Episode Summary
Kara Ryan spent 20 years of her career navigating corporate communications in some of the most regulated industries in the world - financial services, healthcare, and medical devices. In April of this year, she closed that chapter and opened Klyr Strategies, a solo communications advisory built upon the high-stakes moments that her clients face, such as product launches, leadership transitions, acquisitions, and IPO preparation. She joins Karen and Michelle just weeks into her solo journey, which makes this conversation something rare, equal parts seasoned practitioner wisdom and unfiltered, real-time solopreneur start-up experience. The conversation covers the financial math and mindset behind making the leap, the structural surprises that hit early, and how Kara's "advisor-led and AI-powered" approach works in practice — including why she's upfront with clients about using AI and how she keeps their data secure. She also shares her strongest professional conviction: that authenticity in leadership communication is a strategic discipline, not a personality trait, and that communicators are uniquely positioned to address it. This is a conversation for anyone who has done all the right things in corporate and still feels like something is missing.
Episode Highlights
[02:29] The Slow Burn Decision to Go Solo.
[06:17] Why a Tough Job Market Is an Argument for Going Solo
[09:11] The Real Surprises of Early Solo Life:
[17:42] What "Advisor-Led and AI-Powered" Actually Means
[22:25] Bring Comms to the Table Before the Decision Is Made
[25:17] Thinking About All the Audiences, Not Just the Obvious One
[26:58] The Case for Communicating Less:
[38:18] Authenticity Is Kara's Signature Topic and Her Strongest Conviction
Connect with Kara:
Website: klyrstrategies.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kara-l-ryan
Resources & Additional Information
Klyr Strategies: klyrstrategies.com
Solo PR Pro membership community: soloprpro.com
That Solo Life podcast website: thatsololife.com
Host & Show Info
That Solo Life is a podcast created for public relations, communication, and marketing professionals who work as independent and small practitioners. Hosted by Karen Swim, APR, founder of Solo PR Pro, and Michelle Kane, Principal of Voice Matters, the show delivers expert insights, encouragement, and practical advice for solo PR pros navigating today's dynamic professional landscape.
Listen to all episodes and catch up on previous conversations at thatsololife.com.
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