Words matter. The right ones change how people think, act, and lead.
I write the speeches CEOs deliver, shape the stories behind transformations, and build the trust that holds teams together — across cultures, languages, and continents.
Rooted in Authenticity
I grew up on a farm in northern Germany. Not the romantic kind — the kind where you get up early, do what needs doing, and sit around the kitchen table at the end of the day talking honestly about how it went.
My parents taught me that trust comes from showing up consistently, not from big promises. That being genuine isn't a strategy — it's the only thing that actually works long-term. And that good stories start with something real.
Those lessons stayed with me — from that small town to four continents, through every narrative I've written, every leader I've coached, and every team I've built. When you know what an honest story sounds like, you can tell one anywhere.
And then there's Santi — my golden retriever and unlikely leadership coach. He taught me the simplest thing about trust: it's built through presence, patience, and quiet consistency. Show up. Be steady. Meet people where they are. It's the same thing that guides how I work with executives and teams.
Built from the Ground Up
Farm kid to Fortune 500. The work ethic stuck — patience, persistence, and actually caring about the people you work with.
Trust First
Good communication starts with trust. That means creating spaces where people feel safe to speak up, push back, and do their best thinking.
Many Perspectives
Three languages, four continents, and a lot of different boardroom cultures. I know how to make complex ideas land with diverse audiences.
Strength Meets Stillness
The Stoics figured out something a long time ago that leadership books are still catching up to: clarity, honesty, and staying calm under pressure aren't personality traits. They're practices. These three shape how I work.
“Associate with people who are likely to improve you. Welcome those whom you yourself can improve. The process is mutual; for men learn while they teach.”
Seneca — Letters from a Stoic
Three Values, Rooted in Stoic Practice
These aren't things I picked up at a leadership workshop. They're how I was raised, tested across four continents, and practised every day.
Trust
Fides — The Stoic Commitment to Faithfulness
On a farm, your word is your bond. It's that simple. The Stoics had a word for it — fides — but my parents just called it doing what you said you'd do. That carried into every boardroom I've been in. People don't follow polished words. They follow leaders they believe. So every message I help shape has to be anchored in something real.
I don't craft messages I wouldn't stand behind myself. The CEO's credibility is the most valuable thing I protect.
Honesty
Parrhesia — The Courage to Speak Truthfully
Seneca said we should speak as if our words were written in ink, not pencil. I like that. Honesty in communications isn't about being blunt — it's about being clear, even when the message is hard. The best leaders I've worked with didn't want someone to tell them what they wanted to hear. They wanted someone who'd say what needed saying, and say it well.
That's the craft — finding the honest story that also moves people forward.
Psychological Safety
Philanthropia — The Stoic Duty of Care for Others
Marcus Aurelius believed we exist for one another — to teach, to tolerate, to support. I've seen it play out in every team I've led. When people feel safe, they challenge each other, take creative risks, and produce work that fearful teams simply can't. I'm an accredited mediator and certified in ISO 45003 — not because it looks good on a CV, but because I think this stuff actually matters.
The best communications don't come from the loudest voice in the room. They come from rooms where every voice gets heard.
A Global Communicator
Understanding that every market has its own heartbeat. Fluent in three languages and four continents of experience — crafting messages that resonate locally while advancing a unified global vision.
Years Experience
Continents
Languages
Markets
Europe
Germany, UK — Siemens, ABB
Where it all began. Shaped by German engineering precision and European industrial heritage at Siemens AG, developing global marketing campaigns across 8+ countries.
Asia Pacific
Australia, Singapore, across 8 APAC markets
Directing integrated marketing and communications across diverse APAC markets for Cummins, ABB, and Worley — navigating cultural nuances to deliver resonant regional campaigns.
Americas
Fortune 200 global HQ engagement
Partnering with C-suite at Cummins' US headquarters, aligning APAC strategy with the global corporate vision and translating American ambition into local relevance.
Middle East & Africa
Energy & resources sector
Strategic communications across Shell/Arrow Energy and Worley's global engineering operations, engaging stakeholders in complex energy markets.
Expertise That Drives Impact
From helping CEOs find their voice to getting thousands of people on board with a major transformation — here's what I'm good at and what it's led to.
$1B+ Revenue Influence
EBITDA growth at Cummins APAC
35% Engagement Lift
AI-powered campaigns
22% Conversion Uplift
Lead scoring system
30%+ ROI Lifts
Across marketing programs
Executive Voice & CEO Positioning
Helping leaders sound like themselves — only sharper. I build the messaging frameworks, talking points, and long-term comms plans that give C-suite executives a clear, consistent voice.
Built executive comms and personal brands for APAC leadership at Cummins, including fireside chats and thought leadership platforms.
Digital Transformation & Change Communications
When a company rolls out new tech or restructures, people need to understand why and what it means for them. I design the communications that get people on board — not just informed, but actually engaged.
Led comms for a major digital transformation and SAP rollout across 5 business units and 3,000+ employees at Cummins.
Brand Architecture & Reputation
Taking a corporate vision and making it mean something locally. I build brand strategies that work across regions and cultures — not just nice words, but campaigns that actually move the needle.
Rebuilt corporate reputation and launched sustainability comms for Arrow Energy (Shell/PetroChina JV) across multiple channels.
High-Performance Teams & Culture
I build teams where people actually want to do their best work. That means psychological safety, clear expectations, and real support — not just team-building offsites.
Restructured and mentored a team spread across 8 markets, brought in agile ways of working, and saw a real lift in performance.
AI-Powered Communications
Using AI to make comms smarter, not just faster. I use generative AI and data-driven tools to create better content, personalise messaging, and understand what actually resonates.
Ran AI-powered campaigns with dynamic content and audience segmentation — engagement went up 35%.
Crisis & Stakeholder Management
When things go wrong — or could go wrong — I make sure the organisation has a plan, a voice, and a clear story. Crisis comms, government relations, ESG narratives.
Built crisis and incident comms protocols for critical infrastructure at Arrow Energy (Shell/PetroChina JV).
The Work
Selected Work Samples
Most of what I do happens behind closed doors — writing what the CEO says, shaping how a transformation gets explained, building the campaigns that shift how people feel about change. That work doesn't carry my name. But here are some of the public-facing projects that give you a sense of the range.
Cummins Asia Pacific Magazine
Authored and published four editions of the flagship regional magazine — a customer-facing publication reaching OEM partners, distributors, and end-users across Asia Pacific. Covered clean power innovations, customer success stories, and the evolving technology roadmap.
Cummins Team Talk — Employee Magazine
Created and led the internal employee magazine "Team Talk" — connecting thousands of employees across Asia Pacific through stories of innovation, recognition, community impact, and the people behind the power. Each issue wove together regional voices into one cohesive narrative.
Executive Fireside Chat — Cummins Executive General Manager
Conceived, scripted, and produced an executive fireside chat with Cummins Executive General Manager Annie Chu — creating a leadership platform that humanised the executive voice, built employee connection, and reinforced strategic direction across the Asia Pacific region.
Representing Cummins at Data Centre World Asia
Served as a brand representative for Cummins at Data Centre World Asia in Singapore — one of the region's premier data centre events. Delivered key messages on Cummins' power solutions for critical infrastructure, engaging directly with industry leaders and media.
Speeches, Videos & Thought Leadership
Speeches I wrote, government announcements I shaped, and thought leadership I helped position.
Executive Speech — Heart of Australia Gala
Crafted the keynote speech delivered by Arrow Energy VP HSE Michelle Zaunbrecher at the 2021 Heart of Australia Gala — translating complex corporate purpose into an emotional, audience-winning narrative for a high-profile charity event.
CEO Presentation — GasFields Commission
Authored the executive presentation delivered by Arrow Energy CEO Cecile Wake at the GasFields Commission Community Leaders Council 2021 — positioning Arrow Energy's community partnerships and social licence to operate for a stakeholder audience of government and community leaders.
Government Relations — $10B Surat Gas Project
Developed the key messages, narrative framework, and approval processes for Arrow Energy's $10 billion Surat Gas Project announcement — a collaboration between Arrow Energy and the Queensland Government Department of Resources. Managed cross-stakeholder alignment to ensure a unified public narrative.
Thought Leadership — Cummins Destination Zero
Positioned Cummins leadership in global industry media through thought leadership on cleaner technologies in rail. This Global Railway Review interview showcases the strategic narratives around Cummins' Destination Zero strategy.
Corporate Video — Brand Storytelling
Produced corporate videos that brought the brand story to life across the Asia Pacific region — from executive messaging to customer testimonials and event highlights.
Behind the Curtain
The work I'm most proud of never had my name on it. It had the CEO's voice, or the company's vision, or the conviction of a transformation team. That's how it should be — when it's done well, it just sounds like the right thing to say.
A Journey of Impact
Two decades of shaping strategic communications at the world's most ambitious industrial and technology companies.
Cummins Inc.
Director, Marketing Communications Asia Pacific
- Directing APAC marketing during record regional growth exceeding $1B EBITDA
- Led communications for large-scale digital transformation and SAP enterprise program across 5 business units and 3,000+ employees
- Designed change narratives and stakeholder engagement strategies driving technology adoption and organisational alignment
- Led leadership transition communications — managing narrative continuity from retiring Executive Managing Director to onboarding successor, including executive comms strategy and internal brand building
- Built executive communications and personal brands for APAC leadership, including fireside chats and thought leadership platforms
- Represented Cummins at Data Centre World Asia in Singapore, delivering key messages on power solutions for critical infrastructure
- Pioneered AI-driven marketing and demand generation campaigns
Arrow Energy (Shell/PetroChina JV)
Corporate Communications Strategy Leader
- Developed key messages and narrative frameworks for Arrow Energy's $10B Surat Gas Project — collaborating with Queensland Government Department of Resources
- Authored executive speeches for CEO and senior leaders at high-profile events including Heart of Australia Gala and GasFields Commission
- Represented Arrow Energy at the Australian Energy Producers forum, engaging with industry leaders and shaping public narrative
- Developed crisis communications protocols for critical infrastructure
- Crafted ESG narratives linking gas development to regional growth
- Led government relations briefing programs for ministers and regulators
ABB Ltd.
Marketing Director APAC, Enterprise Software
- Positioned enterprise software and Industrial IoT solutions, bridging IT/OT ecosystems through Microsoft partnership
- Supported Vice President ABB Enterprise Software with speechwriting and executive positioning at industry events
- Managed strategic relationship with CEDA (Committee for Economic Development of Australia), representing ABB at policy and business forums
- Created account-based marketing programs targeting critical infrastructure operators
- Established hackathon culture enabling rapid prototyping of digital campaigns
Worley
Global Manager Marketing, Comms & Strategy
- Led global M&A and integration communications during major consolidation across multiple entities
- Designed change communication strategies supporting new operating models, structures, and technology platforms
- Ensured leadership alignment and employee engagement through transformation narratives
Siemens AG
Global Marketing Manager, Oil & Gas
- Marketed control systems and instrumentation for critical oil & gas facilities
- Coordinated global marketing programs across 8+ countries
Natural Wiring
Gallup CliftonStrengths
Five strengths that shape how I work — the natural wiring behind the philosophy.
Ideation
Fascinated by ideas — finding connections between seemingly unrelated phenomena and turning complexity into compelling, clear narratives.
Analytical
Driven by evidence and data — searching for patterns and proof that transform assumptions into strategic insights and measurable outcomes.
Focus
The discipline to set direction and follow through — filtering noise to concentrate effort where it creates the greatest impact.
Relator
Building genuine depth in relationships — understanding that the strongest executive communications come from truly knowing the leader you serve.
Learner
A deliberate commitment to growth — staying ahead of industry shifts, new technologies, and evolving communication landscapes.
Ready to Shape the Next Chapter
If you're looking for someone to help your CEO communicate with clarity and conviction — I'd love to talk.
Connect on LinkedIn
linkedin.com/in/monika-gietz
Email for Interview
[email protected]
Call Directly
+61 437 886 836
German & Australian citizenship • Based in Australia • Available globally