After two years of the Covid-19 pandemic, it can be hard to quantify the ways in which we have changed. Our pandemic coverage helps us understand the industry impact, and it seems unlikely that any of our content has been untouched by the unique circumstances that have taken root since the start of 2020.

But so much of that change has occurred at a human level, where many of the lessons emerge from the various conversations and anecdotes that underpin our stories and events. To better showcase these learnings, and provide a measure of insight into how the global PR industry is responding to such a transformative era, this series asks people what they have learned, according to three specific areas.

In the latest installment in our series, we hear from Kristin Cahill, global CEO of GCI Health, who during the pandemic "did all the typical things" — adopting a second dog, moving into a new house and becoming a homebody.

Three things I've learned... 

Career
The last two years have taught me that you cannot fake a good workplace culture. The pandemic challenged us as individuals and as colleagues in unprecedented ways. Without an authentic culture of collaboration, selflessness and empathy, it can be really hard to navigate challenging times as an organization. Our culture was invaluable to me as I took over as CEO during the pandemic and navigated a transformed workplace.

PR
As someone who specializes in healthcare communications, it’s been incredible to witness the transformation of people’s individual health journeys, as well as the general public’s relationship with the healthcare industry. It’s reinforced just how personal people’s relationship with health is – and how much the right communications matter in overcoming misinformation and mistrust. The best health campaigns of the last two years were the ones that reflected this new vision of health and were bold in the way they engaged.

Personal
I’ve learned that people can be very hard on themselves. Women, working parents and many other colleagues put a lot of pressure on themselves to do everything and do it really well. Perfectionism is certainly an asset, but it can also lead to burnout. There is a huge opportunity for all of us to give ourselves – and each other – grace and create a kinder, gentler workplace that sets people up for long-term success.

If you'd like to share your three lessons, please let us know.