Great piece about the struggles for senior comms execs in today's PRWeek from Chris Daniels. Bottom line, many companies are missing opportunities to bring on top notch comms talent because of the bias toward younger professionals. #pr #prtalent #50isthenew30
Despite decades of experience wrangling crises and leading teams, senior execs are having a difficult time finding new roles due to staff cutbacks, an emphasis on new skills and what they contend is ageism. Read the analysis featuring Next Practices Group's David Gallagher, PR Talent's Jim Delulio, Monday Talent's Jamie McLaughlin, Lyra Communications' Jacqueline Keidel Martinez and consultant Dave Samson.
I have numerous friends - each extremely smart, strategic and with rich experience - struggling to find senior Comms roles. It's so hard out there right now. Teams are getting leaner and leaner, and so many people are taking their Comms functions entirely in house rather than use agency support. This is creating enormous burn out for these skeletal Comms teams with overflowing plates as well as hurting the bottom line for us agencies.
There are so many problems, ageism is just one of them.
Greg Artkop
1mo
The PR industry has always focused on the young. Where is the 50 Over 50 list? I’ve done my best work in my late 50s. And I couldn’t have done it without decades of experience.
Such a shame because when you ignore older executives, you miss out on so much experience and expertise!
Beverly Durham
1mo
So true. Us seasoned practitioners have to find ways to reinvent ourselves and find other venues to transfer out knowledge and skills.
Bruce Fryer
1mo
Open invitation to any seasoned comms leader who wants to ditch agency BS and pursue meaningful work together. Let’s connect (seriously).
Michael Smith
1mo
Real world experience is invaluable
Joe Madden
1mo
Great article. Veteran comms pros bring a depth of experience and deep, long standing tier-one reporter relationships that can’t be replicated.
Randy Savicky
1mo
Roman philosopher Cicero: “For there is assuredly nothing dearer to a man than wisdom, and though age takes away all else, it undoubtedly brings us that.”
C-level executive leading corporate marketing, public relations, investor relations
1moAgeism is the symptom, but in comms the disease remains the same: a fundamental disrespect from business executives for comms' role. I was once told flat out by a finance exec, who was wearing a branded shirt and expensive watch, that branding and comms didn't change anything. When you think someone with 10 years' experience can do as good a job as someone with 25...