Suggestions
Dawn McKenzie
Internal Communications Director
Dawn McKenzie is the Internal Communications Director at Unisys, a global technology solutions company.13 In her role, she oversees a team of writers and content creators, working to inspire, inform, and engage employees across the organization.1
Professional Background
Dawn is based in Dallas, Texas, and holds a senior position within Unisys's communications department.34 Her responsibilities include:
- Leading internal communications strategies
- Managing a team of content creators
- Developing and disseminating information to Unisys employees globally
Online Presence
Dawn maintains a professional presence on various platforms:
- LinkedIn: Her profile can be found under the username "dawnmaplemckenzie".12
- Twitter: She uses the handle @sugarandstitch, where she describes herself as an "Internal Comms Lead @Unisys".4
Personal Insights
Beyond her professional role, Dawn describes herself as a:
- Maker
- Mother
- Texan4
It's worth noting that on her Twitter profile, she emphasizes that her thoughts and comments are her own and do not represent those of her employer.4
Dawn McKenzie's position as Internal Communications Director at Unisys reflects her expertise in corporate communications and her role in shaping the company's internal messaging and employee engagement strategies.
Highlights
Heavy hearts.
Like so many who had the genuinely profound opportunity to learn about writing, Customer care, and culture building at the feet of the legendary Colleen Barrett, I hold so many lessons dear from my time at Southwest Airlines.
As we celebrate this remarkable woman and leader, here are a few things I learned from her that have stuck with me all these years:
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You have the time. We learned early that if you write it, she will read it. Her stack of reading (nearly every word sent to Customers!) was always a mountain, and she was voracious. She read it all and generously sent feedback (good and bad).
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Get personal. She was the queen of personalization before personalization was a consulting-speak buzzword. Yes, there was a form book, but the straight form would not cut it, and you had to get specific.
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Watch your language. Make it simple. Make it real. Make it understandable. Check your jargon at the door.
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Have a heart. She reminded us often that we were people talking to people, and we should do so with empathy. So much happens in the grey, and the benefit of the doubt goes a long way.
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There are rules for a reason. From the legendary Colleen's Bible to The Golden Rule, consistency and kindness are cornerstones.
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Have fun. Whether you wanted to make a response letter into a crossword puzzle, use a cold open, or send peanuts for a wedding reception, she gave us all the freedom to be creative.
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Say thank you. Her handwritten notes at the top of a letter or sweet cards always made us feel seen and valued.
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Tough LUV. Yes, her praise notes were amazing, but her notes that said, "I think we missed the mark," were even more powerful. She brought out our best, with growth and development in mind, and her words had so much impact.
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Share the good letters. She would curate a stack of good works from the writing rooms and send them around to showcase what she liked. When you finished reading the stack, you had to sign and date it, but more importantly, you had to learn from it.
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Know your people. She had each writer on staff fill out a questionnaire about their favorite things, and then, like magic, a birthday, anniversary, or milestone gift would arrive in just their size and color. This was an amazing lesson in the power of getting to know your team.
Her leadership lessons run deep, and I'm grateful that I got to spend so many formative years in her orbit. Fly high! 💙💛❤️
#honoringcolleen #queenofhearts
Tonight at POETIC, we celebrated six years of progress towards breaking the cycle of sexual trafficking, exploitation, and maltreatment. We celebrated advocates and welcomed new friends to learn about our mission. Special shout out to dear friends Alison Cupito & Syya Yasotornrat for joining me tonight to lift up this cause.
I loved the room that asked us to write down what we tell ourselves on the bad days. What is that advice or nugget that you hold tight? We wrote it down and gifted it to the note board, which will be there for the girls when they need it.
