Thinking Like a CCO (Even Without the Title)
Photos by Roy Harryman
At KC IABC’s June event at Messenger Coffee Co. + Ibis Bakery, communications professionals gathered to hear from Kansas City–based leader Julie Masson on how to step into strategic influence.
Drawing on her 18-year journey from social media manager to Chief Communications Officer, Masson challenged attendees to reframe how they show up in their roles. Her core message: stop waiting for permission and start operating like the strategist your organization already needs.
Throughout the session, Masson emphasized the importance of understanding the bigger picture. Communicators need to know their organization’s budgets, and leadership priorities. By aligning their work to business outcomes and building strong relationships across teams, communicators can expand their influence well beyond deliverables.
A highlight of the presentation was Masson’s framework for The Four Stages of a Comms Career, prompting attendees to reflect on where they are today and where they want to go:
The Doer – Focused on execution, with little time to step back and plan
The Translator – Delivering work while advocating for communications as a strategic function
The Strategist – Setting direction and earning trust as a leader beyond comms
The CCO-Minded Leader – Operating at an enterprise level, advising beyond communications and shaping overall strategy
Masson encouraged attendees to think critically about how they can move into the next stage by mindset and behavior, regardless of their title. That includes demonstrating strategic thinking, building trust, assuming positive intent, and consistently connecting communications efforts to broader organizational impact.
Attendees discussed where they currently are in the four comms career stages and answered a question that stuck with many in the room: Where do you want to be a year from now—and how are you showing up today to get there?
If you’re interested in more events like this, be sure to stay connected with KC IABC for upcoming programs and networking opportunities.
