COMMUNICATIONS BUSINESS
Advisor Podcast
Not invited to the table. Required at the table.
That’s my vision for this field. Join me.
Listen in for conversations on strategy, leadership, executive influence, and being a business advisor using the lens of communications to advise.
COMMUNICATIONS BUSINESS
ADVISOR
to,Podcast
Not invited to the table. Required at the table.
That’s my vision for this field. Join me.
Listen in for conversations on strategy, leadership, executive influence, and being a business advisor using the lens of communications to advise.
Latest Episode:
Episode 47: Authority. What this Season was Really about.
Episode 47: Authority. What this Season was Really about. In this season finale of the Communications Business Advisor podcast, Tara McDonagh reflects on the themes that shaped the season and what they ultimately revealed about authority in the communications field. What started as a conversation about authority evolved into something much deeper: the hidden dynamics keeping communications leaders stuck, the “helper trap” limiting advancement, and the difference between building a strategy and creating real organizational behavior change. In this episode, Tara explores: Why authority became the defining theme of the season The evolution from “No” → “Partner” → “Authority” as
Recent Episodes:
Episode 17: How to Work with Tara
Episode 17: How to Work with Tara Welcome to another episode of the Communications Business Advisor™ podcast with your host, Tara McDonagh. In this episode, Tara delves into the ways Communications leaders and their teams in Corporate environments work with her and her company, Tara McDonagh Communications (TMC). TMC Consulting Tara provides a glimpse into the consulting suite, focusing first on
Episode 16: I Have a Comms Strategy — Now What?
Episode 16: I Have a Comms Strategy — Now What? Welcome to another episode of the Communications Business Advisor™ podcast with your host, Tara McDonagh. This episode is all about taking that shiny new Communications Strategy off the shelf and turning it into something operational. You’ve finally crafted that amazing Communications Strategic Plan. Congratulations! What do you do next? Tara
Episode 15: Does Reporting Structure Matter?
Episode 15: Does Reporting Structure Matter? In this episode of the Communications Business Advisor™ podcast, Tara McDonagh explores the complexities of Communications (PR, Internal Comm. etc) reporting structures within organizations and answers the important question: Does it matter who Comms. reports to? . Dive into the debate about where communications should fit within a company’s hierarchy and the potential challenges and
Episode 14: From Communications Waitress to Business Advisor
Episode 14: From Communications Waitress to Business Advisor In this episode of the Communications Business Advisor™ podcast, host Tara McDonagh delves into the evolution of communications professionals from what she calls “communications waitressing” to becoming strategic communications business advisors. Tara takes listeners through the career journey—from starting with tactical tasks to eventually becoming proactive, strategic leaders within organizations. Listeners will hear Tara
Episode 13: All Things Internal Communications Strategy
Episode 13: All Things Internal Communications Strategy In this episode of The Communication Business Advisor Podcast, host Tara McDonagh discusses the challenges internal communicators face with Rachel Miller, founder of All Things IC, and author of Internal Communication Strategy. Listeners will hear Tara and Rachel discuss: Challenges in creating an internal communications strategy and maintaining its relevance. Confidence as a critical
Episode 12: The Shadow Communicator
Episode 12: The Shadow Communicator In this episode of the Communications Business Advisor Podcast, Tara McDonagh explores the concept of the “shadow communicator”—individuals hired within specific business areas to handle communications tasks independently of the central communications team. Listeners will hear about: The challenges these shadow communicators pose, such as undermining established communication efforts and spreading irrelevant messaging. How to prevent
Episode 11: HR and Marketing, We Need to Talk
Episode 11: HR and Marketing, we need to talk We’re wrapping the first season of the Communications Business Advisor Podcast! But not before we talk about HR and Marketing … and Comms too. The HR and Marketing departments can be powerful allies, AND they can also be kind of a nightmare to work with. Let’s break it down. In this
Episode 10: The Agency Impact in Corporate Communications
Episode 10: The Agency Impact in Corporate Communications “If we set up our structures to match what agencies look like, we lose something significant in our partnership, thinking, and actions. Most importantly, our field continues to lose the battle for treatment as a critical function, a critical business function, not a service area.” –Tara McDonagh People with an agency background
Episode 9: The Next Dirty “P” Word…Prioritizing
Episode 9: The Next Dirty “P” Word…Prioritizing “It became really clear what we could do and do well with the resources that we had, and those were limited resources. And I never stopped talking about what we could do with more.” –Jessica Onick The dirty word on this episode of the podcast is “prioritization.” Host, Tara McDonagh has invited Jessica
Episode 8: The First Dirty ‘P’ Word…Process
Episode 8: The First Dirty ‘P’ Word…Process Process––you’re not alone if that word makes you cringe. You may find processes stifling to your creativity or just generally something that’s a necessary evil. On this episode of the Communications Business Advisor podcast, Tara challenges the way we think about processes. It’s time to turn the dirty P word into something fun.
Tara McDonagh
Your Expert Advisor & Comms Strategist
I’ve spent nearly 30 years changing how the communications function is understood, engaged, and used at some of the world’s largest companies.
That’s what this work is built on.
When Communications is finally engaged at the level it deserves, the whole business benefits. I’ve seen the ripple effect firsthand, and it’s what I want for every Comms leader and team I work with.
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