It's another Hot Take episode and The Katies are in a mood.

Hot Take #1 (2:02): Emma Grede's statements around work-life balance were not completely out of line - she was just lacking tangible examples in her messaging.

Hot Take #2 (25:30): X's search for a new comms lead validates that comms is a critical role at the leadership table.

Takeaways

• Work-life balance is often viewed differently by CEOs and employees.
• CEOs need to provide examples of HOW they maintain work-life balance to set a new executive standard in answering the work-life balance question.
• Every time a women gets asked about work-life balance, a fairy dies.
• If you' ask about flexibility in an interview, don't position it as work-life balance.
• Work-life balance looks different for everyone based on personal circumstances.
• X has an opportunity to reinvent itself by starting its own news publication to reposition the way it delivers news; the traditional X feed would be the comments section (we want credit for this!!)
• To manage a tough exec and/or founder, you need teammates that back you when you're not in the room

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In episode 32 of Smart in Public, the Katies are joined by Zixin Chai, Senior Partner at RICE, a FINN Partners Company, to learn about the comms and media landscape across Asia.

Zixin guides Boysen & Dufficy through the challenges of working with multinational clients in Asia, cultural nuances, and the current talent pool in Singapore (where she's based). We also explore the media landscape, shifts in the communications industry, and the growing significance of internal communications across companies in Asia.

Fun fact - did you know that Asia is not one big country? All jokes aside, this episode is full of insights around how to tailor your execs, storytelling strategies, and expectations across Asian countries. Thank you Xin for joining us!!!

Chapters

• 02:35 - Xin's Journey in Communications
• 05:54 - Agency vs. In-House Experience
• 08:18 - Client Relationships and Ideal Client Work
• 12:40 - Working with Multinational Clients in Asia
• 18:33 - Cultural Nuances in Client Engagement
• 21:07 - Talent Pool and Industry Challenges in Singapore
• 23:38 - Diversity and Inclusion in the Comms Industry
• 28:34 - Media Landscape and Storytelling in Singapore
• 31:41 - Engaging Journalists in the Digital Age
• 32:44 - Navigating Cultural Differences in Communication
• 34:55 - Understanding Local Customs and Etiquette
• 36:08 - Language Barriers and Business Communication in Asia
• 41:29 - Shifts in the Communications Landscape
• 44:20 - The Importance of Media Relations
• 46:00 - The Rise of Internal Communications
• 48:00 - Dumb and Private: Personal Anecdotes and Reflections

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In this episode of the Smart and Public Podcast, the Katies welcome Abenaa Hayes, Founder and CEO of Elysee Consulting. It won't take long in the episode for you to agree with us when we say that Abenaa AND her career are not only impressive, but incredibly interesting. Her experience in communications and brand spans across a wide range of companies - from start-ups to growth to established US and global firms in healthcare, social impact, and more. Abenaa’s professional mission is to guide leaders and brands who want to meet 21st century societal mandates head on by driving engagement and transformation through inclusive communications.

We also discuss the evolving landscape of public relations, the importance of inclusive communications, and how companies can navigate societal shifts. We're so grateful to have spent this hour with Abenaa and can't wait for you to listen.

Show references:

• Annie Jean Baptiste: Building for Everyone https://www.amazon.com/Building-Everyone-Practices-Googles-Inclusion/dp/1119646227
• Alison Taylor Higher Ground https://www.alisontaylor.co/higher-ground
• Forbes - Harvard Rebrands Their DEI Office “Community & Campus Life” In Latest Move To Evolve: https://www.forbes.com/sites/dougmelville/2025/04/29/harvard-rebrands-their-dei-office-community--campus-life-in-latest-move-to-evolve/

Chapters:

• 03:19 - Abenaa's Career Journey and Transition to PR
• 05:52 - The Importance of Inclusion in Corporate Culture
• 07:45 - Navigating Corporate Reputation and Authenticity
• 10:16 - Engagement Strategies for Brands
• 11:16 - Crisis Management in Corporate Communications
• 13:14 - Building Effective Messaging Frameworks
• 14:26 - Adapting Communication Strategies Across Industries
• 15:49 - Employee Enablement and Internal Communication
• 16:55 - The Future of Diversity and Inclusion
• 19:15 - The Interconnection of Business and Inclusion
• 21:28 - Using Employees as a Sounding Board
• 23:02 - Navigating DEI Pushback in the Current Climate
• 27:41 - Acknowledgment of Country: A Cultural Conversation
• 30:54 - The Importance of Representation in Communications
• 34:46 - Diversity in the Communications Field
• 39:16 - Local Talent vs. Expat Leadership
• 40:26 - AI and Inclusion: The Dangers of Bias
• 45:23 - The Importance of Diverse Voices in Brand Messaging
• 48:25 - Resources for Best Practices in Inclusion and DEI

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