This year’s Senior Leader Series at ComNet25 is a response to where many of us find ourselves right now—navigating uncertainty, balancing risk, and needing to lead with both courage and clarity.
These sessions will take place on Thursday October 16th and Friday October 17th and will be focused around the idea of how senior comms executives can “Meet The Moment.” Due to substantial interest and limited capacity, please limit yourself to no more than 2 Senior Leader Sessions.
Each session will center on a key leadership theme, drawing on the wisdom of the folks in the room. The Senior Leaders Series will create intimate, peer-led spaces for reflection, support, and action — and will be spearheaded and facilitated by The Communications Network Board.
These sessions are meant for Chief Communications Officers and/or those who lead their foundation's or nonprofit's communications strategy.
Advanced signup required. These sessions will be reservation only, on a first-come, first-served basis.
Thursday, October 16th
(11:15am-12:20pm MT)
Leading Through Risk and Uncertainty
Discussion facilitated by Anusha Alikhan of Wikimedia Foundation, Bryan Simmons of Arcus Foundation, Roben Smolar of Schusterman Family Philanthropies, and Stefan Lanfer of Barr Foundation
Topics include:
Communications plays a critical role in managing organizational risk. Yet, communications can’t (and usually shouldn’t!) try solving for it on its own. How communicators facilitate and lead toward sensemaking, strategy, and action.
How to give colleagues guidance about what and how and when to communicate when they want to know the organization’s risk tolerance, and what “true north” is.
Explore how communications leaders navigate their complex role at the nexus of leadership, legal, and program teams.
Consider the challenges and opportunities in making strategic recommendations and decisions with nuance and dexterity.
Discuss how leading comms in these uncertain times, often without evidence, data, or foresight adds additional complexity for communications leaders.
Advanced signup required
(1:45pm-2:50pm MT)
Courage, Vulnerability & Resilience
Discussion facilitated by Allyn Brooks-LaSure of Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Julia Layman of Hilton Foundation, and Krista Jahnke of Kresge Foundation
Topics include:
Communications leaders are often the moral compass of their orgs, navigating the gap between internal values and external messaging (all shaped by leadership dynamics, board culture, and personal risk tolerance).
Explore what it means to show up rooted in your values, within your team, and across your organization. How do we build the muscle for bold, values-driven leadership?
Discuss the difference between resilience and complacency — how do you stay resilient in your courage without becoming complacent with the way things are (without jeopardizing your position)?
Advanced signup required
(3:45pm-4:50pm MT)
Creating Collective Impact
Discussion Facilitated by Kristen Mack of MacArthur Foundation and Vidya Krishnamurthy of Hewlett Foundation
Topics Include:
One of the goals of this network, and this conference, is to foster community. In these uncertain times, backing each other up can create strength and momentum.
Explore how to build coalitions that move together with clarity and purpose, especially when navigating tension, pushback, or friction.
Discover ways to support colleagues who are on the frontlines of risk-taking—whether that’s providing cover, lifting up their work, or quietly creating space for them to lead.
Discuss how to foster connection across functions, teams, and institutions to turn courage into collective action—and how to sustain yourself and others in the process.
Advanced signup required
(3:45-4:50pm)
Corner-Conference Room AI: Agents for Fast Alignment & Long-Game Clarity
Discussion facilitated by Daphne Davis Moore of Moore Strategies and Brett Horvath of empire
Topics Include:
Designing AI “agents” as super-briefed stand-ins for real stakeholders (Comms, Legal, Ops, HR, CEO, Board, partners) that help you work smarter and faster—while keeping decisions human-led.
Turning missions, KPIs, incentives, and constraints into credible agent briefs that generate a one-page “Do Now / Decide Next / Watch-outs” plan in minutes building rapid alignment and reducing ego battles.
Running best/worst/most-likely “what if” reps to surface blind spots, second-order effects, and tripwires—and identify must-have partners and early-warning signals.
Advanced signup required
Friday, October 17th
(10:15am-11:20am MT)
How to Stay in the Ring and Protect Your Values
Discussion facilitated by Trabian Shorters of BMe Community
Topics include:
For the last year, many comms for good organizations have felt like they are under attack. Like a boxer, many find themselves caught off guard and up against the ropes or taking cover.
Standing up for what’s right means you can’t stay in the corner. Learn more about how to move forward and what you can, and should, do after you find yourself on the defensive.
Explore how to bring others along to your position and/or why finding folks to line up with (or behind) can be just as powerful.
Advanced signup required