Head of Social Media at Comerica Bank | Executive Media Advisor | Former TV Reporter

I am a communications leader with 15+ years of experience advising executives, brands, and institutions on how to communicate clearly, credibly, and effectively in high-stakes moments.

At Comerica Bank, I lead social media and content strategy across small business, commercial, and retail banking, as well as corporate philanthropy, financial literacy, and community engagement. I oversee a high-volume content operation, approximately 100 pieces of content per month and the production of live streaming events on LinkedIn and Facebook that bring the brand’s voice directly to audiences in real time.

Previously, I served as Vice President of Corporate Communications for Comerica’s California market, where I led media relations, executive speechwriting, crisis communications, and served as a spokesperson. 

In that role, I worked closely with senior leaders to prepare for interviews, public appearances, and moments where clarity, message discipline, and credibility mattered most.

Earlier in my career, I was a television reporter and anchor. That newsroom experience shaped how I approach executive communication today: with an understanding of how journalists think, what audiences listen for, and how quickly a message can succeed or fail under pressure.

Alongside my corporate role, I advise founders and senior leaders on executive media performance, visibility, and on-camera presence through my SmartPresence advisory practice. The focus is practical and risk-aware: helping leaders show up prepared, composed, and aligned with their organization’s goals when the stakes are high. 

This work blends traditional media preparation with modern tools, including AI-assisted video analysis, to accelerate insight and improvement.

I’m always open to thoughtful conversations with communications leaders, founders, and executives about storytelling, media readiness, and executive visibility.

Susan Siravo

When you first show up on camera, it’s not your words that land first.

It’s the visual.

When I’m working with a client who will be doing a lot of their interviews and sales calls online, we start with your setup. 

That’s because credibility begins the second you appear on camera. 

Here’s what we review:

Camera
Laptop camera? Is it good enough or do you need a plug-in webcam? Using your phone or iPad? Do you have a stable tripod at eye level?

Audio
Built-in mic, plug-in USB mic or a lav?
If people have to strain to hear you or there’s too much background noise, your authority drops immediately. 

Lighting
Outside? Direct sun? Walking and talking?
Inside? Do you need a ring light or a soft light source to avoid harsh shadows?
Lighting shapes perception more than most people realize.

Backdrop
Home office? Conference room?
Is it clean, intentional, and aligned with how you want to be perceived or is there too much stuff making you look disorganized?

And here’s what this really signals:

When you invest in your setup, you’re demonstrating standards.
You’re showing your audience that you take your message and yourself seriously.

That visual investment communicates preparation, discernment, and executive presence before you ever speak.

The goal isn’t “fancy.”
It’s professional and high quality. 

Whether you’re on a video sales call, recording content for LinkedIn, or preparing for media interviews, your camera, audio, lighting, and backdrop are doing a lot of the talking for you.

If you’re stepping into a bigger stage this year, start with the fundamentals. 

Have you invested in equipment? What upgrades are your favorites?

Executive Media Trainer | High-Stakes Communications Advisor for C-Suite & Founders | Former TV News Reporter | Crisis Readiness & On-Camera Coaching

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One of the biggest myths about media interviews is that if you’re knowledgeable, the interview will work.

Not necessarily.

When I was a TV reporter, I was sent to interview a professor at a prestigious Bay Area college about a topic in the news.

The interview lasted about 10 minutes.

At the time, we recorded interviews on tape…this was before everything was transferred digitally. 

I brought the tape back to the newsroom and handed it to one of the producers, so she could log it and pull a soundbite. 

Since I was moving to a different story, this interview was going to be used for what’s called a VOSOT. (Anchor voiceover VO, sound on tape SOT, which is the interviewee’s soundbite). 

Those are usually 45 seconds total. So the anchor reads about 20-25 seconds of copy, then the soundbite would be about 10-15 seconds, then the anchor would read a 5-10 second tag. 

Unfortunately, the interview never made on the air and the story was cut down to 25 seconds. 

Why? Throughout the interview, there was not a concise, short soundbite that stood on its own. 

Not because the professor didn’t know his subject.
He clearly did.

The problem was that he never landed a point.

Every answer was thoughtful and detailed… but each one ran two minutes long. 

There was no clear statement to pull as a soundbite.

In TV news, you have to be able to express an idea clearly in 10–15 seconds. 

That’s the format the story is built around for the daily “packaged” stories. And that’s because there’s a certain pacing to newscasts and people are accustomed to it. Plus there are so many stories to get to, each one only has a certain amount of time allotted. 

Experts are trained to explain.

But media interviews require you to distill.

A lecture might go an hour.
A TV soundbite is measured in seconds. 

Two very different formats and two very different communication skills.

I’ll leave you with this question: if someone stopped you today and asked about your area of expertise, could you explain the key point in 20 seconds or less? 

P.S. these principles work in all communications. No one will complain if you make your point very quickly. 😀

One month. Fully self-employed. Here’s what I’ve learned.

1️⃣ The market will tell you what it wants if you listen.

I went all in with a clear core offer:
Media training for founders and executives; podcasts, press interviews, panels, company town halls, high-stakes moments.

What I’m seeing?
The demand is real.

Leaders know that when the camera turns on, whether it’s a podcast interview or a media appearance, they have to show up sharp, concise, and credible.

At the same time, another need is surfacing:

Sales leaders who want to use short-form, direct-to-camera video to speak to their ideal customer on LinkedIn, in DMs, in nurture sequences, but feel intimidated doing it alone.

I put together a few proposals last week to address this need for sales managers and I’m looking forward to pursuing more. 

The lesson: you can have multiple interests. But your offers must solve problems people are actively trying to fix.

2️⃣ Helpful content works.

When you share insights and guidance consistently, people respond. You don’t have to worry about giving all your knowledge away. If people are attracted to your message and believe you can help them achieve their goals, they will want to work with you. 

This week I have several meetings scheduled with people completely outside my network who booked a call after seeing my content.

That’s validation. And momentum. And I have deep appreciation for those opportunities when they come my way.

3️⃣ Deciding your priorities and ignoring shiny objects is essential even if it feels constricting at the time.

I always pursued new initiatives in my corporate roles and considered myself an “intrapreneur,” but since I’m solely responsible for results, I have to be very disciplined with my time. This is a work in progress. 😀

In a corporate role, you align to the company’s strategy.
You move departmental goals forward.

In your own business?
You create the vision.

You decide:
• Who you serve
• What transformation you provide
• How you help people feel confident and powerful
• And how you help them drive revenue

That last piece matters so much. Confidence is wonderful. Revenue is essential.

The sweet spot is helping someone become the person who can drive their revenue far more than they had in the past.

4️⃣ Find your cohort.

Going through Darren McKee’s LinkedIn Social Selling program changed the trajectory of this month.

I learned how to use LinkedIn more strategically for relationship-building and sales. In addition, I built genuine relationships with ambitious professionals across the U.S. and in other countries. 

Running your own business can feel isolating.
It doesn’t have to be.

If you’re building something, find a room where other builders are too.

Month one has been equal parts exciting and challenging. 

I know the lessons will keep coming.

But so far?

Worth it. How about you? How did last month treat you?

A lot of people tell themselves,
“I just don’t like presenting.”
“I’m not great on camera.”
“I’d rather stay behind the scenes.”

But in most cases, it’s not dislike.

It’s self-confidence.

A client shared this after I worked with one of her executives:

“Susan’s professional and upbeat approach immediately made a great impression on our exec, allowing her to feel more confident in the advice and feedback she was getting. In just four one-hour sessions, Susan made a tremendous difference in improving the self-confidence, thought process, and certainly in the presentation our exec now experiences. I would highly recommend Susan to anyone.”

Here’s what I’ve seen over and over again:

When confidence increases, everything changes.

Your thoughts become clearer.
Your delivery becomes more concise.
Your presence becomes stronger.
Your audience responds to your message. 

Have you ever watched someone give a compelling presentation or interview and wished it was you, but you haven’t mustered up the courage to put yourself out there? 

You don’t have to stay on the sidelines watching your peers excel. 

Some structured practice and objective feedback builds real confidence.

And confidence isn’t just a “nice to have.”
It directly impacts visibility, influence, and career trajectory.

When you can stand up, speak clearly, show up on camera, and command the room, people see you differently. They see leadership.

If presenting, media interviews, or on-camera communication makes you uncomfortable, it may not be because you “don’t like it.”

It may simply be that no one has shown you how to feel confident doing it.

And that’s a skill you can build.

If being too critical of yourself is holding you back from posting videos, it's time to give yourself some grace. 

Creating video posts sets you apart from the crowd because not that many people use video and it's definitely not AI, at least until the day that everyone has a digital clone.  

When I first start working with a client, I hear the same thing over and over. 

When they hit record, they freeze and don't know what to say. Or they start out okay, then they go off on a tangent and can't figure out how to get back to the point. 

Then they decide this is just not working, so they abandon the idea.

That's the wrong move because you want to do video and you know it's a powerful way to build you brand. When people see you speaking and hear your voice, they get to know you. 

Here's the thing to remember, you don't have to say everything perfectly. You can stumble on a word and correct yourself. You can start to go off topic and pull yourself back quickly. 

No one is going to stop and scrutinize every word of your video. No one cares.  

Except if you're the CEO of McDonald's and your video has some awkward moments especially when you call a burger, a "product." 😬 

With video, you need to have some self awareness. If you're not sure if you're coming across chill or cringe, you need to hire a coach to deliver the hard truth. 

You don't need to strive for perfection, but you do need to consider the vibe you're giving off and make sure it's not a lame one. 

Video allows viewers to get a feeling about whether you are sincere, trustworthy and generally someone they would like to hang with. 

So when you ask for that coffee meeting or call, they already know who they're agreeing to meet with and feel comfortable. 

Don't put video on the backburner when your competitors are making it happen. If you're not sure where to start, book a call with me and let's chat.

Things rarely go exactly according to plan.

Not in business. Not on a golf course.

I was thinking about that yesterday while watching a collegiate tournament at Lake Merced Golf Club with my son. We were there to watch my nephew, who plays for the Pepperdine Waves golf team.

It was one of those classic San Francisco days with bright sun, but very windy and cold.

And if you’ve ever seen that course, you know it’s not exactly forgiving. 

The course was redesigned a few years back to restore more of the original Alister MacKenzie-style architecture, which emphasizes strategic bunkering, natural contours, and greens that demand precise placement.

Rolling hills. Lightning-fast greens. Deep bunkers. Pins placed on slopes where the ball will roll right back down the hill if the speed isn’t perfect. And that happened a lot yesterday! 

Watching these elite college athletes reminded me that at this level, it’s not just about athletic ability.

It’s constant problem solving in a matter of minutes.

Every shot is a new puzzle:

• A bunker blocks the approach
• A tree takes away the direct line
• The wind suddenly picks up
• The greens are so fast and some of them have their own hills. 

The goal is simple: get the ball in the hole.

But between the tee and the cup are all kinds of obstacles just like growing a business. 

You can easily get rattled, but you still have to keep going. You can’t hold up the game by being indecisive.  You have to quickly assess the situation, figure out the next move, and take the shot. 

Watching that yesterday was a good reminder: progress rarely happens in a straight line.

Sometimes the smartest play is simply solving the problem right in front of you… and taking the next shot.

What’s the “next shot” you’re focused on?

Are you visible where your customers are hanging out online? 🔍

If you're Gen X or older...remember the Yellow Pages? 📔 

Businesses were promoted, not people. That has changed drastically even in the last few years. 

Personal branding, otherwise known as sharing who you are and what you do, is not a nice-to-have anymore, it's a must-have. 

In this short video...a reminder on how algorithms work in your favor if you have the right content in the right place. And video is your best tool for building trust quickly. 🤩

Podcasts may feel informal. 

They're actually not. 

They're public, searchable, highly shareable leadership moments. 

And if a founder or executive treats them as casual chats, it shows. 

In this video, I talk about how important they are for marketing and why you may need to prepare not once, but twice for the same interview.  

When you're on a podcast, you're not just having a conversation. 

You're: 
- Introducing yourself to a cold audience 
- Representing your company and leadership brand
- Creating clips that will live on LinkedIn, your website, YouTube and other social media sites
- Borrowing the host's credibility and being evaluated in real time. 

This may be someone's first impression of you as a leader. Preparation is what separates a "casual chat" from real authority. 

That's why I'm seeing more execs reach out for podcast-focused media training. They want to tighten their messaging, refine soundbites, and improve their delivery. 

They also want to make sure the camera, lighting and audio reinforce credibility instead of distracting from it. 

If you're pitching yourself to podcasts or starting to get invited some, treat these opportunities as gifts. 

Showing up confidently and prepared takes effort. If you interested in learning more about how I help people with these skills, please book a call with me. 

This isn't about memorizing lines or acting like a robot. It's about getting comfortable in the spotlight and knowing how to express yourself effectively during interviews. 

BTW, I've been getting booked on podcasts through PodMatch and suggest you take a look at the platform if you want to be a guest! 🎙️

Great turnout at the PRSA California Capital Chapter's session on creating engaging vertical video.

Wendy Aguilar, Media and Communication Specialist with the Sacramento Fire Department brought incredible energy to the room. Her tips were practical and real about what it takes to create consistent content.

She’s a one-person social media team and also handles media relations. That's a lot of responsibility! And she gets strong participation in her videos across the department.

How? She spends time building relationships and trust internally, so when she pitches a creative idea, people want to be part of it.

Her core reminders:
• Tell stories, don't just deliver information
• Emotion over effects
• 90% straight cuts, don't overuse transitions
• Start with your strongest clip
• It doesn’t have to be perfect

Although the session focused on vertical video, the principles are exactly what I teach founders and executives who want to become more visible.

Whether you’re producing a Reel or recording a talk-to-camera message, the same rules apply:
Make people feel something.
Lead with your strongest idea.
Have a hook in the first three seconds
Keep it simple.

And when you’re asking others to show up on camera, whether it’s firefighters or senior leaders, trust is everything.

What’s been your experience?
Is creating the video the hard part or getting people comfortable enough to participate?

Thanks so much to Wendy for sharing her experience and knowledge!

Any fans of the HBO show “Succession” out there? So many family dynamics at play, and very entertaining characters and storylines. 

I like to use TV shows as case studies for what not to do when there are media scenes. We need the drama or no one would watch, but let’s not try any of this in real life. 

I’m breaking down one of the most iconic (and disastrous) media moments in TV history: Kendall Roy’s press conference in the Season 2 finale. It was a doozy. 

On the surface, it may feel like a moment of bravery. But from a strategic communications perspective, it’s what you’d call an epic fail. 

Kendall was supposed to be all about containment and stability, but that would be super boring, so he did his own thing much to the chagrin of advisors. (I’ve always wanted to use the word chagrin!)

When leaders speak from an emotional state rather than a logical one, the costs are multiplied.

Loss of Message Control: Once the pivot happens, the story takes on another life.

Institutional Instability: Is this an internal "civil war?”

Credibility Gaps: Public platforms being used for personal gain? 

Crisis Expansion: Once a leader goes rogue on camera, all bets are off. 

If you’re a leader, you should know that preparation isn’t just about memorizing lines. It’s about defining the purpose of the moment before defining the message.

And know the consequences of oversharing, sharing the wrong info, sharing the stuff that’s not ready to be shared…you get the picture. 

Check out the full breakdown below where I analyze what leaders can learn from this fictional crisis to protect their real-world reputations. Link to the video is in the comments!

Splunk

Director, Executive Communications, Splunk Products and Technology Group

Roblox

Responsible for public policy, crisis communications, legal issues, fostering online civility, protecting against misuse of platform, trust and safety issues, and ensuring compliance with product usage rules and regulations

Director, Corporate Communications

Twilio Inc.

Managed corporate communications efforts for crisis communications, Legal issues (privacy, lawsuits, HR, enforcement and compliance), public policy/government relations, public sector, telecommunications carrier relations, and Trusted Communications.

Palo Alto Networks

Manage all internal communications in support of 3,000-member global sales force and Dave Peranich,executive vice president, Worldwide Sales. Includes weekly global newsletter, company-wide intranet, all-hands emails, and presentations.

Senior Manager

Adobe

Senior Manager, Corporate Communications

CrowdStrike

Responsible for the development and execution of external and internal communications, including media outreach, press releases, social media, blogs, executive presentations, productions of videos, executive summaries, and company-wide communications for product launches, international expansion, public policy and government relations communications, and other company announcement. Also responsible for external PR agency management and budget. 

Highlights include quarterly product announcements, comms for RSA, InfoSec (Europe), BlackHat, and global expansion in EMEA and APAC.

Juniper Networks

Responsible for development of external/internal communications plans, blogs, presentations (internal, external and BoD), internal departmental and all-hands communications for the Juniper Development and Innovation (JDI) organization, Juniper’s product engineering division, an organization of 5,000+ individuals worldwide. Specifically, provide executive communications support for Jonathan Davidson, executive vice president and general manager for JDI.

Highlights include presentation development for Innovation Showcase product launch in March 2015 and Juniper Unite product launch in September 2015.

Director, Executive Communications

AtHoc

Public Relations
Analyst Relations
Internal Communications
Customer Onboarding

Highlights include managing AtHoc's first entry into Gartner's Magic Quadrant for emergency mass notification services, resulting in AtHoc's position in the leadership quadrant.

Director of Communications

Symantec

Managed all aspects of corporate communications activities, including the development and implementation of strategic communications plans executed on a global basis for all of the following areas. I managed all corporate media activities, including acting as company spokesperson. I provided key messages for all Symantec business units (investor relations, industry analyst relations, government relations, sales communications, and customer support) and 175 internal and external global communications personnel in 50 countries, including external PR agencies:

Government relations/public policy communications
Crisis communications
Legal Issues
Intellectual Property Protection
Brand Protection
Thought leadership
Innovation
Corporate Social Responsibility
Human Resources
Company-wide strategic positioning
C-level executive communications
Financial/investor relations communications
Media training
Internal Communications

Group Manager

Fleishman-Hillard

Managed Nortel Wireless account, focusing on next generation wireless technology, targeting IT and business press.

Account Manager

Global corporate communications professional at the Fortune 500 company level, specializing in the development, coordination, and dissemination of key corporate messaging on a worldwide basis in the areas of crisis communications, public policy, public affairs, innovation and technology, litigation and legal issues, financial/quarterly earnings communications, human resources, intellectual property, brand protection, and corporate responsibility. 

When something happens with a potential global impact on the operations or brand of an organization, my job as the corporate communications leader is to be a strategic counselor, much like an attorney for financial advisor, providing options and recommendations on next steps.  Most importantly, the next step is to act as the "center of the bicycle spoke" and make sure that investor relations, government relations, industry analyst relations, sales communications, internal communications and customer support all have the basic messages they need to develop their own Q&As targeted at their specific audiences.

As such, I specialize in developing the strategic positioning and key messages for communicating complex issues in a compelling manner to achieve corporate thought leadership, and the management ability to ensure consistent delivery of those messages throughout a global network of communicators, executive spokespersons, country managers, outside agencies and ultimately, to the media.

Lastly, I also offer extensive experience at being an actual company spokesperson with the press, doing media interviews and being quoted on any range of issues under the most strenuous circumstances with the world's most visible media outlets.

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The Battle

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Cris Paden

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

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