Superpowers and Safety - Episode 07

What if the vigilance you developed just to survive as an out professional is actually your sharpest executive asset? In this episode of The Q Suite, hosts Ken Kundis and James Gunselman sit down with veteran communications executive Allison Kahn, who has executed global internal communications for some of the world’s biggest and most trusted companies, reaching hundreds of thousands of employees across dozens of countries. Allison unpacks how working-class roots, self-funding her education, and queer lived experience built an unmatched degree of emotional intelligence (EQ)—the instinctual ability to read a room, find safe harbors, and navigate complex boardroom dynamics. Moving past empty buzzwords, she offers a candid critique of the corporate slogan "bring your whole self to work," makes the case for why communications must report directly to the CEO, and shares an enterprise roadmap for leading with authenticity and nuance across global markets. Key Takeaways: • EQ as an Executive Superpower: Translating the instinctual "room scan" for safety into elite stakeholder alignment and risk management. • Scrappy Roots to the C-Suite: How early experience in alternative media and nonprofits creates versatile enterprise leaders. • The "Whole Self" Reality Check: Balancing authenticity with professional decorum and intentional boundaries. • Communications at Enterprise Scale: Crafting cohesive global narratives while honoring conflicting local cultural and legal standards. • The True Seat of Comms: Why internal communications belongs as an independent function advising the CEO—not buried in HR or Marketing. Episode Chapters: 00:00 - The Superpower of Lived Experience 00:29 - Meet Allison Kahn 02:12 - From Grassroots Media to Enterprise Comms 05:59 - Pitching Scrappy Skills to Big Business 08:16 - The Executive "Invisible Cape" 10:30 - Communicating Across Global Markets 13:51 - Working-Class Roots & Building Networks 19:03 - Belonging & Conquering Imposter Syndrome 20:40 - Ditching Performative Corporate Platitudes 25:15 - Why Comms Belongs Directly with the CEO 28:12 - Rethinking "Bring Your Whole Self to Work" 33:52 - Everyday Advocacy as Risk Management 35:36 - Rapid Fire: Retiring Corporate Clichés 37:29 - Mentoring Moment: Dropping Assumptions Connect & Subscribe: • Website & Transcripts: https://www.theq-suite.com • Subscribe on YouTube: @TheQSuite • Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music • Follow us on LinkedIn & TikTok: @TheQSuite