IABC Master Classes are three-hour workshops that dig deep into pressing industry topics. Additional registration is required. To add a Master Class to an existing registration, email registration@iabc.com.
Please note that we are sharing our pre-conference events as they are confirmed, with two additional Master Classes still pending.
Executive Reality Check: Measuring and Coaching C-Suite Leaders
Presented By: Dr. Theomary Karamanis, SCMP, IABC Fellow | Brad Whitworth, IABC Fellow
14 June 2026, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. | $299 IABC Members | $349 IABC Non-Members
In an era defined by disruption, where AI, hybrid work, and constant change challenge every assumption about leadership, communicators are uniquely positioned to help executives see what others won’t say. This interactive workshop offers a practical “reality check” on executive leadership. Participants will learn how to measure what truly matters when leaders speak, and when they don’t. Through case studies and small-group activities, they’ll build a Leadership Impact Scorecard that captures the trust, clarity, and accountability behaviors driving real influence in the C-suite. Attendees will also practice evidence-based coaching conversations, learning how to guide executives from intention to measurable impact. You’ll leave with ready-to-use tools like a Leadership Scorecard, coaching framework, and reflection guide to apply immediately with your own leaders or teams. For communicators who want to move from messaging to measurable impact, this session delivers the insight, evidence, and confidence to help executives thrive through disruption.
What You'll Walk Away With:
- A Leadership Impact Scorecard that measures executive effectiveness through clear behavioral and communication indicators.
- The ability to coach and advise C-suite leaders using evidence-based communication and leadership frameworks.
- Practical, research-driven tools to assess and strengthen your own leadership presence in times of disruption and organizational change.
Learn More About Dr. Theomary Karamanis, SCMP, IABC Fellow
Dr. Theomary Karamanis, SCMP, IABC Fellow, is a multiple award-winning communication professor, consultant, and IABC Fellow with more than 25 years of global experience across academia, business, and government. A senior lecturer at Cornell University’s SC Johnson College of Business, she teaches master of business administration (MBA) and executive programs on leadership, crisis, and strategic communication. She has trained senior leaders from Amazon, Merck, Bridgewater, Marriott, and FEMA, earning over 40 communication awards, including seven Gold Quills. A past chair of the IABC Academy, Awards Committee, and Global Communication Certification Council, she bridges research and practice to advance leadership communication excellence worldwide.
Learn More About Brad Whitworth, IABC Fellow
Brad Whitworth, IABC Fellow, is a veteran corporate communication strategist, speaker, and IABC Fellow whose 40-year career includes senior leadership roles at Cisco, HP, Hitachi, PeopleSoft, and PG&E. A former IABC international chair and contributing author of "The IABC Handbook of Organizational Communication" and "The IABC Guide for Practical Business Communication," Brad has shaped best practices in executive and leadership communication worldwide. He is known for translating complex business challenges into communication strategies that drive clarity, trust, and performance. A frequent conference keynote speaker and executive coach, Brad combines insight, humor, and humanity to help leaders thrive in disruptive times.
Trust 3.0: Designing and Protecting Reputation in an Age of Continuous Disruption
Presented By: Bonnie Caver, SCMP, IABC Fellow, FCSCE | Deborah Hileman, SCMP, FCSCE, CCMC
14 June 2026, 1-4 p.m. | $299 IABC Members | $349 IABC Non-Members
Trust can no longer be assumed. In a world where audiences begin from a place of distrust, and often for good reason, communication professionals must rethink both trust itself and its relationship to reputation, beyond traditional reputation management. This means redefining reputation through design, acceleration, and protection.
Trust 3.0 explores how to build and defend reputation as a living system, one that adapts to non-stop disruption, including from the newest disruptors of misinformation engines and synthetic crises to algorithmic influence and AI stakeholders.
Disruption today is continuous, fueled by AI-generated content, polarization, leadership changes, geopolitical shocks, digital manipulation, and everyday business volatility. In this reality, reputation has become both more fragile and more valuable than ever.
This session reveals how to build reputation as corporate currency, an asset designed for durability and credibility under constant stress. You’ll learn how to embed trust into your organization's DNA, protect it through modern crisis planning, intelligent monitoring, and an ethical response, and ultimately, how to transform disruption into opportunity.
Participants will leave equipped to move beyond reputation management into corporate reputation architecture, a model where trust is intentionally designed, continuously protected, and strategically leveraged to create lasting corporate value.
Learn More About Bonnie Caver, SCMP, IABC Fellow, FCSCE
Bonnie Caver, SCMP, IABC Fellow, FCSCE provides strategic advisory services to CEOs and leadership teams of mid-market business-to-business (B2B) companies in brand management, reputation, communication, mergers & acquisitions, change management, and responsible AI implementation. She helps organizations create, accelerate, and protect corporate value, particularly during periods of transformation and disruption. With 20 years of consulting leadership experience, she focuses on maximizing organizational growth and value while mitigating the risks that impede growth and erode value. As the founder and CEO of Reputation Lighthouse, Bonnie has guided organizational leadership through various stages of their business journey, from launch to exit. Bonnie excels in managing transactional changes and preparing organizations for dynamic shifts necessary for survival in evolving business environments.
Learn More About Deborah Hileman, SCMP, FCSCE, CCMC
Deborah Hileman, SCMP, FCSCE, CCMC is a business leader, board member, globally certified strategic communication, and corporate crisis management professional with more than 35 years of experience helping organizations build value, engage stakeholders, navigate disruption, manage reputational risk, and communicate with clarity in high-stakes situations. As president and CEO of the Institute for Crisis Management, she leads teams that specialize in crisis planning and preparedness, executive counsel, communication training, and real-time response support. Her approach is grounded in servant leadership, integrity, and measurable results. Throughout her career, Deborah has served in leadership roles with IABC, the Global Communication Certification Council®, and several non-profit boards.
Earn three (3) points toward Global Communication Certification Council (GCCC) recertification for each Master Class attended. Learn more.