Episode 170: Vanessa Wakeman: Communications as Governance

About this episode

Gregory Nielsen discusses the importance of treating communications as a core governance function in nonprofit organizations with Vanessa Wakeman.

In this episode of Nonprofit Vision , Gregory Nielsen sits down with The Wakeman Agency CEO, Vanessa Wakeman, to explore why communications should be treated not as a “nice to have,” but as a core governance function within nonprofit organizations. Together, they unpack how communications intersects with legal, finance, and program strategy—and why elevating it to the governance level can fundamentally reshape how organizations build trust, engage stakeholders, and advance their mission. If your organization is still treating communications as an afterthought, this conversation offers a compelling case for rethinking its role as a strategic driver of impact.

People in this episode

Host: Gregory Nielsen

Guest: Vanessa Wakeman

Topics covered

• communications
• governance
• nonprofit strategy
• stakeholder engagement
• trust building

Keywords

• nonprofit
• impact
• strategy
• legal
• finance

Mentioned in this episode

Products: The Wakeman Agency

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