Ben Trounson

Mixing Board

Invite-only community of communications and marketing leaders, elevating the business impact of the functions, sharing expertise, and providing mentorship.

Member

Daikin U.S. Corporation

VP, Head of Corporate Communications

Verizon

VP, Head of Global Communications, Verizon Business

Bristol Myers Squibb

VP, Head of International Corporate Affairs

Tata Consultancy Services

Head of Global Markets Corporate Communications

Head of North American Corporate Communications

Finn Partners

Partner, Technology Practice

Hill & Knowlton

SVP, Director of NYC Marketing Communications Practice

Ketchum

VP, Client Service Director

Taylor Global

Account Director

Kodora Communications

Media Manager

VP, Global Corporate Communications with 20+ years of experience leading corporate affairs across internal, external, executive, and crisis communications strategies. Deploying diverse global brand plans, thought leadership campaigns, employee culture and change initiatives, product GTMs, and partner programs for Verizon, Bristol Myers Squibb, and Tata Consultancy Services, among others. A team builder and mentor, and C-suite advisor, creating data-led strategies to transform business impact and drive enterprise collaboration, engagement, advocacy, reputation, and revenue.

Vice President of Communications, Verizon Business

Time with family is so important. I spent last week in England visiting my father on the coast of Cornwall near Land's End.  

We all work hard, but need to prioritize some time to make more memories. I enjoyed the basics. Walks across the beach cliffsides, board games, ancient pubs, Cornish pasties (yum), and lots of rain... 

But more than anything, just time talking with my father. I heard stories about his childhood and family history that I had never heard before... after all these years. You don't get these moments until you slow down and disconnect, even for a day or two. 

With Thanksgiving this week, I'm wishing all U.S. friends and colleagues a wonderful time with their families. Try finding some quality 1-1 time with your parents or grandparents and ask about their childhood. You might hear a few amazing stories for the first time, and be able to pass them on!

#family #history #storytelling

VP & Global Head of Corporate Communications | Reputation & Issues Management Expert | Former Verizon, National Grid, TCS | C-Suite Advisor | Driving Trusted Brands & Teams

I had a blast at the Axios Communicators Live NYC event last night. 

A few quick highlights from the main stage sessions:

1. Anthropic's Sasha de Marigny was refreshingly transparent: they’re not entirely “Claudifying” comms; they’re hiring an AI ops role to support strategic humans.

2. Ray Day, APR of Allison Worldwide noted two-thirds of comms leaders work with CEOs on major decisions. As a profession, we need to consistently add value and demonstrate business acumen and impact to increase these numbers! 

3. Meridith Webster of Estée Lauder stated that corporate narrative builds trust, and brand activations make them human. Strong comms blends both.

Cheers to Eleanor Hawkins and Hope King for hosting.  
 
Thanks to Amanda Coffee and Joanie Sanders for such a fun and packed comms happy hour before the Axios event.

And it was lovely to see so many friends and former colleagues: Daniel Méndez Aróstica, MBA, Daniel Nestle, Todd Grossman, Shauna Elkin, Abenaa (Abby) Hayes (she/her/hers), Brooke Kruger, Selena Strandberg, Ben Rose, Leah Katz, Ethan McCarty, Maril Gagen MacDonald.

December kicks off a week of communications events in NYC.

I enjoyed a fun session last night, meeting fellow comms pros and sharing POVs on a host of topics. Thank you Amanda Coffee, APCO NY and Ragan Communications and PR Daily for hosting.

This Wednesday, Edelman has the global launch of its latest Trust Barometer Flash Poll at 11 am EST (AI at an inflection point). 

And on Thursday, Axios is hosting its 4th annual Communicators Live event in NYC. A great line-up of speakers, comms leaders emerging as vital trusted advisors as companies face:
- Siloed audiences
- Political polarization
- Cultural complexities
- Workplace transformation
- And, yes, AI disruption

Looking forward to seeing many former colleagues and friends on Dec 4.

The Chief Communications Officer has become a strategic sense-maker, tasked with navigating a polycrisis of fused geopolitical, societal, and technological risk. 

This was one of several key points that jumped out in the Ipsos Reputation Council Report 2025. It's worth the read. Few other findings of note.

- With non-stop social fragmentation and issue cycles, business leaders are embracing strategic silence more often — not as avoidance, but as a deliberate act of prioritization and navigation of a pragmatic ESG era. 

- Today's communications leaders have been pushed far beyond functional expertise, helping organizations interpret fast-moving risks, look around corners, align internally, and act with clarity in moments that matter.

#communicationsleadership #strategiccommunications #crisiscommunications

The “17, 70, 0” rule just reframed my view of the jobs vs AI debate.

In the latest Trending Communicator episode, Daniel Nestle’s guest, Chris Gee, reminded us that our economy still runs on people (their work, income and participation). 

Chris cited the 17, 70, 0 rule:
17 → $17T in U.S. consumer spend
70 → 70% of U.S. GDP depends on it
0 → what AI will spend 

What does this mean? The US economy depends upon people having jobs and incomes to buy things. AI and agents won't be these "consumers" of goods.  

My take? We need significant coordination across industries, governments, academia, and NGOs to reskill and upskill at scale. 

Every major tech shift has displaced jobs and created new ones — but the speed and scale of displacement this time really raises the stakes and legit concerns.

And for those just entering the workforce, I feel for them. We owe the next generation more pathways to secure roles, learn and grow. 

Check out the episode (details in comments).

#strategiccommunications #AIincomms #futureofwork #AIjobs

Comms Futurist

• Help communications teams, agencies, and consultants navigate a rapidly evolving field, responsibly integrate AI & automation tools, and convey to teams the "why" behind AI

• Provide services in executive positioning and thought leadership to communications execs, agencies, and consultants.

Founder

CommsConsultants.com

Member Consultant

National Cathedral School

• Wrote and managed high-quality communications, marketing, and fundraising content for brochures, newsletters, articles, and social media platforms, engaging over 10,000 stakeholders monthly and ensuring a consistent brand identity

• Managed marketing and communications for fundraising campaigns and events, collaborating with the development team to help generate $3 million in annual gifts

• Collaborated with senior leadership to develop mission-driven narratives that advance strategic priorities and increase engagement across diverse audiences

• Directed the editorial strategy and production of magazines and annual reports, leading a team of contributors and vendors from ideation to distribution, engaging 7,500+ constituents per issue

• Led the redesign of a weekly e-newsletter, enhancing mobile UX and receiving acclaim from recipients; optimized the production process to improve efficiency and boost employee satisfaction

Assistant Director of Communications, Lead Writer, & Managing Editor

National WIC Association

• Developed COVID-19 crisis messaging toolkit, distributing critical information to 6 million WIC program participants

• Secured media placements in publications including The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Business Insider, positioning the organization as a thought leader in WIC policy and programming

• Managed two direct reports, leading a variety of communications, marketing, and event promotion projects

• Marketed and launched a COVID-19 response fund, raising $20,000 in individual donations to support continued operations

• Led a team of 30 communications professionals across public health organizations to plan and execute digital advocacy campaigns

Media Communications Manager

U.S. House of Representatives

• Crafted speeches, video scripts, press releases, and taking points for a Member, communicating policy positions to range of audiences

• Collaborated with aides, ensuring accuracy and clarity in communications

Press Fellow

Moran Consulting, Inc.

• Authored dozens of customer service case studies for training materials

• Wrote a customer service manual, simplifying protocols for a client serving more than 100,000 customers

Copywriter

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri

• Advised 2,000 prospective mentors on program expectations and processes

• Wrote and designed monthly staff newsletters, featuring agency updates and mentee achievements

• Researched and recommended businesses, organizations, and events for recruitment opportunities

Communications and Volunteer Recruitment Assistant

U.S. Department of Justice, The Office on Violence Against Women 

• Drafted section of a national grant solicitation form, articulating DOJ’s position on trauma-informed care

• Authored grant allocation reports for journalists, Members of Congress, interest groups, and voters, explaining fund distribution processes

• Wrote a comprehensive report on assault prevention strategies in university settings

Grants

Communications leaders, you’ve built brands, guided executives, and shaped major moments.

Yet too often, your impact is overlooked, your role misunderstood, and your potential untapped.

I help comms executives, consultants, and agency leaders step into the recognition they deserve — and future-proof their careers along the way.

Through personal brand positioning, AI education, and strategic coaching, I’ll help you:

• Clarify and communicate your value to the people who need to hear it

• Build a credible, visible presence online and offline — without oversharing or overselling

• Position yourself as a strategic advisor, not just a tactical executor

• Embrace the future of comms through responsible, practical AI integration

Whether you’re repositioning for your next role, growing your own business, or leading change from within, I’ll help you go from overlooked to in-demand.

→ Ready to tell your story, elevate your presence, and lead the future of comms? DM me.

Brand partnerships & speaking opportunities:
natalie@commsfuturist.com

Natalie Moran

I asked about your biggest internal comms challenges
66% said: reaching frontline workers
!! 📣 NEW Comms Futurist series !! Details ➡️

It makes perfect sense.

Internal comms is tough when the employee is "literally on top of a wind turbine" 😮

Frontline or “deskless” workers make up 80% of the global workforce across industries like manufacturing, retail, healthcare, construction, energy, hospitality, & agriculture. 

Most frontliners don’t have work computers.

Many don’t have cell service on the job. 

Throw in language barriers, information delays

And it’s no surprise that only 15% feel engaged at work.

That’s bad for frontline people, bad for comms people, & bad for business.


📣 So, in early 2026, I’m launching a new Comms Futurist event series on frontline connection & communication. 

What to expect:

-  Free internal comms events & resources on reaching & engaging the frontline, with insights from frontliners directly 

-  Frontline & internal comms tool demos 

-  Fundraising for orgs supporting frontline workers (recommendations welcome)

-  Story collection & celebration of frontliners & comms pros


I’m partnering with brands supporting frontliners in these categories:

🧠 mental & physical wellbeing

📻 radio communication

📱 intranet & mobile apps

📤 email & messaging

🏆 recognition, engagement, surveys, etc.

🖥️ digital signage

🌎 translation tech 

❓(what am I missing?)

I'm also seeking partners with large frontline workforces who care about this issue & want to show their support. 

You know… like Costco Wholesale, Lowe's Companies, Inc., FedEx, ALDI USA … if I had to name a few 😏


My brain is bursting with ideas.

Help me build buzz!!

💬 Share in the comments:

What do you think? Will you join me?!


Want the latest updates?
Join my newsletter: https://lnkd.in/eeDPB_Wq

To brands that want to support or participate: 
DM or email me: natalie@commsfuturist.com

P.S. Any ideas for the series title?




(Big shoutout to Karen for the wind turbine comment pictured below!!)

Events & Resources for Comms & PR Leaders | Founder of Comms Futurist | Learn About My LinkedIn Workshops at commsfuturist.com

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