world better. Today, one of his former students, Ingrid Anderson, continues his legacy at Boston University's Elie Wiesel Center for Jewish Studies. In this episode Anderson talks about the importance for business leaders to educate themselves...

What is PwC’s My+? What does governance mean in a communications context? How does communication function in one of the Big Four? In this episode, we are joined by PwC’s US and Mexico Communications Leader Megan DiSciullo. In her role, Megan is responsible for leading 170+ communications practitioners across a range of disciplines. Prior to joining PwC, Megan spent nearly nine years at Edelman in...

What are the key takeaways in an investor relations course at Boston University College of Communications (BU COM) look like? What is an Account Supervisor at Prosek Partner's typical day like? Is an MBA required for communicators? In this episode, we welcome a panel of BU alums who are working in financial communications: Sarah Dasher, Lindsay Jablonski, and Shaye Spector. Professor Sarah Dasher...

What is a company’s role in national security? How do communications professionals navigate large mergers and acquisitions? How is corporate political spending bad for business and democracy? In this 90th episode, we look back at the show's fourth season (episodes 69-80). We covered everything from politics to sports to economics. Subscribe to the podcast feed on SoundCloud, Spotify, and Apple Pod...

How do we define impact? What role does leadership play in ESG impact investing? How should small and large businesses approach ESG issues? In this episode, we welcome Nick Andreou and Marya Besharov to discuss their MIT Sloan Management Review article titled ”Rethinking How We Measure Companies on Social and Environmental Impact.” Marya Besharov is a professor of organizations and impact and acad...

What are the key findings in Peppercomm/Ragan Corporate Character Barometer? Why don’t communicators have a handbook for navigating social or political issues? Why does humor play such an important role in business settings? In this episode, we welcome Peppercom CEO Steve Cody. Steve is also the current chairman of the Institute for Public Relations, a longtime member of the Arthur W. Page Society...

What is Smart Brevity? Where did the idea come from? Why is it so difficult to achieve for most of us? In this episode, we welcome Axios founding editor-in-chief, Nick Johnston. Before Axios, Nick was the managing editor at Bloomberg, covering the White House, Capitol Hill, and the 2008 presidential campaign. Tune in to hear about Cox Enterprises' acquisition of Axios, how technology inspired the...

What does it mean to be a communication leader in a large enterprise like Microsoft? How has the increase in shareholder activism affected the role of a communicator? What is "productivity paranoia"? In this episode, we are joined by Microsoft Vice President of Communications, Frank Shaw. Frank has been at Microsoft since 2009 and today leads a team that defines and manages Microsoft communication...

What does the future of the ESG framework look like? How important is it to align ESG goals with capital returns? How does Prudential think about its public voice on social issues? In this episode, we welcome Prudential CCO Alan Sexton to discuss the evolving importance of ESG for communicators. Prior to joining Prudential in 2018, Alan had spent more than 20 years working for several public relat...

What is National Truth and Reconciliation day in Canada? What are land acknowledgments? What is Orange Shirt Society? In this episode, we welcome Creative Fire CEO Leanne Hall. Prior to joining Creative Fire in 2019, Leanne was the National Leader of the Deloitte Indigenous practice, serving over 275 Indigenous communities across Canada. She has served as a director for the Canadian Council for Ab...

How is satellite imagery combating misinformation in the Russia-Ukraine war? What was it like to grow up in a Hispanic family? Have you ever wondered what kinds of careers a satellite company offers? In this episode, Fernando Vivanco, vice president of communications at Maxar, joins us to discuss the various projects for which Maxar provides satellite imagery. Fernando has been a senior-level comm...

How did Elon Musk’s 2018 pay package elevate CEO pay? How can we objectively measure and report annual CEO salaries? Since 2017, has the SEC reporting requirement led to any real change in compensation policies? In this episode, we are joined by New York Times business reporter Peter Eavis. Peter joins us to discuss executive compensation and corporate profits. Prior to the Times, Peter was with t...

How are the Sandy Hook shooting and the Jan. 6 insurrection linked? What is the basis of a conspiracy theory? And how do we combat conspiracy hoaxers? University of Connecticut journalism professor Amanda J. Crawford argues for being transparent and being open. Amanda is a veteran political journalist and academic researcher who focuses on journalism ethics, media law, misinformation, and the role...

What was the plan for Coach K’s retirement announcement? What is a media and politics class at Duke University like? And what did Mike do at the Voice of America? Tune in to hear insights from Duke University’s VP for Public Affairs and Government Relations and Chief Communications Officer Mike Schoenfeld. In this episode, Mike discusses how universities’ communications leadership needs to get inv...

What is a Chief Impact Officer? Why do business transformations fail? How are companies assessing the value of communicators? In this episode, we are joined by U.S. Chief Operating Officer, Corporate Affairs Practice Chair, and Global Chair of Impact Jim O’ Leary. With nearly two decades of experience, Jim oversees a global network of corporate reputation, business marketing, and advisory services...

What is Clean Creatives’ mission? What is the F-list? This week we were joined by Clean Creatives Director Duncan Meisel. With the looming climate crisis, Meisel argues that ad and PR agencies should “cut ties” with fossil fuel companies. Why is it so difficult to take climate action given the science? Tune in to this episode to hear Meisel’s insights on climate communication, agency-client relati...

For the Boston University College of Communication (BU COM) Class of 2020, what was it like to look for a job during a pandemic? In this episode, we welcome three alumni to hear about their unique and unprecedented journeys entering the workforce post-graduation. With the “Great Resignation,” what skills did they learn at BU that really helped them? How did they navigate all of those difficulties...

How is corporate political spending bad for business and democracy? How should companies navigate political giving when shareholders have diverse political views? Building on this issue, how should communicators work with the legal and public affairs team? In this episode, we are joined by Associate Professor at the University of Southern California (USC) Gould School of Law Dorothy Lund. She rece...

Why is it crucial every Fortune 500 company hire an historian? How does understanding the past contribute to today’s DEI efforts? Accept responsibility, understand the past, apologize proactively, and respond meaningfully. This is how every company should handle historical transgressions, according to Dr. Sarah Federman. Sarah is an Assistant Professor of Negotiation and Conflict Management at the...

Given the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, what should multinational companies be doing from a risk and reputation perspective? What is a hybrid war? What is a company’s role in national security? In this episode, we are joined by Weber Shandwick Executive Vice President of Geopolitical Strategy and Risk, Michelle Giuda. Before this position, Michelle served as Assistant Secretary of State, in...

How is data and AI driving corporate decision making? What should marketers and communicators be doing about AI and its implications? But most importantly, what does retirement look like for a Hall of Fame communicator? In this episode, we are joined by Founding Executive Director of the Data and Trust Alliance Jon Iwata. He is also currently an Executive Fellow at the Yale School of Management. P...

The biggest acquisition deal ever in the tech and gaming world between Microsoft and Activision Blizzard. How do comms professionals navigate big M&A deals? What cultural issues do you prepare for? And what is SoundExchange? On this 72nd episode of The Crux, we welcome Helaine Klasky, the CCO of Activision Blizzard, who has quite a model communicator’s resume. She has worked at the highest levels...

Have the Olympic Games become too controversial for corporate sponsors? Do Super Bowl ads pay off? And what is Karate Combat? On this 71st episode of The Crux we get answers to these questions from Michael Hargrave, president of Discover Sports & Entertainment, who has guided big brands such as Anheuser-Busch to Bank of America through sports sponsorships and events. Tune in to hear his insights o...

In our seventieth episode of The Crux, we welcome Peter Goodman who is a New York Times' economics journalist and author of "Davos Man: How the Billionaires Devoured the World." Previously, he was an executive global news and business editor at the Huffington Post, as well as the Shanghai bureau chief for the Washington Post. Peter has covered some of the most momentous economic transformations an...

In our sixty-ninth episode of The Crux, we welcome US chief communications officer for one of the world’s leading professional services firms KPMG, Maureen Davenport. Maureen joined KPMG herself in 2019 after an 8-year stint at Fannie Mae where she also served as CCO and helped drive its reputation and business performance. Within one year of joining KPMG, Maureen was tasked with the challenge of...