2019 Page Up Annual Conference

Opening remarks for the Page Up Annual Conference.

Marc Lesser, Author and CEO, ZBA Associates

Interest in mindfulness has surged in the business world over recent years, but why? Marc Lesser, one of the founders of the Search Inside Yourself mindfulness-based emotional intelligence program at Google, believes it is due in part to the strong correlation between success and creativity and the ability of employees to collaborate. In this keynote presentation, Marc will describe why mindfulness can be endlessly pragmatic and how it can help us solve everyday problems effectively while building a culture of trust, care, transparency, integrity, and accountability–all while achieving results for ourselves, our teams, and our organizations.

Kelly Born, Outgoing Program Officer, Hewlett Foundation | Incoming Executive Director, Cyber Policy Center at Stanford University

Robert Matney, Managing Director, New Knowledge

Moderated by: Kyle Dropp, Co-Founder and Chief Research Officer, Morning Consult

Propaganda and disinformation are as old as communications itself but new technologies now allow bad actors to spread falsities at an alarming rate, and at little cost. Deepfakes, troll farms, and armies of bots churn out false content, and the tactics keep changing, prompting communicators and organizations to try to keep pace. This panel will discuss efforts to detect and counter misinformation, and how we can address the related reputational concerns. 

Emily Horne, Vice President, Communications, The Brookings Institution

Elizabeth Jarvis-Shean, Vice President, Communications, DoorDash

Jason Miner, Executive Managing Director, Glover Park Group

Moderated by: Vidya Krishnamurthy, Director of Communications, The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation

Crisis communications has often been considered part of the standard experience set for communicators but with public confidence and faith in experts and institutions at an all-time low, and individuals becoming their own information curators, the ways in which we anticipate, plan for, and respond to crises are changing. In this panel discussion, we will focus on the new model of crisis communications—expecting the unexpected—as well as new methods of crisis response, exploring how organizations are fusing policy, public affairs, and communications in novel ways while crafting ongoing offensive and defensive strategies.

Roger Bolton, President, Page

Page president Roger Bolton will provide an overview of the key findings from Page’s new report, The CCO as Pacesetter, including the four dimensions of Communications leadership that are essential to enterprise transformation: Brand, culture, societal value creation, and commtech. To make the findings actionable, Roger will also describe the progression paths that chart a path forward for communicators. 

Please note that the break-out session to follow after lunch will allow participants to engage with these findings in more depth by discussing and exploring potential action steps for their own organization and teams.

Harsha Gangadharbatla, Associate Professor, University of Colorado Boulder

Steve Halsey, Principal & Managing Director, G+S Business Communications

As the forces of change continue to intensify, new skills will be required from all communicators, particularly at the leadership and CCO levels. But which capabilities and management systems will be needed and how should we build them in our organizations? 

In this interactive session, we will discuss Page’s approach to progressing the communications function and enterprise across four key paths, and focus on how we can map and lead change in our organizations. 

MaryCay Durrant, Gagen MacDonald

Companies have experienced strong results from employee engagement and directed energy but strong strategies and smart plans are required to harness organizational energy effectively. So how do you change an organization’s energy? In this highly hands-on, experiential breakout session, participants will better understand the factors that yield organizational energy and how they can steer that energy to make their company’s transformation successful.

How do we adapt for the future cultural diversity of our organizations?

Soon Mee Kim, Executive Vice President, Global Diversity & Inclusion Leader, Porter Novelli

As the world grows smaller and global teams and consumers become the norm, it’s essential to understand the impact of bias and recognize the nuances of intersectionality in diverse groups. Communications leaders have a unique opportunity to lead, counsel, and drive greater impact, inclusiveness, and innovation. 

Join Soon Mee Kim, Head of Diversity and Inclusion for Porter Novelli, in a candid dialogue about diversity, the impact of bias, and what communications leaders can do to drive the conversation and create change. This interactive session will explore best practices and the role of communications in achieving a more diverse, inclusive workplace.

Julie Shin Choi, Vice President and General Manager of Artificial Intelligence Products and Research Marketing, Intel

Ben Worthen, CEO, Message Lab

Moderated by: Harsha Gangadharbatla, Associate Professor, University of Colorado Boulder

In 2016, Northeastern University estimated that 2.5 exabytes of data were created each day. That’s the equivalent of 530 million songs; 250,000 Libraries of Congress; and 90 years of HD video. Now, experts estimate that by 2025, that daily data creation number will jump to 463 exabytes. As Page notes in its recent report, The CCO as Pacesetter, the rise of ‘CommTech’ is fueled in part by data proliferation. New tools and ways of working can help communicators sift through data effectively and reach stakeholders on an individual level. How will we measure ROI? And what role will automation, and eventually AI, play in content strategy, development, and distribution? This panel will discuss the potential evolution ahead for communications and communicators, bridging from the reality of today to the potential of tomorrow.

Karen Wickre

Most people hate having to “network” — but today it’s imperative to keep meeting people and stay in touch with them for new ideas and future opportunities. Long-time communications pro Karen Wickre helps us make an irritating chore into a daily habit that can be fun and rewarding.

Meet in the lobby at 5:50 pm. Bus will leave promptly at 6:00 pm

Network with old friends and new at the Bluxome Street Winery! We’ll start with a wine reception followed by a seated dinner. You can also receive a personalized poem from a typewriter poet, who will take a word, topic, or idea to craft a special poem for you.

Mark Welte

Start day two off with a guided 10-minute meditation. Whether you are a long-time meditator, new to the practice, or just curious, join us for a few centering moments at the start of the day. This session is on a first-come, first-serve basis, and is limited to 40 participants. 

9:30 am

Bob Safian, Founder, Flux Group | Former Editor in Chief, Fast Company

In today’s age of continual change, the old rules of business no longer apply. We are called upon to lead with purpose, unleash creativity, inspire change, and generate impact. But what approaches and actions will have tangible, lasting influence? 

In this keynote session, Bob Safian, the former editor-in-chief of Fast Company, will synthesize the topics being discussed throughout the conference and share his framework for navigating what he calls the “Age of Flux,” drawing on real-life stories of organizations and leaders who have found success amid the chaos. 

The sixth annual business meeting of the Page Up membership. During this meeting, attendees will learn about recent work, vote on governance issues and help to refine and guide the future direction of Page Up.

Lindsey O’Neill, AVP & Chief of Staff, USAA

Daniel Sullivan, Media Relations Director, North America, Cargill

Erik Wohlgemuth, COO, Future 500

Moderated by Destin Singleton, Emic Communications

From the Business Roundtable’s recent statement on the purpose of a corporation to conversations about “conscious capitalism,” shared value– a management strategy in which companies maximize the competitive value of solving social  problems– is growing in the corporate arena. This panel will share their experiences with organizational shared value and discuss the “currency” it has brought to their teams and businesses.

Andrew Blotky, Founder & CEO, Azure Leadership Group

Megan DiSciullo, Managing Director | US and Mexico External Communications Leader, PwC

Rachel Setton, Manager, Employee Engagement and CR Communications, Chevron 

Moderated by Ethan McCarty, CEO, Integral Communications Group

When we discuss the future of work, are we talking about the future of work, the future of labor, or the future of society as a whole? Turns out, all three. As labor markets shift, technology advances, and workers adapt, what expectations will consumers, stakeholders, and employees have and what role will communicators play in these changes? This panel will explore the critical questions related to our future of work.

Casual buffet luncheon.