Unlocking PR Secrets: Alan Dunton on AI, Career Growth, and Surviving Economic Downturns

Career Wanderlust

Meet Alan Dunton, a 25-year communications industry veteran who has navigated everything from the pre-internet era to today's AI-powered future, and discovered that curiosity, authenticity, and strategic relationship-building are the true currencies of career success. This episode will transform how you approach professional growth and redefine what it means to build lasting influence in an ever-changing industry.

Guest Bio

Alan Dunton is an SVP and Partner in the Technology Division at FleishmanHillard, bringing over two decades of expertise from both agency and client-side positions. Named one of Business Insider's top PR professionals in technology in 2020, Alan has held leadership roles at prestigious agencies including Shift Communications, Grayling, and Triple Point, as well as in-house positions with Multiverse and Big Point. Beyond his corporate achievements, Alan serves on the global communications team for The Ocean Cleanup, a Dutch nonprofit technology company dedicated to eliminating plastic waste from our oceans. His unique perspective combines the artistry of storytelling with the precision of data-driven strategy, making him a sought-after voice in the evolution of modern communications.

Connect with Alan:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alandunton/
• FleishmanHillard: https://fleishmanhillard.com/
• The Ocean Cleanup: https://theoceancleanup.com/

Content Sample:

Alan shares three revolutionary insights that challenge conventional career wisdom.

First, he reveals the transformative power of strategic vulnerability in leadership -explaining how his early struggles with interpersonal dynamics became his greatest teacher and why reflecting on professional failures is the fastest path to executive presence.

Second, discover Alan's synthetic audience methodology - a cutting-edge AI application that's revolutionizing how communications professionals test and refine messaging before it reaches the market.

Finally, Alan unpacks his "Never Work for Free" philosophy - a college lesson that shaped his entire career trajectory.

Key Takeaways

[04:00] The Curiosity Advantage: Never stop asking questions, especially when you don't know something.

[06:00] Reading the Room Mastery: Success requires understanding not just the immediate moment, but the broader context of your industry, economy, and sector.

[08:00] The "Never Work for Free" Philosophy: Know your worth and ensure every opportunity provides meaningful growth, compensation, or skill development.

[10:00] Learning from Interpersonal Friction: The most impactful career lessons come from moments when relationships don't work smoothly. Take time to reflect.

[21:00] AI as an Amplifier: Embrace AI tools like synthetic audience creation to enhance your strategic capabilities.

Suggestions:

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Host Information

This insightful session was hosted by Jolie Downs with Paradigm, a voice in career evolution and growth.

Connect with Jolie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joliedowns/