As the incoming Chair of the IPR Board of Trustees, Yanique Woodall, looks to the future and shares what research priorities and upcoming programs IPR will focus on in 2023.
It’s hard to believe we’re one full month into the new year. As communicators in our fast-paced, deadline-driven, and constantly evolving environments, time seems to move faster than the speed of light!
As I reflect on 2022, I am incredibly grateful for the work IPR continues to contribute to the industry, and I am honored to continue to serve on the Executive Committee for the Board of Trustees. In the summer of 2017, a dear colleague, Stacey Tank, referred me to IPR, as she knew I truly valued the research behind our communications work. It’s been a rewarding experience since day one, and I continue to be amazed by the discussions and decisions made by fellow communications colleagues stemming from IPR’s research initiatives. IPR has such an influence on today’s most pressing and important topics for communications professionals.
As I embark on 2023 as the new IPR Chair, I am looking forward to continuing to work with Tina (McCorkindale), Stacey (Jones), the newly appointed vice-chair Diana (Littman), the newly appointed treasurer Brett (Ludwig) and the phenomenal Board of Trustees to accelerate further IPR’s mission and commission breakthrough research that helps facilitate the most important discussion topics critical to today’s business operations. Most of all, I would like to thank Steve (Cody), our outgoing immediate past chair, for his leadership, dedication, and steadfast commitment to IPR and the industry. He has truly made remarkable contributions to our industry (and, plus anyone that spends time with him is guaranteed to have an enlightening and fulfilling discussion!).
When I think about our goals for this year, I hope our industry can count on IPR for the following: valuable information that influences our most important decisions, professional development for tomorrow’s leaders, networking, and building a sense of community and peer-to-peer learning.
Here are a few highlights that come to mind:
— Peer-to-peer learning: IPR is offering its highly regarded IPR Master Class series with courses focused on employee engagement, change management, and combatting disinformation, as well as its cornerstone course, Strategic Playbook for Communicators.
— Professional development for tomorrow’s leaders: We are seeking membership applications for IPR ELEVATE, a leadership community of 25 to 40 high-performing innovators and catalysts for growth, change, and advancement who support the mission and insights-focused work of IPR.
— Valuable information that influences our most important decisions: IPR anticipates having its strongest research year yet with studies focused on employee engagement and mental health, disability in the workplace (a partnership with Voya Financial), the annual disinformation in society study, the relationship between Chief Communication Officers and Chief Diversity Officers, and climate change, among others.
— Networking and building a sense of community: IPR is hosting its annual IPR Bridge Conference from March 22-23 at Georgetown University in Washington D.C. This event brings together the academy and the practice to share the latest in research and discuss the most critical and forward-looking issues impacting the field. A key feature of the conference is the opportunity to network and interact with top leaders in an intimate setting.
Our industry continues to thrive, in large part due to the significant contribution of IPR over the years. I am looking forward to working with all of you—and I wish you the very best in 2023!
Cheers!
-Yanique
Yanique Woodall is Vice President of Communications and Customer Experience at CVS Health. She is Chair of the IPR Board of Trustees. Read Yanique’s full bio here!
