The Hummingbird Effect with Courtney McCloud | Ep. 50

On this week’s episode of Season 5 of The True North Show I am joined by Courtney McCloud, an incredible and wonderful woman who I’ve had the pleasure of knowing and being friends with for quite a few years. Courtney shares with us where her journey began and how it has come full circle to where she originally wanted to start. Her view on the importance of good communication is so deep and is weaved into everything she does, in particular the work she does within organisations. Courtney’s own communication style is light yet focused and precise with a little bit of fun as well. I loved our conversation and I am sure you will too.

Bio:

Courtney McCloud has built a career that doesn't fit neatly into a single box, and that’s part of what makes her story worth telling.

After starting her career as a high school English teacher, she now has over a decade of experience in communications and engagement. Courtney has worked across some of Australia's most recognisable organisations, from secondary and tertiary education institutions to a national construction company. Add to that her time as a teacher, advocacy for young people, international development, and the not-for-profit sector, and it’s clear her career has not been shaped by the status quo, but by a genuine curiosity about people and what moves them.

At the heart of Courtney’s current work is a simple but powerful belief: that communications is transformative. Whether that's supporting business leaders through a period of difficult change, creating community in workplaces through campaigns such as International Women’s Day, developing breakthrough campaigns to support advocacy efforts, or producing a magazine that makes frontline workers feel seen, Courtney has spent her career turning this belief into measurable outcomes.

But the journey hasn't been straightforward. Courtney has navigated the tension that many professionals quietly face: building a strong career on paper while wondering if the work truly reflects who she is and what she cares about. That question eventually led her to build an independent consulting practice, which has been a period of professional reinvention that proved to be one of the most clarifying decisions of her life.

Courtney holds a Master of Arts in Communication Management from the University of Technology Sydney, and a Bachelor of Arts with a Diploma of Education from Macquarie University; a combination that tells you something about how she thinks: rigorously, and always with people at the centre.

These days, Courtney is focused on maximising the power of communications strategy for organisations making a tangible impact. She’s also developing a vision for mentoring young people and young professionals and continuing her board training.

Warm, direct, and refreshingly honest about the messy reality of building a meaningful career, Courtney brings both hard-won expertise and genuine heart to this conversation.

Social Media:

Website: www.thehummingbirdeffect.com.au

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-hummingbird-effect/