How a New York Life VP is preparing teams for the AI era

Chris Breslin, vice president and head of communications for strategic businesses at New York Life, oversees communications for seven businesses spanning insurance, asset management, annuities and employee benefits. Breslin partners closely with senior leadership on communications tied to growth, transformation and reputation, and has helped modernize the function through new ways of measuring impact and using generative AI tools.

The vice president will speak at the PR Daily Conference on a fireside session to share how he’s helping teams adapt to AI by building new skills, balancing human judgment with machine intelligence and learning in real time. 

You’ve led communications through transformation, M&A and enterprise change across multiple major financial organizations. What leadership lesson has become non-negotiable for you during periods of uncertainty?

As important as it is to be thorough and thoughtful in times of change, it’s often the things you do before you’re in those periods of uncertainty that matter most — like ensuring you have clear processes and role clarity, as well as strong relationships that can hold up under pressure. Consistent processes create stability and help teams move forward with confidence, even when things are evolving quickly. Likewise, strong relationships with internal and external partners build trust and alignment, so you can move forward during times of change, stress or moments that require a rapid response. 

What skills or traits helped you advance most in your own career that younger communicators may underestimate today?

Two things — being curious and proactive. Be curious about the business or client you support; understand their customers; and know their goals, whether it’s sales growth, transformation or profitability. Knowing all that and more will enable you to recommend communications content and approaches that can truly move the needle. And I can’t stress enough the importance of being proactive and leaning in — raising your hand, bringing ideas and stepping up to fill gaps are behaviors that will set you apart quickly and help you learn. 

You’ve worked across several highly regulated industries. How has that environment shaped your approach to innovation and experimentation in communications?

I think working in regulated environments sharpens your approach to innovation. You learn quickly that creativity has to be grounded in accuracy, risk awareness and a deep understanding of the business. I’ve found that the best innovation in communications isn’t always about being flashy — it’s about finding the most effective ways to drive outcomes.  

What has been your biggest learning curve personally when it comes to integrating generative AI into communications workflows?

The increasing ubiquity and rapid advancement of GenAI make this an incredibly exciting time for our profession. The pace of change is creating opportunities to rethink how we work and the impact we can make. For me, the area I’ve needed to learn most (and am still learning!) has been customizing the tools. But if you stay curious, experiment and maintain a high bar for accuracy and outcomes, GenAI is a powerful enabler. 

For communicators aspiring to become trusted advisors to senior leadership, what separates good communicators from indispensable ones?

Indispensable communicators show up for whatever needs to be done, and they take ownership. They operate with a clear understanding of how the CEO and senior leaders think — what they’re solving for, the trade-offs they’re weighing and the pressures they’re under. They use that knowledge, along with a proactive mindset, to be consistent, reliable and focused on what matters the most.

 What’s a habit or routine you’ve kept through most of your career that actually helps you lead?Ask for feedback, and always find ways to get better — that mindset combats complacency, helps you grow individually and helps the team continuously improve. 

Chris will join leaders from Audible, Dove, Yahoo, Hinge, TIME and others at the PR Daily Conference, June 3-5 in Brooklyn, New York, to share insights on leadership, AI, media relations and more. Register now to join the conversation and learn from some of the industry’s top voices. 

Isis Simpson-Mersha is a conference producer/ reporter for Ragan. Follow her on LinkedIn.