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The 5 C's of Successful Communication
Presidential and executive communications leader KAREN HUGHES shares her expertise on the five most crucial elements of communications, cultivated from her time as a reporter to her time in the White House to her current job as a counselor for corporate and political leaders, to help every audience member communicate more effectively.
Crisis Communication: Say the Right Thing When It Matters Most
From 9/11 to the first US hospital to diagnose a patient with Ebola, KAREN HUGHES shares insights gained from a career dealing with some of the biggest crises to face our country. Regardless of the stakes, Huges coaches audiences on navigating the delicate nuances of language, ensuring impactful messaging in critical moments.
From the White House to Fortune 500 Boardrooms: Peak Executive Leadership
Drawing from her years of advising top executives in both government and corporate spheres, KAREN HUGHES offers invaluable insights into navigating the complexities of leadership at the highest levels. Hughes’ strategic acumen, coupled with a keen understanding of organizational dynamics, empowers leaders to inspire, innovate, and excel in today’s ever-shifting landscape.
A Bipartisan Analysis: Where in the World are We?
With a nuanced understanding of both domestic and international affairs cultivated through years of bipartisan engagement, KAREN HUGHES provides a comprehensive analysis of where we stand in today’s world. Hughes’ balanced perspective bridges political divides, offering clarity and insights crucial for navigating the complexities of our global landscape.
For Women Audiences
In this presentation geared towards empowering women, KAREN HUGHES emphasizes empowerment, resilience, and the importance of self-advocacy. Sharing personal anecdotes and lessons from her own journey as a leader, Hughes encourages women to embrace their strengths, pursue their ambitions, and overcome obstacles with confidence. She also highlights the value of mentorship, networking, and supporting one another in achieving collective success, inspiring women to strive for excellence in all aspects of life. Wisconsin Women in Government said, “So many people have commented that Karen Hughes was the best speaker we've ever had. I wholeheartedly agree!”
PR Hall of Famer Karen Hughes’ compelling and actionable remarks shed light on communicating through crisis, leadership, and women's empowerment
KAREN HUGHES is one of the world's foremost communication strategists with a brilliance that has shaped Presidential politics and policy for years. The current Worldwide Vice Chair at esteemed communications agency Burson Cohn & Wolfe, Hughes also served as counselor to President George W. Bush and Under Secretary of the State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs. Her strategic messaging, crisis communications, and executive positioning with clients range from politicians and officials to governmental bodies and global corporations to Fortune 500 companies and their CEOs. Hughes' compelling and actionable remarks shed light on issues such as communicating through crisis, keys to successful communication, leadership, and women's empowerment.
Watch Karen Hughes present at the SMU Center for Presidential History >>
Watch Karen Hughes in conversation with Burston Marstellar >>
Global communications expert Karen Hughes receives rave reviews for her sold-out events
One of the world's foremost communication strategists KAREN HUGHES specializes in strategic messaging, crisis communications and executive positioning with clients ranging from global corporations to Fortune 500 CEOs. For her work in Washington D.C., she has been described as "the most powerful woman ever to serve in the White House" (Dallas Morning News) and "the most powerful public diplomacy czar in decades" (The Boston Globe). Her hosts say:
Watch Karen Hughes give the Texas Tech University commencement address >>
Watch Karen Hughes in conversation with Burston Marstellar >>
Karen Hughes is a leading communications strategist, specializing in strategic messaging, crisis communications and executive communications. Through her advisory firm Message Matters, Karen provides strategic counsel to major companies and senior executives facing complex reputational, policy and regulatory challenges, crises, organizational transitions and critical business decisions.
Karen served as Worldwide Vice Chair of global communications firm BCW (formerly Burson-Marsteller) from July 2008 to September 2022. In her role as Worldwide Vice Chair, Karen provided strategic communications counsel to many high-profile clients. Karen was the senior strategist on the team advising the first U.S. hospital to diagnose a patient with Ebola; she helped Blue Bell Ice Cream manage the largest food safety recall of 2015 after listeria was found in several of its products; she helped develop the strategy to differentiate Ford in the aftermath of the auto bailout; she advised a global healthcare company as it managed recalls of some of its most iconic consumer products; and she guided a major Texas retailer as it managed a complex data breach. She has led numerous communications workshops and media training sessions and worked directly with many senior executives on their messaging and communications strategies.
Karen has served on the Microsoft Advisory Council for Policy and Politics (MAC) since 2011, advising the Microsoft President and his executive team on many of the company’s most important policy, public affairs, legal and regulatory issues.
Karen’s varied career has spanned journalism, political campaigns, and the private and public sectors, from helping lead winning presidential campaigns to serving at the highest levels of government. Karen served as Counselor to the President for President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2002. In this role she acted as strategic advisor to the president on communications and policy, and led the White House Offices of Communications, Media Affairs, Speechwriting and Press Secretary. Karen also served as Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs from 2005 to 2007 where she led the U.S. government’s efforts to communicate America’s values abroad.
Karen served on the Board of Directors and Compensation and NESG Committees for publicly traded Parsley Energy from 2017 to 2021, through its successful merger with Pioneer Natural Resources in early 2021. She is a member of the Bush Institute Advisory Council and the U.S. Afghan Women’s Council, an organization created to foster ties between the women of America and Afghanistan.
In 2020, Karen was inducted into the PRWeek Hall of Fame. She is the best-selling author of Ten Minutes from Normal, a book about working for President Bush and her decision to leave the White House to return with her family to Texas in 2002. Karen received a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Journalism from Southern Methodist University and was honored with SMU’s Distinguished Alumni award in 2003. Karen lives in Austin with her husband, attorney Jerry Hughes, and they have two children, Leigh and Robert, and four granddaughters, Lauren, Hallie, Claire and Lizzy. She is an active member of the Lakeway Church.
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