
GUIDES
Great communicators don’t necessarily make great leaders, but brilliant leaders are always superb communicators. That business leaders today must prioritize communication as a critical skillset is beyond debate. We know it from our own worklife experiences and from having witnessed the critical role CEO communication played during the pandemic, in addition to numerous research papers.
Last year, the global consulting firm McKinsey, published the results of extensive interviews with top CEOs around the world: CEO Excellence: The Six Mindsets That Distinguish the Best Leaders from the Rest—and according to co-author Carolyn Dewar, communication skill is the thread that runs through everything that the best of the best excels at.
Leaders need to be able to clearly communicate the ambition, vision, and direction of the company; be able to align the organization; mobilize teams through leaders; engage the board; and connect with stakeholders, especially employees—the people who ultimately will deliver on company goals.
None of this can be accomplished without a prioritized focus on communication. Indeed, recent years have seen the emergence of increased employee expectations of highly visible and engaged leadership communication.
And in these times of rapid and unrelenting change, the need for an organization’s top executives to be visible and to communicate clearly and constantly at every stage of the change process is more critical than ever before—if they want people to change their behaviors and buy into the program.
This guide explores how IC professionals can not only help their CEOs and leadership teams become better communicators, but in doing so, become key trusted advisors for their engagement and relationship with employees.

Tim Vaughan
Editorial Director, Poppulo
Manufacturing and production facilities are operating in an era defined by disruption, labor shortages, supply chain volatility, and rising safety and compliance demands. Leaders are under constant pressure to optimize processes, reduce downtime and rework, improve quality, and engage a workforce that is largely deskless. In this environment, clear, real-time communication isn’t a “nice to have”—it’s mission-critical. Yet production-floor employees are often the hardest to reach. Traditional channels like email, mobile apps, and intranet platforms don’t effectively connect with workers who don’t have access to devices during their shifts. When communication breaks down, so does alignment around KPIs, safety protocols, quality standards, and company goals. Digital signage has become a critical infrastructure layer in modern manufacturing environments. Together, Poppulo and BrightSign® enable manufacturers to deploy secure, scalable, and high-performance digital signage networks across thousands of endpoints. From KPI dashboards and manufacturing execution systems (MES) integrations to safety communications and employee engagement initiatives, this guide explores how manufacturers can leverage enterprise-grade digital signage to drive operational excellence, strengthen culture, and future-proof their production floor communications.
Manufacturing facilities face unique challenges when it comes to driving productivity, safety, and operational efficiency with a primarily deskless workforce—many of which can be addressed with strategically deployed digital signage. From production dashboards and manufacturing execution systems (MES) displays to wayfinding, standard work signage, safety messaging, and general employee communications, digital signage is an effective way to reach all on-site workers, regardless of their roles. That’s why manufacturing organizations around the world rely on Poppulo’s digital signage platform and secure, purpose-built media players from BrightSign® to deliver reliable, real-time information across their facilities. However, starting a new digital signage initiative or optimizing an existing network involves careful planning. In addition to defining integration requirements, you must determine the number and location of screens, the purpose of each endpoint, and the content each zone should display. Mapping out the zones in your facility that require digital signage—and identifying the audience and use case for each—can help define your digital signage footprint and uncover gaps in your current network. The templates included in this guide provide recommendations for endpoint planning across different facility zones, helping you align screen placement with operational goals and communications needs.
Digital signage is one of the most visible technologies on a casino floor. But, done correctly, digital signage can impact casinos in ways guests will never see. Top casinos are using digital signage as an integrated communications network—one that connects guests to experiences, empowers employee communication, andimproves casino operations. Yes, screens can and should be used for promotions, wayfinding, and menuboards. But they can be used for more than that. When used strategically, digital signage becomes more than a promotional tool. It becomes part of your casino’s attention infrastructure, and it can directly impact your bottom-line. Across your property, screens can influence decision-making in real time. They guide guests to amenities. They build anticipation for events. They amplify the excitement of a big win. They ensure staff are prepared before stepping onto the floor. They provide leadership teams with immediate operational insight. This shift in thinking can unlock tremendous value for your property. This guide explores the essential guest-facing and employee-focused applications that top casinos are deploying today to drive engagement, strengthen operational alignment, and unlock the full potential of their digital signage investment.