The Common Sense Colloquy: Q&A with Bernadette Davis of BDC Strategy Group

The opportunity to collaborate with other public relations professionals is one of the things that makes my job so rewarding. And my colleagues in The Change Agencies are at the top of that list. As the nation’s inclusive communications agency network, The Change Agencies is built on the idea that smart agency professionals working together can do even more to help clients succeed.

One of those smart agency professionals is Bernadette Davis of BDC Strategy Group. Bernadette and I have collaborated on behalf of The Change Agencies clients in the past and I’m looking forward to our next opportunity to work together again. As we continue our series of Q&As with members of The Change Agencies, I’m so happy to feature Bernadette.

I knew that I wanted to work with Bernadette the first time I met her, at a PRSA Conference several years ago. It took a little while, but once The Change Agencies co-founder LaTricia Woods and I determined that a membership model was the right next step for the development of The Change Agencies, Bernadette was a natural person to invite to join us. I’m so glad she said yes!

Bernadette is Founder and Chief Strategist of BDC Strategy Group, a “boutique communications and public relations agency that provides strategic counsel in employee communications, content development, executive communications, public relations and issues management.” The firm, which was founded in 2014, has a presence in Atlanta and Dallas and collaborates with The Change Agencies members in markets across the country.

Bernadette has more than two decades of experience that includes public affairs work at Walt Disney World Resort and communications roles at Florida A&M University College of Law, Cox Enterprises, advertising agencies and newspapers in Georgia and South Carolina. Just as important, Bernadette has a strong team of public relations practitioners, and her firm is a certified Minority Business Enterprise with the National Minority Supplier Development Council.

Bernadette has been a volunteer for a number of civic, business and academic organizations, and she is a strong voice for professionalism and excellence in the public relations industry. It’s always a pleasure to work with Bernadette and I always learn something and appreciate the insights she shares. I know for a fact that our clients do too. Bernadette is fantastic and I’m thrilled to include her as part of this series. My thanks to Bernadette for sharing her wisdom with us – and you.

Q: Why is a network like The Change Agencies needed? What role do you see it filling in the marketplace and why should clients hire one or more of The Change Agencies to help them change the way they communicate across cultures?

A:  As an agency owner having a network of partners across the country is invaluable. Many boutique agencies are part of a network that helps them expand their reach. The Change Agencies focus on agencies with ownership from underrepresented groups sets us apart as a network that reflects the nation and the future of business and communications. In my experience with other members of The Change Agencies, we bring a perspective to communications that includes all audiences and that helps us serve clients and communities.

Q: Why are you passionate about inclusive communication? What excites you the most about this work? 

A: I have always loved stories and how they help us learn about our history, our present-day world and what the future may hold. Clearly news coverage and nonfiction narratives help us do that, but I also believe in the truth that can be revealed in fictional narratives. We can’t really get to that truth if our stories (coverage, film, novels) erases or leaves out communities. I believe in doing work that reflects the many different communities involved. A great question for communicators to ask is: who is being left out of the story? That’s a starting place to improve how we amplify stories.

Q: How has your career experience helped you in leading inclusive communications and marketing initiatives with clients? What lessons have you learned that have applied to your work?

A: Throughout my career I’ve had experiences that expose me to new ideas, history and culture. Add to that my academic interests in literature and history and those things are part of how I approach work. Learning the context behind business decisions and communities helps shape the work we do. And when you do that with an inclusive lens, you may be delving into history that other people aren’t considering. So many times when we see communications misses, there’s a historical or cultural component missing that led to the challenge. I want to identify those potential pitfalls and address them. And communications leaders can do that when we are willing to be curious about big ideas and engaged before all decisions are made.

Q: What’s the best “common sense” advice about communications you’ve received?

A: Be well read and knowledgeable about your work, the industries you work in and the world. This is something I’ve learned in practice and from multiple leaders. To make the best decisions and provide the best recommendations, you need to be a smart consumer of information about business, society and the world. The decisions you make today should be informed by business priorities, media and social media trends, history and what’s happening in multiples segments of society. It’s important to be ready and reliable information (even just knowing where to get up to speed quickly) is critical for that.

Q: What’s the best “common sense” advice about communications you've given to others?

A: Tell your own story. In our industry sometimes there is a focus on public relations and media coverage over everything else. But it is so important to create direct lines of communication where organizations consistently tell their own story. That’s true for individual leaders as well. Talk about your journey, what you’ve learned and what matters to you. It helps to build reputation and trust. And it has to be done over time.