At the virtual IABC World Conference 2021, business communicators will be inspired to reach for the stars. Catalyst sat down with keynote speaker Isidro Reyna, APR, senior communications specialist for NASA’s Johnson Space Center. Read on to find out what this year’s conference theme “It’s About Time” means to Reyna and what you can expect from his out-of-this-world keynote session.

The IABC World Conference 2021 is centered on the theme “It’s About Time,” which focuses on communicators’ collective strength and ability to impact the world around them. What does “It’s About Time” mean to you?  

This year’s theme is a rallying cry for communicators. For me, it’s about time to explore! I see this year’s conference as an opportunity to reflect on our communications roles, evaluate our programs and use our positions to positively influence our organizations — which will in turn impact the world. It’s not enough to rely on traditional communications tactics and strategies. Now, we must seize the moment, use our creativity and advise our leaders to embrace the evolving world around us.

What is the most exciting aspect of your role as NASA’s Senior Communications Specialist? 

Through our communications work, we truly strive to bring the world along on our voyages as we explore space for the benefit of humanity. The most exciting aspect of my role at NASA is being able to inspire and excite a new generation of explorers to reach for the stars as we push forward to the moon with our Artemis program, and work to land the first woman and first person of color on the lunar surface.

What do you hope IABC World Conference attendees take away from your keynote presentation?

NASA’s Johnson Space Center has served as the iconic setting to some of humankind’s greatest achievements. For nearly 60 years, as part of NASA’s nationwide team, Johnson has led the world in human space exploration. By capitalizing on the latest social media features, newsworthy content and trending topics, we aim to share our mission with the public in broader ways than ever before. But we also have an important stakeholder — our employees — whose work to leap to greater heights and new destinations makes them the leader in human space exploration.

Often, our employees are on the go — consuming what they want, when they want and on a multitude of platforms. We reimagined our internal communications products to serve a multi-generational workforce while being responsive to today’s technology platforms. This focuses resources on better serving the needs of our team with products that help employees and retirees lead the charge as the American space program’s most knowledgeable ambassadors. Plus, it’s a business best practice that will ensure we operate as a well-informed center with a strong sense of community.

I hope attendees will learn how to organize a large-scale internal communications strategy, communicate in ways that are relevant to their employees and use “everyone communication” as a tool for action.

It’s about time to register for the virtual IABC World Conference 2021, taking place online 28–30 June. Register now to secure your spot for this top-tier virtual event, and look forward to connecting with communication professionals from around the globe.

Featuring Isidro Reyna, APR

Isidro Reyna, APR, joined NASA Johnson Space Center's External Relations Office as a senior communications specialist in 2015. In this role, he manages executive communications for the center and serves as the agency’s Gateway Program public affairs officer in Houston.