Sailing the Seven Cs and Surviving Proposal Island

Let’s dive into some of the best practices for communication, including cultivation, calibration, curiosity, coaching, courage, creativity, and cajole! Once you and your team have mastered the art of communication together, you can celebrate your achievements and commend each other for your success! By embracing a more collaborative communication approach, marketers will chart a path to success for themselves, their teams, and their companies!

Whether we’re communicating our thoughts and/or stories remotely, in-person, or in a hybrid environment, we can elevate our content by leveraging trends in technology (e.g., AI, video/interactive content, 3D modeling, etc.) to create more visually compelling stories.

Breakout Session: Surviving Proposal Island

Example Scenario: Food and Water

Your group is now stranded on Proposal Island, which is in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. You each have a unique role to help the team survive. Please come up with a “proposal” that identifies how you will effectively gather, maintain, and distribute food and water to survive (and thrive!) as a team, leveraging each of your individual skills—real or imagined.

Captain (Marketer)—Oversees and/or distributes rations

Manages the resource inventory, which, given the unknown timeline, needs to last as long as possible

Pirate (Technical Team Member)—Hunts and/or gathers food and water

Makes a slingshot with a rock and some driftwood found on the island—innovative use of materials, and technically capable when using!

Sailor (Designer)—Cooks meals and creates recipes for ‘variety’

Infuses the group with creativity and delicious, good-looking grub!

Audience Takeaways

• Identify strategies for encouraging empathy and understanding between technical and marketing staff, considering their distinct roles and perspectives.

• Define communication best practices for proposal creation, based on ideas from varying strengths and skills.

• Identify challenges presented during the proposal process and use the Seven Cs as a guide to help overcome those challenges.

• Identify key skills for transforming technical writing into award winning visual stories.

Conference Session Tracks

• Domain Track: Proposals & Management

• Career Track: Early Career

• Position Track: Marketing/Communications & Sales/Business Development

Jen is a Senior Marketing Specialist with a focus on driving success for VHB's New England Marketing team. As an enthusiastic and results-oriented professional, she has become an integral part of the firm's success, contributing her expertise to the development of successful proposals and presentations. Despite being a newcomer to the speaking circuit, Jen's passion for cultivating relationships and achieving tangible results has not gone unnoticed. Her commitment to excellence extends beyond her role at VHB, as she actively engages with the Society for Marketing Professional Services (SMPS) Boston Chapter. Jen is not only a member but also an enthusiastic participant in the Professional Development Committee, where she collaborates with like-minded professionals to enhance industry knowledge and skills.

Connect with Jen on LinkedIn.

Kate Thompson (Sr. Marketing Specialist, VHB) Kate is a Sr. Marketing Specialist on VHB’s New England Marketing team and a member of the SMPS Boston Chapter. She is a high-energy designer and creator of winning proposals who delivers successful materials by protecting the brand and properly understanding the client. Kate is a writer, proofreader, and project manager who leads teams by actively communicating and effectively managing production schedules—especially those with shifting priorities and tight deadlines.

Connect with Kate on LinkedIn.

Samantha Hanson (Creative Design Lead, VHB) Samantha is a Creative Design Lead on VHB’s New England Marketing team. With nearly a decade of experience in the A/E/C field as a visual storyteller, she collaborates with technical partners to transform their ideas into captivating visuals. Her expertise lies in aligning project goals with visuals, and she has been instrumental in developing award-winning proposals that support the brand, image, and reputation of VHB and its clients.

Connect with Samantha on LinkedIn.

Mary Hamilton (Marketing Coordinator, VHB) Mary is a Marketing Coordinator on VHB’s New England Marketing team and an active member of the SMPS Boston Chapter. Mary infuses her work with positivity, energy, and a collaborative spirit, and she is always prepared to support her team. During her time at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Mary was selected for the Faculty Award for Academic Excellence, nominated for the 21st Century Leaders Award, and a Dean's List Recipient.

Connect with Mary on LinkedIn.