The Voice

Angela Prokopiak, host of The Voice, chats with two seasoned communications professionals to uncover how they earned a seat at the senior management table, a feat often deemed difficult for those in the communications profession. In this two-part episode, we hear from  Cate Murray, Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer of the Stem Cell Network, and  Leah Jurkovic, Director of Communications and Stakeholder Engagement for Colleges and Institutes Canada. Leah and Cate share their thoughts on why communications should have a seat at the senior leadership table. They also share some sage advice on how to eventually earn a seat at that table, including these two key overarching ideas: Understand the entire business, the corporate objectives and how your organization fits into a broader context. When you can excel at this, that is when you can provide real value. Demonstrate that you consider the external connection, that you see the bigger picture. Think holistically and strategically versus tactically. While both Leah and Cate agreed that one of the most important ways to set yourself apart is by fully understanding the business and its objectives, Cate concluded the episode with a great point about understanding yourself: "Have confidence. Know what you bring to the table, and then surround yourself/work with a team of people that can fill in the gaps. Nobody expects you to know everything."