Could you describe your current role in internal communication and how you think membership with IoIC might support you in this role?
I am the founder of Bell Kiva Consulting, providing confident communication across a variety of sectors. I’ve had some fascinating communication roles in my 20+ year career, and while I have broad communication experience, internal comms has always been my passion. I enjoy developing strategies and plans to make sure people are informed and involved, building excitement for the part they play in the success of an organisation.
I love the diversity of the audiences I work with - from university students to high street opticians, from research academics and teachers to parents and pupils with special educational needs. I enjoy the challenge of reaching hard-to-engage groups, getting to know their daily lives, priorities and passions to find the best ways to connect with them.
How do you reach teachers who are supporting pupils throughout the day and have no time to read emails? What’s the best way to encourage academics to get on board with a new strategy? How do you engage 25,000 students with anything? Ask them! I love to immerse in the audience’s world and ask questions.
Now that I’m building my freelance business, the network and connections that comes with IoIC membership will be invaluable. I’m learning to talk more about myself and highlight my strengths – something we communicators often shy away from, but it’s essential to build a trusted business.
What motivated you to pursue a career in internal communication and what do you enjoy most about it?
My early career was varied - marketing, web content, internal and external communication. I must have complained so much about the lack of effective internal comms in various organisations that I was finally given the freedom to focus on making improvements.
Change is a constant, and that’s been true throughout my career in comms. Creating a sense of belonging while all around is in upheaval is a challenge, but I like to work across an organisation, with leaders and teams, to provide honest and inclusive internal comms, which is vital to building a community.
IC professionals are story finders and story tellers. I enjoy helping people understand the impact of change, celebrate the benefits of their actions, and get involved in the story, making it their own. Too often, leaders assume people already know and supports the business direction, and that's where I step in to bring it to life for everyone.
How has IoIC membership contributed to your professional development and career growth?
I’ve been a member of IoIC on and off since it’s renaming and relaunch in 2009. I’ve benefited from training, networking and events over the years, and I was in one of the first cohorts to complete the PgDip Internal Communication Management, which was invaluable at the beginning of my internal comms career. I’ve also mentored some people new to internal comms over the years, which I found very fulfilling. I’ve always provided membership to everyone in my teams so they can develop their careers and their networks with the support of IoIC too.
Can you name one career achievement or project that you're particularly proud of, and why?
At the University of Portsmouth, I worked with a new leadership team to create a fresh strategy from the ground up. We brought colleagues and students together for some creative conversations, coffee mornings and online forums. I covered the campus in vinyl feet to encourage everyone to get involved – I’ve been told some are still there. It was two weeks of pure fun and energy on campus! Our artistic students brought all the ideas to life on a strategy wall, turning thoughts into colourful illustrations.
It was a huge undertaking, but the level of involvement and engagement was incredible – more than 80% of the audience had their say. Colleagues could see their ideas evolve into a solid university strategy, achieving something many organisations strive for but rarely accomplish.
What advice would you give to someone just starting out in the internal communication profession?
Get nosey! Make yourself available for any and all conversations you can. Ask questions, understand the issues right from the start and suggest a communications approach before you’re asked. Be the expert, be invaluable, and use any comms networks you can to talk things through. So often IC professionals are working solo in an organisation, so networks like IoIC are invaluable.
And I’m always up for a chat about how to approach an issue, I love learning about other organisations and talking through ideas.
Tell us a fun fact about you that not many people know?
I have a bronze disco dancing medal from Goodman School of Dancing – that’s Bill Goodman, Len’s brother.
