Inspire & Influence
A blog for the global network of Northeastern communication, digital media, and HR professionals
Why graduation is not the end of a learning journey — it’s the beginning
It was a cool spring evening as our May 2021 College of Professional Studies graduates gathered at Fenway Park for a celebration of their accomplishments. We were socially distanced and wearing masks, but this was a true coming together after a...
Understanding generational differences in communication technology and social media use
The Eastern Communication Association (ECA), the largest regional communication association on the East Coast, hosted its annual conference remotely in March with a very appropriate theme: Resilience. I presented my research on how five generations...
The ‘new normal’ hiring process – perspectives from the front lines
Since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, the hiring process has undergone a radical change, both for recruiters and job hunters. The job market has been reshaped as some sectors, like travel and tourism, have shrunk and others, like online...
How should you build organizational identity? From the top down, or the bottom up?
The Covid-19 pandemic has focused attention on a subject that has long fascinated communicators and HR professionals: Organizational culture and identity. What drives cultural change? Is identity forged only from the top down? How have changing...
How one professional association is placing diversity, equity, and inclusion center stage
Why do we join professional associations? The simple answer is that they bring together people who do similar work -- but in different organizations and places -- for networking, education, and career development. Those are the tangible benefits of...
Effective social media marketing strategies for nonprofits
Because of its popularity and relatively low cost, social media is frequently used by different types of organizations as a marketing tool. In order to develop course materials for my CMN6040: Consumer Behaviors in the Online Environments and...
Lifelong learning can take many paths — here is one alumna’s journey
For an early to mid-career professional, why should you take the leap into a graduate program? Should you know beforehand exactly what your objectives are? And, how can an experiential project turn into much more than a project? These are some of...
The eyes have it!
We often look at communication through an organizational lens: CEO messages to x number of employees, or collaboration platforms, or networks flowing vertically and horizontally. But the reality is that communication within organizations is based...
We make learning experiential!
We are delighted to announce the launch of Inspire & Influence, a website showcasing the experiential learning projects of our communication, digital media, and human resources management students. For students in our graduate and bachelor’s...
Navigating the new normal — a conversation with Tracy Burns, CEO of the Northeast HR Association
The Northeast HR Association has over 2400 members on the East coast. In a recent conversation with our academic community of HR students, faculty, and alumni, Tracy Burns, the organization’s CEO, shared observations about the HR profession and the...