Circle of Fellows #122: Preparing Communication Professionals for the Future

About this episode

A discussion on preparing communication professionals for the future, focusing on essential skills and mindsets.

The forward-looking discussion was joined by five seasoned leaders: two professors shaping the next generation of communicators and three senior practitioners traversing today’s real-world pressures. Together, they bridge campus and workplace, theory and execution, to define what readiness really looks like in a world of constant change. Shel Holtz, SCMP, IABC Fellow, will moderate the session. This episode featured a candid, fast-paced discussion on the skills and mindsets that matter now — and the ones you’ll need next. From AI literacy and data comfort to ethical judgment, change agility, and human-centered storytelling, the panel will share practical frameworks you can apply immediately. You’ll hear how universities are evolving curricula, how employers can cultivate lifelong learning, and how individual pros can future-proof their careers without losing the craft that sets them apart. You’ll get actionable guidance, plenty of examples from classrooms and boardrooms. Whether you lead a team, teach, hire, or are building your own career path, this conversation will help you set priorities for the year ahead. If you can’t attend the live session, you can watch the video replay…

People in this episode

Host: Shel Holtz

Guests: Professor 2, Professor 1, Practitioner 3, Practitioner 2, Practitioner 1

Topics covered

• communication
• future skills
• AI literacy
• data comfort
• ethical judgment
• change agility
• human-centered storytelling

Keywords

• curricula evolution
• lifelong learning
• career development

Mentioned in this episode

Products: AI tools, data analysis software

Books & works: Circle of Fellows #122

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