Hot Takes & Hand-Raises: A Town Hall on AI, EX & the Future of Comms

Carolyn Clark is the VP of Internal Communications & EX Strategy at Simpplr, a modern intranet platform. A seasoned leader, with deep roots in employee communications and employee experience, Carolyn joined to help Simpplr elevate the employee experience by driving innovation and reimagining how employee communication is delivered in today’s world.

Throughout her career, Clark has intentionally diversified her experience to all facets of communication. From producing broadcast news to consumer and product public relations, media relations and corporate communication. Before joining Simpplr, Clark led internal and HR communication at major tech companies including Yahoo, Oath (Verizon Media), Pandora, GoDaddy, and Opendoor. Clark has led countless transitions, navigated more crises than she can count, and shepherded thousands of employees through complex acquisitions and integrations. She has a passion for navigating difficult situations and an ability to drive employee experience strategy through complicated corporate issues.

Clark lives in North Carolina with her husband and energetic 10-year-old daughter.

Like many internal communicators, Regan Zuege found herself accidentally swept up in the world of internal comms more than a decade ago, and she never looked back. She loves carefully crafting communications to create a sense of authentic belonging, connection and culture within workplaces. Regan went through the full intranet selection process with a previous employer, ultimately selecting and successfully implementing Simpplr. She became such a superfan that she now leads internal communications here for the Simpplr team. Connect with her on LinkedIn if you want to know how Simpplr solved her internal comms challenges, tips on leveraging the platform, and where to find the best tacos and margaritas in her hometown, Austin.

Shawn has spent over 20 years mastering the art of communication and enhancing employee experiences. With leadership roles at GoDaddy and Wish — and a history of collaboration with nonprofits, startups and artists — he believes in the power of face-to-face connections. Start with genuine connection, then build programs and systems based on that. When not trail running or paddleboarding in the mountains, you’ll find him eating diner pancakes or working on his latest book about communications, community and inclusivity. Connect with Shawn on LinkedIn.

I am a self-proclaimed Skyline Chili connoisseur and dedicated Duran Duran fan with nearly 30 years of experience in marketing, corporate communications, and internal communications. My passion for this work began early in my career at companies like General Motors and Rolls-Royce, where I saw firsthand how internal communications can drive real success.

Today, I lead ICology, a community and resource built to inspire communicators to do more, be more, and realize just how much more they already are. I am also the co-host of Frequency, a podcast with Jenni Field where we explore the everyday rhythms and stories that shape how organizations communicate and thrive.

Over the years, I have partnered with some of the world’s most well-known brands to help them rethink how they connect with employees, from the shop floor to the corner office. I am also the co-creator of the Periodic Table of Internal Communications and co-author of The Very Hungry Communicator.

And once, I got to fly in a blimp, which always makes for a good story.

Ira Gottlieb is Divisional Vice President of Communications at TriNet, where he leads internal and crisis communications strategy. With over 30 years of experience in corporate communications, Ira has held leadership roles at Bristol-Myers Squibb, Tyco International, and General Electric. At TriNet, he served on the company’s internal AI/ML Working Group, identifying opportunities to leverage artificial intelligence across the organization. Ira holds a Master of Science in Strategic Communication from Purdue University and a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from the State University of New York.

Jill van der Poel is the Director of Corporate Affairs at Moderna where she leads strategic initiatives in employee engagement, corporate communications, social media and executive visibility. With ten years of experience in the biotech industry, Jill has significantly contributed to enhancing brand visibility and employee engagement, especially as Moderna expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic. Previously, she managed digital and social media strategies at Ipsen, a global biopharmaceutical company focused on oncology, rare disease, and neuroscience. She holds a bachelor’s degree in music performance from Baylor University in Waco, TX. When not in the office, you can find her gardening with her family in Boston or working on art projects that fuel her creativity.