As part of the Social Media Strategies Summit for Public Agencies and Government, we're highlighting the amazing speakers taking part in this two day virtual event. The event runs December 7 - 8 and features a wide-range of compelling sessions.
What is your session for SMSS called?
How to Operate at Maximum Output with a Small Team
Without giving too much away about your session, what do you hope to cover that is of benefit to attendees of the SMSS?
I think the goal of the session will be to discuss best practices, tips and tools to optimize your time and get things done, even when you have a tiny team.
Tell us a little about what you do and how you got there
I’m the Communications Manager at the United Nations Global Compact, the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative. A big part of my job is to manage the organization’s social media accounts (close to half a million followers across platforms) and make sure to create a steady flow of quality content about the work we do, how we help make this world better, etc. I’ve worked at the UN for close to eight years, in various communications roles. My background is in journalism. Working for the UN was always a dream of mine.
What do you love about your job?
I love that every day is different and always includes something creative, from writing copy to brainstorming creative ideas about a project, editing videos, and catching up on the latest social media trends. It’s also very collaborative. I constantly meet with different teams in my office to help find creative ways of promoting the work they do.
What’s the hardest thing about your job?
The hardest thing is to make enough time to sit down and think about strategy and creative ways to do things. A lot of our job is about putting out fires, and it takes discipline to carve out time just to brainstorm, come up with new ideas, etc.
What are some of the more memorable events you’ve had to deal with in your role and what lessons did you learn?
I’ve been very privileged to travel the world with my job to cover different events on social media. One thing I’ve learned is that social media is so unpredictable, and that you can never fully master the different platforms.
What is it about communications, media or crisis comms that interests you so much?
I love having a role in being the voice of my organization, working with brand guidelines, having a consistent tone, knowing what content to post or not. I also love writing and being able to do that daily, even if it’s a short format for social media.
Can you give one piece of advice for those who want to start a career in Government communications?
My advice would be to do your homework and see how different agencies are doing it. Start with social media and study their content, their tone, etc. I think it’s always important to see what’s being done out there to inform your work.
What are your favorite tools you use to do your job more effectively?
I don’t use a ton of tools, but Grammarly is definitely a great tool to check your copy, make sure you don’t have any typos, etc.
What would you say to anyone in a leadership role about having a PIO or comms professional who might not have one?
I would tell them that communications can no longer be an afterthought. A communications professional is absolutely crucial in a team. If you don’t communicate about your work, it’s like you’re not doing any work.
Are there any books, podcasts, websites or any other resources you would recommend for the comms pro?
I always carry a copy of the Associated Press Stylebook.
Take a look at the amazing agenda for the Social Media Strategies Summit for Public Agencies and Government
Keep Reading
.png)