Pilar Schenk

I was recently interviewed by Raconteur on why CEOs need to know how to speak to the press. I advise that executives should respond naturally in written Q&As, more akin to how they would actually speak, to avoid coming across as contrived - and this is where PR professionals can be a help or a hindrance. I also highlight the fine balance C-Suite professionals should try and strike when engaging in verbal interviews, “being human while staying on-message” but “not letting it stray into over-familiarity and too far away from what you are there to actually talk about.” This is something myself and the team at O'Hear & Co work really hard on when supporting startup founders and C-Suite or other spokespeople. Leaning on my ex-TechCrunch experience, I also share tips on the best way for journalists to gain access to busy executives, such as considering whether a quick quote is needed, or a genuine dialogue to inform a long-form article. The piece also features comment from our client Cleo. Thanks for the interview and such an informative article, Rohan Banerjee! Check it out here: https://lnkd.in/eVnKT5zV

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Here’s No. 3 of the 10 best practices I've learned over 10 years building and leading #ABM programs. (Ten years have flown by because #ilovemyjob!) Create a program structure and process that constantly reinforces the importance of the message. Technology should enable your program, but not define it. Know your customer--what are their business objectives and what hurdles do they need to overcome to achieve them. Clearly identify how your company can help the customer achieve those objectives and overcome those hurdles. Focus on the message. Develop a UNIQUE value proposition. Create unique content. Then package/deliver that content in a way that its interesting, applicable and drives action by the target audience. Tools like #Draup, #6Sense, #SFDC, #Marketo, #Postal and #Folloze are excellent at informing, actioning, and making your content look beautiful. But they can’t make any impact if you start with a weak or irrelevant message. PS. Partner with a great ABM agency like #Hut3 to create your message! #accountbasedmarketing #contentisking

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Is your succession plan more guesswork than strategy? Discover the secrets of skill-based approaches for future leaders in our latest guide by Jerome Rekart. Transform your talent pool into a powerhouse ready for any challenge. Say goodbye to old methods and embrace skills-based succession planning for success > https://okt.to/jdramV #SuccessionPlanning #TalentDevelopment #Growthspace

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Hayete Gallot's breadth of knowledge across our solution areas is second to none. However, what I admire most is her disciplined and pragmatic approach to continuous learning.   As CVP of Commercial Solution Areas, her discipline is complimented by her curiosity and passion, and she's a pro at protecting her time. From building white space into her calendar to regular partner and customer visits, Hayete shared her system for staying on top of the latest innovations during a recent SMC+DS Women in Leadership discussion. She exemplifies the growth mindset, and I loved her expert advice!   How do you incorporate continuous learning into your busy schedule? Share your strategies for personal and professional growth. 👇   #WomenInLeadership #GrowthMindset 

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In complex multi- year transformation at scale, alignment to decisions across senior executives is critical. However, the processes to achieve alignment can burden (aka burnout) the team and seriously slow decision making. Building trust is a key component to success. Trust allows space for quicker decisions driven by intuition + experience + just enough data. The quote below from the article is something I’ve witnessed countless times resulting significant impacts. In my field, I’d expand the scope of this article to building cross functional trust between executives and their leaders, to trust each others instincts. “In the face of information overload, mounting risks and uncertainty, and intense pressures to make the right decisions, there is often debilitating evidence that delays our decision making. We put the choice off, rather than deciding. Trusting your gut allows leaders the freedom to move forward.”

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When an executive starts a new role, missing a key stakeholder or selecting the wrong colleagues to form early relationships with can jeopardize performance. Use Gartner's framework to form connections and build relationships to make an immediate impact. #Executive #Leadership #Transition #NewRole #Success

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CSCOs continue to struggle to balance agility, efficiency, risk and cost within their supply chains. Gartner VP Analyst Michael Dominy shares how CSCOs can work through this common pain point. Check out even more highlights from Gartner Supply Chain Symposium/Xpo now: https://gtnr.it/sc2024p #GartnerSC #CSCO #SupplyChain

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This article from Harvard Business Review offers valuable insights into how top leaders cultivate and sustain their confidence. Confidence is a crucial element for any leader, and it's particularly vital for CEOs who are steering their organizations through both calm and turbulent times. Key takeaways include: ✅Embrace Vulnerability: True confidence comes from embracing vulnerability. CEOs who acknowledge their limitations and seek input from others build a culture of trust and continuous improvement. ✅Continuous Learning: Confident CEOs are lifelong learners. They stay curious, seek out new knowledge, and adapt to changing circumstances. This growth mindset not only strengthens their own capabilities but also inspires their teams. ✅Building Strong Relationships: Effective leaders invest in building strong, authentic relationships with their team, board members, and stakeholders. These relationships provide a support network and a source of diverse perspectives. ✅Clear Vision and Communication: Articulating a clear, compelling vision and consistently communicating it helps align and motivate the entire organization. Confidence in leadership is reinforced when everyone understands and believes in the direction they are headed. ✅Resilience and Adaptability: The ability to navigate setbacks and adapt to change is a hallmark of confident leadership. CEOs who demonstrate resilience inspire confidence in their ability to lead through any challenge. ✅Self-Care and Balance: Maintaining physical and mental well-being is essential. Confident leaders prioritize self-care and balance to stay focused and energized. Building confidence as a CEO is not about having all the answers, but about fostering an environment where continuous learning, collaboration, and resilience are at the forefront. This article is a great reminder that confident leadership is cultivated through intentional actions and a commitment to personal and organizational growth. Read the full article here: https://bit.ly/3VrzYHM #Leadership #CEO #Confidence #BusinessLeadership #ContinuousLearning

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Harris Poll: Business Leaders Strategize to Offset Risk The findings of the Building A Resilient America: The New Consensus for Action report illuminate the struggles leaders face as they navigate through economic instability, tech disruptions, and societal shifts. These challenges come with the task of marrying immediate pressures with long-term strategic ambitions with concerns about America's global position prompting 91% of business leaders to advocate for a concerted effort to bolster U.S. competitiveness in the global market. Concurrently, the research indicates a consensus for optimism and collective effort that transcends political boundaries. It uncovers a widespread desire for optimism and unity across the U.S., cutting through political divides with Americans calling for long-term leaders and forward-thinking approaches. Additionally, business leaders across various sectors share positive outlooks, believing that their businesses are strong, and that American competitiveness can be fortified through local investment, cross-sector cooperation, and a commitment to sustainable practices. Read more here ... https://lnkd.in/emmWYwQ9 Quantexa's Vishal Marria weighs in with some thoughts. #data #decisionintelligence #ai #Qalliancespowered

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Mentorship programs are one of the most effective DEI initiatives To establish a mentorship program, companies should define clear objectives for both the mentors and mentees and establish a program similar to a matchmaker based on goals, interests, and various other criteria to enhance the chances of a successful match. Mentorship can greatly enhance employee retention, engagement, and well-being, and yet it's underutilized! #mentorship #employeeretention #workculture

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Insight into how your predecessor performed helps new executives determine how easy or difficult their transition will be. Use it to shape your strategy and find success. #Leadership #NewToRole #Executive #ExecutiveLeadership

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People data presents a largely untapped resource that, if utilized correctly, can greatly improve business outcomes and employee satisfaction. Some of the common reasons that we see preventing organizations from implementing people analytics include its confinement within HR departments, lack of integration with other business metrics, and cultural resistance to data-driven management. A cultural and technical overhaul is what we need to foster data-centric cultures that not only appreciate but actively utilize people analytics. #peopleanalytics #data #EX

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Introducing Clari Forecast for Consumption – helping leaders drive predictability and accountability across complex revenue models. Predict and manage all consumption revenue in one place, uncovering next best steps, new opportunities, and use cases. You’ll also get customizable forecasting fit for the scale and complexity of your revenue cadence. Now, all members of your sales team can lean in and run revenue like a pro. Learn more about how you can recharge your revenue engine with AI here: https://bit.ly/3yb09dT 

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Great article from Sabina Nawaz in HBR on how executives can manage conflicts with their board. I think this is great advice for leaders who may be in contention with other executives or their CEO. As a CX leader who spent most of their career on the client side, I’ve seen and led through my fair share of company conflict. I wish I had Sabina’s advice shared here and some pointed questions that create partnership around a problem. From the article: Proactively naming these smoldering concerns helped extinguish potential conflict rather than fuel it. Yaniv further forwarded the tough conversations by asking, “What do we agree on?” “What do we disagree on?” “If we were successful in addressing this, who would stand to lose something? “What’s the last 10% you haven’t shared?” #customerexperience #ceo #conflict #board

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Discover how to empower your frontline workforce—watch the recording here!

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Thankful for the bountiful opportunity to learn, get inspired, and be a part of the OnBoarding Women community. Our collective business acumen, humanitarian hearts, and passion to empower and enable all through our areas of expertise was grounding. According to Deloitte’s “Women in the Boardroom: A Global Perspective” report, women hold only 23.3% of board seats globally, with even less representation as board chairs and CEOs. However, diverse boards perform better financially and have a competitive advantage. They also better represent the interests of various stakeholders, including employees, customers, and investors. This is why government initiatives such as quotas and disclosures matter. Countries with such initiatives have higher female board representation, with France leading the way. Cheers to all women leaders that are bold, daring, influential, and making a visionary statement at every table they are at. Let's continue to strive for gender diversity and empower all women to reach their full potential. #BoardDiversity #EmpoweredWomen #representationmatters Link to the full report: https://lnkd.in/d7devRws Madrona Venture Labs, PERKINS COIE FOUNDATION, Deloitte, Cascadia Capital Partners, SPENCER STUART LIMITED

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Juneteenth is a reminder of the importance of equity, inclusion, and belonging. Here are Forbes' top tips for corporate change and progress. #Juneteenth #Inclusion #Belonging

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We'd like to introduce you to Generation Enablement. 👋 They're not defined by their age or their titles, but by their outsized impact on go-to-market strategy, behaviors, and yes, results too. See how they drive strategic change across their organizations, and how you can too, in Seismic's latest study. 📖 https://bit.ly/4cSrnFI Learn more about #GenerationEnablement: https://bit.ly/3TPmdSp ​

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