top of page
Nikki, Senior Director Global Corporate Communications at Media Company: Advize Career Interview
This Senior Director of Global Corporate Communications at Media Company carved a fascinating career path from political science and philosophy to a leadership role in corporate communications.
The role entails strategic communication planning, tone-setting, and news monitoring in a fast-paced, global environment.
Critical thinking, adaptability, empathy, and active listening are key skills, alongside strong writing and verbal communication.
The most exciting aspects include translating complex ideas into understandable messaging and fostering creativity, while the greatest challenge lies in balancing speed with accuracy and demonstrating the value of communications expertise.
The media industry requires excellent, adaptable communicators with strong ethical compasses. A key lesson learned is to embrace new opportunities and make connections, which can lead to unexpected career paths.
Entry-level positions like communications coordinator or social media assistant, coupled with internships, are great starting points, but most importantly, find what inspires you and step outside your comfort zone to explore your interests and embrace curiosity.
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Nikki Wheeler
Senior Director Global Corporate Communications
Media Company
Metropolitian State College of Denver
Georgetown, MA
Political Science, American Studies
Biotechnology & Pharmaceutical
Business Strategy
Pell Grant Recipient, Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School
Watch all of this Advizer's videos below
Career Path of a Global Corporate Comms Director at Media Company
Nikki's career path began with initial aspirations of law school, leading to a political science and philosophy degree, but a required internship at the United States Senate sparked a passion for communications and messaging. This led to roles with Governor George W. Bush, publicly traded companies, and Halliburton, ultimately culminating in a Senior Director position where Nikki can now proudly declare, "this is what you do with a degree in philosophy."
Main Responsibilities of a Corporate Communications Director at Media Company
Nikki's main responsibilities as Senior Director of Global Corporate Communications at Media Company involve strategic communication for internal and external audiences, where "mapping out how a corporation is going to communicate with all of its various stakeholder groups" is key. A significant portion of Nikki's time is also dedicated to reviewing writing and setting the tone for the company's engagement with its stakeholders.
A Day In The Life Of A Global Corporate Communications Director At Media Company
A senior director of global corporate communication's day is highly variable, but consistently starts and ends with monitoring the news landscape. Throughout the day, time is split between a series of meetings that can occur across all time zones, followed by "time blocks" dedicated to focused work such as writing, developing campaigns, and addressing crisis communications.
Most Important Skills For a Senior Director Corporate Communications at Media Company
Nikki highlights that strong written and verbal communication skills are essential, but emphasizes the importance of critical thinking as paramount for corporate communications, noting it allows one to be a "high judgment individual" who can evaluate proposals and offer dissenting opinions when necessary. Adaptability, empathy, and especially active listening are also key, as the latter enables one to discern the core concerns of stakeholders and shape effective messaging amidst diverse opinions, noting that "everyone thinks they're an expert."
Favorite Parts of Being a Senior Director Corporate Communications at Media Company
Nikki enjoys the exciting and globally expansive nature of being in corporate communications, where being a good communicator and writer opens many doors. Nikki feels fortunate to have a career that allows the translation of complex ideas into understandable messaging, fosters creativity in strategy development, and provides a "fast-paced environment where every day there's something new and fresh," concluding that communications "is just fun."
Biggest Challenges Faced By A Senior Comms Director At A Media Company
Nikki's biggest challenge lies in balancing the need for speed in a 24/7 news cycle with the crucial accuracy of information, while also constantly demonstrating the value of specialized communications expertise to colleagues who often think, "oh, a press release. I can write that," requiring constant education and justification of the role. For example, advising colleagues that "the law in Canada is rather strict" regarding using media clips online.
Favorite Parts Of Working In Media As A Global Comms Director
Nikki finds the fast-paced and evolving nature of the media industry exciting, but also expresses concern that new practitioners overly rely on AI and pre-planned messaging, losing sight of the importance of relationships in media relations. As a seasoned communications professional, Nikki is "curious about how we're going to continue to try to bring the human element back to the field".
What Type of Person Thrives in Media, Per a Comms Director at Media
Nikki believes that the media industry favors "excellent communicators who are able to think on their feet" alongside "creative and adaptive professionals"; Media Company's Senior Director Global Corporate Communications also values ethical, empathetic, and detail-oriented individuals with strong analytical skills and a "penant for curiosity and learning," suggesting that success in corporate communications requires both sharp intellect and a strong moral compass.
What A Comms Dir At Media Co Wishes They Knew Before Entering The Comms
Nikki wishes someone had told them how many people believe communications is easy despite the dedication required to become an expert, saying, "oh, I'm gonna do PR this morning. How hard can it be?". They also emphasize the "importance of continuous learning" and adapting to the evolving industry, including the shift towards "infotainment" and creatively packaging stories to showcase value in new ways.
Entry-Level Positions For Aspiring Global Corporate Communicators
Nikki, a Senior Director Global Corporate Communications at Media Company, suggests that entry-level candidates explore roles like "communications coordinator, public relations assistant, or marketing assistant," while also emphasizing the critical importance of internships to experience different aspects of a communications team. Nikki also notes the strong need for candidates with social media skills, mentioning "social media assistant, social media marketing" roles as valuable entry points.
Significant Career Lesson From A Senior Communications Director At Media Company
Nikki, a Senior Director Global Corporate Communications at Media Company, advises to "be willing to say yes" to opportunities, even if uncertain, as it can open doors to unexpected career paths. This willingness, fueled by curiosity, led Nikki from the United States Senate to non-profits, the Middle East, and London, demonstrating that embracing experiences and making connections can significantly impact career growth.
College Experiences That Helped A Sr Dir Comms At Media Company Succeed
Nikki emphasized the importance of exploring interests and embracing curiosity in college, even if it means venturing outside of a pre-determined path; this exploration led to discovering a love for writing and interdisciplinary studies through coursework and extracurricular activities. The career professional encourages students to "go beyond your comfort zone" to find what truly inspires them, like the philosophy courses that sparked a passion for critical thinking and challenged their perspective.
Advizer Personal Links
bottom of page