AI-Powered Leadership in Communications: From Reactive to Proactive with Corey duBrowa of Burson

The use of AI in corporate communications is no longer up for debate. It’s transforming how leaders connect, influence, and build trust.

In this episode of The Heidrick & Struggles Leadership Podcast, Corey duBrowa, Global CEO of Burson and a seasoned communications leader, explains why today’s communicators must evolve into “full-stack” professionals, who blend analysis, strategy, and creativity with the help of AI.

Corey dives into how innovative AI tools like Burson’s Reputation Capital are turning reputation, once an intangible asset, into something leaders can track, shape, and leverage.

He also talks about the increasing dangers of misinformation, debunks the myth of a fully autonomous “agentic” AI future, and highlights the key skills leaders need to cultivate in order to stay ahead in today’s AI-driven communications landscape.

If you’d like to understand the real impact of AI on communication, this episode is a must-listen.

Let’s dive in!


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Key Takeaways:

Introduction (00:00)
How AI is redefining the communicator’s role (01:58)
Inside Burson’s Reputation Capital platform (04:38)
The dangers of misinformation and AI’s role (07:26)
Debunking the “agentic future” myth (08:13)
In-demand skills for the AI-driven communications landscape (09:41)
What CEOs and boards should be asking about AI (12:12)
Moving from defense to offense with AI (14:26)


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Additional Resources:

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