Latest news with #strategiccommunication
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Digitalia 21 Launches Proprietary Reputation Strategy to Help Companies Convert Visibility into Market Value
Roma, It , July 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Digitalia 21, a strategic communications studio, has launched a proprietary method to help companies turn visibility into market value by strengthening their reputation. The announcement comes amid mounting data that underscores the financial impact of corporate perception. Foto Gio Talente In 2024, the market sent a clear message: corporate reputation is no longer an accessory, but a strategic lever that accounts for up to 28% of market capitalization, according to the Reputation Dividend Report. In the United States alone, companies listed on the S&P 500 lost $182 billion due to the deterioration of their public image. In Italy, the stock exchange (Piazza Affari) saw a value loss of €27.9 billion. 'Anyone who thinks visibility alone is enough to sell is seriously mistaken,' says Gio Talente, founder of Digitalia 21 and recognized as one of Italy's leading experts in reputation, media positioning, and strategic communication. 'Today, the market doesn't reward those who speak the most, but those who are perceived as credible. And credibility can't be bought—it must be built.' In today's landscape—shaped by AI, trust crises, and economic instability—companies can no longer afford to appear without substance. Reputation is what separates the visible from the authoritative. According to Talente, it's the decisive factor that turns visibility into revenue, notoriety into investment, and words into opportunity. Digitalia 21 has developed a proprietary method that combines editorial strategy, personal branding, and institutional communication. The results? SMEs and professionals who tripled commercial inquiries after a targeted reputation campaign, or secured strategic funding following a single feature in national media. 'It's no longer the time for likes,' warns Talente. 'It's the time for decisions. And only those who are recognized as authoritative will sit at the tables that matter: those of investors, partners, and clients.' Today, reputation is a measurable economic asset. The data confirms it: 94% of analyzed companies increased shareholder value thanks to a strong reputation. Sectors like technology, healthcare, and basic materials attribute up to 52% of their market value to reputation. A standout case is Nvidia, where 58% of its market capitalization is based on brand trust, surpassing even its financial performance. Yet in Italy, a structured culture around reputation is still lacking. 'We have entrepreneurs who spend millions on advertising but not a single euro to position themselves as trustworthy. They talk to everyone, but no one truly listens,' Talente points out. With Italy's GDP growing only 0.3% in Q1 2025 and industrial production down 1.8%, trust has become the rarest currency in the market. In this fragile scenario, reputation is not just a competitive advantage—it's a gatekeeper for relevance. 'Either you invest in your reputation now, or you'll be excluded from the decisions that matter,' concludes Talente. 'The countdown has already begun. And without reputation, no strategy can survive.'Foto Gio Talente About Digitalia 21 Digitalia 21 is a studio of professionals in strategic communication. It works alongside Italian professionals, businesses and institutions. The CEO, Gio Talente, is a communications expert for the Italian Presidency of the Council of Ministers, speaker for the University of Rome Tor Vergata and for the Pontifical Urbaniana University of the Vatican Press Inquiries Digitalia 21 Gio Talente Sign in to access your portfolio
Arab News
15-07-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Public relations — the voice that builds trust and shapes tomorrow
In this fast-paced era of growth, development and change marked by transformations across all sectors and levels, public relations emerges as a solid pillar in its positive impact and alignment. The role of public relations is crucial in building a strong reputation and shaping the public image for anyone seeking to enhance perception of themselves, whether at an individual or organizational level. True success lies in how well they manage and master the methodology of public relations, given its concrete impact in achieving success and managing crises, especially amid today's rapid digital and media evolution. When done right, it strengthens credibility and trust between the target audience and the relevant stakeholders. Affirming the importance of public relations in the lives of individuals and societies and recognizing its role in the modern world as a strategic tool in managing corporate communication, shaping reputation and building trust, today — July 16 — marks World Public Relations Day. It is an occasion to shed light on this field and profession, whose influence continues to grow within both public and private sector entities. Public relations is no longer a peripheral function limited to issuing press releases or managing media campaigns. It has become a fully integrated strategic practice that significantly contributes to shaping institutional direction and enhancing ability to achieve goals with professionalism and consistency. The profession has evolved into a vital core function and an urgent requirement for any ambitious organization. It plays a key role in crafting public perception, shaping identity and guiding institutions in how they engage with their audiences and partners. It also serves as a foundational bridge for building trust with stakeholders, managing challenges and turning them into opportunities for reputation enhancement and institutional growth. Public relations relies on a scientific approach, beginning with audience and market analysis and trend observation, then progressing into strategic planning that aligns with an organization's operational goals. It emphasizes impact measurement and effectiveness to ensure results that can be evaluated and improved upon. Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 has made it clear that public relations is no longer an optional activity; it is a strategic necessity that supports this national transformation. The vision aims to elevate the Kingdom's global standing as a leader in investment, tourism and culture, while empowering communities and the private sector as key partners in development. Through flagship programs such as Quality of Life, the Pilgrims Experience Program and Human Capability Development Program, public relations plays a pivotal role in managing the Kingdom's image globally through communications campaigns, media relations and public diplomacy. At the same time, it fosters internal communication with the Saudi society to build trust, raise awareness of ongoing reforms and ensure positive engagement with national aspirations. On World Public Relations Day, we take a moment to appreciate this profession and its deep strategic value far beyond one-way messaging or short-term promotion. It is both a science and an art, working hand in hand to build trust, shape long-term partnerships and empower institutions to connect with their environments with awareness, authenticity, and transparency. This day is a reminder of the ongoing need to develop and elevate public relations practices in ways that meet the expectations of communities and respond to the challenges of the future. Public relations continues to prove itself as a vital pillar of institutional excellence and a key contributor to the success of national initiatives and visions. To all professionals and enthusiasts in the field, it is important to recognize that public relations is not a secondary function, it is the driving force of any ambitious institution striving for leadership and distinction. It is a critical element in building institutional reputation, strengthening trust and enabling effective communication with all stakeholders. It requires constant evolution, ongoing development of tools and skills, and a keen ability to read shifts in public behavior and needs. I therefore invite those working in this field to adopt creativity as a mindset, innovation as a tool and active listening as a core value. For it is through public relations that images are crafted, trust is built, stories are told, and messages and missions are powerfully conveyed. • Waleed bin Huzaim is a corporate communications and international protocol consultant.
Forbes
15-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
The Communication Trap That Derails New Executives
Rachel Weissman, executive coach and keynote speaker, helps Fortune 500 and startups master strategic communication and leadership presence. While working at a major tech company, I watched a brilliant VP of engineering implode during a presentation. Not because their ideas weren't sound; they were exceptional. But in trying to share every technical detail, they lost the room entirely. The GM cut them off after seven minutes. "Just tell me what you need from us," he said, visibly frustrated. That moment crystallized something I'd been observing for years: The communication skills that make you a star individual contributor can become your greatest liability in the C-suite. The Paradox Of Executive Communication Here's what nobody tells you about executive leadership: The higher you climb, the less your technical expertise matters and the more your ability to influence through communication determines your success. Yet most leaders receive zero training for this fundamental shift. I discovered this through multiple leadership crucibles: from designing products at Salesforce and Google to founding my own startups. As a CEO, I learned that the detailed, comprehensive communication style that made me an award-winning designer suddenly became my biggest liability. Stakeholders wanted headlines, not dissertations. Investors needed decisions, not deliberations. The wake-up call came in 2017 when I was leading UX for one of Salesforce's first AI products. We were presenting to the executive committee about a critical feature. I'd prepared meticulously: user research, design rationale, implementation timelines. Five minutes in, the head of product stopped me. "Rachel, I don't need the design philosophy. Will this accelerate our adoption? Yes or no?" I froze. Then pivoted: "Yes. This directly addresses why enterprises haven't adopted AI yet: trust. We can own this narrative and become the enterprise standard." The energy shifted. Suddenly, we weren't discussing features; we were discussing market positioning and industry transformation. That's when I realized: Executive communication isn't about showcasing your expertise. It's about connecting your work to strategic imperatives. Three Fatal Communication Mistakes Leaders Make You've spent years becoming the smartest person in the room. Now that expertise can work against you. When you communicate like a subject matter expert rather than a strategic leader, you lose influence. I see this frequently with new VPs who still present like senior managers, overwhelming executives with details instead of focusing on the strategic impact. Nothing undermines executive presence faster than the inability to have difficult conversations. Recently, I coached an executive who spent months compensating for an underperforming peer who kept missing critical deadlines. Instead of addressing it directly, she had her team work nights and weekends to cover the gaps. By the time she finally escalated the issue, her best people were burned out, two had resigned and the CEO questioned why she'd hidden the problem for so long. Your C-suite peers need different communication than your direct reports. Your board needs different framing than your cross-functional partners. Yet most executives use the same style with everyone. The same detailed operational update that impresses an engineering team will completely lose the CMO and CFO in a leadership meeting; they need market impact and ROI, not technical architecture. The Executive Communication Transformation Here are four steps I've seen work. Before diving into any topic, lead with your strategic headline. What's the one thing your audience must understand? I worked with a tech executive whose product launch was behind schedule and over budget. We restructured his entire communication approach. Instead of lengthy explanations about dependencies and blockers, every conversation started with: "Here's what we need to decide today." This simple shift transformed endless status meetings into focused decision sessions. The ability to push back without creating enemies is perhaps the most critical executive skill. After watching too many leaders become either doormats or bulldozers, I developed this approach: • Connect • Reframe • Propose Connect the request to shared goals. Reframe the conversation from tactics to strategy: shift from "how" to "why" and "what we're really solving for." Then propose a specific alternative action that achieves the core objective in a different way. Your ability to communicate effectively under pressure reveals your true leadership capacity. Today's executives face constant crisis: from managing workforce mental health to navigating AI-driven role changes while maintaining morale. Those who thrive can acknowledge hard truths while inspiring forward momentum. Executive presence isn't just about what you say; it's about sensing what's needed. The best leaders constantly calibrate based on audience cues. They recognize when detail is drowning out decisions, when silence signals disagreement and when energy shifts demand a new approach. This skill becomes critical in high-stakes moments. When you sense resistance, the ability to pause, diagnose the real concern and pivot your approach can transform opposition into alignment. That doesn't mean abandoning your message, just finding the right entry point for your audience in that moment. The Path Forward The most successful executives I coach share one common realization: The communication style that built their career can destroy their leadership. They spent decades becoming subject matter experts, only to discover that expertise without executive communication is like having a Ferrari engine with bicycle wheels. Here's your starting point: In your next high-stakes conversation, notice your instinct to prove your expertise. That instinct is your career's biggest threat. Instead, allow yourself to lead with outcomes. Watch how the room shifts when you speak in strategic resonance rather than tactical updates. Your technical expertise earned you a seat at the table. But as an executive, it's your communication that determines whether you'll lead the conversation or become irrelevant to it. Forbes Coaches Council is an invitation-only community for leading business and career coaches. Do I qualify?
Forbes
14-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
3 Keys To Building A Strong Personal Brand As A CEO
Raoul Davis, Partner at Ascendant , a CEO branding agency helping CEOs increase visibility for their companies getty CEO branding has become essential for company reputation and growth. In a marketplace that's evolved from B2B and B2C to H2H (human to human), you as the CEO serve as the chief storyteller for your business. Your personal brand can influence access to capital, strategic partners, relatability to customers and the attraction of key talent. In an ever-evolving marketplace, your success as CEO requires not only strategic thinking but also clear and consistent communication. You must articulate clarity and purpose across the board. This will strengthen your authority, protect your company's worth and position you for long-term success. Here are three keys to unlocking your CEO brand's potential, based on my 21 years in business and working with hundreds of CEOs across five continents. Strategic visibility is the bedrock of a strong CEO brand. Consider how Jensen Huang's visibility as a CEO and his unique business logic have helped Nvidia become a steady leader in its industry. This is a principle that works in the tech arena and holds fast in every sector. For CEOs of middle-market companies, being seen as a leader in a niche market is the key to attracting partnerships and high-level talent. These companies don't get the fanfare of publicly traded companies, so CEO branding is even more pivotal. Visibility must be intentional and aligned with your firm's long-term growth objectives. I recommend focusing on securing regular media placements, speaking at conferences and establishing yourself as a thought leader on LinkedIn. This combination can help you build your brand and enhance your influence. 2. Humanize The Company's Vision It's important to have a strong emotional connection if you want to dominate. This is particularly important for distinguishing your firm in highly saturated industries. How well you can personify your firm's vision and make it understandable is the differentiator. People remember how you made them feel. When you attach an emotional connection to your mission, others will attach to it too. Brian Chesky, CEO of Airbnb, exemplifies how a leader can humanize a company's vision through personal storytelling. From the very beginning, his journey of creating Airbnb was born out of necessity and a desire to connect people in a more authentic way. Make your brand one that can reach individuals in an unseen way. Curated emotional connection makes you relatable and memorable, and it makes your business look like one that is owned and run by genuine people who care about more than just making money. It all starts with a personal mission that emerges from an authentic backstory. Storytelling is critical for middle-market CEOs. Creating authentic stories that link your leadership growth to your company's values plays a crucial role in building a relatable brand and fostering relationships with employees, customers and investors. 3. Lead With Purpose And Vision Beyond Profit CEOs who lead with a compelling purpose that extends beyond making a profit build stronger, more resilient brands. By aligning your company's mission with a broader societal impact, you can attract customers, employees and investors who are motivated by values and a shared vision. This approach differentiates a business in crowded markets and builds lasting loyalty. Brian Armstrong, CEO of Coinbase, is a strong example of leading with purpose in the cryptocurrency world. Armstrong has consistently communicated Coinbase's mission to make digital currency mainstream. Adopting a purpose-driven leadership style can be a game changer. This type of leadership fosters trust and loyalty, which are crucial for long-term growth and stability, especially when competing against larger, more established players. When you lead with purpose, you attract more committed stakeholders. You build a brand that can evolve beyond short-term profits, leading to sustainable success. A Blueprint For Sustainable Growth Strong CEO branding is one of the chief growth drivers in an uncertain and competitive market. Executives who invest in their own visibility, authenticity and strategic storytelling position their companies for greater success. Don't sit back and wait. Own your story so you can inspire lasting trust. If you want to build an effective culture for your business, your brand and image are going to be pillars of that cultural foundation. They're not minor details, but the foundation of long-term value creation. Forbes Agency Council is an invitation-only community for executives in successful public relations, media strategy, creative and advertising agencies. Do I qualify?
