Episode 3

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Published on:

2nd Jun 2023

Using Policies as Swords, Not Shields with Shirley Anne Off

It’s time to get political! Kim Clark brings in Director General of Communications, Shirley Anne Off, who’s been serving as the Justice Canada’s Head of Communications and Champion for Indigenous Peoples since 2016. As a representative of the government, Shirley Anne sheds light on what it takes for government communications systems to “show their work” by building trust and creating policies to serve in the best interest of Canadians. Shirley Anne also takes the audience through her personal journey of being in a position to do better in order to inspire foundational change that lasts. Kim and Shirley Anne even explore Shirley Anne’s contribution to Kim’s latest book, The Conscious Communicator: The subtle art of not giving a sh*t.

To purchase your copy of The Conscious Communicator: The subtle art of not giving a sh*t, visit here.

ABOUT SHIRLEY ANNE OFF:

Shirley Anne Off has been the Director General of Communications since 2016 where she leads a dynamic, creative and strategic team of communicators both in the NCR and the Regions.  Since 2017, she has also been Justice’s Champion for Indigenous Peoples.

Shirley Anne started her public affairs career in the not-for-profit and arts sectors and joined the federal public service in 1996 with Parks Canada. She later moved to what was the Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, where she held a series of progressive communications positions including various management positions in Treaties and Aboriginal Government, Issues Management, Media Relations and Ministerial Liaison. In 2010, she became Director, Operations and Clients Services. She was appointed Associate Director General, Strategic, Corporate and Internal Communications in 2013. In October 2015, she took on the role of Acting Director General, Communications.  

Shirley Anne Off holds a Master’s of Arts, Communications with a specialization in feminist cultural policy from the School of Journalism and Communication, Carleton University. She also earned a Bachelor of Education from University of Ottawa and graduated from the University of Waterloo with an Honours Bachelor of Arts. 

Contact:

Register for the upcoming workshop with Kim at Https://communicatelikeyougiveadamnpodcast.com

About Kim:

Kim Clark (she/her) focuses her work on the communicator and content creator's role in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). She is the co-author of The Conscious Communicator: The fine art of not saying stupid sh*t, an Amazon #1 bestseller and the leading voice for DEI communications and social justice messaging for brands.

She speaks at conferences, writes custom workshops, writes inclusive communications guides, and consults with companies on all things related to diversity, equity, and inclusion communications. Kim is a member of the LGBTQ+ community, a cisgender woman, Native American (Muscogee Nation) and a mom of two kids with disabilities. These marginalized identities and the privileges that come with society seeing her as White motivate her daily for social change.

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About the Podcast

Communicate Like You Give A Damn
Welcome to Communicate Like You Give A Damn, where we dive deep into the world of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and explore how communicators can effectively incorporate these principles into their strategies. We firmly believe that by positioning our companies well on social justice topics and adopting a DEI lens, we play a crucial role in the success of DEI initiatives within our organizations.

Your host, Kim Clark is not only a dynamic speaker and consultant but also a co-author of the Amazon number one bestseller, "The Conscious Communicator: The Fine Art of Not Saying Stupid Shit." While the title may make you think there will be plenty of swearing, it actually reflects our passion for helping communicators understand and apply diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) principles in their daily work.

Language, communication, engagement, and a compelling vision are the foundation of DEI, and that's what we'll be focusing on. It's time to move beyond performative communication and level up our approach to truly make a difference. Each episode, we bring you incredible guests who will share their personal stories and professional approaches, offering valuable insights and strategies to help us all become conscious communicators. Get ready to take notes because every episode contains a powerful message that will create a shift in your perspective.

Language leads to behavior so it's time to step up, communicate like You Give a Damn, and build a vibrant community of conscious communicators.

About your host

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Kim Clark

Kim Clark (she/her) works with leaders and communicators who are serious about learning and applying Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) to build strong teams and organizations.

She is the co-author of The Conscious Communicator: The fine art of not saying stupid sh*t, an Amazon #1 bestseller that features The DEPTH Model (TM). DEPTH is a strategic and proactive positional framework to guide organizations on DEI and social topics and messaging.

Her career spans documentary filmmaking, agency partnerships with the Discovery Channel, teaching at San Jose State University, and leading global internal communication teams at KLA, PayPal, GoDaddy, and GitHub. She is known for her ability to facilitate sensitive yet urgent conversations to make meaningful progress in creating inclusive workplaces.

She speaks at conferences, designs custom workshops, writes inclusive communications guides, and consults with leaders and companies on all things related to diversity, equity, and inclusion communications.