Past Events
Mar 22 2012
  • Learning Community

Learning Community: “Leadership Amid Change”

Upwardly mobile communications professionals have many resources to help them build technical skill and perspective. However, they rarely have an opportunity to pick the brains of top communications leaders in a candid, open environment. On the morning of March 22nd, the Page Society held a Learning Community event in New York City, immediately prior to the 27th Annual Spring Seminar.

“Leadership Amid Change”

This unique professional developmental opportunity was attended by more than 50 mid- and senior-level members of Page Society members’ teams. Participants heard from and engaged with Page Society members and communications leaders, discussing burning questions about communications and leadership amid an increasingly dynamic and complex business environment. The session provided key insights from Chief Communication Officers (CCOs) and expert speakers on how to be a communications and business leader in an environment of constant change.

Two dynamic speakers and Page Society members–Kelli Parsons, CCO for Fannie Mae, and Peter Thonis, CCO for Verizon–offered their thoughts on the changing business and communications landscape, and the implications for communications leaders and their teams.

If you have questions about the event or the Learning Community, please contact Dan Strouhal (dstrouhal@awpagesociety.com), program Manager, Arthur W. Page Society.

Event Photos
Mar 27 2012
Learning Community March 2012: “Leadership Amid Change”

Learning Community March 2012: “Leadership Amid Change”

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Agenda

Click here to view a PDF version of the agenda.

7:30 am — Registration & Continental Breakfast
8:00 am — Welcome Remarks from the Professional Development Committee & Learning Community Co-Chairs 

Tom Martin, Chair, Professional Development Committee, Arthur W. Page Society, Executive-in-Residence, College of Charleston – Department of Communication

Jennifer Gottlieb, Practice Leader, WCG

Peter McDermott, Senior Associate, Heyman Associates
8:10 am — Keynote: Peter Thonis, Executive Vice President & CCO for Verizon

When it comes to leading and managing change, few companies can rival Verizon. The 15th largest company in the U.S. with revenues approaching $110 billion and 200,000 employees, Verizon is in the press hourly, the focus of hundreds of social media sites, and engaged in legal and marketing battles every day. Over the past two years alone, Peter Thonis has helped the company manage acquisitions totaling more than $40 billion, a volatile labor strike, the launch of the Android and Apple smart phones, a CEO transition and a large-scale internal culture change effort. In his keynote address, Thonis will relate stories of these experiences in a candid, unplugged approach that highlights his greatest lessons learned and advice for next-gen CCOs.
9:05 — Collaborating with Interdependent Functions

The communications function rarely operates in isolation. In fact, it has become the ultimate point of intersection for myriad functions, including HR, marketing, legal, finance and IT. With competing resources, turf battles and other dynamics at play, it is not always easy to get people to “play nice” in a cross-functional scenario. A panel of senior communications leaders will explore how communicators can become better collaborators within an organization and work effectively across departments to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes. Speakers will offer concrete suggestions about best practices that their organizations have used to promote cross-functional cooperation.

  • Patricia Blackburn, Vice President – Corporate Communications & Public Affairs, Ingersoll Rand
  • Kathryn Metcalfe, Director, Deloitte
  • Doug Michelman, Global Head of Corporate Relations, Visa Inc.
  • Susan Tardanico, Learning Community Committee Chair, Arthur W. Page Society, Founding Partner & CEO, The Authentic Leadership Alliance (Moderator)

 
10:15 — Break
10:30 — Keynote: Kelli Parsons, Senior Vice President & CCO for Fannie Mae

Kelli Parsons leads communications, marketing and community investment and engagement. Her responsibilities include corporate communications, marketing in support of the company’s single family, multifamily and capital markets businesses, corporate giving and employee engagement with our communities.
11:25 — Closing Remarks & Next Steps

Susan Tardanico, Learning Community Committee Chair, Arthur W. Page Society, Founding Partner & CEO, The Authentic Leadership Alliance 
11:35 — Networking Luncheon

Learning Community participants are invited to attend a luncheon with Page Society members, who will be in New York for the 27th Annual Spring Seminar.