Communications Business Advisor
The Communications Business Advisor Podcast addresses the misunderstood and oversimplified field of communications in the corporate world, and elevates the reputation of the field and the people in it as Critical Business Advisors, never order takers. Hosted by Tara McDonagh, a Corporate Communications expert with 25 years of experience for some of the biggest brands around, the Communications Business Advisor podcast is a place to share our vision for the field, discuss the challenges we face, and approaches to elevate our field and ourselves as critical advisors. Episode topics include everything from teaching executives how to treat us, to measurement that matters, building a business case for budget, and gender bias impacting our field and the people in it. Join Tara McDonagh in the movement to prove that our value as a business area is not only helpful, it’s imperative to a company's success. Find more at www.taramcdonagh.com or follow Tara on LinkedIn where she writes about Communications topics for our field five days a week at: www.linkedin.com/in/taramurraymcdonagh
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Episode 29: Raise the Tide – The Women Communications Leadership Community and More
05/19/2025
Episode 29: Raise the Tide – The Women Communications Leadership Community and More
Episode 29 of the Communications Business Advisor™ podcast with host, Tara McDonagh, dives into Raise the Tide™, a program for women leaders and emerging leaders in the communications field working in a corporate (or related) environment. Tara unpacks exactly what Raise the Tide™ is, why it was created, and how it works. Raise the Tide™ is a complete program for women in the Communications field that involves community, coaching, mentorship, counsel, and professional development specifically for women in corporate communications roles. Unlike other programs,, Raise the Tide™is created specifically for women in this field working in corporate and does not seek to change women, but rather creates space for them to grow. Built on Tara’s vast experience in communications and her academic study of gender differences, this program is uniquely equipped to address the challenges and celebrate the strengths of women communicators. Crew members are placed in small groups where they engage in monthly meetings, stay connected through active group messaging, and benefit from one-on-one coaching sessions for personalized goal setting and progress. From strategic mentorship matches to a curated retreat experience, Raise the Tide™ offers everything women need to advance their careers with confidence, clarity, and camaraderie. Visit to learn more and fill out the interest form. Many participants get company sponsorships for the program while others invest in the program themselves. Both options can lead to a highly rewarding and in some cases “life changing” experience (as stated by some women). If today’s insights resonated with you, please rate and review this episode—it helps spread the message and supports the growth of our profession.
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Episode 28: How Can You Even Plan Right Now?
05/05/2025
Episode 28: How Can You Even Plan Right Now?
Welcome to Episode 28 of the Communications Business Advisor™ podcast with Tara McDonagh. Today, Tara tackles a big question for communications leaders: how do you create a long-term plan in uncertain, volatile times like right now? She shares practical strategies to help Communications Leaders make it happen, even during chaos. Start from the (Ever-Changing) Business Strategy Tara explains how to align communications plans with business plans even as they evolve to adjust to the current environment. She shares how to identify key business goals and develop or adapt long-term communications plans, using examples like shifting from international to domestic growth or a new focus on acquisitions vs organic growth. Start with what’s certain—your organization’s core product and/or service remains. The “what” remains consistent, it's “how” that may change. Tara discusses how to pivot in these wild times with specific examples. From Overwhelm to Action Leading through uncertainty, balancing short-term demands (and commands), crisis issues and/or incident management, team management, and uphill advocacy are all massively taxing right now. Tara encourages leaders to seek help, whether through strategic planning partners, execution-focused support, or both. Instead of only considering the option of hiring extra hands, she highlights the value of working with experienced advisors who bring clarity and help implement impactful strategies as an option. Tara reframes seeking help as a smart investment in success. She urges Comms. leaders to rethink resourcing in alignment with today’s new commands. This episode is sponsored by ™, a program for women in communications focused on mentorship and leadership growth. For more insights, visit to sign up for the Level Up: Be Extra newsletter. Don’t forget to share this episode and leave a review—it helps spread the message and elevate the communications field. Until next time, keep advising, my friends!
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Episode 27: More in a Time of Less
04/21/2025
Episode 27: More in a Time of Less
Welcome to this week’s episode of the Communications Business Advisor™ podcast with Tara McDonagh. Today, Tara dives into one of the most critical challenges communication leaders face in uncertain times—advocating for more resources, influence, and investment when the natural reaction right now is to contract. If you’ve been questioning how to maintain your role as an advisor and resist slipping into order-taking in the face of budget cuts and chaos, this episode provides the insights and strategies you need to thrive. Escaping the Scarcity Mindset Tara invites listeners to reframe their thinking by stepping out of a scarcity mindset and moving toward abundance. Instead of retreating during times of uncertainty, she emphasizes the unique value that communications leaders bring—from managing reputations to creating calm within chaos. Tara highlights the critical role communications plays in business success, underscoring the function’s ability to protect and advance company reputation when it matters most. Making the Case for More Tara provides actionable advice on how to position Corporate Communications as a necessary investment rather than an area for cuts. From reading the room strategically to building strong internal relationships, Tara gives listeners the tools to make a compelling business case for why their team deserves more resources—even in difficult financial climates. This is about leadership, courage, and stepping into your role as a true strategic advisor. To take the next step, visit to sign up for Tara’s “Level Up: Be Extra” email series. This exclusive content dives deeper into the topics explored on the podcast and equips you with actionable insights for your career and team. This episode is sponsored by ™, a program tailored to support women in communications, healthcare, and higher education on their path to leadership success. If you found this episode valuable, please rate and review Communications Business Advisor™ to help spread the word and elevate the profession.
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Episode 26: Risk Alert!: Our Field Could Slip Backwards
04/07/2025
Episode 26: Risk Alert!: Our Field Could Slip Backwards
Welcome to the Communications Business Advisor™ podcast with Tara McDonagh. This week, Tara dives into a timely and scary issue—corporate communications is at risk of losing ground after years of progress. From earning a seat at the table to influencing decisions, these gains of being heard and respected are now under threat in today’s economic and corporate environment. What can we do to maintain (and grow) in our gains, defend out space and NOT slip backwards? Listen in. Risks Facing Communications Professionals Today Internal Communications at Risk: Respect for roles in internal, executive, and functional communications are at risk as leaders revert to pre-pandemic practices of making decisions then telling communicators to figure out how to message it rather than engaging us in the decisions and TRULY listening to our counsel. Return-to-Office Challenges: Tara explores how return-to-office mandates is a bellwether example of Comms professionals being sidelined as respected advisors and instead being treated as order-takers. Communicators then must handle the fallout amid unrealistic expectations of maintaining positive employee engagement scores while also delivering news that will most certainly negatively impact those scores. Economic Pressures: Threats (and realities) of tariffs, tight budgets, and scarcity all round in corporations makes it infinitely harder to advocate for resources or staff. Tara discusses how THIS is the new biggest challenge for Communicators throughout organizations everywhere - not what or how to communicate tough challenges, but to do it without being yes men or women and maintaining our influence and boundaries as respected advisors. Strategic Advice for Communications Leaders Advocate, even when it’s scary: Tara emphasizes advocating for yourself, your team, and the wider field, or risk losing self-respect and all the gained ground you’ve achieved for yourself, your team, and your field. Set the tone for your role: Teach senior leaders how to treat you AND what to expect from you - that you will call out risks even when it’s unpopular and scary. It will bring you respect and showcase your leadership. Focus on Outcomes: Push for metrics tied to organizational goals. For example, if return-to-office policies aim to boost collaboration, ensure results are measured in relation to collaboration - not simply whether bodies show up in the office or retention numbers. Consider Corporate Comms. Consolidation: Crisis comms and incident preparedness is having a moment - out of necessity. If you don’t already have a consolidated corp. comms. function with Internal Communications, Public Relations, Crisis Communications, Public Affairs, Event Planning, Executive Communications and business functional communications in the same area - now may be the ideal time to make the case to consolidate. It’s not only good for the organization, but also good for the department because they can go in on it together. Together they can ensure that all who need to be engaged in decisions are weighing in. That there is a voice at the table in important discussions because the sum of the parts (or individual comms. functions) are looking at the whole … more on this soon. If you’ve enjoyed the Communications Business Advisor Podcast™ so far, please take a moment to share this episode with someone, drop a rating, or leave a review. We can ignite a movement when we share the message. Visit to learn more about how to work with Tara. Or follow her content on LinkedIn at: , where she posts five days a week on comms.-focused topics. The Communications Business Advisor Podcast™ is brought to you by ™, the unique coaching, community and professional development program that elevates corporate women communications leaders and emerging leaders in the communications field.
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Episode 25: Comms and Moms, Part 2
03/24/2025
Episode 25: Comms and Moms, Part 2
Welcome to the Communications Business Advisor™ podcast with Tara McDonagh, your go-to platform for corporate communications professionals who elevate their work, build influence, and solidify their role as critical advisors at the decision-making table. In this episode, we continue our discussion on Moms in Comms, and we tackle it a bit differently this time. We hear YOUR voices … YOUR stories … many of them. We start with an interview with a Communications leader in the Corporate environment working at a billions-of-dollars, known brand in North America and we end with sharing several perspectives from many women from the Senior Manager to Senior Vice President level at Corporations - all in Communications functions (PR, Internal Comms, Executive Comms, Public Affairs, and Crisis Comms). We purposefully kept full names and companies out of this episode so we could encourage candid conversations. And here’s what we tackle: Motherhood bias Motherhood biases still impact women in the workplace, from doubts about leadership capabilities to unfair societal expectations. From navigating fertility treatments, announcing pregnancies at work, and being “typecast” as a working mom. This episode challenges the “mom vs. child-free” divide, emphasizing that structural change is the key to advancing our field and the women in it. Child-free women perspective and Male allies Tara speaks with her guest, Andrea, about what it was like for them both before they became parents and what biases they remember from that time, as well as the systems set up to divide us rather than unite us. Related to this, we discuss men’s role in being active advocates and allies in this mission of inclusion and growth for women in our field. Challenging Workplace Norms From outdated maternity leave policies to rigid return-to-office mandates, corporate systems can keep Moms from elevating in their careers. Tara and her guests encourage leaders to push for inclusivity, remote or hybrid solutions, and even innovative ideas to continue the growth path for women. Success stories showcase women securing promotions, negotiating confidently, and driving change within their industries. This episode is sponsored by ™, a program for women communications leaders working in the corporate environment. Visit to learn more about how to work with Tara. Or follow her content on LinkedIn at: where she posts five days a week on comms.-focused topics. Share your thoughts by rating and reviewing! For more insights, subscribe to and elevate your Communications leadership game.
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Episode 24: Comms and Moms, Part 1
03/10/2025
Episode 24: Comms and Moms, Part 1
Welcome to the Communications Business Advisor™ podcast with Tara McDonagh. This week, we kick off a two-part series on navigating communications leadership through the lens of motherhood, bias, and systemic challenges. Tara shares her personal experiences navigating being in this field both as a mom - and as a child free woman for quite a long period of her career. And she ties it all to why we deal with it and what to do about it. In this episode of the Communication Business Advisor Podcast, Tara McDonagh explains: The Motherhood Penalty & Gender Bias – Women face pay gaps, earning less than men for the same roles. The numbers reduce even worse when you become a mother - the motherhood penalty. Tara shares her own experience navigating workplace bias when she was a child-free woman, challenges in the workplace on the path to motherhood including fertility treatments, and the reality that she was unsupported in a system that made her choose between being a present parent or taking a role truly worthy of her expertise and leadership - but one would need to be sacrificed. Bridging the Mom vs. Non-Mom Divide – Workplace structures often pit mothers and non-mothers against each other. Tara highlights shared struggles and calls for collective action to create supportive, equitable environments. Fixing the System, Not Ourselves – Citing Nobel Prize-winning research, Tara advocates for systemic reforms like flexible policies and remote work, emphasizing that workplaces—not women—must adapt. Tune in next week for Part 2, featuring candid insights from women in communications. This episode is sponsored by ™, a program for women in corporate, healthcare, and higher education communications. Visit to learn more about how to work with Tara. Or follow her content on LinkedIn at: where she posts five days a week on comms.-focused topics. Share your thoughts by rating and reviewing! For more insights, subscribe to and elevate your Communications leadership game.
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Episode 23: What About the Women? Revisited
02/24/2025
Episode 23: What About the Women? Revisited
This one was first released last year and listening to it again, I was struck by how relevant it still is. If you’re a woman in this field, or just interested in learning more about the unique challenges women in this field face … maybe you manage them or are managed by one, or collaborate with them … this is the episode for you. Listen in and let me know what you think. Women dominate the Communications field in numbers, but not in leadership roles. Why? Couple gender bias together with our misunderstood and oversimplified field and we have a fight on our hands. In this episode of the Communication Business Advisor Podcast, Tara McDonagh explains: Equal Pay Day and International Women’s Day - and why companies will recognize one while ignoring the other (or maybe they’ll ignore both in 2025). Gender bias in the workplace and its impact on women’s careers - and how and why that shows up even more for women in Communications. How second-generation bias, the just world hypothesis and the double-bind impact women at work. What to do about this challenge. Where to follow more content on women in communications: If you’ve enjoyed the Communications Business Advisor Podcast so far, please take a moment to share this episode with someone, drop a rating, or leave a review. We can ignite a movement when we share the message. Visit to learn more about how to work with Tara. Or follow her content on LinkedIn at: where she posts five days a week on comms.-focused topics. The Communications Business Advisor Podcast is brought to you by , the unique coaching, community and professional development program that elevates corporate women communications leaders and emerging leaders in the communications field.
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Episode 22: Love (& Hate) for Communications
02/10/2025
Episode 22: Love (& Hate) for Communications
Welcome to Episode 22 of the Communications Business Advisor™ podcast with your host, Tara McDonagh. This week, Tara explores the love and frustration many communications professionals feel for their field. She candidly discusses challenges like small teams, underfunded departments, and underappreciation, while also talking about the emotional highs of getting that seat at the decision-making table as an underdog and knowing we made a difference. The Trials and Triumphs of Communications Leadership Tara dives into how ambitious overachievers are drawn to this field. Not because it’s easy. But because it’s hard. She addresses the frustrations of limited resources, paired with the satisfaction of being the underdog who positions communications as a key advisory function - and delivers. Tara challenges professionals to stop seeing leadership opportunities as a privilege and start treating them as the norm. Listeners will leave inspired to advocate for their teams and reframe their mindset around their role as an essential business leader. Explore more at and sign up for the for exclusive career resources. This episode is proudly sponsored by the ™ program, elevating the Communications field and the women in it. If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review the podcast—your support helps elevate these conversations and the communications profession!
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Episode 21: "How Important Is It?"
01/27/2025
Episode 21: "How Important Is It?"
Welcome back to the Communications Business Advisor Podcast! This episode dives into a fundamental question every communications leader should ask: "How Important Is It?" Tara McDonagh shares insights from a recent strategic planning session with a comms team, where the question revealed surprising opportunities for efficiency, clarity, and advocacy. If you're a communications leader juggling endless priorities, struggling with resource constraints, or looking for ways to focus on what truly matters, this episode is for you. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Rethinking Prioritization as a Gift Tara challenges the notion of prioritization as a "dirty word," reframing it as a tool to unlock more—more resources, clarity, and focus. A Fresh Approach to the Prioritization Process Discover how Tara’s simple yet strategic framework evaluates tasks based on risk, business importance, and communication expertise required. Learn why adding a “people-pleasing bucket” can help identify work that distracts from critical goals. Empowering Others Through Toolkits and Processes Why letting go of low-risk, low-value tasks isn’t just about delegation—it’s about empowering colleagues and preserving your team’s capacity for impactful work. How to Advocate for Resources While Holding the Line Tara offers practical advice on navigating conversations with executives who may not understand the nuances of communications. From socializing strategic plans to using advocacy questions, she provides actionable steps for negotiating effectively. Keep advising, my friends. Keep advising. If you’re ready to partner with Tara for a workshop, speaker engagement, or ongoing counsel, reach out soon—spots for 2025 are filling up fast. Visit for more details. Raise the Tide™ proudly sponsors this episode, supporting communications leaders as they navigate their careers, connect across industries, and redefine success. Learn more at .
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Episode 20: New Year. New Mindset.
01/13/2025
Episode 20: New Year. New Mindset.
Welcome back to the Communications Business Advisor Podcast! It’s 2025, and with a new year comes the chance to adopt a new mindset - because mindset can change everything. Today, Tara McDonagh challenges communications leaders to rethink the way they prioritize their time and energy in their organizations. If you’ve ever struggled with justifying your workload, advocating for resources, or redefining your leadership role, this episode is for you. Why “Because I Get Paid Too Much” Matters: Tara challenges the misconception that strategic leaders recognizing their value is arrogance, reframing it as essential business thinking. By aligning task complexity with expertise, leaders enhance their presence while safeguarding company resources. The “Must Do” Exercise for Work and Life: Tara presents a simple yet powerful exercise to categorize responsibilities into “Must Do” (tasks only you can handle) and “Someone Must Do” (tasks that can be delegated). By adopting a mindset of strategic delegation, leaders can create space for high-value work while achieving better personal balance. Building the Case (and Mindset) for Resources: Tara highlights the importance of mindset, urging communications leaders to recognize their value as a foundation for advocating for resources. She shares how building a business case for resources doesn’t start with writing or research but rather mindset - even if people think they have that part covered. It likely still needs some work before an impact can be made. Want support in navigating this journey? Swing by . And be sure to sign up for emails for even more exclusive insights. Raise the Tide™ is proud to sponsor this episode, empowering women in communications to amplify their careers, connect across industries, and redefine leadership on their terms. For more, visit .
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Episode 19: Communicators’ Word of 2025
12/16/2024
Episode 19: Communicators’ Word of 2025
Welcome to the final episode in 2024 of the Communications Business Advisor™ podcast with your host, Tara McDonagh. In this episode, Tara addresses a specific challenge faced by communications leaders looking to elevate their strategic role in corporate environments. In this episode, we explore… No: the professional communicators’ word of 2024 was “no.” And it raised some eyebrows and also some shouts of enthusiasm. In this episode we talk about all things saying no. From how to navigate getting to ‘no’ with co-workers, executives and even within your own team. Boundaries - not just setting them, but keeping them - is critical for sanity and impact. Partner: Tara emphasizes the shift from being seen as a service department to becoming true partners with business areas, working together to achieve shared business goals. This word is less of a lightning rod, but just as critical as we proceed to elevate our function. That’s why ‘partner’ is the word of 2025. To explore more insights from Tara McDonagh Communications and sign up for our newsletter, visit . Want some help so you’re no longer alone in navigating all of this? Swing by Shoutout to our sponsor, ™, for helping women in communications working in a corporate environment reach new career heights.
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Episode 18: You're (Probably) Not Crazy
12/02/2024
Episode 18: You're (Probably) Not Crazy
Welcome to Episode 18 of the Communications Business Advisor™ podcast, your go-to for advancing in corporate communications as a strategic business advisor. Today, we’re diving into that all-too-familiar feeling—wondering if you're losing your mind from handling off-the-wall requests, lazy requests, and “I don’t want to admit I don’t know how to do this” requests. We often question these requests because they’re shared with such confidence by the requestor that we begin to wonder, ‘Am I supposed to do this? Is this a thing my peers do in other organizations?’ So let me tell you if you haven’t heard it before: You’re (probably) not crazy. In this episode, we address Navigating Random Requests: Ever feel like you're stuck fielding requests about tasks that have nothing to do with Comms.? Like making a bathroom sign or fixing a voicemail system? Let's clear the air about what we’re really here to do and listen to some advice about how to handle the inbound random stuff without losing your mind. The Lazy Request Dilemma: Sometimes we get stuck with 'lazy requests'—the stuff anyone could handle but somehow lands on our plate. Think about those PowerPoints intended for an audience of 12 or email edits for a departmental email. You don’t have to do these - yes, even when the request comes from someone more senior. The “I Haven’t made a Business Decision” (but won’t say that out loud) Requests: We get pulled in to communicate something and quickly realize when asking some basic questions that a business decision hasn’t been made. We can’t communicate without knowing WHAT we’re communicating. While frustrating, this is an area where we make the most significant impact and can elevate ourselves as critical business advisors. Listen in for more. Want some help so you’re no longer alone in navigating all of this? Swing by And be sure to sign up for my emails for even more exclusive insights. Shoutout to our sponsor, ™, for helping women in communications working in a corporate environment reach new career heights.
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Episode 17: How to Work with Tara
11/19/2024
Episode 17: How to Work with Tara
Welcome to another episode of the Communications Business Advisor™ podcast with your host, Tara McDonagh. In this episode, Tara delves into the ways Communications leaders and their teams in Corporate environments work with her and her company, Tara McDonagh Communications (TMC). TMC Consulting Tara provides a glimpse into the consulting suite, focusing first on the Total Communication Strategic Planning program using the TMC framework - including an audit, strategic plan creation, and a year of consulting partnership to help make those plans operational. Discover how TMC achieves alignment with executives, helps with team empowerment, and often helps clients secure more budget and resources - even when they’ve been told no in the past. Communication Business Advisor Counsel Program Explore the wildly popular Communication Business Advisor™, or "Bat Phone" program, an advisory service for Communications leaders that ensures you’re never alone. Because at some point you become the highest-level person at your company in your field. Yet, you can get stuck wondering if you’re approaching something the right way, or even get stuck not knowing what to do next. Imagine having someone else who’s also skilled and experienced at that high-level and can see things you can’t - because you can’t see the label when you’re inside the jar. You get this with the Communications Business Advisor program. Whether you need counsel on major company or communications initiatives, verifying components of your strategy or team structure, or support with ideas on how to navigate your leadership team - this program ensures you always have another smart and skilled communications voice to help you make a difference within your company. Community and Coaching On the community and coaching side, Tara discusses helping people with career progression through three coaching programs but she spends the most time sharing more details about the in-demand Raise the Tide™ program. Raise the Tide is a program for women leaders and emerging leaders working in the Communications field in a corporate, healthcare or higher education setting. The program offers professional development., mentorship, support to reach career goals, and a tight-knit small group community. Women network and progress in their careers differently than men. Raise the Tide answers that unique need through a total program approach that makes all the difference in women’s careers. Proven - over and over again. If you’re ready to launch a transformative partnership with Tara McDonagh Communications, visit .
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Episode 16: I Have a Comms Strategy -- Now What?
11/04/2024
Episode 16: I Have a Comms Strategy -- Now What?
Welcome to another episode of the Communications Business Advisor™ podcast with your host, Tara McDonagh. This episode is all about taking that shiny new Communications Strategy off the shelf and turning it into something operational. You’ve finally crafted that amazing Communications Strategic Plan. Congratulations! What do you do next? Tara shares her expertise to ensure your strategy doesn’t gather dust. She walks listeners through: Engaging Your Team: Whether you created the plan solo or with a small team, it’s time to bring everyone on board on next steps. Learn how to involve your team to operationalize the strategy and make it part of your everyday work. Integrate it into all you do. Executive Alignment: Align your Communications Strategy with business areas’ goals looking for the common denominators that connect the priorities together. Reset leaders’ expectations of you and your team. Set those expectations higher. Tara explains why roadshows don’t work in this process and what to do instead. Open Dialogue: Understand the importance of being open to feedback and adjustments, emphasizing that buy-in requires a willingness to adapt your strategy to fit the needs of the business. Note: this does not mean throwing the plan in the trash and starting over because an executive doesn’t like hearing about new ways of doing things! The TMC process: Hear some of the components of the Tara McDonagh Communications (TMC) framework for creating, getting buy-in and operationalizing a Communications Strategic Plan - proven to work time and again. Your Communications Strategy isn’t just a thoughtful document—it’s a tool for achieving business goals. Ensure it resonates with everyone, from your team to executives. Make it a core part of your decision-making and operational processes. For those of you who want even more insight on Communications Business Advising, sign up for the Level Up: Be Extra emails. Visit to sign up. The Communications Business Advisor™ Podcast is brought to you by Raise the Tide™, the program that elevates our field and the women in it. For more info. Visit . If you enjoyed this episode, please share a rating or review. We can ignite a movement when we share a message.
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Episode 15: Does Reporting Structure Matter?
10/21/2024
Episode 15: Does Reporting Structure Matter?
In this episode of the Communications Business Advisor™ podcast, Tara McDonagh explores the complexities of Communications (PR, Internal Comm. etc) reporting structures within organizations and answers the important question: Does it matter who Comms. reports to? . Dive into the debate about where communications should fit within a company's hierarchy and the potential challenges and opportunities that arise from different reporting scenarios. Tara delves into: Why centralized communications structures may benefit some organizations more than others. How reporting to different departments like HR, Marketing, or Finance can impact the success of being a “Communications Business Advisor” The unique challenges faced by communications leaders in advocating for their role and resources when they report to different business areas. How the undervaluation of Communications as a business function can sometimes lead to missed opportunities for strategic business counsel that makes a critical difference. Packed with Tara’s candid insights, this episode encourages communications leaders to advocate for their field despite the hurdles posed by misaligned reporting structures. For more insights and tips on communications-related topics, sign up for Tara’s Level Up: Be Extra newsletter at . The Communications Business Advisor™ Podcast is brought to you by Raise the Tide™, the unique coaching, community, and professional development program that elevates corporate women communications leaders and emerging leaders in the communications field. Learn more at . If you enjoyed this episode, please share a rating or review. It helps others discover our podcast and join the movement to elevate the communications profession.
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Episode 14: From Communications Waitress to Business Advisor
10/07/2024
Episode 14: From Communications Waitress to Business Advisor
In this episode of the Communications Business Advisor™ podcast, host Tara McDonagh delves into the evolution of communications professionals from what she calls "communications waitressing" to becoming strategic communications business advisors. Tara takes listeners through the career journey—from starting with tactical tasks to eventually becoming proactive, strategic leaders within organizations. Listeners will hear Tara discuss: The early stages of a communications career, where you focus on "doing the stuff"—the tactics that win people over. How transitioning from a manager to a director shifts the focus from tactical work to proactive strategy. The pitfalls of holding onto tactical tasks when it's time to step into a leadership role. How staying too comfortable in tactical work can harm your team's growth, your leadership potential, and the reputation of the communications field. Why hiring strategic help isn't a weakness but a critical step in advancing your career. Tara also offers practical advice on how communications leaders can stop doing it all and embrace their advisory roles, guiding their teams to success and earning the trust of fellow executives. This episode is packed with actionable insights for communications professionals ready to level up their careers and take their place at the decision-making table. For more exclusive tips and insights, sign up for Tara’s Level Up: Be Extra newsletter at The Communications Business Advisor™ Podcast is brought to you by Raise the Tide™, the unique coaching, community, and professional development program that elevates corporate women communications leaders and emerging leaders in the communications field.Learn more at .
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Episode 13: All Things Internal Communications Strategy
09/23/2024
Episode 13: All Things Internal Communications Strategy
In this episode of The Communication Business Advisor Podcast, host Tara McDonagh discusses the challenges internal communicators face with Rachel Miller, founder of All Things IC, and author of Internal Communication Strategy. Listeners will hear Tara and Rachel discuss: Challenges in creating an internal communications strategy and maintaining its relevance. Confidence as a critical piece of the puzzle when advising. Using a third-party to help you thrive vs steal your shine. AI’s impact on internal comms. To get your hands on a copy of Rachel’s book Internal Communication Strategy: design, develop, and transform your organizational communication. Visit . Use code: RAISING THE TIDE to get 20% off your copy. Hot top: Tara’s insight is included as an expert in the book. Check out the index for where. Links & Resources: The Communications Business Advisor Podcast is brought to you by , the intimate coaching, community and professional development program that elevates corporate women communications leaders and emerging leaders in the communications field.
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Episode 12: The Shadow Communicator
09/09/2024
Episode 12: The Shadow Communicator
In this episode of the Communications Business Advisor Podcast, Tara McDonagh explores the concept of the "shadow communicator"—individuals hired within specific business areas to handle communications tasks independently of the central communications team. Listeners will hear about: The challenges these shadow communicators pose, such as undermining established communication efforts and spreading irrelevant messaging. How to prevent shadow communicators from showing up in your organization. Why you don't hate the shadow communicator (Really, you don't). What to do if YOU are the shadow communicator. Tune in for practical advice on preventing and managing shadow communicators. Get even more exclusive insights, advice, and inspiration on this topic, and level up your inbox at: . The Communications Business Advisor Podcast is brought to you by Raise the Tide, the unique coaching, community, and professional development program that elevates corporate women communications leaders and emerging leaders in the communications field.
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Episode 11: HR and Marketing, we need to talk
05/27/2024
Episode 11: HR and Marketing, we need to talk
We’re wrapping the first season of the Communications Business Advisor Podcast! But not before we talk about HR and Marketing … and Comms too. The HR and Marketing departments can be powerful allies, AND they can also be kind of a nightmare to work with. Let’s break it down. In this episode, host Tara McDonaugh explains: The two categories HR and Marketing fall into when it comes to relationships with Comms. Reteaching people how to treat you as a Comms. professional Anchoring change to a big project Getting experts involved & how to make it happen Tara would love to hear from you before Season 2 next fall! What was your favorite episode so far? What are you struggling with? Is there something you’d like a part 2 for? Reach out! . Visit to learn more about how to work with Tara. Or follow her content on LinkedIn at: where she posts five days a week on comms.-focused topics. The Communications Business Advisor Podcast is brought to you by , the unique coaching, community and professional development program that elevates corporate women communications leaders and emerging leaders in the communications field.
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Episode 10: The Agency Impact in Corporate Communications
05/13/2024
Episode 10: The Agency Impact in Corporate Communications
“If we set up our structures to match what agencies look like, we lose something significant in our partnership, thinking, and actions. Most importantly, our field continues to lose the battle for treatment as a critical function, a critical business function, not a service area.” --Tara McDonagh People with an agency background bring a strong skill set to whatever business area they move into next, including the ability to juggle multiple projects, being a very quick learner, and building strong relationships. Unfortunately, many with agency background, especially at a senior level, come in ready to implement an internal agency model, and this creates a model where the comms department becomes order takers. Exactly what communicators fight against. There are some components agency hires bring in that can strengthen a communications function in a corporation and some that need to be left behind. Let’s discuss. In this episode, host Tara McDonagh explains: The unintended impact an internal agency model can have on corporate comms. What makes agency staff great hires for communications roles inside corporations … and what they need to leave behind at the agency. Teaching people how to treat you. As we get close to wrapping up Season 1 of the Communications Business Advisor Podcast, take a moment to share this episode, or the show, with someone. Drop a rating or leave a review. We can ignite a movement when we share the message. Visit to learn more about how to work with Tara. Or follow her content on LinkedIn at: where she posts five days a week on comms.-focused topics. The Communications Business Advisor Podcast is brought to you by , the unique coaching, community and professional development program that elevates corporate women communications leaders and emerging leaders in the communications field.
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Episode 9: The Next Dirty "P" Word...Prioritizing
04/29/2024
Episode 9: The Next Dirty "P" Word...Prioritizing
“It became really clear what we could do and do well with the resources that we had, and those were limited resources. And I never stopped talking about what we could do with more.” --Jessica Onick The dirty word on this episode of the podcast is “prioritization.” Host, Tara McDonagh has invited Jessica Onick, Senior Director of Internal and External Communications at GitHub to share how prioritizing and setting boundaries ended up doubling the size of her team in just over a year. In this episode of the Communications Business Advisor Podcast, Tara and Jesscia talk about: Jessica’s experience losing staff and being required to prioritize How to go about the prioritization process and be intentional, NOT ruthless The art of telling others, “No, it’s not a priority” Determining where you’re really needed to do it all, where to guide, and where to empower self-service Using up-front prioritization as a framework for the day-to-day Growing your team and budget as a result of the prioritization process Links & Resources: Jessica Onick on LinkedIn –– If the topic of today’s episode of the Communications Business Advisor Podcast resonated with you, please take a moment to share this episode with someone, drop a rating, or leave a review. We can ignite a movement when we share the message. Visit to learn more about how to work with Tara. Or follow her content on LinkedIn at: where she posts five days a week on comms.-focused topics. The Communications Business Advisor Podcast is brought to you by , the unique coaching, community and professional development program that elevates corporate women communications leaders and emerging leaders in the communications field.
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Episode 8: The First Dirty ‘P’ Word…Process
04/15/2024
Episode 8: The First Dirty ‘P’ Word…Process
Process––you’re not alone if that word makes you cringe. You may find processes stifling to your creativity or just generally something that’s a necessary evil. On this episode of the Communications Business Advisor podcast, Tara challenges the way we think about processes. It’s time to turn the dirty P word into something fun. Something that works for you and the business areas you partner with. Let’s use processes to get to the ultimate goal easier so you can spend more time on things that energize you. In this episode, host Tara McDonagh explains: How to NOT be the DMV of process Making a process audience-friendly AND Communications-area friendly Focus on accomplishing the business goal easier and more quickly, not necessarily making your life easier (though this should be an outcome) Uncovering hidden processes What to use instead of Communication Request Forms The time you’ll save by having the right processes in place If the topic of creating and finetuning processes resonated with you, please take a moment to share this episode with someone, drop a rating, or leave a review. We can ignite a movement when we share the message. Visit to learn more about how to work with Tara. Or follow her content on LinkedIn at: where she posts five days a week on comms.-focused topics. The Communications Business Advisor Podcast is brought to you by , the unique coaching, community and professional development program that elevates corporate women communications leaders and emerging leaders in the communications field.
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Episode 7: All Things Measurement
04/01/2024
Episode 7: All Things Measurement
“If you’re not measuring, you don’t know if you’re successful.” --Natalie Papaj Host, Tara McDonagh talks with guest Natalie Papaj, VP of Communications at Wells Fargo to answer listener questions about measurement in Communications - internal and external. In this episode of the Communications Business Advisor Podcast, Tara and Natalie address questions on: Aligning your metrics with business objectives The many uses for measurement Balancing time/bandwidth with measurement and analysis Creating a culture of measurement What Natalie uses for measurement in her role at Wells Fargo (and why) Links & Resources: Natalie Papaj on LinkedIn –– If the topic of today’s episode of the Communications Business Advisor Podcast resonated with you, please take a moment to share this episode with someone, drop a rating, or leave a review. We can ignite a movement when we share the message. Visit to learn more about how to work with Tara. Or follow her content on LinkedIn at: where she posts five days a week on comms.-focused topics. The Communications Business Advisor Podcast is brought to you by , the unique coaching, community and professional development program that elevates corporate women communications leaders and emerging leaders in the communications field.
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Episode 6: Career Growth Without EVEN MORE Personal Life Sacrifice
03/18/2024
Episode 6: Career Growth Without EVEN MORE Personal Life Sacrifice
Can you truly grow your career without working EVEN more? This is a key question host, Tara McDonagh, is asked regularly by ambitious, exceptional, overachieving women. The assumptive answer is always - no. What most of us have always seen and assumed is that when you continue to rise in your career, company demands on your time will grow. Most women are eager and ready for growth, but don’t want to sacrifice even more time with family and friends. Is there another way? Host Tara McDonagh, invites Megan Witherspoon, VP of Communications at Altria, to discuss how she’s both grown her career, and embraced a new level of personal fulfillment through remote work. Megan not only works remotely, she moved her family across the country and continues to take on more responsibility in her role at Altria, while enjoying more time for family and hobbies as well. In this episode of Communications Business Advisor Podcast, Tara and Megan discuss: How Megan was able to move across the country while advancing responsibilities in her company. Using data to measure if there are differences in remote vs in-person worker performance - make the case with data. Proximity bias. It is a thing. Will it ever die? Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion implications tied to remote work. Links & Resources: Follow Megan Witherspoon on LinkedIn -- Harvard Business Review article -- If the topic of today’s episode of the Communications Business Advisor Podcast resonated with you, please take a moment to share this episode with someone, drop a rating, or leave a review. We can ignite a movement when we share the message. Visit to learn more about how to work with Tara. Or follow her content on LinkedIn at: where she posts five days a week on comms.-focused topics. The Communications Business Advisor Podcast is brought to you by , the unique coaching, community and professional development program that elevates corporate women communications leaders and emerging leaders in the communications field.
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Episode 5: What About the Women?
03/04/2024
Episode 5: What About the Women?
Women dominate the Communications field in numbers, but not in leadership roles. Why? Couple gender bias together with our misunderstood and oversimplified field and we have a fight on our hands. In this episode of The Communication Business Advisor Podcast, Tara McDonagh explains: Equal Pay Day and International Women’s Day - and why companies will recognize one while ignoring the other. Gender bias in the workplace and its impact on women’s careers - and how and why that shows up even more for women in Communications. How second-generation bias, the just world hypothesis and the double-bind impact women at work. What to do about this challenge. Where to follow more content on women in communications: If you’ve enjoyed the Communications Business Advisor Podcast so far, please take a moment to share this episode with someone, drop a rating, or leave a review. We can ignite a movement when we share the message. Visit to learn more about how to work with Tara. Or follow her content on LinkedIn at: where she posts five days a week on comms.-focused topics. The Communications Business Advisor Podcast is brought to you by , the unique coaching, community and professional development program that elevates corporate women communications leaders and emerging leaders in the communications field.
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Episode 4: Missing the Metrics
02/19/2024
Episode 4: Missing the Metrics
Metrics are a massive subject for all Communications leaders in every area of our field - PR, internal communications, executive communications - you name it. In this episode of The Communication Business Advisor podcast, Tara McDonagh explains: The area of metrics she sees many Communications teams miss. How to approach intentional metrics-gathering with business partners, and how it makes a massive difference The dirty phrase “self-promotional” and how to tackle it. The impact to you, your team (and our field) if you don’t focus on continuous awareness campaigns for your department Tara notes that she can’t cover all the metrics and measurement topics in this single episode, but she promises to cover more on future episodes. If you’ve enjoyed the Communications Business Advisor Podcast so far, please take a moment to drop a rating or review. We can ignite a movement, when we share the message. Help us spread the word. Visit to learn more about the work Tara is doing. Or connect with her on LinkedIn at: where she posts five days a week on comms.-focused topics. The Communications Business Advisor Podcast is brought to you by , the unique coaching, community, mentorship, and professional development program that elevates corporate women communications leaders and emerging leaders in the communications field.
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Episode 3: Love for Feedback & Hate for the 360
02/05/2024
Episode 3: Love for Feedback & Hate for the 360
Why is normalizing asking for feedback so helpful and 360 reviews so awful for Communications and PR Pros? In this episode of The Communication Business Advisor podcast, Tara McDonagh explains: How to normalize getting feedback continuously and why - as an entire team. Asking for feedback without using the word feedback The biases that come with a 360 review How to counterbalance a 360 review If you have enjoyed the Communications Business Advisor Podcast so far, please take a moment to drop a rating or review. We can’t ignite a movement, without sharing the message. Help us spread the word. Visit to learn more about the work Tara is doing. Or connect with her on LinkedIn at: where she posts five days a week on comms.-focused topics. The Communications Business Advisor Podcast is brought to you by , the unique coaching, community and professional development program that elevates corporate women communications leaders and emerging leaders in the communications field.
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Episode 2: Communication Leader's Top Problems & Fixing Them
01/22/2024
Episode 2: Communication Leader's Top Problems & Fixing Them
Overworked, understaffed, under-resourced, and overwhelmed. Sound about right? It’s a common description for Communications leaders working in a corporate environment. In this episode of The Communications Business Advisor Podcast, Tara McDonagh emphasizes the need to align communications’ work with company business goals through a long-term strategy, and making a compelling business case for resources. Tara explains: The top challenges for both PR and internal communications leaders. How to fix these challenges. Why asking for “more” doesn’t work, and what to do instead. If you want help taking comms within your company from being seen as helpful to essential in driving company success, Tara’s signature communication strategy roadmap might be just the thing. Visit to find out more. Or follow her content on LinkedIn at: where she posts five days a week on comms.-focused topics. The Communications Business Advisor Podcast is brought to you by , the unique coaching, community and professional development program that elevates corporate women communications leaders and emerging leaders in the communications field.
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Episode 1: Edit Business Decisions
01/08/2024
Episode 1: Edit Business Decisions
The most important work we do as professional communicators, meaning PR, Internal Comm. Public Affairs and related fields, lies in advancing business goals and protecting brands using the lens of Communications to advise. In this powerful first episode of the Communications Business Advisor Podcast, host Tara McDonagh guides listeners through Communications acting as editor of a business decision, not only content. Tara explains: What it means to edit a business decision as a Communications leader inside a company. How to go about it, using an example to bring life to this approach. Why it’s critical to embrace the uniqueness of your perspective to both advance our professions’ reputation and our own careers. To learn more about ending triage-mode and elevating your department’s reputation as a critical business advisors, visit . You can also follow her content on LinkedIn at: where she posts five days a week on comms.-focused topics. The Communications Business Advisor Podcast is brought to you by , the unique coaching, community and professional development program that elevates corporate women communications leaders and emerging leaders in the communications field. Together, we are the force of the tide elevating the ships for all in our field.
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Communications Business Advisor Podcast Trailer
12/14/2023
Communications Business Advisor Podcast Trailer
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