Internal Communications Specialist
L.A. Care Health Plan
IABC Member Since 2010
IABC member Paromita Ghosh may have the job title, Internal Communications Specialist at L.A. Care Health Plan, but her background could make her an international communications specialist. A native of India, Paromita uses her appreciation for diversity to create messages directed toward employees and over 800,000 underserved residents in Los Angeles County. She provides communications expertise at L.A. Care Health Plan, the largest public health plan in the United States. Read on to see how Paromita’s experiences, including an ancient dance form that originated in the temples of India, inspire her communications.
ABOUT ME
Birthplace:
Kolkata, India
Current residence:
Los Angeles, California
Favorite quote:
“Life is 10% of what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it.” – John Maxwell
Words that best describe me:
Reliable. Enthusiastic. Inquisitive. Sensitive.
When I’m not working, you could find me:
I enjoy learning Odissi, one of the eight classical dance forms of India, originating from the state of Orissa, in eastern India. Odissi is unique in its use of the tribhangi, a posture where the body bends in three places creating an image of grace. I also like preparing new recipes and traveling to destinations around the world.
MY LIFE IN COMMUNICATIONS
The biggest communications challenge I faced in a previous role…
Beyond fluency in several languages, I consider myself a multicultural communicator. As such, I had a remarkable experience developing a best-practices communications model in a global technology company. The communications program applied to senior managers as well as new hires. I applied the principles of managing language and cultural differences to managing career differences. I gained insight on how people with different professional backgrounds overcome communications challenges. For example, I observed how engineers communicate with marketing professionals. It was almost like communicating across ethnicities.
My favorite communications memories are …
One special memory relates to a project I led while at Hanmer MS&L, one of the top multi-disciplinary communications firms in India. I was responsible for communications planning and executing the launch of radio station, Reliance BIG FM in Kolkata. Leading a five-member PR team, I designed promotional strategies to raise interest about the station and its radio jockeys. We garnered impressive media coverage and recognition from the client.
Another exciting experience was working with foreign correspondents in India. During President Obama’s visit to India in November 2010, I worked with Bloomberg Television, NYT, KCRW’s Warren Olney Show, among others on stories about U.S. corporations entering Asian markets. This was exciting for I worked with media across time zones and developed appreciation for media interests across countries.
The two most important communications lessons I’ve learned are…
First, formative research is essential to develop a credible communication plan and to execute it.
Second, build long-term relationships with stakeholders instead of focusing on short-term objectives.
Resources that I find useful and recommend to other communicators are…
Groundswell: Winning in a World Transformed by Social Technologies
Charlene Li and Josh Bernoff.
Communication Research: Asking Questions, Finding Answers
Joann Keyton, Ph.D. (I always refer to this book to resolve any doubts on research methods.)
Engage through Storytelling, presentations by Nancy Duarte.
A few more things you should know about me…
I am an enthusiastic social media player, learning how to best employ different SM applications in a health care environment.
I have a passion for dance. I learned Bharatnatyam as a child, but recently have been drawn toward Odissi, another Indian classical dance form. I am mesmerized by any good dance performance and enjoy practicing with my guru every weekend. Dance clears my mind and allows me to bring fresh ideas to my work.
OH, HOW FAR I’VE COME… A few career highlights
CAREER
L.A. Care Health Plan
Internal Communications Specialist (2011 – Present)
Amritt, Inc.
Communications Consultant (2010)
North Carolina State University
Research/Teaching Assistant (2008 – 2010)
Hanmer MS&L, India
Consultant (2006 – 2007)
EDUCATION
North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
Masters of Science in Communication
Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan, New Delhi, India
Post Graduate Diploma in Public Relations
Calcutta University, Kolkata, India
Bachelor of Arts, English Honors