Episode 30: The Path to CCO

Welcome to the Communications Business Advisor™ podcast with host Tara McDonagh. In this episode, Tara kicks off a new season by tackling one of the most pressing questions for senior communications professionals: what does a clear career path look like in a field that often feels misunderstood, oversimplified, and muddy?

The Reality of Q4 for Comms Teams
Tara opens with a candid look at the fall and winter season—when benefit enrollments, IT security pushes, engagement surveys, and town halls collide with corporate restructuring, financial reporting, and external events. It’s a whirlwind that leaves communications leaders carrying the weight of competing priorities while fighting to remind colleagues of the real purpose of the function: advancing business goals and protecting company reputation. It can feel impossible to think of something as long-term as career path advocacy when it’s so busy all the time. 

Why Career Pathing Feels Elusive
Communications pros - especially around that director level - often find themselves forging their own paths. Tara highlights the isolation many feel when they’re the highest-level communicator in their organization, expected to act as both strategic advisor and often, execution arm too. She acknowledges the frustration of being underestimated, but reminds listeners that communicators consistently shine when given even a crack in the door to demonstrate their value.

The Path to the CCO (and Beyond)
This season, Tara is launching a series of conversations with Chief Communications Officers and SVPs in our field across industries. They’ll share the skills, experiences, and hard truths that shaped their journeys. Listeners will hear what it’s like in the CCo seat, the skills required to get there, and help communicators chart a more visible career path in communications leadership … as we normalize the CCO position everywhere. 

Visit taramcdonagh.com to learn more about working with Tara or sign up for her newsletter, Level Up: Be Extra.

This episode is sponsored by Raise the Tide™, a program designed for women in communications in corporate, healthcare, and higher education—helping them advance their careers through mentorship, professional development, and community.

Tara is hosting a Raise the Tide Open House on Sept 19. Click here to pre-register.

If you found this episode valuable, please rate and review—it helps elevate our field and ensures more communicators have a voice at the table.