Your implementation partner builds the technology.
We make sure your people understand it.
Confluent Strategic Communications partners with your leadership, technology teams, and change partners to create the communications your workforce actually needs: role-specific, human-centered, and built to drive adoption.
WHAT WE DO
Two ways we partner with you
Change and Internal Communications
When your organization is going through a major technology transformation, your people have one question: what does this mean for me? We partner with your change management and technology teams to make sure every employee gets a clear, honest answer. The result: less confusion, less resistance, and a workforce that's actually ready on day one.
15+
Years Experience
40+
Brands Supported
100%
Client Repeat Rate
0
Cookie-Cutter Templates
Our Impact
CLIENTS WE'VE PARTNERED WITH
Trusted by Organizations across industries
ABOUT
ABOUT
The communicator behind the transformation
I'm Katie Hickman, and I've spent 15 years turning complex business strategies into communications that people actually care about.
My career has spanned PR agencies, corporate marketing teams, and global brands. But the work that defines Confluent is what happens when organizations go through massive change and realize that the people side of the equation needs more than a templated email and a training webinar.
I'm not a change management practitioner. I don't build ADKAR models or run change impact assessments. What I do is partner with the teams who do that work — your OCM function, your implementation partner, your HR and technology leaders — and translate their strategy into communications your workforce understands, trusts, and acts on.
I launched Confluent Strategic Communications in 2021 because I kept seeing the same gap: brilliant change strategies that nobody in the field could explain to their team. That gap is where I live.
SERVICES
TRANSFORMATION COMMUNICATIONS
Communications that drive adoption
Communications Strategy & Execution
We build the communications strategy for your transformation and execute it — partnering with OCM, technology, and leadership to ensure every audience gets the right message at the right time.
Stakeholder Narrative Development
Every transformation has a story. We build the narrative architecture that connects your C-Suite vision to every stakeholder group, translating the business case into language that resonates with executives, people leaders, and frontline employees alike.
Executive & Leader
Enablement
We equip your leaders with talking points, presentation decks, meeting guides, and Q&A scripts so they can own the narrative with their teams.
Multi-Channel Content
Internal campaigns, intranet content, internal podcasts, video scripts, town hall decks, digital signage — we find and leverage the channels that reach your people.
Business Readiness Communications
We partner with your OCM and program teams to translate what leaders need to do differently from day one to run their business. We empower stakeholders with the right actions to take so that they are actually ready on day one.
Role-Specific Content
We create "What's Changing for Me" guides, functional FAQs, and role-specific messaging that tells each impacted group exactly how their daily work is changing and why.
INTEGRATED MARKETING & STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS
Communications that drive results
Brand & Communications Strategy
Market analysis, messaging architecture, and integrated plans that align every channel to business goals.
Media Relations & Thought Leadership
Proactive media strategy, bylined articles, and journalist relationships that position your brand as an industry authority.
Social Media & Content
LinkedIn strategy, content calendars, engagement optimization, and multi-channel content that drives awareness and leads.
Go-to-Market Launches
Integrated campaigns across PR, social, sales enablement, and owned channels that create market momentum.
Influencer & Ambassador Programs
Influencer identification, outreach, and program management that extends your reach authentically.
EVP & Internal Communications
Employee value propositions, culture campaigns, and internal storytelling that engages your workforce.
CASE STUDIES
OUR WORK
Case Studies
ENTERPRISE TRANSFORMATION
Leading Communications Through a Global Technology Transformation
Replaced Big Four implementation partner change communications workstream for a multi-year tech stack transformation impacting 10,000+ colleagues across 11 languages and 5 release phases.
10k+
5
1
COLLEAGUES
PROJECT RELEASES
COHESIVE COLLEAGUE EXPERIENCE
ENTERPRISE TRANSFORMATION
Replacing the Integrator: National Shared Services Reorganization
Assessed and replaced Big Four implementation partner's 4-person communications team across 40 brands impacting 4,000+ employees on a timeline compressed by 50%.
50%
4k
40
EMPLOYEES
BRANDS
COMPRESSED TIMELINE
INTEGRATED MARKETING
In-Market Brand & Strategic Communications Partner for a Global Nonprofit
Served as the dedicated communications partner for a global nonprofit's Midwest territory, driving brand awareness, media relations, influencer engagement, and content strategy that ultimately increased community engagement and donations.
5+
18+
200+
YEAR PARTNERSHIP
ANNUAL MEDIA PLACEMENTS
INFLUENCERS
INTEGRATED MARKETING
Elevating a Corporate Preparedness Brand into a New Market
A corporate preparedness company was entering a new B2B vertical with its portfolio of brands. Developed the new market narrative, strategic positioning, and go-to-market communications roadmap. Executed an integrated strategy spanning media relations, LinkedIn, influencer outreach, and lead generation targeting HR and EHS decision-makers across four industry trade publications
4.1%
204k+
9
ANNUAL PLACEMENTS
EARNED VIEWS
SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT
BLOG
INSIGHTS
Thought Leadership
Strategic perspectives on transformation communications, integrated marketing, and the gap between change strategy and change understanding.
TRANSFORMATION
Why most SI-led change management fails at the communications level
The gap between change management strategy and workforce understanding isn't a training problem — it's a communications problem.
FRAMEWORK
5 questions every change comms plan should answer before go-live
If your impacted employees can't answer these five questions, your communications plan has gaps.
INTEGRATED MARKETING
The case for earned-first content strategy
Why leading with media relations and thought leadership creates a stronger content foundation than starting with social.
CONTACT
GET IN TOUCH
Let's talk about what's ahead
Whether you're mid-transformation and need communications support, planning a product launch, or looking for an honest assessment of your current change management approach — I'd love to hear what you're working on.
Katie Hickman
Founder & Principal
651-263-2647
Minneapolis, MN