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The Gen Z Stare Isn't a Generational Problem. It's a Branding One.
Executive presence has never been about pedigree. It has always been about whether the person in front of you signals confidence and credibility in the moment, through tone, posture, eye contact and response.
Want Real External Engagement Experience Before You're 30? Stop Waiting to Be Invited.
Nobody is going to hand a 26-year-old a board seat. But plenty of organisations are actively looking for exactly that person to join a junior board, an advisory council or a committee, right now.
The return of the human voice: why B2B trust is the differentiator nobody is talking about
In a communications environment saturated with AI-generated content, the decision to have and own a genuine, specific point of view has never mattered more.
Boards are being asked to disclose individual skills. Your profile just became a governance document.
If someone looked at your public profile tomorrow, and then looked at what your board says about you, would they match?
Mandatory sustainability reporting lands in July. Can you explain it to your stakeholders?
One of the risks I see consistently in annual reporting work is what I call the template trap. But where do we start and stop with sustainability reporting mandates?
How to Enhance Your Executive Presence to Prepare for a C-Suite Transition
How to build the executive presence that earns a C-suite transition — the shift from technical authority to strategic leadership, and how Susan Blain Consulting can help.
How to Develop a Personal Brand That Positions You for Board Appointments
Board appointments are rarely advertised, and they are almost never awarded on the strength of a CV alone. They are awarded on the strength of a reputation …
How to Create a Stakeholder Engagement Framework That Translates Complex Innovations into Commercial Partnerships
The Universities that convert the most innovations into partnerships are the ones that treat their stakeholder framework as a living tool, not a set-and-forget document.
Effective Strategies for Universities to Increase the External Impact of Their Research
Practical strategies for Australian universities to increase the external impact of their research — from communications capability to stakeholder engagement and capability statements.
Where to Find Fractional Communications Leadership for Your Organisation
Susan Blain Consulting provides fractional communications leadership for corporations and government in Australia. Senior strategic expertise without the full-time overhead.
When universities consolidate, the comms plan is always the last thing built
Building internal alignment with your campus and external stakeholders is a different discipline to brand and media. It requires a communications plan that is built alongside the strategy, not after it.
The LinkedIn depth score is reshaping who gets seen
In early 2026, LinkedIn replaced its content ranking infrastructure with an AI system called 360Brew. The technical detail was published by a LinkedIn senior engineer in March, and it matters for anyone building a professional presence on the platform.
Stakeholder engagement isn't a communications tool. It's a trust tool.
Engagement is not the announcement you make after the decision. It's the relationship you build long before you ever need to make one.
Beyond the tick box: why social value reporting deserves to be told as a story
CSR, ESG, Social Value, Social Impact: these terms are used interchangeably, and that confusion is not accidental. They overlap considerably. But they are not the same thing.
Most businesses wing it. The ones that grow don't.
Skip this important foundation of good business development in launching your brand, and you’ll likely fail to differentiate and grow.
The Overboarding Trap: Balancing Portfolio Ambition with Boardroom Reality
How many board roles is too many? Susan Blain consulting discusses overboarding and NED branding.
What Australia's best annual reports have in common in 2026
The financial year is ending. The auditors are circling. And somewhere in a busy calendar, the annual report needs to find a home.
Social Media for a New Business: How to Pick a Strategy and Actually Stick to It
Starting out in business needs a cool head when it comes to social media strategy. It can quickly become overwhelming. Here’s some tips …
Work’s Best Kept Secret
The belief that visibility equals vanity is rubbish. That if your work is good enough, it'll be noticed - fantasy!
Why Complex Careers Need Smarter Strategies
Is your current personal brand visibility aligned with where you're heading, not just where you've been?
You've just been appointed to the biggest role of your career. Extraordinary. But is your public presence still heralding your last role?