The IABC EMENA Podcast

Internal communication expert and IABC EMENA Chair Simon Cavendish joins host Chared Verschuur to unpack what it really means to lead through change. From trust and transparency to the IKEA effect, we explore why internal comms is central to transformation and how to make it human, practical, and effective. Whether you're navigating system rollouts, culture shifts, or organisational upheaval, this episode offers clear, candid insights from the frontlines of change.

What’s your story and who’s telling it? In this episode of the IABC EMENA podcast, host Chared Verschuur speaks with Lucy Eckley, storytelling expert and founder of The Leading Story, about how communication professionals can move from amplifying others to owning their own narrative. Lucy shares her five-part framework for crafting a compelling personal brand story, reflects on the role of storytelling in leadership and inclusion, and explains why so many comms professionals struggle to talk about themselves. They also explore how organizations can use narrative to drive visibility, belonging, and bold change. Whether you’re refining your LinkedIn profile, preparing for a new role, or trying to elevate diverse voices in your organization, this episode is packed with insights that will inspire you to own your story with confidence and clarity.

What does gardening have to do with internal communication? A lot, according to Tony Stewart. In this episode, we explore how internal communities—when cultivated with intention—can spark transformation from the inside out. From digital “gardens” that bridge silos to quiet revolutions that challenge the status quo, Tony shares practical wisdom and real-world examples on why internal community management is no longer a “nice-to-have” but a vital function in future-ready organizations.

Human leadership and communication coach Chaya Mistry joins Chared Verschuur to explore regenerative leadership—what it is, why it matters, and how communicators can drive real transformation by creating space for reflection, connection, and change.

How do the words we use shape our workplaces and societies? In our latest IABC EMENA Podcast episode, Dr. Claudia Gross shares her expertise on green words—language that fosters inclusion, collaboration, and positive action. If you're a communicator or leader looking to refine your messaging and make language more impactful, this episode is for you.

The IABC EMENA Podcast enters an exciting new chapter! In this special handover episode, longtime host Monique Zytnik passes the mic to the new host, Chared Verschuur. Tune in to hear: ✅ Chared’s inspiring journey from journalism in the Philippines to inclusive leadership & communication consultancy in Europe. ✅ Her insights on belonging at work, featuring the ACES framework (Authenticity, Care, Empowerment, Support). ✅ Monique’s reflections on her years as host, her proudest moments, and behind-the-scenes podcasting stories. ✅ Chared’s vision for the future of the podcast: amplifying underrepresented voices, tackling rapid change, and unlocking fresh ideas. This episode is packed with inspiration, insights, and exciting plans for the podcast’s next chapter. Don’t miss it! 🌐 Learn more about IABC EMENA: https://iabcemena.com/ 💡 Share your guest suggestions or feedback: chared@goodcomms.nl

Find out what is important in building a strong global communication team with Christopher Wade. In this podcast hosted by Monique Zytnik, we delve into how his team works and what is important for a team to be successful. Christopher Wade is the VP of Internal & Employee Engagement Communications at Fresenius Medical Care. He is a bilingual, C-suite comms professional with 20+ years' experience in delivering measurable results at embedding company culture and strategy in Fortune 500 companies - contributing to a positive reputation and securing long-term relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

Dialing in from New York City, our next guest is Pinaki Kathiari, a podcast host and CEO of Local Wisdom, a digital communication agency. With a focus on internal communication and technology, this is a great conversation that will inspire you. Pinaki is a fellow IABC member and is currently the Vice President of Professional Development for the IABC New York Tristate Area Chapter.

Welcome to the International Association of Business Communicators EMENA region podcast, this is Gary Hernandez. I am a long-time IABC member, an ABC, and a Director on the EMENA Region board. It is my pleasure to host today’s podcast with special guests Rachel Miller and Monique Zytnik! Rachel and Monique have both recently published new books which focus on Internal Communications: - Rachel Miller: Internal Communication Strategy: Design, Develop and Transform Your Organization Communication - Monique Zytnik: Internal Communication in the Age of Artificial Intelligence We thought it would be great not only to take a look at these books, but also to discuss with Rachel and Monique the state of internal communication today. We hope you enjoy the show!

With four communication experts from four countries, this episode looks at hot topics globally and what Lisa Riemers, Michael Nord and Adrian Cropley will present on at the IABC World Conference in Chicago 2024. Lisa is dialing in from London today and is an accessible content, communications, and digital workplace specialist. She is on the IABC EMENA UK&I chapter board. She has been selected to talk about communicating with impact: how to make your comms more accessible. Michael is a change and transformation communication specialist based in the Netherlands, is a key member on our IABC EMENA board and a long-term IABC member. His session is on mindfulness. Based in Melbourne, Australia, Adrian is the Founding Partner of the Centre for Strategic Communication Excellence and is focused on helping leaders and organisations communicate purposefully. He will be running a dialogue den with Bonnie Caver on: Ethics, Governance, and Responsible Use of AI in a Changing World, where they will discuss AI and responsible use. He is an APAC member and past IABC Chair. Hosted by Monique Zytnik, we hope you enjoy the show. 1) Register for the IABC World Conference; https://wc.iabc.com 2)Register for the UK&Ireland chapter webinar Lisa mentioned: Fact or fake? Verifying content in the age of AI https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/fact-or-fake-verifying-content-in-the-age-of-ai-tickets-887040711647 3) Find out more about IABC EMENA: https://iabcemena.com. Consider joining us WE welcome new members.

In today's episode host Monique Zytnik speaks with Simon Lancaster, who shares his secrets on speechwriting and what it is like to do a TEDx talk. Simon is based in London and became a speechwriter working for Tony Blair’s Cabinet in the 1990s. Since then he has written speeches for CEOs of some of the biggest global companies including Unliever, HSBC and InterContinental Hotels Group. Additionally, in the last years, his books have won awards and he has kept himself busy lecturing at Henley Business School and Cambridge University on creative writing. We hope you enjoy the show. Find out more about IABC EMENA at https://iabcemena.com. Reach out to Simon and Monique on LinkedIn. Thank you to our podcast editor Michael Kümritz. www.linkedin.com/in/simon-lancaster-speechwriter www.linkedin.com/in/moniquezytnik

Welcome to the International Association of Business Communicators EMENA region podcast hosted by Monique Zytnik. Based in the Manchester area of the UK, Advita Patel is the Director of CommsRebel who helps organisations build a culture that thrives. Advita recently published her book, which she co-authored with Priya Bates. Called: Building a Culture of Inclusivity, it helps Internal Communication professionals, HR and business leaders engage employees in driving culture change to ensure everyone feels valued and like they belong. Today we’re lucky to also be joined by Priya Bates, who is joining us from her office in Ontario, Canada. She is the president of Inner Strength Communication, IABC Fellow and also a huge influencer in the internal communication space.

Join us for a discussion with IABC International Executive Board member Katie Macaulay. Katie is a leading voice in communications. She is managing director of AB, the world’s first specialist employee communication agency, founded in 1964, and host of The Internal Comms Podcast. Katie sits on the Board of the International Association of Business Communicators and is a guest lecturer at Cranfield Management School. Katie was named ‘Change Maker’ by the Institute of Internal Communication. In all, her career in corporate, employee and change communications spans more than three decades.\ Don't forget to sign up or renew your IABC membership! Thank you to our editor Michael Kümritz, and John Philips. Subscribe to Katie's Friday Update: www.abcomm.co.uk/Friday 12 episodes for 12 IC challenges:  www.linkedin.com/pulse/internal-comms-podcast-12-challenges-conversations-katie-macaulay/ Katie's LinkedIn profile: www.linkedin.com/in/katie-macaulay-2b80b88/ Monique's LinkedIn profile: https:/www.linkedin.com/in/moniquezytnik Wishing you a happy festive season!

You know when you meet someone and you just have a great vibe? After a short conversation, you’ve already worked out if you would or wouldn’t like working with them. You feel that they get you, or they won’t. Well, this is our topic in today’s episode. Ben Wickham is a fellow communications person, storyteller and specialist in organiszational behaviour and team dynamics from Utrecht in the Netherlands.

Every profession needs to be founded on research. If it is research, understanding and debate on art, mathematics or science, discussion is essential for airing of opinions and challenging ideas. In this episode Mike Klein and Dr Kevin Ruck debate the latest internal communication research. Dr Kevin Ruck is the co-founder of PR Academy which is the largest Chartered Institute of Public Relations accredited teaching centre. Not only is he is the editor and co-author of the leading text book, Exploring Internal Communication but he has also written numerous academic journal articles and chapters, AND is a member of the editorial advisory board of the Journal of Communication Management. Not one to rest on his laurels, Kevin has just completed another book, co-authored with Mike Pounsford and Howard Krais, called ‘Leading the Listening Organisation: Creating organisations that flourish’. This will be released by Routledge in 2024. Kevin is based in London. Mike Klein is an internal and social communication consultant based in Iceland, but as many of our globe trotting members, he has lived and worked in many countries including Belgium, Denmark, Germany, The Netherlands and the US. I’m sure we’ll all agree that Mike’s super power is super-connecting - identifying people whom he thinks are worth introducing to each other, and then introducing them to each other. Mike is the founder of #WeLeadComms, and a prolific writer and speaker. If you are interested in being a part of our IABC EMENA Region community visit iabcemena.com for more information or reach out to us on LinkedIn. Thank you to our podcast editor Michael Kümritz and all of our IABC EMENA region members for your continued support.

Today's guest is Gloria Walker, who is not only a professor of practice at Hult International Business School and Associate Lecturer at London College of Communication, but she is also a Strategic Communications Consultant and owner of her own business. Gloria has that glorious position of one foot in academia and teaching and the other in the practicalities of clients, business and real-world work. Gloria has been our IABC EMENA treasurer for a number of years and not only does she have so much industry context, but she has a great understanding of our association.

Bold new frontiers for communication or digital hype? Our panel discussion brings to the fore what many of us have been thinking. With so much noise and so little time, what do we really need to know right now in our digital realm? Is social media done? Is AI friend or foe? What is the real tech baseline minus the fanfare for comms? Through an engaging expert panel session hosted by IABC EMENA's region, we'll unpack these questions, help you make sense of the present, and give you confidence stepping into the future of our communication profession. Catalina Gardescu: Incoming Director of Marketing, Communication and Admissions, Copenhagen International School Stephanie Pilon: Vice President Digital Marketing & Managing Director, The Adecco Group Phil Riggins: Founder and CEO, The Brand & Reputation Collective Monique Zytnik: Regional Lead DACH, Open Communication Group This event was part of the IABC EMENA Region's successful City Connect Series, following events in Barcelona, London, Amsterdam , Krakow and Lisbon. Learn more about IABC EMENA: https://iabcemena.com

With artificial intelligence leaping ahead in content production and all areas of communications, join us as we talk with marketing and public relations agency leaders Jasna Suhadolc and Ana Margarida Ximenes about what is changing right now and the opportunities that lie ahead. Jansna Suhadolc is from Slovenia and is a seasoned digital marketing expert, working with companies from all over the world. Her digital marketing agency is called Actuado and is a HubSpot Platinum Solutions partner. Jasna has a passion for new technologies and shares her knowledge as a guest professor, keynote speaker, and workshop facilitator. She has been an IABC member for over two decades and serves as the IABC Slovenia president, a long-time member of the Management Board of IABC EMENA, and is currently a PAC (Program Advisory Committee) member for the IABC World Conference in Toronto. Ana Magarida Ximenes is based on the other side of Europe, in Portugal and is president of Atreviva in Portugal, who are a global communication consultancy with offices in countries such as Spain, Brussels and the other side of the water in Brazil, Colombia and Chile to name a few. Ana is the IABC EMENA past chair and a member and Country Chapter Lead for Portugal of the European Association of Communication Directors. Ana has a background in journalism and helps clients with crisis communication, reputation and change management. Thank you to our podcast editor Michael Kümerz and all of our IABC EMENA members.

Want to know the latest on digital employee communication and digital workspaces? Tune in to our latest episode with Kurt Kragh Sørensen from IntraTeam in Denmark and Pete Johns from Swoop in the UK, with special guest DJ Bob, as they discuss the latest in developments and why measurement matters. DEX Benchmark (intranet, collaboration and ESN) https://intrateam.com/dex_benchmark_intranet_digital_workplace_esn Peer-to-Peer Networking groups https://intrateam.com/networking-groups Swoop analytics benchmarking report for Viva Engage (Yammer) https://www.swoopanalytics.com/yammer-bm-2022-23

Today’s guest is Adam Currie who is based in our Middle East region. He is a communicator with an impressive array of roles behind him. From copywriting for investment magazines in Canada to African leadership publications and then moving onto comms, Adam is now focused on safety communications for the world’s largest energy company. Like what you heard? Register for Adam's webinar on 8 March 2023 by going to our website at iabcemena.com. Drop us an email or share your thoughts on social. Thank you to our IABC EMENA board, members and also our podcast editor Michael Kümritz