Episode 34: The Path to CCO+ with Bianca Olson

Welcome to the Communications Business Advisor™ podcast with host Tara McDonagh. In this episode, Tara sits down with Bianca Olson, Chief Communications Officer at HMH (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)—a learning company focused on the K–12 market—where she reports directly to the CEO.

Bianca traces her path from agency PR during the dot-com era to leading a modern communications function inside a complex, mission-driven organization. She shares how she broadened from external PR to a full corporate scope (internal, external, CSR, and more), why relationship-building is the cornerstone of strategic influence, and how communicators can be seen and used as critical business advisors rather than “order takers.” The conversation digs into measurement (including the “invisible” wins), team design in different business models, and the future of the field amid polarization, AI, and shifting media.

In this podcast episode, Tara and Bianca cover:

• Career path: agency to in-house, and growing from specialist to enterprise-level leader
• Core skills of the craft: crisp writing, strategic storytelling, and making complex topics simple
• From tactics to strategy: building trust so partners seek counsel (not just press releases)
• Relationship-building that lasts: be likable without being an order taker; partner, don’t placate
• Learn the business: curiosity, cross-functional fluency, and asking the “obvious” questions
• Team building: hire experts, empower them, and lead without “knowing it all”
• Structure realities: why the “right” comms org depends on industry, regulation, team expertise and goals
• Measurement that matters: quality over volume, trendlines over time, and narrating risk avoided
• Budget/resource advocacy: use metrics and executive-friendly rationale to win support
• Future of comms: polarization, evolving earned/owned media, AI’s impact, and the “chief sense-maker” role
  Encouragement for rising leaders: stick with it—this work is impactful, rewarding, and growing in strategic importance
  
  

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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 Bianca Olson:

Chief Communications Officer

HMH

Bianca Olson is a seasoned communications and corporate affairs executive with deep experience driving strategic transformation and shaping identity. She brings a proven ability to lead through change, build trust across stakeholders, and craft compelling narratives that align purpose with performance.

As Senior Vice President and Chief Communication Officer at HMH, Bianca has been instrumental in guiding the company’s evolution—from a traditional publisher to a modern technology-driven organization—while leading communications and corporate affairs at the intersection of innovation, impact and growth. Her leadership has helped define HMH’s voice through major milestones including an IPO, multiple acquisitions, leadership transitions, and a private equity buyout, with a strong focus on change management and stakeholder alignment.

Over more than a decade at HMH, she has led external and internal communications and corporate social responsibility, helping the organization navigate complexity with clarity and confidence.

Bianca began her career on the agency side, where she advised Fortune 500 companies and mission-driven organizations on reputation management, media strategy, and stakeholder engagement. That experience honed her ability to manage high-stakes communications and laid the foundation for her thoughtful, high-impact leadership in-house.

She is known for her principled approach to sensitive issues, helping HMH communicate with authenticity in a polarized environment. Bianca has also championed thought leadership platforms that elevate executive voices and position the company as a forward-thinking force.

A trusted advisor to C-suite leaders and a collaborative partner across functions, Bianca brings a unique blend of strategic insight, operational rigor, and creative storytelling. She is passionate about aligning purpose with performance and believes in the power of communications to drive culture and earn trust.

Bianca is a graduate of Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, and lives in Marblehead, Massachusetts with her husband and son.