Always On

Epizodes

• Tapestry CCO Jennifer Leemann on Weaving the Narrative in the Age of AI 01.05.2026 34min

  What does it take to lead communications at one of fashion's most iconic houses? Jen Leemann, SVP Global Head of Communications, Inclusion and Social Impact at Tapestry, joins Shahar Silbershatz to explore how the CCO role is evolving — from AI's dual impact on brand, reputation and internal workflows, to why transparency is a company's greatest protection, and why the fundamentals of great storytelling matter more than ever in an age of constant disruption. If you've ever had to argue for a ...
• Stephanie Roberts on Cross-Cultural Comms within the Hitachi Group 13.02.2026 34min

  Host Shahar Silbershatz sits down with Stephanie Roberts, Chief Communications Officer at Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems, to discuss what it takes to lead communications in one of the world's most complex business environments. Speaking from Tokyo, Stephanie shares her remarkable journey from a 7,000-person farm town in the U.S. to the helm of communications for a global manufacturing conglomerate. With over 20,000 LinkedIn followers and a career spanning civil engineering, legal, comme...
• Data, AI and Human Connection 22.07.2025 29min

  In a world of increasing complexity, building trust across cultures has never been more challenging — or essential. In an episode that originally appeared on the Page Society’s podcast — The New CCO — Shahar Silbershatz and Axel Löber share insights on how global CCOs can navigate cultural nuances, leverage AI and data, and foster authentic stakeholder connections. Listen to the conversation to hear how human connection remains at the heart of effective communication, to help build trust with...
• Booking Holdings' Leslie Cafferty on Why Comms is a Two-Way Street 08.07.2025 40min

  In the Season 2 finale, Leslie Cafferty, Chief Communications Officer at Booking Holdings, shares how her team leads communications across brands like Booking.com, OpenTable, and KAYAK in a world that’s always on — and always shifting. From experimenting with AI tools to navigating public backlash during the pandemic, Leslie explains why today’s communications landscape requires constant iteration, cross-functional collaboration, and — above all — listening. She reflects on building internal ...
• Becca Chambers on the End of ‘Shapes and Colors’ Comms 24.06.2025 40min

  Shahar sits down with Becca Chambers—aka “Becca from LinkedIn”—a communications powerhouse with over 80 million views on the platform and CMO at Scale Venture Partners. Becca shares how she rose from a spontaneous start in comms—via a rogue wave—to becoming a leading voice in data-driven communications. With deep experience across cybersecurity, VC, and brand strategy, Becca explains why comms pros need to shed the “shapes and colors” stereotype and start proving their business impact with sm...
• DSV's Pia Stoklund on How Data Builds Trust and Creates Headspace 11.06.2025 38min

  In episode four, host Shahar Silbershatz sits down with Pia Stoklund, the Global Head of Corporate Marketing and Communication at logistics powerhouse DSV. Fresh off DSV’s massive acquisition of Schenker — doubling its workforce to 160,000 — Pia reflects on her 25-year journey through corporate communications and marketing, and how data has become a strategic cornerstone of her work. From her early days in finance to her current role at a global logistics giant, Pia shares how data-driven ins...
• IKEA's Belén Frau on Building Brand Trust From the Inside Out 28.05.2025 42min

  In this inspiring episode of Always On, host Shahar Silbershatz sits down with Belén Frau, Chief Communication Officer of Ingka Group — the largest IKEA franchisee — to explore how one of the world’s most beloved brands uses purpose, insights, and data to stay deeply connected with customers, coworkers, and society. Belén shares her journey from finance and retail operations to leading global communications, and explains how IKEA’s obsession with understanding life at home — through data, dia...
• Recruiter Michael Patino on Turnover and Talent Gaps in Corporate Comms 22.05.2025 43min

  In this bonus episode, Shahar Silbershatz is joined by executive search veteran Michael Patino, founder of Patino Associates, to unpack their latest Global CCO Turnover Study. From turnover trends to succession planning gaps, Mike offers a candid, data-backed view of the evolving corporate communications landscape — and what companies (and aspiring leaders) must do to keep pace. Drawing on over 25 years in executive search and talent advisory, Mike shares eye-opening stats, regional compariso...
• GEA's Jill Meiburg on the Power of Purpose-Led Comms 30.04.2025 38min

  In episode two of the new season, Shahar Silbershatz speaks with Jill Meiburg, Head of Group Communications and Brand at GEA Group, one of the world’s leading technology suppliers for the food, beverage, and pharma industries. Based in Düsseldorf but global in scope, Jill shares what it means to lead with purpose, navigate complexity, and prove the impact of communications in a data-driven, always-on world. From building a custom impact score across 20+ KPIs to storytelling about cows that ou...
• Microsoft's Frank X. Shaw on Trust and Transparency in Tech 17.04.2025 45min

  We're back! Season 2 kicks off with one of the most respected voices in global communications: Frank X. Shaw, CCO at Microsoft. In this wide-ranging conversation, Frank discusses how a company as vast and complex as Microsoft manages trust, innovation, and influence in an increasingly fragmented and volatile world. He explains why doing nothing is sometimes the smartest move, how Microsoft navigates “permacrisis” with speed and precision, and why alignment between internal perception and exte...
• Hasbro's Roberta Thomson on Telling Powerful 'Toy Stories' 11.12.2024 42min

  Our final guest of the season is Roberta Thomson, Chief Communications Officer at Hasbro, the leading toy and games company. In a wide-ranging and entertaining finale, Roberta and Shahar discuss: why she switched career from accounting to financial PR ... and how her training made her a better communicatorthe most important lessons she learned working at Facebookwhy she views her role as being “behind the scenes” to help others “show up as their best selves”the evolving role of the CCOher ...
• Medtronic's Torod Neptune on Communications For the Win 03.12.2024 43min

  Torod Neptune is Medtronic’s Senior Vice President for Corporate Marketing and Chief Brand and Communications Officer. He and Shahar discuss: how Medtronic built a "best in class" team for identifying reputation risksthe crucial role of diversity in competing — and winning — in the marketplacewhy communicators need to go beyond simply securing a "seat at the table" and cement it for the next 25 yearsthe importance of establishing clear boundaries and prioritizing mental health in a demanding ...
• Chobani's Ex-CCO Ben Boyd on Lessons From an "Accidental Communicator" 19.11.2024 42min

  In this candid and compelling conversation, Ben Boyd, then the Chief Communications Officer at Chobani, shares how a purpose-led food company stays the course in a hyper-politicized world. From his unplanned journey into communications to building reputation resilience at brands like Lowe’s, Peloton, and now Chobani, Ben discusses the evolution of the CCO’s role in an “always on” landscape. He offers a behind-the-scenes look at how Chobani decides whether to speak out on hot-button issues, ho...
• ING's CCO Kim Larsen on How to Communicate Authentically 04.11.2024 45min

  "The world doesn't need more communication. It needs better communication." So says Kim Larsen, the head of global communications and brand experience at ING, a leading European bank. In this thought-provoking episode, Kim discusses the evolving nature of communications, the importance of purpose and strategy in a complex and noisy environment, and the role of data in informing decision-making. Kim argues that companies must be more resilient in the face of criticism and controversy — and ...
• ArcelorMittal's Ian Louden on How To Forge a Global Brand 22.10.2024 41min

  In episode two, host Shahar Silbershatz meets Ian Louden, the head of brand worldwide at ArcelorMittal, a leading steel and mining company. They discuss Ian's journey from graphic designer to brand consultant and ultimately into his current role at ArcelorMittal, where he's been for 16 years. Shahar and Ian talk about: ArcelorMittal's longstanding sponsorship of the Olympic Games — and why you won't see the company sponsoring other sportshow brand communications have evolved, highlighting t...
• Boehringer Ingelheim's CCO on How To Nail Your Rebrand 08.10.2024 41min

  Host Shahar Silbershatz meets Médard Schoenmaeckers, the Global Head of Corporate Affairs at Boehringer Ingelheim, a global pharmaceutical company. They discuss the evolving role of communications within a company, especially as organizations face increasing internal and external pressure; the importance of data-driven communication; the need for communicators to have strong business acumen; and how companies can use data to measure the impact of their communication efforts. Médard also pro...
• Introducing 'Always On' 03.10.2024 1min

  If it seems like the world’s in permanent crisis mode — well, that’s because it is. But what does all this mean for the world’s biggest companies? On Always On, host Shahar Silbershatz will search for the answers. He'll speak to experts in brand, marketing and communications to learn how they’re steering leading companies through our age of uncertainty. To stay current with corporate reputation trends and track perceptions of global companies and industries, visit groupcaliber.com.