"Be a Good Comms Person, But Be a Better Business Person" — How to Unlock Strategic Value as a Communicator with Amy MacLeod

"Be a good comms person, but be a better business person. That is the key to unlocking the strategic value as a comms person. When you can create an environment where people want to know what you think on a topic that's not necessarily related to comms, you have built a relationship of trust and respect." - Amy MacLeodAmy MacLeod is a senior communications executive with 25 years of experience shaping complex business, financial, and technical developments into strategic communications programs. She believes that good communication comes from connecting people with information that conveys passion and purpose — and that truth, simply told, is the best path to leadership, influence, and corporate credibility.Amy was named Vice President of Corporate Communications at MDA Space in 2021. Prior to that, she served as VP of Corporate Affairs and External Communications at Seaspan Shipyards and VP of Corporate Communications at Mitel, where in 2018 she was appointed as Mitel's first Corporate Diversity Officer, charged with driving cultural change across the company globally.Earlier in her career, Amy held progressively senior communications roles at General Dynamics Canada, Alcatel-Lucent, and Newbridge Networks Corporation. She began her career as a political staffer on Parliament Hill, an experience that grounded her in the fundamentals of writing, storytelling, and high-stakes real-time communications.Amy grew up in a small mining town in Northern Ontario and studied politics at the University of Waterloo. She has been deeply rooted in the Ottawa business and startup ecosystem for nearly four decades, and remains actively engaged as a mentor and advocate for women in leadership.Connect with AmyLinkedIn: Amy MacLeodWebsite: MDA SpaceLinkedIn: MDA SpaceConnect with NaomiWebsite: www.naomihaile.comLinkedIn: Naomi HaileInstagram: @naomiahaileTwitter: @naomiathaileYouTube: Naomi HaileThis episode is brought to you in collaboration with ⁠⁠Invest Ottawa⁠⁠, Ottawa’s lead economic development agency for knowledge-based industries. We teamed up to produce this special podcast series to celebrate women leading in Ottawa during International Women’s Month.In support of its Women Founders and Owners strategy, Invest Ottawa offers programs and services that enable and accelerate the growth and success of women entrepreneurs from every walk of life. Visit ⁠⁠www.investottawa.ca/women⁠⁠ to learn more!