As a globally recognized communication strategist, Jessica Chen has spent her career helping leaders and organizations navigate change with clarity, confidence and credibility. Having reached over 2 million learners worldwide, she is one of today's most trusted voices on communication, connection and leadership. A former Emmy Award-winning journalist, Chen brings rare cross-cultural intelligence and storytelling finesse to every stage. She has delivered her signature frameworks at Google, Microsoft, Mattel, Chanel and the United Nations—and this fall, she’s joining us as a keynote speaker at SchoolCEO Conference!
We sat down with Chen to discuss her tips for effective communication, her bestselling book Smart, Not Loud, and her upcoming conference session.
You’ve taught millions of people how to communicate more effectively through conference appearances, private engagements and more. What’s the biggest mistake you see leaders make after attending a great conference?
The biggest mistake is not following up—and I mean that in two different ways. First, leaders often miss the chance to follow up on the relationships they made. Conferences are full of valuable conversations, but those connections only matter if you do something with them afterward. It takes intention. If you meet someone interesting, don’t put the burden on them by saying, “Reach out to me.” Instead, say, “I’ll reach out to you.” Take ownership of the next step.
Second, people often fail to follow up on what they learned. You leave a conference energized, full of ideas—and then Monday hits. Your inbox is full. People need things from you. You’re immediately back in problem-solving mode. What gets lost is the reflection that turns learning into action.
That’s why I think leaders should protect a little time when they return—maybe even just an hour or two—to ask: What did I actually take away? What matters most? And what does this mean for my day-to-day work? If you don’t make space for that, even the best ideas tend to disappear into the noise.
Your book is built around the idea that impact doesn’t require volume. Why does that message matter for school leaders right now?
So many leaders feel pressure to be constantly visible, constantly responsive and constantly “on.” In school settings especially, there are so many demands coming from every direction—families, staff, district leaders, communities. It can feel like good leadership means having an immediate answer for everything.
But being effective is not the same thing as being loud. The smarter alternative is being intentional.
When someone comes to you upset or concerned, it’s easy to go straight into reaction mode. You want to respond immediately, explain your position or calm the situation down as fast as possible. But thoughtful communication starts with a question: Who is this person, and what do they actually care about?
That shift matters. A thoughtful response is not just about what you want to say; it’s about what the other person needs to hear in order for your message to resonate. You may have one central idea you want to communicate, but the way you express it should change depending on the audience. Staff, teachers and parents may all need to hear the same core message framed in different ways.
That’s what being “smart, not loud” looks like. It’s not about performing leadership. It’s about communicating with purpose.
You’ve worked with organizations like Google, Microsoft and the United Nations. What can K-12 learn from those high-performing environments?
In many high-performing private sector environments, two ideas consistently show up in conversation: growth and innovation.Those organizations are always asking: How do we grow? How do we improve? How do we prepare for what’s next? That mindset shapes not just strategy, but everyday communication.
Now, schools absolutely care about growth and improvement, too. But the reality is that educators and school systems are often managing a lot of operational complexity. There are processes, responsibilities and constraints that make fast change harder. So it’s understandable that many schools focus first on making sure what they already have is working.
But even within those constraints, there’s value in bringing more growth-and-innovation thinking into the conversation. What does growth look like for our students? What does innovation look like in how we communicate, lead and prepare for the future? How do we make sure we’re not falling behind as the world changes around us?
You don’t have to move at the speed of a tech company to start asking those questions. But I do think schools benefit when those ideas become part of daily leadership language instead of occasional strategic planning language.
Many schools and districts are doing really impressive work, but they don’t always make sure their families and communities know about it. What should leaders do differently?
Schools often underestimate the value of talking about their wins. There’s sometimes a fear that sharing success will come across as bragging or self-promotion. But that’s not what strong communication is. “Smart, not loud” doesn’t mean staying silent. It means being strategic about how you help people understand your value.
Schools are doing meaningful, innovative work every day. But many leaders are so focused on solving problems and keeping things running that they forget to communicate what’s actually going well. And if you don’t tell that story, people outside the building may never see the full picture.
That doesn’t mean every message has to be big or flashy. Sometimes it’s about dropping small golden nuggets into everyday communication—specific examples that show credibility, care and progress. Those moments build trust over time. They help parents and community members understand not just what the school says it values, but what it actually does.
For school leaders, that’s an important shift. Communication is not just about responding to problems; it’s also about making your strengths visible.
You have spoken to all sorts of organizations—tech giants, NGOs, financial institutions, etc. What’s so exciting about speaking to school leaders and communicators in particular?
Honestly, everything. I say that as a parent as much as a speaker. Schools and educators play such an important role in shaping kids for the future. And when you think about how fast the world is changing, that responsibility feels even more important.
School leaders and communicators are helping define the environments where students learn, grow and prepare for what comes next. That influence is enormous. I feel honored to be able to speak with people in those roles, to encourage them, and to remind them that what they do truly matters.
Sometimes people working in schools are moving so fast or carrying so much that they don’t stop to recognize the impact they’re having. From a parent’s perspective, I can say very clearly: They are making a difference.
That’s what excites me. I get the chance to connect with people who are shaping the future through their work with students, families and communities. And if I can offer ideas that help them communicate with more clarity, more confidence and more intention, that feels deeply worthwhile.
