The New CEO Playbook | Media Training, Succession Planning & Why Storytelling Wins Every Time

Moira Conlon proves that controlling your message in the age of disinformation, fake news, and social media isn't just about managing crises — it's about showing up authentically, knowing when to pivot your advice, and understanding that communications is no longer a nice-to-have function but a strategic advantage that creates value and mitigates risk. Hosts Shana Ayabe and Kisha Imani Cameron sit down with the CEO and founder of public relations firm Financial Profiles, a communications expert who's spent decades mastering the art of investor relations, crisis management, and corporate storytelling across some of the most dynamic companies in the world. From starting her career in investment banking at Merrill Lynch working on bank IPOs and mortgage origination to moving to Los Angeles and discovering investor relations — a field she'd never heard of but immediately loved — to building her own firm from scratch with nothing but a pitch deck and a prayer, Moira unpacks her journey of radical reinvention and what it takes to navigate the most critical moments in a company's life. Moira reveals why the communications landscape has become exponentially more complicated since the early days when you could control your message with a press release and a few media outlets, how social media and video have made it nearly impossible to prevent your words from being chopped up and weaponized, and why every company today is fighting for mindshare in a world where everyone thinks they can be a spokesperson. She shares raw truths about why activist investing changed the game for investor relations and forced companies to look at themselves through the lens of an activist investor or risk getting blindsided, how boards are now hiring communications professionals because too many have been caught unaware during crisis situations, and why the CEO is essentially the chief communications officer — the embodiment of the brand who must be trained and capable of communicating with employees, customers, Wall Street, and the media. But the real game-changer? Understanding that starting a firm is harder than you think, that your first clients come from relationships (not cold pitches), and that showing up smart — doing the work upfront to diagnose the pain and deliver insights instead of talking about yourself — is what wins business. Moira breaks down the brutal reality of launching a firm, how to navigate the toughest questions, how they built the business brick by brick by turning every client into their best case study, and why humor and authenticity became their secret weapons. She discusses why not every client is a good client, how AI will take over grunt work but can never replace the arsenal of experience that comes from years of practicing the craft, why younger professionals are missing out on critical learning by not being in the office to observe senior leaders prep for media appearances, and how her definition of success has shifted from building a bigger firm to building a better firm with great people who are authentic to who they are. Whether you're navigating a CEO succession plan, managing a crisis in the age of social media, trying to understand the invisible game of corporate communications, or building your own firm from the ground up, this episode offers battle-tested wisdom on storytelling, authenticity, and why the only thing you can count on is change. Hosts: Shana Ayabe x Kisha Imani Cameron Guest: Moira Conlon | CEO & Founder, Financial Profiles | Communications, Investor Relations & Crisis Management Expert Produced by: Grace Media Digital The Exit Interview | On-Air — Real conversations. Mastering communications in the age of disinformation. Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:11 From Investment Banking to Investor Relations: Moira's Journey 00:06:27 The Titanic Moment: When Bad Acquisitions Force Change 00:36:21 Starting Financial Profiles: The Brutal Reality of Building from Scratch 00:08:28 The Evolution of Crisis Management: From Controlled to Chaotic 00:12:29 CEO Succession Planning: The Communication Blueprint 00:12:44 The New CEO Playbook: Change, Pressure, and Activist Investors 00:19:32 Becoming the Next CEO: Start Doing the Job Before You Have It 00:25:08 Media Training and Storytelling: Why Every CEO Must Master the Message 00:31:33 Authenticity Over Controversy: Finding Your Communication Style 00:46:00 AI and the Future of Communications: What Can't Be Replaced 00:56:57 Redefining Success: From Bigger to Better