IABC Master Class: AI for Thought Leadership 2.0: From Idea Harvesting To Scalable Thought Leadership
You’re already using AI. The question is whether it’s helping you think better, or just helping you publish faster.
In this advanced Master Class, journalist and thought leader expert Rhea Wessel shows communication professionals how to use AI as a strategic partner in thought leadership, helping them identify stronger ideas, sharpen their positioning, and build repeatable systems for high-quality content.
This Master Class focuses on how to use AI to analyze thought-leadership landscapes, identify gaps in the conversation, research audience pain points, and develop counterintuitive story angles that differentiate true thought leadership from marketing content.
Participants will learn how to work with AI while maintaining strong editorial judgment, ethical guardrails, and a distinctly human point of view so their ideas gain credibility, not just visibility.
This Master Class is ideal for communication professionals who already use AI for writing or ideation and now want to use it more intentionally, strategically, and responsibly.
Presenter: Rhea Dressel, Founder, The Institute for Thought Leadership
Price: $199 for members, $249 for Member Lite and nonmembers
Dates: 20 January | 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. CT
Learning Outcomes:
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Identify gaps in a thought leadership landscape (what’s being said, and what isn’t)
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Define and sharpen a personal or organizational though leadership niche
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Research the deepest internal and external pain points of your audience
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Generate strong, counterintuitive story ideas using AI
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Build a scalable thought leadership engine without diluting voice or credibility
Meet Rhea
Rhea Wessel is an American writer and thought-leadership strategist who helps people grow their business by creating and publishing thought leadership. She and her team advise and train on ideation, messaging, AI writing and how to find and articulate your best ideas to become an IP-driven company.
As a journalist, she wrote thousands of stories on hundreds of topics and was published in outlets like the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and BBC. Later, as a writer for companies, she has penned and edited thousands more stories across 30 industries.
Rhea founded and leads The Institute for Thought Leadership, a B2B training and consulting company that helps clients take their ideas to scale with thought-leadership publishing, research and programs.
Her first book, Write Like a Thought Leader, was published in 2022. Rhea’s next book, How To Write Big-Idea Nonfiction with AI, will be available in early 2026.
A board member of the Global Thought Leadership Institute, Rhea moves frequently between Frankfurt, Germany and Houston, Texas.
Who Should Attend?
Senior communicators, consultants, writers, and in-house professionals responsible for thought leadership, executive messaging, and content strategy. Those who attended the AI for Thought Leadership Master Class in 2025 will find plenty of new concepts and exercises.
IABC Master Class: When Change Management Fails: Rebuilding Trust and Reputation when a Major Change Project Becomes a Crisis
Presenter: Bonnie Caver, SCMP, IABC Fellow, FCSCE, Founder and CEO, Reputation Lighthouse and Deborah L. Hileman, SCMP, FCSCE, CCMC, President and CEO, Institute for Crisis Management
Price: $199 for members, $249 for Member Lite and nonmembers
Dates: 9 February | 12:00 PM
When change initiatives fail, it is often due to poor communication strategy and tactics. In this new IABC Master Class, understand why major change initiatives may fail and how employee trust is eroded during poorly managed transitions. Explore how open, honest, and consistent organizational messaging rebuilds credibility and stabilizes teams. Use proven methodologies and structured communication plans to lead recovery and minimize future risk. Discuss techniques to rebuild trust through consistent leadership behavior, clear corrective actions, and frequent employee engagement. Learn practical steps for repairing organizational image and stakeholder confidence, including supportive internal and external communication and visible improvements in management processes.
Class participants will have the opportunity to:
- Identify factors that turn change initiatives into crises, including communication missteps and lack of leadership alignment.
- Develop communication plans that acknowledge failure, explain corrective actions, and signal a commitment to returning stability and reliability to the organization.
- Restore trust by strengthening feedback mechanisms, listening to affected employees, and maintaining long-term, honest dialogue.
- Implement brand and reputation recovery strategies that build confidence among internal teams and external stakeholders.
- Apply case studies and roleplays simulating high-stake situations to give participants actionable frameworks and talking points that can be adapted to their real-world contexts.
Meet Bonnie and Deborah
Bonnie Caver, SCMP, IABC Fellow, FCSCE, provides strategic advisory services to CEOs and leadership teams of mid-market B2B companies in brand management, reputation, communication, mergers & acquisitions, change management, and responsible AI implementation. She helps organizations create, accelerate, and protect corporate value, particularly during periods of transformation and disruption. With 20 years of consulting leadership experience, she focuses on maximizing organizational growth and value while mitigating the risks that impede growth and erode value. As the founder and CEO of Reputation Lighthouse, Bonnie has guided organizational leadership through various stages of their business journey, from launch to exit. Bonnie excels in managing transactional changes and preparing organizations for dynamic shifts necessary for survival in evolving business environments.
Deborah Hileman, SCMP, FCSCE, CCMC, is a business leader, board member, and globally certified strategic communication and corporate crisis management professional with more than 35 years of experience helping organizations build value, engage stakeholders, navigate disruption, manage reputational risk, and communicate with clarity in high-stakes situations. As president and CEO of the Institute for Crisis Management, she leads teams that specialize in crisis planning and preparedness, executive counsel, communication training, and real-time response support. Her approach is grounded in servant leadership, integrity, and measurable results. Throughout her career, Deborah has served in leadership roles with IABC, the Global Communication Certification Council® and several non-profit boards.