#KatieTalks

Recorded the night before they walked on stage at IABC APAC Fusion in Brisbane, Katie Bennett-Stenton and Trudi Rowley take their own advice: make the call before the results land. Every executive in their research wants evidence of business impact, yet far fewer can say the last marketing or communications report they received changed a decision. The gap isn't data. It's judgement.
 
Trudi Rowley is Director of Rowley Advisory and a data and insights-led digital marketing strategist with deep experience in superannuation and wealth management. Together, Katie and Trudi bring around sixty years of getting clarity fast with executives and boards when the stakes are high and the patience is low. Their framework, the Authority Cycle, came out of those rooms. Their new research, surveying marketers and communicators on one side and executives and directors on the other, pressure-tests it.
 
What we explore
Where the Authority Cycle came from, including the micromanaging executive who stopped coming to Trudi's meetings once the reporting changed
Gather: AI has made data infinite and executive attention scarcer, so clarity becomes a contribution to good governance
Link: tying the work to what boards actually weigh, Katie's three Rs of reach, relationship and revenue, and whether "executives don't value what we do" is a truth or a comfortable lie
Recommend: insight first, then the call, and why a report without a recommendation is abdication, not deference
The smoke alarm: executives rank early warning of emerging risks well above where marketers and communicators expect it
Compounded judgement: what a senior marketing or communications leader offers that Copilot can't
 
Why this matters
For directors and executives, this is what to expect, and demand, from your marketing and communications leaders. For marketers and communicators, it's how you earn the trust to be brought into the decision earlier, rather than asked to report on it afterwards. Your CEO can rent Copilot. They can't rent your compounded authority.
 
Have your say
The research is a snapshot, and both surveys stay open for another month. Each takes one to three minutes.
Marketers and communicators: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/Qb6mqP4GVY
Executives and directors: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=DQSIkWdsW0yxEjajBLZtrQAAAAAAAAAAAAMAAMbEqw9UMTVSRFVZWDZSQUdQQzdZT1dNTTE3TjZFOS4u
 
Want the Authority Cycle in your team? Email Katie and Trudi about an Authority Advantage workshop or audit: katie@bennett-stenton.com and trudi@rowleyadvisory.com
Want the one-page thinking template? Comment "template" on Katie's LinkedIn post.
Mentioned in this episode: IABC APAC Fusion 2026, Brisbane; AICD Director Sentiment Index 2026.
 
Connect
Katie Bennett-Stenton: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiebennettstenton/
Trudi Rowley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trudirowley/More
from Katie: https://www.bennett-stenton.com
 

Most people talking about AI in marketing have never had to fund it, defend it to a board, or answer for it. Rochelle Tognetti has done all three.
She was CMO and Partner at Deloitte. In 2024 she walked into her performance review and told her boss she was leaving to go and study. Deloitte wrote a sabbatical clause into the partnership to keep her. She branded the year "my year of saying yes", started lecturing at the University of Sydney, and came back to go all in on AI. She co-founded the Australian Centre for AI in Marketing and is now Adobe's first ever AI Evangelist for Japan and Asia Pacific.
In this episode of #KatieTalks, Katie Bennett-Stenton and Rochelle skip the hype and get to what actually separates the leaders from the laggards: your data foundations, your workflow design, your visibility inside a generative engine, and your own instinct.
In this conversation
Why the market moved from freeze to bets. The question is no longer should we. It is how fast, and how safely.
Where agentic AI is genuinely real. Autonomous content personalisation, real-time journey orchestration, and agents working in orchestration with each other.
The AI-native consumer. Your customers have the same technology without your risk profile. In some ways they have pulled ahead. The AI agent is now a persona in your plan.
Where leaders are kidding themselves. Assuming the process can run without humans, and putting shiny technology on top of fragmented data.
GEO, practically. Citations, references, FAQs and long-form content. How to check how you show up, whether to build or partner, and what happens to the SEO budget. Plus the shadow website idea Kato brings back from Sydney.
The skill nobody is hiring for. When AI makes your thinking worse, why instinct is a leadership asset, and the difference between using AI as a shortcut and using it as a thought partner.
Rochelle Tognetti leads AI Strategy and Evangelism for Asia Pacific and Japan at Adobe. She is the former CMO and Partner at Deloitte Australia, co-founder of the Australian Centre for AI in Marketing, and an academic at the University of Sydney.

AI is no longer just changing how we work. It is changing how businesses are found, compared and chosen.
In this episode of #KatieTalks, Katie Bennett-Stenton speaks with digital marketing leader Bec Dyce about the shift many senior teams still haven’t properly clocked: customers are increasingly using AI to research brands, compare options and build shortlists before they ever reach a website.
So what happens when your brand does not appear in the answer?
Katie and Bec unpack why the website is no longer just for humans, why brands need to optimise for answers rather than clicks, and why AI visibility is quickly becoming a commercial growth issue, not a digital side quest.
They also explore what smart organisations are doing now: auditing how they show up in AI search, strengthening website authority, investing in original thought leadership, and paying attention to the surprising role of LinkedIn, YouTube, earned media and third-party sources in how AI understands a brand.
This is a conversation for CEOs, CMOs, marketers and communicators who do not want to wake up in 2027 and discover their competitors have been quietly winning the shortlist.
Because if AI is becoming the adviser, the real question is simple: is your brand even in the conversation?

In this episode of #KatieTalks, Katie Bennett-Stenton speaks with James Fielding, her business partner at Camojee, about the first major theme from their new report, Rethinking Rainmakers: How Top Firms Multiply Talent and Drive 42% Better Growth.
This first conversation explores what is broken in professional services growth, and why firms that rely too heavily on individual rainmakers risk capping performance.
Katie and James discuss why sustainable growth requires more than star performers. It requires better systems, stronger pipeline discipline, aligned rewards, embedded collaboration and a shift from individual heroics to institutional growth capability.
A strategic conversation for managing partners, CEOs, business development leaders and growth-focused executives rethinking how professional services firms grow.

If Episode 1 explains why change fails, this conversation focuses on what it actually takes to make it work.
In Part 2, Katie Bennett-Stenton and Howard Krais move from diagnosis to application — exploring the lived experience of change across organisations, cultures and leadership contexts.
From global headquarters to frontline teams, this episode surfaces the often-overlooked gap between what organisations say and what people actually experience.
 
They discuss:
The “head office illusion” — and why what feels critical at the centre often barely registers on the frontline.
Why communication often serves the organisation, not the people it’s meant to support.
The role of curiosity and listening in building trust and momentum.
Why responding matters more than collecting feedback.
How to lead change across cultures — balancing global consistency with local relevance.
What the best organisations will do differently: treating change as constant, not episodic.
One idea stands out: change is not about agreement — it’s about understanding. When people understand what’s happening and why, they’re far more likely to engage and make it work.
This episode is for leaders who want to move beyond theory — and lead change in a way that actually delivers.

Most organisations don’t fail at change because the strategy is wrong. They fail because they underestimate the human reality of it.
In this first episode of a two-part conversation, Katie Bennett-Stenton speaks with Howard Krais — a globally experienced leader in organisational change and communication — about why so many transformation efforts fall short, and what leaders continue to misunderstand.
Katie first met Howard at the IABC World Conference in Vancouver, where his perspective on change as a human experience to lead, not a process to manage stood out immediately.
This episode focuses on the diagnosis — where organisations go wrong, and why.
 
They explore:
Why people don’t resist change — they resist how change is done to them.
The disconnect between leadership logic and employee emotion — and why messages are felt before they’re understood.
What happens when change is communicated as a fait accompli.
Why up to 70% of change efforts fail — and the commercial cost of getting it wrong.
The uncomfortable truth about internal communications today: high activity, low strategic impact.
 
Howard also introduces a critical shift: using AI to remove transactional work, freeing communicators to focus on insight, intelligence and influence.
This is a clear-eyed conversation for leaders who want change to land — not just launch.
About the Guest:
Howard Krais has spent over 30 years working in organisational communication and transformation, including roles at NatWest, EY, GSK and Johnson Matthey. He is co-founder of True Communications and co-author of Leading the Listening Organisation.

Organisations are evolving.Leadership models are shifting.And the firms gaining momentum are rethinking how they access expertise, build capability and scale.
In this episode of #KatieTalks, Katie Bennett-Stenton speaks with Deena Hooper, Director of Client Experience and Marketing at Korda Mentha, about the growing shift toward fractional leadership, agile expertise and smarter organisational structures.
In a market where many large consulting firms are consolidating and recalibrating, Korda Mentha is pursuing an ambitious growth trajectory. This conversation explores what sits behind that confidence, and how leadership, talent and operating models are evolving to support sustainable expansion.
Drawing on deep experience across professional services and transformation environments, Katie and Deena explore:
Why fractional and flexible leadership models are gaining traction
How external leaders bring fresh perspective and accelerate change
The risk of capable teams losing strategic altitude and how leaders reset it
The evolving role of AI and where human judgement becomes more valuable
How high-growth organisations are blending internal capability with external expertise
Why relationship-building remains a powerful leadership advantage
How leadership capability must evolve to support sustainable growth
This is a strategic conversation for CEOs, senior leaders and decision-makers thinking differently about:
How they structure leadership
How they scale capability
How they access specialist expertise
How they build high-impact organisations in uncertain times
As organisations navigate constant disruption, those willing to rethink traditional leadership models and embrace more agile ways of working will be best positioned to lead, grow and deliver impact.
GuestDeena HooperDirector of Client Experience and MarketingKorda Mentha
About #KatieTalks#KatieTalks features conversations with senior leaders and influencers sharing strategic insights on leadership, growth and the evolving world of work designed to help organisations think differently and lead with greater impact.

This episode is a little different… and a little more uncomfortable (in the best possible way).
For the first time on #KatieTalks, Katie is in the hot seat. Interviewed by Ike Levick, this is a sharp, honest and slightly cheeky unpack of what it actually takes to win the Australian Marketing Institute Certified Practising Marketer of the Year award.
And… very timely, given entries for this year’s awards have just opened. No pressure.
Spoiler: it’s not about playing it safe, being polite, or waiting your turn.
In this conversation, we get into:
Why applying for awards (even when your inner critic is having a full-blown moment) is a strategic move, not a vanity exercise
The real reason bold, future-focused marketing wins… when it’s anchored in commercial reality, not just pretty ideas
Why your point of view isn’t a “nice to have” — it’s your edge, your leverage, your difference
How to think well beyond the brief (and then calmly work backwards to make the “impossible” happen)
A standout case study: a TikTok-led grad campaign delivering 300% uplift on a ~$1,600 spend
Fractional leadership and why smart organisations are increasingly buying sharp thinking, not just headcount
The non-negotiables: curiosity, networks, and staying uncomfortably close to what’s next (yes, AI — whether you like it or not)
Why lifting the standard of the marketing profession — and backing the next generation — is not optional if we want to be taken seriously
It’s part strategy, part career reality check, and part gentle (read: not that gentle) nudge to stop playing small.
Because the work that gets noticed, funded and talked about?
It’s usually the idea someone almost didn’t say out loud.
 
🔗 Resources mentioned
Ike Levick: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ikelevick/
Australian Marketing Institute: https://ami.org.au/
Edelman Trust Barometer: https://www.edelman.com/trust/trust-barometer
If you’ve been waiting for a sign to back yourself, take the bigger swing, or throw your hat in the ring… this might be it.

To lead well, and communicate brilliantly, we have to understand the people shaping the world around us. Gen Z already makes up around 60 percent of the global workforce, and while they’re not yet the senior decision-makers in most organisations, their influence on culture, communication and consumer behaviour is undeniable. For leaders, marketers and strategists, grasping these generational shifts isn’t optional; it’s how you stay relevant.
 
In this episode of Katie Talks, Katie Bennett-Stenton speaks with India Starr, a graduate researcher at the USC Annenberg Center for Public Relations, about the findings from the 2025 Global Communication Report: Mind the Gap.
 
Katie met India at the IABC World Conference in Vancouver, where India spoke on a panel exploring how generational perspectives are reshaping communication, influence and leadership. Together, they unpack what the research reveals about the friction, and opportunity, between those creating messages and those consuming them.
 
In this conversation, they explore:
Why every generation believes it’s the most informed, and what that reveals about trust, truth and the stories we choose to believe.
How older communicators still see a New York Times feature or CNN segment as the ultimate campaign milestone, while younger professionals see a Taylor Swift endorsement as the best it gets.
The nuanced differences in how each cohort consumes and evaluates information, less about platforms, more about authenticity and alignment with values.
What the research shows about AI, creativity and ethics, and why younger communicators see technology as a creative partner, not a threat.
How leaders and marketers can use these insights to build communication that resonates across generations and expectationsThis is a smart, data-driven and distinctly human conversation about what it means to connect meaningfully across generations and why those who understand these dynamics will shape the future of communication.
About the Guest:
India Starr is a graduate student at the University of Southern California, where she contributes to the Center for Public Relations’ Global Communication Report. Her research explores generational dynamics, evolving media behaviours and the intersection of technology, trust and influence.

In this candid and deeply human conversation, Katie Bennett-Stenton sits down with Sally Spicer,  Communications Director at Future Women, to talk about the moment when relentless ambition collides with real life.
 
Sally is a two-time Mumbrella award-winner, this year named Journalist of the Year (2025 Mumbrella Publish Awards), and last year recognised for her exceptional work as Executive Producer of There’s No Place Like Home, a powerful podcast on domestic and family violence.
But behind the accolades was a story few knew: burnout, ADHD, and the courage to stop.
 
In this conversation, Katie and Sally explore:
How overachievement and anxiety often disguise themselves as dedication.
The fine line between purpose and overwork — and what happens when identity becomes productivity.
How an ADHD diagnosis reframed Sally’s view of herself from broken to wired differently.
What leaders can learn about neurodiversity, sustainability, and genuine support.
Why giving yourself grace might just be the most radical form of self-care.
 
Sally’s honesty and humour offer a masterclass in reframing success, from constant output to conscious living.
 
Read Sally’s article:
“I’ve always worked too hard. It took an ADHD diagnosis and a breakdown to change that.” – The Age / Sydney Morning Herald
 
Read it here.

What happens when more than 70,000 women get to shape the life of one fictional character? You spark a national conversation that’s part data, part dignity — and 100% insight.
 
In this episode of #KatieTalks, I speak with the formidable Helen McCabe, Founder and Managing Director of Future Women, about the powerhouse campaign Choose Her Own Adventure — and why it resonated so deeply across generations of Australian women. We unpack how the campaign blended content, advocacy and audience participation in a way that made people feel before they analysed — and what that signals for leaders, marketers, and organisations trying to cut through.
From gendered assumptions about money to digital engagement that actually works, Helen doesn’t hold back.
 
“This campaign was about freedom. Being able to make your own decisions — and be the owner of your own destiny.” – Helen McCabe
 
In this conversation, we explore:
The strategic architecture behind Choose Her Own Adventure — and what made it more than a viral moment
Why women voting for Anna made such “sensible decisions” — and what that says about how we frame advice vs how we act
How Future Women’s Jobs Academy succeeded by “creating the community first” — and what marketers can learn from that model
The future of newsletters, online communities, and targeted content ecosystems
What too many brands still get wrong about professional women (“Stop thinking about women in terms of their age or whether they watch YouTube or read Vogue. Think about the decisions they’re actually making.”)
What marketers can learn from FW’s reach and resonance without traditional media: “We’ve built a brand through the pureplay of Instagram and LinkedIn.”
 
For marketers and communicators, Helen’s advice is clear:
“Brands are desperate for this level of sophistication... Where you add narrative, emotional connection, and it feels like it’s about you. That’s the Holy Grail.”
 
She also offers a call to rethink how we segment female audiences — not by age or media consumption, but by decision-making power, professional identity, and influence.
 
And for leaders wondering what’s next, her own Choose Her Own Adventure moment? Retirement — or reinvention with a view of Provence. She's not sure yet. But she’ll be taking the call — rosé in hand.

In this insightful episode of #KatieTalks, I sit down with Zora Artis, a globally recognized expert in strategic alignment, brand experience, and leadership. Zora shares her wealth of knowledge on how leaders can drive meaningful change by aligning purpose, vision, values, and brand promise across their organizations.
 
We kick off with a memorable story from Zora’s stay at the Four Seasons Hotel, where a thoughtful gesture turned a routine stay into an unforgettable experience. Zora explains how leaders can cultivate a culture where employees are empowered to go above and beyond, creating lasting loyalty that justifies a premium for the brand.
 
We also explore Zora’s groundbreaking Three C Plus model, designed to help organizations embed purpose and values into their daily operations. Zora illustrates the power of strategic alignment through examples like Bon Jovi’s brand loyalty, Queen’s iconic Wembley performance, and Taylor Swift’s perfectly orchestrated concerts. These examples provide a powerful blueprint for organizations striving to achieve the same level of cohesion and impact in their brand experience.
 
Zora also shares her research, which shows that only 13% of organizations are truly aligned, and discusses the barriers leaders face in achieving alignment. Finally, we explore the intersection of AI, leadership, and wisdom, and how leaders can maintain a balance between curiosity and experience in a rapidly changing world.
 
**Key Topics Discussed:**
**Creating a Culture of Exceptional Experiences:**
   - How a thoughtful gesture at the Four Seasons Hotel provides a lesson in building lasting loyalty through unforgettable customer experiences.
 
**Strategic Alignment in Action:**
   - How aligning purpose, vision, values, and brand promise can empower leaders to create brand experiences that resonate emotionally with customers and stakeholders.
 
**The Three C Plus Model:**
   - How Zora’s innovative model helps organizations embed purpose and values into their daily operations, ensuring alignment across all touchpoints.
 
**Lessons from Bon Jovi, Queen, and Taylor Swift:**
   - What leaders can learn from Bon Jovi’s sustained brand loyalty, Queen’s iconic performance, and Taylor Swift’s perfectly orchestrated concerts about creating cohesive, impactful brand experiences.
 
**Overcoming Barriers to Alignment:**
   - Why only 13% of organizations are truly aligned and how leaders can overcome the significant barriers to make alignment a core strength.
 
**The Role of AI in Leadership:**
   - How leaders can balance a beginner’s mindset with wisdom to guide their organizations through technological and cultural shifts.
 
**Tune in to discover:**
- How to foster a culture where above-and-beyond experiences become the norm, not the exception.
- The importance of alignment in driving meaningful change and creating unforgettable brand experiences.
- Insights into overcoming alignment challenges and the role of AI in shaping modern leadership.