Episode 31: The Path to CCO+ with Judy Rader

Welcome to the Communications Business Advisor™ podcast with host Tara McDonagh. In this episode, Tara sits down with Judy Rader, Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs and Chief Communications Officer at Constellation, the nation’s largest producer of clean energy. 

Judy shares what it takes to lead a 60-person corporate affairs function at a Fortune 200 company, why she holds both the CCO and SVP of Corporate Affairs titles, and how her team secured and maintains its critical seat at the executive table. 

For anyone aspiring to a leadership role in communications, this conversation is packed with actionable advice on building business acumen, developing your team, and proving your value as a strategic business advisor. In this podcast episode, Tara and Judy cover: 

• The rise of the Corporate Affairs Officer 
• What B2C Comms. can learn from B2B 
• The model for Communications and Corporate Affairs at Constellation 
• The team size, structure, reporting structure and approach to filling gaps needed in the team (hint: a review of the current structure and design is needed)
• The three critical skills required for a CCO (beyond knowing Comms). 
• Training and development approaches for advancing comms. as advisors 
• Navigating today’s changing environment as a Communications and Corporate Affairs leader 

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.

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.

Meet Judy Rader:

Judy Rader is the senior vice president of Corporate Affairs and chief communications officer, leading integrated marketing communications strategy, planning and execution for Constellation and managing the company’s brand and reputation.

She serves on the Constellation Executive Committee, which sets strategy and direction for the company.

Rader’s team of about 60 professionals has expertise across a wide range of corporate affairs disciplines, including:

• reputation and brand management, advertising, customer marketing, employee communications, media relations,
• public affairs and advocacy, issues/crisis management, digital/social media, community relations, charitable giving and
• foundation management. Under her leadership, the team is responsible for enhancing and protecting Constellation’s
• reputation with all internal and external stakeholders, strengthening Constellation’s brand awareness and favorability,
• fostering employee trust and engagement, and advancing the company’s policy and business objectives through
• compelling communications, marketing and community support.

As part of her role, she oversees Constellation’s philanthropic activities, including more than $18 million in annual company, employee and foundation giving and the volunteer efforts of the company’s nearly 14,000 employees. She also serves as executive director of the Constellation Energy Foundation.

A Fortune 200 company based in Baltimore, Md., Constellation is the nation’s largest producer of clean, emissions-free energy and a leading supplier of energy products and services. The publicly traded company produces about 10 percent of America’s clean energy, making it a leader in the clean energy transition.

Community Work

Rader is a member of the Board of Directors and chair of the marketing committee for the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center, and a member of the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements, PAC 7 Committee on Radiation Education, Risk Communication and Outreach.

Educational Background

Rader has a master’s degree in integrated marketing communications from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. She earned bachelor’s degrees in journalism and English from the University of Maryland.