Communicators spotlight: Michelle Lammers of Nightwing
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Michelle Lammers. Photo: Courtesy Michelle Lammers
Michelle Lammers has spent her career at the intersection of defense, space, cyber and national security, and now serves as vice president of communications at Nightwing, a national security technology company.
Why it matters: Lammers' "anything but linear" career reflects a broader shift in the profession, as communications leaders are increasingly expected to understand business strategy just as well as storytelling.
The path here: Lammers has held roles in strategy, business development, operations, program management, capture and communications at Airbus, RTX and now Nightwing.
- "The diversity of my background gives me a great appreciation for not only telling the story of fascinating missions but directly connecting communications goals to the business strategy," she said.
Tough lesson: You can't communicate your way out of a strategy problem.
- "The most effective communications start long before an announcement, crisis or change in direction," Lammers said.
- "It begins by asking questions that help think through second- and third-order effects, bringing in different perspectives, and building alignment with others."
Trendspotting: Comms leaders are increasingly expected to lead across the enterprise, not just manage reputation.
- "The best communicators help leaders anticipate stakeholder reactions before decisions are made, not simply communicate them afterward. That really does position the function as a driver of business outcomes," she said.
Playlist: "Whenever I can, I listen to interviews with authors across a range of disciplines from psychology to technology to economics," Lammers said.
- Recent faves include Lorraine Marchand on "The Innovation Mindset," Dr. Julia Garcia on "The Five Habits of Hope," and Amanda Ripley on conflict and productive disagreement.
Morning ritual: "I spend 5-10 minutes outside in nature listening to the world wake up since that helps me to stay grounded and intentional throughout my day," she said.
- That's followed by coffee, scanning the news and writing down three priorities for the workday.
Best advice: Stay curious.
- "The best leaders don't assume they have all the answers. They ask thoughtful questions, listen carefully, and seek to understand why someone holds a different perspective," Lammers said.
Have a colleague, mentor or comms hero you want to see in this series? Let me know.
