Market Insights Shape PR – Habitat for Humanity

Send us Fan MailOur Guest:Our episode guest is Amy Dunham, chief communications officer at Habitat for Humanity International. Overseeing the organization’s global brand, marketing, and communications strategy, she helps reach audiences across all 50 U.S. states and more than 70 countries. Amy is a seasoned communications leader passionate about using market insights to shape strategy and strengthen engagement worldwide.Five things you’ll learn from this episode:1. How to leverage market insights to shape and guide PR strategy2. The balance of art, science, and passion in effective strategic planning3. Practical ways communicators can advocate for audiences at the strategy table4. How messaging and strategy must stay in lockstep to maintain credibility and consistency across audiences5. How brand perception gaps create opportunities for stronger audience engagement Quotables“The human brain always absorbs things best in threes. And communications know if you’ve got 15 priorities, you have no priorities. When setting priorities, it has to be a clear way to say yes and to say no. If it doesn’t give you the ability to say no, then it’s not really helping you set a strategy.” — Amy Dunham“You can't have good communication or public relations strategy without messaging. They're in lockstep together.” — @JasonMudd9“To really stand out in PR, whatever you're doing, is to make sure you're saying things that are provocative, contrary, and have a unique point of view from what everybody else is saying because otherwise, you're just going to blend in and not stand out.” — @JasonMudd9“It's not a conversation about ‘I know better’ versus ‘you know better.’ It's much more about ‘Here's what the data indicates, and now here's the flexibility to be able to use it in the way that works best in your market.’” — Amy Dunham“It's really through the lens of ‘How can I add value in a way to enable their work?’ rather than to direct how things should get done.” — Amy DunhamIf you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to share it with a colleague or friend. You may also support us through Buy Me a Coffee or by leaving us a quick podcast review.About Amy DunhamAmy leads Habitat for Humanity’s brand, marketing campaigns, and communications efforts across its global footprint in all 50 U.S. states and in more than 70 countries. Before joining Habitat in 2022, she held brand and communications roles at the NCAA, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and US Airways.Guest’s contact info and resources:Amy (Kudwa) Dunham on LinkedInHabitat for Humanity websiteFact Fullness by Hans RoslingCrucial ConversationsAdditional Resources:Should PR pros be storytellers? with Carnival Cruise Line’s Chris ChiamesRecorded: May 28, 2025Our On Top of PR sponsors:Production sponsor: Axia Public Relations, one of America’s Best PR Agencies, according to Forbes MagazineCoffee sponsor: Fans like you fuel our efforts through Buy Me a Coffee.Support the showOn Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America’s Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands.On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.