From Law & Order to Northwestern Law

I’m not a lawyer, but I could probably play one on TV.  After years working as a hashtag#strategist for the Attorney General and now advising executives in crisis management, I’ve spent enough time partnering with lawyers to maybe pass as an extra on Law & Order.  This week, I had the privilege of meeting some soon-to-be

2024-11-21T18:41:35+00:00November 20, 2024|

Expect the Unexpected: Preparing for the New Political Reality

University presidents. Trade association CEOs. Energy entrepreneurs. Labor leaders. Social service providers. Media executives.   These are just a few of my clients I’ve spoken with since the Nov. 5 election to talk through the implications for the new administration and the GOP takeover.   In my line of work, the mantra is “expect the unexpected.”  I

2024-11-21T00:25:48+00:00November 16, 2024|

Intern Insights: What Sets the CBL Team Apart?

An exciting aspect of working a summer internship is being a sponge: soaking in every opportunity to learn from your surroundings, particularly by having conversations with your mentors. During my internship at CBL, I took time to formally interview members of the team to gauge their knowledge and experience in the world of crisis

2024-07-30T22:41:48+00:00July 30, 2024|

From Nightmare Scenarios to Happy Endings

I’ve been thinking a lot about fairy tales. My son is learning about different kinds of books and narratives in his preschool class. He’s become a fan of fairy tales. Fantastical stories. Enchanting and mythical characters. Improbable events that lead to happy endings. Makes sense for a 4-year-old. But guess who else likes a good

2024-06-17T15:29:51+00:00June 15, 2024|

If you don’t want to read it on the front page, don’t say it

“This is off the record.” The 5 scariest words that will send me sprinting to hang up a client’s phone or shoot over the most aggressive “Mom’s MAD” look possible. (Hey, if it can stop a 4-year-old in his tracks, it certainly can give a CEO some cause for pause.) This rundown in Ragan

2024-05-14T22:00:50+00:00April 23, 2024|

Beating the boys at their own game: Women leaders in Sports Business

I throw like a girl. And damn proud of it. Almost anything I learned about being successful in business came from what I learned about being an athlete. A girl athlete. Soccer, fast-pitch, cross country. You name it. I did it. Today, I got to reflect on my own learnings playing sports as a

2024-05-14T22:02:19+00:00March 20, 2024|

Show, Don’t Tell: The Power of OTT Advertising

1. Take matters into your own hands. ... And ... 2. Show. Don’t tell. Increasingly, these points are among the most common pieces of advice we give our clients. Here’s why: *Viewers are cutting the cord. *Canceling their newspaper subscription to shift online (if they subscribe at all — shame on you!). *Turning to

2024-02-13T23:56:25+00:00February 13, 2024|

Look Ahead: 2024 Predictions for Communicators & Strategic Advisors

This year, we had ChatGPT, UAW, the meltdown of crypto and conviction of Sam Bankman-Fried, plus epic hijinks in the U.S. House of Representatives, not to mention all those legal headaches for a former POTUS.   As 2023 rounds out and we gear up for another 365 days around the sun, we’re bracing for more

2023-12-22T18:33:03+00:00December 21, 2023|

Springfield Updates: Veto Session Edition

The Illinois General Assembly is scheduled to return for veto session Oct 24-26 and Nov 7-9.  With a new Chicago mayor, here’s our take on some hot button issues to keep an eye on:   Gov. J.B. Pritzker issued an amendatory veto on a bill that would have allowed utility companies, mainly the electric utility

2023-10-13T15:36:08+00:00October 11, 2023|
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