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5 Minutes with Cardia Speziale,
Communications Consultant at NHO
31.07.23
Today we meet Cardia Speziale, Communications Consultant at NHO. In our conversation Cardia reflects on her role, the changing media landscape, as well as the impact travel has had and continues to have on her personal and professional life. Having lived and worked in Stockholm and the Philippines, Cardia’s adaptable, open-minded, and positive nature is informed by a global outlook and an enthusiasm for positive client outcomes.
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Q: Can you share a typical day in your role as Communications Consultant at NHO?
A: A typical day for me generally consists of lots of reading to stay up to date with what’s happening in the industry and across the news more broadly, strategic media outreach, research and crafting of media angles, and consulting on a variety of communications and marketing activities to support our wonderful client cohort. No two days are ever the same, and the opportunity to work across such diverse, creative and interesting projects is incredibly motivating.
As a team, we’re often out of the office attending events or travelling to stay connected to the broader industry. I had the pleasure of attending the London Design Biennale and London Festival of Architecture this year — it was amazing to experience the value of design in such a different setting to my day to day.
“The Living Cities Forum was another memorable excursion of the past 12 months.”
“Attending the London Design Biennale earlier this year was eye-opening, and inspiring. The unusually sunny weather certainly helped.”
Q: How has travel and working abroad affected the way you approach your work?
A: I find travel is a great way to gain a more open minded perspective on what’s happening around me. So, on both a personal and professional level I have always valued travel for the opportunity it gives me to learn, grow, and be inspired.
In that sense, my experience working abroad has affected my approach by challenging me to think outside the box and have deeper consideration for broader social and economic factors occurring around us. I also love that travel opens up a whole realm of interaction with people from all walks of life, which over the years has helped me be a more adaptable and open communicator.
“The experience of living and working abroad has challenged me to think outside the box and give deeper consideration to the broader social and economic factors occurring around us.” – Cardia Speziale
Q: What are your observations on the changing media landscape?
A: The media landscape is always changing, and we speak every day with journalists and publishing teams who are undoubtedly feeling the pressures of being under-resourced, time poor, and grappling with more constraints than ever.
In saying that, we view these challenges as opportunities to think differently about the ways we work with journalists to tell our clients’ stories. It’s also a reminder that strategic communications is not merely about editorial opportunities. We view communications as just one element of the marketing mix, so alongside media placements we are often working on partnerships, events, speaking opportunities, social media strategies, and advertising too with a highly strategic, quality over quantity approach.
Q: Can you share something about yourself that people might not know?
A: I love baking cakes (and eating them!).
“I recently baked this Milk & Honey Layered Cake. Recipes by Odette Williams are always a great place to start, and I’m hoping to power through more recipes in the coming months.”
“Strategic communications is not merely about editorial opportunities. We view communications as just one element of the marketing mix, so alongside media placements we are often working on partnerships, events, speaking opportunities, social media strategies, and advertising too.” – Cardia Speziale