2026 Corporate Communications

07:30 AM - 08:30 AM ET

Registration and Networking Breakfast

08:30 AM - 08:40 AM ET

Welcome and Introductions

08:40 AM - 08:55 AM ET

Networking and Cross Pollination

08:55 AM - 09:25 AM ET

The State of the Function: The Changes Corporate Communicators Will Confront, and Create, in 2026

09:30 AM - 10:00 AM ET

From Underdog to AI Powerhouse: How AMD is Reinventing a Global Brand at the Speed of Modern Communication

ow does a $2 billion market cap company transform into a $350 billion+ industry leader in a decade? And how does a once-overlooked brand evolve into one of the world’s foremost AI innovators? In this session, Ruth Cotter shares AMD’s transformation journey and the critical role of clear purpose, disciplined storytelling, and a modern communications strategy in reshaping the company’s culture, brand, and market perception during a period of unprecedented technological change. As AI rewrites the rules across industries and communications, Ruth explores the connection between leadership, authenticity, and narrative, and how each underpins trust and sustainable growth. Ruth Cotter, Senior Vice President & Chief Administrative Officer, AMD

10:00 AM - 10:15 AM ET

Networking Break

10:20 AM - 10:50 AM ET

Time Machine: Brainstorming the Future

Attendees at each table will co-create and share two statements: first, a one-sentence assessment of the biggest changes they have seen in the communications function since 2022; and second, a prediction of the biggest changes in the communications function they expect to see by 2030.

10:50 AM - 11:15 AM ET

The CCO as Strategic Partner with the Rest of the C-Suite

The role of the Chief Communications Officer as a strategic business adviser continues to grow in importance, especially in the volatile environments we are currently experiencing. In this session, leaders will discuss how to establish and build on these relationships, and what fellow C-Suite members and the Board need to hear from communications leaders in 2026.

11:15 AM - 11:45 AM ET

Communicating from the Heart of a Revolution

How does one of the leading organizations fueling a technological revolution communicate paradigm-shifting advances while maintaining a people-centric focus? In this conversation, we will explore the external and internal communications leadership helping drive one of the world’s tech powerhouses forward.

11:45 AM - 12:15 PM ET

How We Are Using AI in Content Creation Now

Top communications leaders will share how they are using AI in content creation right now, discussing efficiency, fact-checking, personalization, and risk mitigation. We will also hear from the audience on their experiences and answer audience questions. Bill Walsh, SVP, Integrated Communications, AARP

11:50 AM - 12:20 AM ET

Networking Break

12:20 PM - 12:35 PM ET

Participant Knowledge Exchange

Among attendees at the conference will be someone – likely more than one person – with experiences that will help you tackle a current challenge. There will also be others ready to benefit from your experiences and insights. As we head into lunch, we will use badges to help conference participants connect and share knowledge on the issues that matter most to them.

12:35 PM - 01:35 PM ET

Networking Lunch

01:35 PM - 02:05 PM ET

Prepare To Be Amazed: Are Your Crisis Communications Plans Ready for What’s Ahead?

Concurrent Session 1A For the past several years we have described the environment as one of “unprecedented change” – and yet each year has beat the previous one in its levels of disruption. Have organizations’ crisis communications plans kept up? External and internal comms and public affairs leaders discuss strategies for making crisis communication preparations more resilient and ready for the previously unimaginable. Jason Alderman, Chief Communication Officer, Smart News

01:35 PM - 02:05 PM ET

Case Studies on AI and Employee Engagement

Concurrent Session 1B Hybrid work locations, channel and message overload, five generations in the workforce: the challenges for internal communications are substantial. Can AI help meet those challenges? We will discuss case studies of AI deployment to individualize content, analyze and improve effectiveness, and streamline platforms, and consider what AI investments are most likely to pay off in employee engagement.

02:10 PM - 02:40 PM ET

What to Measure, How to Measure It, and What Tools to Use Now

Concurrent Session 2A Effective communication requires effective measurement. But what should be measured to best understand current beliefs, whether a message connected, and what if any change it sparked? What tools and procedures produce accurate, actionable metrics? In this conversation, communications leaders will share how they are measuring beliefs and message impact, and what tools are making a difference.

02:10 PM - 02:40 PM ET

Connecting with the Unconnected: Reaching the Front Lines

Concurrent Session 2B Communications leaders across sectors tackle how to reach those who are not spending their days in front of a screen: front-line workers, who may be in a factory, in the field, or in a storefront, and operating under time and customer pressures. How are communicators connecting with those who, in many cases, will represent the face of a company for its customers?

02:45 PM - 03:15 PM ET

Telling Your Sustainability Story Globally

Concurrent Session 3A The world is still being impacted by – and stakeholders around the world still require disclosure of – enterprises’ sustainability efforts. How can companies tell their sustainability stories with narratives that connect with audiences globally? We will discuss how companies with global reach are communicating their impact, while navigating the challenges of polarization.

02:45 PM - 03:15 PM ET

Does Owned Media Matter More Than Ever?

Concurrent Session 3B As the power of traditional media outlets declines and the power of AI-generated summaries ascends, the ability of individual storytellers to garner huge and loyal audiences through social media, podcasts and video continues. We will discuss how enterprises are bypassing gatekeepers to build direct relationships via platforms old and new, from newsletters to Discord chats, and what factors will make an investment in owned media more likely to succeed.

03:15 PM - 03:35 PM ET

Networking Break

03:35 PM - 03:50 PM ET

Speed Debates

What is your most controversial opinion on the future of communications? What are the best arguments for it, and against it? In this interactive exercise, we seek to open minds and create connections by asking attendees to debate with their neighbors several thorny propositions – and then switch sides after 60 seconds. Each topic will be revealed immediately before the debate.

03:50 PM - 04:25 PM ET

Internal Communications in Transformative Times

In times of transformation, internal communications can affect productivity, retention, mental wellbeing, and in some cases the success of the transformation itself. It may also affect how a brand is perceived externally, as internal messages become external news. This discussion will explore examples of effectively connecting with employees during times of large, disruptive change, whether the changes are rolled out by design or imposed by new circumstances.

04:30 PM - 05:00 PM ET

Wikipedia and Standing on the Front Lines Against Misinformation

05:00 PM - 05:10 PM ET

Day One Recap and Day Two Preview

05:10 PM - 06:10 PM ET

Networking Reception