Dina Pokedoff, Senior Vice President of Kuehne + Nagel: Grit and Resilience

Dina Pokedoff, Senior Vice President of Kuehne + Nagel: Grit and Resilience

Author: Dr. Laura Sicola April 18, 2023 Duration: 36:18

This week, Dina Pokedoff shares how as the first SVP of Communications in North America for a company with over 13,000 North American employees she gets to build something from the ground up and make a difference.  Dina shares how grit and resilience prepared her for this role as well as for her passion for being a triathlete.

In this episode you will learn:

  • How being part of a global communications team requires you to tell the story both inside and outside the company to a large audience including: media, communities, partners, external stakeholders, prospective employees, and existing employees.
  • Making sure that when you have the opportunity to take a leadership role and want it, to take it.
  • Understanding that one of the best ways to get promoted is to be known and be seen.
  • Diversity also includes diversity of perspective and that companies that embrace diversity have a competitive advantage from an organizational standpoint.
  • 24 Hour Challenge: Go through your connections on LinkedIn and reconnect with a few people that you haven’t spoken to in awhile.

About Dina Pokedoff:

Dina Silver Pokedoff, APR is a driven and results-oriented senior brand and communications executive and an empowered female leader in the communications industry. Dina currently is Senior Vice President, Communications for Kuehne+Nagel North America , one of the world’s leading logistics companies. At Kuehne+Nagel, Dina is responsible for establishing, driving and executing the regional communications strategy.

Most recently, Dina was Director of Corporate Communications at Trinseo, a global, specialty material solutions provider, established as a spinoff of Dow. Prior to Trinseo, Dina was Director of Brand, Reputation and Influence at Saint-Gobain North America, one of the world’s largest building materials companies and manufacturers of innovative material solutions. At both, she spearheaded internal and external communications including employee communications, external philanthropic partnerships, brand strategy and external relations activities including media relations, social media, website and reputation/crisis management.

Dina lives in Chalfont, Pennsylvania with her husband Mark, their two beautiful children Benjamin (14) and Ava (8) and their dog Silkey (a cavalier/cockapoo).  When not working, she loves keeping fit through her passion for Peloton (bike and tread) and competing in triathlons.  Dina has also been a performer for most of her life singing in musicals, a cappella groups and choirs.  An avid reader and pop culture fan, she enjoys streaming the latest shows and is thrilled to be introducing her children to the love of Broadway, taking them to see as many shows as possible.

You can connect with Dina in the following ways:

You can connect with Laura in the following ways:

  • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drlaurasicola
  • LinkedIn Business Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vocal-impact-productions/
  • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/VocalImpactProductions
  • Facebook: Vocal Impact Productions
  • Twitter: @LauraSicola
  • Instagram: @VocalImpactProductions
  • Website: https://speakingtoinfluence.com/podcast/
  • Laura’s Online Course: virtualinfluence.today

Speaking to Influence features conversations about the tangible mechanics of leadership communication, moving beyond theory into practical application. Host Dr. Laura Sicola, an expert in linguistic influence, guides discussions that dissect how language, tone, and presence directly impact credibility and outcomes. Each episode brings a perspective from seasoned executives and industry figures who share their real-world experiences-not just their successes, but the nuanced moments where a single conversation changed a trajectory. The focus here is on the actionable: how to structure a message for a skeptical board, modulate your voice to convey authority without arrogance, and read a room to pivot your approach in real time. This isn't about generic public speaking tips; it's a deep exploration of the strategic choices behind influential speech. Listeners gain access to a toolkit for building confidence, commanding attention, and achieving specific professional results through more intentional communication. The podcast operates at the intersection of business strategy, personal development, and the often-overlooked technical art of persuasion, making it relevant for anyone whose role requires them to lead, sell, or inspire through spoken word. Dr. Sicola's background provides a unique lens, ensuring every conversation yields insights you can use immediately to refine your own impact.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Speaking to Influence
Podcast Episodes
Scott Miller of YESLY Water: Cultivating a ‘We’ Culture [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:12
Scott Miller is the guest on this week’s episode of Speaking to Influence. The Co-Founder and CEO of YESLY Water speaks to Laura about how he handled pushback and set boundaries to move forward. In this episode you will…
Johann Wrede of Emburse: The Power of Experience [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:47
Joining Laura on this week’s episode of ‘Speaking to Influence’ is Johann Wrede, Chief Experience Officer at Emburse. Johann shares how he manages group dynamics among key stakeholders to keep them from hijacking meeting…
Dr. Laura Sicola: The Big Reveal [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:39
Happy New Year! Dr. Laura Sicola is back with Part II: The Big Reveal. In this episode, she unveils her rebranding journey, discussing the issues and challenges her Vocal Impact brand had, and introduces the audience to…
Sneak Peek - What's Even Better than VIP? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:30
Dr. Laura Sicola: Sneak Peek- What’s Even Better than VIP? This week, join Dr. Laura Sicola for Part I of a two part series where she talks about defining and claiming your brand…or more specifically, HER brand! Join us…
Clate Mask of Keap: When It’s Time to Stop Trying to Persuade [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:33
On this week’s episode of Speaking to Influence, join Clate Mask, CEO of Keap Small Business Automation, as he tells Laura about when he knew it was time to put his career on the line by giving an ultimatum to his compan…
Anu Muralidharan of Expensify: A Human ‘Swiss-Army Knife’ [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:44
This week on ‘Speaking to Influence,’ Dr. Laura is joined by COO of Expensify, Anu Muralidharan, where Anu shares how she was able to build momentum in her company by having everyone identify their own unique value, and…