Why I joined IABC: A new member’s perspective

By Amanda Cosentino

Amanda Cosentino shares what swayed her decision to recently join IABC.

“So, what do you do?”

If someone tells you that they are an accountant, you almost automatically think, “oh they must be a CPA,” or if someone says they are in Human Resources, it is easy to assume they are an HRPA.

But when someone says, “I am a communications professional,” you get the “oh very interesting” look. And when you try to further explain what it is that you do (I’m sure that “I tell the corporate story,” “I help promote and live out the brand,” or “I write communications for our 10,000 employees” ring a bell to some of you), you are met with a polite nod and smile.

So, one day I said to myself: “enough is enough” – I wanted to see if there was a designation or a group that I can find to associate with my communications peers. IABC was one of the first links I clicked on.

I quickly learned that IABC is recognized as the professional association of choice for communicators. There were two major things that made me want to join:

1. Large group of professionals. There are 950 members at IABC/Toronto Chapter. To me, this meant that I had a good chance of connecting with someone who would understand me. There is also The Hub, which is a place where you can connect with communication professionals around the world, share insights, or pose a question and participate in a discussion. I absolutely loved the idea of being able to ask people across the world questions about how to solve a problem or explain something to employees that we can all relate to, like COVID-19 and return to work.
2. Different opportunities to enhance your skills. Remember that designation problem I mentioned? Solved. There are a couple different certification programs depending on where you are in your career. If you are a member, you can apply for a discount towards a Communication Management Professional (CMP) or Strategic Communication Management Professional (SCMP). And, since IABC has such a large network of professionals, it is easy to find someone who went through one of the certification programs to ask questions. If you aren’t interested in something as formal as a designation, there are a ton of webinars available throughout the year and on demand to enhance your skills and gain a new perspective on the profession.

After I did a bit more research, I joined – and couldn’t be happier!

The Hub has become one of my favourite places to check out on a regular basis. I love being able to participate in discussions and share my experiences with someone on the other side of the world who is going through a similar issue that I faced. I’ve also come to see that a lot of the discussions, whether relevant to my work or not, are highly participated in and always interesting and insightful to read. I know that, one day, when I pose a question to The Hub, it will be answered by my fellow professionals who share the same passion for quality, creativity, and innovation in corporate communications.

Although my schedule hasn’t allowed for it yet, I’m very interested in the webinars and already joined a few that are upcoming this summer and fall.

I am excited now that when someone asks what I do, I will be met with more than just a nod and smile. Maybe that should be my first question to The Hub – “How do you explain to non-communication professionals what you do?”