“CURIOSITY, CREATIVITY, CLARITY: MY HONEST TAKEAWAYS FROM A PR CONFERENCE THAT ACTUALLY MATTERED”
Let’s be honest—most conferences are a mix of recycled ideas, corporate buzzwords, and too much coffee. But the 7th KL International PR Conference (KLIP7) was different. The theme, “Curiosity, Creativity, Clarity,” wasn’t just a slogan; it was the heartbeat of every discussion. And for once, I didn’t leave feeling like I’d just sat through a sales pitch. I left with real, actionable insights—and a few hard truths about where PR and leadership are heading.
Here’s what stuck with me:
1. Leadership Isn’t About Being the Smartest in the Room
One speaker put it bluntly: “If people don’t trust you, nothing else matters.” That hit hard. We’re working in a time where trust in institutions—governments, brands, even media—is crumbling, and yet, so many leaders still think a polished LinkedIn post counts as “communication.”
A few reality checks from the sessions:
- Promises aren’t PR—delivering on them is. Empty mission statements won’t cut it anymore.
- AI won’t replace leaders, but leaders who ignore AI will get left behind. It’s not about being a tech whiz—it’s about knowing enough to ask the right questions.
- The real shift? Moving from AI as a “content tool” to AI as a teammate. Think less “ChatGPT wrote my news release” and more “How can AI help us work smarter without losing the human touch?”
2. AI in PR: The Line Between Helpful and Harmful
Here’s the thing—AI is everywhere in PR now. But the conference didn’t just hype it up; it forced us to confront the risks, not just the rewards.
A few uncomfortable truths:
- People trust AI less than they did a year ago. (Turns out, everyone’s had a bad ChatGPT hallucination by now.)
- 82% of people want stricter rules on AI-generated content. Yet, barely half of PR pros are even talking about AI ethics. That’s a problem.
- Transparency isn’t optional. If AI touched your work, say so. Because if you don’t, someone will find out—and then you’ve got a crisis on your hands.
- The best advice I heard? “Use AI for the grunt work, not the gut calls.” Let it draft emails, crunch data, or spark ideas—but when it comes to strategy, crisis response, or anything that needs empathy? That’s human territory.
3. Crisis Comms: Less Spin, More Straight Talk
The crisis session was a wake-up call. In today’s world, a minor misstep can explode in minutes and “no comment” is a death sentence. The key takeaways weren’t about slick messaging but about owning up, acting fast and leading with empathy. (Who knew “we messed up” could actually work?)
Final Thought: Conferences Should Make You Uncomfortable
The best part of KLIP7? It didn’t just validate what I already knew—it challenged me. It made me question how I use AI, how I build trust and whether I’m really communicating or just broadcasting.
Huge thanks to the World Communications and IPRM teams for putting together an event that lived up to the hype. Here’s to staying Curious (even when it’s hard), Creative (even under pressure) and Clear (especially when it’s easier to hide behind jargon).
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