This year, IABC will host a series of pre-conference events at World Conference 2024. See below for all pre-conference activities that require additional registration.
Please note that we are sharing our pre-conference events as they are confirmed.
The Future of Strategic Communication. What's Next?
Presented By: Dr. Lilian Ajayi Ore, EdD, MS Ed., Lecturer and Research Scholar, Columbia University
23 June 2024, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. | $299 IABC Members | $349 IABC Non-members
The future of strategic communication is shaped by a fusion of emerging technologies, societal shifts, and evolving audience expectations. The rise of remote work and global connectivity will demand adaptable, agile, and culturally sensitive communication approaches. Diversity, equity, and inclusion will become increasingly vital components of communication strategies. As the landscape evolves, strategic communication professionals must stay curious, upskill, and prioritize ethics to build trust and foster meaningful connections in a rapidly changing world.
Learning Objectives:
Beyond the Basics: A Generative AI Masterclass for Business Communicators
Presented By: Matt Russell, Senior Director, Mayo Clinic Communications
23 June 2024, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. | $299 IABC Members | $349 IABC Non-members
In this engaging and interactive workshop, participants will embark on a comprehensive journey to launch, expand, and elevate the use ChatGPT and similar AI tools in business communications. The workshop is structured in three dynamic hours, each designed to progressively deepen participants' understanding and skills.
- Hour One focuses on launching and expanding your use of ChatGPT and similar tools. Through instruction, demonstration, case studies, and group discussion, you will learn how to start using generative AI on an individual level, then expand it across teams and functions.
- Hour Two delves deeper into applying these tools for project planning, execution, and crisis management, featuring group activities and demonstrations to illustrate advanced functionalities.
- Hour Three takes participants to the next level, emphasizing how to use generative AI to help advance organizational goals and exploring the latest developments in generative AI. The workshop concludes with a final Q&A and closing thoughts on promoting AI integration in your work.
Learning Objectives:
By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:
- Understand the Basics of Generative AI: Grasp the fundamental concepts and best practices for using ChatGPT and similar tools.
- Apply AI Tools to Individual and Team Functions: Learn how to implement AI tools in personal and team settings, illustrated through Mayo Clinic case studies.
- Enhance Project Management with AI: Discover how to integrate AI in project planning, execution, and follow-up for improved efficiency and output quality.
- Use AI to Assist with Crisis Management: Explore the use of AI tools in crisis management scenarios.
- Promote AI Integration in Professional Settings: Develop strategies to advocate for and integrate AI in your work environment effectively.
Leveling Up Your Financial Acumen: What You Need to Know as a Trusted Counselor and Advisor
Presented By: Ron Culp, Public Relations Consultant, Professional in Residence at College of Communication at DePaul University, and Matt Ragas, PhD, Public Relations & Advertising, College of Communications at DePaul University
23 June 2024, 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. | $299 IABC Members | $349 IABC Non-members
Grow your influence and impact with the C-suite and senior leaders. Trusted strategic communication counselors and advisors show a commitment to “leveling up” their financial acumen. In this workshop, pracademics and authors Matt Ragas, Ph.D. and Ron Culp, recognized experts in teaching business as a second language, will increase your business acumen through hands-on analysis of financial statements, company earnings releases and more. Attendees will work together to complete informative exercises from Ragas and Culp’s latest forthcoming book, The Business Acumen Workbook for Strategic Communicators. Actionable insights and recommendations, grounded in the latest industry research, will be provided for elevating your business acumen and that of your team. There will be lots of time for questions and knowledge sharing. With their books in use at more than 30 colleges and universities, Ragas and Culp conduct business literacy workshops for top agencies, in-house teams, and associations.
Using AI-Driven Strategy to Scale Your Practice
Presented By: Dr. Alex Sevigny, APR, Professor, Communications Management at McMaster University
23 June 2024, 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. | $299 IABC Members | $349 IABC Non-members
Building a communications practice has traditionally taken an enormous amount of time and work, involving many hours at the keyboard, behind a camera or in person with clients and stakeholders. Artificial Intelligence is revolutionizing communications practice. Those who learn how to harness its power to build relationships and trust at scale will win as our economy, culture and society are transformed over the next 10 years. If you thought social media transformed communications practice, workflow and priorities – you haven’t seen anything yet. AI has the potential to make us more productive, effective and creative.
In this three-hour hands-on workshop, Alex Sévigny will give participants a tour of several AI tools in the four areas of communications practice, focusing on their strategic value to : Research, Strategy/Planning, Communications (Audio, Video, Text), Evaluation/Analytics. He will demonstrate how AI can be used to drive strategy, achieve business objectives for clients and revolutionize your practice by scaling it in ways you may not have thought possible before AI.
Certification Bootcamp
Instructor: Sia Papageorgiou FRSA, FCSCE, SCMP Managing Partner, Centre for Strategic Communication Excellence
23 June 2024, 1:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. | $200 [reduced cost for pilot and includes an exam study guide valued at $50 for no additional cost]
The Global Communication Certification Council (GCCC), in collaboration with the Centre for Strategic Communication Excellence (CSCE), is set to introduce Certification Bootcamps in 2024, tailored for candidates aiming for the CMP and SCMP certifications. A pilot session of this Bootcamp will be conducted at the 2024 World Conference in Chicago. This intensive, 3.5-hour program is designed to prepare candidates for the certification exam and provide a thorough overview of strategic communication management and the Global Standard for the Communication Profession. Limited to just 25 participants, the Bootcamp offers an exclusive opportunity to deepen understanding and skills. Attendees will also benefit from a complimentary study guide to enhance their preparation for the exam.
What to expect:
- Gain a comprehensive understanding of the core principles and practices outlined in the Global Standard of the Communication Profession.
- Enhance your expertise in strategic communication management and ethical practices.
- Develop critical thinking and application skills to excel in the CMP and SCMP certification exams, complemented by effective exam-taking techniques.
- Learn to effectively use resources such as the study guide, optimizing both your certification exam preparation and your continuous professional development.
Earn three (3) points toward Global Communication Certification Council (GCCC) recertification for each Master Class attended. Learn more.