November 2025

November 2025: Learning

In our November edition, we explore the theme of learning — from creating accessible content and navigating new industries to embracing mentorship and the evolving role of AI. We also examine how communicators can sharpen their skills to stay relevant in an ever-changing digital landscape.

About Communicator

Letter from the Editor-in-Chief

BY Linda Bicho-Vachon

Welcome to the November 2025 issue of IABC/Toronto’s Communicator.

The theme of this issue is learning.

I always associate the fall season with vibrant colours and the gradual transition to colder weather. For me, this time of year also represents a reset and a time to learn.

Back to Basics: The ABCs of Accessible Internal Comms

BY Matisse Hamel-Nelis

“Sometimes, going back to basics and working through the fundamentals systematically is exactly what moves us forward toward truly inclusive workplace communication.” Accessible communications and marketing expert, Matisse Hamel-Nelis offers a guide to creating internal communications that reach everyone.

A Communicator’s Guide to the Tech Industry

BY Eric Emin Wood

Writer Eric Emin Wood shares his tips for communicators who want to learn more about the tech industry.

From Search to Synthesis: Answer Engine Optimization in the AI Age

BY CJ Collins

“Distribution now has two audiences: human journalists and machine summarizers.” CJ Collins offers tips for communicators to ensure discoverability of content through answer engine optimization (AEO).

The New Rules of Mindshare: AI, Trust and the Communicator’s Mandate

BY Cyrus Mavalwala

Cyrus Mavalwal, CEO of Avantis Communications, offers communicators advice to cut through the AI noise and create content that ensures authority and trust prevail.

The Future of Mentorship: Human First, AI Supercharged

BY Caterina L. Valentino

Caterina Valentino examines the use AI as a mentor and the lost benefits of human connection.

What the energy transition can teach communicators: A case study

BY Srividya Bhaskar

Communications strategist, Srividya Bhaskar, shares the lessons she learned about the value of transparent communications in the complex world of energy transition.

The Benefits of Mentoring

BY Linda Bicho-Vachon

When people think about mentorships, the benefits are often attributed to the person being mentored and how the relationship contributes to their career growth. But being a mentor can be just as beneficial.