Happeo Unmuted Episode 11: Responsible AI Use, Executive Champions, and Solving Communication at the Root
Welcome to Happeo Unmuted, the podcast where we go beyond best practices to explore what really connects people at work. In this episode, Jesse Bourgeault-Trickey sits down with Maliha Aqeel to discuss several key aspects of internal communications, knowledge sharing, and digital transformation.
Top 5 takeaways from Maliha Aqeel on Happeo Unmuted:
1. Technology doesn’t fix communication, strategy does
One of the biggest internal comms mistakes is relying on tools to solve people problems. Effective communication starts with understanding the audience, the purpose, and the real business impact, not launching another channel or platform.
2. Comms must be strategic, not downstream
Communications teams already have a seat at the table, but they need to use it. Comms should be involved from the start, connecting executive goals, company culture, and employee realities, and educating leaders on the strategic value they bring.
3. Executive champions make or break change
Sustainable communication change requires strong executive alignment. When leaders and comms teams agree on the problem—and model the behavior themselves—communication becomes clearer, simpler, and far more effective.
4. Use AI responsibly with “Trust but Verify”
Generative AI works best when it handles the first 70–80% of the draft, with humans refining the rest. Maliha’s “Trust but Verify” framework ensures AI output is accurate, on-brand, ethical, and accountable through systematic verification and documentation.
5. Simplicity and audience focus drive real impact
The most effective communication is often the simplest. Overcomplicated campaigns fall flat, while clear priorities and a deep understanding of the audience—including the often-overlooked “silent majority”—lead to meaningful engagement and change.
