Internal Communications Certificate Course
Master the Skills to Lead Through Change, Crisis, and AI
Jan. 15, 22 & 29, 2026 | 1-3 p.m. ET
Three consecutive modules
Register for this immersive three-part certificate series to elevate your influence, build business fluency, and turn communication challenges into career-defining wins.
Internal communications is evolving at breakneck speed—shaped by disruptive technologies, organizational change, and a workforce that’s more dispersed and distracted than ever. From integrating AI into everyday workflows and navigating constant transformation to managing crisis response and employee trust, communicators are under pressure to perform at the highest levels.
What’s more, there’s often a lack of clarity about where internal comms sits on the org chart, what winning internal comms plans look like and how to help drive business goals—all at a time employees are increasingly feeling distracted, disengaged and divided.
The good news: This course is the roadmap you need to navigate these complex issues—thanks to hands-on instruction guaranteed to galvanize everything from content creation and driving employee engagement to earning the recognition that you deserve.
You'll learn to:
- Harness the latest AI, tech stack and measurement tools to improve employee journeys and engagement.
- Craft world-class internal comms plans that deliver amazing employee experiences.
- Boost employee retention, productivity and engagement while driving KPIs and even ROI.
- Integrate AI to streamline workflows and sharpen strategy.
- Create upskilling programs for managers and individual contributors alike.
- Build employee trust and engagement even in distraction-filled workplaces.
- Communicate change and handle crises confidently.
- Deliver informative, inspiring content via intranets, townhalls, email newsletters, channels and more.
- Showcase measurable results that elevate your role and career trajectory.
- Increase your influence and impact as a strategist.
CURRICULUM
Master these key skills and strategies in just a few short weeks—whether you’re new to internal comms or looking to improve your results, career and recognition. If you can’t attend a live session, you’ll receive the on-demand versions to complete the course.
We’ll start our internal comms program journey with a deep dive into the anatomy of best-in-class internal comms. Together, we’ll outline the channels and content critical to the employee journey—and yours, as you create connections and deeper engagement.
Attendees will learn:
- Anatomy of an internal comms plan: How to map out goals, KPIs, audience segments, messages, content pillars, editorial calendars and channels.
- Your value to the C-suite: What CEOs want from internal comms and how to tie your program to organizational or business goals.
- Channel FAQ: How to optimize intranets, emails, messaging (Slack, Teams) and enterprise social media (Yammer, Jive)—plus how to choose the right mix.
- Townhalls reimagined: Innovative uses of video conferencing and new hacks for townhalls that captivate hybrid, global and even deskless teams.
- People skills: How to build trust and engagement through active listening, feedback tools, recognition programs, ERGs, AMAs and other initiatives.
- Content audits: How to assess and improve your content’s impact at every stage.
Light Homework: Using the outline we provide, conduct a brief content audit of your internal comms channels and identify areas for improvement.
Effective internal comms requires strategic partnerships and a data-driven approach. In this session, we’ll explore how to collaborate with execs, managers, SMEs and cross-functional teams to create aligned internal comms by harnessing those KPIs we touched on.
Attendees will learn:
- Measurement toolbox: Monitoring software for your team’s needs—and how to extract insights from KPIs so you can improve engagement, productivity, satisfaction and even retention.
- Forging C-suite alliances: How to use your data to build bridges with execs and other departments—and how to build business fluency so you can showcase results and wins.
- Stakeholder mapping: How to deliver results with smart responsibility matrixes like the RACI model.
- Manager comms cascades: The data-driven strategies and resources that people managers need to engage dispersed teams—and how to provide them.
- Meeting the manager: How to provide 365 training for first time, disbursed, and skip-level managers that will invigorate and inspire.
- The four stages of change: Communicating effectively through change, disruption, exploration and rebuilding phases—during everything from layoffs to mergers.
Light Homework: List three to five KPIs you’d use to measure the effectiveness of internal comms at your org. Explain how they align with your business objectives.
Now that you know how to plan and execute a stellar internal comms program, get ready for the unexpected! This session provides the mindset and methods you need to become an agile strategist—so you can lead change initiatives and pivot no matter what’s next.
Attendees will learn:
- Navigating sensitive topics: Strategies for communicating during elections, labor disputes, employee activism and even RTO challenges.
- Crisis comms blueprints: A tailored approach to crisis messaging for internal audiences—including action plans, drills and holding statements.
- AI integration: Top AI tools designed to help enhance internal comms workflows, from content creation and personalization to analytics.
- Agentic AI: The simple agents that will make your life easier–plus, how to create an AI doppelganger that can be used to give feedback to your direct reports.
- Emerging trends: How to prepare for developments like employee data privacy, employee generated content (ECG), metaverse-first townhall meetings, and much more.
CLASSROOM MATERIALS
(Exclusive for Attendees)
- The Internal Comms Tech Toolbox
- Report: The Global State of Internal Communications
- Guide: Using Measurement to Prove Internal Communications Value
- Six Steps to Success: Change Communications in a Volatile World
- The Complete Guide: How to Run an Internal Communications Audit
PRESENTER
Adjunct Professor—St. Francis College
Cat Collela-Graham is an Adjunct Professor at St. Francis College and an internal communications coach at Coaching for Communicators who secured the first and only trademark for “Employee Experience” in 2005. Known as a trusted change-maker, coach, and speaker with a proven track record of driving meaningful change through the power of communications, Cat continues to teach graduate-level project management . Cat founded the employee experience agency Cheer Partners, which was acquired after four successful years by Lippe Taylor Group in March, 2021.
Top 8 areas you’ll master upon completion:
- Planning and Strategy Templates: The anatomy of successful internal comms strategy—and how to tailor the best models to your organization’s business goals.
- AI’s Role in Internal Comms: How tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude can enhance your content creation, writing process and visuals—plus how to manage AI risks with AI policies and style guides that reflect your voice and values.
- Tech Stacks and the Internal Comms Toolbox: How to evaluate and integrate tools for email, intranets, workstream collaboration, live events, podcasts and video (yes, we’ll also dig into how to create stellar townhalls).
- Change and Crisis Comms: When, why and how employees embrace change—including how to address these drivers in your communications, even when bad news strikes.
- Measurement Matters: The best qualitative tools (e.g., pulse surveys, focus groups, social listening) and quantitative KPIs to track and improve your initiatives.
- Employee Journeys and Personas: How to craft persona-based engagement plans and hyper-targeted content that will resonate across today’s “hybrid” workplace employee journey—from recruiting and onboarding to retention and beyond.
- Content Audits and Writing Like a Pro: How to analyze and improve your content and channel mix, create a simple content calendar and support it with “moments that matter” copy that screams “click me” no matter where you post it.
- What’s Next: What you must know about employee data privacy, EGC (employee generated content), upskilling resources, and how to deepen partnerships with HR, legal and even IT.
Top reasons to attend this virtual certificate course
- Master measurement and new AI internal comms tools to engage employees.
- Craft plans and content that improve productivity, retention and employee experiences.
- Become a strategic counselor—increasing your organizational influence.
- Lead change, crisis and cultural initiatives to keep your workforce united and inspired.
- Deeply understand employee journeys in the hybrid era—using data, audits and tailored content strategies.
- Solidify internal comms as a revenue driver and employee value creator.
Secure your seat today for this exclusive internal communications course offered by Ragan and PR Daily.
| Early Bird | Regular Rate | |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate Course Registration | $1,499 | $1,699 |
| Ragan Insider | $1,399 | $1,599 |
| Nonprofit/Gov/Edu | $1,349 | $1,549 |
Would you and your team like to attend? Group rates are available for 3 or more - contact customer service for details.
If you can’t attend one or more of the modules live, you will receive the on-demand versions to complete the course.
WHO ATTENDS
Communications and public relations professionals from these organizations have earned certificates:
WONDERING IF YOU SHOULD ATTEND?
Here’s what past attendees say about the Internal Communications Certificate Course!
This has truly been one of the best virtual courses I've ever taken. Thanks to my IC peers for the lively chat discussions and LinkedIn connections, to our instructors each session for such insightful and engaging content, and to the Ragan team!
Ragan's IC Certificate Course reinforced the approaches that our Internal Comms team has been focused on, while also helping me identify opportunities for growth and improvement.
This course was incredibly helpful for me, especially as someone relatively new to internal communications.
An incredible opportunity to brush up on IC basics and grow my network of IC peers.
Get Recognized!
Level up your expertise and career with this immersive program. You’ll master powerful strategies and skills for crafting messaging that captivates employees, propels business objectives and solidifies your standing as a strategist. Earn the recognition you deserve, along with your official Certificate of Completion!
