General Mills CCO Shares Communication Insights

Photo: @karsten116

Jano Cabrera, General Mills' Chief Communications Officer, shared his career insights at Ragan and PR Daily's Social Media Conference. He emphasized the importance of understanding both agency and client perspectives for effective communication.

Cabrera's career includes roles as deputy press secretary for Vice President Al Gore, national spokesman for the Democratic National Committee, and SVP of corporate relations at McDonald’s. He highlighted the need to focus on strategic landscapes rather than details. Cabrera advocated for understanding the broader context and rationale behind communication efforts.

He stressed the value of speaking the language of finance to enhance strategic communication in the corporate space. Cabrera also discussed prioritizing and limiting communication campaigns to ensure impact and relevance. His philosophy, "fewer, bigger, better," underscores the need for well-resourced and focused communication initiatives.

In conversation with Justin Joffe, Cabrera discussed his transition from politics to corporate consulting, culminating in his role at General Mills. He emphasized the need to bridge understanding between creative visions and business objectives.