You've Got Comms Podcast

The future of intranets: Human, helpful, and powered by AI

In this episode of You've Got Comms, we explore a bold question: Can AI make intranets feel human again? Host Samantha Grandinetti sits down with Jay Erickson, Co-Founder and Chief Innovation Officer at Modus Digital, to rethink the digital spaces where work happens. Jay argues that intranets were never meant to be digital filing cabinets—they should be campfires: places where people gather, connect, and share stories. Together, Sam and Jay dig into burnout, belonging, the emotional side of UX, and why the next generation of intranets won't be about pages and links, but about relationships. You'll hear why AI might not kill the intranet at all—but instead help us rediscover what makes work meaningful. Expect insights on culture, design, storytelling, and how technology can make room for more human moments at work. If you're building digital employee experiences, this conversation will leave you with fresh ideas (and maybe a little more hope) about where we're headed. ========= Selected People, Places & Things Mentioned: Modus Digital [https://www.modusdigital.com/]; SharePoint [https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/sharepoint/collaboration]; Sitecore [https://www.sitecore.com/]; Workday [https://www.workday.com/]; Slow Talk [https://www.slowtalk.us/]; Microsoft Teams [https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-teams/group-chat-software] ========= Follow the host and guest: Samantha Grandinetti on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/samanthagrandinetti/], Jay Erickson on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayerickson1/] ========= Join the You’ve Got Comms newsletter: https://insights.staffbase.com/join-the-comms-club [https://insights.staffbase.com/join-the-comms-club] Follow Staffbase: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/staffbase/mycompany/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/staffbase/mycompany/] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Staffbase [https://www.youtube.com/c/Staffbase] ========= About Staffbase: Staffbase is the first AI-native Employee Experience Platform. With Staffbase, companies reach everyone across app, intranet, email, SMS, digital signage, and Microsoft 365 — alongside new experiences like personalized podcasts and an AI assistant. Around 2000 organizations rely on Staffbase to inspire people and drive measurable impact. More information: www.staffbase.com [www.staffbase.com]

The Strategic No: Earning Trust and Driving Impact in Internal Comms

In this episode of You’ve Got Comms, host Emma Fischer sits down with Maria Luísa García Pérez, Global Internal Communications General Manager at Cosentino, who has spent over 20 years transforming internal comms from a service function into a strategic powerhouse. Maria Luisa shares how she built a global team from the ground up, connecting 6,000 employees across continents through data-driven strategies, clear priorities, and confident leadership. She breaks down how to say no strategically, link every campaign to business objectives, and use measurement to prove impact. The conversation also explores the future of internal comms—from personalized messaging and user personas to the rise of agentic AI and how communicators can harness it as a true partner, not a replacement. Whether you’re leading a small team or scaling a global strategy, this episode will inspire you to position internal communications where it belongs: at the heart of business success. ========= Selected People, Places & Things Mentioned: Association of Directors - La Comunicación Interna en el Nuevo Contexto Organizacional (book) [https://www.amazon.com/Comunicaci%C3%B3n-Interna-Contexto-Organizacional-Spanish/dp/9872453357]; TED Talk [https://www.thegrove.com/about/our-people/david-sibbet]; CIR Framework: Creation – Interaction – Recommendation ========= Follow the host and guest: Emma Fischer on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-mary-fischer/], María Luisa García Pérez on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/marialuisagarciaperez/] ========= Join the You’ve Got Comms newsletter: https://insights.staffbase.com/join-the-comms-club [https://insights.staffbase.com/join-the-comms-club] Follow Staffbase: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/staffbase/mycompany/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/staffbase/mycompany/] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Staffbase [https://www.youtube.com/c/Staffbase] ========= About Staffbase: Staffbase is the first AI-native Employee Experience Platform. With Staffbase, companies reach everyone across app, intranet, email, SMS, digital signage, and Microsoft 365 — alongside new experiences like personalized podcasts and an AI assistant. Around 2000 organizations rely on Staffbase to inspire people and drive measurable impact. More information: www.staffbase.com [www.staffbase.com]

Tailoring the Employee Experience: Why One Size Never Fits All

In this episode of You’ve Got Comms, Preston Lewis, SVP of Communications at Segal Benz, explores how internal comms and HR can work together to create a more personalized, connected employee experience. From the early days of visual storytelling to today’s AI-powered tools, Preston shares how technology, data, and identity shape modern communication. He breaks down practical ways to drive behavior change, measure impact, and build trust across the organization — all while keeping creativity at the center. And his advice for every communicator? “Don’t be stupid. Make it good.” ========= Selected People, Places & Things Mentioned: Hewlett-Packard (HP) [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hewlett-Packard]; David Sibbet and The Grove Consultants [https://www.thegrove.com/about/our-people/david-sibbet]; CIR Framework: Creation – Interaction – Recommendation ========= Follow the host and guest: Amelia Dahmer on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/amelia-dahmer/], Preston Lewis on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/prestonlewis/] ========= Join the You’ve Got Comms newsletter: https://insights.staffbase.com/join-the-comms-club [https://insights.staffbase.com/join-the-comms-club] Follow Staffbase: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/staffbase/mycompany/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/staffbase/mycompany/] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Staffbase [https://www.youtube.com/c/Staffbase] ========= About Staffbase: Staffbase is the fastest-growing, most experienced employee communications platform provider for enterprise companies seeking to inspire diverse, disconnected, and distributed workforces. Staffbase is on a mission to empower communicators worldwide with a platform that helps companies connect with every employee through inspiring communication that drives collaboration and achieves business results. Headquartered in Chemnitz, Germany, Staffbase has offices worldwide, including New York City, London, Berlin, Sydney, and Vancouver. Learn more at staffbase.com [https://staffbase.com/en/].

Turning Tech Rollouts into Real Adoption: Why Communication Is HR’s Most Powerful Tool

What does it take to make complex HR systems work seamlessly across a global organization? In this episode, Colin Sarafin talks with Sonja Lee, Global HR Information Systems Analyst at Staffbase, about the critical role internal communication plays in every successful HR rollout. From managing Workday and ADP integrations to ensuring global consistency and adoption, Sonja shares lessons learned, common pitfalls, and her communication-first approach to driving change that sticks. ========= Selected People, Places & Things Mentioned: HRIS – Human Resources Information Systems [https://www.sap.com/products/hcm/employee-central-hris/what-is-hris.html]; Workday [https://www.workday.com/]; ADP [https://www.adp.com/]; Campsite – Name of Staffbase’s internal intranet platform; Staffbase PX (People Experience) Team – Name of Staffbase’s internal HR team; Global Merit Cycle [https://www.deel.com/blog/how-to-run-merit-cycles/] ========= Follow the host and guest: Colin Sarafin on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/colin-sarafin/], Sonja Lee on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonja-lee-mcipd-cphr-06260498/] ========= Join the You’ve Got Comms newsletter: https://insights.staffbase.com/join-the-comms-club [https://insights.staffbase.com/join-the-comms-club] Follow Staffbase: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/staffbase/mycompany/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/staffbase/mycompany/] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Staffbase [https://www.youtube.com/c/Staffbase] ========= About Staffbase: Staffbase is the fastest-growing, most experienced employee communications platform provider for enterprise companies seeking to inspire diverse, disconnected, and distributed workforces. Staffbase is on a mission to empower communicators worldwide with a platform that helps companies connect with every employee through inspiring communication that drives collaboration and achieves business results. Headquartered in Chemnitz, Germany, Staffbase has offices worldwide, including New York City, London, Berlin, Sydney, and Vancouver. Learn more at staffbase.com [https://staffbase.com/en/].

Messages That Matter: Scaling Leadership Communication Without Losing Touch

In this episode of You’ve Got Comms, host Amelia Dahmer chats with Jennifer Lentner, founder of Soundtrack Consulting, about scaling internal communications during periods of rapid growth and change. Jennifer shares her journey from engineer to internal comms expert, offering practical insights on preserving trust, connecting with employees at all levels, and balancing one-to-one and one-to-many communication. They explore strategies for avoiding comms fatigue, maintaining authentic leadership voice, and how AI can support—but never replace — the human touch in employee communication. ========= Selected People, Places & Things Mentioned: AMA – Ask Me Anything [https://www.socialpilot.co/social-media-terms/ask-me-anything]; CHRO [https://www.medallia.com/blog/what-is-a-chro/#:~:text=The%20acronym%20CHRO%20stands%20for,overseeing%20the%20human%20resources%20team.]; M&A [https://www.investopedia.com/terms/m/mergersandacquisitions.asp] ========= Follow the host and guest: Amelia Dahmer on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/amelia-dahmer/], Jennifer Lentner on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferlentner/] ========= Join the You’ve Got Comms newsletter: https://insights.staffbase.com/join-the-comms-club [https://insights.staffbase.com/join-the-comms-club] Follow Staffbase: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/staffbase/mycompany/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/staffbase/mycompany/] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Staffbase [https://www.youtube.com/c/Staffbase] ========= About Staffbase: Staffbase is the fastest-growing, most experienced employee communications platform provider for enterprise companies seeking to inspire diverse, disconnected, and distributed workforces. Staffbase is on a mission to empower communicators worldwide with a platform that helps companies connect with every employee through inspiring communication that drives collaboration and achieves business results. Headquartered in Chemnitz, Germany, Staffbase has offices worldwide, including New York City, London, Berlin, Sydney, and Vancouver. Learn more at staffbase.com [https://staffbase.com/en/].