In this episode, Ken Jacobs, principal of Jacobs Consulting & Executive Coaching, joins host Jason Mudd to discuss how communications leaders can apply proven leadership principles to AI adoption.

Tune in to learn more!

Meet our guest:

Our guest is Ken Jacobs, principal of Jacobs Consulting & Executive Coaching. Ken helps public relations, communications, and marketing leaders become more effective and inspiring leaders through executive coaching and consulting. Before launching his consulting practice, he spent 25 years in leadership roles at leading PR agencies. He also hosts Taking the Lead, a leadership video podcast, and writes the quarterly Taking the Lead column for the Public Relations Society of America's Strategies & Tactics publication.

Five things you’ll learn from this episode:

1. How courageous leaders embrace AI

2. Why every organization needs AI guardrails

3. How leaders can build AI confidence

4. Why listening leads to stronger teams

5. How AI and human judgment work together

Quotables

"If you're not already deep in AI, you're behind, but it's also never too late." — Ken Jacobs

“Walk the walk, not just talk the talk.” — Ken Jacobs

“True leaders update their knowledge and fluency.” — Ken Jacobs

“You as a leader have to be able to ask the right kind of questions.” — Ken Jacobs

"Hire smart people and get out of their way." — Jason Mudd

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Guest’s contact info and resources:

Ken Jacobs on LinkedIn

Jacobs Consulting & Executive Coaching website

Taking the Lead Podcast

How to stay ahead of AI in communications and marketing

Four leadership tips to guide you through uncertain times

Additional resources:

What sources feed generative AI answers?

What Google AI Mode means for your PR and media strategy

How are AI tools changing PR jobs?

Axia’s AIVisibility service

Listen to more episodes of the On Top of PR with Jason Mudd podcast.

Find out more about Axia Public Relations.

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Recorded: July, 2026

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On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America’s Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands.
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