Such a pleasure to interview Laura Colantuono, Global Head of Internal Communications, lolC Board Director, Fremantle. What does it take to be a great communicator?
Aged, 8, Laura asked her parents for a typewriter and so her passion for comms started early! Her career has taken her from journalism to washing powder and toothpaste, to luxury leather handbags and latterly to media and entertainment. In this 25 minute interview we delve into what makes for a good global internal communicator covering the benefits of being a no-native and the role of listening, joining up the dots across internal audiences and understanding cultural nuances. A lively conversation with some great learning points for anyone interested in how IC works.
In this interview we asked:
- Describe what it was like making the transition from working as a journalist to being in-house in internal communications (IC)?
- What skills would you say you need to be a great IC practitioner? What advice would you give to someone starting their career in IC?
- Can you tell me some of the challenges you identified when you first came into the role at Thames Water?
- What was your approach -what worked well and what in hindsight would you have done differently?
- How do you approach crisis comms and what are the top three scenarios you might plan for in the water sector?
- What did you learn during the pandemic and what of those lessons have you carried into 2023?
- How do you manage your mental health and wellbeing?
- Who or what are your influences/mentors that keep you motivated?
Bio
Laura is a communications professional with over 12 years of experience gained in global organisations. She is Italian but has lived abroad for most of her life. Laura started her career as a journalist to then join Unilever Italy in 2010, where she discovered her passion for Internal Communications. In 2014, she joined the luxury fashion brand Fendi to lead the global IC function and in 2019 she moved to London, where she joined Harrods as Internal Communications Manager. In 2020, she returned to the FMCG sector and joined The Kraft Heinz Company as Head of Internal Communications, International. After a short-term assignment at the fintech Klarna, she has recently joined the media company Fremantle, where she leads the global Internal Communications function. She is also on the Board of Directors of the Institute of Internal Communication.
If you are a business owner or leader in an organisation and would like to be interviewed for the Q&R Listen.Better vodcast series in 2023 please do get in touch for an initial chat: tellmemore@questionandretain.co.uk