Bridging Art and Strategy: Redefining internal comms in a growing company, with Sarah Kaplan

In this inspiring episode of the Cohesion Podcast, Carolyn Clark (VP of Employee Experience Strategy & Transformation at Simpplr) sits down with Sarah Kaplan, Director of Internal Communications at Smarsh. With a unique background in opera performance and a keen instinct for people-first storytelling, Sarah has led major internal transformation at Smarsh—starting from scratch just before a company acquisition and CEO transition. Sarah shares how she evolved the internal comms function from a team of one to a strategic partner to executive leadership. From ruthless prioritization to launching a global employee event across time zones, Sarah’s story is full of practical insights and human depth. If you’re building a comms team, navigating rapid organizational change, or just curious how opera can shape a corporate career—this one’s for you. Topics Covered: Building an internal comms function from zeroBecoming a strategic partner to leadershipBalancing trust with clarity during acquisitions and CEO changeLeading hybrid transitions and global engagement eventsHow performance arts skills translate to leadership and empathy Connect with Sarah Kaplan: LinkedIn Subscribe to get the latest conversations on employee experience, change leadership, and internal communications.