Endurance, empathy, and executive presence: leading through change with Kelly Clarke, former IC leader at Cisco, Meta, and Gong

Episode 81
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About the episode

In this episode, we sit down with Kelly Clarke, a seasoned internal communications leader, to explore how endurance and empathy power executive presence in times of transformation. With a foundation in PR and a passion for human-centered leadership, Kelly shares how she has guided companies through crises, cultural shifts, and massive change — always with transparency and trust at the core.

Carolyn Clark, Simpplr’s VP of Communications and EX Strategy, moderates the conversation as it uncovers how internal comms can drive clarity, connection, and courage at every level of an organization.

Endurance, empathy, and executive presence: leading through change with Kelly Clarke, former IC leader at Cisco, Meta, and Gong

Playlist

  • 01:30
    Getting to know Kelly
  • 03:35
    Leadership lessons from endurance
  • 12:12
    Building comms functions in times of change
  • 28:20
    Coaching leaders to show up authentically
  • 36:30
    Life lessons from Girls on the Run

Guest information

Kelly Clarke

Kelly is a strategic communications leader and creative storyteller with a proven track record of driving high-impact communication programs at high-growth startups and Fortune 500 companies.

While her experience spans internal, executive, and external comms (and she’s passionate about all three), her focus for the last 12+ years has been on leading internal comms within business functions and companywide. Whether it’s building an internal comms function from the ground up or adapting and scaling an existing one, Kelly thrives in both settings, and she is always looking for new, creative ways to better reach and engage employees.

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