Logo
    Search

    About this Episode

    Learn Copyright Law do's and don'ts of AI from public relations author Melissa Vela-Williamson and media law attorney Alicia Calzada on January 18. Tickets are on sale now: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ethics-and-copyright-law-in-an-ai-excited-world-tickets-759697394357?aff=oddtdtcreator.

    Resources mentioned:

    Recent Episodes from Smart Talk Series

    Tickets on Sale Now: Ethics and Copyright Law in an AI-Excited World

    Tickets on Sale Now: Ethics and Copyright Law in an AI-Excited World

    Learn Copyright Law do's and don'ts of AI from public relations author Melissa Vela-Williamson and media law attorney Alicia Calzada on January 18. Tickets are on sale now: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ethics-and-copyright-law-in-an-ai-excited-world-tickets-759697394357?aff=oddtdtcreator.

    Resources mentioned:

    Bonus: Creating a Conscious Public Relations Strategy with Shannon Weinstein & Melissa Vela-Williamson

    Bonus: Creating a Conscious Public Relations Strategy with Shannon Weinstein & Melissa Vela-Williamson

    Enjoy a bonus conversation between Melissa and Shannon Weinstein on the Keep What You Earn! podcast where they discuss creating a conscious public relations strategy. Thanks to Shannon for having Melissa on her show to talk about PR and money matters.

    Resources mentioned:

    Taking Leaps in Your Career with Jennifer R. Hudson, APR

    Taking Leaps in Your Career with Jennifer R. Hudson, APR

    Making the leap from a steady corporate job to the chaos of owning your own business is not easy.

    In today's episode, Melissa talks to Jennifer R. Hudson, APR about her path to owning her own firm.

    About Jennifer:

    Jennifer is a strategic communications advocate, trainer, mentor, consultant and speaker. Her superpowers are helping PR leaders step boldly into their role as a trusted advisor and weeding through the details to ensure an organization’s communications are always focused on the big picture. During her 25-year career in corporate communications, Jennifer has always sought to broaden the role of public relations. She leads trainings and workshops on corporate messaging; strategic communications planning; and core values, vision, and mission.

    Topics covered:

    Crisis Communications and TikTok Engagement with Molly McPherson

    Crisis Communications and TikTok Engagement with Molly McPherson

    Social media is a powerful tool every PR professional needs to know how to use. But what happens when that power gets out of your control and creates a crisis?

    Today, Melissa discusses the importance of understanding crisis communication in every part of your career evolution with crisis comms and TikTok strategist Molly McPherson.

    About Molly:

    Public relations expert Molly McPherson knows how to handle a crisis. Molly served in the external affairs office at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) where she introduced the agency's first digital media efforts in response to the public backlash from the Hurricane Katrina response. As Director of Communications for Cruise Line International Association in Arlington, Virginia, Molly handled the official media responses related to maritime security during the 9/11 attacks and the norovirus outbreak on cruise ships in 2002. Molly is the host of the Indestructible PR Podcast, bestselling author of the book Indestructible: Reclaim Control and Respond with Confidence in a Media Crisis, and creator of a popular TikTok account that makes PR crises easy to follow and easy to avoid. This year she was Adweek Creative Visionary Award Winner: Careers Creator of the Year.

    Topics covered:

    Uplifting Your Community with Bernice Chao

    Uplifting Your Community with Bernice Chao

    How do you make a difference when you see a lack of support for your community?

    In today's episode, Melissa talks to Bernice Chao, an award-winning creative whose career evolution led her to creating Asians in Advertising and writing a book about visibility.

    Big thanks to our sponsor Anais Biera Miracle for supporting this season of the podcast!

    About Bernice: 

    Bernice Chao is an award-winning creative who's worked on campaigns for notable brands like HBO, Google, Chime, and Nissan. As one of the few female Asian American creative leaders in the United States, she is helping shape the AANHPI community as the co-founder of the non-profit organization Asians in Advertising and host of the AIA podcast. She has also created mentorship and scholarship programs for the AANHPI community.

    Topics covered:

    Coaching and Consulting with Ken Jacobs, PCC, CPC, ELI-MP

    Coaching and Consulting with Ken Jacobs, PCC, CPC, ELI-MP

    It takes a village to build a career you can be proud of. In this episode, Melissa talks to former PR agency pro turned coach Ken Jacobs about the importance of great coaching and consulting in your career evolution.

    Big thanks to our sponsor Anais Biera Miracle for supporting this season of the podcast!

    About Ken:

    Ken Jacobs is one of the few certified executive coaches who had an initial career in PR agency management and leadership. He helps senior communications executives become more inspired, inspiring, and effective leaders. Ken also helps agencies reach their business development goals, manage for profitability, and enhance client service and relationships.

    Topics covered:

    • The catalyst for Ken's career evolution 
    • How good coaching can help your career 
    • Consulting vs. coaching - Patterns in today's coaching needs 
    • Working through impostor syndrome
    • Lessons from agency life 
    • Accepting change

      Actions to take: 
    • Know where your strengths on
    • Find a mentor
    • Don't ruminate: Get a lesson and move on
    • Be conscious of how you think 
    • Have a thirst for knowledge

      Resources mentioned:
    • Southwest Key Programs: https://southwestkey.org/ 
    • Hispanic Women's Network of Texas: https://hwnt.org/ 
    •  Fierce Mujeres: https://www.fiercemujeres.org/
    • Hispanic Public Relations Association (HPRA): https://hprausa.org/ 
    • Jacobs Consulting and Executive Coaching: https://www.jacobscomm.com/ 
    • Elise Mitchell: https://elisemitchell.com/

    The Path to Entrepreneurship with Julie Livingston

    The Path to Entrepreneurship with Julie Livingston

    When you start your career, you never know where life will take you. Today's guest, Julie Livingston, embraced the unknown by letting curiosity guide her throughout her career. Listen as she talks with Melissa about her path and how it ultimately led to starting her own firm.

    Big thanks to our sponsor Anais Biera Miracle for supporting this season of the podcast!

    About Julie:

    Julie Livingston is president of WantLeverage Communications, an entrepreneurial PR and LinkedIn marketing consultancy based in New York City. She specializes in turning “under the radar” executives and businesses into authoritative industry leaders through strategic communications counsel, media placement, and elevating leadership visibility on LinkedIn, the world’s biggest business networking platform. A member of LinkedIn Advisors, Julie is a three-time board member of NY Women in Communications. She holds an MS in Communications Management from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Public Communications. Her thought leadership has been featured on Morning Brew and in PR News, CommPro.Biz, ASAE, and other industry publications.

    Topics covered:

    Evolving Your Career

    Evolving Your Career

    Listen as Melissa kicks off Season Six by asking questions to get you thinking about you how to evolve your career.

    Join us this season as Melissa talks with experts in various disciplines about their career evolution stories.

    Big thanks to our sponsor Anais Biera Miracle for supporting this season of the podcast!

    Topics covered: 

    • Career evolution 
    • How to determine what you need in a new job or career
    • Using smart talk to enhance your skills 
    • Assessing your compatibility with your current role 
    • Melissa reflects on the start of her career

    Actions to take:

    Bonus: Inclusive Communication Musts with Gini Dietrich & Melissa Vela-Williamson

    Bonus: Inclusive Communication Musts with Gini Dietrich & Melissa Vela-Williamson

    Enjoy a bonus conversation between Melissa and Gini Dietrich of Spin Sucks about effectively communicating across diverse audiences.

    Topics covered:

    - Being conscious of how you communicate

    - DEI communication musts

    - Tactics to include in your communications programs

    - Integrating intersectionality

    - Habits for more inclusive communication - Q&A

    Actions to take:

    - Advocate for yourself

    - Plan with experts when you can

    - Do your research

    - Tailor your approach to your audience

    - If you wouldn't say it with a mic in hand, don't say it

    - Listen to your gut

    Resources mentioned:

    - PRSA Conferences: https://www.prsa.org/conferences-and-awards/conferences

    - Selena (1997): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120094/

    - PRSA specialties: https://www.prsa.org/home/get-involved/professional-interest-sections

    - Pew Research Center: https://www.pewresearch.org/

    - IPR Center for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: https://instituteforpr.org/center-for-diversity-equity-and-inclusion/

    - PRSA D&I Toolkit: https://www.prsa.org/docs/default-source/about/diversity/prsa-2021-toolkit---6-3-21.pdf?sfvrsn=26ff3dfd_0

    - Communicating with LGBTQ Audiences: https://www.scoutlab.com/communicating-with-lgbtq-audiences - Valuegraphics: https://valuegraphics.com/

    - Spin Sucks: https://spinsucks.com/

    - The PESO Model: https://spinsucks.com/communication/pr-pros-must-embrace-the-peso-model/

    - Smart Talk: Public Relations Essentials All Pros Should Know: https://www.mvw360.com/book

    - MVW Communications: https://www.mvw360.com/

    - PR Pro Gear: https://www.prgearshop.com/

    Smart Talk Series
    enApril 11, 2023

    Smart Talk Audiobook: Available Now

    Smart Talk Audiobook: Available Now

    Special Announcement: The audiobook version of Smart Talk: Public Relations Essentials All Pros Should Know is now available. 

    Topics covered:

    - Audiobook now available

    Actions to take:

    - Pick up your copy of the Smart Talk audiobook on Amazon, Audible or wherever you get your audiobooks.

    Resources:

    -Smart Talk Audiobook on Amazon: https://a.co/d/7Trsb8C

    - Smart Talk: Public Relations Essentials All Pros Should Know: https://www.mvw360.com/book

    - MVW Communications: https://www.mvw360.com

    - PR Pro Gear: https://www.prgearshop.com

     

    Smart Talk Series
    enApril 05, 2023