Nicola Green is Virgin Media O2's Chief Comms and Corporate Affairs Officer and an active campaigner for women in PR. Nicola has Type 1 Diabetes and is now a passionate advocate for raising awareness and understanding around invisible illnesses.
These were the headlines from our conversation.
(1.22) On taking a more direct and succinct comms approach as her career has progressed.
(3.22) On being a role model for women looking to forge a career in comms, flexible working and maintaining work life balance.
(7.07) On working with Type 1 diabetes and her commitment to raising aware around invisible illness in the workplace.
(9.58) On the role communicators need to play in supporting the D, E & I agenda and why it keeps her up at night.
(11.28) On the importance of listening and bringing the outside in when managing upwards.
(12.50) On the importance of emotional intelligence and timing when influencing abrasive personalities
(14.08) On the single most important piece of comms advice she’s ever given a CEO.
(15.08) On the importance of authenticity and personality in leadership comms. And the importance of sticking to 3 messages.
(17.45) How she engages and motivates her own comms team and the importance of giving people a voice and opionioon.
(19.11) On maintaining engagement during the Virgin Media O2 merger.
(23.56) On losing long-term team members and helping people depart as ‘positive leavers’.
(25:48) On leading comms while on holiday during O2’s biggest crisis.
(27:55) On the evolving role of social media and empowering and trusting your team during a crisis.
(31:00) On comms lessons learned from the pandemic that remain relevant today.
(32:56) Brief interlude as Nicola’s diabetes alarm sounds.
(33.20) On Workplace, video content and live CEO updates.
(34:33) On the leader that has most inspired her and why they’ve inspired her approach to comms mentorship.
(36:49) On challenging the view that comms is a dying career and helping parents returning to work to thrive.