“The greatest asset that comes from making a mistake is wisdom.”
Newsletter #117
This Week:
Meet Our Next Communications Leader
ICYMI: Thinking Inside the Box
Spotted
Before We Go…
1.Meet the Messenger: Ericka Miller, President and CEO of Isaacson, Miller
We’re excited to feature Ericka Miller, President and CEO of Isaacson, Miller, a leading national executive search firm. A strategic leader with deep roots in education, nonprofit leadership, and public service, Ericka brings a wide-ranging perspective shaped by roles across government, academia, and consulting. Since rejoining the firm in 2016, she has led its preK-12 education practice, joined the Executive Committee, and stepped into the CEO role in 2021, where she now guides firm strategy, operations, and growth.
Ericka’s career reflects a consistent focus on impact from advising the U.S. Secretary of Education and contributing to national policy, to leading operations at major education organizations and supporting mission-driven leadership searches across the country. With experience spanning Capitol Hill, the classroom, and the boardroom, she offers a thoughtful, systems-level view of leadership and talent. We spoke with her about the early debate-driven roots of her communication style, how she leads with clarity and purpose, and the lessons she’s learned that continue to shape her decisions and impact.
2. ICYMI: Use What You’ve Got
Here’s the tale of how out-of-the-box thinking led to an inside-the-box design for Krave Beauty. And, we’re sharing how you can use the same principles to reimagine the world around you as channels for your own messaging.
3. Spotted
A massive shipment of more than 400,000 KitKat bars was stolen during transit in Europe, but instead of treating it as a typical crisis, Nestlé leaned into humor on social media, turning the incident into a viral marketing moment with hundreds of brands chiming in.
The company’s playful response drew attention from other brands and marketing experts, who praised it as a smart example of crisis PR, even as authorities continue investigating the theft and broader concerns about cargo security remain. Here’s a recap from The Wall Street Journal.
4. Before We Go…
From The Pew Research Center: Religious radio across America
New data from the Pew Research Center found that 25% of all AM/FM Radio stations in the U.S. have a faith focus. 45% of U.S. adults reported listening to religious programming across all mediums, with three-quarters of those listeners tuning into religious radio. 98% of U.S. adults live within the local coverage range of at least one station.
The Defense Department announced it will eliminate office space for media outlets at the Pentagon after a federal judge ruled in favor of The New York Times in a case over restrictions on reporters’ access. The section known as “Correspondents’ Corridor,” long used by journalists covering the U.S. military, will be shut down immediately, according to spokesperson Sean Parnell.
From The New York Times: Trump’s Executive Order on NPR and PBS is unconstitutional, judge rules
A federal judge ruled that an executive order by Donald Trump to end federal funding for National Public Radio and Public Broadcasting Service is unconstitutional. The judge said the order amounted to viewpoint discrimination and violated First Amendment protections by attempting to punish the outlets for perceived political bias. While Congress has already cut some public media funding, the court blocked federal agencies from enforcing the executive order’s broader funding ban.
You must now forward this to the person in your circle most likely to pick up a KitKat — we don’t make the rules.