Welcome to Day 2 of our Crisis & Change Communications Strategies virtual conference!

This session explores how proactive communication planning, strong media relationships, and leadership clarity can dramatically shape outcomes when high-stakes moments hit.

Drawing from real-life crisis scenarios, this case study will offer actionable insights into:

• Why the timing of communication can make or break your response
• How and why leaders need to learn and practice non-crisis communication
• How to build trust with media before you're in the spotlight
• The importance of pre-crisis communication plans and internal alignment
• Key steps to ensure your team is ready to act fast and speak with one voice

Leave with practical strategies for preparing their organization to lead with confidence and clarity—before, during, and after a crisis.

Mergers and major transitions can create uncertainty—but they’re also powerful moments to reinforce connection, trust, and culture. In this session, Discover shares how their internal communications team is navigating the company’s merger with Capital One using a data-driven, employee-first approach. Learn how Discover is using internal comms data, targeted content, and employee engagement tactics to inform, motivate, and retain talent.

Attendees will learn:

• How to engage employees through transition using communication insights and analytics
• The power of structured messaging calendars and campaign-driven connection
• Strategies to maintain culture and morale with simple, high-impact ideas

When the unexpected strikes, comms teams often rely on established plans—but what happens when the situation calls for more than a script? This case study explores how one organization responded to a crisis by rapidly aligning internal values with external messaging, engaging stakeholders with empathy, and keeping employees grounded and informed through shifting realities. Attendees will learn practical lessons on timing, transparency, and tailoring tone for different audiences in real-time.

When the unexpected happens, communicators are on the front lines. In this session, panelists share firsthand lessons from navigating high-stakes crises—from internal disruptions to public incidents. Explore what to do in the first critical moments, how to manage risk while staying transparent, and how past crises have shaped stronger, more resilient strategies.

Welcome to Day 3 of our Crisis & Change Communications Strategies virtual conference!

Organizational restructuring can be a disruptive time for employees and stakeholders alike. At the heart of any successful reorganization lies effective, strategic communication. This speech will explore the critical role communications professionals play in guiding organizations through periods of transformation. Attendees will learn how to craft clear and empathetic messaging, anticipate challenges, and foster trust during moments of uncertainty.

How do you keep employees engaged and supported during organizational restructure? In this case study, Washington State’s Department of Labor and Industries shares how their change readiness team is navigating a complex, multi-division restructure transition through a phased approach.

You will gain practical insights into:

• The value of proactive vs. reactive communication during long-term change
• How to ensure employees feel heard, included, and part of the process
• Techniques for communicating across multiple layers of leadership
• How to prevent disengagement by addressing concerns before they fester

This session offers a real-world look at strategic communication and change management within a government agency, with lessons that apply across sectors.

Major change doesn’t have to fracture culture—it can be an opportunity to reinforce it. This session shares how a communications team used storytelling, listening campaigns, and honest dialogue to strengthen employee connection during a time of internal upheaval. Learn how they fostered trust across teams, created feedback loops that shaped decisions, and built a comms framework that turned uncertainty into alignment.

Trust is the currency of modern communication—especially in times of uncertainty. This panel dives into how communicators are rising to meet shifting expectations from employees and the public. Hear how leaders are adapting tone, channels, and cadence to stay connected, build credibility, and recover quickly when crises and changes occur.