Welcome to the Co-pilot Communications newsletter

Ever found yourself questioning the work you used to be proud of?

In April 2019, I booked an Airbnb experience just outside Nashville. Our host, Jennifer, drove us through rolling hills and tobacco fields. We eventually landed at a no-frills diner in a quiet Tennessee town—the kind with metal trays, collard greens, and sweet tea in styrofoam cups.

As we settled in, she asked what I did for work.

And I paused.

After two decades in digital—leading social strategy for some of the world’s biggest brands—I suddenly felt uneasy saying it out loud. It felt… complicit. Like I’d been part of something that had lost its way. Social media usage was soaring. Cyberbullying and comparison culture were rising. The platforms that once promised connection were now fueling anxiety and division.

I quickly changed the subject, but I didn’t forget the feeling.

That moment planted a seed.

Fast forward: I stepped away from big corporate- after chapters at Microsoft, Qualcomm, and Adidas- where my job was amplifying the voice of the brand. Today, I partner directly with founders and executives who want to use their influence to lead online. Not to promote, but to connect. To share what’s true. To use digital platforms to spread ideas that make the world better. I help them show up with transparency, candor, and humanity.

This newsletter is one way I’m sharing what I’m seeing, learning, and helping others do: to navigate the modern digital landscape with intention. If you’ve ever wondered how to build a visible, trustworthy presence online—without sounding like everyone else, I hope you’ll stick around.

But if this isn’t your thing, no worries—you can unsubscribe here.

Let’s dig in.

Jess

What I’m Practicing

I’ve been trying to protect pockets of quiet time in the morning (10 minute journal following my Peloton ride) or a walk on a Sunday with airplane mode turned on. I find this is when I always come up with my best ideas and free up creative, strategic capacity in my brain. 

Pro tip: Block two recurring “CEO hours” a week. No calls. Just thinking, writing, quiet. Maybe even position yourself somewhere you can look out into nature. You’d be amazed what 120 protected minutes can unlock.

What I’m Loving

📄 Read: The Future of Corporate Communications – Edelman, 2023

1. CEOs are now expected to drive change, especially on issues like employee treatment, climate, and the economy. These expectations come from the public, who increasingly see business leaders as agents of trust and accountability.

2. Governed by mountains of data, executive communications now function as strategic “signal interpreters,” helping leadership decide when, what, and how to address key issues.

This research might be from two years ago but it was part of what fortified my pivot to launch Co-pilot Communications. It confirmed what I’d been sensing for years: today’s leaders can’t afford to stay silent online—and the way they show up matters more than ever. Read the Edelman report →

🎙️ Listen: IMO Podcast with Michelle Obama & Craig Robinson — “Be a Different Kind of Leader” with Airbnb’s co-founder, Brian Chesky (May, 2025)

• Intentional leadership beats autopilot: Chesky shared that Barack Obama advised him to treat leadership like a car—you have to choose your destination before it drives you.

• Mentorship matters: Weekly “night school” sessions with Obama helped him clarify and “institutionalize” his values, which ultimately influenced Airbnb’s IPO messaging.

Listen on Apple Podcasts →

Pro Tip: Haven’t Googled yourself in six months? Start there. What story is your digital presence telling?

Shining a Light

⚡ Helping smart, values-driven leaders like Michael clarify their narrative is the BEST part of this work. 

ICYMI

🎙️ I joined the Leaders Who Scale podcast to talk digital leadership, brand building, and how to show up online by “beginning with the end in mind.”

What made this one extra fun? The hosts span four generations—each with a different take on what leadership looks like today. And then there was me, bridging the gap.

Watch the full interview on YouTube →

Where’s Jess?

Last thing is a fun thing! 😊

Can you guess where we are? 

Hint: This city is knows for Lowcountry cuisine, like shrimp & grits, and has over 2,500 historic buildings. (And some seriously beautiful sunsets.)

Reply with your answer and the winner gets a shout out in my next newsletter!

Thanks for being here.

➡️ Want some 1:1 time to discuss your next steps? I love this stuff. Book a 25 minute discovery call here.

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➡️ Got feedback? Hit reply and tell me what you think. #progressoverperfection

Your friend,
Jess