Sandy Duhé, Ph.D., MBA
Why communication and business? Here's my story.
I began my career as a number-crunching financial analyst in the energy business. When an executive approached me about shifting gears to public affairs, I was horrified. I was a numbers person. A business person. What did public affairs, communication, stakeholders, and relationships have to do with business?
A lot, actually, as I quickly learned. Communication and business are inextricably linked.
I grew to marvel at the power of mutually beneficial business relationships to get things done quickly, efficiently, and on budget. Market upswings, economic downturns, political shifts, and the occasional crisis were better navigated when solid (though not always agreeable) relationships and two-way communication practices were in place. "Wow" was a term I commonly used when observing the outcomes of my newfound work in public affairs.
My business acumen propelled my communication career. I spoke a language only a few of my communication colleagues deeply understood. My business acumen informed my communication decisions without my even realizing it. And it gave me access, credibility, and trust in the C-suite.
The career shift that brought me here.
Fast forward to grad school (my husband jokes that I collect parchment) where I went on an interdisciplinary search to put the pieces of business, communication, economics, politics, and society together - while I was still in the business world. I knew the connections were there. My studies proved me right.
My next career shift soon followed - to college professor. Teaching has never felt like work to me. It's pure joy to share how communication and business go hand-in-hand with students, young professionals, educators, and clients.
I started The Communicator's MBA to help professionals speak the language of business, make a meaningful difference in companies they care about, and advance their careers.
Join us!
Join our community of communicators to get a daily dose of business acumen in your morning email. Check out the book, Business for Communicators, for the nuts and bolts of how communication and business work together. See who we serve and what we do at The Communicator's MBA in What We Offer.
I invite and encourage you to join our conversations about the powerful role communicators serve in business. Have ideas of your own? Email me.
I'm excited to work with you. Let me know how I can help.
