The comms ROI playbook: How to get more budget in 2026

Make a business case for comms that leadership can’t ignore.

Comms teams are being asked to do more than ever — drive engagement, support frontline teams, enable change, reduce friction — often with the same budget… or none at all.

It’s not that leaders don’t care about communication. It’s that the value isn’t always framed in terms they prioritize.

In this practical, executive-friendly session, digital communication and collaboration consultant Sharon O’Dea joins us to break down how to reposition internal comms from “important but not urgent” to clearly understood, measurable, and fundable.

You’ll leave with a simple framework for connecting comms investment to real business problems — and the confidence to make your case with clarity.

What you’ll learn:

• An exec-ready guide for connecting comms spend to measurable business outcomes
• How to translate engagement, alignment, and reach into must-fund initiatives
• Why employee insight (not assumptions) strengthens every budget request
• How timing — around business growth, M&A, and more — can make or break your case
• The biggest mistakes comms teams make when asking for more (and how to avoid them)
• How to position comms as a driver of employee experience, not just a distribution channel

Who should attend:

• Internal communications leaders ready to move from reactive to strategic
• HR and employee experience teams building the case for better tools and support
• Change and transformation leaders who need stronger reach and adoption
• Comms professionals tired of defending their budget every year

If you’re tired of hearing “can’t you just send an email?” — this session is for you.

Why this session is different:

Most webinars talk about tools. This one talks about leverage.

Instead of pitching features, we’ll focus on:

• The business problems executives are actually trying to solve
• The data you already have (and how to use it better)
• How to align comms with frontline realities — not just HQ priorities
• Turning employee feedback into investment momentum

No fluffy theory. No unhelpful talk tracks. Just a clear, repeatable approach you can apply immediately.

Bonus: Live Q&A with Sharon O’Dea

Bring your real scenarios — upcoming business cases, renewal conversations, change initiatives, and other internal challenges — and get practical advice you can use right away.