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Micki Pflug Mounce on Making Corporate Communications Relatable

Why does so much corporate communication come across as vague, predictable, and impersonal? 

Micki Pflug Mounce is the Communications Lead for the US Plasma Services Business at Takeda, where she develops and executes external and internal communications for the Plasma-Derived Therapies division. She started her career as a travel writer, ghostwrote more than 100 textbooks spanning kindergarten through college, and founded a memoir-writing company called Biographies Inc. before spending the last 15 years in health, tech, and pharma. She’s also Vice President of the Board of Trustees for the Fremont County District Library.


In this episode, Micki joins Kristen to make the case that corporate communications do not need to feel impersonal. Relatability, transparency, and authenticity are essential, even in highly regulated industries.								

				

				

				

							

			

		

						

				

				

				

					
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The Big Idea: Corporate Communication Has a Relatability Problem 
				

				

				

				

							

			

		

						

				

				

				

									In highly regulated sectors such as health and pharma, organizations often default to safe, generic messaging in their corporate communications. This approach results in the stereotyped corporate-speak: communications that feel vague and impersonal, repeatedly emphasizing the same key pillars with little real insight into the company’s values. To build relatability and stand out, brands should embrace transparency and authenticity, highlighting what is genuinely meaningful about the company and its people.

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Micki emphasizes the importance of identifying what a brand truly represents and empowering leaders and employees to communicate that message authentically. Effective corporate communications provide insight into what matters to a company, helping it stand out from competitors that rely on generic messaging.								

				

					

		

					

		

				

						

					

			

						

				

							

			

						

		

						

				

				

				

							

							
"Even if you do nothing as a company, you're going to have a reputation. So what do you want to be known for? How do you want to shape that?"

			
						

				

											

													

					
										

														
Micki Pflug Mounce

																						
Communications Lead for the US Plasma Services Business at Takeda

													

									

			

					

						

				

					

		

					

		

				

						

					

			

						

				

					
Key Takeaways
				

				

				

				

							

			

		

						

				

				

				

									
    
 	
  • Messaging that blends in with competitors may feel safe but fails to set your brand apart. It is possible to be authentic and transparent without revealing sensitive information.


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  • Companies can build trust through thoughtful transparency. Admitting mistakes or acknowledging challenges demonstrates openness and integrity. However, timing is critical and should be considered when determining what information to share when.


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  • Clearly defining a company’s values and desired reputation equips employees with consistent, brand-aligned messaging they can share in personal and professional contexts, effectively turning them into brand ambassadors.


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  • Relatability should be intentional, not performative. Leaders do not need to change their natural style—audiences recognize inauthenticity. Instead, leaders should ground their messaging in the company’s values and mission.
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