Odette Maher has spent two decades building communications functions that go far beyond traditional PR. As Head of Communications and Corporate Affairs at Symphony, a 500-person global fintech company, she's evolved from managing press releases to owning sustainability strategy, regulatory affairs, and corporate narrative—all while maintaining direct relationships with journalists across three continents. Her journey from Puerto Rican journalism student to corporate affairs leader offers a masterclass in how comms professionals can expand their influence and become true b...
Odette Maher has spent two decades building communications functions that go far beyond traditional PR. As Head of Communications and Corporate Affairs at Symphony, a 500-person global fintech company, she's evolved from managing press releases to owning sustainability strategy, regulatory affairs, and corporate narrative—all while maintaining direct relationships with journalists across three continents. Her journey from Puerto Rican journalism student to corporate affairs leader offers a masterclass in how comms professionals can expand their influence and become true business partners.
Symphony operates in the complex world of financial services technology, selling compliance solutions to banks and insurance companies worldwide. In this space, regulatory shifts can make or break businesses, and Odette has built a function that keeps the company ahead of these changes while maintaining authentic relationships with media, regulators, and stakeholders across ten countries. As a member of the Forbes Communications Council, Odette regularly shares insights on corporate affairs strategy, crisis communications, and the evolution of business leadership in an era where companies must serve stakeholders beyond shareholders.
Topics Discussed
- How to evolve from traditional communications into corporate affairs—and when startups should make this transition
- Building global external comms strategy with three independent agencies across key markets (US, UK, France)
- The 30-day playbook for establishing internal communications infrastructure at a new company
- Why smaller agencies often outperform large firms for mid-sized companies, and how to find the right partners
- Managing thought leadership that educates rather than promotes in highly technical B2B markets
- The critical distinction between marketing (commercial function) and communications (reputation and relationships)
- Creating listening mechanisms for leadership, including executive round tables that surface real feedback from employees
- Odette's philosophy on crisis communications: turning potential crises into opportunities through values-driven messaging
- How to maintain consistent narrative integrity across different markets while allowing for cultural adaptation
Comms Lessons for Founders & Leaders
- Control what you can in an uncontrollable world: Drawing from her Forbes writing, Odette emphasizes that while much in business can't be controlled, companies must control their narrative completely. "Tell your story in different formats: press releases, speaking opportunities, briefings with the press, thought leadership write-ups, comment letters and LinkedIn posts."
- Clear ownership prevents message dilution: Rather than committee-driven messaging, Odette advocates for single-point accountability. "The owner of the message has the responsibility to get appropriate input—and debate, when needed—from key stakeholders. Once the message is agreed upon, one person or team should be responsible for the execution."
- Preparation is respect for stakeholders: Odette calls thorough preparation "the ultimate compliment" to stakeholders. Symphony has developed a systematic prep format including briefing documents, review sessions, and pre-meeting check-ins that ensure leadership can engage authentically and knowledgeably.
- Crisis as opportunity through values: Companies' values become "ultra-relevant" during crisis moments, and Odette believes in showing up with strength rather than hiding. She advocates for crisis communication plans that include potential stakeholders, core messaging for multiple scenarios, and streamlined execution processes.
- Say yes early in your career, be strategic later: For emerging comms professionals, Odette advocates accepting challenging opportunities even when you feel underqualified. "Just say yes to everything. You might not speak the language, you might learn it. If it doesn't work, you come back."
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