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​MAY COMM CONVO: SECURING STRATEGIC BUY-IN

​Moving a communications strategy from concept to execution often hinges on securing buy-in from the right people at the right time. Whether you're working with colleagues who helped shape the plan or navigating skeptical stakeholders, gaining alignment isn’t always straightforward. This session explores how to identify the voices that carry weight, build support across functions, and maintain control of your strategy as it moves through layers of input, feedback, and approvals.

​WHY ATTEND

• ​Learn how to spot the unofficial decision-makers who can make or break your momentum

• ​Hear how peers have managed complex relationships to push programs forward during times of uncertainty or resistance

• ​Explore ways to build credibility, frame your strategy for alignment, and lead your team through layered approvals without losing the plot

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​MEET OUR SPEAKERS

​AMANDA GALGAY

​Over the course of 20 years, Amanda Galgay has built a wealth of experience in communications working on behalf of biopharmaceutical companies charting new ground in science and medicine. She's passionate about using communications to help companies gain recognition and investment to support scientific breakthroughs becoming life-changing medicines. One of her areas of expertise is developing messaging that optimally positions a company, bringing out its differentiators and scientific approach in a way that is direct, leaves behind jargon and over-used phrases, and captures the promise and potential of the science. When developing and driving integrated communications strategies, a hallmark of her approach is laser-focus on mapping to defined and targeted business objectives.

​Amanda has built deep expertise across all areas of corporate communications, starting with nearly 10 years of global agency experience working on the front lines of crisis communications. Following that, she's been fortunate to work in-house at some of the best and most innovative in the field, including leading employee engagement and branding at Vertex; serving as the primary corporate spokesperson at Biogen; leading and building out IR and communications at Pear Therapeutics (first FDA-cleared digital therapeutics); Ohana Biosciences (Flagship Pioneering company), and Exscientia (fourth largest biotech IPO of 2021).

​One of the most rewarding aspects of biotech is working alongside others fueled by the potential to make a difference in the world through advancing health. She loves what she does and collaborating with others to tackle hard challenges and working with urgency toward the ultimate goal of helping patients.

​Other interesting bits about Amanda: a small town Midwesterner by origin (fun fact, her future career in PR was foreshadowed by cutting the ribbon to commemorate her town’s first stoplight as a teen); perpetual endorphin chaser (mostly early morning workouts these days); an early bird for life (call her at 4 am vs. 8 pm any day!), and mom to some pretty great kids.

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​BILAL LAKHANI

​Bilal Lakhani is a seasoned Marketing & Communications Leader and part of PR Week's PR 40 Under 40 cohort for 2021. He built and led Procter & Gamble's Global Influencer Marketing Center of Excellence, which enabled P&G brands to operate at the cutting edge of innovation in the influencer space.

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​WILL NOLAN

​Will Nolan is Chief Marketing and Communication Officer of the EveryLife Foundation for Rare Diseases with over 20 years as an integrated communications strategist developing and executing initiatives to drive seamless internal and external communications efforts for both nonprofit and for-profit organizations.

​Will recently returned to working with the rare disease community after spending 13 years at Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD) as SVP of Communications, leading all communications, marketing, and public relations as an integral member of the organization’s executive leadership team. During his tenure at PPMD, Will launched and scaled the organization’s social media and thought-leadership presence, positioning PPMD as the largest Duchenne-specific resource for all stakeholders in the community.

​Will also spent two years at Real Chemistry as part of their newly formed Advocacy Relations, working closely with rare disease organizations to help ensure pharmaceutical clients built meaningful relationships with patient communities. Additionally, he developed strategic recommendations and multichannel approaches that allowed clients to build in-house advocacy functions and corporate giving capabilities.

​Most recently, Will was the Vice President of Transformation for Scholastic, Inc., identifying strategic projects that will sustain the company’s leadership in children’s publishing for the next century, including updates to operational systems, enhancing Scholastic’s digital capabilities, improving customer service, and prioritizing transparency in employee communications. This included engaging with stakeholders at all levels across the organization to secure buy-in, address concerns, and collect valuable feedback for the company’s transformation initiatives.

​Will is a member of the Executive Council for Leading Change which brings together executives from around the world to shape the future of organizational change and transformation. He has been an adjunct professor at Manhattanville University, teaching a course in nonprofit branding and communications. He has guest lectured at NYU and CUNY and spoke at a number of conferences, including NTEN (Nonprofit Technology Enterprise Network).