Cheryl Minella

Communications executives, let’s be clear: If you’re still battling for a seat at the table, the issue isn’t your credibility... it's misalignment at the top. And that’s exactly where experienced communications leaders step in. Our role isn’t to be invited into leadership conversations. Our role is to convene - and often, to facilitate - them. Communications leaders are expertly equipped to connect perspectives across the C-suite, surface insights, and shape the narrative that aligns leaders and brands around vision, values, and voice. It's not about being heard. It’s about helping others see. We help guide conversations from tactical to transformational. We're not a service function. We're a strategic function. The strongest communications leaders don’t wait for permission. They build trust by facilitating the conversations that drive clarity and cohesion: the ones that move organizations forward. That’s our superpower. And when put to use, everyone at the table benefits.

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Can "fun" actually move the needle in enterprise software? Ogilvy's partnership with Workday has proved the answer is a resounding yes. Most B2B marketing is built to be safe. Workday’s marketing is built to rock 🎸 In an interview with Forbes, Workday CMO Emma Chalwin dives into the strategy behind the "Rockstar" campaign and how it's paid off, delivering a strong increase in website traffic and lead-to-sale conversion 📈 Beyond the leather jackets and Billy Idol cameos, Emma also shares a powerful vision for how AI shouldn't replace the "soul" of marketing, but rather free us up to be more human. Check out the full Q&A here: https://bit.ly/3NpgsLA

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The pace of change isn't slowing down in 2026, and how leaders frame constant change matters. In this Forbes Communications Council piece on skills shaping the next generation of internal comms leaders, I shared why adaptability and framing change as an opportunity are essential for building trust and momentum. Read all the skills here: https://lnkd.in/gX7fJHG5 #Forbes #Actian #ChangeManagement #StrategicCommunications #MarketingLeadership

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"AI is ‘breaking’ entry-level jobs that Gen Z workers need to launch careers, LinkedIn exec warns", Fortune writes. I completely disagree. People trust people. People purchase from people. People build community with people. AI excels in many areas. It may successfully outline an article or autocorrect your grammatical errors. However, it cannot convey human emotions or empathize like a real person. An actual human being must execute your sales funnel if you want to generate qualified leads. AI is not coming for your job. However, someone who uses AI will do your job better. Alt headline: "Gen Z Empowers AI to Transform Entry-Level Administrative Tasks into Career Launchpads" More on the fable of copywriter vs AI: https://lnkd.in/gjD2vcrR #AI #SalesFunnel #copywriting #GenZ

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Great insights from BlackLine #CMO Emily Campbell on how marketers can better connect with the #CFO. Her latest piece in MarTech shares lessons from her first year at BlackLine and how marketing can speak the CFO’s language. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/g9H2gDhm

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Here is a good article highlighting the current state of WRITER (a first-mover AI content creation tool) with some practical use cases. However, I see a missed opportunity in this article to illustrate some examples of how the tech is used for internal and HR comms. We will continue to see AI-powered innovation at breakneck speeds with adaptability (people and organizations) as a core skill that requires intentional effort. Today, our work includes rewiring roles, teams, strategies, systems, and behavior to take full advantage of AI tech. The bottom line is that it’s less about WHAT channels we use to communicate and engage, and more about HOW we use the channels that work. Better content, relevant stories, personalized experiences, and clear business impact. Attn: leaders and communications, this is our charter. The good news? It is now more possible than ever. https://lnkd.in/grEbjgZ7

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The generative AI boom has put data and analytics in the executive spotlight. 2025 is a pivotal year for turning AI investment into real business value. Gartner’s latest research shares over 100 predictions for data, analytics, and AI through 2030, offering insights to help you stress-test your strategy, prioritize investments in data governance, and build an AI-ready foundation. Read the report with Cloudera here: https://shorturl.at/ST7XD

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With LinkedIn’s new personal profile API connector, the era of real-time and predictive analytics has officially arrived for executive communications teams. Let me explain… Historically, exec comms pros have operated in two modes: - Static, backward-looking monthly reports - Gut checks from qualitative observations But the two rarely synced, and that disconnect made it tough quantify the points teams were measuring, especially in today’s overcrowded content landscape. Our recent analysis with SocialHP shows that just 1 in 13 posts drives the majority of executive engagement, follower growth, and impressions. That means if teams are not tracking the right moments in real time, they are vulnerable to missing the ones that will actually move the needle. Now, with API access powering executive profile data, we can finally connect the qualitative and quantitative dots across the LinkedIn ecosystem. That means sharper insights, smarter pivots, and content strategies that respond to what stakeholders are doing right now. In my latest op-ed with PRNEWS, I explore how real-time data, predictive analytics, and monitoring tools can reshape how we build executive influence that’s measurable, relevant, and resonant. If you’re building a C-suite strategy and want to chat data, content, or where it all goes next let’s talk, send me an email at dciccarelli@mww.com, or reach out to any one of the exec comms experts on my team Savanah Cruz, Isabella Voets, Amaya Morales. https://lnkd.in/eeWZEGs7

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