Bridging Art and Strategy: Redefining internal comms in a growing company, with Sarah Kaplan

In this inspiring episode of the Cohesion Podcast, Carolyn Clark (VP of Employee Experience Strategy & Transformation at Simpplr) sits down with Sarah Kaplan, Director of Internal Communications at Smarsh. With a unique background in opera performance and a keen instinct for people-first storytelling, Sarah has led major internal transformation at Smarsh—starting from scratch just before a company acquisition and CEO transition.

Sarah shares how she evolved the internal comms function from a team of one to a strategic partner to executive leadership. From ruthless prioritization to launching a global employee event across time zones, Sarah’s story is full of practical insights and human depth.

If you’re building a comms team, navigating rapid organizational change, or just curious how opera can shape a corporate career—this one’s for you.

Topics Covered:

• Building an internal comms function from zero
• Becoming a strategic partner to leadership
• Balancing trust with clarity during acquisitions and CEO change
• Leading hybrid transitions and global engagement events
• How performance arts skills translate to leadership and empathy

Connect with Sarah Kaplan: LinkedIn

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