2025 Best-in-Class Communications

When Yahoo spun out from Verizon in 2021, the tech veteran faced startup-like challenges: establishing a new identity, aligning a global workforce, and building internal communications from scratch. The company partnered with Axios HQ to launch strategic newsletters — The Weekly Download for all employees and Manager Memo for people leaders — delivering essential updates to build trust and alignment.

The results speak volumes: employee surveys show increased understanding of company direction and trust in leadership, while The Weekly Download maintains an impressive 72% open rate.

When CoolIT Systems' employee survey revealed a clear desire for more executive communication in early 2024, the 400-person liquid cooling technology company turned to Axios HQ to bridge the gap. They launched The Weekly Pulse, a company-wide newsletter that quickly became the heartbeat of their internal communications, reaching employees across six countries with an impressive 88% open rate.

The success sparked a series of department-specific newsletters and influenced their broader communication strategy, from town halls to presentations.

As Washington state’s chamber of commerce and manufacturing association, AWB needed an efficient, engaging way to connect employers and manufacturers with critical policy updates and opportunities.

With Axios HQ, AWB transformed a grueling newsletter process into a streamlined, collaborative strategy powered by Smart Brevity. By simplifying production, enhancing collaboration, and improving engagement, AWB saw membership signups spike — saving time, strengthening member relationships, and empowering businesses to stay informed and take action along the way.

Navigating a series of changes — including a global pandemic and leadership transition — IES Abroad revitalized its communication strategy with Axios HQ.

Through newsletters like In the Loop and System Rebuild, they consolidated key updates, fostered transparency, and built morale across their international team of 500+ staff in 30+ locations. The result? Record-breaking enrollment, higher staff engagement, and a stronger sense of global community.

Amid a historic rebrand, Johnson & Johnson consolidated six legacy medtech businesses into a unified Johnson & Johnson MedTech identity.

Partnering with Axios HQ, they streamlined communications, modernized delivery, and simplified complex messaging for employees and stakeholders. Smart Brevity training empowered teams to curate updates effectively, while editorial guidance helped transform newsletters into a single source of truth.

In 2018, bp faced a critical communication challenge: with 87,000+ employees across 37 countries, information overload was hampering executive effectiveness and employee engagement.

They partnered with Axios HQ to revolutionize their approach, launching In The Know, a daily newsletter that grew from 10 to 48,000 subscribers, and developing a unique "Smart Brevity Ninjas" training program that has equipped over 5,000 employees with strategic communication skills.