Leveraging Thought Leadership: Recent Episodes
Thought Leadership Leverage
Join Peter Winick and Bill Sherman as they host the Leveraging Thought Leadership podcast–a podcast devoted to the business of thought leadership. Peter explores the world how independent thought leaders bring their ideas to scale within the business world. His guests include professional keynote speakers, business book authors, specialty consultants, and business-school academics. Bill investigates the evolving world of organizational thought leadership. His guests include professionals who create, curate, and deploy thought leadership on their organization’s behalf. Throughout the series, Peter and Bill uncover and discuss trends in thought leadership: strategy, technology, and modality. Listen in as they share best practices for creating value, impact, and revenue through thought leadership.
Here's an uncomfortable truth: most people will tell a total stranger about their weird rash before they'll tell their best friend how much debt they're carrying. That contradiction sits at the center of this episode. The guest is Carrie Joy Grimes, founder and CEO of WorkMoney — a nonprofit she describes as "the AARP for everyday people's money." She built it in 2020 after years as a union organizer, watching thousands of people wrestle with the same financial confusion she'd faced growing up in a household where money was never discussed. The conversation opens with a poker metaphor that ends up doing a lot of work: you play the hand you're dealt, but you can also change the rules of the game. That's WorkMoney's whole thesis — help individuals make the best move with what they have, while using collective bargaining power to get everyone better cards. From there, the discussion turns commercial. A nonprofit still has to think like a business, and Grimes walks through WorkMoney's five distinct revenue models — sales of her book "The Joy of Money", ethical sponsorships, a bill-negotiation product called Money Finder, and a for-profit enterprise arm designed to fund financial products that don't quietly profit off member debt. The host presses on the hardest part: how do you measure success when your mission is "financial security" and revenue isn't the real scoreboard? Grimes lays out three separate metrics her team tracks, including one that's surprisingly emotional. There's also a sharp aside on index investing — including a detail about Warren Buffett's will that reframes the whole "beat the market" industry — and a candid discussion of why WorkMoney deliberately avoids a pure B2C growth strategy. If you've ever wondered how a mission-driven business justifies its business model without losing its mission, this one's worth the full listen. Three Key Takeaways • A nonprofit still needs a real business model. Grimes runs five distinct revenue lines at WorkMoney — including book sales, ethical sponsorships, and a fee-based bill-negotiation service — because donations alone can't fund a movement at scale. • B2B2C beats B2C for mission-driven growth. Rather than acquiring millions of individual customers one at a time, WorkMoney partners with organizations that have already aggregated the audience it wants to serve — dramatically lowering acquisition cost and risk. • Success metrics get complicated when revenue isn't the goal. WorkMoney measures impact through self-reported financial confidence, actual debt/wealth changes, and retirement trajectory — because, as Grimes puts it, if members don't feel more secure, the work isn't landing. If today's conversation had you thinking about what it actually takes to turn a big idea into a sustainable business, you'll want to check out The Thought Leadership Handbook, co-authored by Peter Winick, Bill Sherman, and Naren Aryal. It's the playbook for shaping, packaging, and scaling expertise in a crowded market — exactly the kind of business-model thinking Carrie Joy Grimes brought to this episode. Learn more at thoughtleadershiphandbook.com, and order your copy today on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, or Amplify.
Book the podcast. Do the interview. Move on to the next one. That's the default playbook for most podcast guests — and according to this week's guest, it's leaving most of the value on the table. Dustin Riechmann, founder and CEO of 7 Figure Leap, and host the the 7 Figure Leap Podcast, has spent the last four years helping coaches, consultants, and agency owners turn podcast guesting into a genuine growth engine — not just a lead-gen tactic. His argument: in a "trust recession" flooded with AI content and social media noise, the real currency isn't reach, it's trust. And trust, done right, scales. Peter and Dustin dig into what that actually looks like in practice. It starts with borrowing trust — the audience a host has spent years building extends some of that credibility to any guest who shows up and delivers. But the bigger opportunity, Dustin argues, is what happens after the mic turns off: the relationship with the host, the access to a guest list full of potential referral partners, and the content that can be repurposed for months. That's where the conversation turns pointed. Peter shares a stat that should make every podcast guest wince: only about 60% of guests actually share their episode after it airs, despite the host doing the legwork to book, produce, and promote it. Dustin calls it a strategic blunder as much as a hygiene issue — because the guests who do the simple things (leave a review, share the episode once, say thank you) become the ones hosts refer business to. The two also unpack the difference between hiring a podcast booking agency to check a box and building a deliberate, relationship-first guesting strategy — and why one podcast a week, done with intention, can outperform a hundred done without it. If you've ever wondered why some guests turn a single appearance into years of referrals while others get nothing out of dozens of interviews, this episode lays out exactly what separates the two. Three Key Takeaways: • Trust is the new currency, and it scales through borrowing. In a noisy, AI-saturated market, audiences no longer take credibility at face value — appearing on a trusted host's platform lets guests borrow that trust instantly, then build their own with the audience over time. • Sharing your episode isn't optional, it's strategic. Roughly 40% of guests never promote the interviews they're given, and that gap is exactly what separates a forgettable guest from the one a host refers to future opportunities. • The real ROI is relational, not transactional. A single interview compounds into referral partnerships, guest-list networks, and repurposable content — but only for guests who treat the host relationship as a two-way investment rather than a 20-minute box to check. Every guest on this show has wrestled with the same question: how do you turn deep expertise into lasting influence, not just a moment of visibility? That question is exactly what The Thought Leadership Handbook answers. Bill Sherman, Peter Winick, and Naren Aryal distilled patterns from more than 700 conversations on this very podcast into practical frameworks for building a body of work that scales — covering everything from your core ideas to the platform that carries them. If you're ready to move from insight to real impact, this is the field guide. Learn more and order your copy at thoughtleadershiphandbook.com.
Why do we size up a rude stranger in seconds and decide they don't belong in our "tribe"? Dr. Benjamin Granger has a term for it: the evolutionary hangover — his phrase for the cognitive biases our brains evolved for savanna survival and never quite retired. As Chief Workplace Psychologist at Qualtrics, Granger spends his days distilling billions of data points on how employees and customers really feel, and in this episode he brings that same lens to his new USA Today bestseller, A Leader Worth Following. The conversation moves from the biological to the deeply practical. Granger traces human speech back only 100,000–200,000 years — a blink in evolutionary time — to explain why we still assume our texts and emails land exactly as intended, and why they so often don't. He and host Peter Winick dig into a favorite (and least favorite) example: the customer satisfaction survey. Whether it's a car dealership coaching you to "circle the five" or a flight attendant joking about the inevitable post-flight survey, Granger shows how well-established science like goal-setting theory gets bent out of shape the moment it collides with real incentive structures. There's also a candid look at what it takes to write a book while holding down a demanding day job — from years of scattered iPhone notes to a publisher's cold outreach that landed within days of deciding to write one. Granger and Winick talk through the tension every corporate thought leader faces: how do you promote your ideas without it feeling like self-promotion? Granger's answer — "I'm selling the message, not myself" — anchors a broader discussion of why academic rigor and real-world readability don't have to be at odds. The episode closes on a personal note: Granger's hope that more leaders will get comfortable with hard conversations with themselves, and a few concrete ways to start — from a two-minute daily reflection borrowed from Marshall Goldsmith to a monthly sit-down with your future self. If you've ever wondered why your best-intentioned message got read the wrong way, or why your company's survey scores don't tell the real story, this one's for you. Three Key Takeaways: • Our brains are running outdated software. Granger's "evolutionary hangover" concept explains why we instantly judge people as "abrasive" or "rude" — a tribal survival instinct that made sense on the savanna but creates friction in modern offices and customer interactions. • Good science can get gamed by bad incentives. Goal-setting is one of the most well-established practices in organizational psychology, but Granger shows how tying compensation to survey scores (like a car dealership's NPS rating) corrupts the very measurement it's supposed to improve. • Selling ideas isn't the same as selling yourself. Granger reframes self-promotion as message-promotion — a mental shift that let him push through years of book marketing discomfort because he believes the underlying research deserves to reach people. Ben isn't the only one turning years of hard-won research into a book built to scale. Bill Sherman, Peter Winick, and Naren Aryal have just released The Thought Leadership Handbook: How the Experts Elevate Their Big Ideas—and How You Can Too — a field guide drawn from more than 700 conversations on this very podcast, mapping out the frameworks and five "thought leadership avatars" that separate an idea stuck in your head from one that actually reaches an audience. If Ben's path from scattered iPhone notes to a USA Today bestseller has you thinking about your own expertise, this is the next book on your list. Get it at thoughtleadershiphandbook.com, or find it on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop, Apple Books, or Amplify.
What happens when the person telling your success story wasn't actually in the room? That's the moment that pushed John Winsor — Founder and Chairman of Open Assembly, Harvard Business School executive fellow, and author of six books including the bestselling Open Talent — to write a widely discussed piece questioning the entire thought leadership industry. In this conversation with Peter Winick, Winsor traces his path from launching a regional sports magazine (sold to Condé Nast) through decades of building and exiting companies, to his current work at Harvard's AI Institute studying the future of work. Along the way, he unpacks a tension every expert eventually faces: when does an idea deserve a blog post, a keynote, or a book — and when is it just filler dressed up as insight? Winsor and Winick dig into what separates "thought leaders" from "thought doers," using everyone from Malcolm Gladwell to Domino's Patrick Doyle as examples of how firsthand experience — not borrowed theory — is what actually earns an audience's trust. They also tackle a question with real urgency for anyone building a business around ideas: if generative AI can produce a working website, investor deck, and full brand in a single prompt, what's left for humans to do? Winsor's answer centers on relationships, judgment, and the irreplaceable value of live, human-to-human experience — a case he backs with striking data from executive AI workshops at HBS. This is a candid, occasionally pointed conversation about ego, authenticity, and the mechanics of building influence in a market flooded with polished — but often hollow — expertise. Worth a listen for anyone deciding what to write next, whether to take the stage, or how to stay relevant as AI eats the easy parts of the job. Three Key Takeaways: • Experience should come before the platform, not after. Winsor argues that credible thought leadership starts with real, specific experience — "go have a bunch of really killer specific experiences" — rather than reverse-engineering content to match a trending topic or keyword. • AI is pushing execution toward zero cost, which raises the value of judgment and relationships. Winsor points to tools that can generate a full company's assets — website, investment deck, brand — from a single prompt in under two hours. What AI can't replace is the human trust required to sell, evangelize, and validate an idea. • Format should follow curiosity, not ambition. Rather than deciding upfront that an idea "deserves" a book, Winsor tests ideas publicly through Substack, HBR, and Forbes articles first, using audience response to gauge whether something is worth developing further — or whether it was only ever his own curiosity. Before you go — Peter has a new book. The Thought Leadership Handbook: How the Experts Elevate Their Big Ideas—and How You Can Too, co-authored by Bill Sherman, Peter Winick, and Naren Aryal, draws on more than 700 conversations from this very podcast to map out the patterns that separate thought leaders who build lasting impact from those who never scale past their own curiosity. It introduces five thought leadership avatars — Growth-Minded CEOs, Impact and Legacy Executives, Thought Leaders on the Run, In-House Experts, and Hall of Fame Thinkers — and gives readers the frameworks and tools to find their own path. Endorsed by Mel Robbins, Ken Blanchard, Stephen M. R. Covey, Marshall Goldsmith, and 50+ other leading voices, with a foreword by Lisa Bodell.
Order now:
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- Bookshop.org
- Amplify Publishing
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Learn more at thoughtleadershiphandbook.com
You just spent two years writing a book. Now what? That's the question at the center of this conversation about book publicity, expectations, and the long game of building a body of work. Bill Sherman sits down with Sandy Smith, CEO of Smith Publicity, to unpack what a smart book launch actually looks like — and why most of the excitement (and anxiety) authors feel in the 60 days around publication misses the point. Sandy's first move with any client is to ask what success looks like a year out. That reframe — from launch week to long horizon — shapes everything else: how to define goals, how to find the right audience for a big idea, and why a book should be treated less like a product drop and more like a two-to-three-year (or longer) relationship-building asset. The conversation moves through sharp, practical territory: the difference between an audience that's ready for your message and one that isn't (yes, even when they need it most), how publicists match authors to podcasts, bylined articles, and expert commentary opportunities, and why revisiting an author's earlier books can sometimes be more valuable than pushing the new release. Sandy and Bill also talk through the emotional arc of a launch — the pre-launch momentum, the 60-day flurry, and the letdown that can follow once the initial push ends. Underneath the tactics is a bigger idea both return to again and again: books create relationships. They let readers spend time with an author's thinking in a low-stakes, high-trust way, and that trust compounds over years, not weeks. The episode also touches on what makes an idea worth an audience's attention in the first place, and why generosity — not ego — tends to separate thought leaders who build lasting influence from those who burn out chasing a moment. Whether you're planning a first book launch or trying to get more mileage out of one published years ago, this episode offers a grounded, experience-based look at what actually works. Three Key Takeaways: • A launch is a beginning, not a finish line. Treat the book as a two-to-three-year (or longer) asset rather than a 60-day sprint — the real payoff comes from what you do with it after publication week ends. • Define your goal before you plan tactics. Whether the aim is sparking conversation, building visibility, or attracting clients, that goal should shape everything from media targets to messaging. • Audience readiness matters more than audience size. The right strategy meets people who are already primed to hear your idea, then lets them bring others along — rather than forcing a conversation an audience isn't ready for.
This episode landed right in the middle of launch week for The Thought Leadership Handbook — the new book from Bill Sherman, Peter Winick, and Naren Aryal — and everything Sandy Smith unpacked about goals, audience readiness, and building a lasting asset is exactly what's behind it. If you want to see those ideas in practice, head to thoughtleadershiphandbook.com for a free excerpt, your own thought leadership avatar, and tools to sharpen your strategy. Then preorder your copy today at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop, or Amplify — and become part of the conversation this book is meant to start.
What happens when the metrics you were taught to chase — title, bonus, prestige — stop adding up to a life that feels good? In this episode, Peter Winick sits down with Rand Selig, a Stanford MBA, former Wall Street investment banker, and founder of The Selig Capital Group, to trace his path from a jarring first job at Lehman Brothers to a self-defined version of success built on peace, gratitude, and deep relationships. The conversation opens with an unusually candid account of what it was like inside a major investment bank in the early days of Rand's career — a place where talent was abundant but the culture rewarded pushing others down to get ahead. That experience became a turning point, eventually leading Rand to launch his own firm, run on his own terms. From there, Peter and Rand dig into the origin of Rand's book, Thriving! — a project that started as decades of collected notes, quotes, and reflections never meant for commercial release, until early readers flatly rejected the "small legacy project" plan and insisted it reach a wider audience. That pivot raised a harder question: how do you promote something meaningful without it feeling like self-promotion? Peter pushes Rand directly on this tension, exploring podcast appearances, AI-assisted content tools (including his use of the platform Inkflare), and a growing circle of "collaborators" as alternatives to traditional marketing — and where that approach still falls short. Listeners get a real-time consulting moment too, as Peter reworks a piece of Rand's speaker bio live, showing how thought leaders can connect their message to concrete value for individuals, teams, and organizations — not just personal transformation. The episode closes with Rand's hard-earned lessons about the business side of publishing: the lack of transparency, the costlier detours, and the operators who prey on first-time authors navigating unfamiliar territory. If you've ever wrestled with putting your ideas out into the world while resisting the instinct to "sell" yourself, this one will resonate. Three Key Takeaways: • Redefining success is a decision, not a discovery. The guest describes consciously rejecting the industry's default definition of success — money, title, bonus size — early in his career, choosing instead to measure his life by peace, gratitude, and the depth of his relationships. • A "legacy project" became a book because trusted readers said no. What began as a private compilation for family and friends turned into a public release only after early readers insisted it had value far beyond his inner circle — a reminder that outside perspective can reveal a bigger opportunity than the one you set out to build. • Avoiding "marketing" and building visibility aren't mutually exclusive. Podcast guesting, AI-assisted content creation, and cultivating collaborator relationships let the guest grow his reach without the traditional playbook — though the conversation also surfaces where that passive approach still needs sharper packaging to convert interest into real opportunities. These two episodes wrestle with the same core question: what happens when conventional markers of success — a title, a bonus, a placement fee — stop being enough? Where Rand Selig found his answer after walking away from Wall Street's zero-sum culture, Gene Rice has spent a career inside executive search watching leaders hit that exact wall.
If Rand's story of redefining success resonated with you, Gene's episode gives you the data and the executive-search vantage point behind why so many high achievers feel unfulfilled — and what actually fixes it. Listen to "Purpose Driven Thought Leadership" with Gene Rice.
What happens when a software CEO stops thinking like a marketer and starts thinking like a thought leader? You get a content flywheel that ranks #1 on Google, ChatGPT, and Claude — without hiring an SEO firm. Ghazenfer Mansoor, Founder and CEO of Technology Rivers, didn't set out to become a thought leader. He set out to grow a business. But as referrals gave way to inbound and conference conversations evolved into podcast guesting, something became clear: the content he was putting into the world was doing real work — compounding quietly in the background. In this episode, Ghazenfer walks through how that evolution happened — from the first blog post written just before COVID, to a podcast, to a book (Beyond the Download) that almost started as an e-book. None of it was planned. All of it was genuine. Peter and Ghazenfer dig into what makes that kind of content work, and why it's so different from what a hired marketer typically produces. When an expert writes about what they actually know — mobile apps, HIPAA-compliant healthcare software, AI-powered workflows — the depth shows. Readers feel it. Search algorithms reward it. Clients trust it. They also tackle one of the most pressing questions for any modern thought leader: where does AI fit? Ghazenfer's answer is nuanced and practical. AI is a great editor and organizer, but only if the raw material — the knowledge, the perspective, the real experience — comes from you. Garbage in, garbage out. Grade in, grade out. Perhaps the most useful insight in this conversation is about patience. Thought leadership doesn't pay off the way a campaign does. There's no 30-day attribution window. It's a long game — a flywheel that takes time to spin up, and then becomes very hard to stop. If you're a practitioner, entrepreneur, or expert who's been wondering whether to invest in content, this episode gives you an honest look at the payoff, the process, and the pitfalls. Three Key Takeaways: • Genuine expertise outperforms outsourced content every time. When a practitioner writes from real experience — not a marketer writing for a brief — the depth is unmistakable. Audiences feel it, and so do search algorithms. Ghazenfer's content began ranking #1 on Google and major AI platforms without any deliberate SEO strategy. • Thought leadership has a compounding effect, not a campaign timeline. Unlike paid marketing with a defined attribution window, content-based thought leadership builds slowly and then accelerates. Ghazenfer cautions against expecting quick ROI — and points to the flywheel effect that kicks in only after consistent, sustained effort. • AI is an amplifier, not a ghostwriter. The data still has to come from you. Ghazenfer uses AI to organize, clean up, and optimize the content he produces — but the knowledge, perspective, and specific expertise must be his own. Using AI on generic inputs produces generic outputs that no one will remember. If this episode got you thinking about the relationship between content and credibility, there's a natural next listen. Both Ghazenfer Mansoor and Stephanie Chandler came to the book-writing process the same way — as entrepreneurs who needed a better way to demonstrate expertise, not as authors chasing a bestseller list. Where Ghazenfer built his book from blogs and an e-book that outgrew itself, Stephanie has spent years helping nonfiction authors do the same thing: turn hard-won expertise into a book that actually supports a business. Hear her break down the promotion strategies most entrepreneurs skip, the product ecosystem a book should anchor, and why social media probably isn't where your next reader is coming from. It's the tactical counterpart to everything Ghazenfer shared about playing the long game. Listen to Marketing and Product Roadmaps for Entrepreneurs with Stephanie Chandler!
This episode is a companion to the upcoming Thought Leadership Handbook — part of a series where Bill speaks with exemplars featured in the book about how they actually practice thought leadership. There are plenty of books explaining what AI is. This one is about the person who decided to write a book that tells you what to do about it instead — and who's spent 25 years turning disruption into frameworks other people can actually use. Charlene Li joins Bill Sherman to talk about her new book, Winning with AI, co-written with Katia Walsh, and why this one felt different from her five previous titles. It's less an explainer, she says, and more a "doing book" — built for a moment when the case studies go stale before the ink dries. That tension opens into a bigger conversation about how ideas get made and shared. Charlene walks through the origin of Groundswell, the book that made her a New York Times bestseller, written entirely remotely with co-author Josh Bernoff while she was still an in-house analyst at Forrester. She's candid about what co-authorship actually requires — not just complementary skills, but real trust built over years, disagreements included. The conversation also digs into a business model question that shaped her career: when she left Forrester to found Altimeter, she gave research away for free, betting that value would come back around. It did — inbound demand from companies who'd read the free work and wanted the deeper conversation. Bill connects this to economist Elinor Ostrom's work on knowledge commons. Underneath it all is a simple throughline: frameworks outlast the moment they were built for. The "ladder of engagement" from Groundswell is still taught 18 years later — not because the case studies held up, but because the thinking did. If you're building a book, a body of research, or a career on ideas that might get overtaken by the next news cycle, this one's worth your time. Three Key Takeaways: • Co-authorship runs on trust, not just talent. Charlene describes working with multiple co-authors over her career and is clear that the deciding factor was never just complementary skill sets — it was years of built trust, the ability to disagree productively, and knowing when to step away from a deadline argument and come back with a clear head. • Give the idea away first — the business follows. At Altimeter, Charlene made research free when competitors charged for it, building an audience of 100,000+ readers almost overnight. The resulting inbound demand became the foundation of the business, illustrating a "blue ocean" alternative to the traditional pay-for-access analyst model. • Durable frameworks outlive their case studies. Charlene expects Winning with AI to need a new edition once roughly 20% of its examples go stale — but she draws a distinction between outdated examples and outdated thinking, pointing to Groundswell's "ladder of engagement," still taught 18 years after publication. If you enjoyed hearing Charlene Li unpack the thinking behind Winning with AI, go back to her first appearance on the show — episode 113, recorded back when she was preparing to launch The Disruption Mindset. Both conversations trace the same throughline: how Charlene builds frameworks that outlast the moment they were written for, whether she's leaving Forrester to found Altimeter or navigating a fast-moving AI landscape years later. Hearing the two together shows how consistent her approach to thought leadership has been across three very different books and two decades of change. Listen to "Leveraging Thought Leadership With Peter Winick — Episode 113" with Charlene Li.
Most professionals who make the leap from clinical therapy to the corporate world stumble on the same obstacle: they speak the wrong language. They know the science cold. They understand what's happening beneath the surface in any dysfunctional team, toxic culture, or burned-out leadership group. But if they can't connect those insights to the metrics that actually keep executives up at night — retention, productivity, profitability — they get dismissed as well-meaning outsiders. Melissa Doman figured this out the hard way, and built a thriving practice on the other side of that realization. In this episode, Melissa — organizational psychologist, former clinical therapist, LinkedIn Top Voice, and author of Cornered Office: Why We Need to Talk About Leadership Mental Health — traces the winding path from her 2013 exit from clinical practice to becoming one of the most recognizable voices in workplace mental health. She was doing this work before the pandemic made it fashionable, before the term "psychological safety" softened the room, and before companies started putting mental health line items in their budgets. Peter and Melissa dig into the mechanics of what actually made her thought leadership land: not a grand strategy, but a relentless commitment to sharing what she knew to be true, in language her audience could use. When a mental health workshop she designed for 12 people drew 100, she took notice. When the pandemic hit, she was already positioned — right message, right moment. The conversation gets sharp when they examine the difference between a like button and a buy button, how COVID created a temporary bonanza that threatened to make her work feel like a trend, and why she's still thriving six years in. Melissa also unpacks how she learned to meet business leaders where they are — speaking to "the emotional toll of leadership" instead of "leadership mental health" depending on the room — and why social proof matters more than pressure in closing a sale. If you're a practitioner trying to turn expertise into a real business, or a thought leader wondering how to sustain relevance after the hype dies down, this episode is the blueprint. Three Key Takeaways: • A like button is not a buy button. Organic content traction and market validation are not the same thing. Melissa's true signal came when a 12-person workshop jumped to 100 attendees — proof the market was ready, not just scrolling. • Language is the bridge between expertise and income. Clinical, academic, or technical vocabulary can shut doors in a corporate setting. Melissa describes intentionally switching from "leadership mental health" to "the emotional toll of leadership" depending on her audience — same idea, radically different reception. • Evergreen topics still require timely delivery. Mental health, communication, and team dynamics will always be relevant, but staying in demand means talking about them in ways that match what organizations are actually experiencing right now. Evergreen content plus contextual fluency is the long-term monetization formula. If this conversation sparked something for you, there's a natural next step. In our episode with Minette Norman, we go deep on psychological safety — the organizational conditions that make honest mental health conversations possible in the first place. Melissa Doman showed you how to have the conversation; Minette shows you why some teams can and others can't. Together, these two episodes give you both sides of the equation. Don't miss The Power of Psychological Safety with Minette Norman.
What happens when you're wildly successful at a life you didn't consciously choose? Wani Iris Manly, Esq., grew up groomed for one thing: the law. She did the work, built the firm, drove the Porsche. And then, on New Year's Eve in 2010, she sat alone and took an honest look at the gap between the life she had and the life she actually wanted. What followed was one of the more audacious pivots you'll hear about — selling her car, her apartment, and most of her belongings, and moving solo to Paris without a plan, without French, and without a single contact in the city. That's where the story gets interesting — because Paris didn't just change her circumstances. It cracked her open. Books started pouring out of her. An article for an expat magazine led to speaking invitations at salon-style soirees. And what began as storytelling became something with structure, depth, and demand: a framework around change, identity, and what it actually takes to stop surviving and start living deliberately. In this conversation, Bill Sherman and Wani explore the layered journey from attorney to thought leader — and it's anything but linear. She talks about the very specific cognitive dissonance of having to affirm a new identity every morning when your subconscious has spent 22 years believing it's a lawyer. She gets candid about the differences between the US and European speaking markets — where she earns her fees, where she adjusts her rates, and how geography can quietly shape your perceived value as a speaker. She reflects on what it means to carry a message professionally that you're still personally living through. The through-line Wani keeps returning to is this: external change — new city, new title, new audience — doesn't stick unless the internal identity shifts first. That's the work. And in a field full of change management frameworks, her version carries unusual weight because she didn't just study it. She did it. Repeatedly. Often at considerable personal cost. If you're a practitioner of any kind — speaker, author, consultant — navigating a career transition or wondering when the momentum finally arrives, this one's worth your full attention. Three Key Takeaways: • True change is an inside job. Wani's central framework is clear: no external shift — new job, new city, new role — will hold unless your internal identity changes first. Waiting for circumstances to rearrange themselves is a recipe for staying stuck. • Building thought leadership takes time, and the signals come slowly. Wani spent years speaking at Parisian soirees, cold-pitching podcasts, and doing TED talks in Northern Ireland and Canada before landing a 2,000-person stage in Monaco. The work precedes the visibility by a wide margin, and staying in the game long enough to be found is part of the strategy. • Identity is stickier than circumstance. Transitioning out of a high-status professional identity — attorney, doctor, executive — requires more than a career pivot. Wani describes needing to affirm her new identity as a speaker daily, because the subconscious defaults to the self-concept it's held for decades. The rebranding is internal before it's external. Both Wani Iris Manly and CB Bowman know something most high achievers won't say out loud: claiming a new identity before the world validates it takes a specific kind of courage — and it's a skill you can build. In this episode, Wani talks about affirming "I am a speaker" daily for years before the stages matched the vision. CB Bowman's conversation takes that same tension and goes deeper into what courage actually looks like as a practicing thought leader — when to hold your lane, when to change it, and what it costs either way. If Wani's story resonated with you, CB's episode will give you a framework to go with the feeling. Listen to Courage in Thought Leadership with CB Bowman!
What does it look like when someone making $10 million a year calls you and says, "Get me out of here"? For Alan Guarino, Vice Chairman of CEO and Board Services at Korn Ferry, it happens more than you'd think — and it's exactly what pushed him to write The Greatness Code: The Formula Behind Unstoppable Success. Alan has spent decades at the intersection of executive search, C-suite coaching, and talent strategy. He's seen it all: brilliant people in toxic environments, leaders who suck the oxygen out of every room, and — on the other end of the spectrum — a rare few whose leadership style is genuinely awe-inspiring. That range of experience is precisely what gives him the standing to write about greatness, and it's what makes this conversation so grounded. Peter and Alan start with a question that doesn't get asked enough: why would someone at Alan's level — running a globally dominant practice, advising Fortune 500 boards — invest serious time in writing a book and building a public voice? The answer is practical and principled at once. Thought leadership isn't a side hustle for people like Alan; it's a core part of how you stay relevant, how you earn trust before you're even in the room, and how you differentiate in a world full of smart people doing similar work. One of the sharpest moments in the conversation comes when Alan offers what he calls his "secret sauce" — the one thing all top 1% professionals have in common. It's not pedigree. It's not a particular skill set. It's the ability to be impressive, authentically. And as Peter quickly unpacks, there's a right way and a wrong way to do that. The blowhard keynote speaker reads as exposure. The quiet practitioner whose work speaks for itself reads as visibility. Alan knows the difference firsthand. The conversation also covers the lifecycle of thought leadership — from white papers and CNBC appearances to publishing with Wiley — and what intellectual curiosity has to do with all of it. Alan's advice to younger professionals considering this path is unusually direct: if the idea of documenting, sharing, and defending a point of view doesn't excite you, find a different career. If you're a practitioner in professional services trying to figure out how ideas scale your business — or a leader trying to stay on track in a difficult environment — this one's for you. Three Key Takeaways: • There's a leadership crisis hiding in plain sight at the top of organizations. Alan regularly hears from executives earning $700K–$30M who are miserable — not because of the work, but because of their leaders. The problem isn't exclusive to middle management; it runs all the way to the C-suite. • The top 1% of professionals share one defining trait: they find a way to be impressive authentically. It's not about self-promotion or personal branding for its own sake — it's about doing the work at such a level that the conclusion becomes obvious. The key word is authentically; people see through anything else immediately. • Thought leadership isn't separate from your day job — it is your day job. Alan frames intellectual curiosity, documentation, and sharing a point of view as professional obligations, not extras. The analogy he uses is sharp: a plumber who never walks the supply store aisles ends up with outdated tools. The same applies to any practitioner who stops engaging with the evolving ideas in their field. Enjoyed this episode? Check out Episode 471 with Raoul Davis. Alan talked about how thought leadership builds credibility and puts you at the front of the line with clients. Raoul Davis goes deeper on the strategic side — specifically how executives and CEOs build intentional brand equity that drives real business results. Same audience, same problem, different lens. Worth the hour.
What do you do when you've found a powerful idea — but the market thinks it's silly? Gabrielle Dolan (known to almost everyone as "Ral") noticed something in the corridors of corporate Australia: the leaders who moved people, who made change land, who made ideas stick — they all told stories. The data nerds and slide-deck merchants were losing the room. The storytellers were winning it. So she did something that seemed a little mad at the time: she left a senior role at National Australia Bank to teach business storytelling professionally. The reaction from the market? Something between skepticism and outright dismissal. Clients who hired her asked if they could quietly call it "influencing skills" instead — because saying "storytelling training" would guarantee no one showed up. In this conversation, Bill Sherman draws out the full arc of Ral's journey — and it's one every thought leader building something new should hear. There were nearly nine months with no clients. A business partner she eventually parted ways with. Years of revenue that barely registered. And then a turning point she still can't fully explain, when sales quintupled in a single year — triggered, in part, by her husband's quiet confession that he was desperately unhappy in his corporate job. That gave her a reason to run faster than she thought she could. The conversation gets particularly rich when they dig into what it actually means to develop original thought leadership. Ral is clear: you're never starting from scratch. You're always standing on someone else's thinking. What makes ideas yours is where you push back, where you adapt, and how you deliver concepts in your own voice and with your own experience. She describes this with a perfect cooking metaphor — Jamie Oliver's slow-roast lamb, tweaked until it becomes your signature dish. And then there's AI. When Ral started hearing workshop participants ask whether AI would replace storytelling, she was alarmed. Her latest book, Story Intelligence, is her answer to that question — and it's more nuanced than a simple "no." AI can help you find and refine your stories. What it cannot do is replace the authenticity that makes a story land. In a world where everything is starting to sound the same, your own voice is the one thing that cannot be replicated. For anyone building a thought leadership platform around an idea that isn't obvious yet — this episode is a masterclass in what it takes to stay the course. Three Key Takeaways: • Educating the market is part of the job. When Ral launched her storytelling practice in 2005, she spent nearly a year with no clients — not because the idea was wrong, but because the market didn't believe it yet. If you're building thought leadership around an idea ahead of its time, selling and educating are the same work. • Your thought leadership starts with "yes, and" — not from scratch. Ral never claimed to have invented storytelling. She read everything, absorbed the best of it, and then pushed back where it didn't fit the corporate world she knew. Original IP isn't about starting from zero. It's about finding where you genuinely disagree, and going deeper there. • Authentic stories are your competitive edge in an AI world. When workshop participants started asking whether AI would replace storytelling, Ral was alarmed — and that alarm became her latest book. AI can help you refine a story. It cannot replace the trust that comes from a story only you could tell. In a world of AI-generated content that's starting to sound identical, your voice is the one thing that can't be replicated. If this conversation sparked your thinking about storytelling as a leadership skill, check out our episode with David Hutchens — CEO of Mythos Global and author of Story Dash. David has spent his career building the practical tools that make business storytelling teachable and repeatable: his Taxonomy of Stories and Story Deck frameworks help leaders find and activate the stories they most need to be telling. Where Ral's episode is about the conviction it takes to build a thought leadership platform around storytelling, David's is the hands-on how.
What if ambition is not the problem—but the way we fuel it is? In this episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership, Peter Winick speaks with Janine Mathó, author of "Live Your Opus", about the Opus Way: a framework designed to help high achievers build healthy, meaningful careers without lowering their ambition. Janine challenges the old tradeoff between success and sustainability. Her message is clear. You do not need less ambition. You need the energy, systems, and self-awareness to support it. Her work helps leaders understand how they operate under pressure. It gives them practical language for stress, change, burnout, and performance. It also helps teams see where energy is being spent, where it is being drained, and how leadership behavior shapes culture. Janine also shares how her tools are evolving from individual development into organizational capability. Her diagnostics, change continuum, and Opus 8 energy framework help leaders identify what is happening beneath the surface. Why decisions stall. Why teams struggle. Why people overextend. And why performance cannot scale when energy is ignored. Peter and Janine explore what it takes to turn thought leadership into a business model. The book serves the individual. The advisory work targets the top of the house. The bigger opportunity is helping organizations build internal capacity, embed the frameworks, and eventually use the work without Janine in every room. This conversation is about more than well-being. It is about leadership strategy. It is about sustainable ambition. And it is about creating tools that help people perform under pressure without losing themselves in the process. Three Key Takeaways: • Ambition needs energy to sustain it. The episode reframes burnout not as a reason to lower goals, but as a signal that energy, pressure, and performance need to be managed differently. • Leaders need shared language for change and stress. Frameworks like the change continuum and energy archetypes help teams talk clearly about pressure, resistance, overextension, and how people respond differently to change. • Well-being is not separate from leadership strategy. Sustainable performance requires systems, tools, and leadership behaviors that build capacity across the organization—not just individual self-care. If this conversation about sustainable ambition, leadership energy, and building capacity under pressure resonated with you, check out our episode with Cassie Solomon. Cassie's work also lives at the intersection of change, leadership, and organizational performance—helping leaders understand why transformation stalls and what it takes to move people forward. Listen in to hear a complementary perspective on how organizations can build the systems, behaviors, and capabilities needed to make change stick.
What if suffering is not a detour from life, but one of the places where meaning begins? In this episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership, Bill Sherman speaks with Dr. Suzan Song, MD, PhD, about instability, agency, and the human search for groundedness when life breaks open. Her work spans clinical care, global systems, conflict zones, and executive leadership. Her core question is simple and urgent: how do people move through suffering without losing themselves? Dr. Song shares the deeply personal origin of her work. After losing her father to violence as a teenager, she pushed forward through achievement, education, and service. Years later, while working with former child soldiers in Burundi, she found herself in danger and saw the connection between her past and her work. That moment helped her understand the deeper spark behind her mission. Her book, Why We Suffer, grew out of that mission. It is not a promise that life can be made painless. It is a practical look at how people can navigate hardship through narrative, ritual, purpose, connection, and agency. Dr. Song challenges the idea that healing is only individual. Across cultures, she has seen that people heal in relationship. The conversation also explores how instability shows up in leadership. CEOs, executive directors, governments, and communities are all facing rapid change. Funding shifts. Policy changes. War. Burnout. Cognitive fatigue. Dr. Song argues that the antidote to despair is not happiness. It is agency. Bill and Dr. Song discuss how thought leadership can be rooted in service, not ego. For Dr. Song, the work is not about claiming a label. It is about making ideas useful. It is about helping people, organizations, and systems respond to suffering with clarity, humility, and care. This episode is a powerful conversation for leaders, authors, speakers, consultants, and anyone trying to turn hard-earned experience into work that helps others. It asks us to look honestly at suffering. Then it asks an even more important question: what can we do with it? Three Key Takeaways: • Agency is the antidote to despair. When people face instability, the goal is not to force happiness. It is to find small, meaningful actions that restore a sense of control. • Suffering is both personal and collective. Hardship affects individuals, organizations, and communities. Healing often happens through connection, belonging, and shared support. • Resilience is more than pushing through. Real resilience comes from narrative, ritual, purpose, and relationships that help people make meaning and stay grounded during uncertainty. If this episode helped you think differently about instability and agency, listen to Episode 107 with David Komlos. That conversation explores how leaders tackle truly complex problems. You'll learn how to bring the right people and perspectives together, make better decisions, and move forward when there are no simple answers. It's a strong companion episode for anyone leading through uncertainty.
What if the biggest risk in a company is not the strategy, the product, or the market—but the leader's ability to grow fast enough to match the business? In this episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership, Peter Winick sits down with Logan Yonavjak, founder of the Founders Readiness Institute, to explore a bold idea: leadership capacity can be measured, developed, and used to reduce business risk. Logan's work sits at the intersection of people analytics, vertical development, AI, and executive performance. She is building tools that help investors, boards, and leadership teams understand how founders and executives think, behave, and respond under pressure. This is not traditional assessment work. It is not about labels. It is not about personality typing. It is about readiness. Can a leader handle complexity? Can they adapt? Can they scale with the company? Can they make better decisions when the stakes rise? Peter and Logan dig into why founder readiness matters. Many companies do not fail because the idea is weak. They fail because leadership breaks under scale. A founder who can lead seven people may not be ready to lead seven hundred. Logan's work helps surface those risks earlier—and gives leaders a roadmap to grow. The conversation also explores the business side of thought leadership. Logan shares how she tested her market, interviewed more than 125 venture capitalists, and learned that curiosity does not always equal a buyer. That insight pushed her to refine her positioning and focus on private equity firms, corporate boards, and middle-market companies where execution risk is already a costly pain point. For thought leaders, this episode is a sharp reminder: great IP is not enough. Science is not enough. A compelling model is not enough. The market decides. The buyer decides. And the best founders listen, adapt, and move. This episode is for anyone building a thought leadership platform around a complex, emerging, or category-defining idea. Logan shows what it takes to turn deep expertise into a practical business tool—and why the right go-to-market strategy matters as much as the idea itself. Three Key Takeaways: • Leadership readiness is a business risk issue, not just a people issue. Logan's work reframes founder and executive assessment around risk, scale, and execution. The core question is whether leaders can grow at the same pace as the companies they are building. • Thought leadership needs market validation, not just strong IP. Logan had science, a model, and a compelling idea. But after speaking with more than 125 VCs, she learned that interest does not always equal buying behavior. The market pushed her toward private equity, boards, and middle-market companies. • Strategic partnerships can shorten the sales cycle for complex ideas. Because Logan's work requires education, trust, and context, Peter highlights the value of distribution partners and champions. The right partner can reduce friction, accelerate credibility, and make the idea easier to buy. If Logan Yonavjak's episode made you think differently about founder readiness, leadership risk, and scaling, Jim Adler's episode is the perfect companion listen. Logan explores how leadership capacity can be measured before it becomes a business risk. Jim brings the investor's lens, showing how startups use thought leadership to build credibility, earn trust, and strengthen their market position. Together, they reveal what it really takes to move from promising idea to durable business. Listen to Logan for the human readiness behind scale. Listen to Jim for the investor perspective on startups, value creation, and thought leadership.
What if luck is not random, but designed? In this episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership, Peter Winick sits down with Judd Kessler, Wharton professor and author of "Lucky by Design: The Hidden Economics You Need to Get More of What You Want." Judd's work brings market design out of the academic journal and into daily life. He studies the hidden systems that determine who gets access, who gets opportunity, and who gets left waiting. These systems are everywhere. School programs. Job assignments. Consulting projects. Ticketing platforms. Government services. Nonprofit resources. Even your own time and attention. Judd's thought leadership gives leaders a new lens. First, see the market. Then understand the rules. Then decide whether those rules are helping or hurting the outcomes you want. For organizations, this is not theoretical. Poorly designed internal markets create frustration, waste, and inequity. Better rules can improve allocation, retention, performance, and trust. Peter and Judd explore how a book can move academic insight into practical use. They also dig into the harder work after publication: building an audience, entering the cultural conversation, and turning expertise into influence. This conversation is a sharp look at how thought leadership scales when it makes invisible systems visible. And when it gives people the tools to redesign them. Three Key Takeaways: • See the hidden market. Many opportunities are shaped by invisible systems, from school programs and job assignments to access, attention, and scarce resources. • Design better rules. Poorly built systems create frustration, waste, and unfairness. Better rules lead to smarter outcomes. • Make ideas practical. Strong thought leadership turns complex concepts into tools people and organizations can actually use. If this conversation made you think differently about the hidden rules that shape behavior, go back and listen to our episode with Luke Battye. Both episodes explore how people make decisions inside systems they often do not see. Judd Kessler looks at hidden markets, scarcity, and the rules that determine who gets what. Luke Battye looks at behavior change, design thinking, and how small shifts in context can change what people do next. Together, these episodes give you a sharper lens for understanding systems, incentives, and behavior. You'll walk away with practical ways to design better outcomes for customers, teams, and organizations.
What if success is not the hard part? Lisa Broderick, Managing Partner of Conversus Group, and co-author of Permanence with Marshall Goldsmith, brings a practical answer to one of leadership's most overlooked problems: how to stay the person you want to be after success arrives. Most leadership advice focuses on achievement. Hit the goal. Grow the company. Build the platform. Scale the impact. But Lisa's work asks a sharper question. What happens to your behavior, identity, and relationships once the pressure of success starts to reshape you? In this conversation, Lisa unpacks the power of daily questions. Not vague reflection. Not motivational slogans. A simple, measurable practice that helps leaders notice their behavior in real time. That noticing creates agency. Agency creates change. The breakthrough is in the wording. "Did I do my best?" is different from "Did I succeed?" It removes perfection from the equation. It puts ownership back in the leader's hands. And it makes behavior change sustainable. Lisa also shares how accountability changes everything. Leaders shifted their actions during the day because they knew someone would ask. Not an app. Not a dashboard. A person. That human connection made the work harder to ignore and easier to sustain. This episode is a powerful look at thought leadership in action. Lisa and Marshall are not just sharing ideas. They are turning research, coaching, behavioral science, and real-world executive practice into a framework leaders can use immediately. For CEOs, coaches, advisors, and thought leaders, this conversation is a reminder that success can create drift. One small compromise at a time. The right questions can bring leaders back to intention, clarity, and permanence. Three Key Takeaways: •Sustainable success requires more than achievement. Lisa Broderick's work focuses on what happens after leaders become successful. The danger is "identity drift"—small compromises that slowly pull leaders away from who they want to be. • The right questions create real behavior change. Daily questions like "Did I do my best?" shift the focus from perfection to effort, ownership, and awareness. That makes change more practical, measurable, and sustainable. • Accountability makes thought leadership actionable. The practice worked because leaders knew someone would ask. Human accountability turned reflection into action and helped leaders change their behavior in real time. Lisa Broderick shows how daily questions and human accountability help leaders create lasting behavior change. Adam Fridman takes that idea further, showing how small habits can be built and scaled across teams and organizations. Listen to Lisa's episode to understand why change starts with awareness. Then listen to Adam's to see how daily habits turn into measurable business impact.
What separates a paid speaker from a true professional in the thought leadership business? In this episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership, Peter Winick sits down with Andy Freed to unpack what it really takes to build a sustainable speaking business. Andy brings the perspective of a speaker bureau veteran, entrepreneur, founder of Virtual Inc, and author of Lead Like the Boss. His lens is practical, direct, and grounded in what clients actually buy. Andy makes one thing clear: being good on stage is not enough. It is table stakes. Great speakers need sharp video, clear market positioning, and proof that they can deliver value in different formats. Big stages matter. So do boardrooms, executive off-sites, and virtual environments. The conversation digs into what happens before, during, and after the keynote. Andy explains why the "gig" starts long before the speaker walks on stage. Every client call, every prep conversation, every detail matters. The best thought leaders do not show up and perform a canned talk. They listen. They adapt. They speak the client's language. Peter and Andy also explore how a keynote can become the opening move in a larger thought leadership business. That might include consulting, advisory work, training, leadership development, or deeper client partnerships. Andy's answer is direct: nail the keynote first. Deliver so much value that the client naturally asks, "What else do you do?" They also tackle shorter keynotes, changing audience expectations, the role of books in speaker fees, and the pressure on thought leaders to stay relevant. Andy reminds us that longevity in speaking requires renewal. Your core ideas may be evergreen. But your examples, applications, and relevance need to evolve with the world. For speakers, authors, consultants, and experts who want to turn thought leadership into revenue, this episode is a practical look at what separates amateurs from professionals. Three Key Takeaways: • Great speaking is only the starting point. Professional speakers also need strong positioning, clear marketing, and credible video that proves they can deliver. • The keynote starts before the stage. Prep calls, client language, audience needs, and customization can make or break the outcome. • Relevance drives longevity. Thought leaders need to refresh their examples, applications, and delivery so their core ideas stay connected to what clients face today. Enjoyed Andy Freed's take on building a professional speaking business? Then listen to Peter's conversation with Keld Jensen. Both episodes go beyond the keynote. Andy focuses on positioning, video, client prep, and creating value before and after the stage. Keld adds a global view on standing out, using books strategically, and building demand in the market. Together, they show what buyers value, what speakers need to prove, and how thought leaders can turn expertise into sustainable revenue.
What separates a great speaker from a true thought leadership business? In this episode, Peter Winick sits down with Martin Perelmuter, co-founder of Speakers Spotlight and a longtime leader in the professional speaking industry, to unpack what it really takes to build a sustainable speaking platform. Not just a great talk. Not just a strong stage presence. A real business. Martin makes the case that excellence on stage is only the beginning. It is table stakes. The real leverage comes from positioning, preparation, market demand, and the ability to turn every engagement into a high-trust client experience. They explore why video is now one of the most important assets for any speaker or thought leader. A strong speaker reel is no longer optional. It is proof. It helps buyers sell you internally. It shows range. It shows confidence. And it shows whether you can deliver in front of 2,000 people or 20 executives in a boardroom. Peter and Martin also dig into the moments most speakers overlook. The pre-event call. The language of the client's industry. The follow-up. The difference between serving the event and trying to sell too soon. Martin's view is clear: nail the keynote first. Create so much value that the client asks, "What else do you do?" The conversation also challenges common assumptions about fees, books, and fame. A bestseller can help. A platform can help. But the market ultimately decides. Demand, value, and outcomes matter more than credentials alone. For thought leaders, the biggest takeaway is this: speaking is not just performance. It is a business discipline. The best speakers keep refining their content, updating their relevance, and connecting their evergreen ideas to what leaders are facing right now. Three Key Takeaways: • Great speaking is table stakes. A strong business requires more. Martin emphasizes that stage presence matters, but it is only the starting point. Thought leaders also need clear positioning, strong marketing, credible video, and a professional client experience. • The keynote begins before the speaker steps on stage. Every touchpoint shapes the client's confidence. The pre-event call, industry language, audience context, and preparation all determine whether the talk feels generic or deeply relevant. • Relevance is what keeps a thought leader in demand. Evergreen ideas still matter, but speakers must continually refresh their content. They need to connect their core expertise to today's issues, including AI, remote work, economic uncertainty, and rapid change. If Martin Perelmuter's episode got you thinking about speaking as more than a performance, Jeff Kavanaugh's episode takes that idea inside the enterprise. Both conversations focus on what it takes to turn expertise into a real thought leadership platform. Martin looks at the professional speaking business. Jeff explores how organizations build institutional thought leadership that earns trust, creates influence, and supports growth. Listen to Jeff Kavanaugh's episode to hear how companies can move beyond one-off content and create a disciplined thought leadership function with strategy, structure, and commercial impact.
What happens when a global executive finally has the freedom to say what matters most? In this episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership, Bill Sherman sits down with Ahmet Bozer, former global business executive and author of Soulgery, to explore what comes after a career of leading at scale. Retirement gave Ahmet something rare: time, perspective, and the freedom to turn decades of leadership experience into a deeper contribution. Ahmet shares why writing a book was not a vanity project. It was a commitment. A way to distill what he had learned about meaning, resilience, contribution, human connection, and lifelong growth. For him, leadership is not a title. It is a way of being. Bill and Ahmet dig into the discipline behind turning hard-won experience into thought leadership. Ahmet explains the quality standards he used for his book: useful, legitimate, action-inspiring, clear, fluid, and accessible. The result is a leadership philosophy built to serve real people in real life. The conversation also explores what many retired executives discover: writing the book is only the beginning. Ahmet is now thinking about platforms, partnerships, apps, institutions, and education. His goal is not simply to sell a book. It is to help ideas live beyond him. This episode is a powerful look at executive thought leadership after the C-suite. It is about contribution, scale, humility, and the courage to let an idea leave your hands and take root in the lives of others. Three Key Takeaways: • Leadership is a way of being, not just a role. Ahmet Bozer argues that true leadership starts with self-cultivation: meaning, contribution, human connection, resilience, and continuous growth. • A book is only the beginning of thought leadership. For Ahmet, Soldry is not just a finished asset. It is a platform for impact through an app, institutions, education, and ongoing conversations. • Ideas need both courage and humility to scale. Thought leadership requires sharing hard-earned insights clearly, usefully, and accessibly—while accepting that the idea may evolve and eventually belong to others. If this episode got you thinking about how leadership can live beyond one person, listen next to our conversation "Thought Leadership for Building New Leaders" with Tom Kolditz. Both episodes explore how we create more leaders—not just better executives. Ahmet Bozer focuses on the inner work: meaning, resilience, human connection, and contribution. Tom looks at how institutions can develop leaders at scale. Together, they connect personal leadership growth with systems that help leadership spread.
What happens when positivity becomes more than a personality trait—and turns into a business asset? In this episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership, Peter Winick sits down with Ramon Ray, founder of ZoneofGenius.com, author of "The Celebrity CEO", How Entrepreneurs Can Thrive by Building Community and a Strong Personal Brand", speaker, event producer, business coach, and advisor to small business brands. Ramon has built his thought leadership around a clear market position: helping entrepreneurs grow with energy, clarity, personal branding, and practical business strategy. His work spans speaking, live events, content, sponsorships, coaching, and community. But the real lesson is not "be more positive." It is sharper than that. Ramon shows how a distinct personal attribute can become a business advantage when it is connected to a real audience, real value, and real revenue. Peter and Ramon explore how speakers and thought leaders can avoid getting high on their own supply. The job is not to be the star. The job is to serve the client, understand the room, and create value before, during, and after the engagement. They also dig into the business model behind thought leadership. Events can feed coaching. Content can feed sponsorships. Books can feed relationships. A keynote can open doors. The pieces work best when they are connected by a clear brand and a consistent promise. Ramon also shares why books are more than products. They are gifts. They carry authority. They create memory. They keep working long after the launch window closes. This conversation is a practical look at how to turn expertise, energy, and audience trust into a durable thought leadership platform. Three Key Takeaways: • Your personal differentiator has to connect to business value. Ramon's positivity and energy are memorable, but the real power comes from tying those traits to clear outcomes: better events, stronger client relationships, brand sponsorships, coaching, and community growth. • Thought leadership is a connected ecosystem, not one product. Speaking, books, events, content, sponsorships, and coaching all reinforce each other. Each channel can create trust, generate leads, and open the door to another revenue stream. • The best speakers serve the client first. A keynote is not about ego. It is about understanding the audience, making the event host look good, and delivering value that extends beyond the stage. If Ramon Ray's episode got you thinking about how speaking, content, relationships, and personal brand become real business value, listen to Peter's conversation with Jill Schiefelbein next. Both episodes explore how thought leaders turn expertise into revenue through visibility, service, referrals, and smart positioning. Together, Ramon and Jill offer two practical models for building a thought leadership business that is clear, credible, and commercially viable. Listen to Jill's episode here.
What makes a thought leader's message impossible to ignore? In this episode, Peter Winick sits down with Kait LeDonne, a personal branding expert who helps aspiring thought leaders sharpen the message behind their work. Kait's view is clear: without radically clear messaging, everything else becomes a house of cards. Content, books, speaking, social media, and sales all weaken when the core idea is fuzzy. Kait breaks down why so many experts struggle to explain what they do. They go too broad. They try to serve everyone. They talk about problems in language their audience would never use. The result is technically accurate messaging that fails to move the market. Real thought leadership starts by knowing who you serve, what pain you solve, and how that pain sounds in the buyer's own words. Peter and Kait explore why pain is not fearmongering. Used well, it is empathy. It says, "I see you." It pulls someone out of the noise long enough to pay attention. In a crowded market, the right message does not just describe an idea. It creates recognition. They also dig into the role of personal brand in thought leadership. Kait makes a powerful point: the personal brand can be the Trojan horse for the IP. The person creates trust. The idea earns traction. Then, at scale, the thought can become bigger than the thinker. That is when a platform starts becoming transferable, teachable, and commercially durable. This conversation also looks at where thought leaders have permission to play. Trust is specific. An audience may follow you deeply in one lane, but not in every lane. The strongest platforms know their boundaries. They know what the market wants from them. They know when the founder should be the star, and when the IP needs to take center stage. For authors, speakers, consultants, founders, and experts building a thought leadership business, this episode is a reminder that clarity is not cosmetic. It is strategy. The sharper the message, the stronger the platform. The stronger the platform, the easier it becomes to create revenue, scale impact, and build something that can outgrow the individual behind it. Three Key Takeaways: • Clear messaging comes first. Without a sharp message, content, books, speaking, and sales efforts become unstable. • Pain creates relevance. Strong thought leadership names the audience's real problem in language they would actually use. • Personal brand should lead to scalable IP. The person builds trust, but the goal is for the idea to become teachable, transferable, and bigger than the individual. For a deeper dive into personal branding and thought leadership, listen to our conversation with William Arruda. Like this episode, William's conversation explores how clarity, consistency, and focus turn expertise into a recognizable brand. Both episodes look at what it takes to move from being known for what you do to being known for the value of your ideas. Together, these episodes give you a practical look at how to sharpen your message, build trust with the right audience, and create a personal brand that supports a scalable thought leadership platform.
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What does it take to turn deep expertise into a scalable thought leadership platform?
In this episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership, Peter Winick talks with Paul Falcone, bestselling author and leadership expert, about how practical ideas become powerful market assets. Paul has built his body of work around hiring, performance management, leadership development, and workplace ethics. His edge is simple: he does not deal in theory. He teaches leaders how to handle the conversations and decisions that define management.
This conversation focuses on the real engine behind Paul's thought leadership success. He explains how decades of frontline HR experience became articles, books, speeches, workshops, and executive coaching offerings. His work stands out because it translates complex people issues into usable frameworks. Not just what leaders should do, but how to do it when the stakes are high.
Peter and Paul also explore the business model behind strong thought leadership. They discuss why authors should think beyond books and keynotes, how to diversify revenue streams, and where the biggest commercial opportunities often hide. From management training to conference speaking, coaching, facilitation, and advisory work, Paul shows what it looks like to turn expertise into a durable portfolio.
A key theme in the episode is market relevance. Paul shares how evergreen ideas stay valuable, but demand shifts with the moment. Topics like crisis leadership, hybrid work, workplace disruption, layoffs, ethics, and employee isolation rise and fall based on what organizations are facing right now. The lesson is clear: great thought leadership is not only built on strong content. It is strengthened by timing, positioning, and responsiveness to what the market needs most.
This is a smart episode for anyone building a platform around expertise. Especially those wondering how to package knowledge, expand offerings, and keep their ideas commercially relevant over time. Paul brings a grounded, field-tested perspective on what makes thought leadership useful, credible, and worth paying for.
Three Key Takeaways: • Thought leadership grows from applied expertise, not abstract ideas. Paul's work is valuable because it is built on real management challenges leaders face every day. His strength is translating experience into practical guidance people can actually use.
• A strong thought leadership platform needs multiple revenue streams. The conversation makes clear that books and keynotes are only part of the model. Training, coaching, facilitation, advisory work, and other offers can all turn expertise into a more durable business.
• Market demand changes, even when your core ideas stay relevant. Evergreen topics like hiring, feedback, crisis leadership, and ethics do not disappear, but different themes rise in importance depending on what organizations are dealing with in the moment. Smart thought leaders pay attention to timing and position their ideas accordingly.
After listening to Paul Falcone, keep the momentum going with Episode 101 with David Benjamin. Both episodes explore the same core challenge: how to turn deep expertise into thought leadership that the market will actually value, buy, and act on. Paul focuses on packaging practical knowledge into books, speaking, training, and coaching, while David digs into how to create demand for your ideas and capture attention even before buyers fully understand they need your solution.
What does it take to turn crisis into a leadership framework others can actually use? In this episode, Bill Sherman talks with John Lentini, Founder and President of BOLD Training Corp and a partner of Crestcom International, about how defining moments can become disciplined thinking, practical models, and a mission that is bigger than one person's story. John's path to thought leadership did not begin in theory. It began in high-stakes moments. He reflects on surviving 9/11, leading through the Fukushima crisis, and learning firsthand that character is not an abstract idea. It is revealed under pressure. More importantly, he argues it can be built with intention. At the center of the conversation is John's six-dial framework for what he calls engineering character, which can be found in his upcoming book Engineering Character: Six Dials to Build Better Leaders releasing March 2027. He explains how discipline, mindset, and resilience help leaders lead themselves first. Then integrity, empathy, and influence help them lead others in ways that build trust. The result is a model designed to make character practical, teachable, and repeatable. This episode also goes deeper than framework talk. Bill and John explore the personal cost of leadership, the difference between good leadership and bad leadership, and the tension leaders feel when corporate expectations collide with personal values. John is candid about where he got it right, where he got it wrong, and why those lessons now shape his work as a speaker, facilitator, and leadership thinker. There is also a powerful thread on authenticity. John shares why he ultimately chose to step outside corporate life and use thought leadership to express ideas more fully and more honestly. For him, this work is not about visibility for its own sake. It is about impact. It is about getting a message into the world that helps people lead with more courage, more empathy, and more character. Listeners will also hear John talk about the writing journey behind his forthcoming book on engineering character, the emotional work of putting real life on the page, and why he chose a hybrid publishing path. No previously published book by John is named in the transcript, but this episode clearly positions his upcoming book as the foundation of his thought leadership platform and future speaking work. If you care about leadership under pressure, values in action, and the challenge of turning lived experience into a message that scales, this conversation delivers. It is honest. It is practical. And it shows how thought leadership is often built not from abstract ideas, but from moments that test who we are. Three Key Takeaways: • Character can be built on purpose. The episode centers on the idea that leadership character is not just innate. It can be developed through intentional habits like discipline, mindset, resilience, integrity, empathy, and influence. • Crisis reveals what leadership really looks like. High-pressure moments expose whether leaders act with preparation, courage, empathy, and trust. The conversation shows how extreme events can shape a lasting leadership philosophy. • Authenticity matters more as leadership grows. A major theme is the tension between corporate expectations and personal values, and how thought leadership can become a way to express ideas more honestly and create broader impact. If John Lentini's episode made you think about how character is tested in moments of crisis, then "Thought Leadership for Crisis Management | Helio Fred Gracia" is the perfect next listen. Where John explores leadership through resilience, integrity, empathy, and trust under pressure, Helio extends that conversation by showing how leaders can prepare for crises before they happen, protect trust when things go wrong, and respond with clarity instead of emotion. Together, the two episodes create a powerful one-two combination on crisis, character, and the disciplined leadership choices that matter most when the stakes are high.
What if your book was never meant to make money on the shelf, but to make money in the business? In this episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership, Peter Winick talks with Lucy McCarraher, co-founder of Rethink Press, founder of the Business Book Awards, and author of 17 books, about what business books are really for. Lucy makes a clear case that for entrepreneurs, consultants, and experts, a book is not just a product. It is a growth tool. It builds authority. It attracts ideal clients. And it opens doors that traditional marketing cannot. Lucy breaks down the core shift in publishing. In the old model, publishers decided which books made it to market and success was measured in copies sold. In today's environment, that model no longer serves every expert. Lucy explains why the smartest business authors are not writing to win shelf space. They are writing to win trust, create demand, and move prospects toward deeper engagement. The conversation goes deep into Lucy's practical framework for business authors: person, pain, and promise. She explains why strong thought leadership begins with knowing exactly who the book is for, what problem that reader is trying to solve, and what promise the book delivers. That clarity shapes everything, from the title and subtitle to the structure, stories, and case studies inside the book. Lucy also challenges one of the biggest mistakes experts make. Too many authors write the book they want to write instead of the book their market needs to read. She argues that the most effective business books are built around a proven methodology, real client outcomes, and stories that help the reader see themselves in the work. The goal is not to impress. The goal is to create relevance, credibility, and action. The episode also tackles the hardest part of authorship: marketing. Lucy shares why authors need to stop obsessing over book sales and start thinking strategically about distribution. A business book, in her view, is an "undercover sales agent." Given to the right people, at the right time, in the right way, it becomes far more valuable than a brochure, a business card, or a one-off pitch. This is a smart conversation for any leader using thought leadership to grow a business. Lucy brings clarity to what makes a business book work, why authority comes from usefulness, and how the right book can become one of the most effective assets in your commercial strategy. Three Key Takeaways: • A business book should do more than sell copies. It should build authority, attract ideal clients, and support the author's broader business goals. • Strong books are built around a clear audience, a specific problem, and a compelling promise. That clarity makes the content more useful and more marketable. • The real value of a book often comes from how it is used. Given to the right prospects and partners, it can be a powerful marketing and sales tool. If this conversation got you thinking about how a book can do more than sell copies, don't miss our episode with Erika Andersen. It takes the next step by exploring how thought leadership builds credibility, sharpens your value, and creates real business impact. Tune in to hear how strong ideas become trusted authority.
What happens when success no longer feels like enough? In this episode, Peter Winick sits down with Greg Larkin, author of "This Might Get Me Fired" and founder of Punks and Pinstripes, to explore what it really takes to reinvent yourself when the old rules of work, loyalty, and leadership no longer apply. Greg's thought leadership is centered on a challenge many high achievers face but rarely talk about openly: what happens when you have already climbed one mountain in your career and realize you are being called to climb another. His work focuses less on career management and more on transformation. He makes the case that in a post-loyalty economy, leaders must stop waiting for institutions to define their future and start building their own path with intention, courage, and community. Through Punks and Pinstripes, Greg has created a community for entrepreneurs, innovators, and executives who are navigating that next chapter. The idea is powerful and practical. Reinvention is hard. It is often lonely. And it requires more than tactics. It requires a trusted circle, honest conversations, and the willingness to build something more authentic than the traditional career script ever allowed. Peter and Greg also dig into the deeper substance behind Greg's thought leadership. This is not abstract theory. It is rooted in lived experience. Greg challenges the flood of polished business advice that skips over the real obstacles leaders face inside organizations: politics, resistance, fear, obstruction, and the personal cost of trying to create change in systems designed to resist it. That is where This Might Get Me Fired becomes especially relevant. Greg's work speaks directly to leaders who are trying to do bold, meaningful work in environments that do not always reward honesty or transformation. His message is sharp: real innovation is not clean, safe, or linear. It is messy. It is human. And it demands a level of authenticity that many organizations say they want but few truly support. This episode is a strong listen for executives, founders, and thought leaders who want to move beyond conventional success and into more transformative work. It is a conversation about reinvention, community, and the kind of thought leadership that matters because it comes from scars, not slogans. Three Key Takeaways: • Career reinvention is now a leadership necessity, not a luxury. The episode argues that in a post-loyalty economy, people have to build their own next chapter instead of relying on institutions to define it. • Community matters more than credentials. Real loyalty is created through authentic relationships, mutual support, and showing up for others beyond transactional gain. • Strong thought leadership comes from lived experience, not polished theory. The conversation emphasizes honesty about resistance, politics, and the hard realities of innovation inside organizations. If this conversation on reinvention, authenticity, and building a more meaningful next chapter resonated with you, queue up Andy Craig's episode next. It extends the conversation into what it means to feel stuck, redefine purpose, and build a career that creates more fulfillment, more freedom, and a better fit for the life you actually want.
What does it take to lead when the plan breaks, the pressure spikes, and failure is part of the mission? In this episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership, Peter Winick talks with Colonel (Ret.) Merryl Tengesdal, author of "Shatter the Sky: What going to the stratosphere taught me about self-worth, sacrifice, and discipline" about the ideas that drive her work today: adaptability, resilience, authentic leadership, and the courage to keep moving when the outcome is uncertain. Her message is clear. Success is never a straight line. The leaders who thrive are the ones who learn to adjust in real time. Merryl brings a powerful framework to the conversation. She treats leadership like flying. You prepare well. You know the mission. But you also stay alert, read the conditions, and make smart adjustments when reality changes. That perspective makes her thought leadership practical for executives, team leaders, and organizations facing constant pressure to perform. She also makes a compelling case for rethinking failure. Not as a verdict. Not as an identity. But as part of the process of building something meaningful. Merryl challenges the idea that top performers avoid setbacks. Instead, she shows that real growth comes from how leaders respond when things do not go according to plan. What makes this conversation stand out is Merryl's ability to turn high-stakes experience into usable insight. She does not rely on polished theory. She speaks with clarity, candor, and conviction about what it means to lead under pressure, recover from disappointment, and stay focused on the larger mission. That is what gives her message relevance far beyond aviation or the military. Peter and Merryl also explore the role of story in leadership. Merryl explains why great speaking is not performance for its own sake. It is an act of connection. It is how leaders help people see themselves differently, think more clearly, and take the next step forward. Her approach to keynote speaking is grounded in authenticity, not persona, and that is exactly why it resonates. This episode is a strong listen for anyone building a thought leadership platform around leadership, culture, resilience, or performance. Merryl's work reminds us that strong leaders do not promise perfect conditions. They help people navigate uncertainty with discipline, perspective, and purpose. Three Key Takeaways: • Adaptability matters more than perfect plans. Strong leaders prepare well, but they also adjust in real time when conditions change. • Failure is part of growth, not proof of defeat. Setbacks are inevitable. What matters is how you respond, stay persistent, and keep moving forward. • Great leadership connects through authentic storytelling. The most effective messages are grounded in real experience and help people see challenges, decisions, and opportunities differently.
If this episode resonated with you, listen to Deborah Gilboa's next. Both conversations center on resilience, adaptability, and what it takes to lead when the path is uncertain. Merryl's episode shows why flexibility, failure, and real-time decision-making matter. Deborah's builds on that by showing leaders how resilience can be developed, how to manage change more effectively, and how to help teams move through resistance instead of getting stuck in it. You'll come away with practical insight on leading through change with more confidence, clarity, and competence.
What does it really take to turn a book into a business asset instead of a vanity project?
In this episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership, Peter Winick sits down with Kevin Anderson, CEO of Kevin Anderson & Associates to unpack what authors get wrong about publishing, platform, and the real role a book plays in growing authority. Kevin makes the case that a strong book is not just about writing well. It is about aligning the message, the market, and the outcome from the very beginning.
Kevin brings a practical lens to the publishing world. He explains why authors should bring in expert guidance earlier, not later. He breaks down how the right support can sharpen the concept, avoid wasted effort, and increase the odds that a book actually achieves its business goal. This is not about writing for writing's sake. It is about building a book that works.
The conversation also goes deep on platform and promotion. Kevin is clear that publishers are not looking for passengers. They want authors who can reach an audience, activate a network, and contribute to demand. Whether the path is traditional, hybrid, or self-publishing, the core issue stays the same. Authors need a strategy for visibility and buyers.
Peter and Kevin also tackle one of the biggest misconceptions in thought leadership publishing: the idea that book sales alone define success. Kevin reframes the ROI. For most nonfiction authors, the real return comes from credibility, client growth, speaking opportunities, market differentiation, and the authority that a well-positioned book creates.
They also explore how authors should think about publishing models, ghostwriting, and AI. Kevin offers a smart, grounded view of where AI can help, where it can hurt, and why authentic voice still matters. He also shares why the best nonfiction books do more than tell a story. They deliver lessons readers can apply, which is what turns expertise into lasting thought leadership.
Three Key Takeaways: • A book should be built as a business asset, not judged only by book sales. The real ROI comes from authority, credibility, client growth, speaking opportunities, and stronger market positioning.
• Platform and promotion matter as much as the manuscript. Publishers want authors who can already reach an audience and help drive demand, not authors who expect the publisher to create the market for them.
• Publishing strategy has to match the author's goals. Timing, control, speed to market, and desired outcomes should shape whether traditional, hybrid, or self-publishing makes the most sense.
If this episode on Kevin Anderson got you thinking about what it really takes to turn a book into a true thought leadership asset, Bronwyn Fryer's episode is a perfect next listen. Both conversations dig into what strong business books have in common: clear positioning, sharp audience focus, and the right support to turn expertise into a message that actually lands. Bronwyn adds another valuable layer by exploring the role of collaboration, editorial shaping, and what it takes to create a book publishers and readers will both respond to. Listen in to go deeper on how great thought leadership books are built to create credibility, impact, and opportunity far beyond the page.
What makes thought leadership actually travel? Not a bigger platform. Not louder marketing. A sharper idea that solves a real problem.
In this episode, Peter talks with Thomas Wedell-Wedellsborg, coauthor of Innovation as Usual: How to Help Your People Bring Great Ideas to Life and author of What's Your Problem?: To Solve Your Toughest Problems, Change the Problems You Solve. Thomas's work sits at the intersection of innovation, problem framing, and practical execution inside real organizations.
The conversation focuses on a core truth behind strong thought leadership: the best ideas win because they are useful. Thomas explains that both of his books grew from underserved problems in the market. Innovation as Usual challenged the idea that innovation belongs only to CEOs or startups. It made the case that innovation has to work for managers operating inside the constraints of large organizations.
Peter and Thomas also unpack why What's Your Problem? has such broad appeal. Its core idea is simple and powerful: most leaders are not bad at solving problems. They are bad at identifying the right problem to solve. That framing gives Thomas thought leadership that works across industries, roles, and even age groups because the problem is universal and the method is practical.
This episode is also a masterclass in how thought leadership grows after a book is published. Thomas is candid about the anticlimax of launch day and the longer work that follows. A book is not the end goal. It is the platform. The real job is pushing the idea into the world, finding the people it helps, and building traction over time.
Another standout theme is precision. Thomas argues that you do not start by chasing the audience. You start by naming the problem clearly. That is what helps the right audience find you. It is also why his ideas resonate with leaders, product managers, conference audiences, and executive education clients alike. Clear problem definition becomes clear market positioning.
Peter also explores the discipline behind work that lasts. Thomas shares how testing ideas, getting blunt feedback, and refining the material made the second book stronger. For leaders building their own platforms, that is the takeaway: thought leadership becomes more powerful when it is pressure-tested, practical, and easy for others to pass along.
This is a rich conversation about building thought leadership that does more than sound smart. It solves meaningful problems. It earns relevance in the market. And it creates lasting value long after the book hits the shelf.
Three Key Takeaways:
• Great thought leadership starts with a real problem, not a broad audience. Thomas makes the case that the breakthrough came from finding a novel angle on a useful issue. Instead of chasing visibility, he focused on problems that were important but underserved—first innovation inside large organizations, then problem framing itself.
• A book is not the end product. It is the platform. One of the clearest lessons in the episode is that publishing is often anticlimactic. The real work begins after launch, when the author has to push the idea into the world, find the people it helps, and build traction over time.
• The strongest ideas spread because they are practical and shareable. Thomas talks about testing his work with others and watching for the moment when readers said, "Can I share this with a buddy?" That is the signal that the idea is useful enough to travel. His work on solving the right problems has range because it is clear, practical, and easy for people to apply in very different settings.
Enjoyed this episode? Queue up our conversation with Thomas Koulopoulos next. Thomas Wedell-Wedellsborg focuses on solving the right problem. Thomas Koulopoulos explores how thought leaders tackle problems that never stand still. Put them together and you get a smart, practical masterclass on innovation, relevance, and how great thought leadership becomes real market value.
What separates average sellers from elite performers?
In this episode, Peter Winick sits down with Bob Kocis, author of The President's Club Mindset, to unpack the ideas, behaviors, and disciplines that turn sales expertise into real thought leadership. Drawing from interviews with top performers who have earned more than 150 Presidents Club wins combined, Bob shares a sharper view of what high performance actually looks like.
This conversation goes beyond sales war stories. Bob's work is focused on codifying what the best sellers do differently and translating those lessons into practical guidance for the next generation. He points to curiosity as a core differentiator. Not surface-level interest. Deep curiosity that helps sellers uncover what truly drives client decisions and paint a clear picture of the outcome a buyer wants after the deal is done.
Bob also makes the case that elite selling is proactive, not reactive. Top performers think several moves ahead. They anticipate obstacles, understand internal power dynamics, and position themselves to win before others see the opening. His thought leadership is especially strong where sales becomes a team sport. Winning today requires more than finding one decision-maker. It means navigating champions, neutrals, and skeptics with precision and discipline.
Another key theme is methodology. Bob argues that great sellers do not resist process. They master it. Whether the framework is MEDDIC, MEDDPICC, or Command of the Message, the top performers learn the system, apply it well, and use it to elevate results. That message is timely, practical, and highly relevant for leaders building sales teams that need consistency without losing the human side of the work.
The episode also tackles AI with a grounded perspective. Bob is clear that technology can raise the bar, speed research, and improve execution. But it does not replace trust. His view is simple and powerful: buyers still want someone who understands their problem, delivers real value, and stays accountable after the contract is signed. That insight gives his thought leadership both credibility and staying power.
What makes this episode compelling is that Bob is not building thought leadership from the sidelines. He is turning hard-earned executive experience into frameworks others can use. His goal is not personal spotlight. It is impact. Through the book, podcast conversations, speaking, and continued content, he is building a body of work designed to help sellers think better, perform better, and lead better.
Three Key Takeaways: • Elite sellers lead with curiosity, not pressure. Bob's core insight is that top performers go deeper than surface discovery. They stay curious, understand what is really driving the client, and focus on the customer's success after the sale, not just the close.
• Top performance is proactive and political. The best sellers do not wait for deals to unfold. They think several steps ahead, map the buying environment, build internal support, and neutralize resistance before it becomes a blocker. In Bob's view, winning complex deals is a leadership exercise.
• Technology helps, but trust still wins. Bob is clear that AI and sales tools can make great sellers faster and smarter, but they do not replace human judgment, value creation, or trust. Buyers still want someone who understands their problem and will stand behind the solution.
Enjoyed this episode with Bob Kocis? Then listen to Dani Buckley next. Bob explores the mindset of elite selling through curiosity, trust, and strategic thinking, while Dani shows how thought leadership can be turned into practical sales support that drives lead generation and growth. Listen to both, and you'll come away with a smarter view of how sales excellence and thought leadership work together.
What does it really take to turn expertise into influence that lasts?
In this special episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership, host Peter Winick is joined by Bill Sherman and Naren Aryal to announce their book, The Thought Leadership Handbook published by Amplify Publishing Group. This is not a conversation about writing a book for the sake of writing a book. It is a conversation about building a body of work that creates value, sharpens thinking, and expands impact.
Drawing on hundreds of podcast conversations, client engagements, and years inside the thought leadership space, Peter, Bill, and Naren explore the patterns that separate real thought leadership from noise. They dig into what makes ideas useful, why strong frameworks matter, and how leaders can turn lived experience into practical tools others can apply. The focus is not on hype. It is on clarity, utility, and long-term relevance.
The episode also challenges one of the most common myths in the market: that sharing your best ideas weakens your business. Peter, Bill, and Naren make the opposite case. Generosity builds trust. Trust builds platform. And platform creates opportunity across books, speaking, consulting, advisory work, and beyond. Thought leadership works best when it is designed to help first and monetize with integrity over time.
What makes this discussion especially valuable is the candor around the real work. The book is positioned not as a magic formula, but as a handbook. A practical asset. A centerpiece of a broader platform. The conversation shows how strong thought leadership is built through process, pattern recognition, disciplined thinking, and a willingness to put useful ideas into the world before they are perfect.
For leaders, authors, experts, and advisors, this episode offers a grounded look at how big ideas become scalable assets. It is about frameworks that hold up in the real world. It is about creating impact in service of others. And it is about why the best thought leadership does more than elevate a brand. It moves people, opens doors, and creates meaningful commercial value.
If you want to understand how experts elevate their ideas, extend their reach, and turn insight into lasting business value, this episode is the place to start.
Three Key Takeaways: • Thought leadership only works when it creates real value for others. The conversation keeps returning to service, generosity, and usefulness. The point is not to protect your "secret sauce." It is to share ideas in a way that helps people, builds trust, and creates impact.
• A book is not the whole platform. It is a strategic asset within it. Bill, Peter, and Naren frame the book as a centerpiece, not the end game. The real power comes from the broader platform around it: the podcast, the frameworks, the body of work, the audience trust, and the conversations the book can spark over time.
• Strong thought leadership comes from disciplined thinking, not shortcuts. The transcript makes clear that writing the book forced them to sharpen their models, clarify their frameworks, and trust the process. The message is simple: do the hard work, make the ideas cleaner and more useful, and ship something valuable rather than waiting for perfection.
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What if the leadership issue in front of you is not strategy, but an old wound you have never fully resolved? In this episode, Bill Sherman talks with Kendra Dahlstrom an executive coach and host of "The Unworthy Leader" podcast about the deeply personal path that led her into thought leadership, and why she believes the future of leadership development must go far beyond traditional coaching. Kendra shares how her own experience as a coaching client changed the way she worked, lived, and led. What started as personal growth became something bigger. Senior leaders began turning to her for guidance in high-pressure moments. That trust revealed a new role: trusted advisor, coach, and thought leader. The conversation explores the real shift from being an internal leader to building an independent coaching practice. Kendra is candid about the hard part. Selling coaching is personal. When you are the product, rejection can feel personal too. She explains how learning to value her work, define her frameworks, and sell without losing generosity became essential to building a sustainable business.
Bill and Kendra also dig into what makes coaching credible and scalable. Kendra explains why leaders want a bespoke experience, but still need a repeatable process they can trust. She discusses the balance between personal connection and structured methodology, and why clients are often buying trust in the coach as much as the framework itself.
One of the most powerful parts of the episode is Kendra's discussion of trauma, agency, and leadership. She shares how her own lived experience shaped her approach to coaching. Her belief is clear: unresolved trauma does not stay at home. It shows up in meetings, reactions, communication, and performance. She makes the case that leadership development should address emotional triggers, somatic awareness, and inner healing, not just surface-level behavior change.
The episode then turns toward the future. Kendra outlines a bold vision to reshape leadership development inside large organizations. She wants to move this work from one-on-one executive coaching into teams, programs, and eventually enterprise-wide culture change. Bill helps pressure-test that vision, asking the key business questions: Can it scale? Can it be measured? Can it improve productivity, retention, and performance? Together, they frame a practical and provocative roadmap for what next-generation leadership could look like.
This is a thoughtful conversation about trust, transformation, and the courage to introduce ideas that may feel uncomfortable at first. It is also a strong example of thought leadership in motion: personal, distinctive, and designed to challenge conventional thinking. Listeners will come away with a fresh perspective on coaching, leadership, and what it truly takes to create lasting change.
Three Key Takeaways: • Thought leadership often starts when trust shows up before a title does. The guest's path began when leaders started turning to her for advice in high-stakes moments. That trust revealed her value as a coach and trusted advisor before she fully claimed that role herself.
• Better leadership requires deeper inner work, not just better tactics.
A core theme is that unresolved trauma, emotional triggers, and past experiences can shape how leaders react at work. The conversation argues that self-regulation, agency, and somatic awareness are not "soft" extras. They directly affect how leaders show up in the boardroom.
• The future of leadership development must be both human and scalable. The episode moves beyond one-on-one coaching and explores how this work could expand into teams, workshops, and enterprise programs. The focus is on making leadership development more effective, more measurable, and more relevant to outcomes organizations care about, especially productivity and performance.
If this episode sparked your thinking about how better leadership starts with deeper self-awareness, emotional regulation, and real inner work, then Joseph Press's episode is a strong next listen. In Kendra's conversation, the focus is on what happens inside the leader: the wounds, triggers, and patterns that shape behavior at work. In Joseph's episode, the focus shifts to what leaders must do next: think beyond reactive habits, lead with greater awareness, and prepare their organizations for an uncertain future. Together, these two episodes give you both sides of the leadership equation: how to lead yourself more intentionally, and how to lead your organization more effectively through change.
What happens when the real "close" isn't the signature—but the customer's commitment to consume? In this episode, Peter Winick talks with Art Fromm, a keynote speaker and sales enablement leader focused on what many B2B organizations still miss: the costly gap between pre-sales and sales. Art's thought leadership centers on building seamless partnership, not a messy handoff, so clients win sooner and revenue sticks longer. Art makes the shift unmistakable. The market moved from one-time enterprise transactions to SaaS, recurring revenue, adoption, retention, and usage-based economics. That means "closing" is no longer the finish line. It's the starting gun. If customers don't adopt and succeed, the deal never really happened. From there, Art outlines his core platform: aligning pre-sales and sales into a true divide-and-conquer team. No delegation games. No dictation. Just shared ownership of the client outcome. He points to research suggesting seamless collaboration can lift sales impact materially—because the biggest unlock is often already sitting on the table. This is also where Art's content engine comes in. He's clear that thought leadership isn't a "someday" project. It's a practice. Write. Publish. Learn what lands. Then refine. He shares how he captures and distributes ideas through posts, podcasts, and a dedicated hub on his website (teamsalesdevelopment.com) with events and articles that keep the thinking accessible. Art's book "Making SEAMless Sales" plays a central role in the platform. He describes it as a labor of love and a high-leverage calling card—less about book sales, more about clarifying the model and creating a door-opener for bigger engagements. If you lead sales, enablement, customer success, or go-to-market in a subscription business, this episode will challenge your definitions. The question isn't "Did we win the deal?" The question is "Did we build the conditions for sustained consumption and retention?" Three Key Takeaways: • "Closing" has changed: In SaaS and recurring revenue models, the win isn't the signature—it's adoption, usage, and retention (a commitment to consume). • Alignment is the lever: The biggest performance unlock is often true partnership between pre-sales and sales—shared ownership of client outcomes, not a handoff. • Thought leadership that sells: A repeatable writing engine (book + ongoing blogs/articles) clarifies the framework, builds authority, and creates higher-quality conversations that lead to revenue.
If Art's "commitment to consume" mindset resonated, queue up Steve Watt's episode "Using Thought Leadership to Earn Your Way Into Sales Consideration" next. Steve digs into how thought leadership earns you a seat in the buying conversation before prospects are ready to buy—the same strategic shift from "pitching" to building credibility and momentum. Listen to both and you'll get a one-two punch: how to align your revenue team for outcomes (Art) and how to use thought leadership to generate and accelerate demand (Steve).
What would change in your culture—and your revenue—if people didn't have to put on "work armor" just to show up?
In this LinkedIn Live edition of Leveraging Thought Leadership, Peter Winick sits down with Claude Silver, the world's first Chief Heart Officer at VaynerX, to unpack the contents of her new book "Be Yourself at Work" and what it looks like when the pace is fast, the stakes are high, and the workplace is more human than ever.
Claude's thought leadership is practical, not performative. She isn't selling "soft." She's building the conditions for performance: psychological safety, real connection, and a culture where people can speak up, belong, and do their best work.
You'll hear how Claude creates language and frameworks that spread. Not as slogans, but as usable tools—like "emotional optimism," her belief-based approach to empathy and accountability that teams can actually practice.
This conversation also goes where most leadership content won't. If "bring your whole self" is the invitation, what happens when someone's "self" is disruptive? Claude breaks down how healthy cultures don't tolerate consistent bad behavior—and how leaders can address "death by a thousand paper cuts" moments like chronic interruption, contempt, and the slow erosion of trust.
Claude's message is clear: you are the CEO of you. Self-awareness isn't a vibe. It's a leadership requirement. And when people stop pretending—stop performing "credible" and start showing up real—the organization gets stronger, faster, and more resilient.
She also shares how she measures success as a thought leader: not just book sales, but whether her language, models, and exercises enter the zeitgeist—and whether her work can be taught, scaled, and adopted through curriculum and "train-the-trainer" pathways.
And for leaders still clinging to old rules ("check your life at the door"), this episode is a timely reset. The workplace changed. Expectations changed. The best leaders will change too—without losing standards, accountability, or results.
Three Key Takeaways:
• Culture is a performance system, not a perk. Claude's core idea is that "heart" work (belonging, psychological safety, trust) isn't soft—it's the infrastructure that allows teams to move fast, collaborate cleanly, and deliver consistently.
• "Bring your whole self" still requires standards. You can invite authenticity while refusing behavior that erodes the room. Claude calls out the real culture-killers—chronic interruption, contempt, the "death by a thousand paper cuts"—and treats addressing them as leadership, not HR.
• Your thought leadership scales when it becomes usable language. Claude's impact isn't just the role title—it's the frameworks and phrases people can adopt (like "emotional optimism") and the intent to embed them through teachable curriculum and train-the-trainer paths so the ideas spread beyond her.
If Claude Silver's message resonated—lead with heart and hold the line on standards—your next listen should be Susan Scott's "Fierce Thought Leadership" episode.
They share the same core conviction: culture is built in conversations. Claude gives you the human-centered leadership lens. Susan gives you the conversation discipline to make it real—especially when stakes are high and tension is in the room.
Listen to both and you'll walk away with a powerful one-two punch: how to create psychological safety and how to speak with clarity and courage so accountability doesn't become conflict—and performance doesn't come at the expense of people.
What happens when you walk away from the big logo—and discover that your thought leadership gets sharper, not smaller?
In this episode, Peter Winick sits down with David Lancefield, host of Lancefield on the Line podcast, a strategy coach to CEOs, C-suite leaders, and founders who has advised more than 50 CEOs and hundreds of executives over three decades. David writes on strategy, leadership, and culture for outlets like Harvard Business Review and MIT Sloan, and he's deeply focused on what strategy looks like in practice, not just on slides.
David breaks down what thought leadership actually does when it's done well: it differentiates you, attracts the right conversations, and creates a platform for real debate. But he's equally blunt about what it becomes when it's done poorly—a "glorified brochure" sitting on top of a product. If you've ever wondered why some "insights" feel alive and others feel like marketing copy, this is the distinction.
You'll hear how David approaches thought leadership now that it's tied to his name, not a firm's brand. He's intent on building a credible voice in a cluttered marketplace by staying rooted in the work he cares most about: strategy as an operating system for day-to-day decisions, leadership behaviors that actually move outcomes, and culture as a lever—not a poster. His writing isn't just content. It's credentialing. It's a signal. And yes, it drives leads—though he's candid about the reality: quality varies, and discernment matters.
The conversation also goes deep on collaboration as a serious thought leadership growth strategy. David argues that one voice is rarely enough anymore—and that co-creating with the right partner can make 1+1=3, if you do it intentionally. He lays out what "good collaboration" looks like: shared premise, distinct lenses, complementary audiences, and—most importantly—operating standards. Deadlines. Quality. Mutual ownership. No babysitting. No chaos. Just professional chemistry that produces better ideas faster.
Finally, David unpacks a subtle but important shift many leaders miss when they move from institution to independence: the definition of "enough." Inside big organizations, "enough" rarely exists—there's always another growth target, another push, another rung. Outside, you can reverse-engineer your needs, design your capacity, and choose work that fits your life without losing intensity or impact. It's not about working less. It's about working with agency.
Three Key Takeaways:
• Thought leadership is either a differentiator—or a brochure. At its best, it creates a platform for debate, positions you as an originator, and connects directly to real services and outcomes. At its worst, it's "a glorified brochure on top of a product."
• Independence forces clarity on your voice, not your résumé. When you leave the big brand, people care less about who you were and more about who you are now—and what you stand for. Your writing becomes proof of credibility, not just content.
• Collaboration can be a growth strategy—if your operating standards match. The upside is 1+1=3: shared premise, complementary lenses, expanded audiences. The risk is misalignment on deadlines, quality, and effort—so you have to set expectations early like pros.
If you liked David Lancefield's take on credibility and differentiation, listen to Episode 9 with Charles H. Green ("The Trusted Advisor").
Charles shows how trust is the real engine that turns thought leadership into better conversations, faster decisions, and stronger client relationships. It's the perfect companion to David's message: don't just sound smart—become the advisor buyers believe and choose.
What if "getting PR" isn't about hype at all—but about engineering trust at scale? In this episode, Peter Winick sits down with KJ Blattenbauer, founder of Hearsay PR and author of Pitchworthy: The No-Fluff Playbook to Publicity That Pays Off, who helps founders, creatives, and experts turn clear storytelling and smart media strategy into real authority—without the fluff. She breaks down what PR actually does: find the story behind your expertise, explain why it matters now, and package it for real-world attention spans. KJ makes the case that your work doesn't "speak for itself" anymore. Not in a market where everyone is being commoditized and AI is accelerating sameness. You still need great work. But you also need amplification. And you need it across the channels where your buyers learn, compare, and decide. We get practical about what "good PR" looks like when you're building a thought leadership platform. Not one hit. Not one logo. Repetition that compounds. One appearance leads to the next. Visibility builds recognition. Recognition builds preference. It's the gym, not the lottery. KJ also brings discipline to measurement. Systems first. Message alignment across platforms. Tracking links so you know what's working and where demand is coming from. Because "branding" is not a strategy when you're accountable for revenue. And if "promotion" makes you cringe, this part matters: KJ reframes PR as service. If your ideas can help people, hiding them is the real ego play. The goal isn't fame. It's getting your work into the rooms where it can do its job. Finally, we tackle the AI question. KJ's take is sharp: AI can support systems and repurposing, but the human story is the differentiator—and audiences are hungry for it. Three Key Takeaways: • Your work won't speak for itself—amplification is part of the job. Do good work, yes. But you have to shepherd it into the right rooms, at the right time, with the right message. PR is the tool that helps that happen
• Authority is built by consistency, not a one-time splash. Waiting until you "have something to promote" costs you money, recognition, and momentum. Start now. Show up regularly. Trust compounds when people see your ideas repeatedly across formats.
• PR is story + packaging for short attention spans—and it can't be a black box. The core job is uncovering what's interesting about your expertise, why it matters now, and presenting it in a way people will actually pay attention to. Then put systems around it (including tracking) so it ties back to real outcomes.
If this episode got you thinking about amplifying expertise into authority, go cue up Episode 13 with Pete Weisman next.
You'll get a practical playbook for turning strong ideas into executive-level visibility—including how to diversify your offerings, focus your audience, and claim a clear niche so your thought leadership lands with the people who can say "yes."
It aligns perfectly with the themes you just heard: amplification over hoping, consistency over one-off wins, and strategy over random activity—all aimed at building recognition that actually supports growth.
What if the biggest lever you have today isn't another action plan—but one decision?
In this episode, Bill Sherman talks with Apollo Emeka, who calls himself "the big decisions guy," and traces how that identity started early—when Apollo was effectively handed the power to choose school or not as a kid, and felt the real-world consequences of deciding either way.
Apollo's path is anything but linear: military service, Iraq deployment, an FBI internship, and a mindset shaped by high-stakes environments where "what could go wrong?" isn't drama—it's a discipline. He shares a vivid example: after his family was impacted by the Eaton fire in Altadena and evacuated, they stress-tested a radical idea (moving to Panama) by asking that question seriously, researching risks, and acting fast once no deal-breakers showed up.
A turning point came when Apollo commissioned a third party to interview his clients and surface where his real impact was. The message was consistent: decision-making. That clarity gave him permission to drop the "other consulting stuff" and go all-in on helping leaders make better decisions faster—then validating the shift publicly and operationally (including flipping his website).
You'll hear practical tools, not theory. Apollo describes how most leaders' stated goals score shockingly low on a fulfillment scale—often a 6 or 7—because they're inherited, socially pressured, or "sensible," not energizing. That insight becomes the doorway to choosing goals you actually want, not goals you can defend.
He also lays out what he calls a "big decision" framework: it must be a 10/10 on fulfillment, read like a toddler's run-on sentence (because it forces your competing life priorities onto the same page), make other decisions easier, and be bold enough that people might call you crazy. Apollo reads his own big decision statement—including the ambition to build scale through a best-selling book, a top podcast, and bigger stages, while protecting what matters at home.
Finally, Apollo names the hidden saboteurs that keep smart people stuck: the "decision monsters." He trains clients to stop living in "can / should / could," and to recognize three common blockers—feasibility, worthiness, and social judgment—so leaders can choose with intention instead of permission.
Three Key Takeaways:
• Make one "big decision" that simplifies everything else. A real big decision is designed to be high-fulfillment (a 10/10), bold enough to feel uncomfortable, and specific enough that future choices get easier because they can be measured against it.
• Stop chasing goals you can defend and start choosing goals you actually want. Apollo argues many leaders rate their current goals at only a 6–7 on fulfillment because they're inherited, socially expected, or "sensible." The fix is to re-select goals based on energy and meaning—not optics.
• Name the "decision monsters" before they run the meeting in your head. He calls out the common traps—living in "can/should/could," fear about feasibility, doubts about worthiness, and worry about social judgment. Once you label the blocker, you can choose directly instead of negotiating with it.
If this week's episode got you thinking about making one clear decision that cuts through noise, you'll get even more value from Lee Caraher's conversation—because it lives in the same territory: clarity under pressure and the choices leaders make when the old playbook stops working. Lee digs into how to lead across generations without the drama, how to shift your approach when talent and expectations change, and what to do when a business model needs a reset. Listen to sharpen your decision filters, reduce second-guessing, and walk away with practical moves you can use immediately.
What happens when your AI strategy moves faster than your team's ability to trust it, govern it, or explain it? In this episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership, Peter Winick sits down with Kate O'Neill—Founder & CEO of KO Insights, author of "What Matters Next", and globally recognized as a "tech humanist"—to unpack what leaders are getting dangerously wrong about digital transformation right now. Kate challenges the default mindset that tech exists to serve the business first and humans second. She reframes the entire conversation as a three-way relationship between business, humans, and technology. That shift matters, because "human impact" isn't a nice-to-have. It's the core variable that determines whether innovation scales sustainably or collapses under backlash, risk, and regret. You'll hear why so many companies are racing into AI with confidence on the surface and fear underneath. Boards want speed. Markets reward bold moves. But many executives privately admit they don't fully understand the complexity or consequences of the decisions they're being pressured to make. Kate gives language for that tension and practical frameworks for "future-ready" leadership that doesn't sacrifice long-term resilience for short-term acceleration. The conversation gets real about what trust and risk actually mean in an AI-driven world. Kate argues that leaders need a better taxonomy of both—because without it, AI becomes a multiplier of bad decisions, not a generator of better ones. Faster isn't automatically smarter. And speed without wisdom is just expensive chaos. Finally, Kate shares the larger mission behind her work: influencing the decisions that impact millions of people downstream. Her "10,000 Boardrooms for 1 Billion People" initiative is built around one big idea—if we want human-friendly tech at scale, we need better thinking at the top. Not performative ethics. Not buzzwords. Better decisions, made earlier, by the people with the power to set direction. If you lead strategy, product, innovation, or culture—and you're feeling the pressure to "move faster" with AI—this episode gives you the language, frameworks, and leadership posture to move responsibly without losing momentum. Three Key Takeaways: • Human impact isn't a soft metric—it's a strategy decision. Kate reframes transformation as a three-way relationship between business, humans, and technology. If you don't design for the human outcome, the business outcome eventually breaks. • AI speed without trust creates risk. Leaders feel pressure to move fast, but trust, governance, and clarity lag behind. Without a shared understanding of risk and responsibility, AI becomes a multiplier of bad decisions. • Better decisions upstream create better outcomes at scale. Kate's "10,000 Boardrooms for 1 Billion People" idea drives home that the biggest lever isn't the tool—it's leadership judgment. The earlier the thinking improves at the top, the safer and more scalable innovation becomes. If Kate's "tech humanist" lens made you rethink how you're leading AI and transformation, your next listen should be our episode 149 with Brian Solis. Brian goes deep on what most leaders miss—the human side of digital change, the behavioral ripple effects of technology, and why transformation only works when it's designed for people, not just performance. Queue it up now and pair the two episodes back-to-back for a powerful executive playbook: Kate helps you decide what matters next—Brian helps you understand what your customers and employees will do next.
What happens when a keynote doesn't just inspire your people…but actually changes how they show up at work and at home?
In this episode, Peter Winick sits down with Tara Renze—author, keynote speaker, podcaster, and an emotional intelligence + positive intelligence practitioner—whose message is as simple as it is disruptive: "Be who you came to be."
This conversation is about more than motivation. It's about the business case for human growth. Tara breaks down how emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and confidence aren't "soft skills"—they're performance drivers. The kind that shape culture, fuel innovation, and boost retention because people feel seen, valued, and supported.
Peter pushes into a real thought leadership challenge: you don't just serve the audience in the seats—you have to serve the economic buyer who funds the initiative. Tara shares how she positions her work so it lands with both. The individual walks away with a mindset shift they can use immediately. The organization gets stronger talent, better leadership, and a healthier culture.
Then Tara introduces one of her sharpest ideas: Butterfly Goals. Not the usual SMART goals. Not productivity targets. These are transformational, identity-level goals that reignite creativity and personal ownership. And here's the kicker—companies benefit when employees pursue them, because it strengthens connection, belonging, and momentum across teams.
You'll also hear how Tara designs her keynote to be actionable, not just energizing. Tools. Simple shifts. Real-world application. Plus follow-through resources like a downloadable workbook and ongoing "Terrace Tuesday" tips—so the message sticks after the applause.
If your thought leadership lives at the intersection of performance, people, and purpose—this one will hit. Because "be who you came to be" isn't a slogan. It's a strategy for better humans and better business.
Three Key Takeaways:
• Stop chasing better habits. Start building a better identity. The biggest breakthroughs don't come from doing more—they come from becoming someone who leads, performs, and decides differently.
• Confidence isn't a trait. It's a skill you can train. When you build emotional intelligence and self-awareness, you create repeatable tools people can use under pressure, not just in perfect conditions.
• Culture improves fastest when people bring their whole selves to work. When individuals feel safe to grow and contribute authentically, teams get stronger engagement, better collaboration, and results that actually stick.
If this episode sparked ideas around emotional intelligence, confidence, and creating real culture change—not just a great moment in the room—your next listen should be the Melissa Davies episode. It's a practical follow-on that goes deeper into how leadership development actually sticks inside organizations, and how to turn insight into consistent behavior change. Queue it up next and keep the momentum going.
What does it look like when a leadership legend actually lives the principles he teaches? In this episode, Peter Winick sits down with Martha Lawrence, author of the new biography "Catch People Doing Things Right", and longtime collaborator with Ken Blanchard—the leadership icon behind "The One Minute Manager". Martha offers a rare behind-the-scenes view of how Blanchard's ideas became timeless, scalable, and globally adoptable. This is not a "how he got started" story. It's a masterclass in thought leadership that works in the real world. Martha breaks down why Ken's approach—simple, human, and relentlessly practical—still wins in today's noisy, distracted, algorithm-driven world. The message holds because it's built on what never changes: people. Peter and Martha go deep on what has shifted in publishing and platform-building over the last 40 years. Fewer gatekeepers. More fragmentation. Less time. More pressure on authors to act like CEOs. Podcasting replaces book tours. Brand clarity beats broad exposure. And the book isn't the business—it's the business card for a larger value ecosystem. They also explore what separates a "famous author" from a durable thought leadership enterprise. The Blanchard organization didn't just depend on Ken as the rock star. It scaled the IP, built culture around it, and created a leadership brand that outlives any single personality. That's rare. And it's instructive. If you care about creating a thought leadership platform that drives real business outcomes—without losing the humanity—this conversation will give you both strategy and signal. It's a reminder that servant leadership isn't soft. It's scalable. And it's still a competitive advantage. Three Key Takeaways: • Simple wins when it's built on real principles. Ken Blanchard's genius wasn't complexity—it was accessibility. The One Minute Manager style made leadership ideas easy to absorb, apply, and share. That "human" voice is now the playbook for today's biggest thought leaders. • The message is timeless because leadership is still about people. Even with everything changing—technology, AI, publishing—the core truth remains: performance comes from people. The episode reinforces Blanchard's central idea that people matter as much as results, and that the best leadership is servant leadership: serve, don't be served. • The strongest thought leadership platforms scale beyond the thought leader. Blanchard wasn't built around a "rock star founder." It was built around IP, culture, and systems—so the work lasts even when Ken isn't in the room. That's how you move from "guru business" to a durable enterprise. If today's conversation with Martha Lawrence resonated—especially the idea that simple leadership principles can scale, stick, and drive results—you'll want to go straight to our episode with Ken Blanchard. It's the "source code" behind the philosophy. You'll hear Ken unpack what servant leadership really looks like, why it works, and how to build a leadership approach that people actually adopt. No theory. No fluff. Just practical, proven leadership you can use immediately. Listen to the Ken Blanchard episode next and connect the dots between the story Martha shared and the thinking that built a global leadership platform.
What if "thriving" isn't a soft concept—but a measurable performance advantage?
In this episode, Peter Winick sits down with Jon Rosemberg, Founding Partner of Anther and author of "A Guide to Thriving: The Science Behind Breaking Old Patterns, Reclaiming Your Agency, and Finding Meaning", to break down what thriving really is, what it is not, and why leaders should care right now.
Jon draws a sharp line between thriving and "success." Success can be the big house, the title, the milestones. Thriving is different. It's a state where you're calm, connected to others, and able to create. It's when you can access the best of your thinking and show up as yourself—not as a reactive version of yourself.
They explore the practical business implications. Jon frames thriving as the condition that makes proactive leadership possible. Less reactivity. More intentionality. Better decisions. He also positions "flow" as a subset of thriving—useful, but not the whole story.
Then the conversation gets strategic. Jon introduces agency as the lever that moves people from survival mode to thriving: the capacity to make intentional choices. And he connects it directly to strategy. Real strategy is not doing everything. It's making clear choices—and just as importantly, choosing what you will not do.
For leaders building teams, Jon highlights the shift from productive value to relational value. Your job stops being "do the work." Your job becomes "enable others to do their best work." When teams are thriving, performance rises. When organizations treat well-being as a KPI, it becomes a competitive advantage—not a perk.
Finally, Jon reframes thriving as a spiral, not a finish line. Markets change. Crises hit. AI reshapes work. The goal isn't to "arrive" at thriving. The goal is to build the capacity to return to it faster—and lead through uncertainty with more clarity, nuance, and adaptability.
Three Key Takeaways:
• Thriving has a precise definition. It's not "success" or status; it's being calm, connected, and creative—able to access better thinking and show up authentically.
• Agency is the lever. Moving from survival mode to thriving starts with the capacity to make intentional choices—and that maps directly to strategy in business.
• Thriving changes performance at the team level. Leaders shift from their own productivity to relational value—enabling others to do their best work—which increases team performance.
If Jon's episode got you focused on thriving through agency, go next to Episode 156 with Linda Henman for the "now what?" Linda is all about making tough, high-stakes decisions—fast and well—so you can turn intentional choice into real strategy. Together, they pair thriving as the mindset with decision-making as the skill that makes it real.
What if the real leadership advantage isn't another tactic—but the way you lead yourself when nobody's watching? In this episode, Peter talks with executive coach and facilitator Nina Urman about her core framework found in her book: "Lead From Within." She reframes "mindset" as heartset—getting crystal-clear on what you're saying yes to, what you're saying no to, and why that decision discipline matters at the top. Nina's thought leadership lives where performance meets inner leadership. We unpack failing forward as a repeatable leadership behavior, not a motivational poster—using setbacks as data, then moving again with more precision. We also explore how leaders can "create from the future" by defining the future-self outcome and reverse-engineering the moves that make it real. Her work is deeply practical and designed for high-performing rooms. Nina coaches and facilitates for CEOs, executives, leadership teams, entrepreneurs, and family businesses, with a focus on time and energy management and emotional mastery—because execution breaks when energy and emotion are unmanaged. We also get into how she built demand through trusted communities like YPO (Young Presidents' Organization) and similar peer networks—and why "belonging" and safety are not soft concepts, but performance multipliers. Nina describes her work as creating safe spaces where high-achievers can be fully themselves, which is where the real breakthroughs happen. Finally, Nina shares a challenge every successful thought leader hits: when your calendar proves the concept, but caps the company. She's been running nearly 50 retreats a year and is now making intentional tradeoffs—saying no to 1:1 and even some retreats—so she can scale what works, especially around family leadership. She's even developed a "Family Circle in a Box" board-game-style tool to help families moderate the experience themselves, and she's exploring how digital tools (including AI) can help her scale impact without losing the essence of the work. Three Key Takeaways: • Lead from "heartset," not just mindset. Clarity comes from aligning decisions to what you truly value—what you're saying yes to, what you're saying no to, and why. • Make failure a system, not an event. "Failing forward" is a repeatable discipline: treat setbacks as data, adjust fast, and move again with more precision. • Scale impact without losing the work. Trust-based communities and psychologically safe spaces drive breakthroughs, and scalable formats (tools, repeatable experiences, digital/AI) help move beyond a calendar-capped model. If Nina's "Lead From Within" idea of heartset and self-leadership resonated, queue up Episode 125 with Claude Silver next. Nina focuses on inner clarity and emotional mastery as a leadership advantage. Claude complements that by translating the inner game into culture—human-centered leadership, values, and how your emotional posture shapes the workplace. Together, they move from who you are as a leader to how your leadership lands on others. Go listen to Claude's episode to connect personal alignment to scalable, people-first performance.
What did the best thought leaders do differently in 2025—and what can you learn for your own work in 2026?
This "Best of 2025" episode looked back at standout moments from prior conversations and pulled one clear thread through them: ideas don't scale by accident. They scaled when leaders treated communication, authorship, and development as skills to build—not traits you either "had" or didn't.
We first revisited cultural fluency with global leadership strategist Jane Hyun. She defined it simply: working effectively with people who were different from you across many kinds of human difference—not just one label. And she made the bar real: it took intentional effort, because it was a developmental skill that most people were never formally taught.
Next, we look at a candid conversation on mentorship, legacy, and the discipline of writing with Noel Massie. He argued that "legacy" showed up in what you gave—especially the investments you made in other people. Then he told the unglamorous truth behind a meaningful book: it took coaching, rewrites, and years of sustained effort—because "fast" wasn't the same as "better."
Then we look at a different kind of bridge-building with Dr. Lisa DeFrank-Cole—moving research out of academia and into the rooms where decisions got made. She shared the tension many experts faced: it was one thing to teach and publish for a specialized audience, and another to translate research into plain language for podcasts, media, and organizations. She emphasized patience—compounding work over time until it reached critical mass.
Finally, we returned to the power of curiosity and publishing with Laurence Minsky. He described how asking the right questions led to books—and how books created credibility that opened unexpected doors, including a path into academia.
If you want more great advice for 2026 we encourage you to explore the back catalog or reach out to the Thought Leadership Leverage team if you want help taking big insights to scale this year!
What did "great thought leadership" look like when the market wouldn't sit still, the C-suite couldn't sleep, and yesterday's playbook was already obsolete? In this Best of 2025 compilation, we pulled together four standout conversations that got brutally practical about relevance, differentiation, and turning ideas into outcomes. Keith Ferrazzi broke down the real challenge behind "evergreen" ideas: keeping the core principles intact while continuously connecting them to what leaders were worrying about in the moment—AI, volatility, and competitive pressure. The throughline was methodology. Not hot takes. Not vibes. A repeatable way to stay current without becoming a trend-chaser. Then Keith pushed into what he called "teamship"—the underdeveloped layer in leadership thinking. Not how leaders gave feedback. How teams gave each other feedback. Not how a boss held people accountable. How peers did. He was blunt about the data: most teams were mediocre, and many avoided conflict when the stakes were highest. Stephanie Chung reframed a politicized topic into a clean leadership platform: how you led people who were not like you. Not as a slogan. As a set of tools for leading across real differences—generation, gender, neurodiversity, ability, identity, and more. It was a leadership operating system for a workplace where "one-size-fits-all" was dead. Michael Horn brought the "jobs to be done" lens into career strategy with Job Moves. The value here wasn't motivation. It was decision quality. A structured way to avoid moves that looked right on paper and still landed wrong in real life—and to reconnect your thought leadership to the unique value you actually provided. Paige Velasquez Budde got tactical about thought leadership as a visibility engine. She called out the fantasy metrics (overnight bestseller, one big hit, last-minute PR) and replaced them with a grown-up approach: start early, build credibility over time, and use targeted "micro media" to drive the outcomes that mattered—leads, authority, and premium positioning.
We've learned a lot from our guests in 2025, this episode provides valuable information on taking your platform to the next level, staying relevant, and finding success in 2026!
What if the real growth problem isn't strategy… but misalignment? In this episode, Frankie Russo, the Founder of The Growth Co and bestselling author of "Breaking Why", breaks down what it takes to create growth that compounds—without relying on charisma, hustle, or a one-time "big moment" on stage. Frankie makes a clean distinction: a book is a platform, not the mission. Thought leadership is the movement behind the platforms—and the work is designing ideas that change behavior and drive measurable outcomes. A core idea he returns to is stakeholder-first growth. Customers, colleagues, and community aren't "nice-to-haves." They're the scoreboard. Frankie argues that great companies rise or fall based on one thing: how radically aligned they are to delivering their "collective genius" to those stakeholders. Then he gets tactical about scale. Keynotes can jolt people awake—an inflection point that "shakes them out of the trance." But the keynote is only the tip of the spear. The real lever is what happens after: systems people can use every day. Frankie walks through his Growth Operating System using a simple visual: an infinity loop built to replace the "stagnation spiral." Denial. Status quo. Silos. Rigid processes. Disengagement. His point is blunt: if growth isn't operationalized, it decays—so the work is building an engine for continuous inflection points, not a single heroic turnaround. And he's candid about the craft of thought leadership delivery. The hardest part of a great keynote isn't what you include. It's what you cut—so you can land the right ideas, in the right dose, and drive adoption after the applause. Three Key Takeaways: • A keynote is the spark, not the solution. The talk can create an inflection point, but the value comes from what you operationalize afterward—tools, habits, and routines people can actually use day-to-day. • Stakeholder-first alignment drives scalable growth. Frankie keeps coming back to aligning the organization's "collective genius" around delivering outcomes for stakeholders (customers, team, community). Misalignment is what creates drag and stalls momentum. • If growth isn't systemized, it decays. His "infinity loop" / Growth Operating System idea is about replacing the stagnation spiral (silos, rigid processes, disengagement) with a repeatable engine for continuous improvement and ongoing inflection points. If Frankie Russo's message hit home—growth needs an operating system, not a motivational moment—your next listen is "Creating Alignment Between Marketing and Sales" with Winston Henderson. It's the same fight against silos, just aimed at the part of the business where misalignment quietly kills revenue: the handoff between marketing and sales. Listen to Winston right after this episode and you'll connect the dots between alignment as a leadership principle and alignment as a revenue discipline. Frankie gives you the "why" and the operating rhythm for sustainable growth. Winston gives you the "how" to make that rhythm real across teams—shared language, shared priorities, and shared measures—so your thought leadership doesn't just inspire… it converts.
Are your top performers actually holding back your organization's growth? Today on Leveraging Thought Leadership, Peter Winick talks with Eduardo Briceño, global keynote speaker, CEO of Growth.How, and author of "The Performance Paradox". Eduardo is one of the leading voices on growth mindset in organizations, building on 16+ years of work with Carol Dweck as co-founder of Mindset Works and two TEDx talks that have each passed 4 million views. Together, they unpack how leaders and companies can move beyond one-off inspiration and build true learning cultures that deliver sustained performance. Eduardo explains his core framework: the Learning Zone and the Performance Zone. Most organizations live almost entirely in performance mode—chasing metrics, staying "on," and delivering results. He shows why that approach quietly caps growth, and how deliberately creating Learning Zone time is the unlock for innovation, resilience, and long-term excellence. You'll hear how he designs keynotes and workshops like a master teacher, not a showman. Eduardo starts with clear learning objectives, then engineers experiences that shift how leaders think, behave, and make decisions. It's not about delivering a great "show"; it's about making sure people leave seeing their work differently and ready to act. Eduardo and Peter also explore what it really takes to build a growth-mindset culture at scale. They talk about partnering with organizations over time, embedding the ideas from The Performance Paradox into leadership programs, talent systems, and everyday language. Eduardo shares why well-intentioned "growth" initiatives often backfire—and how to avoid the hidden traps that send mixed signals to your people. Finally, they look at impact. Eduardo discusses how he went from frameworks to a major Penguin Random House book, how he gathered more than 100 real-world stories to bring his ideas to life, and why he's now focused on working longitudinally with clients instead of just doing single events. For CEOs and senior leaders, this conversation is a playbook for turning your organization into a place where people are both learning faster and performing better. Three Key Takeaways: • Always-on performance quietly caps growth; organizations need deliberate time and space for the Learning Zone, not just the Performance Zone. • "Growth mindset" only works when it's operationalized—through concrete systems, habits, and experiences that teach people how to learn and improve, not just that they can. • The biggest impact comes from embedding these ideas into leadership programs, talent systems, and culture over time—not from one-off keynotes or events. If this episode reshaped how you think about performance and the Learning Zone, your next stop should be our conversation with Phil Geldart on Unlocking Human Potential. Both episodes tackle the same core challenge—how to move beyond "always on" performance and build a culture where learning, experimentation, and behavior change are baked into the way work gets done. Eduardo gives you the strategic lens and language (Learning vs. Performance Zone, growth mindset in action); Phil dives into how to design experiential learning that actually sticks and changes what people do on Monday morning. Listen to both and you'll walk away with a playbook that connects big ideas about learning culture to concrete tools for driving performance across your organization.
What if every hard-earned lesson in your business came with a simple mandate: how dare you do nothing with what's been given to you? In this episode, Bill Sherman talks with serial entrepreneur and systems strategist Apple Levy, author of "The Apple Effect". Apple has spent decades in construction, manufacturing, home flipping, and retail. She combines operational grit with financial discipline to help entrepreneurs stop firefighting and start scaling with intention. Her core belief is simple and provocative: if you know something that works, you have a duty to share it. Apple walks through how she turned years of wins and failures into a repeatable framework for growth. She explains why she began capturing notes, call recordings, and data from every client, and how that archive became The Apple Effect—a practical playbook for owners running businesses from $1M to $40M in revenue. The book distills what actually moves margin, cash flow, and culture, and she uses it as the backbone for her firm, Obsidian Thorne, when helping companies scale. You'll hear the real problems that keep owners up at night. Not just cash flow and margin, but rework that kills profit, weak follow-up on sales, and the emotional landmine of hiring family you can't hold accountable. Apple shows how to move from "leading by personality" to "leading by systems," so the process becomes the bad cop—not you. That shift frees leaders to exit someday, build a legacy, or simply step out of daily chaos. Apple and Bill also explore the mindset required to grow. Apple challenges entrepreneurs to ask, "How badly do I want this?" and to accept that scaling may mean dismantling what no longer serves the business—including long-standing people, habits, and assumptions. She shares how she applies her own advice inside Obsidian Thorne, using automation, hiring a business development lead early, and treating every pain point in her firm as data she can use to better serve clients. Finally, Apple looks ahead. She talks about taking her message to bigger stages—through construction trade shows like Build Expo, her growing calendar of workshops, and future events she plans to host herself. She's already filling the next scratch pad with insights for future books and building a team of people who share her attitude: hungry, accountable, and obsessed with helping entrepreneurs go from $1M to $10M and beyond. If you're an owner who's tired of firefighting, wrestling with family in the business, or worried about what you're leaving to the next generation, this conversation—and The Apple Effect—offers both a wake-up call and a roadmap. Three Key Takeaways: • Systemize your expertise. Turning real-world lessons into a documented framework is the foundation for scaling any business. • Measure what matters. KPIs and process discipline reduce rework, protect margin, and move the company out of constant firefighting. • Use your book as a strategic tool. A well-structured book can double as a thought leadership platform and an operating guide for clients and teams. If this episode has you thinking about systems, scale, and getting out of firefighting, the next step is to focus on your leaders. Pair this conversation with the episode "Scaling Leadership: Making Coaching Accessible at Every Level" with Kristin Lytle and you'll see the other side of the equation: how to build repeatable, scalable ways to grow people, not just processes. Both episodes explore how to move from one-off heroics to structured, repeatable solutions—whether that's tightening operations and KPIs, or creating blended coaching and learning programs that reach leaders at every level. Listen to them together and you'll walk away with a more complete roadmap: how to systemize the business and build a culture of high integrity, accountability, and leadership growth across the organization.
What if innovation wasn't reserved for a handful of "geniuses" in hoodies and turtlenecks? What if every person in your organization could solve real problems in bold new ways? Today's episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership, I'm joined by Richard Braden to explore how to democratize innovation inside the enterprise. We dig into his practical framework from "Innovation-ish: How Anyone Can Create Breakthrough Solutions to Real Problems in the Real World" which was co-authored with Tessa Forshaw to challenge the myth of the lone genius. Innovation stops being a mysterious black box and becomes a repeatable, teachable capability across the business. Rich explains why most organizations over-invest in "innovation theater" and under-invest in mindset. Instead of obsessing over yet another step-by-step process, he focuses on the mental shifts that actually drive breakthrough thinking. From "shopping" vs. "buying" mindsets to the difference between learning, iterating, and executing, you'll get language you can use with your teams tomorrow. We also unpack Rich's hybrid model for innovation: part consulting, part capability-building. You'll hear how a global quick-service restaurant brand redesigned its supply chain using cross-functional teams—everyone from restaurant crew to executives—working on real projects over nine months. The result? Tangible business outcomes and an enduring lift in problem-solving capability, long after the external experts left. Rich shows that innovation isn't just about moonshots. It's about orbit shots, cloud shots, roof shots, and jump shots—small, targeted changes that add up to massive impact. Imagine your finance team "innovating" the expense-report process so it's fast, accurate, and painless. That may not land you on the cover of a magazine, but it can unlock time, energy, and engagement across the organization. If you're tired of one-off workshops, "innovation labs" off in a corner, or expensive programs that don't stick, this conversation with Rich Braden offers a better path. You'll learn how to embed innovation in day-to-day work, build your own obsolescence into client engagements, and turn innovation from a slogan into a core competency. Three Key Takeaways: • Innovation is a teachable skill. It's not the domain of lone geniuses; with the right mindsets and language, you can help people across the organization solve real problems in new ways. • Mindset beats methodology. Most organizations over-index on processes and "innovation theater," but sustainable breakthroughs come from shifting how people think, learn, and experiment in their day-to-day work. • Capability-building must be tied to real work. The most effective innovation programs blend consulting with hands-on projects, so teams deliver tangible business outcomes and build enduring problem-solving muscles at the same time. If this conversation on democratizing innovation resonated with you, your next listen should be the episode with Michele Zanini. In that one, we take the same core ideas—moving beyond "innovation theater," distributing problem-solving across the organization, and building real capability instead of one-off programs—and apply them to dismantling bureaucracy and unleashing talent at scale. Listen to both episodes together and you'll get a powerful one-two punch: a practical framework for everyday innovation, plus a blueprint for removing the structural and cultural barriers that keep your people from using it. If you're serious about making innovation everyone's job—not just a select few in a lab—queue up the Michele Zanini episode next.
What if your thought leadership wasn't just inspiring for 40 minutes on stage, but life-changing for years after the keynote?
In this episode, Peter Winick talks with Tom Ziglar, CEO of Ziglar, Inc., about how he's evolving his father Zig Ziglar legacy into a modern, scalable thought leadership business. They dig into how to turn big ideas into programs, tools, and revenue streams that deliver real behavior change for clients, not just applause.
Tom shares how Ziglar built an AI "digital brain" for Zig Ziglar by feeding in manuscripts and 50+ hours of audio. The result is Zig AI – a focused tool that gives only Zig's answers to modern questions. You'll hear how coaches are using it to adapt Zig's classic seven-step goal system into language an eight-year-old can use, without losing the depth of the original framework.
They explore AI as a thought partner for speakers and experts. Tom shows how he uses AI to quickly understand new audiences, generate the "top 10 pain points" for a niche, and tailor stories so a talk lands with homeowners' association leaders one day and senior executives the next. This is practical, in-the-trenches use of AI to make your content more relevant, not more generic.
Tom and Peter then break down the business models behind thought leadership. Drawing on Rory Vaden's lens, Tom explains the three lanes of content creators: entertainers, encouragers, and educators. He argues that the long-term business is built in the educational lane—where niche expertise and implementation tools create the long tail of revenue, even if the spotlight feels smaller.
You'll also hear a powerful distinction: are you in the keynote business or the life-changing business? Tom shares what Ziglar learned after reviewing thousands of testimonials: for every one person who said a keynote changed their life, 99 credited a program or product. That insight reshaped how he designs calls-to-action, follow-through, and multi-step client engagements.
The conversation closes with a look at trust and authenticity as strategic assets. Tom brings in Seth Godin's idea of "scalability of trust" and applies it to how thought leaders sell, speak, and serve. From customizing keynotes to building follow-on programs, Tom shows how to design a business that scales trust, not just reach—while staying the same person on and off stage.
If you advise, speak, coach, or consult, this episode will help you reframe your IP, your offers, and your use of AI so you can create deeper impact and more predictable revenue from your expertise.
Three Key Takeaways:
• Keynotes don't create most of the life change—programs do. For every one person who credited a keynote with changing their life, 99 pointed to a program, product, or course. If you're in the "life-changing" business, your follow-on offers matter more than the standing ovation.
• AI can be a thought partner that makes your IP more usable and targeted. By building Zig AI from Zig Ziglar's manuscripts and audio, Tom shows how AI can give only "on-brand" answers, adapt classic frameworks (like the seven-step goal system) for specific audiences—right down to an eight-year-old—and help experts quickly tune their content to different markets.
• The long-term business is in education, not entertainment. While entertainers dominate the airwaves, the real, scalable revenue sits in the educational lane—where niche expertise, tools, and implementation support live. That's where thought leaders build the long tail of their business, well beyond a single talk or appearance.
If this episode got you thinking about the difference between a keynote and a real thought leadership business, your next listen should be the Tendayi Viki episode "Thought Leadership Business Models". Together, these two episodes connect the dots between inspiring from the stage and building scalable offers, frameworks, and revenue streams around your ideas. Queue up the Tendayi Viki episode next and ask yourself: am I running a talk, or building a business?
What if your most valuable business asset isn't your product, but the way you think? In this episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership, Peter Winick sits down with Alisa Cohn—one of the world's top startup coaches, Thinkers50 and Marshall Goldsmith award winner, author of "From Startup to Grown Up", and host of a podcast by the same name. Together, they unpack what it really takes to turn expertise into a scalable thought leadership platform that attracts premium clients. Alisa breaks down what great coaching actually is at the top of the house. Not therapy. Not box-checking. It's the disciplined work of helping senior leaders see where they are, where they're going, and how they'll get there. She explains why she now focuses almost exclusively on experienced founders and C-suite executives—and why the best clients see coaching as a sign of strength, not weakness. Peter and Alisa explore the often lonely reality of thought leadership work. You're on planes. In hotels. Delivering keynotes. Building IP. Yet rarely surrounded by true peers. Alisa shares how communities like 100 Coaches, mastermind groups, and curated gatherings of top thinkers create "connective tissue" between experts—and why those collisions of adjacent ideas (resilience meets agility meets questioning) are rocket fuel for new IP and offerings. Then they turn to AI. Not as a shortcut, but as a force multiplier for serious thinkers. Alisa explains how she feeds transcripts of 100+ podcast episodes and her HBR/Forbes pieces into AI tools to surface patterns, themes, and questions she'd forgotten—and then does the real work of shaping those into sharp, human insights. They talk about AI as a research partner, synthesis engine, and creative sparring partner—not a cut-and-paste content mill. Alisa also reframes the business model of thought leadership. Her core work is high-touch: one-on-one coaching, offsites, and select speaking. Everything else—books, articles, podcasts, media—exists to build a premium brand, generate demand, and give her the right to charge at the top of the market. She and Peter dig into why a book should be treated as a five-year march, not a launch-week event, and how evergreen ideas keep attracting ideal clients years after publication. If you're a founder, executive, or expert looking to scale your impact without becoming a commodity, this conversation is a masterclass in how to think about your IP, your business model, and your relationship with AI. Three Key Takeaways: • Coaching at the top is a strategic asset, not a remedial fix. Great coaching helps senior leaders clarify where they are, where they're going, and how they'll get there. The best clients see coaching as a sign of strength and leverage it to navigate different stages of growth—from early-stage chaos to pre-IPO scale. • Thought leadership plus brand equals pricing power. Alisa treats her thought leadership—book, podcast, HBR/Forbes articles—as the engine that builds a premium brand. That brand brings her better-fit clients and gives her permission to charge premium rates for high-touch coaching, offsites, and speaking. • AI is a force multiplier for serious thinkers, not a replacement. AI accelerates research and content creation, but the real value of thought leadership still comes from deep expertise, synthesis, and conviction. The challenge (and opportunity) is to use AI to move faster without letting the thinking get sloppy. If you're intrigued by how this episode unpacks coaching at the top, building a premium thought leadership brand, and using your IP more strategically, you'll love the episode with Cara Macklin. Both conversations look at how to design your business model as intentionally as your ideas—shifting from "doing the work" to building scalable offers, curating the right clients, and creating more freedom and impact. Listen to them together as a mini-masterclass in turning expertise, coaching, and content into a focused, high-value business.
What happens when pressure—not power—shapes the way leaders show up? That's the question at the heart of this conversation with executive advisor, keynote speaker, and bestselling author Sabina Nawaz.
Sabina's thought leadership centers on a bold idea: pressure can squeeze the humanity out of even the best leaders. And in today's high-velocity business environment, every manager—from first-line supervisors to CEOs—is at risk. Her work helps leaders reclaim that humanity, especially when the stakes are highest.
In this episode, Sabina shares the research behind her book " You're the Boss: Become the Manager You Want to Be (and Others Need)" , built on 12,000 pages of interviews with employees about their managers. Her frameworks reveal the real drivers of effective leadership. Not charisma. Not authority. But the ability to stay grounded, present, and self-aware when demands are relentless.
Sabina also unpacks how senior-level coaching delivers exponential ROI. She explains why small behavioral shifts at the C-suite ripple through organizations, and why understanding value—not hours—is the key to pricing high-impact advisory work. Her insights on scope, pricing, and client alignment are a masterclass for anyone growing a thought leadership business.
We also explore the business of books. Sabina offers a candid look at what it truly takes to publish successfully with a traditional publisher—and why marketing, positioning, and community matter more than manuscripts. Her perspective on ethical promotion, generosity within the thought leadership ecosystem, and crafting high-quality, specific asks is practical and refreshing.
Finally, Sabina introduces one of her signature practices: "the blank space"—two intentional hours each week to step back from pressure, reset, and let insight emerge. It's a powerful mindset shift that every leader needs.
This episode is packed with actionable wisdom for executives, coaches, and thought leaders ready to lead with clarity, courage, and humanity.
Three Key Takeaways:
• Pressure changes leaders more than power does, and without intentional practices—like creating "blank space"—managers risk losing their humanity and effectiveness.
• High-impact coaching is valued by the long-term ripple effects it creates, making thoughtful pricing, scope alignment, and articulating ROI essential for senior-level advisory work.
• Writing a book is only the first step—successful thought leadership publishing requires strategic positioning, ethical promotion, and the courage to make focused, specific asks of your network.
If you found this episode insightful, you won't want to miss our conversation with Lance Tanaka. Both episodes unpack what really happens when senior leaders step into high-pressure roles, rethink how they lead, and learn to create impact through clarity, presence, and intentional development. Lance takes those themes even further—diving into how executives transition into high-value coaching, define their worth, and build influence that truly sticks.
If Sabina's insights on pressure, leadership behavior, and the real value of coaching resonated with you, Lance's episode will deepen your understanding and give you even more actionable ideas to elevate your own leadership practice.
Listen next: The Lance Tanaka Episode — and continue your growth journey.
What does it take to transform leadership into a calling — and build a business that transforms others? Today, Peter Winick sits down with Daniel Harkavy, founder and CEO of Building Champions, a pioneer in executive coaching and leadership development. Daniel shares how he turned the lessons from his early career in mortgage banking into a structured, scalable system for growing leaders — and why his success is rooted in helping others unlock their potential. Daniel's approach to thought leadership isn't about pedigree or credentials — it's about proof. He took what worked in one high-performance environment and codified it into frameworks, checklists, and playbooks that any leader could use to create lasting impact. From Becoming a Coaching Leader to Building Champions' current programs, Daniel's work continues to shape how organizations coach, communicate, and cultivate leadership at every level. The conversation dives deep into what it means to scale a mission-driven business without losing its soul. Daniel opens up about the "near-death" moments that almost derailed his company — from failed partnerships to market crashes — and the resilience it takes to rebuild stronger each time. His story is a masterclass in balancing faith, strategy, and discipline in pursuit of a greater purpose. Peter and Daniel also explore how AI is reshaping the future of leadership and coaching. Daniel sees it not as a threat but as a copilot — a tool that, when mastered, can amplify human insight, accelerate problem-solving, and deepen relationships. His message is clear: technology can enhance thought leadership, but it can't replace the leader. Three Key Takeaways: • Codify What Works: Turning personal insight into repeatable frameworks allows leaders to scale their impact, build stronger teams, and create lasting organizational value. • Lead with Purpose and Resilience: Sustainable success comes from aligning business strategy with personal values and staying adaptable through inevitable market and operational challenges. • Leverage AI as a Copilot, Not a Replacement: The future of leadership depends on mastering technology to enhance human insight, accelerate decisions, and deepen relationships — without losing the human touch that defines great leadership. If Daniel's episode inspired you to think differently about leadership systems, purpose, and resilience, you'll want to listen next to "Becoming Resilient Through Thought Leadership" featuring James Harold Webb. Both conversations explore how true leaders turn adversity into an advantage — Daniel through codifying leadership frameworks and James through channeling personal reinvention into influence and impact. Together, they reveal the blueprint for thriving in uncertainty: build systems that scale, lead with purpose, and use your story as fuel for growth. Listen to both and discover how resilience isn't just about bouncing back — it's about building forward with clarity, structure, and intention.
What if you could stop running on empty—and still perform at your best? That's the question Erin Coupe, author of "I Can Fit That In" (and host of a podcast by the same name), invites leaders to ask. She challenges the old "time management" mindset that rewards burnout and box-checking, replacing it with a human-centered strategy of presence, choice, and renewal. Her message? Productivity doesn't come from cramming more into your day—it comes from creating rituals that restore you. Erin works with executives and teams to help them shift from survival mode to sustainable performance. Through keynotes, workshops, and cohort-based learning, she guides people to design their own energizing rituals—intentional practices that bring clarity, calm, and connection. It's not about doing more. It's about aligning what you do with what truly matters. Her approach transforms corporate cultures. Teams that once ran on autopilot begin building trust, transparency, and shared language. Leaders rediscover focus and resilience. And when people take these lessons home—teaching them to spouses, partners, and even kids—the impact multiplies. As Peter Winick explores in this episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership, Erin's work goes beyond productivity hacks or quick fixes. It's about conscious leadership. Healthy boundaries. Self-respect. And recognizing that how we show up—at work and at home—is a choice. Tune in to hear how organizations are embracing her frameworks to create more intentional, energized, and emotionally intelligent workplaces—one ritual at a time. Three Key Takeaways: • Rituals energize, routines drain. Intentional rituals create meaning and renewal, while rigid routines often lead to burnout. • Mindset drives performance. Shifting from overcommitment to presence and self-respect builds clarity and sustainable success. • Culture grows through connection. Shared rituals and language strengthen trust, resilience, and emotional intelligence within teams. Loved Erin Coupe's insights on transforming burnout into clarity through intentional rituals? Then don't miss our conversation with Dre Baldwin on Think Big, Act Bigger. Both episodes explore how mindset shapes sustainable performance—Erin focuses on the inner rituals that ground us, while Dre breaks down the mental systems that drive consistent action. Together, they form a one-two punch for leaders who want to perform at a high level without losing themselves in the process.
What happens when life forces you to stop—and that pause changes everything? Melissa Gonzalez, Principal at MG2 Design and author of "The Purpose Pivot: How Dynamic Leaders Put Vulnerability and Intuition into Action", knows firsthand. A medical crisis made her rethink what success truly means. Once a Wall Street professional turned retail design expert and author of "The Pop-Up Paradigm", Melissa built a thriving business helping brands tell their stories through physical spaces. But when her own defining moment arrived, she found a new story to tell—one about purpose, well-being, and the strength found in vulnerability. In this episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership, Melissa joins Bill Sherman to explore how life's disruptions can fuel transformation. She shares her evolution from building pop-up experiences for brands to helping leaders embrace intuition, pause with purpose, and redefine balance. Through dozens of interviews with women leaders, Melissa uncovered a truth many resist—taking time to pause isn't weakness; it's wisdom. Melissa also discusses the art of integrating her message of purpose into her business world. She reveals how partnerships with brands like Nordstrom, Simon G. Fine Jewelry, and Crate & Barrel amplified her book's message through events and collaborations that celebrate defining moments. Her story is a masterclass in aligning personal growth, thought leadership, and business strategy—without losing authenticity. From managing the emotional and physical toll of overachievement to embracing JOMO (the joy of missing out), Melissa's journey offers a reminder: the most powerful pivots often happen when you stop chasing and start listening. Three Key Takeaways: • Pause is Power – Taking time to slow down, reflect, and prioritize well-being isn't a weakness—it's a strategic strength. Melissa's personal experience taught her that real success comes from making intentional choices rooted in impact, not busyness. • Authentic Integration Fuels Influence – Thought leadership grows when your personal mission aligns with your professional platform. Melissa leveraged her network, brand partnerships, and events to bring The Purpose Pivot to life—blending purpose-driven storytelling with business acumen. • Vulnerability Creates Connection – Sharing personal defining moments invites others to reflect on their own. Through candid storytelling and interviews, Melissa shows that embracing vulnerability deepens relationships, inspires trust, and sparks meaningful change. If Melissa Gonzalez's story inspired you to rethink success, balance, and the power of the pause, don't stop there. Check out The Non-Linear Thought Leadership episode with Elizabeth McCourt. Both conversations explore how vulnerability, authenticity, and unexpected turns can become catalysts for growth. Melissa's journey shows how a defining moment can reshape purpose. Elizabeth's episode builds on that idea—revealing how non-linear paths, reinvention, and resilience fuel thought leadership. Listen to both, and you'll walk away ready to embrace uncertainty, lead with heart, and turn every pivot into possibility. Listen next: The Non-Linear Thought Leadership | Elizabeth McCourt
What happens when life-and-death decision-making meets the boardroom? Today our guest is Dr. Geoffrey Mount Varner—a physician, author of "FAST DECISIONS: Think Fast. Be Bold. Be Fearless", and leadership expert—shares how his experience in emergency medicine led him to develop a powerful framework for decision-making under pressure. As the former head of Washington D.C.'s emergency Ebola response, Dr. Varner learned that hesitation can be deadly. Today, he brings that same clarity and urgency to the world of business leadership. Dr. Varner explains how most leaders waste valuable "decision energy" by treating every choice as equally important. His approach teaches executives to quickly identify which decisions deserve deep thought and which can be made in seconds. At the core of his DPD framework—Deep Breath, Pause, Decide—is a deceptively simple but scientifically grounded process that empowers leaders to quiet emotion, activate intuition, and make confident, timely decisions. He and Peter Winick dive into how the corporate world often rewards inaction—where delayed or avoided decisions are seen as safe career moves. Dr. Varner argues that indecision is, in fact, a decision—and one that can cripple organizations. He offers practical, repeatable ways for leaders to break through analysis paralysis, train their teams for agility, and create a culture of accountability and speed. Finally, Dr. Varner reflects on his own transition from medicine to thought leadership—transforming his crisis-tested experience into a business-ready system. Through books, speaking engagements, and workshops, he's building a new generation of leaders who make better choices, faster. Because in both medicine and business, the ability to decide well can be the difference between success and failure. Three Key Takeaways: • Decisiveness Is a Trainable Skill. Great leaders aren't born decisive—they're trained. Dr. Varner's DPD framework (Deep Breath, Pause, Decide) helps leaders manage emotion, engage intuition, and act with confidence under pressure. • Not All Decisions Deserve Equal Attention. Leaders often waste energy treating minor choices like major ones. Dr. Varner categorizes decisions by consequence—low, medium, and high—so leaders can spend their time where it matters most. • Indecision Is Still a Decision. In business as in medicine, delayed action carries risks. Dr. Varner reminds leaders that avoiding decisions is itself a choice—one that can stall progress, weaken accountability, and erode trust. If you found value in this episode's focus on making faster, smarter decisions under pressure, you'll want to check out "Making Better Decisions Through Thought Leadership" with Thomas Lahnthaler. In that conversation, Thomas explores how the strategic use of thought leadership isn't just about ideas—it's about preparing teams for inevitable crisis-points, creating choices rather than waiting for them, and harnessing collective insight when the pressure's on. Listen to both episodes back-to-back to unlock how frameworks + mindset + action combine to turn uncertainty into advantage and hesitation into leadership momentum.
What happens when a storyteller from Microsoft turns her lens on the women shaping technology's past, present, and future? Today on Leveraging Thought Leadership, Peter Winick sits down with Miri Rodriguez, CEO of Empressa AI, best-selling author, storyteller at Microsoft, and co-author of "The Women of Microsoft" (Wiley). Miri reveals how a simple Teams message from a colleague in Poland sparked a global collaboration — uniting 50 women from across cultures, career levels, and disciplines to tell their stories of innovation, resilience, and purpose. Miri's thought leadership centers on mission-driven storytelling — using narrative as a strategic tool for inclusion and brand love. She shares how metrics like "brand love" go beyond data to measure emotional impact, connection, and loyalty. Her goal isn't just to celebrate women at Microsoft, but to ensure their contributions are recorded in the technological history being written right now. She challenges leaders to think beyond traditional boundaries of thought leadership inside corporations. For Miri, there's no dividing line between personal purpose and professional platform — every story she tells aligns with her mission to empower women's voices. Her journey demonstrates how clarity of purpose can attract the right opportunities and how a clear mission can transform your work into a force multiplier. This conversation is a masterclass in how to use storytelling as strategy — to inspire action, build communities, and leave a lasting mark on the narrative of innovation. Three Key Takeaways: • Mission-driven storytelling creates lasting impact — when your message aligns with a clear purpose, it naturally attracts opportunities and amplifies your influence. • Emotional connection is a powerful metric — concepts like "brand love" show that loyalty and inspiration can be measured through human connection, not just numbers. • Authentic voices shape the future — sharing real stories, especially from underrepresented groups, ensures that innovation and progress include every perspective. If you were struck by the power of storytelling, emotional connection, and mission-driven leadership in this episode, the conversation with Jenna Fisher will take you deeper into those same themes in a corporate leadership setting. In her interview, you'll hear how she interviewed dozens of women leaders to uncover the real barriers and strategies for rising to the top, even when the rules seem stacked against you. Listen next to discover how to merge narrative, metrics, and career strategy into a playbook for women (and all leaders) to advance influence, voice, and impact. Listen now: "Women in Corporate Leadership"
What's the real ROI of a book? That's the question Peter Winick poses to Chief Imaginative Officer of Emerson Consulting, author of "The Expert's Edge: Become the Go-To Authority People Turn to Every Time" and publishing expert Ken Lizotte, in this episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership. Ken has helped more than 350 thought leaders turn their ideas into published works—books, blogs, and articles that position them as authorities in their fields. He's seen it all: the excitement of a new book idea, the confusion around agents and publishers, and the reality that the book itself isn't the profit center—it's the door opener. Ken breaks down the evolving world of publishing—traditional, hybrid, and self-publishing—and reveals how authors can choose the right path based on their business goals. He and Peter cut through the myths about literary agents, unpack how the publishing game really works, and share why alignment between author and publisher is so rare (and so essential). More importantly, Ken makes it clear that a book's success isn't measured in units sold—it's in how well it builds credibility, opens doors to speaking gigs, attracts clients, and establishes long-term brand authority. Whether you're dreaming about your first book or looking to turn ideas into influence, this conversation will show you how to treat your book as a strategic asset, not just a creative project. Three Key Takeaways: • A Book's True ROI Isn't in Sales—It's in Strategy. The financial return on a nonfiction book rarely comes from copies sold. Instead, it comes from what the book enables: paid speaking gigs, consulting work, and business growth. A book is a credibility tool, not a revenue product. • Authors Must Choose the Right Publishing "Game." Traditional publishing, hybrid, and self-publishing each serve different goals. Ken stresses that authors need to decide early whether they're playing the publisher's game (focused on sales volume) or their own game (using the book as a business and thought leadership tool). • A Great Book Builds Authority, Not Just Audience. The most successful thought leaders use their books to define expertise, attract the right clients, and create long-term influence. The focus shouldn't be on pleasing everyone—it's about reaching the specific audience where your ideas have the greatest impact. If you're fired up by Ken Lizotte's strategies for making a book a business-building tool, then you'll definitely want to hear Lucinda Halpern's episode too. In it, Lucinda debunks the myths that trap many thought leaders—like thinking an agent guarantees a book deal, that publishers will handle all marketing, or that you need huge social media numbers to get published. You'll walk away with clearer insight into publishing timelines, how to build a platform that matters, and how to make a book a lead-generation engine, not just a creative side project. Tune in and get sharper on how to align your ideas, your reach, and your publishing strategy—all toward real growth.
What makes a podcast truly powerful — and worth your time? In this episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership, Peter Winick sits down with Ryan Estes, co-founder of Wildcast and Kitcaster, to unpack what separates a great podcast guest — and host — from the rest. Ryan's work connects CEOs, founders, and thought leaders to the right audiences through strategic podcast placement. His mission: to turn conversations into meaningful distribution. Ryan explains why founder-led marketing outperforms brand marketing — by as much as 80%. He reveals how showing up authentically on podcasts isn't just about exposure; it's about building credibility, creating demand, and sparking conversations that open doors to your ideal clients. Together, Peter and Ryan explore what makes a podcast worth appearing on. It's not about chasing the biggest show or the biggest name — it's about relevance. For many business leaders, the right niche podcast might be the only place where all their potential buyers are listening. Ryan walks through how to identify the right shows for your goals, the importance of energy and chemistry in a podcast conversation, and how to develop the skills — from delivery to lighting — that make you a guest worth remembering. They also discuss the "guest hygiene" problem: why so many smart leaders fail to prepare properly, neglect to promote their episodes, or treat podcasts like disposable media hits. Ryan argues that building a personal distribution network — your own voice, audience, and presence — is an investment that carries over to every project, every company, and every new venture. If you've been thinking about launching a podcast, or becoming a sought-after guest, this episode is your roadmap to doing it right — and doing it with purpose. Three Key Takeaways: • Founder-led marketing drives results. When leaders speak directly to audiences through podcasts, their message builds far more trust and engagement than traditional brand marketing. • Relevance beats reach. The best podcasts for business growth aren't always the biggest — they're the ones where your ideal buyers actually listen and engage. • Consistency builds credibility. Thought leaders who prepare well, promote their episodes, and keep showing up authentically develop a personal brand that outlasts any single company or project. If this conversation inspired you to think differently about using your voice and platform, take the next step by listening to our episode with Srinivas Rao. He dives deep into how creativity, curiosity, and personal expression fuel powerful thought leadership. Discover how to build an audience that connects with your ideas — not just your brand.
Listen here.
What if the world didn’t reward the best ideas — but the best-packaged ones? That’s the question at the heart of this conversation between Bill Sherman and Gavin McMahon, CEO of fassforward and author of Story Business. Once an engineer designing submarines, Gavin discovered that technical brilliance alone doesn’t move ideas forward — storytelling does. Now, he helps leaders use story as a tool for influence, clarity, and change. In this episode, Bill and Gavin explore why ideas don’t speak for themselves — and how story gives them a voice. They unpack the idea of “storytelling power” versus organizational power, and why leaders who can’t tell stories struggle to inspire action. Gavin defines story as “information wrapped in emotion for commercial purpose” — a deceptively simple definition that can transform the way you present ideas. They also dive into Gavin’s concept of “grandma language,” the art of making complex ideas accessible without losing credibility. Using examples from CEOs and real-world leaders, Gavin shows how mixing simple and sophisticated language helps ideas stick — even in high-stakes environments like cybersecurity or strategy. You’ll also hear about the seven-year journey of writing Story Business — how Gavin refined his thinking, wrestled with simplicity, and learned that clarity comes only after doing the hard work of distillation. Along the way, he and Bill reflect on humility in communication, the creative joy of writing, and why being “nicer to people” may be the best advice for every thought leader. If you’ve ever struggled to make your ideas land — this conversation will show you how story turns insight into impact. Three Key Takeaways: • The Best Idea Doesn’t Win — The Best-Packaged One Does. Gavin argues that success isn’t about having the smartest idea, but the clearest, most emotionally resonant one. Storytelling gives ideas power, helping them stand out and gain traction in organizations that aren’t true meritocracies. • “Grandma Language” Makes Ideas Stick. Gavin introduces the concept of blending “credibility language” (expert terminology) with “grandma language” (simple, human words). The balance builds trust and accessibility — a must for leaders trying to communicate complex ideas to busy or distracted audiences. • Simplicity Is Earned Through Hard Work. Writing Story Business taught Gavin that true simplicity comes only after deep thought and refinement. As he tells Bill, people make ideas complicated because they haven’t finished thinking them through — and clarity is proof of mastery. If this conversation on Story Business sparked new ways to think about how you share ideas, you’ll love hearing from Michelle Mellon in Thought Leadership and Storytelling. She dives deep into how narrative builds trust, shapes perception, and turns expertise into connection. Listen next: Thought Leadership and Storytelling with Michelle Mellon — and discover how to make your stories resonate long after the meeting ends.
What happens when senior executives step into a room and speak with radical candor? In this episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership, host Peter Winick sits down with Ken Banta, Founder and CEO of the Vanguard Network, to explore how real leaders grow stronger through dialogue—not monologues. Ken doesn’t just advise on leadership—he builds ecosystems where executives learn directly from each other. The Vanguard Network creates peer-to-peer forums where GCs, CEOs, and senior leaders share their toughest challenges and unfiltered lessons. The power comes not from lectures or PowerPoint, but from raw, honest conversation. Members of his network walk away with two powerful outcomes. First, practical insights they can use immediately—solutions drawn from peers who’ve been there before. Second, the relief of knowing they’re not alone. When a board chair demands instant answers, having the confidence that others face the same issues is invaluable. These conversations create resilience, credibility, and a stronger sense of leadership presence. Ken also shows how these networks spark new thought leadership. Dialogue around real problems fuels fresh ideas, posts, and even books like his "Seeing Around Corners". This isn’t theory—it’s leadership in action, captured and shared for broader impact. The results are tangible. Leaders leave with new strategies, new allies, and sometimes even new career opportunities. One member walked peers through a cyberattack disaster, openly admitting mistakes and lessons. Another two struck a career-changing deal over dinner. This is thought leadership at its highest level—intimate, applied, and deeply human. If you want to see how conversation transforms into influence, this episode is for you. Three Key Takeaways: • Dialogue beats monologue. Executives gain more from candid peer conversations than from lectures or presentations. • Leaders don’t stand alone. Sharing challenges in trusted forums provides reassurance and practical solutions. • Conversations spark influence. Real stories and exchanges fuel new thought leadership, stronger presence, and fresh opportunities. If you found Ken Banta’s episode insightful, you’ll want to keep the momentum going with Karen Leland’s conversation on the performance of thought leadership. Ken showed how peer-to-peer dialogue fuels fresh insights and builds executive presence. Karen takes it a step further, exploring how leaders can deliver their ideas with clarity, confidence, and authenticity so they truly land with an audience. Together, these two episodes connect the what and the how of thought leadership: Ken highlights the power of conversations that spark ideas, while Karen shows you how to perform those ideas so they inspire action. Listen to Karen’s episode to learn practical strategies for elevating your communication, amplifying your presence, and making your thought leadership unforgettable.
What happens when a CEO treats thought leadership as essential as strategy?
In this episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership, host Peter Winick sits down with Des Hague, an acclaimed executive who has led global brands like PepsiCo, IHOP, and Centerplate, and now advises startups, nonprofits, and private equity firms. He’s also the author of "Think Your Way to the Top" and "15 Minutes of Shame", with a third book on the way. Des doesn’t see thought leadership as an optional side project. For him, it’s the natural extension of leadership itself—codifying the models, frameworks, and mindsets that fuel success. He shares why talent is always the starting point, how leaders must prioritize relentlessly, and why making time for writing and reflection is a choice, not a luxury. We dig into the dangers of mediocrity and entitlement, the critical role of sacrifice, and how to stay focused in a world addicted to distraction. Des’s mantra, NSL—Never Stop Learning—pushes leaders to reject complacency and demand excellence from themselves and others. He also opens up about resilience, accountability, and how leaders respond to their lowest moments. Through transparency and candor, Des reframes failure as a lesson, not a life sentence. His story challenges executives to hold themselves to higher standards, embrace growth, and remain relentless in their pursuit of impact. This is an episode for leaders who want more than buzzwords. It’s about discipline, clarity, and the courage to lead with integrity—even when the spotlight is harsh. Three Key Takeaways: • Thought leadership is leadership. Codifying frameworks, sharing ideas, and investing in personal development are essential for leading organizations and people effectively. • Focus and sacrifice drive results. Great leaders prioritize ruthlessly, avoid distractions, and make deliberate trade-offs to create time for what matters most. • Resilience and accountability matter. Owning mistakes, learning from setbacks, and maintaining a growth mindset separate leaders who stagnate from those who continue to make an impact. If you enjoyed Des Hague’s perspective on leadership, focus, and turning ideas into impact, you’ll want to dive into our episode with Will Milano. Both conversations tackle the discipline behind thought leadership—how leaders move beyond inspiration to frameworks, focus, and execution. Des shows how personal accountability and clarity shape great leadership, while Will unpacks how organizations can build a repeatable engine that scales those ideas into measurable business results. Together, these episodes give you a 360° view: the mindset of the leader and the system that powers the enterprise. Listen to both, and you’ll walk away with practical insights for making thought leadership not just personal, but organizational. Listen to Will's episode here.
What if time wasn’t fixed, but something you could stretch, compress, and reframe? In this episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership, host Bill Sherman sits down with John Coyle—Olympian, design thinking expert, and author of "Design for Strengths". John has spent his life chasing the meaning of time, from hundredths of a second on the ice to decades in thought leadership. His work asks us to reconsider not just how much time we have, but how we experience it. John shares how fleeting moments can reset the trajectory of our lives—an insight that came from his Olympic journey where fractions of a second separate gold from "first loser". He explains the Greek distinction between Chronos (clock time) and Kairos (human, transformative time) and why organizations and leaders need to design for the moments that truly matter. We explore John’s unique career path—from competing alongside Lance Armstrong and working with Enron to translating neuroscience and psychology into practical lessons on leadership, innovation, and resilience. Along the way, he reveals how flow state, storytelling, and emotional engagement can make time slow down and make ideas stick. You’ll also hear John’s most powerful Kairos moment—the story of a silver medal, a boy who became an Olympian, and how one act of kindness changed two lives forever. It’s a reminder that you never know when a small choice can alter someone’s future. This conversation challenges leaders to rethink their relationship with time, memory, and meaning. It’s not about adding years to your life—it’s about adding more life to your years. Three Key Takeaways: • Moments reset the future. Leadership pivots often come from brief Kairos moments that redefine direction more than years of steady effort. • Memories are the currency of time. Flow states, risk, and storytelling create lasting memories that make life feel longer and leadership more impactful. • Design for strengths, not weaknesses. Leaders unlock innovation and resilience when they focus on amplifying strengths instead of patching flaws. If you found value in today’s conversation about designing time, flow, and moments that move you forward, you’ll want to listen to Maximizing the Flow of Ideas for Your Organization with guests Jeremy Utley and Perry Klebahn. That episode digs into how leaders generate more ideas over time—and why volume, variety, and experimentation are just as important as insight or vision. Both episodes ask a powerful question: how do you create an environment where your best ideas don’t just happen—but compound? In short, if you want tools for turning strengths into breakthroughs, and moments into momentum—this is your next listen. It’ll help you scale creativity, lead from possibility, and expand what “thought leadership” can mean across your team or organization.
What if the key to transformation isn’t a new app, a coach, or a seminar—but a 99-cent notebook? In this episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership, Peter Winick sits down with Klint Guerry, Group Vice President at Sewell Automotive Companies and author of "A Guide to Self Disruption". Klint reveals how a simple daily practice evolved into a powerful system for accountability, focus, and lifelong learning. At the heart of Klint’s thought leadership is the Guerry Notes Process—a structured, five-step method that has shaped his career, his leadership, and now, the lives of others. It’s not about lofty theories or abstract models. It’s about discipline. Responsibility. Curiosity. Service. Humility. These principles are practical, repeatable, and deeply transformative for anyone serious about growth. Klint explains how great leaders, teams, and individuals thrive not on charisma alone, but on process. Just as top athletes rely on rigorous training, professionals need daily systems to harness their strengths, stay focused, and deliver extraordinary results. His framework isn’t just personal—it applies to mentoring, team development, and building high-performance cultures. The book itself functions as both a mentor and a tool. With prompts, exercises, and curated wisdom, it bridges the gap between intention and action. For leaders, it’s a way to instill accountability and growth in their organizations. For individuals, it’s a guide to disrupting old patterns and unlocking potential. Klint’s work is a reminder that thought leadership is about more than ideas—it’s about building processes that others can adopt, adapt, and thrive within. Whether you’re a CEO, a rising professional, or a mentor, his insights will challenge you to ask: What system am I using to become the best version of myself? Three Key Takeaways: • Process beats charisma. Long-term success isn’t about charm or improvisation—it’s about having a disciplined, repeatable system that drives accountability and results. • Five principles power growth. Responsibility, focus, curiosity, humility, and service form the foundation of the Guerry Notes Process, helping leaders and teams consistently elevate performance. • A simple tool creates transformation. A 99-cent notebook, used daily with intention, can become a personal operating system for lifelong learning, stronger mentorship, and building high-performance cultures. If Klint’s episode got you thinking about the power of process, discipline, and structure in driving growth, you’ll want to dive into this conversation with Manja Horner on Thought Leadership and Adult Learning. Both episodes explore how simple, repeatable systems can transform potential into performance—whether through a daily notebook practice or by designing learning experiences that stick. Together, they show you how to move beyond inspiration into measurable impact. Listen here to see how you can apply these ideas to sharpen focus, accelerate growth, and create lasting change: Thought Leadership and Adult Learning with Manja Horner.
What does it take for a self-published author to turn a niche book into a best-seller—and then hand it over to a traditional publisher for its second edition? Erik Hanberg did just that with "The Little Book of Boards: A Board Member’s Handbook for Small and Very Small Nonprofits". His journey offers lessons in entrepreneurship, publishing strategy, and the business of thought leadership. In this episode, Erik shares how his early board experiences shaped his expertise and sparked a desire to help others avoid common pitfalls. What started as trial by fire became a passion for teaching—and a book that has sold more than 40,000 copies. By targeting a highly specific audience, he created a resource that spread by word of mouth, bulk orders, and Amazon’s niche algorithms. We explore the business side of publishing, from self-funded ads that fueled sales growth to negotiating with a Big 5 imprint for the book’s second edition. Erik reveals the financial trade-offs between steady monthly royalties as an independent author and the broader reach a publisher’s distribution network can provide. He also explains how he negotiated a contract that protected his long-term interests. Beyond sales, Erik talks about the opportunities that came once he became “the guy who wrote the book.” From board retreats across the country to consulting engagements, his authorship opened doors that no marketing campaign alone could create. And as AI reshapes how people access answers, Erik reflects on why human experience, frameworks, and authenticity still matter in thought leadership. If you’ve ever wondered how to transform expertise into a platform, or how to balance independence with institutional backing, Erik’s story is both practical and inspiring. Three Key Takeaways: • Niche sells big. By writing The Little Book of Boards for small and very small nonprofits, Erik reached the largest segment in the nonprofit space—and sold more than 50,000 copies. • Publishing is strategy, not luck. Erik turned modest sales into consistent revenue by investing in Amazon ads, then leveraged his track record to negotiate a traditional publishing deal on his terms. • Books open doors. Beyond royalties, authorship positioned Erik as an authority, leading to nationwide consulting and board retreat opportunities—proof that thought leadership creates business growth far beyond the page. If Erik Hanberg’s story showed you how a single book can spark authority and open doors in the nonprofit world, you’ll want to hear how Andrew Button is doing the same—this time in local communities. Andrew shares how thought leadership builds courage, activates ideas, and fuels grassroots change. Don’t just think about scaling ideas nationally—see how they thrive locally, too. Listen now to Andrew Button’s episode on thought leadership in local communities.
What if gambling with your time was the smartest investment you could make as a thought leader? Today on Leveraging Thought Leadership, host Peter Winick sits down with Dan Ariely—renowned behavioral economist, three-time New York Times bestselling author, and one of the sharpest minds in decision science. His work has influenced companies like Google and Apple, guided governments, and sparked movements in how we understand human behavior. Dan shares why he doesn’t believe in rigid career paths but instead embraces intellectual adventure. His approach? Say yes to opportunities, experiment widely, and learn fast. From writing children’s books to advising on Middle East diplomacy, he treats each project as a test of impact and possibility. It’s thought leadership powered by curiosity, not by a fixed roadmap. We explore how Dan chooses where to focus his time and energy—not on where the money is, but on where humanity is underperforming. Whether it’s helping people rethink end-of-life care, confronting our irrational use of social media, or tackling the psychology of sleep, his work points toward reducing suffering and increasing human well-being at scale. What stands out is not just Dan’s research, but his method. He embeds himself in the world he studies. He spends Fridays with palliative care doctors and end-of-life doulas, visits slums to understand poverty, and listens deeply to those at the margins. For him, real thought leadership means turning lived experience into research-backed insights—and transforming those insights into powerful stories people remember. This conversation is a masterclass in aligning expertise with purpose. Dan shows how storytelling, data, and empathy intersect to create impact. And he reminds us that luck isn’t found—it’s generated by saying yes, trying widely, and learning relentlessly. Three Key Takeaways: • Gamble with your time wisely — saying yes to diverse opportunities creates luck, generates new insights, and fuels thought leadership. • Focus where humanity underperforms — the biggest impact comes from tackling areas where society consistently falls short, like end-of-life care, social media use, or health behaviors. • Turn research into stories — embedding in real-world experiences and translating data into memorable narratives makes ideas resonate and spread at scale. If you found this episode thought-provoking, you’ll want to keep the momentum going with our conversation on organizational thought leadership in nonprofits with Marci Alboher. Both episodes shine a light on how thought leadership can tackle the places where humanity underperforms—whether it’s rethinking end-of-life care and decision-making, or changing the narrative around aging and intergenerational collaboration. In Dan’s episode, you’ll hear how curiosity and experimentation fuel insights that reduce suffering and spark change at scale. In Marci’s, you’ll discover how nonprofits can amplify voices, craft stories, and shift perceptions to unlock the untapped value of older generations. Together, these episodes show how purpose-driven thought leadership—grounded in storytelling and human impact—can create real transformation. Listen to Marci’s episode next and expand your perspective on how ideas can drive change across both individuals and organizations.
What happens when every member of your team thinks, works, and communicates differently? Do you see chaos—or do you see opportunity? In this episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership, Peter Winick sits down with Stephanie Chung, bestselling author of "Leading People Who Are Not Like You" and a pioneering executive in the aviation industry. Stephanie challenges leaders to move beyond surface-level diversity and embrace the reality that every team is built on differences—in age, gender, culture, abilities, experiences, and thinking styles. Her thought leadership reframes leadership for today’s workplace. This isn’t about DEI checkboxes. It’s about ROI. Leaders who know how to harness diverse perspectives build stronger, more innovative, and more resilient organizations. Stephanie introduces her ALLY framework—Ask, Listen, Learn, and then act—to help leaders cut through the noise and lead with both head and heart. She points out that too many leaders default to “safe teams” where everyone looks different but thinks the same. Safe teams don’t innovate. They underperform. Great leadership requires stepping into the challenge of managing complexity and difference. Stephanie’s work equips executives with the tools and mindset to do just that. Stephanie also highlights the real business case. Diverse teams deliver better outcomes, but only when leaders develop the skill—and courage—to engage differences instead of ignoring them. Her book and keynotes are sparking a movement that’s helping organizations move past fear of mistakes and into a more open, adaptive, and human style of leadership. If you lead people—and especially if they’re not like you—this conversation will challenge your assumptions and expand your playbook for growth. Three Key Takeaways: • Safe teams underperform — When everyone thinks alike, innovation stalls. Real growth comes from embracing differences, not avoiding them. • Leadership is about ROI, not DEI checklists — Diverse teams deliver stronger results, but only if leaders know how to harness and manage those differences. • The ALLY framework matters — Ask, Listen, Learn, and then act. This simple model helps leaders navigate generational, cultural, and communication gaps effectively. If Stephanie’s episode got you thinking about the challenges—and opportunities—of leading people who aren’t like you, then you’ll want to dive deeper with Lily Zheng’s episode on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Deconstructed. Both conversations cut through the noise and focus on what really drives results: leaders who can embrace differences, move beyond surface-level DEI checklists, and create teams that thrive. Where Stephanie gives you the ALLY framework to navigate everyday leadership dynamics, Lily brings a data-driven lens to diagnose what’s working and what isn’t inside organizations. Listen to both, and you’ll walk away with a sharper playbook for leading diverse teams, boosting innovation, and turning inclusion into real ROI.
Are you the bottleneck in your own business? Many entrepreneurs wear every hat—CEO, sales, R&D, even accounts receivable—yet still feel stuck. Cary Prejean, founder of Strategic Business Advisors and author of three books, has spent 40 years helping business owners shift from operator to visionary leader. In this episode, we explore why entrepreneurs don’t need to become great managers—and why trying to do so can hold them back. Instead, Cary shows how to build processes that keep the business running without you, freeing you to focus on vision, growth, and impact. We break down the opposite skill sets of entrepreneurs and managers—why one thrives on vision, speed, and risk, while the other thrives on stability, patience, and process. Cary explains how to use the language of leadership to engage your team, enroll them in your mission, and empower them to take ownership. It’s about letting go without losing control, and creating repeatable, scalable systems that make you irrelevant to daily operations—in the best possible way. Cary shares practical ways to get the attention of distracted, fast-moving entrepreneurs, starting with the right questions. He reveals how to uncover hidden bottlenecks, fix chronic operational headaches, and stop training your team to rely on you for every decision. We also discuss the parallels between leading people and prompting AI—clear direction, desired outcomes, and the freedom to innovate. From his roots in accounting to his evolution as a leadership advisor, Cary’s journey offers a blueprint for sustainable growth. We talk about his upcoming books—one on common business-killing mistakes, and another on the lost art of relating—and how improving communication can transform not only your business but your relationships. If your business can’t run without you for more than a day, this conversation could be your turning point. Three Key Takeaways: • Entrepreneurs shouldn’t try to become great managers — The skill sets are fundamentally different. Instead of forcing yourself into a management mold, focus on evolving into a visionary leader who sets direction, inspires others, and empowers the team to execute. • Build processes that run the business without you — Repeatable, scalable systems free you from daily firefighting. When your team owns the process and delivers consistent results, you can step away from the weeds and focus on growth and innovation. • Empower and engage your team through clear vision and communication — Enroll employees in your mission, give them ownership of solutions, and resist micromanaging. Leadership is about prompting for outcomes, not dictating every step—just like using AI effectively. If Cary’s episode got you thinking about how to stop being the bottleneck in your own business, Jonathan Raveh’s conversation is your perfect next step. Both episodes tackle the same core challenge—how to move from doing it all yourself to building systems and empowering others. Cary shows you how to evolve from operator to visionary leader, while Jonathan dives deep into scaling thought leadership so your ideas can live and grow beyond you. Listen to Jonathan’s episode to see how you can turn your vision into a shared organizational capability, equip your team to contribute their voices, and create thought leadership that scales—without burning you out. Pair these two episodes and you’ll have a roadmap for scaling both your business and your ideas.
What if your next career move wasn’t about climbing the ladder—but making real progress toward a life of purpose? In this episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership, host Peter Winick sits down with Michael Horn—author, speaker, and co-founder of the Clayton Christensen Institute for Disruptive Innovation —to explore how thought leadership can transform education, careers, and the way we make big life decisions. Michael has spent decades applying the "Jobs to Be Done" framework—originally developed by Clayton Christensen—to help individuals and organizations rethink their goals. He’s worked alongside entrepreneurs, university presidents, and innovators who are reshaping the future of learning and work. His latest book, "Job Moves: 9 Steps for Making Progress in Your Career", takes this powerful research and makes it personal—helping people make smarter, more fulfilling choices. We dig into how ideas evolve beyond their original intent. Christensen’s theory of disruptive innovation started with disk drives, yet found its way into steel mills, education, and now career design. Michael shares how “Jobs to Be Done” is following a similar path, expanding from product design into deeply human territory—helping people identify the real motivations driving their decisions. We also tackle the big shifts in higher education. From universities facing demographic cliffs to the innovators thriving in the post-COVID landscape, Michael offers an unflinching look at what it takes for institutions to adapt—or be left behind. His insights bridge the gap between theory and practice, showing how thought leadership can both diagnose challenges and drive measurable change. This conversation is a masterclass in taking a proven idea, reimagining its applications, and building influence by serving a market that’s ready for transformation. Whether you’re leading an organization, shaping public policy, or charting your own next move, Michael’s approach offers a blueprint for progress. Three Key Takeaways: • Decades of consulting experience can be distilled into a compelling book that captures proven strategies, lessons learned, and actionable insights for a targeted audience. • Translating expertise into thought leadership requires transforming complex, insider knowledge into clear, engaging narratives that resonate beyond your immediate industry. • A well-crafted book serves as a strategic asset, building credibility, expanding reach, and opening doors to new opportunities and revenue streams. If you enjoyed hearing Michael Horn unpack how big ideas like Jobs to Be Done can move from theory into real-world impact, you’ll want to keep the momentum going with Liz Wiseman’s episode, Taking Thought Leadership from Page to Practice. Both conversations dive into the art of translating deep expertise into actionable strategies that resonate beyond your immediate circle. Michael explored how to adapt proven frameworks to education, careers, and personal decisions. Liz builds on that by showing how to make your thought leadership stick—turning insights into tangible change within organizations. By listening to both episodes, you’ll gain a powerful one-two punch: Michael’s perspective on expanding the reach of great ideas, and Liz’s blueprint for ensuring those ideas drive real, measurable results. Together, they’ll give you fresh tools to move your own thought leadership from inspiration to implementation.
What happens when world-class research escapes the ivory tower and takes root in the boardroom In this episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership, Peter Winick sits down with Christopher Marquis — Professor of Chinese Management at the University of Cambridge and author of "Profiteers: How Business Privatizes Profits and Socializes Costs" — to explore the art of turning academic insight into practical, high-impact business thinking. Chris is on a mission to bridge the gap between scholarship and the real world. He believes that ideas shouldn’t be trapped in academic journals read by only a handful of peers. Instead, they should spark change in boardrooms, inspire sustainable business practices, and help leaders tackle global challenges like climate change. His work blends rigorous research with compelling storytelling, translating complex theories into actionable strategies that resonate with executives, policymakers, and entrepreneurs alike. From op-eds in The Washington Post to features in Harvard Business Review, Chris knows how to make ideas travel. He shares how brevity, boldness, and a clear thesis can elevate a message — and why writing 800 words for a newspaper can sometimes have more impact than publishing in the most prestigious academic journal. For Chris, thought leadership is about reach and relevance, not just citations and tenure points. The conversation dives into the discipline of choosing which ideas deserve a book, the craft of finding evergreen principles that survive political and economic cycles, and the skill of meeting business leaders where they are — without losing academic rigor. Chris also offers practical advice for academics ready to step beyond their university walls, connect with executive audiences, and position their work at the intersection of insight and impact. If you want to understand how to turn deep expertise into broad influence — without watering it down — this episode will show you how. Three Key Takeaways: • Academic credibility needs business reach — Groundbreaking research has little impact if it stays locked in academic journals. Translating ideas into accessible formats like op-eds, HBR articles, and books makes them actionable for business leaders. • Evergreen principles drive lasting influence — Successful thought leadership balances timeless core ideas (like sustainability imperatives) with timely examples that connect to current cultural, political, or economic contexts. • Storytelling bridges the gap — Data and theory matter, but real-world stories, case studies, and clear narratives are what resonate with executive audiences and create lasting engagement. If you enjoyed Christopher’s episode, don’t miss our conversation with Mark Smith, who built SHRM’s thought leadership function from the ground up. Both share a passion for taking complex research and turning it into clear, actionable insights that reach the right audiences. Chris brings the global lens of sustainability; Mark offers the inside view of embedding thought leadership within an organization. Together, these episodes show you how to move ideas from theory to real-world influence. Listen here: Discovering Thought Leadership – Mark Smith
What if your team—not just your leaders—held the key to breakthrough performance? Today, Peter Winick sits down with long-time friend and bestselling author Keith Ferrazzi to explore why “leadership” alone isn’t enough anymore. Keith’s new work, "Never Lead Alone", moves beyond the individual and puts the spotlight on "teamship"—a powerful, often-overlooked force in organizational transformation. Keith shares how he’s evolved from "Never Eat Alone"—a networking classic—into building high-performing teams inside Fortune 500 companies. But this isn’t just about motivation. It’s about methodology. Codified insights. Research-backed models. Keith reveals how he helps leaders double market cap by engineering behavior change at the team level, not just at the top. You’ll learn why methodology beats storytelling, why collaboration is the new leadership, and how research—done with clients—can be both a content engine and a revenue stream. Keith also outlines how aspiring thought leaders can start by defining ten transformational takeaways, then refine and test them before writing a word. This episode isn’t just for authors or coaches. It’s for anyone serious about scaling their thought leadership into real impact. Whether you're inside a $200B company or building your brand, Keith shows you how to package your ideas to create change—and monetize it. Three Key Takeaways: • Teamship Over Leadership Keith introduces the concept of teamship—a shift from individual leadership to empowering entire teams to take ownership of outcomes. He argues that in today’s complex environments, real transformation happens when everyone on the team steps up, not just the person at the top. • Codify Your Methodology Keith stresses that great thought leadership isn’t just about storytelling—it’s about creating repeatable, scalable systems. He encourages aspiring thought leaders to start by defining ten transformational takeaways and building their intellectual property around those core ideas. • Use Research as a Revenue Engine Rather than treating research as a cost center, Keith explains how he partners with organizations to co-create studies that drive both insight and income. This approach not only funds his work but creates built-in audiences and credibility before a book or product even launches. If Keith Ferrazzi’s insights on teamship and codifying leadership resonated with you, don’t miss our episode with Julie Williamson. Julie takes a deep dive into how aligned communication and leadership strategy can unlock the full potential of your teams—echoing Keith’s core message that transformation isn’t a solo act. Where Keith challenges leaders to move from authority to collaboration, Julie shows you how to create that alignment across teams to drive real results. Listen to both episodes and walk away with a clearer understanding of how to lead through teams, build scalable methodologies, and create impact across an entire organization. Listen to Julie Williamson’s episode now.
What does it take to transform a mission-driven organization into a high-velocity execution machine? Today, Peter Winick sits down with Suba Vasudevan, COO of Mozilla, to explore how thought leadership drives impact inside and outside the organization. Suba isn’t just talking about brand elevation—she’s focused on aligning thought leadership with Mozilla’s double bottom line: financial success and a healthy internet. You’ll hear how she uses thought leadership to drive strategic clarity, cultural alignment, and real-world execution across a global, mission-focused team. Suba unpacks how leaders can build trust, model transparency, and scale their thinking across a workforce by showing up authentically—whether that’s in a Slack message or on a podcast. From AI adoption to KPIs, Suba makes it clear: thought leadership isn’t optional for modern executives—it’s core to leading transformation. She offers a candid look at how leaders should use their voice—not just for visibility, but as a catalyst for cultural change, employee productivity, and long-term innovation. Suba’s message is simple and powerful: If you’re not investing in thought leadership, you’re holding your team back. Three Key Takeaways: • Thought Leadership Is a Leadership Imperative Suba emphasizes that thought leadership isn’t optional—it’s foundational to effective leadership in today’s world. It’s how leaders align teams, build trust, and scale their vision across an organization. She views it as table stakes for anyone serious about transformation. • Execution and Culture Must Be Intertwined Driving results at Mozilla means more than setting KPIs. Suba connects culture to execution, highlighting that metrics only matter when they’re backed by employee belief, buy-in, and shared values. Thought leadership is her tool to bridge that gap. • AI Is a Culture Shift, Not Just a Tech Shift Suba doesn’t just endorse using AI—she models it. By openly using tools like ChatGPT and encouraging her team to do the same, she’s shaping a culture of innovation, experimentation, and productivity. Her approach shows how leadership can normalize and accelerate change from the top. If you found Suba Vasudevan’s episode valuable—especially her take on aligning leadership, culture, and execution—then you won’t want to miss our conversation with Harry Kraemer on Value-Based Thought Leadership. Like Suba, Harry emphasizes the power of authenticity, clarity, and consistency in leadership. He explores how values-driven decision-making builds trust, scales alignment, and creates long-term impact inside complex organizations. While Suba applies these principles to tech and innovation, Harry brings a timeless leadership lens from his experience as a CEO and professor at Kellogg.
What if the game of Whac-A-Mole perfectly described your leadership challenges? Ric Shriver and Jeff Fierstein think it does. These two veteran consultants have spent over four decades tackling recurring, high-stakes issues inside organizations—and they’ve captured those lessons in their book "Leadership Whack-A-Mole: Actionable Strategies to Leadership Challenges". Today's episode, Ric and Jeff join Peter to explore how they've turned decades of shared experience into a practical, real-world guide for leaders. They break down the leadership issues that keep popping up across industries—and how to stop reacting and start leading with intent. You’ll hear how they co-authored the book using a creative “client and consultant” back-and-forth format, bringing both the problem and the solution to life. They explain why holistic thinking and real-world examples matter more than trendy buzzwords, and how their book is designed as a field manual—not theory—for leaders at all levels. Ric and Jeff also speak candidly about what it’s like to move from writing to marketing—especially when you’re more comfortable solving problems than promoting your own work. Their insights are honest, valuable, and relevant for any thought leader looking to get their ideas into the hands of decision-makers. If you’ve ever felt like you're playing Whack-A-Mole in your business, this episode offers the clarity—and calm—you need. Three Key Takeaways: • Leadership Challenges Are Recurring—But Solvable Many leaders face the same issues over and over, much like a game of Whack-A-Mole. Ric and Jeff highlight that these aren’t random events—they're symptoms of deeper systemic issues. Their book offers a practical, experience-based approach to diagnosing and solving those patterns. • Thought Leadership Can Be Built from Shared Experience Rather than theory or research alone, their content comes from decades of real-world consulting work. By using a client-consultant format, they deliver insight from both sides of the leadership equation, making their ideas accessible and actionable for readers. • Marketing a Book Requires a Mindset Shift Writing the book was only half the battle. Ric and Jeff learned that promoting thought leadership requires stepping into new roles—connecting with networks, refining their message, and overcoming the reluctance to "sell." Believing deeply in their content helped them get comfortable with promotion. If you enjoyed our conversation with Ric Shriver and Jeff Fierstein on turning decades of consulting experience into practical thought leadership, you won’t want to miss this episode: Advice for Marketing, Messaging, and Publishing Books with Aurora Winter. Just like Ric and Jeff, the Aurora dove into the real-world challenges authors and thought leaders face—not just in writing the book, but in getting it into the right hands. You’ll hear candid advice on crafting compelling messaging, navigating the business side of publishing, and building visibility through smart marketing. Both episodes highlight a critical truth: writing a great book is just the beginning. Whether you're an author, consultant, or executive with ideas to share, this conversation will help you move from manuscript to market with clarity and confidence.
What if you could lead organizational change the same way revolutions overthrow regimes? Today on Leveraging Thought Leadership, Peter Winick sits down with Greg Satell—co-founder of ChangeOS, bestselling author of "Cascades: How to Create a Movement That Drives Transformational Change", and one of the world’s top experts on transformational change. Greg doesn’t just talk about change—he’s lived through it, from leading media organizations during the Orange Revolution in Ukraine to building practical frameworks used by today’s largest corporations. Greg shares why traditional change management often fails and how organizations can instead harness the power of movements. Drawing from real-world revolutions and network science, he explains why resistance is predictable, why change requires collective action, and how to create sustainable, culture-driven transformation that sticks. He also breaks down the tools and models behind his work—like the Resistance Inventory and Cultural Trigger Mapping—and why building evangelists inside your organization is critical to long-term success. If your team is struggling with change fatigue, inertia, or lack of alignment, Greg’s insights offer a radically different way forward. This episode is packed with sharp, actionable frameworks for CEOs, CHROs, transformation leaders, and fellow thought leaders alike. If you're looking to drive change that actually lasts—this conversation is a must-listen. Three Key Takeaways: • Change is a people problem, not just a strategy problem. Successful transformation requires shifting beliefs and behaviors—not just processes or structures. • Resistance is predictable—and manageable. Most change initiatives fail because they don’t identify or plan for resistance. A resistance inventory helps leaders anticipate and navigate pushback. • Lasting change spreads like a movement. True transformation requires internal evangelists who influence their networks, making the change sustainable beyond any one leader or initiative. If Greg’s episode sparked your interest in how movements drive lasting change, you’ll want to explore our conversation with Urvashi Bhatnagar on Implementing Niche Solutions at Scale. Both episodes dive into the challenge of turning big ideas into sustainable results—whether it’s building cultural momentum for transformation or scaling specialized solutions across complex organizations. Urvashi’s insights on aligning niche innovations with organizational structures complement Greg’s frameworks for overcoming resistance and creating internal evangelists. Together, these episodes offer a powerful blueprint for leaders who need to drive change that sticks and scales.
What if you could design the future — instead of reacting to it?
In today's episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership, Peter Winick sits down with futurist and design strategist Lisa Kay Solomon to explore how leaders can use design thinking to actively shape what’s next.
Lisa is a Designer-in-Residence at Stanford’s d.school, an educator, a bestselling author, and a respected voice on the Thinkers50 Radar list. She helps leaders and organizations make better long-term decisions in a short-term world. Her superpower? Turning vague uncertainty into actionable insight — by teaching leaders how to think like futurists.
Lisa shares how she guides boards, conference planners, and executive teams through complex challenges. She doesn’t just create better experiences — she builds capabilities that last. Whether it’s designing strategic conversations or preparing teams to operate in ambiguity, Lisa brings a toolkit of creative, repeatable practices to move from stuck to strategic.
If you’ve ever found yourself saying, “Yeah, but that would never happen here,” Lisa has a chapter — and a strategy — just for you.
This conversation is packed with high-impact takeaways for those who want to lead with intention and design a future worth inhabiting.
Three Key Takeaways:
• Designing the Future Is a Teachable Skill Lisa argues that futures thinking isn’t a mysterious talent—it’s a learnable capability. Most leaders have been trained to focus on short-term goals. Lisa teaches them how to widen their lens, shift perspective, and think long-term using strategic design practices.
• Great Ideas Need More Than Strategy—They Need Capability Organizations often bring Lisa in to spark innovation—whether at board meetings or large conferences. But the real value she delivers goes beyond a single event. She helps teams build the capabilities to sustain innovation, adapt to change, and continue asking the right questions long after she’s gone.
• Overcoming the “Yeah, Buts” That Block Progress Lisa names the top three “yeah, buts” that sabotage future thinking: short-term pressure, lack of resources, and not knowing how. Her approach disarms these mental blockers by reframing possibility as practical—and showing leaders how to move from reactive to proactive in shaping what’s next.
If you found Lisa Kay Solomon’s insights on designing the future and building long-term leadership capabilities compelling, you won’t want to miss our episode with Joseph Press: Thought Leadership for Future Thinking. Both Lisa and Joseph explore how leaders can move beyond short-term fixes to shape more intentional, future-ready organizations. While Lisa focuses on strategic conversations and capability building through design, Joseph dives into how thought leadership and digital transformation intersect to foster future thinking. Together, these episodes offer a powerful one-two punch for anyone looking to lead with clarity, creativity, and courage in uncertain times. Listen to both and equip yourself with the mindset and tools to not just predict the future—but actively shape it.
In this special compilation episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership, host Bill Sherman brings together four voices at the forefront of AI and innovation: Jen Cohen, Stephanie Grayson, Amelia Ross, and Spencer Ante. Each offers a powerful, firsthand take on how AI is changing the way we lead, communicate, and make decisions.
Jen Cohen explores how AI can amplify—rather than replace—human potential. She’s seen how automation can unlock joy and confidence, from safe driving to elder care. For Cohen, AI is about purpose, empathy, and enabling people to thrive through their “ikigai.”
Stephanie Grayson shares how AI is becoming an essential research partner in the world of B2B thought leadership. But she also flags real risks—from bias to hallucinations—and warns that without humans in the loop, AI can damage brand trust faster than it can build it.
Amelia Ross breaks down how natural language processing (NLP) can make sense of real-time chaos, like the war in Ukraine. She reveals how AI-driven insights helped governments and companies cut through disinformation and find clarity in crisis—demonstrating the societal power of smart content strategy.
And Spencer Ante takes us to the edge of the AI frontier, where generative tools like ChatGPT are reshaping not just how we work, but how we think. A former investigative journalist, he calls on business leaders to collaborate with AI—not fear it—and to focus on managing truth, training systems, and preserving human creativity and empathy.
From content to ethics, strategy to scalability, this episode is a must-listen for anyone leading in a world shaped by machines—and guided by human insight.
Four Key Takeaways AI should be used to amplify human capability, not replace it. Whether in automated driving or elder care, AI can remove risk and enhance joy—while preserving purpose and human involvement.
Thought leadership must remain human-led and carefully validated. AI is a powerful research assistant, but without human oversight, it risks spreading misinformation and damaging trust.
AI-driven NLP can turn unstructured real-time data into actionable insight, helping organizations cut through disinformation and respond quickly to fast-changing global events.
AI won’t replace human creativity—it will augment intelligence. Leaders must learn to collaborate with AI tools, supervise them, and guide them with empathy and strategy.
Can doing good in the world be quantified like ROI? Peter Winick sits down with Nick Cooney, founder and managing partner of Lever VC, to explore how a venture capitalist measures moral return alongside financial return. Nick’s not your typical VC—he’s also the author of "What We Don't Do: Inaction in the Face of Suffering and the Drive to Do More", a book that fuses analytical thinking with a deep commitment to reducing suffering. Nick reveals how dictating thoughts during a long car ride led to a full-fledged book deal with Simon & Schuster. But this isn’t just a passion project—it’s a strategic move. Nick shares how writing the book expands his credibility with mission-driven founders and impact-minded investors. You’ll hear how he uses the “Brady Rule”—a nod to NFL legend Tom Brady—to challenge philanthropists to pursue giving with the same intensity as professional athletes pursue greatness. And how the overlap between financial rigor and moral responsibility creates a powerful (and rare) kind of leader. Peter and Nick dive into the strategic value of thought leadership for VCs: from deal flow to LP trust, to long-game positioning. Plus, Nick shares what he’s learned from marketing the book, why the publishing timeline misses the mark, and what feedback surprised him most. This is a conversation for anyone looking to align meaning with metrics—and use content to drive serious business outcomes. Three Key Takeaways: • Thought Leadership Can Power Business Strategy Nick’s book isn’t just a personal project—it’s a tool to build credibility, drive deal flow, and attract like-minded investors and founders. A well-positioned book can serve as your most powerful business card. • Impact and Analytics Aren’t Mutually Exclusive Nick bridges the gap between rigorous financial thinking and doing good. He argues that applying ROI-based decision-making to philanthropy and impact can dramatically increase the effectiveness of our efforts to reduce suffering. • You Can—and Should—Train for Good Like an Athlete One standout idea from Nick’s book is the “Brady Rule”—a call for people to approach doing good in the world with the same intensity, discipline, and optimization mindset as elite athletes do their sport. If Nick Cooney’s episode got you thinking about how doing good can be measured, optimized, and scaled—then you’ll want to dive into our conversation with Dr. Moshe Engelberg. Like Nick, Moshe challenges traditional business thinking by bringing purpose and values into the spotlight. In his episode, we explore how love—yes, love—can be a strategic business advantage, driving both culture and performance. Both Nick and Moshe offer bold frameworks for leaders who want to align their success with meaningful impact. If you’re rethinking ROI to include humanity, ethics, and long-term value, this is the perfect next listen: Love from Thought Leadership with Moshe Engelberg
What happens when a top-tier academic walks away from the ivory tower and becomes a powerhouse investor?
In this episode, Peter Winick sits down with David Bell—former Wharton professor, founder of Idea Farm Ventures, and investor in some of the biggest direct-to-consumer brands you know: Warby Parker, Bonobos, Harry’s, Diapers.com, and Jet.com.
David shares his journey from academia to entrepreneurship, offering real insight into why some thought leaders are drawn to the business world—and how they can thrive there. It’s not just about having ideas. It’s about turning those ideas into scalable, revenue-generating ventures. Execution isn’t optional. It’s everything.
We dig into the frameworks David uses to evaluate whether a business is built for success—or doomed by bad execution. Why do 90% of ventures fail? Why do smart people struggle to build smart businesses? And how can thought leaders avoid the trap of "great idea, poor implementation"?
You’ll hear how David thinks about reinvention, the crumbling edges of higher education, and why thought leaders need more than charisma—they need operational rigor. This isn’t theory. It’s the playbook for transforming thought leadership into a business engine.
Three Key Takeaways:
• Ideas are easy—execution is everything. Most ventures fail not because of bad ideas, but because of poor execution. Thought leaders need discipline in branding, pricing, and go-to-market strategies.
• Academia is no longer the only path. Experts are increasingly leaving universities to apply their knowledge in startups, tech, and corporate innovation roles—where their insights can drive real-world impact.
• Strong thought leadership needs a solid business model. Concepts must be packaged into tangible, scalable offerings to succeed—whether that’s products, platforms, or frameworks.
If you found the David Bell episode insightful—especially the focus on turning great ideas into scalable businesses—don’t miss our conversation with Michael McFall, co-CEO of Biggby Coffee. Like David, Michael dives deep into the reality that execution—not just inspiration—is what drives success. He shares hard-earned lessons on building systems, staying aligned with your purpose, and scaling a business without losing sight of your values. Both episodes tackle the tough questions around bringing thought leadership to life in the real world. Tune in to hear how strategy meets sweat equity.
What if cultural fluency was the leadership skill no one taught you—but every global leader needs? Today I had the pleasure of sitting down with Jane Hyun—global leadership strategist, executive coach, and author of three books including "Breaking the Bamboo Ceiling"—to explore how high-performing teams thrive on difference, not in spite of it. Jane shares how her early years moving to NYC from Korea shaped a lifelong commitment to helping people lead across cultural lines with authenticity and impact. We unpack her concept of “cultural fluency”—the skill of working effectively with people who don’t look, think, or act like you. It’s not about checking boxes. It’s about making the invisible visible and using difference as a leadership advantage. Jane explains how organizations often overlook deep cultural factors that influence trust, motivation, and team dynamics—and what happens when they start to notice. From keynotes to executive coaching, Jane builds frameworks that help leaders and organizations lead better, sell better, and grow smarter—especially in a world that’s only becoming more complex and connected. We also talk about the emotional and intellectual work of carrying an idea like “breaking the bamboo ceiling” for over 20 years—and how thought leadership evolves when it’s lived, not just taught. If you lead teams, create culture, or want to sharpen your edge as a communicator—this conversation is your wake-up call. Cultural fluency isn’t optional anymore. It’s mission-critical. Three Key Takeaways: • Cultural Fluency Is a Learnable Leadership Skill Cultural fluency—Jane's signature concept—isn’t innate, and it’s not just about surface-level etiquette. It’s the ability to recognize, respect, and leverage human differences to drive better business outcomes. Leaders who develop this skill are more effective at collaboration, innovation, and navigating global complexity. • Difference Drives Performance—When It's Understood Multicultural teams only outperform homogeneous ones when leaders understand how to harness cultural differences. Suppressing difference creates friction and missed opportunity. Embracing it—with intention—unlocks trust, engagement, and results. • Thought Leadership Is a Lifelong Journey, Not a Title Jane didn’t set out to become a thought leader—she followed her curiosity and passion to solve a problem she lived through. Over time, that experience evolved into frameworks, language (ie cultural fluency, bamboo ceiling), and a platform that empowers others. The best thought leadership emerges from lived experience, not just expertise. If today’s episode sparked your thinking on cultural fluency and leading across differences, you’ll want to dive into our conversation on "The Intersection of Leadership, Business, Culture, and Spirituality" with Eboni Adams Monk. It explores similar themes—like authentic leadership, navigating complexity, and creating inclusive spaces—but adds a powerful lens of purpose and spiritual alignment. Both episodes offer insight into what it really takes to lead with intention in today’s diverse, fast-changing world. Don’t miss it.
Are your compensation strategies sabotaging employee engagement? In this episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership, host Peter Winick sits down with Stephan Meier, Chair of the Management Division at Columbia Business School and a leading voice in behavioral economics. Stephan shares insights from his journey—from academia to the Federal Reserve to corporate advisory—exploring how behavioral science can reshape the way organizations understand motivation, incentives, and employee experience. They dive into why traditional, money-centric reward systems fall short—and how many leaders still default to outdated playbooks. Stephan challenges organizations to look beyond perks and pay, and instead design work environments that leverage autonomy, purpose, and learning. The conversation introduces the concept behind his new book, "The Employee Advantage", and draws a powerful parallel: Treat employees like customers. Personalize their experience. Listen deeply. Improve constantly. This episode offers practical, research-backed ideas that any leader can implement to drive performance, engagement, and retention. If you think a ping-pong table is the answer to your culture problems, think again. Three Key Takeaways: • Money isn’t enough – Beyond a certain point, financial incentives have limited impact on motivation. Intrinsic drivers like autonomy, purpose, and learning matter more. • One-size-fits-all doesn’t work – Just as customer experience is personalized, employee experience should be too. Engagement improves when organizations tailor motivation strategies to individual needs. • Culture is built through systems – Perks like ping-pong tables won’t fix disengagement. Real impact comes from designing systems that listen to employees and support continuous improvement. If Stephan Meier’s insights on behavioral economics and humanizing the workplace sparked your interest, you’ll want to check out this powerful conversation with Ryan McCarty and Mark Goulston. While Stephan focused on the science behind motivation and engagement, Ryan and Mark dive into the heart of it—how purpose, empathy, and service can transform leadership and culture. It’s a natural next step in rethinking what truly drives people at work. Discover how servant leadership can elevate your impact and deepen connection across your organization: Listen to the episode.
What if your greatest impact as a leader begins after your "official" career ends? Joe Davis, former Managing Director and Senior Partner at Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and author of "The Generous Leader: 7 Ways to Give of Yourself for Everyone’s Gain", joins Peter Winick to share insights from his extraordinary shift from consulting titan to impactful thought leader. Joe reveals how the disruptions of COVID-19 inspired him to write his book—not just as a professional calling card, but to encourage executives to lead with heartfelt generosity and empathy. He emphasizes that legacy leadership isn't measured by revenue alone but by meaningful connections, personal growth, and empowering others. This episode is for CEOs and senior leaders contemplating their own "Act Three." Joe discusses the challenges and opportunities when transitioning from a structured corporate role into thought leadership and advisory work. He highlights the importance of being selective and intentional about the roles you choose post-retirement, avoiding burnout, and keeping control over your time. Joe also candidly discusses how success is redefined after a corporate career. He measures impact differently now, valuing deep personal connections, mentoring opportunities, and moments spent with family—especially his grandchildren. If you're an executive thinking about your next meaningful chapter, listen in as Joe Davis shares hard-won wisdom and practical guidance on building your legacy beyond the boardroom. Three Key Takeaways: • Legacy Starts Now: True leadership legacy isn’t shaped by quarterly earnings or titles—it's built through empathetic connections, generosity, and empowering others, starting today. • Choose Wisely Post-Retirement: After a high-powered career, saying "yes" to everything can quickly lead to burnout. Be selective; prioritize roles that align deeply with your purpose. • Redefine Success on Your Terms: Success beyond the C-suite isn't measured by traditional metrics. Meaningful impact emerges from mentoring, family time, and genuinely fulfilling activities. If Joe Davis’s insights on moving from executive roles to impactful thought leadership resonated with you, check out our episode featuring Vaughn Sigmon. Vaughn shares how he successfully transitioned from corporate leadership at CarMax to launching his own thriving leadership development firm. Both episodes explore how intentionality, authenticity, and clear personal branding drive meaningful post-corporate careers.
How do you grab the attention of the smartest person in the room and introduce an idea that could fundamentally change their approach to leadership? In this insightful episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership, Gina Catalano, President of Central Forza Group and author of The Leadership Wake Up Call, joins Bill Sherman to discuss her pioneering work in developing emotional intelligence (EQ) for surgeon leaders—a skill set largely overlooked in traditional medical training. Gina shares how her journey from managing medical device teams in Fortune 500 healthcare organizations led her to recognize a critical gap: Surgeons possess extraordinary technical skills but often lack training in emotional intelligence. Her unique insight is transforming how surgeons engage with patients, teams, and even mitigate malpractice risks. She explains the compelling data behind EQ’s impact, highlighting research correlating higher EQ among surgeons with lower malpractice claims. Gina also details her groundbreaking project with Duke University's general surgery residency, where she's building a curriculum to instill essential EQ skills early in surgical training. Listeners will learn how Gina's personal experiences and keen observations evolved into a compelling speaking and writing career, all centered around equipping elite performers with the "power skills" needed for true leadership success. This episode isn't just about developing better surgeon leaders—it's about creating profound, measurable changes that enhance patient care and team performance. Three Key Takeaways: • Emotional intelligence is critical for elite performance — Especially in high-pressure fields like surgery, EQ impacts malpractice rates, team dynamics, and patient outcomes. • Thought leadership bridges knowledge gaps — Introducing EQ to surgeon leaders requires translating soft skills into evidence-based, practical tools that resonate with data-driven professionals. • Early intervention creates lasting change — Embedding emotional intelligence training into medical residency programs can shape more effective leaders from the start.
If this episode got you thinking about the power of emotional intelligence in high-performance environments, you’ll want to keep going with our conversation with David Wood: The Effects of Soft Skills in Thought Leadership. Both episodes tackle a common challenge—how to introduce and scale “soft skills” like EQ in expert-driven fields where they’re often undervalued. Gina Catalano and David Wood each show that these so-called soft skills are actually mission-critical for leadership, trust-building, and long-term success.
Listen now and discover how soft skills can create hard results.
What if the worst-performing team you’ve ever seen could become the best—without changing a single person?
Today, Peter Winick sits down with Michael Abrashoff, former U.S. Navy captain and author of the mega-bestseller "It’s Your Ship: How Great Leaders Inspire Ownership From The Keel Up". Michael shares the extraordinary turnaround story of the USS Benfold—once one of the lowest-ranked ships in the fleet—and how he transformed its culture by focusing on something rare in the military: personal connection.
He didn’t ask for a new crew. He didn’t get a bigger budget. What he did instead? Interviewed all 310 sailors, created personal index cards with their goals, strengths, and passions—and committed to leadership by listening.
Peter and Michael dig into the difference between authority and influence, and why so many brilliant technical leaders fail when they're promoted. Michael also explains how he helped shift a culture of compliance into a culture of ownership—one small improvement at a time.
You’ll hear how his military insights apply directly to boardrooms, sales teams, pharma execs, and even Boilermakers. And why the top five reasons people leave organizations haven’t changed in 25 years!
This conversation is a masterclass in practical leadership. Because whether you're running a ship or a startup, the most powerful tool you have isn't command—it's connection.
Three Key Takeaways:
• Connection Drives Performance – Leaders who invest time in personally understanding their team members build trust, loyalty, and higher performance without needing more resources or authority.
• Small Improvements Compound – A mindset of daily 1% improvements can lead to transformational change, even within rigid systems like the military.
• Respect and Listening Are Retention Tools – People don’t leave organizations for money alone; they leave when they don’t feel valued, heard, or developed—making culture a strategic priority.
If you found value in our conversation on leadership transformation and culture change, you'll want to check out our episode with Christian "Boo" Boucousis, a former Royal Australian Air Force fighter pilot turned CEO and thought leader. Boo shares how he applied military precision and adaptability to navigate the challenges of transitioning Afterburner, a global consultancy of elite military professionals, into the virtual realm during the pandemic. His insights on converting information into wisdom, engaging audiences across modalities, and leading with agility offer a compelling complement to our discussion on building high-performing teams through connection and ownership. Tune in to discover how discipline, curiosity, and emotional resonance can elevate your thought leadership to new heights.
What happens when a philosopher, a pyrotechnics entrepreneur, and a tech ethicist walk into a boardroom? You get Reid Blackman—author of "Ethical Machines", host of a podcast by the same name, and founder of Virtue, a consultancy helping Fortune 500 companies navigate the ethical risks of AI. In this episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership, we explore the collision of ethics, emerging tech, and organizational complexity. Reid shares his unorthodox journey from selling fireworks out of a Honda to advising top executives on responsible AI. He discusses how AI creeps into organizations like a Trojan horse—through HR, marketing, and internal development—bringing serious ethical challenges with it. Reid explains why frameworks are often oversimplified tools, why every client engagement must be bespoke, and why most companies still don’t know who should own AI risk. We dive into the business realities of AI risk management, the importance of moving fast in low-risk sectors like CPG, and the surprising reluctance of high-risk industries like healthcare to embrace AI. Reid also outlines how startups and tech-native firms often underestimate the need for ethical oversight, and why that’s a gamble few can afford. If you want to understand how to future-proof your brand’s reputation in an AI-driven world—or just love a good story about risk-taking, philosophy, and Led Zeppelin-fueled entrepreneurship—this is the episode for you. Three Key Takeaways: • AI Risk Is Organizational, Not Just Technical Ethical AI risk isn’t the sole responsibility of the CIO or tech team—it's a company-wide issue. AI often enters through non-technical departments like HR or marketing, creating reputational and legal risks that leadership must manage proactively. • Frameworks Are Overrated—Bespoke Solutions Win Reid challenges the reliance on generic frameworks in thought leadership. Instead, he emphasizes the need for bespoke, agile solutions that are deeply informed by organizational structure, goals, and readiness. • Reputation Drives Readiness for Ethical AI Large brands in low-risk sectors (like CPG) are often quicker to adopt ethical AI practices because the reputational stakes are high. In contrast, high-risk sectors (like healthcare) are slower due to the complexity and fear surrounding AI implementation. If the episode with Reid Blackman sparked your interest in the ethical implications of thought leadership in rapidly evolving fields like AI, then you’ll find a compelling parallel in our conversation with Linda Fisher Thornton. Linda dives into the broader responsibilities of thought leaders to ensure their content is not just smart, but also ethical, inclusive, and meaningful. While Reid examines AI as a fast-moving ethical challenge that demands bespoke, responsible oversight, Linda zooms out to highlight how thought leadership, in any domain, must be built on a foundation of trust, transparency, and long-term value creation. Both episodes challenge leaders to do more than inform—they must lead with conscience and intention. Listen to Linda’s episode to explore how ethics can—and must—be the throughline of every thought leadership strategy.
How do you prepare a first-time leader to succeed when everyone’s watching? In this episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership, Bill speaks with Noel Massie, former VP of US Operations at UPS and author of the upcoming book "Congrats, You've Been Promoted "(June 2025). Noel spent his distinguished career at UPS mentoring new leaders and guiding them through the challenging transition from individual contributor to manager. Recognizing a critical gap in available resources specifically designed for newly promoted frontline leaders, he decided to write the book he wished he'd had earlier in his career. Noel introduces powerful frameworks, including the "4 by 5 method" and the "BEST principle," designed to help young leaders navigate complex leadership moments confidently. Drawing on his experiences—such as leading teams where individuals often had decades more experience—he highlights the essential role clear communication and defined expectations play in managing teams effectively. Throughout our conversation, Noel underscores the responsibility of seasoned executives to engage directly with frontline staff, nurturing the next generation of leaders through active mentorship. He shares personal stories that reveal why mentorship and leadership development became not just his professional focus, but his enduring passion long after retirement. This episode offers invaluable insights for leaders at any stage, emphasizing that great leadership is fundamentally about investing in others. Three Key Takeaways: • Leadership Development Requires Intentionality - Effective leadership doesn't happen by accident. Leaders must intentionally communicate their values, clearly define expectations, and invest in ongoing training, especially for newly promoted managers stepping into challenging roles for the first time. • Mentorship is Central to Successful Leadership - Great leaders actively mentor their teams, engaging directly with individuals regardless of their position within the organization. Noel emphasizes that the greatest legacy a leader can leave is measured by the success of the leaders they help develop. • Practical Frameworks Empower New Leaders - Noel's "4 by 5 method" and "BEST principle" offer structured, actionable guidance for handling difficult leadership moments. These frameworks help young leaders maintain control, build their confidence, and foster positive team dynamics—critical elements for successful frontline leadership. If you enjoyed this conversation on how to successfully prepare new leaders and the importance of mentorship, I highly recommend going back to our very first episode featuring Chester Elton. Chester dives deep into how recognition, mentorship, and intentional leadership practices shape thriving organizational cultures. Together, these two episodes offer powerful insights and actionable strategies for building and supporting effective leaders at every level of your organization.
How do you build genuine trust when AI-driven automation floods our lives? In this engaging episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership, I sit down with Ashley Faus, author of "Human Centred Marketing: How to Connect with Audiences in the Age of AI", to explore the irreplaceable role of authentic human connection in today's tech-heavy marketing landscape. Ashley argues that while AI can streamline content creation and amplify messaging, the core elements of trust—authenticity, empathy, and credibility—can only be forged through real human interactions. We discuss practical ways marketers can move beyond outdated funnel approaches, introducing Ashley's innovative "Content Playground" framework, designed to engage audiences dynamically rather than forcing them down a rigid path. Ashley also shares insights on her "Four Pillars of Thought Leadership," providing a clear structure for developing credible, authentic voices that stand out even in a crowded digital space. Highlighting real-world examples, Ashley demonstrates how AI often falls short in understanding nuanced human preferences and emotions, reinforcing the need for marketers to maintain strong, direct relationships with their audiences. Ultimately, she makes a compelling case for why embracing our human quirks and personal authenticity is essential for lasting audience connection in the AI era. Three Key Takeaways: • Human Connection is Irreplaceable: Despite the efficiencies AI can offer, true marketing success hinges on authentic human connection and trust—something automation simply cannot replicate. • Shift from Funnels to Playgrounds: Marketers should move away from rigid funnel-based approaches and instead adopt dynamic, audience-centric strategies, like Ashley’s "Content Playground," which encourages organic exploration and engagement. • Authenticity Drives Thought Leadership: Building credibility in thought leadership requires authenticity and empathy, grounded firmly in genuine interactions and consistent personal voice, elements AI struggles to mimic convincingly. If you enjoyed Ashley's insights on human-centered marketing and building authentic trust in the age of AI, I highly recommend checking out Peter Winick's conversation with Bill Bice in Episode 157. Bill offers valuable perspectives on how data-driven content marketing and analytics can illuminate the customer journey, reinforcing Ashley's points on authenticity and meaningful audience connection. Together, these episodes provide a comprehensive view of modern marketing, blending human empathy with smart, strategic insights. Give it a listen!
What if your next client already feels like they know you—before you’ve ever spoken a word? This week on Leveraging Thought Leadership, Peter talks with Jim Schleckser, founder of The CEO Project, a peer advisory group for high-performing CEOs. Jim shares insights from advising over 125 CEOs across 40 states, leading organizations with revenues from $25 million to over $2 billion. His unique perspective offers a window into how top leaders are using thought leadership as both consumers and creators. We dig into why CEOs crave curated content that helps them grow—and why books and podcasts still dominate their learning habits. Jim explains how the right idea, delivered through the right channel, can build trust and drive decisions long before the first handshake. We explore how CEOs and their teams are becoming more intentional about content creation—not for vanity metrics, but to attract the right clients, partners, and talent. Jim also unpacks the shifting role of AI in content development. As more companies turn to AI for marketing output, he challenges us to think deeper: What’s your human layer of insight that the algorithms can’t replicate? This episode is packed with practical takeaways for CEOs, content creators, and thought leaders who want to build meaningful influence, not just volume. Three Key Takeaways: • Quality Over Quantity in Thought Leadership CEOs aren’t looking for mass appeal—they want relevant insights from trusted sources. Thought leadership that resonates with a niche but high-value audience can drive business results far more effectively than chasing viral reach. • Books and Podcasts Still Matter Despite the flood of digital content, CEOs continue to prioritize books and podcasts as their go-to learning tools. These formats allow for deeper engagement and often serve as catalysts for future business relationships. • AI Is a Tool, Not a Strategy While AI can assist in generating content, it can’t replace the value of human insight. Leaders must use AI thoughtfully—adding expertise and perspective—to ensure their thought leadership remains authentic and impactful. If you found Jim Schleckser’s insights on high-impact, CEO-focused thought leadership valuable, you’ll want to check out Episode 498 with Will Milano. Will shares how organizations can turn their senior leaders and subject-matter experts into trusted voices of authority—without relying solely on the CEO. Together, these episodes explore how to scale thought leadership, deepen trust, and focus on quality over quantity. Don’t miss it!
Have you ever wondered why some nonprofits make a huge impact while others struggle to grow? The difference isn't always their mission—it’s their ability to fundraise and scale effectively. James Misner, founder of the Kipos Group, joins us today to reveal why bigger doesn’t always mean better in the nonprofit sector. James spent 25 years witnessing smaller nonprofits achieve incredible results—only to remain largely invisible due to weak fundraising skills. We dive into the critical business skills most nonprofit founders lack, from building fundraising teams to understanding marketing ROI. James explains how he helps these leaders think differently, equipping them with essential tools to fundraise confidently and sustainably. James also shares powerful insights on thought leadership strategy. Instead of chasing large, vague markets, he advocates for targeting highly specific audiences. He discusses why giving away your best insights freely creates a pipeline of opportunity, helping more people and generating growth simultaneously. Finally, we explore the challenge of perfectionism in thought leadership content. James encourages leaders to overcome their fear of judgment and embrace sharing imperfect but impactful ideas. If your mission matters, James argues, it’s time to hit “publish.” Three Key Takeaways: • Smaller nonprofits can achieve massive impact if they master fundraising and marketing skills typically seen in larger organizations. • Focusing your thought leadership on a narrowly defined audience can drive stronger engagement and better outcomes than chasing broad markets. • Overcoming perfectionism and generously sharing valuable insights can create trust, generate opportunities, and significantly accelerate your organization's growth. If you found value in James Misner’s insights on equipping nonprofits with the tools to scale through thought leadership and targeted fundraising, you won’t want to miss our conversation with Stu Manewith in the episode "Thought Leadership Advocacy for Nonprofits". Stu dives into how nonprofit leaders can leverage their voices to advocate for their mission, build trust with donors, and create lasting impact. Together, these episodes offer a powerful playbook for nonprofit professionals looking to pair strategic thinking with storytelling to drive real change. Listen to both and discover how to amplify your organization’s influence from the inside out.
What if your greatest business challenge could become your launchpad into thought leadership? Today, Bill Sherman sits down with Aaron Marcum, visionary behind Breakaway 365 and bestselling author of EntreThrive, to explore how a journey from entrepreneur to industry thought leader unfolds—often unintentionally. Aaron shares how his frustration with data gaps in the home care space led to the founding of a data analytics company and, unexpectedly, a national reputation as a thought leader. Along the way, he leveraged the insights of thinkers like Brian Tracy and Michael Gerber, and later deepened his impact through a Master’s in Applied Positive Psychology under the guidance of Dr. Martin Seligman. Aaron breaks down how storytelling with data shifted his role from CEO to an in-demand industry voice, fueling brand growth, product evolution, and ultimately, a lucrative exit. But he didn’t stop there. With EntreThrive, he’s now equipping entrepreneurs to beat burnout, overcome inertia, and find lasting fulfillment. Whether he's on stage, coaching leaders, or writing his next big idea, Aaron exemplifies how thought leadership evolves with intention and legacy in mind. He doesn’t just teach frameworks—he lives them. And his mission? To empower other coaches and entrepreneurs to do the same, with impact that extends beyond business and into family, travel, and values. Three Key Takeaways: • Thought Leadership Can Be Accidental—But It Shouldn’t Stay That Way: Aaron began as a consumer of thought leadership, applying insights from Brian Tracy and Michael Gerber to his business. Over time, he evolved into a recognized voice in the home care industry by solving real problems with data, eventually becoming an intentional and strategic thought leader. • Data + Storytelling = Impact: His ability to interpret data and turn it into actionable insights transformed his brand visibility, customer engagement, and exit valuation. By controlling the narrative through thought leadership, he elevated his company’s reputation and market value. • Purpose Drives the Next Chapter: After exiting two companies, Aaron continues to lead with purpose—not for profit, but for impact. Through EntreThrive and Breakaway 365, he’s focused on coaching entrepreneurs to overcome burnout and thrive, combining positive psychology, personal experience, and a calling to serve others. If you're exploring how thought leadership can evolve from personal insight to organizational strategy, this episode offers complementary perspectives. In Discovering Thought Leadership, Mark Smith shares his journey from HR research to establishing a formal thought leadership role at SHRM, navigating internal structures to align research with actionable business goals.
Can a 150-year-old New York City institution thrive in the digital age? Seth Pinsky, CEO of the iconic 92nd Street Y, joins us to reveal how they turned crisis into innovation. Founded to support immigrant communities, the Y evolved into a world-renowned cultural hub. Seth shares how, despite the initial shock of COVID-19 closures, the organization quickly pivoted, transforming itself into a global digital platform overnight. Discover how they scaled online to reach millions—expanding their audience far beyond Manhattan. Seth explains key lessons learned, including tapping into an international market hungry for quality cultural content. By offering online programming, they attracted world-class talent and students from around the globe, dramatically increasing their impact and revenue streams. We explore the Y's innovative "Dialogue Project," a fresh approach to civic discourse. In a polarized era, Seth discusses the project's success in fostering respectful, mind-changing conversations. Audiences come away not just entertained, but transformed, underscoring the enduring power of meaningful dialogue. Finally, Seth highlights the dual identity of the Y as both a prestigious cultural center and a vibrant community hub. He details strategic initiatives that integrate these aspects, creating unique experiences that foster deeper audience engagement. The 92nd Street Y's reinvention shows that even historic institutions can harness change and become stronger than ever. Join us and learn how flexibility, digital transformation, and courageous programming decisions can turn disruption into lasting opportunity. Three Key Takeaways: • Rapid digital transformation can dramatically expand audience reach and create new, sustainable revenue streams for traditionally location-based institutions. • Structured civic dialogue offers a powerful way to engage polarized audiences, encouraging openness and the potential to shift deeply held perspectives. • Organizations with dual identities—such as cultural and community centers—can leverage this unique positioning to create highly impactful and engaging experiences for diverse audiences. If you found value in our discussion on the 92nd Street Y's digital evolution and commitment to community engagement, you'll appreciate episode 305, "Performance of Thought Leadership." with Karen Leland. Discover how embracing a digital-first mindset can amplify your organization's reach and impact in today's rapidly changing landscape. Tune in to gain actionable insights that can help you navigate and lead in the digital era.
What happens when leadership, military service, and motherhood collide with a mission for change?
Dr. Ellen Joan Ford didn’t set out to become a thought leader—she became one by accident, driven by action. A former army officer, academic, and founder of Belonging, Autonomy and Purpose Leadership, Ellen first spoke about the challenges of working parents as a small part of a leadership talk. But that minor moment struck a nerve—and sparked a tidal wave. Strangers reached out. Stories poured in. And suddenly, Ellen was leading a movement.
That movement became #WorkSchoolHours, a principles-based approach to workplace redesign. Through a TEDx talk, a book, and ongoing advocacy, Ellen challenges leaders to reconsider the structure of work—not just for productivity, but for humanity. Her research began informally, collecting real stories from overwhelmed parents, but it soon evolved into a mission grounded in compassion and backed by data.
Ellen’s leadership philosophy is shaped by three defining moments: serving in the military, becoming a parent, and helping evacuate Afghans to safety. Each began with getting "pissed off" enough to act—and that same passion drives her thought leadership today. But she’s not just collecting stories anymore. She’s implementing solutions.
In this episode, we explore how passion becomes platform, how impact is scaled through persistence, and how thought leadership can evolve from lived experience. If you’ve ever wondered how to turn a personal challenge into systemic change, this conversation will show you what’s possible.
Three Key Takeaways:
• Big impact often starts small. Ellen didn’t set out to lead a movement—she simply mentioned the challenges of working parents in a leadership talk. That small moment resonated deeply, leading to thousands of unsolicited stories and the creation of the #WorkSchoolHours platform.
• Thought leadership is fueled by personal experience and action. Ellen’s credibility and influence stem from her lived experiences: leading in the military, becoming a parent, and coordinating a massive humanitarian effort. Her thought leadership emerged not from theory alone, but from taking action when she saw problems that needed solving.
• Change begins when someone gets “pissed off enough to act.” Whether improving military leadership, reshaping workplace norms, or saving lives, Ellen demonstrates that passion, combined with persistence and a clear purpose, can spark real-world impact—even on systems as entrenched as the modern workplace.
If this conversation sparked your interest in how empathy and personal experience can fuel workplace transformation, don’t miss our earlier episode with Scott Shute, former Head of Mindfulness and Compassion Programs at LinkedIn. Like Ellen Joan Ford, Scott turned personal conviction into a platform for change—advocating for compassion as a strategic business imperative. Together, these episodes offer a powerful look at how thought leadership can humanize work and reshape what leadership looks like in today’s world.
What’s the real reason you want to write a book? If your answer doesn’t connect directly to your business goals, you may be missing the mark. In this episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership, Peter sits down with Cathy Fyock, a book strategist who helps authors write the right book—the one that aligns with their business, audience, and long-term strategy. Cathy shares why writing a book should never be step one. Instead, authors must start with a solid strategy: What do you want the book to do for your business? Who exactly are you writing it for? How will you leverage it to create opportunity, revenue, or credibility? We explore the importance of aligning your book’s content and audience with your current business model. Cathy also explains why writing for “everyone” is a mistake, and why serving a clearly defined niche can lead to powerful results—even if it feels narrow. If you’ve ever wrestled with the choice between self-publishing, hybrid, or traditional publishing, Cathy breaks down the pros and cons of each. Her recommendation? Own your IP, own your margins, and stay in control. You’ll also hear surprising insights about how some authors make more from not selling books—using them as a powerful sales tool to land clients, speaking gigs, and consulting contracts. Three Key Takeaways: • Start with strategy, not writing. A successful book begins with clear goals, a defined audience, and alignment with your business model—not just a blank page and good intentions. • Niche focus drives greater impact. Writing for a well-defined, specific audience builds credibility and creates stronger results than trying to appeal to everyone. • Books are business tools, not just products. The real ROI often comes not from book sales, but from using the book to generate leads, secure speaking engagements, or land high-value clients. If you found value in the strategic insights shared in this episode, you won't want to miss our conversation with Becky Robinson: "Writing a Book As an Extension of Your Business." Becky, the founder and CEO of Weaving Influence, delves into how authors can seamlessly integrate their books into their broader business strategies. She shares practical advice on launching a book, building a lasting platform, and ensuring your message reaches the right audience over time. This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to amplify their thought leadership and make their book a cornerstone of their business growth.
When the world stopped getting its stuff, why did supply chain suddenly matter?
In this episode, Peter Winick speaks with Kerim Kfuri, global entrepreneur, author of "Supply Chain Ups and Downs," and CEO of Atlas Network. Kerim reveals why he stepped into thought leadership—especially when his industry became the center of public attention overnight.
Kerim discusses how the COVID-19 pandemic exposed significant gaps and misunderstandings about supply chain processes. He shares insights into why investing in thought leadership provided not just visibility but also credibility, distinguishing his company from competitors who focused solely on price.
Learn how Kerim leveraged his expertise to educate and inform, turning a complicated topic into accessible knowledge. He explains how thought leadership helped him open doors, win larger clients, and attract top talent. Kerim also shares practical advice for businesses aiming to use thought leadership strategically, emphasizing patience, clear metrics, and the power of investing in yourself and your business.
Are you ready to turn your expertise into your greatest competitive advantage?
Three Key Takeaways:
• Thought leadership is a powerful differentiator. It helps smaller companies compete against larger players by showcasing unique expertise and credibility.
• Education builds trust. By making complex topics like supply chain more understandable, you position yourself as a go-to authority in your field.
• ROI takes time. Thought leadership isn't a quick win—it's a long-term investment that pays off through visibility, client acquisition, and talent attraction.
If you found Kerim Kfuri's insights on leveraging thought leadership to elevate brand credibility and attract top clients compelling, you'll appreciate Episode 23 of the Leveraging Thought Leadership podcast, featuring Erica Dhawan. Erica, a leading authority on 21st-century collaboration and CEO of Cotential, discusses model building, content development, and business growth. She shares how she developed assessment tools with a data-driven mindset and translated that data into targeted sales strategies. Both episodes highlight the transformative power of thought leadership in distinguishing a brand and driving business success
Are you spending your resources wisely to amplify your thought leadership—or just making noise? In today's fast-paced marketplace, standing out from the crowd is tougher than ever. Peter Winick is joined by Paige Velasquez Budde, CEO at Zilker Media, one of Austin's fastest-growing agencies specializing in building people-driven brands. Paige shares insights from her extensive experience working with top global thought leaders and brands. Discover why your personal brand matters even more than your corporate identity. Paige explains how trust and connection are built person-to-person, especially in high-touch B2B environments. As the best-selling author of "Strategic Business Influencer: Building a Brand with a Small Budget" she emphasizes the importance of starting early—well before your next book or major event—to consistently showcase your expertise and build trust at scale. We dive into actionable strategies like narrowing your social media presence to the most impactful platform and harnessing the true value of PR through intentional, targeted micro-media placements. Plus, Peter and Paige unpack why vanity metrics won't help your business, and why an interview on the right niche podcast can sometimes be worth far more than a big-name media hit. Tune in to learn how to strategically build thought leadership that grows your revenue, enhances your credibility, and sustainably supports your long-term business objectives. Three Key Takeaways: • Start Early, Not Later: Building effective thought leadership isn’t about a one-time launch event; it's a consistent, ongoing practice. Start cultivating your brand now—well ahead of your next big milestone—to build trust, visibility, and credibility at scale. • Micro-Media Outperforms Vanity Metrics: Don’t chase big audiences for the sake of numbers. A targeted podcast or niche publication with the right listeners can deliver far greater business impact than generic exposure. • Your Personal Brand Matters Most: Clients Google people, not logos. Invest in clearly showcasing your personal expertise online to accelerate trust, strengthen relationships, and differentiate yourself from competitors. Looking to enhance your personal brand and build authentic relationships in the digital space? Our conversation with Paige Velasquez Budde emphasized the power of strategic PR and personal branding. To further explore building high-profile relationships through authenticity and trust, listen to our episode with Clemence Sop—Cultivating High-Profile Relationships in a Digital World. Together, these episodes offer valuable insights into creating a strong personal brand and fostering meaningful connections. Ready to implement these strategies? Contact Thought Leadership Leverage today to develop a personalized plan that amplifies your impact and accelerates your success.
Does thought leadership belong only to bold personalities and charismatic speakers? Christina Wedgwood doesn't think so. In her book, "Better: A More Authentic Path for the Reluctant Thought Leader", Christina explores how deep thinkers, perfectionists, and even those uneasy about taking center stage can still powerfully shape ideas and conversations. In this conversation, Christina explains that thought leadership isn't about how loudly you speak—it's about clarity, simplicity, and authenticity. She argues that true impact comes from quiet, deliberate thinkers whose insights might otherwise go unnoticed. Christina reveals why "better" does not mean "louder," encouraging thought leaders to embrace their unique strengths rather than fitting into preconceived molds. Christina and Bill also delve into the emotional journey of creating thought leadership content. They discuss perfectionism and the common barrier of feeling "not ready yet," offering strategies to move past these hurdles and confidently share ideas. Christina emphasizes the importance of thinking partners—trusted individuals who challenge your thoughts and help refine your message. Drawing from her extensive experience coaching authors and developing thought leadership content, Christina shares valuable lessons from writing her own book. She reflects on the vulnerability required to bring deep, authentic ideas to an audience and provides insights into sustaining impactful thought leadership over time. Whether you're reluctant or ready to embrace your role, this episode offers practical advice for creating meaningful, enduring thought leadership. Three Key Takeaways: • Thought Leadership Isn’t Only for Extroverts. Christina emphasizes that thought leadership isn't exclusive to big personalities who dominate stages. Her book, Better: A More Authentic Path for the Reluctant Thought Leader, opens doors for quieter, more introspective thinkers, perfectionists, and those hesitant to step into the spotlight, empowering them to share their meaningful ideas. • Better Does Not Equal Louder. Authentic and powerful thought leadership is not about being the loudest voice in the room. Instead, it's about clarity, simplicity, and genuine insight. Christina challenges the myth that louder equates to better, advocating instead for thoughtful reflection and deliberate expression as essential traits of true thought leadership. • Embrace Imperfection and Take Action. Many aspiring thought leaders delay sharing their ideas because they're waiting for perfection—one more book, another certification, or additional case studies. Christina advocates for getting your ideas out of your head and into the world, embracing vulnerability, and taking actionable steps even when conditions aren't "perfect." If you found our discussion on authentic thought leadership engaging, you might also appreciate our episode featuring Simon Leslie, CEO and Founder of Ink Global. In "An Authentic Voice in Thought Leadership," Simon shares how publishing his book, There Is No F in Sales, transformed his business and personal growth. He delves into the importance of using one's authentic voice in thought leadership and the unexpected opportunities that arise from it. Tune in to explore how embracing authenticity can amplify your impact in the thought leadership arena.
What if the secret to extraordinary sales success wasn't pressure—but purpose? Lisa McLeod believes the best salespeople aren't chasing quotas. They're chasing impact. Lisa is a bestselling author of "Selling with Noble Purpose", keynote speaker, and creator of the Noble Purpose business philosophy. Her work has reached over 2 million people on LinkedIn Learning and been featured in Harvard Business Review. In this episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership, we dive deep into the heart of what drives real, sustainable sales success—and how organizations can embrace the purpose to outperform the market by 350%. We talk about the surprising results of Lisa’s research into top-performing sales teams. Spoiler alert: the best sellers aren’t ruthless closers—they’re purpose-driven professionals who genuinely care about making a difference. Lisa shares how she fused two sides of her life—sales and soul—to build a thriving thought leadership business that helps global brands like Hilton and ThyssenKrupp transform their culture from the inside out. Lisa also opens up about the business side of thought leadership. She discusses the challenges of scaling ideas across massive organizations and why turning insight into action requires more than just great content—it requires packaging, structure, and a path for others to teach it. If you're a thought leader wrestling with how to turn your big ideas into business results—or if you’re trying to bring more meaning into your work—this conversation is for you. Three Key Takeaways: • Purpose-driven sales outperform — Salespeople who focus on improving customers' lives consistently outperform their peers, proving that noble purpose is a strategic advantage, not just a feel-good concept. • Sales has an image problem — The profession is too often defined by its worst examples, but true sales success comes from empathy, trust, and a desire to serve—especially in B2B environments. • Thought leaders must sell their ideas — To create impact, you must connect your insights to the client’s pain points and speak their language; selling isn’t about being pushy, it’s about being relevant and solving real problems. If today’s conversation on purpose-driven sales sparked something for you, you won’t want to miss our episode with Mike Latch and Gregg Murphy, Scaling Sales, Not Sacrificing Quality – The AI-Driven Secret to Billion-Dollar Growth. While Lisa McLeod explores the human side of sales—leading with empathy and purpose—Mike and Gregg dive into how organizations can scale that impact without losing what makes it effective. Together, these episodes paint a powerful picture of what modern sales success looks like: purpose at the core, with systems that support it at scale. Listen next and discover how to align purpose with process to drive real, lasting growth.
Can an introvert become an influential thought leader? Today, Bill Sherman speaks with Sean Barnes, executive coach, speaker, and host of The Way of the Wolf Podcast. Sean didn't start out comfortable on stage. In fact, his first speaking experience—presenting technical details to executives—was uncomfortable enough to make many quit. Instead, it sparked his determination to transform discomfort into impactful communication. Sean shares his journey from tech executive to thought leadership advocate, highlighting how he incrementally built confidence through intentional practice and feedback. He emphasizes the power of storytelling to make complex ideas relatable and memorable, explaining how shifting focus from himself to the narrative eased his speaking anxiety. They explore Sean's venture into podcasting, where he initially struggled with mechanical scripts and low viewership. Sean describes how persistent commitment and iterative improvement turned his podcast into a thriving platform, dedicated to helping listeners grow as leaders. Sean and Bill discuss the crucial mindset shift from personal achievement to enabling others' success. Sean reveals how adopting this philosophy transformed his professional trajectory, opened doors, and deepened his fulfillment beyond financial gain. Listeners will find valuable insights on overcoming introversion, harnessing storytelling for greater influence, and why true leadership is about elevating others. Three Key Takeaways: • Public speaking is not an innate talent reserved for extroverts, but a learnable skill developed through intentional practice, consistent feedback, and stepping courageously into discomfort to incrementally build confidence and effectiveness. • Storytelling is a powerful tool for making complex or technical information engaging, relatable, and memorable, helping audiences emotionally connect to your message and amplifying your thought leadership impact. • Genuine leadership and thought leadership arise not from personal accomplishments alone, but from shifting focus toward empowering others—enabling their growth, success, and influence, thereby expanding your own legacy and effectiveness. For a deeper exploration of introverted leadership, listen to this episode with Marcel Wijermars' conversation on "Introverted Leadership." While Sean Barnes shares his transformation from public speaking anxiety into impactful storytelling, Marcel provides practical strategies for introverts to excel at networking and energy management. Together, these episodes reveal how introversion, when leveraged strategically, becomes a powerful advantage in authentic leadership and influential communication.
Is college really the only path to career success? In this compelling episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership, host Bill Sherman speaks with Lawrese Brown, author of "I Don't Have to Go to College: Discover Well-Paying Jobs that Don't Require a Four-Year College Degree". Lawrese passionately challenges outdated ideas about success, advocating alternative pathways like apprenticeships, boot camps, and vocational training. Originally, Lawrese targeted her message to parents, aiming to reshape perceptions about college as the only route to financial stability. However, she discovered parents often held strong, traditional beliefs about higher education. Shifting her focus directly to students opened powerful conversations. Today's youth, she found, are eager for practical guidance and alternative routes aligned with their true interests. Lawrese reveals how crucial it is for students to trust their instincts, choose careers based on personal values, and recognize multiple forms of intelligence beyond academics. She argues that greater awareness and visibility of non-college paths will empower students, improve self-esteem, and encourage more fulfilling career choices. Lawrese pushes listeners to rethink the "college-or-bust" narrative and advocates celebrating individual paths to success. Three Key Takeaways: • College isn't the only pathway to career success. Alternative routes like apprenticeships, vocational training, and boot camps offer viable, fulfilling opportunities. • Targeting the right audience matters. Shifting the message from parents, who often hold traditional views on education, directly to students can open doors to meaningful conversations and greater openness. • Empowering young people with practical knowledge of alternative career paths encourages informed decisions, higher self-esteem, and more aligned, fulfilling careers. Lawrese Brown emphasizes the importance of crafting your own unique career path, a message echoed by Tony Martignetti in his episode on personal leadership journeys. Check out Tony’s insights for more on challenging conventional thinking. Together, these conversations inspire you to redefine success on your own terms, driven by passion, curiosity, and genuine fulfillment.
Ever felt awkward in a meeting, on stage, or in a tough conversation? What if that discomfort wasn’t a weakness—but an advantage? In this episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership, Peter sits down with workplace performance expert Henna Pryor, author of Good Awkward, to explore the hidden power of social discomfort. Henna breaks down why avoiding awkward moments only makes them worse—and how embracing them can lead to stronger communication, better leadership, and a more resilient mindset. They discuss why so many leaders fear saying the wrong thing (especially in today’s hyper-visible world), how the "spotlight effect" distorts our self-perception, and why placing small bets is the key to building a thought leadership platform. Henna also shares her journey from finance to executive coaching to keynote speaking—proving that growth often comes from stepping into discomfort. This conversation will change the way you think about awkwardness—and might just help you unlock your next big leadership breakthrough. Three Key Takeaways: • Avoiding Awkwardness Makes It Worse – Awkward moments happen to everyone, but dodging them only amplifies the discomfort. Acknowledging and embracing these moments can make you appear more confident and authentic. • Small Bets Lead to Big Wins – Instead of making massive, risky moves, successful thought leaders test ideas by placing small bets—through LinkedIn posts, speaking engagements, or content experiments—to see what resonates before doubling down. • Your Perceived Failures Matter Less Than You Think – The "spotlight effect" tricks us into believing people notice our mistakes more than they actually do. In reality, most people quickly move on—so stop overanalyzing and keep moving forward. Awkward moments often come from misspeaking or making mistakes. Just as Henna Pryor suggests addressing the awkward head-on, Priya Nalkur encourages leaders to embrace imperfection. Both perspectives highlight the power of authenticity and resilience in leadership. If you want to learn how to turn your perceived flaws or failures into strengths, don’t miss this episode 554 - Embracing Imperfection!
How do you turn an idea into lasting thought leadership? Dr. Ruth Gotian has done just that—translating academic research on high achievers into actionable insights that help individuals and organizations thrive. In this episode, we explore the power of mentorship, the resilience of high achievers, and the relentless pursuit of excellence. Ruth shares stories of Olympic champions, astronauts, and Nobel laureates who refused to settle for mediocrity. Like Dr. Peggy Whitson, who applied to NASA for a decade before becoming the agency’s chief astronaut. Or the Olympian already planning his next win on the flight home. Ruth knows success isn’t a talent—it's a learned skill. She shares how to identify your superpowers, leverage them, and plant ambition like a seed that grows into unstoppable drive. She also reveals her own journey of thought leadership—from struggling with the first chapter of The Success Factor to writing books, speaking globally, and democratizing knowledge in every format possible. Her latest book, The Financial Times Guide to Mentoring: A Complete Guide to Effective Mentoring (The FT Guides), co-authored with Andy Lopata, was named Runner-Up for Leadership Book of the Year (The Leadership Awards 2024). Whether you're looking to elevate your own success or help others rise, Ruth’s insights will change the way you think about achievement. Three Key Takeaways: • Success is a Learned Skill, Not Just Talent – High achievers aren’t born extraordinary; they develop habits, resilience, and a relentless pursuit of growth. Whether it's Olympians, astronauts, or Nobel laureates, they all follow a process to success that anyone can adopt. • Mentorship is a Game-Changer – The right mentors can push you further than you ever imagined. Surround yourself with people who believe in you more than you believe in yourself, ask the tough questions, and challenge you to think bigger. (The Financial Times Guide to Mentoring explores this in depth.) • Persistence Separates the Good from the Great – Dr. Peggy Whitson applied to be an astronaut for 10 years before finally being accepted—then went on to become NASA’s Chief Astronaut. The difference between those who succeed and those who don’t? They refuse to give up. Want to know if you are a High Achiever? Take this 2 minute assessment to find out.
Are you really a thought leader—or just claiming the title? Today's guest Mischa Zvegintzov, Chief Influence Officer at Influence Army, thought he was a Thought Leader. As a sales expert with decades of experience, he knew how to pitch. But when a podcast host bluntly told him, “You don’t look like a thought leader,” everything changed. In this episode, Mischa shares how he pivoted from traditional sales tactics to leveraging podcast guesting as his primary vehicle for influence. He reveals how appearing on 100+ shows transformed his credibility, opened doors, and led to unexpected opportunities. Peter and Mischa also dive into the hidden power of podcast guesting—why it's more than just getting on a mic, how to “hijack” an audience the right way, and why most guests completely miss out on maximizing their impact. If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re showing up as a true thought leader or just another name in the noise, this conversation is for you. Expect candid insights, hard-hitting truths, and actionable takeaways on elevating your brand, proving your expertise, and turning podcasting into a game-changing growth strategy. Listen now and learn how to amplify your thought leadership without breaking the bank. Three Key Takeaways: • Podcast guesting is a powerful thought leadership tool – Being a guest on the right podcasts allows you to tap into established audiences, build credibility, and position yourself as an expert without heavy marketing spend. • Most guests fail to maximize their impact – Simply appearing on a podcast isn’t enough; thought leaders must engage in strategic pre-show preparation, deliver value-driven conversations, and actively promote their episodes post-release. • Thought leadership is about proof, not claims – Having a strong message isn’t enough; you need visible credibility. Leveraging podcast guesting effectively can create the social proof necessary to establish real authority in your space. If you've had trouble finding the distinction between Thought Leader and Influencer check out this video by Peter Winick to learn the difference.
Can social media predict the stock market? Vuk Vukovic, CIO and co-founder of Oraclum Capital, believes it can. His hedge fund leverages the wisdom of the crowd and a proprietary network analysis of social media bubbles to forecast weekly equity market movements. With a PhD in political economics and a track record of accurately predicting elections—including Brexit and Trump—he's now applying his methodology to finance. Vuk started by testing his theory transparently, using his own money and publishing every move in a newsletter. The results? Turning $1,000 into $54,000 in just two years. His audience didn't just watch—they invested. Half of his initial hedge fund backers came from readers who followed his journey. The secret isn't just crowd wisdom. It’s about identifying and weighting opinions correctly. Some people—especially those stuck in echo chambers—make terrible predictors. Vuk’s method filters out the noise, finding the right voices to forecast market trends with over 60% accuracy. Beyond trading, he’s expanding his thought leadership through speaking, writing, and his new book, Elite Networks: The Political Economy of Inequality. By connecting network theory to both financial markets and political influence, he’s building a broader platform for his ideas. Listen in as we explore the intersection of thought leadership, data-driven forecasting, and the power of social media. Three Key Takeaways: • The Wisdom of Crowds Works—If You Filter the Right Voices Crowd predictions are powerful, but only when analyzed correctly. Vuk’s methodology accounts for social media bubbles and bias, identifying the most reliable predictors rather than just following the loudest opinions. • Transparency Builds Trust—and Attracts Investors By publicly testing his trading model with his own money, Vuk proved its effectiveness. His thought leadership strategy—sharing real results in a newsletter—turned followers into hedge fund backers. • Network Theory Applies Beyond Finance Vuk’s research on elite influence and inequality connects directly to his market prediction model. Whether in politics or finance, understanding how people interact within networks provides a competitive edge.
How do you lead in a world where the future keeps shifting? Dr. Nada Sanders, a distinguished professor at Northeastern University, an expert in supply chain management and AI-driven decision-making, believes the key is humility. In this episode, we dive into why thought leaders must stay agile, question assumptions, and embrace uncertainty. AI is reshaping business, but no one truly knows what the future holds. Leaders are under pressure to "do something" with AI, yet many don't fully understand its implications. Nada argues that real success lies in balancing human intelligence with machine capabilities—knowing when to trust AI and when to override it. We explore how thought leadership is evolving in this era of rapid change. From the risk of AI-generated misinformation to the need for cross-disciplinary expertise, Nada reveals why rigid thinking is a liability. Thought leaders must develop skills in critical thinking, scenario planning, and resilience. The best leaders won’t be those who make bold, absolute claims—they’ll be the ones who stay curious, adapt quickly, and help others navigate the unknown. As AI-generated content increases, the ability to discern truth from illusion becomes essential. Nada shares why experience matters more than ever and why businesses that sideline senior expertise in favor of digital skills alone are making a critical mistake. Success will come to those who combine deep domain knowledge with the agility to reframe their thinking. We also discuss the future of human-machine collaboration, the power of philosophy in leadership, and why taking time to reflect is more important than ever. Thought leadership isn't just about sharing ideas—it’s about asking the right questions and challenging the status quo. Three Key Takeaways: • Humility is a Superpower in AI-Driven Leadership – Thought leaders must embrace uncertainty and continuously update their perspectives. Absolute certainty is a liability in a world where change is constant. The best leaders will ask, “What don’t we know?” instead of making rigid predictions. • AI is a Tool, Not a Replacement for Human Judgment – AI can generate insights, but it lacks context, experience, and the ability to distinguish truth from misinformation. The leaders who thrive will be those who know when to trust AI, when to challenge it, and how to integrate human expertise with machine intelligence. • Success Requires Cross-Disciplinary Thinking and Adaptability – Siloed expertise is no longer enough. Leaders must develop broad knowledge, connect insights across disciplines, and stay agile. Organizations that combine senior experience with emerging digital skills will have a competitive advantage over those that rely solely on technology. If you are interested in the way AI as a tool is being used in the Thought Leadership space listen to this episode with guest Stephanie Grayson about getting good ideas in front of the right audience and how AI can help.
Can you scale sales without sacrificing quality?
Gregg Murphy and Mike Latch have done it—taking a company from $50 million to a billion-dollar run rate. The secret? A fusion of technology, strategic sales processes, and thought leadership that turns even mid-level sales reps into top performers.
Now, they’re sharing their insights in their book "Sales Sucks...But It Doesn't Have To: Transform New Reps into Top Performers and Scale Your Sales Org from Millions to Billions" and their AI-driven platform, Patter AI. In this episode, they reveal how they built a system that trained 250 new sales reps a month, slashed onboarding time, and transformed how complex sales are executed.
We explore the power of scripting—not as a robotic sales pitch, but as a framework for high-value conversations. Gregg and Mike break down the tech-human synergy that accelerates performance and how their approach challenges the way organizations think about sales training.
If you're looking to scale your team, optimize performance, and create a sales culture that thrives—this episode is a must-listen.
• Sales Scaling Requires Strategy & Tech – Growing from $50M to $1B wasn’t luck; it was a mix of AI-driven enablement, structured scripting, and a clear sales process that rapidly trained new reps.
• Mid-Level Reps Are the Untapped Opportunity – Instead of focusing only on top performers, optimizing mid-tier sales reps can create massive gains with the right tools and training.
• Scripting Isn’t a Crutch—It’s a Superpower – When done right, scripting doesn’t make sales robotic; it empowers reps to have high-value conversations that drive better decisions and results.
If you are struggling to accelerate your sales or are in need of an updated strategy reach out to the team at Thought Leadership Leverage to book a session to discuss how we can help you.
Are you truly connected—to yourself, to others, to your purpose? Dr. Adam Dorsay, psychologist, TEDx speaker, and author, joins me for a deep conversation on how connection shapes our lives. From working with Silicon Valley execs to writing his new book Super Psyched, Adam explores the ways we build (or neglect) meaningful connections. We dive into the challenges of self-awareness, the dangers of distraction, and why so many high-achievers struggle with emotional depth. Adam shares powerful insights on how small, intentional shifts can lead to richer relationships, greater resilience, and a more fulfilling life. He also opens up about his own journey—overcoming dyslexia and ADHD, reinventing himself in midlife, and learning to communicate his ideas in a way that truly resonates. Whether you’re a leader, creator, or someone seeking more meaning, this episode will inspire you to rethink how you engage with the world around you. And if you’ve ever struggled to finish a book, Adam has some surprising lessons on what it really takes to turn big ideas into something lasting. Tune in to rethink connection, intention, and what it means to be truly alive. • Connection Starts with You – Many people look outward when they feel disconnected, blaming relationships, work, or circumstances. But real, lasting connection begins with self-awareness and intentionality. If you don’t connect with yourself first, every other connection will suffer. • Distraction is the Enemy of Meaningful Relationships – Social media, endless to-do lists, and digital distractions are stealing our ability to be present. Small, intentional actions—like sending a thoughtful voice message or truly listening in a conversation—can transform our personal and professional relationships. • Intentional Living Requires Effort – Most people let life happen to them rather than actively shaping their experiences. Taking time to reflect on what truly brings joy and fulfillment can help avoid the regret of “love left on the table.” Thought leaders must apply the same strategic thinking to their personal lives as they do to their work. Adam explores the critical role of self-awareness and intentionality in building meaningful connections. In this short video, Peter highlights how a lack of self-awareness can unknowingly lead to self-sabotage.
Trigger Warning: This episode includes discussions of severe accidents, injuries involving young individuals, and mentions of suicide and self-harm related to these events. While these topics are integral to the conversation, some listeners may find them distressing. If you wish to avoid these sections, please skip from 17:46 to 25:06. What happens when your life takes an unexpected, tragic turn? How do you find the strength to move forward? In this episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership, Bill Sherman speaks with Nina Sossamon-Pogue, a former elite gymnast, Emmy-winning news anchor, and tech executive turned resilience expert. Nina shares her harrowing journey through public failures, personal tragedy, and how she turned pain into purpose. Nina's story is one of extraordinary highs and devastating lows. She opens up about missing her shot at the Olympics, a career-ending injury, and an unimaginable accident that left her questioning whether she could go on. Yet, through it all, she found resilience—a word she embraces as the ability to adapt positively, no matter what life throws your way. This episode isn't just about overcoming adversity. It's about building thought leadership from lived experience. Nina reveals how she transformed her hardships into a framework for resilience, tested through years of research and personal reflection. From being the person everyone turned to during crises to becoming a sought-after speaker on resilience, Nina's path is both inspiring and instructive. Listen as Nina discusses her evolution from telling others' stories as a journalist to sharing her own. She candidly explores the challenges of defining her thought leadership, navigating the pressures of public failure, and staying authentic in an industry often driven by spectacle.
This conversation is a must-listen for anyone grappling with failure, burnout, or the relentless pursuit of excellence. Nina's insights on resilience offer a guiding light for thought leaders and high achievers alike. Three Key Takeaways: • Resilience is built through facing and learning from failure. Nina’s journey shows that setbacks, whether public or personal, can become catalysts for growth when we confront them head-on and adapt positively. • Thought leadership often emerges from personal experience and rigorous reflection. Nina’s hardships inspired her to develop a framework for resilience, demonstrating that impactful thought leadership is often rooted in lived experiences and deep introspection. • Authenticity and vulnerability are essential in thought leadership. By sharing her personal struggles, Nina highlights the importance of being genuine and open, which helps build trust and connection with audiences. Resilience isn’t just about bouncing back—it’s about adapting, growing, and finding strength in adversity. If you enjoyed the topics in this episode we recommend listening to Dr. Marie-Helene Pelletier on Resilience Redefined. Both episodes highlight the intersection of mental health, professional reinvention, and the ability to thrive after setbacks.
How do you get booked as a speaker when no one knows you? And how do you stand out in a crowded market? Cam Beaudoin has cracked the code. A former speaker on disability inclusion and accessibility, Cam now helps speakers create powerful demo reels that get them noticed—and hired. He joins me on Leveraging Thought Leadership to share why most speaker reels miss the mark and what you need to do instead. We break down the myths about demo reels, why a flashy highlight reel won’t get you booked, and how to craft a video that makes event planners say, “This is the speaker we need.” Cam also reveals a simple yet overlooked strategy to build credibility—even if you don’t have a big-stage clip yet. If you’re a speaker (or want to be), this episode is a masterclass in making yourself irresistible to event organizers. Three Key Takeaways: • Your speaker reel is a sales tool, not just a highlight reel. It should clearly show how you solve a problem for event planners and their audiences. • You don’t need a big-stage clip to create a compelling reel. Interviews, media appearances, and even small-stage footage can establish credibility and showcase your expertise. • Getting booked isn’t just about great content—it’s about marketing. A strong demo reel gets you the call; your job is to convert that into a paid speaking gig. If you want some additional tips to make your demo reel sizzle, check out this article by Leveraging Thought Leadership COO Bill Sherman.
Is the influencer model broken? Consumers are drowning in five-star reviews and paid endorsements. But what if credibility, not clout, was the real driver of influence? In this episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership, Peter Winick sits down with Eric Shienkop, entrepreneur, author, and tech innovator. Eric built the world’s largest community of unsigned musicians, helping them monetize their work through brand partnerships. Now, he’s taking on another industry ripe for disruption—online reviews and influencer marketing. Eric’s company, The Desire Company, is flipping the script. Instead of influencers with massive followings but little expertise, they partner with professionals—athletes, doctors, and industry specialists—who actually know their stuff. The result? Trustworthy product recommendations that resonate with consumers in a way traditional influencer marketing no longer does. Eric shares the evolution of his thought leadership journey, from struggling to get into boardrooms to becoming a bestselling author and sought-after speaker. He breaks down the steps that took him from white papers to keynotes to writing the book "Return of the Hustle: The Art of Marketing With Music" that made Microsoft come calling. If you’re trying to cut through the noise, establish credibility, and build a business that thrives on trust, this conversation is packed with insights you won’t want to miss. Three Key Takeaways: • Credibility Beats Popularity – Consumers are growing skeptical of traditional influencer marketing, making expert-driven recommendations more valuable than ever. • Thought Leadership Opens Doors – Writing books, publishing white papers, and speaking at events can transform expertise into opportunities and business growth. • Industries Ripe for Disruption – Outdated systems, like the current review and influencer models, create opportunities for innovation and trust-based marketing. Eric shows why getting the right influencer is more important than the one with the most followers. If you want to follow in his footsteps you'll have to know your audience, and not just in general terms. Check out this article by Peter Winick on how to clearly describe your ideal client and why being able to do so is critical.
What does it take to chase greatness in a world of rapid change? Rajeev Kapur, CEO of 1105 Media and bestselling author, shares his journey of saying "yes" to hard things—from navigating international markets in the early days of Gateway and Dell to leading businesses during a global pandemic. His stories reveal the resilience and courage required to build opportunities where none seem to exist. Rajeev opens up about how bold decisions and a mindset of growth led him to write his first book, Chase Greatness: Enlightened Leadership for the Next Generation of Disruption, during the challenges of COVID-19. He outlines his "GREAT" framework—Gratitude, Resilience, Empathy, Accountability, and Transparency—essential traits for leaders facing demographic shifts, technological disruptions, and cultural divides. This episode also explores Rajeev’s second book, AI Made Simple: A Beginner’s Guide to Generative Intelligence, written for those intimidated by technology. He explains how generative AI can empower individuals and why understanding its potential and risks is crucial in today’s world. From harnessing AI for business to embracing deep fakes as a societal challenge, Rajeev makes the case for thoughtful leadership in an era of disruption. Whether you’re a CEO, entrepreneur, or aspiring thought leader, Rajeev’s insights will inspire you to step up, stay curious, and embrace the hard path to success. Three Key Takeaways: • Saying Yes to Hard Challenges: Taking on difficult tasks and stepping out of your comfort zone can fast-track career growth and open unexpected opportunities. • The "GREAT" Leadership Framework: Gratitude, Resilience, Empathy, Accountability, and Transparency are essential traits for navigating disruption and leading effectively in today’s fast-changing world. • AI is for Everyone: Understanding and embracing AI’s potential—even for non-technical individuals—can drive innovation and create new opportunities, but leaders must also be mindful of its risks, like deep fakes and ethical concerns. Rajeev has a GREAT framework and you can too! Thought Leadership consists of four components that must work together. You can learn more about them here.
What do horses and leadership have in common? According to executive leadership coach and author of The Unlocked Leader: Dare to Free Your Own Voice, Lead with Empathy, and Shine Your Light in the World Hortense le Gentil, a lot more than you might think. In this episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership, Hortense shares how lessons learned from show jumping shaped her understanding of empathy, communication, and trust—core elements of great leadership. She explores how leaders, like riders, must align with their teams, anticipate obstacles, and build trust to achieve success. Hortense's journey to becoming a world-renowned executive coach wasn't conventional. She didn’t set out to be a coach—she simply wanted to help others. Over time, her unique insights and human-centered approach to leadership attracted top executives and organizations looking to go beyond strategy and truly connect with their teams. In this conversation, Peter and Hortense discuss the difference between transactional coaching and transformative coaching. They dive into the common challenges executives face—self-doubt, old narratives, and the struggle to balance strategic execution with authentic leadership. Hortense reveals how she helps leaders break free from limiting beliefs and redefine their leadership identity. The discussion also touches on the evolving landscape of thought leadership, the shift from traditional keynote speaking to more interactive formats like fireside chats, and why authenticity is the key to making a real impact. If you’re ready to unlock your leadership potential and shine your light in the world, this episode is a must-listen. Three Key Takeaways: • Leadership is about alignment and trust. Just like in show jumping, leaders must align with their teams, anticipate obstacles, and build trust to achieve success. Leadership isn’t about control—it’s about connection. • Authenticity drives impact. Leaders who embrace their true selves and lead with empathy create stronger, more engaged teams. Authenticity is the key to unlocking leadership potential and making a meaningful impact. • The landscape of thought leadership is evolving. Traditional keynotes are being replaced by more interactive formats like fireside chats, allowing for deeper, more personalized engagement with audiences.
Where do big ideas come from, and how do we make them accessible to the next generation? Thought leadership isn't just about creating new ideas—it’s about synthesizing insights and making them available to those who need them most. In this episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership, we explore the fascinating journey of Dr. Lisa DeFrank-Cole, professor and director of Leadership Studies at West Virginia University. From growing up in a coal mining town to becoming an author and academic leader, Lisa’s story is one of perseverance, curiosity, and impact. Lisa shares how she identified a critical gap in leadership education—women in leadership—and turned it into an award-winning textbook Women and Leadership: Journey Towards Equity that’s now shaping classrooms across the country. She dives into the importance of synthesizing research to make complex ideas more digestible and highlights the role of educators in bridging the gap between academia and real-world application. We also explore the challenges of taking thought leadership beyond the classroom. Lisa discusses the need for visibility, the power of speaking up, and the reality that simply writing a book isn’t enough. Thought leadership requires patience, persistence, and proactive engagement to truly make an impact. If you’ve ever wondered how to turn your ideas into something tangible and enterprise-ready, this conversation will give you valuable insights. Ready to learn how to connect ideas with the audiences who need them most? Three Key Takeaways: • Thought leadership requires synthesis, not just creation. Making complex ideas accessible to a broader audience is crucial for driving real impact and fostering new generations of leaders. • Bridging the gap between academia and practice takes effort. Sharing insights beyond the classroom requires proactive engagement, visibility, and a willingness to step outside traditional academic circles. • Opportunities arise when you speak up. Whether it’s writing a book or seeking new platforms, voicing ideas to the right people can open unexpected doors and create meaningful change. Lisa found opportunities by speaking up. Take a look at this infographic for ideas on Discovering Thought Leadership Opportunities in the Digital Age.
What if curiosity could change the course of your career? Today on Leveraging Thought Leadership, Laurence Minsky shares how a simple question about advertising portfolios led to a book deal for his first book: How to Succeed in Advertising When All You Have is Talent, that transformed his professional path. From launching an advertising career to becoming an academic thought leader, Laurence demonstrates the power of asking the right questions, collaborating with experts, and turning curiosity into action. Laurence’s story is a roadmap for anyone looking to break into a new industry or expand their influence. He explains how identifying gaps in knowledge and pursuing them relentlessly has driven his career, leading to the publication of ten books and a thriving consulting practice. Whether it’s exploring emerging trends like conversational AI or mastering the nuances of audio branding, Laurence has built a reputation as a lifelong learner who stays ahead of the curve. In this conversation, Laurence and Bill Sherman explore how thought leadership creates unexpected opportunities. They discuss the importance of finding the right collaborators, the role of storytelling in creating impactful content, and how a well-timed idea can position you as a leader in your field. Laurence’s insights on navigating career shifts, adapting to new challenges, and staying relevant in a rapidly changing world will inspire listeners at any stage of their professional journey. This episode is a must-listen for leaders, creatives, and anyone eager to turn curiosity into success. Learn how to identify trends before they emerge, create meaningful content, and use thought leadership to open doors you never imagined. Three Key Takeaways: • Curiosity Sparks Opportunity: A simple question can lead to big opportunities. Laurence Minsky’s curiosity about advertising portfolios led to a book deal that transformed his career trajectory. • Collaboration Amplifies Success: Partnering with experts and blending skill sets can create impactful content and open doors to new industries or roles. • Thought Leadership Requires Action: Identifying gaps in the market, pursuing emerging trends, and sharing insights are key to staying relevant and creating lasting impact. Laurence discussing how collaboration is key. If you're ready to elevate your platform or bring your ideas to life, book a Strategy Session with our team at Leveraging Thought Leadership. Let’s explore how we can help you achieve greater success.
How do you bridge the gap between brilliant ideas and real-world impact? In this episode, Peter Winick sits down with Maxine Mackie, Managing Director of Label Sessions, to explore the art of translating thought leadership into actionable innovation. Maxine shares her journey from working with IBM’s research labs to founding a global expert network. She reveals the power of connecting thought leaders with businesses to solve real problems and drive progress. Maxine highlights the challenges of identifying hidden experts—those who are brilliant in their domains but often overlooked because they don’t self-promote. She also emphasizes the value of collaboration in creating impactful thought leadership and why innovation often thrives at the intersection of diverse perspectives. Together, they discuss strategies for thought leaders to commercialize their expertise while staying relevant in a rapidly changing world. This conversation is packed with actionable insights for thought leaders, CEOs, and anyone looking to turn innovation into a competitive edge. Don’t miss Maxine’s advice on finding your voice, building a network, and navigating the balance between isolation and collaboration in thought leadership creation. Three Key Takeaways: • Collaboration Fuels Innovation: Thought leadership thrives at the intersection of diverse perspectives, and collaboration often sparks the most impactful ideas. • Hidden Experts Hold Untapped Value: Many brilliant minds remain undiscovered because they don’t self-promote. Finding and amplifying these experts is key to solving complex business challenges. • Translate Ideas Into Action: Success in thought leadership requires bridging technical or academic brilliance with clear, actionable strategies that resonate with businesses and drive results. Maxine emphasizes the transformative potential of collaboration in driving innovation. To explore how collaborating with clients can unlock new levels of value, we invite you to read this insightful article by Peter Winick.
What happens when a high-powered attorney decides to tackle fear and anxiety head-on? On this episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership, Peter Winick speaks with Stephen J. Dietrich, corporate M&A attorney and author of Fear Dynamics: Harnessing fear and anxiety to create lasting happiness and meaningful achievement. Stephen shares how introspection and personal growth reshaped his approach to life and business. He explains how addressing emotional and mental health helped him not only find happiness but also skyrocket his professional success. Stephen discusses the surprising link between vulnerability and stronger client relationships. He details how embracing openness led to better teamwork, trust, and deeper connections in his law practice. His story challenges conventional thinking, proving that emotional honesty can drive exceptional business outcomes. From mental health stigma to corporate performance, Stephen’s journey is a powerful example of how courage and self-awareness can transform both individuals and organizations. This conversation is packed with insights for leaders ready to rethink how they engage with their teams and clients. If you’re wondering how emotional well-being can align with professional excellence, this episode will leave you inspired. Three Key Takeaways: • Vulnerability Builds Trust: Embracing emotional openness can deepen relationships with clients, colleagues, and teams, fostering collaboration and mutual respect. • Mental Health Drives Success: Addressing fear and anxiety not only enhances personal happiness but also leads to measurable improvements in professional performance and business outcomes. • Modeling Behavior Matters: Leaders who demonstrate transparency and resilience create an environment where others feel empowered to engage authentically, driving better teamwork and innovation. Thought Leadership like what Stephen is doing has the power to change lives, but getting it into the world can be an uphill battle. If you feel like you are losing your passion for thought leadership, read this article to get some tips from Peter on how to Reevaluate, Retool, and Reengage.
In this year-end highlight episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership with Bill Sherman, we revisit the journeys of six incredible thought leaders from diverse fields. They share insights into their evolving work, the hurdles they’ve faced, and the laser focus needed to connect deeply with their audiences. From startup leadership and immigrant entrepreneurship to innovation management and clarity in communication, this compilation reveals the powerful interplay of passion, precision, and perseverance. Martin Gonzalez explores the role of data in refining startup strategies, pushing past biases to uncover actionable truths. Neri Karra Sillaman underscores how personal experiences, such as her journey as an immigrant entrepreneur, shape impactful ideas and groundbreaking research. These leaders remind us that the questions we dare to ask often define the value we create. Clemence Sop takes us into the luxury industry, where understanding your audience at a granular level transforms social selling into a high-touch art form. Peter Boatwright and Jon Cagan, authors of Managing the Unmanageable, dive into managing chaos in innovation, using experiments to show how structured management enhances creative output without stifling originality. Finally, Ann Latham shares her journey to mastering clarity—an elusive yet essential skill in thought leadership. Her unique framework transforms abstract ideas into actionable insights, proving clarity is both an art and a discipline. Each story offers lessons for those aspiring to lead through ideas.
2024 was an incredible year for Leveraging Thought Leadership, bringing insights from some of the brightest minds in business and thought leadership. This "Best of 2024" episode features five remarkable conversations, each offering unique strategies and perspectives on building influence and scaling ideas. If you're looking to lead with impact, this episode is packed with actionable takeaways. Kim Scott, author of Radical Candor, reflects on the importance of managing people with authenticity and respect. She shares how frameworks like hers help leaders balance care with accountability, dismantling myths about "nice" managers finishing last. Marcus Collins takes the mic to reveal how marketers can build deep emotional connections by starting with shared values and targeting niche communities, a strategy he applied to launch his book successfully. Kate Bravery dives into the future of work with insights from her book Work Different. She confronts outdated HR practices and calls for agility and transparency in job architectures. Liz Wiseman rounds out the lineup, sharing her secret to transforming keynote speeches into lasting, impactful organizational change. By creating ecosystems around her books, Liz ensures her ideas deeply embed in corporate cultures. We finish off the episode with Peter and Bill Sherman looking at the highlights of the Book ROI project that has offered never before analyzed insights into publishing a business book. This episode distills wisdom from top thought leaders into a concise, and powerful hour. Whether you're a seasoned author, a keynote speaker, or an aspiring influencer, you'll find inspiration and practical advice for amplifying your voice.
How do you take an academic idea and turn it into a global movement?
On this episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership, Bill Sherman dives deep with Karen and Aneil Mishra, exploring their journey of transforming the "ROCC of Trust" framework into an impactful leadership tool. From the humble beginnings of self-publishing to securing high-profile consulting contracts, this episode showcases the art of bridging academic rigor with practical application.
Aneil shares the origins of his trust framework, which emerged from research in crisis-ridden industries, and how Karen's marketing expertise rebranded it from a "Rock" to "ROCC"—making it memorable and actionable. Their collaborative effort highlights the importance of translating academic language into compelling, relatable messages. The Mishras’ story is a testament to the power of resilience, boldness, and cross-disciplinary collaboration.
The couple also reflects on overcoming challenges, including rejection from publishers who deemed them "not famous enough." Undeterred, they self-published, gained traction, and proved that meaningful ideas can transcend barriers. Karen’s advice to her younger self? Be bolder and unapologetically share relevant academic insights with the world. Aneil adds, tackle big, important problems, as they keep you motivated and aligned with purpose.
Their legacy, especially Aneil’s enduring contributions to trust research, serves as a blueprint for turning intellectual passion into a movement that inspires executives, students, and practitioners alike. This episode is both a masterclass in thought leadership and a heartfelt tribute to Aneil’s impact.
Three Key Takeaways:
• The Rock of Trust Framework: Aneil Mishra's research on trust identified four key pillars: reliability, openness, competence, and caring. Rebranded with Karen's marketing expertise, this framework became a memorable and impactful leadership tool applied across industries and organizations.
• From Rejection to Resilience: Despite being told they weren’t “famous enough” to publish their book, the Mishras self-published and gained traction. Their persistence turned rejection into opportunity, eventually leading to consulting contracts and increased credibility in the leadership space.
• Bridging the Academic-Practitioner Divide: Karen and Aneil emphasized translating academic insights into practical tools. Their ability to speak the language of both executives and students showcased the importance of making complex ideas relatable and actionable.
What does it take to truly transform and lead authentically? Paul Glover knows. Once a successful trial attorney, his life unraveled due to choices that led to federal prison. But from the depths of failure, Paul emerged not only as a survivor but as a powerhouse coach for C-suite executives. His journey is raw, unfiltered, and deeply inspiring, blending lessons of humility, resilience, and hard-won wisdom. Paul’s story is one of dramatic reinvention. Prison, he says, saved his life and softened his perspective, forcing him to confront blind spots and triggers that once drove destructive behavior. Today, his “No BS” coaching method empowers leaders to tackle their echo chambers and embrace failure as a growth tool. From offering money-back guarantees to positioning himself as a modern-day “fool” who tells leaders the hard truths, Paul’s approach is anything but conventional. Leadership, Paul argues, demands the courage to fail and the humility to learn. His coaching and speaking emphasize resilience, not just to bounce back but to bounce forward. Drawing parallels to psychological safety and historical figures like the court jester, Paul challenges leaders to seek and trust those who hold them accountable, creating space for transformation. The key? Being brutally honest—with themselves and their teams. Paul’s message is a wake-up call to leaders everywhere: true leadership isn’t about being perfect; it’s about embracing imperfection and turning failure into fuel for growth. With humor, candor, and authenticity, Paul Glover inspires audiences to rethink success and take bold, transformative steps forward. Three Key Takeaways: • Transformation Through Failure: Paul Glover’s journey from a successful attorney to a convicted felon and then a sought-after coach highlights the power of embracing failure as a tool for personal and professional growth. He demonstrates how confronting blind spots and taking accountability can lead to profound transformation. • Authentic Leadership Requires Honesty: True leaders need to break out of echo chambers and surround themselves with people who provide honest, unfiltered feedback. Paul’s approach as the “No BS” coach underscores the importance of humility, self-awareness, and the willingness to hear hard truths. • Resilience Goes Beyond Recovery: Leadership isn’t just about bouncing back; it’s about bouncing forward. Paul emphasizes resilience as the ability to learn from failures and turn them into opportunities for growth, fostering a leadership style that is both dynamic and transformative. Instead of running from his past Paul has put it forward as part of his authentic self. When you present your thought leadership are you being authentic or just trying to go viral? Check out this short video by Peter Winick to discover why being your real self is more important.
How can an academic bridge the gap between rigorous research and actionable insights for executives?
Stephanie Woerner, of MIT's Center for Information Systems Research (CISR), offers a masterclass on this topic in our latest podcast episode. She reveals how her team tackles the tension between academia’s slower pace and business’s urgent demands by designing projects with rapid deliverables and executive-relevant outcomes. It’s not just about publishing papers—it’s about driving impact and transforming practices.
Stephanie explains how CISR collaborates with its consortium of 75 corporate members to co-create research agendas that solve real-world problems. From exploring the impact of AI and data-driven decision-making to demystifying digital transformation, her frameworks make complex concepts accessible. Her advice? Listen to your audience, translate data into actionable insights, and focus on what drives performance—whether it’s profitability, innovation, or customer experience.
The conversation dives into the art of storytelling with data. Stephanie shares how visuals, like a simple two-by-two matrix, can illuminate business challenges and opportunities. By simplifying without oversimplifying, she equips leaders to move from confusion to clarity, making complex transformations manageable.
With thought leadership positioned as a practice, Stephanie reflects on her journey from researcher to influencer. She underscores the importance of connecting with your audience, constantly iterating, and striving for impact over time. This is thought leadership in action—anticipating the future, separating signal from noise, and delivering the insights your audience needs just when they need them.
Three Key Takeaways:
- Bridging Academia and Business: Stephanie Woerner highlights the importance of designing research to deliver actionable insights for executives. By structuring projects with shorter cycles and a focus on business relevance, her team ensures their work addresses urgent corporate challenges while maintaining academic rigor.
The Power of Frameworks and Storytelling: Simplifying complex ideas into accessible frameworks, like two-by-two matrices, helps executives understand challenges and take decisive action. Effective storytelling with data transforms raw information into compelling, actionable insights.Audience-Centered Thought Leadership: Successful thought leadership requires deep listening and collaboration with your audience. Woerner emphasizes the value of co-creating research agendas and focusing on practical outcomes that align with what your audience urgently needs to know—or hasn’t yet thought to ask.
If you want to further explore the idea of using academic research to build your thought leadership, be sure to check out this video by Leveraging Thought Leadership founder and CEO Peter Winick.
How do you turn ideas into impact and expertise into action? On this episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership, Peter Winick speaks with Dre Baldwin, Founder and CEO of Work on Your Game. Dre is a four-time TEDx speaker and author of 35 books, including "The Third Day: The Decision that Separates The Pros from the Amateurs" and the creator of the Work on Your Game framework. Together, they unpack the critical role frameworks play in scaling ideas and ensuring consistency. Dre shares how frameworks act as guardrails, anchoring your principles and making your work repeatable and impactful across topics and audiences. Dre emphasizes the power of mindset as the foundation for success. A shift in thinking sparks changes in actions, which in turn drive outcomes. Skipping this sequence leads to frustration, wasted resources, and unmet goals. Whether you’re an athlete or an entrepreneur, Dre insists the process starts in your head. From there, strategies and systems create a path for repeatable success. Systems aren’t just efficient—they’re liberating. Build it once, and you can focus on execution and innovation. Dre’s own journey began with a realization: the clock on a professional basketball career runs out fast. Embracing his inner tech enthusiast, Dre leveraged the internet to bypass gatekeepers and build his brand. Blogging, YouTube, and podcasting became his tools to connect directly with an audience eager for his insights. His approach? Show up consistently and deliver value based on real-time audience needs. It’s a formula he’s honed into a repeatable system, and it’s working. Writing 35 books might seem Herculean, but Dre demystifies it with a system that maximizes today’s tech. From dictation to transcription, he’s found ways to streamline the creative process while staying true to his ideas. The tools evolve, but the challenge remains the same: having something meaningful to say and a receptive audience. For Dre, systems make the execution scalable—but only if you start with a strong mindset and clear strategy. Three Key Takeaways: • Frameworks Anchor Success: A strong framework acts as a guide, keeping your work aligned with your principles and making it repeatable. It ensures consistency and clarity across topics and audiences, which is essential for scaling impact. • Mindset Drives Results: Change starts in your mind. Adjusting your thinking leads to better actions, which then create meaningful outcomes. Skipping the mindset step results in frustration and wasted effort. • Systems Simplify and Scale: Whether writing books or building a business, systems are the key to efficiency. Once a system is in place, you can focus on execution and innovation, letting the process do the heavy lifting. Dre does a great job of illustrating why changing mindset is so important to creating long lasting impact. For additional information on Changing Mindset and Building Skills take a look at this article by Thought Leadership Leverage CEO Peter Winick.
What if publishing your book was as simple as answering a few questions?
This week, Peter Winick speaks with Dan Curran, a serial entrepreneur and innovator who is transforming the publishing industry with Chapters.io, a groundbreaking platform designed to make writing a book accessible and efficient for first-time authors. He’s also the author of the upcoming book Chaos is a Ladder, bringing a wealth of insight from his extensive experience in editorial content and marketing.
The guest shares his journey through healthcare, pharma, and life sciences, writing technical content requiring precision and integrity. For years, he sought a way to revolutionize publishing but couldn’t see the right opportunity—until the launch of ChatGPT in 2022. Recognizing AI’s potential to organize and structure content, he and his team reimagined how non-fiction books could be created, merging cutting-edge technology with traditional editorial expertise.
Chapters is tailored for first-time authors—professionals with wisdom or unique perspectives but unsure how to navigate the challenging publishing landscape. The platform begins with simple, AI-driven questions: What’s your topic? Who’s your audience? What tone fits your message? These answers quickly generate 5,000 to 20,000 words of raw material. Editors then refine the draft, turning conversations into polished manuscripts. The system integrates your existing content—blogs, podcasts, or presentations—while maintaining a closed environment to ensure the work remains entirely yours.
What sets Chapters apart is its human touch. Every project is paired with a best-selling editor who provides insight, asks follow-up questions, and ensures your story shines. This blend of AI efficiency and editorial expertise turns the daunting process of writing a book into an approachable, streamlined experience.
Three Key Takeaways: • Chapters.io makes publishing accessible: By combining AI-driven tools with human editorial expertise, it simplifies the process for first-time authors, turning conversations into compelling manuscripts. • AI as a powerful organizational tool: The platform leverages AI to structure content, ask tailored questions, and fill in gaps, making it easier to generate high-quality material efficiently. • Human touch remains vital: Every project is supported by a best-selling editor who ensures the final product is polished, personalized, and impactful. This blend of technology and expertise redefines the book-writing journey. Dan is disrupting the publishing industry and he isn't the only one. If you want to learn more about what Thought Leaders should know about the changing publishing landscape check out this video from Peter Winick.
How do you turn decades of expertise into a scalable thought leadership business? Ruth King, known as the Profit & Wealth Guru, shares her journey from one-on-one financial coaching to becoming a best-selling author and AI innovator. She began by helping small businesses demystify their financial statements, but quickly realized her reach was limited. Writing books became the answer. Her first book, "The Ugly Truth about Small Business: 50 (Never-Saw-It-Coming) Things That Can Go Wrong...and What You Can Do about It," featured lessons from 50 entrepreneurs, offering readers practical insights into navigating difficult challenges.. It struck a chord, leading to a series of books that continue to impact readers globally. Publishing was just the start. Ruth took her ideas to a wider audience by leveraging TV, radio, newsletters, and now podcasts. Weekly newsletters since the '90s have built her credibility, while speaking engagements and media appearances have kept her message evergreen. Her approach is simple: stories over statistics. Sharing real-life examples from her clients makes complex financial principles relatable and memorable, ensuring her audience stays engaged. As technology advanced, Ruth embraced AI to scale her impact. Recognizing its potential during a Mastermind session, she and her team developed a groundbreaking AI tool to simplify and analyze messy small business balance sheets. Rooted in her decades of expertise, this tool standardizes processes and delivers insights at scale—no Zoom required. It’s a game-changer for small businesses seeking clarity and growth. Ruth’s next move is clear: scale the AI solution by partnering with professionals who serve small businesses. Accountants, CPAs, and referral partners are already helping bring her vision to life. For Ruth, it’s not just about the numbers; it’s about empowering entrepreneurs to grow profitably, build wealth, and create lasting success. Three Key Takeaways: • Stories Simplify Complexity: Ruth King’s success lies in using real-life client stories to make financial principles accessible and memorable, demonstrating the power of storytelling in thought leadership. • Scaling Expertise Through AI: By embedding her decades of knowledge into an AI tool, Ruth has transformed her expertise into a scalable solution that helps small businesses make sense of their financials without needing her direct involvement. • Long-Term PR is Essential: Thought leadership isn’t a one-and-done effort. Ruth’s ongoing use of newsletters, speaking engagements, and media appearances ensures her message remains relevant and her audience continues to grow. Ruth understands that to have maximum impact you have to be able to go to scale. If you want to learn more about "Scaling You" check out this video by Leveraging Thought Leadership CEO Peter Winick.
What if the key to saving the planet wasn’t more regulations or money, but a new kind of leadership? Rajeev Peshawaria, CEO of Stewardship Asia Centre and author of "Sustainable Sustainability: Why ESG is Not Enough" and "Too Many Bosses, Too Few Leaders: The Three Essential Principles You Need to Become an Extraordinary Leader", joins Bill Sherman on Leveraging Thought Leadership to discuss how his career pivoted from financial services to championing climate responsibility and social sustainability. He shares how a career in HR and leadership development revealed the limits of conventional approaches and sparked his passion for Steward Leadership—a model built on purpose, values, and a long-term perspective. Rajeev’s research into over 100 global companies found a surprising pattern. Organizations thriving while solving environmental and social challenges weren’t driven by financial incentives or regulations. Instead, they were guided by a values-based approach rooted in independence, long-term thinking, ownership of today’s challenges, and creative resilience. These principles formed the backbone of the Steward Leadership model, a framework that marries purpose with profitability and proves businesses can do well by doing good. Spreading this message has been both strategic and successful. Rajeev’s team collaborates with governments, business schools, and agencies worldwide to promote Steward Leadership. By showcasing companies with decades-long track records of balancing profit with purpose, they’ve captured attention and inspired action. Leaders are drawn to the idea that societal impact and business success are not in conflict but can amplify each other. Rajeev’s vision for the future is bold yet focused. By influencing just 20% of the leaders they reach, the Stewardship Asia Centre aims to create a ripple effect powerful enough to drive global change. With a clear-eyed embrace of the 80/20 rule, Rajeev is betting that a minority of committed leaders, armed with the right values, can shift the trajectory of businesses—and the world. Three Key Takeaways: • Leadership, Not Incentives, Drives Sustainability: Successful companies solving environmental and social challenges aren’t motivated by regulations or financial incentives. Instead, they operate from a values-driven leadership model rooted in purpose, long-term thinking, and a commitment to societal impact. • The Four Pillars of Steward Leadership: The Steward Leadership model is built on four principles: independence (the belief that helping society benefits business), long-term thinking (beyond quarterly gains), ownership of challenges (profit while solving problems), and creative resilience (innovating to address global issues). • The 20% Ripple Effect: Rajeev’s strategy focuses on influencing just 20% of leaders touched by his work. Leveraging the 80/20 rule, he believes this minority of purpose-driven leaders can create a powerful ripple effect, transforming businesses and society for the better. Rajeev not only understands what type of leaders we need, but he knows how to find them. As a thought leader can you clearly describe your ideal client? If you're not sure make sure to read this article by Thought Leadership Leverage CEO Peter Winick for tips on getting a clear picture.
What happens when you mix radical candor with thought leadership? In this episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership, Peter Winick sits down with Kim Scott, author of "Radical Candor" and "Radical Respect" to explore how leaders can communicate effectively, especially when giving tough feedback. They discuss the importance of honesty, compassion, and clarity in leadership communication, showing how these principles can strengthen relationships and drive results. Kim shares her insights on creating a culture of trust and transparency within organizations. She emphasizes that when leaders genuinely care about their team members, their feedback becomes a tool for growth, not criticism. Through real-world examples, Peter and Kim illustrate how radical candor isn’t just about being direct—it’s about balancing empathy with honesty to unlock true potential. The conversation dives deep into the challenges leaders face when giving feedback, especially in high-pressure situations. Kim highlights the power of giving both praise and constructive criticism in a way that motivates and encourages continuous improvement. Peter and Kim also explore the nuances of how feedback can be tailored to different personalities, making it more effective and impactful. If you're looking to elevate your leadership communication and build stronger teams, this episode offers actionable insights. Kim’s advice is clear: to lead effectively, you must care deeply, speak honestly, and encourage your people to grow without fear of failure. A must-listen for anyone looking to strengthen their leadership style. Three Key Takeaways: • Balancing Care with Candor: Leaders achieve greater impact when they provide honest feedback with empathy. This mix of care and candor builds trust and encourages open communication within teams. • Authentic Relationships Drive Success: Authenticity isn’t optional. Leaders who connect genuinely with their teams—seeing them as people, not just employees—create an environment where trust and motivation thrive. • Results and Relationships Are Partners: Effective leaders focus on both outcomes and relationships. By fostering a culture of accountability and respect, leaders help their teams excel and feel valued. Entering the world of thought leadership without a strategy and finding success like Kim did isn't common. Check out this article by Leveraging Thought Leadership CEO Peter Winick for tips on getting your strategy, tactics, and goals aligned early!
What drives someone to write a book that is both hard to create and has a deep impact? For Dr. Paul R. Lawrence, former Under Secretary for Benefits and author of Veterans Benefits for You: Get What You Deserve, it was a blend of personal experience and a dedication to help veterans understand and claim their benefits. Lawrence’s career in public administration gave him first hand insight into veterans’ needs. From managing government responsibilities to engaging directly with veterans, he saw the gap between the benefits available and the information veterans had access to. This realization fueled his decision to write a book that’s accessible, concise, and targeted to help 90% of veterans navigate their benefits with ease. Creating a straightforward guide for veterans wasn’t simple. Lawrence focused on breaking down complex government processes into easy-to-understand language, with actionable steps veterans could take immediately. By simplifying the typical benefit journey for most veterans, he created a tool that addressed the most common needs without overloading readers with unnecessary details. This clarity made his book not just popular but also essential for the very people he aimed to serve. Lawrence’s time in office revealed another key insight: veterans want fast, actionable answers. During his tenure, he regularly met with veterans, both in person and through massive virtual town halls reaching up to 5.7 million individuals nationwide. By actively listening to veterans’ questions and frustrations, he fine-tuned his approach, ensuring his message resonated at both individual and large-scale levels. This commitment to direct communication shaped his book’s impact and expanded his reach far beyond traditional avenues. The success of his book has inspired Lawrence to think bigger. He’s now exploring veteran employment, seeing a critical need for more research and resources in this area. With the increasing numbers of veterans out of the labor force, Lawrence wants to understand and address this trend. He’s considering a follow-up that could dive deeper into solutions for veteran employment challenges—a topic he believes might resonate even more widely. Three Key Takeaways: • Simplifying Complexity: Lawrence’s book translates complex government processes into accessible, action-oriented information that 90% of veterans can use. His goal was to cut through bureaucratic jargon, making benefits understandable and actionable for veterans. • Listening to Needs: Through direct interactions, both in person and virtually, Lawrence learned that veterans prioritize quick, clear answers. His approach to outreach—whether at VFW halls or in large-scale virtual town halls—helped him fine-tune his messaging and address veterans' most pressing questions. • Expanding Impact: Beyond benefits, Lawrence is shifting his focus toward veteran employment, recognizing a gap in support. By researching why many veterans are leaving the labor force, he aims to create resources and solutions for this underserved area.
What’s the role of spirit in a world driven by bottom lines and business metrics?
Today, Peter Winick sits down with Rusty Rueff, an accomplished investor, startup advisor, Co-Founder and Director at Alioth Talent and previously served under President Obama on his advisory committee for the Arts at the Kennedy Center, to discuss the crucial intersection of purpose and the workplace. Rueff, who has dedicated his career to empowering organizations and people, shares his belief that modern workplaces must recognize the holistic needs of their people—including the often-overlooked need for spiritual fulfillment.
Historically, work and personal lives were siloed. But today, companies are embracing the importance of physical and mental well-being, with gyms, wellness programs, and mental health support. Rueff believes the next frontier is integrating “spirit” into the workplace—not in a religious sense, but as a core part of personal meaning and motivation. Companies should aim to foster environments where employees feel committed, not just compliant.
But how can companies approach this without stepping into sensitive territory? Rueff advocates for open forums and inclusive resource groups that give employees a safe space to bring their full selves to work. By creating these avenues, organizations enable connection and belonging, helping employees build resilience, passion, and purpose.
Rueff’s latest book, The Faith Code: A Future-Proof Framework for a Life of Meaning and Impact, asks readers to explore their foundational beliefs. He challenges listeners to reflect on the “platform of their lives” and what they cherish most deeply. As he explains, while our bodies and minds may wane over time, our spirits have the power to grow stronger—right until the end.
Three Key Takeaways:
• The Spirit in the Workplace: Beyond physical and mental health, organizations should support employees’ spiritual well-being, fostering commitment and purpose rather than mere compliance.
• Inclusive Spaces for Authenticity: To empower employees to bring their whole selves to work, companies should create open forums and resource groups that celebrate diverse backgrounds and interests, cultivating belonging and connection.
• Reflecting on Life’s Platform: Rueff’s concept of the “platform of life” challenges individuals to identify what truly matters and holds lasting value. While physical and mental capacities may fade, nurturing the spirit can build resilience and strength that endures.
Rusty is changing lives by getting people to ask the right questions about their life. When it comes to Thought Leadership are you asking the right questions? Take a moment to check out this article by Peter Winick on Starting with the Problem, Not the Solution. It can make a huge difference in your work!
What makes some people bounce back from adversity while others remain stuck? In this compelling episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership, host Peter Winick welcomes resilience expert Deborah Gilboa. An author and consultant, Deborah helps organizations navigate change with confidence and competence. Her book, From Stressed to Resilient: The Guide to Handle More and Feel It Less, serves as a roadmap for individuals and teams seeking to enhance their resilience. Deborah's journey to thought leadership is as unconventional as her path to medicine. Initially pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a career in theater, she pivoted to medical school, where she spent years treating patients. Observing the stark differences in how individuals responded to illness prompted her to delve into the concept of "Patient Resilience." She aimed to redefine resilience beyond severe cases, exploring its application in everyday lives and discovering whether it can be cultivated. Transitioning from a practicing doctor to a thought leader began when Deborah was asked to speak about parenting at community events. What started as a way to connect with underserved populations evolved into a mission to educate parents, educators, and coaches about fostering resilience. As the inquiries grew, so did her focus on adult resilience, leading her to investigate effective methods for teaching these essential skills to adults facing their struggles. Deborah’s business model centers on writing and speaking engagements. Recognizing the need for a platform, she built her online presence and leveraged her speaking skills to gain credibility. Companies often approach her to address change resistance within their teams. Through tailored workshops and a "Change Resistant Exam," she equips leadership with the tools to facilitate smoother transitions, ultimately fostering a culture of adaptability. Deborah's insights are vital for any organization looking to thrive in a rapidly changing environment. Three Key Takeaways: • Resilience is Learnable: Deborah emphasizes that resilience is not merely an innate trait; it can be cultivated and developed over time. Understanding what contributes to resilience can empower individuals and organizations to enhance their ability to navigate challenges. • Effective Communication is Crucial in Change Management: Organizations often struggle with change due to a lack of understanding of the natural resistance employees exhibit. Deborah teaches leaders how to communicate effectively about changes, ensuring that expectations are clear and that employees feel supported throughout the transition. • Speaking Engagements as a Gateway: Deborah's journey into thought leadership illustrates the power of speaking engagements. They serve as an entry point for organizations to experience her insights firsthand, ultimately leading to longer-term consulting relationships focused on building a resilient workforce. Doborah shares her journey of learning the need for a strong platform to leverage her skills and show credibility. If you are struggling to build your platform we can help! Contact the Thought Leadership Leverage team about a strategy session to take your first steps.
How do you cut through the noise to get to what truly matters? In this episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership, host Bill Sherman dives into this question with Ann Latham, the mind behind The Power of Clarity and The Disconnect Principle. Ann's journey to clarity began when she asked former bosses and colleagues a surprising question: What do I do best? The answer was clear—she had an uncanny ability to sift through information, distill its essence, and align teams with actionable plans. So began her consulting journey and the creation of Uncommon Clarity. Ann quickly realized that “clarity” could be a hard sell—it’s an abstract concept people often overlook. To bridge this gap, she started showing how clarity impacts concrete outcomes: higher productivity, greater confidence, fewer mistakes, and optimized potential. Through strategic planning, process improvement, and team alignment, she began weaving clarity into the DNA of organizations. As her consulting grew, so did her focus on teaching others to achieve clarity themselves. She moved beyond providing solutions, empowering her clients to own the process. Now, as a writer and speaker, Ann is on a mission to make clarity a universal skill, publishing books and giving TED Talks to illuminate this essential but elusive concept. Her insights aren’t just techniques; they’re catalysts for meaningful change in any organization. Three Key Takeaways: • Clarity Drives Results: Ann emphasizes that clarity isn't just a buzzword—it's a strategic asset that boosts productivity, confidence, and team effectiveness. • Clarity as a Teachable Skill: Beyond solving problems for clients, Ann has developed ways to teach organizations how to cultivate clarity themselves, making it a sustainable part of their culture. • Practical Clarity Spectrum: To tackle the vagueness around clarity, Ann developed a spectrum that defines specific elements needed to reach clear, actionable outcomes, making it easier for teams to get aligned and achieve their goals. Peter Winick, the CEO and Founder of Thought Leadership Leverage, like Ann, often helps his clients find clarity in their work. Check out this article by Peter on Clarity for Priorities.
How do you turn a passion for nonprofits into a thriving business?
Dr. Sharon Elefant, Founder & CEO of The Nonprofit Plug, joins us to share her remarkable journey. Initially aiming to become a hospital administrator, Sharon found herself running outreach programs for the VA health system across Southern California and Nevada. This exposed her to the world of nonprofits and strategic partnerships, which quickly became her passion. As she deepened her involvement with nonprofits, Sharon realized she had a unique skill: she could connect these organizations with the exact resources they needed. Her growing reputation as “The Plug” for nonprofit solutions laid the groundwork for a full-time consulting business.
Turning her passion into profit was the next challenge. Sharon describes how she evolved from a free resource into a paid expert. At first, she was providing advice and making introductions for free. But as she took on more complex tasks like grant writing and strategic development, her value became undeniable. Nonprofits trusted her expertise and were willing to pay for her to take on the heavy lifting. What began as offering helpful tips turned into thought leadership, with Sharon producing content, guides, and resources that established her as the go-to person in her field. Her knowledge wasn’t just in demand—it became a business.
Today, The Nonprofit Plug offers a range of services to meet the diverse needs of nonprofit organizations. Sharon talks about how she structured her offerings into packages that include everything from grant writers to consultants and coaches, covering every aspect of nonprofit management. She introduced a new program that provides all-inclusive support for an entire year, helping nonprofits hit the ground running in the first 90 days. This package model offers a clear cost-saving advantage compared to hiring individual experts. It's all about providing comprehensive, long-term value at an accessible price.
Sharon also offers valuable advice for thought leaders and entrepreneurs trying to break into the space. Her recommendation? Start small but consistent. Posting daily tips on social media—short, digestible clips that share valuable insights—can go a long way. She suggests recording a few tips in one sitting and rolling them out over time, so it’s manageable and cost-effective. But building a brand takes patience. She advises giving it at least three to five years before deciding if your business has the momentum to sustain itself. And don't rush to leave your day job—wait until your venture is fully capable of supporting both you and your business.
Dr. Sharon Elefant’s story is a testament to the power of relationships, expertise, and thought leadership in building a successful business.
Three Key Takeaways:
• Turn Expertise into Revenue: Dr. Sharon Elefant transformed her deep knowledge of nonprofits and networking skills into a thriving business by offering grant writing, consulting, and administrative services that nonprofits were willing to pay for, rather than struggling to do it themselves.
• Package Value for Impact: The Nonprofit Plug offers bundled services—grant writers, consultants, and expert coaching—allowing nonprofits to get immediate results and long-term support at a cost-effective price, demonstrating the importance of scalable, value-driven offerings.
• Consistency Builds Thought Leadership: Sharon’s advice to emerging thought leaders is to start small and be consistent, using platforms like social media to post daily tips. Success doesn’t happen overnight, but with a long-term vision and patience, expertise can grow into a profitable venture.
Sharon has spent years working to become the Plug for the nonprofit industry. Here are 5 Things You Should Do To Become a Thought Leader In Your Industry according to Thought Leadership Leverage Founder and CEO Peter Winick.
How do you balance being a practitioner and an academic? In this episode, Bill Sherman talks with Dr. Robert Gordon, interim department chair for analytics, economics, and finance at American Public University about his unique journey from the world of cruise ships and supply chain to academia, research, and thought leadership. Robert shares his experience moving from practitioner to academic, and now returning to bridge the gap between the two. His expertise in supply chain management, particularly in the maritime and cruise industries, provided the foundation for a shift into research and publishing that impacted both academia and industry. Robert’s research on virtual teams and complexity theory was initially seen as niche, but when the pandemic hit, his work became highly relevant. The shift to remote work made his insights on virtual teams essential reading. He highlights the importance of staying connected to practitioners through conversations and continuous publishing to keep his research relevant. Robert’s story is a reminder that thought leadership is not a static process. It’s about continually evolving, reflecting, and bridging the gap between theory and practice. Three Key Takeaways: • Bridging the Gap Between Academia and Industry: Robert Gordon emphasizes the importance of staying connected to practitioners while conducting academic research, ensuring his work remains relevant and actionable in real-world settings. • The Power of Reflection in Thought Leadership: Robert highlights how reflecting on past work is crucial for growth, allowing him to evolve his ideas, improve his writing, and adapt to the changing needs of his audience. • Virtual Teams and Complexity Theory Gaining Relevance: What was once considered niche research became vital during the pandemic, as organizations around the world shifted to remote work, validating the importance of anticipating future trends in research. Robert knows the importance of academic research to practitioners. In this video Thought Leadership Leverage CEO Peter Winick explains how you can use academic research to build your thought leadership platform!
What does it take to grab your audience’s attention in the first few seconds? Bill Sherman explores the art of pitching with Joanne Tombrakos, storyteller, marketing strategist, NYU professor, podcaster and writer. and expert in crafting powerful messages. Joanne breaks down the misconception that pitching is just about selling. Whether you're selling a product or an idea, the goal is the same: persuasion. It’s about getting your audience to stop, listen, and invest time in your idea. Joanne shares the importance of setting the hook early and keeping people engaged by delivering value quickly and clearly. Joanne emphasizes that pitching is not just for salespeople—it's a skill everyone needs. In business, you're constantly pitching yourself, your ideas, or your projects. She compares pitching to a form of storytelling, where your narrative must not only catch attention but also build trust. Joanne also touches on the fine line between pitching and selling, explaining that while every pitch has an underlying goal of persuading, the real focus is on creating a connection. Through storytelling and strategic messaging, you can build a relationship that makes people want to listen longer. The conversation also delves into modern challenges, like competing with digital distractions. Joanne stresses that grabbing attention isn’t enough—you need to hold it. Like a Netflix series that hooks viewers in the first few minutes, your pitch needs to pull the audience in right away and deliver substance, not just flash. For leaders, entrepreneurs, and marketers, her advice is clear: simplify your message, make it relatable, and always lead with value. Three Key Takeaways: • Pitching is about persuasion, not just selling: Whether you’re pitching a product, idea, or project, the goal is to persuade your audience and capture their attention. It’s not just about making a sale—it’s about getting them to care. • Hook your audience quickly: Joanne stresses the importance of grabbing attention within the first few seconds. Like a great story, your pitch needs to engage right away, offering value and building trust so your audience wants to stick around. • Simplicity wins: Don’t overcomplicate your message. The most effective pitches are clear and concise. Distilling your idea into one sentence can help you stay focused and make a more powerful impact. Joanne helps us understand how the Pitch needs to move beyond persuasion and into a relationship. If you want to understand how those relationships can help ideas reach scale be sure to check out this video by Thought Leadership Leverage COO Bill Sherman.
What’s the ROI of a business book? Peter Winick and Bill Sherman dive into this game-changing question in the latest episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership. Partnering with industry giants like Gotham Ghostwriters, Amplify Publishing Group, and Smith Publicity, they’ve launched the most comprehensive study on the ROI of business books to date. Over 350 authors participated, and the results are eye-opening. The data shows 64% of business books turn a profit, with a median of $11,350 for books that have been out for at least six months. But here’s where it gets interesting—authors with a clear strategy saw a median profit of $96,000. The key takeaway? Profit is more about strategy than sales alone. Books with a robust launch plan, PR efforts, or even ghostwriting support outperform those without. For every dollar spent, the average book generates $1.24 in revenue—not just from book sales but from lucrative add-ons like speaking engagements, consulting, and workshops. Another intriguing finding? Authors with weak strategies ended up spending more than those with a focused approach. And when it comes to satisfaction with publishers, hybrid models shine. 70% of authors using traditional or hybrid publishing were satisfied, but hybrid authors were twice as likely to be enthusiastic about their experience. Catch the full episode and dive into the data at www.authorroi.com. Three Key Takeaways: • Strategic planning drives profits: Authors with a clear strategy around their book—like PR, launch plans, and ghostwriting—saw a median profit of $96,000, significantly higher than those without a plan. • Revenue extends beyond book sales: For every $1 spent on a business book, authors generated $1.24 in revenue, with most of the profit coming from related services like speaking, consulting, and workshops, not just book sales. • Hybrid publishing leads to higher satisfaction: Hybrid authors were twice as likely to express strong satisfaction with their publishing experience compared to traditional or self-published authors.
What happens when your toughest challenges become your biggest opportunities? On this episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership, host Bill Sherman dives deep with Neri Karra Sillaman—an Entrepreneurship Expert, TEDx Speaker, and Professor at ESCP Business School—about how her early life as a refugee set her on a path to becoming a thought leader and entrepreneur. Neri shares the story of her childhood, growing up as part of a Turkish minority in Bulgaria during the 1980s, facing forced assimilation, and eventually being expelled from the country. With only two suitcases, her family fled to Turkey. From those humble beginnings in refugee camps, Neri realized education was her key to changing her life. This powerful experience laid the foundation for her future work in entrepreneurship and academia. But how does a life of survival translate into thought leadership? Neri discusses how her research took her on a journey to understand why immigrants create businesses—and more importantly, why some of those businesses endure. Her "ah-ha" moment came when she found that many studies focused on the why of immigrant entrepreneurship but few explored how these businesses achieve longevity. This insight sparked her upcoming book, which distills the strategies of immigrant founders that any entrepreneur can apply. Her message is clear: business longevity isn’t just for immigrant entrepreneurs. It’s for anyone who wants to build something that lasts. Neri is working to bridge the gap between startup challenges and the principles that help businesses thrive over the long term. When asked how she moved beyond academia to practice thought leadership, Neri explains how she transitioned from writing academic papers to producing content for HBR, Fast Company, and other platforms that directly impact business leaders. She challenges thought leaders to think about how they can make their work accessible and actionable. Three Key Takeaways: • Adversity can shape success – Neri’s experience as a refugee shaped her drive and resilience, which became the foundation for her entrepreneurial journey and thought leadership. • Immigrant entrepreneurship holds key lessons for all – The principles that help immigrant businesses endure are applicable to any entrepreneur looking to achieve long-term success. • Practical thought leadership matters – Moving beyond academic research, Neri emphasizes the importance of creating accessible, actionable content that resonates with business owners and drives real impact. Neri has spent her life seeking success in academia and entrepreneurship. If you want to find that same success in Thought Leadership take a moment to watch this short video from Thought Leadership Leverage COO Bill Sherman on successfully launching a thought leadership team.
What if the way we approach change is broken? Would you try something new? Or stick to what you know?
In this episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership, host Peter Winick sits down with Heather Hiscox, founder and CEO of Pause for Change and author of No More Status Quo: A Proven Framework to Change the Way We Change the World. Heather shares her journey of transforming frustration into a groundbreaking approach that’s helping changemakers address tough challenges in the nonprofit, government, and philanthropic sectors.
Heather’s insights began with a simple yet powerful question: "Why aren’t we working differently?" Years of seeing wasted efforts and weak results in the social sector pushed her to experiment. The result? The Pause framework—a tool for disrupting the status quo and creating meaningful impact. Her approach focuses on relationships, active listening, and rapid iteration, all built on a foundation of empathy and learning.
Heather discusses how entrepreneurs often miss key listening skills, and how fear of "not being ready" keeps leaders from publishing ideas and moving forward. Instead, she encourages taking risks, learning in real-time, and embracing new methods to achieve different outcomes.
Her clients—nonprofits, local governments, and philanthropic organizations—typically approach her for one of two reasons: something’s broken, or they’re unsure what’s possible next. Heather uses her framework to guide them through the uncertainties, asking the right questions and driving real change.
When it comes to marketing, Heather’s strategy is driven by relationships and word of mouth. She’s not just waiting for clients to find her—she’s actively engaging them through LinkedIn, her online show The Possibility Project, and by knowing when to walk away from those who aren’t ready to embrace her message.
Heather’s work is a call to action for leaders ready to stop settling for the status quo and start making the impact they’ve always envisioned.
Three Key Takeaways:
• Embrace new methods to create change: Heather emphasizes that traditional approaches in the social sector often fall short. To make real impact, leaders must ask different questions and take risks with new methods, like her Pause framework.
• Relationships and listening are essential: Success hinges on building strong relationships and honing active listening skills. Whether in business or social change, empathetic listening and rapid iteration are key to solving complex problems.
• Don’t fear imperfection: Many leaders hesitate to publish content or make moves because it "isn't ready." Heather advocates for moving forward despite uncertainty, learning in real-time, and refining as you go.
Heather has years of helping clients change how they think and work. If you are a thought leader, speaker, or author is your work creating sustainable change? Explore the topic more in this article by Peter Winick.
How do you turn technical expertise into a story that captures everyone’s attention? Today, host Bill Sherman sits down with Chantal Roberts, an insurance expert and professor at The Bureau of Manhattan Community College in New York., to discuss her unique journey as an author of two distinct books. One caters to insurance professionals, and the other takes a creative approach to educate the general public. Chantal’s first book, The Art of Adjusting, targets mid-career insurance adjusters, offering them insights into the unwritten rules of claims handling. With remote work reducing informal knowledge-sharing, she aimed to bridge that gap. This book also strengthened her credentials as an expert witness in insurance litigation. Her second book, Once Upon a Claim: Fairytales to Protect Your Assets, was a complete pivot. Inspired by her experience teaching, Chantal decided to use fairy tales like Rapunzel and Goldilocks to explain complex insurance concepts to consumers. The goal? To help people understand the claims process better and avoid feeling blindsided. Chantal shares how her passion led her to write in ways that even surprised her. She also discusses her grassroots marketing efforts, sending postcards to agents as a way to spread the word about her second book—ensuring it doesn’t get lost in the spam folder. If you’re wondering how to write for different audiences without losing your authentic voice, Chantal’s journey is full of insights. Three Key Takeaways: • Tailor your message to the audience: Chantal’s books serve two very different audiences—insurance professionals and general consumers—requiring her to adjust both her tone and content to suit their needs. • Passion drives engagement: If you don’t love what you’re writing, neither will your readers. Chantal’s pivot from a technical rewrite to storytelling with fairy tales made her second book more engaging and enjoyable for everyone. • Creative marketing matters: Chantal’s approach to promoting Once Upon a Claim through physical postcards demonstrates the power of thinking outside the box to avoid digital clutter and create a personal touch. Chantal uses a different approach to finding her audience, but are you still using mass market techniques with your niche audience? If so, this article by Thought Leadership Leverage found and CEO Peter Winick might be helpful.
What happens when your publisher holds your book hostage? In this episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership, Bill Sherman speaks with Michael Jenet, author of "Ask: The Questions to Empower Your Life" and founder of Journey Institute Press, about his grueling battle to reclaim the rights to his books after a new publisher took control. Michael’s story isn’t just one of frustration—it’s about standing on principle and creating a new path for authors. After years of legal battles, Michael and his wife and fellow author Dafna managed to regain their rights, but the ordeal sparked a deeper question: How could they prevent this from happening to others? That’s when they decided to start their own publishing company, Journey Institute Press, with a mission to put authors first and offer a more ethical, nonprofit-driven publishing model. They learned valuable lessons about the evolving book market, and now, they’re helping first-time authors navigate the complex world of publishing with integrity and sustainability. Michael also shares key insights about long-term book marketing. Forget the one-time launch event at your local bookstore—today, it’s about leveraging multiple formats, influencers, and long-term strategies to keep your book relevant. Whether you're launching a hardcover, paperback, ebook, or audiobook, the goal is the same: get your book into as many hands as possible and keep the conversation going for years. For aspiring authors, Michael offers this critical advice: start building your audience before the book is even written. Marketing falls on the author, so engage your readers early, find where they are, and get them excited long before launch day. Three Key Takeaways: • Own Your Rights: Michael Jenet’s battle to reclaim his book rights highlights the importance of authors fully understanding and protecting their intellectual property in the publishing world. Don’t assume your publisher will always have your best interests at heart. • Long-Term Book Strategy: Successful book launches go beyond a one-day event. Michael emphasizes the importance of thinking long-term, using multiple formats and engaging influencers to ensure your book stays relevant for years, not just during the initial release. • Build Your Audience Early: Authors can’t rely solely on publishers for marketing. Start building a community around your book early on, even while you're still writing. This will drive excitement and help ensure a successful launch. These insights highlight the need for authors to take charge of both their rights and their marketing strategies to succeed in today's publishing landscape. If you have a book on the horizon and are seeking a solid thought leadership approach to marketing, reach out to Leveraging Thought Leadership to discuss how we can help.
Join host Peter Winick as he dives into a compelling conversation with Kristin Lytle, CEO of The Leader’s Edge, an executive coaching firm transforming senior leadership. Kristin's journey to becoming a thought leader is rooted in her own experiences of self-doubt, which ignited her passion for helping others articulate their ideas and reach their full potential.
Kristin shares how her firm elevates potential within organizations development programs that unlock leaders’ full potential. But Kristin doesn’t stop there. She’s on a mission to make executive coaching accessible to the entire organization—not just the top tier. By focusing on building a culture of high integrity and crowding out low-integrity leaders, her team ensures that toxic behaviors are as unacceptable as an obvious safety hazard in the workplace. Kristin also discusses the importance of leveraging the insights of her team. Through regular coaches’ roundtables, expert input, and staying attuned to client needs, The Leader’s Edge is constantly evolving. The goal? To identify universal leadership challenges and create scalable solutions that blend online learning with executive coaching and community support. As Kristin transitions her firm from a practice to a full-fledged business, she’s learned that allocating top talent is as crucial as managing finances. But perhaps the most profound insight she shares is the role fear plays in leadership behavior—fear of judgment, fear of looking foolish, and fear of not knowing enough. These fears, she argues, often drive leaders more than they realize. Three Key Takeaways: • Unlocking Potential at All Levels: Kristin Lytle emphasizes the importance of making leadership coaching accessible to the entire organization, not just the top executives. By crowding out low-integrity leaders and fostering a culture of high integrity, organizations can ensure that everyone has the opportunity to reach their full potential. • Scalability Through Universal Solutions: The Leader’s Edge focuses on identifying consistent leadership challenges, like influence, that cut across industries and regions. By developing scalable solutions, such as blended learning programs, they make impactful leadership development available to a broader audience. • Fear as a Driving Force in Leadership: One of Kristin's key insights is that fear—whether it's fear of judgment, looking foolish, or not knowing enough—often drives leadership behaviors more than we might realize. Recognizing and addressing these fears is crucial for effective leadership. Kristin's team at The Leader's Edge is working hard to make work a better and more satisfying place to be. But what is the secret to changing a company's culture? Find out in this article by Thought Leadership Leverage COO Bill Sherman.
Join Bill Sherman as he sits down with Dr. Bryan Quoc Le, a dynamic food scientist, industry consultant, and the author of "150 Food Science Questions Answered: Cook Smarter, Cook Better." In this episode, Bryan reveals how a seemingly ordinary graduate school project sparked his journey into thought leadership, leading him to unexpected opportunities and recognition in the food science world. Bryan shares how he transformed a volunteer blogging at "The Institute of Food Technologists" stint into a platform that attracted the attention of Callisto Publishing, culminating in a book deal. Hear how he balanced the intense demands of writing his dissertation and authoring a book simultaneously, with the unwavering support of his wife. He dives into the book's unique format—half dictated by the publisher and half crafted by him—and reflects on how it honed his ability to make complex scientific concepts accessible and engaging to a broader audience. Learn how publishing a book early in his career became a game-changer, establishing his credibility and opening doors to numerous clients. Bryan talks about his unexpected success on platforms like Reddit, where he built a thriving community around food science, generating more leads and projects than he ever anticipated. What's next for Bryan? He’s exploring new creative frontiers, including a potential documentary on flavors with an Emmy-winning filmmaker. It's a journey filled with innovation, exploration, and a bit of adventure. Tune in to discover how thought leadership can evolve from unexpected beginnings and lead to extraordinary opportunities. Three Key Takeaways: • Thought Leadership Can Start from Unexpected Places: Dr. Le’s journey into thought leadership began with a volunteer blogging opportunity that eventually led to a book deal. This shows that sometimes, the path to establishing yourself as a thought leader can start with a seemingly small or unplanned endeavor. • Publishing a Book Can Be a Powerful Credibility Booster: Dr. Le’s experience demonstrates the impact of publishing a book early in his career. It not only validated his expertise but also opened up multiple professional opportunities, establishing him as a trusted voice in the food science community. • Building Communities Can Lead to Unanticipated Opportunities: By actively engaging in platforms like Reddit, Dr. Le built a strong community around his field of expertise. This unexpected platform became a significant source of client leads and collaborations, highlighting the value of community-building in thought leadership. As a food scientist Bryan knows the difference between fine flavor and junk food. When it comes to your business are you using gourmet metrics or just measuring the junk? Find out in this video with Peter Winick.
Today on Leveraging Thought Leadership, host Peter Winick sits down with Andrea Sampson, CEO and Executive Thought Leader Coach at Talk Boutique and creator of the Thought Leaders Academy. Andrea has a rich background with over 25 years in marketing and advertising. She shares how her journey from crafting TEDx talks to building a holistic platform for thought leadership shaped her unique approach to coaching and strategy. Andrea discusses the importance of understanding your core message as a thought leader. It's not just about having a big idea but knowing what you stand for and why. This clarity helps you decide what opportunities to pursue and which ones to decline. For thought leaders, aligning your actions with your core message is essential. Andrea emphasizes that strategy isn’t a limitation but a necessary framework that guides creativity, much like a creative brief in advertising. Peter and Andrea also explore the distinct differences between being a great keynote speaker and running a successful thought leadership business. Motivational speakers may inspire, but true thought leaders drive deeper understanding and actionable insights. Andrea highlights the need to simplify complex ideas so that audiences not only grasp them but are compelled to act. The conversation shifts to current trends in thought leadership, particularly the effectiveness of giving away value—knowledge, experience, or content—as a strategy for engagement and growth. Andrea underscores the importance of thinking like a consumer and identifying your target audience’s needs. Andrea also challenges the notion that thought leadership is a solo endeavor. Collaboration, not competition, is key. She urges thought leaders to work together, learn from one another, and focus on connection and engagement. It’s not the smartest thought leaders who are remembered, but those who can connect with their audience and make an impact. Join Peter Winick and Andrea Sampson as they delve into these powerful insights that can elevate your thought leadership to the next level. Three Key Takeaways: • Align Your Actions with Your Core Message: As a thought leader, it’s crucial to define what you stand for and ensure all your decisions and strategies align with that core message. This clarity will help you decide which opportunities to pursue and which to decline, keeping your brand and message consistent and impactful. • Strategy Enhances Creativity, Not Restricts It: Contrary to popular belief, having a well-defined strategy does not limit creativity. Instead, it provides a framework that guides your creative efforts, ensuring your ideas and messages are focused, relevant, and effective in solving your audience's problems. • Collaboration Over Competition: Thought leadership is not a solo endeavor. By collaborating with other thought leaders, you can expand your reach, enhance your message, and engage more deeply with your audience. Working together allows for shared learning and growth, creating a more impactful and memorable presence in the market. If you know your core message, do you have discipline around it? Bill Sherman, COO of Thought Leadership Leverage, discussed the need for Message Discipline and the risks you take by not having it.
Today host Peter Winick welcomes Jason Silver, author of the new book "Your Grass is Greener: Use What You Have. Get What You Want. At Work and In Life." Jason, an engineer turned entrepreneur, shares his journey from tech to business and how a personal tragedy led him to reevaluate his approach to work and life. While building a company in the AI space and pushing himself to the limit, a phone call changed everything—his sister was diagnosed with late-stage cancer and passed away nine months later. This profound loss forced Jason to rethink his priorities and laid the foundation for his book. Jason’s mission with Your Grass is Greener is clear: to help high-achievers realize they don't need to sacrifice joy for success and to empower those stuck in unfulfilling jobs to see they have the power to change their circumstances without changing careers. He believes that passion and performance can coexist, creating a positive cycle where enjoyment leads to better performance and vice versa. Although Jason didn’t write the book as a business venture, it naturally led to opportunities where he now works with executive teams, leaders, and founders to build high-performing, happy teams. His insights on decision-making—highlighted in two key chapters of his book—have resonated widely, uncovering a common challenge in many organizations: decision paralysis. He’s showing leaders how to make faster, more effective decisions by applying practical science, transforming how businesses operate. Writing the book taught Jason more than just communication skills; it taught him the art of engaging storytelling. He learned from his editor, who also worked on Atomic Habits, that effective communication isn’t always about brevity but about connecting deeply with your audience. Jason now sees storytelling as a vital tool for leadership and decision-making. Jason’s vision for the book is ambitious. He sees Your Grass is Greener as a catalyst for change in the workplace. He believes many are approaching work with a broken mindset, and the solutions we’re currently trying aren’t solving the deeper issues. Instead of job-hopping or pulling back at work, Jason advocates for a different approach: rethinking how we work to unlock massive improvements in both satisfaction and performance. Three Key Takeaways: • Balance Ambition with Well-being: Jason Silver’s book, Your Grass is Greener, highlights the importance of finding a balance between achieving professional success and maintaining personal joy. High-achievers don’t need to sacrifice happiness for their goals; it’s possible to enjoy the journey and achieve success simultaneously. • Empowerment and Agency in Your Career: Many people feel stuck in unfulfilling jobs, but Jason argues that you have more control than you think. By leveraging your existing skills and shifting your mindset, you can transform your current job experience without changing careers. This approach can lead to greater job satisfaction and improved performance. • Effective Decision-Making through Storytelling: Writing the book taught Jason the power of storytelling in leadership and decision-making. Clear and engaging communication, rather than mere brevity, can drive deeper understanding and better decisions within organizations. This insight has proven essential in helping businesses overcome decision paralysis and improve overall effectiveness. Jason shared the very personal origin story of how his book was born. Are you sharing your thought leadership origin story? Check out this short video by Peter Winick on the power of having an origin story.
In today's episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership, our host Peter Winick is joined by Bill Sherman, co-host and COO of Leveraging Thought Leadership, Dr. AJ Marsden, an organizational psychologist and statistician, Josh Bernoff, author of Build a Better Business Book, Marissa Eigenbrood, President of Smith Publicity, Inc., Alison Schwartz, COO of Gotham Ghostwriters, and Naren Aryal of Amplify Publishing Group. They discuss the findings of their recent research into the Return on Investment of publishing a business book.
In today's presentation we will have a first look at the data that was gathered from hundreds of authors about their experiences getting published, the expenses incurred, and the results the book had on their business. These authors were reached through not only the friends and colleagues at Thought Leadership Leverage but those from many supporting sponsors such as Greenleaf Book Group, Marshall Goldsmith 100 Coaches, Page Two Books, and Zilker Media to name a few. Before the research could even begin we had to ask the questions "What is ROI? How can you measure it? How much does an author spend? What is the effect of different publishing models? And what type of returns do authors see? In answering these questions we explore what the data tells us about the three different publishing models (Traditional, Hybrid, and Self Publishing), the role RP and Ghostwriters can play in the success of each. We also investigate the hard and soft costs involved in writing a book and what the returns could look like. While many expect the sales of the book to account for much of their profit, we learn how using the book as a key part of a platform and gateway to other parts of the business is where real impact can be found. More questions will be asked and answered in the white paper that will be released in September as we continue to pour over the data. To get a copy of the paper when it's released e-mail info@authorroi.com
In this episode of Thought Leadership Leverage, host Bill Sherman sits down with Constance Scharff, PhD, a trailblazer in the field of mental health research. Constance is the founder of the Institute for Complementary and Indigenous Mental Health Research and author of an upcoming book on "Everyday Bravery." Everyday bravery isn't about heroic acts like running into burning buildings. Constance redefines it as the courage found in everyday life—like battling addiction, where survival alone is an act of immense bravery. Having been sober for 26 years herself, Constance knows this firsthand. Her research reveals the quiet yet powerful ways people confront challenges and carry themselves with dignity, even in the face of overwhelming odds. Constance aims to make her research accessible to everyone, choosing to write books instead of academic papers. She believes mental health research should be available to the public, especially in the U.S., where affordable care is scarce. By blending memoir with academic research, she offers a personal and relatable perspective on the complex issues she studies. Her journey into the field started 15 years ago at the intersection of addiction and trauma. A tragic loss drove her to explore the courage it takes to keep fighting against addiction. Her research took her across the globe—from New York's Stonewall Inn to the jungles of Ecuador—uncovering stories of resilience and bravery in unexpected places. Constance hopes her work will inspire others to see that recovery and resilience are possible, even against all odds. She challenges the over-pathologization of mental health in Western culture and advocates for a broader, more inclusive approach to mental well-being. Three Key Takeaways: • Redefining Everyday Bravery: Everyday bravery isn't about grand heroic acts but the quiet courage found in overcoming daily challenges, like battling addiction or navigating trauma with dignity. • Making Mental Health Research Accessible: Constance Scharff prioritizes writing books over academic papers to make complex mental health research accessible to the public, especially in a landscape where affordable care is limited. • Global Perspective on Mental Health: Her research highlights the resilience found in diverse cultures worldwide, challenging the Western focus on pharmaceuticals and advocating for a more inclusive approach to mental health treatment. Constance has an impactful blend of research and storytelling that she uses to spread her thought leadership. If you'd like to understand how Academic Research can be used to build your thought leadership platform be sure to watch this short video with Peter Winick.
In this episode of Thought Leadership Leverage, host Bill Sherman sits down with Yosi Amram, a political psychologist, CEO, leadership coach, and the award-winning author of Spiritually Intelligent Leadership: How to Inspire by Being Inspired. Yosi delves into the concept of Spiritually Intelligent Leadership, a fresh take on leadership that integrates spiritual qualities like passionate purpose, compassionate service, trust, gratitude, integrity, and humility into daily life and work. Yosi’s journey began in Israel, where he was drafted into the military at 18, despite his pacifist leanings. The rigid military structure fueled his desire to create a leadership model built on humane values that support individual growth. This desire led him to the U.S., where he studied at MIT, launched companies, and ultimately burned out from trying to maintain control and inspire simultaneously. His burnout sparked a deep interest in psychology and leadership, which introduced him to the idea of spiritual intelligence through Dana Zohar's book "SQ: Connecting With Our Spiritual Intelligence" which was about rewiring the corporate brain. Determined to explore this concept, Yosi interviewed 71 spiritual leaders from various traditions to uncover universal themes of spiritual intelligence. He developed the first academically validated measure of spiritual intelligence and discovered that it accounts for 46% of leadership effectiveness. Now, Yosi's mission is to elevate Spiritual Intelligence to the same level of recognition and understanding as Emotional Intelligence. Looking forward, Yosi is exploring the intersection of spirituality and science, faith and reason, and the evolving role of historical religious traditions in our modern world. His quest is personal as much as it is professional, as he navigates his own Jewish heritage and its relevance in contemporary leadership. Three Key Takeaways: • Spiritually Intelligent Leadership: Yosi Amram introduces Spiritually Intelligent Leadership as a new leadership model that integrates spiritual qualities such as purpose, compassion, trust, and integrity into everyday decision-making and leadership practices. • Universal Spiritual Themes: Through extensive research with spiritual leaders across various traditions, Yosi found that spiritual intelligence is a universal concept, with common virtues that transcend individual beliefs and contribute significantly to effective leadership. • Validated Impact: Yosi's studies show that spiritual intelligence accounts for 46% of leadership effectiveness, highlighting its critical role in both leadership success and overall quality of life, much like the established concept of Emotional Intelligence. Yosi has found a section of thought leadership that is both interesting and impactful. Is your thought leadership hitting the same mark? If you are unsure this article by Peter Winick might help answer that question.
In the latest episode of Thought Leadership Leverage, Peter Winick chats with Julie Williamson, CEO of The Karrikins Group. Julie is a trailblazer in connecting communication, design, strategy, sales, marketing, and service to drive sustainable growth. Julie shares her unconventional journey into thought leadership. Despite her passion for writing and English, she opted for a degree in Information Systems during the 80s, a time when women in tech were rare. This path gave her a unique vantage point, blending technical, business, and social insights, which she now leverages to help organizations grow and innovate. Julie describes her ideal client as a "frustrated leader." She excels in enhancing team performance, combining business acumen, tech background, and social science to foster organizational communication and cohesion. Her focus is on "Leadership Alignment," ensuring teams outperform individually. Julie’s approach involves both publications and hands-on consulting, emphasizing that true transformation requires sustained engagement, not just quick fixes. Her team typically works with clients for 3 to 12 months to catalyze real change. To develop and deploy thought leadership, Julie regularly creates short-form content on platforms like LinkedIn and Forbes Expert Panels. She believes in the discipline of consistent content creation to hone her voice and impact. Addressing the challenges of linking thought leadership to business results, Julie acknowledges the difficulty in measuring the direct impact of her work. Her strategy focuses on continuous contribution to leadership effectiveness, ensuring her insights make a tangible difference. Three Key Takeaways: • Leadership Alignment: Julie Williamson emphasizes the importance of aligning leadership to enhance team performance. By fostering strong organizational communication and cohesion, aligned teams can achieve greater results than individuals working alone. • Sustained Engagement for Transformation: True change within organizations requires sustained effort. Julie's approach involves long-term engagements (3 to 12 months) rather than one-off workshops, ensuring lasting transformation and meaningful impact. • Consistent Content Creation: To develop and deploy effective thought leadership, Julie advocates for regular content creation. She underscores the necessity of disciplined, consistent efforts in writing and sharing insights, which helps in refining one's voice and maximizing impact.
Julie understands what it takes to bring teams into alignment for better success. When it comes to Thought Leadership Peter Winick knows how to bring Strategy, Tactics and Goals into alignment. To supercharge your thought leadership check out this video!
In this episode of Thought Leadership Leverage, host Peter Winick chats with Netanel Baruch, Founder and CEO of Queue, an AI-driven platform designed to amplify your online presence by transforming everyday conversations into thought leadership content 60% faster. Imagine having a 10-minute conversation and walking away with ready-to-post content. That's Queue. As a marketer, Netanel saw potential in every client conversation but noticed experts struggled to convert these insights into content due to time constraints and writing skills. Queue's AI, "Jessica," conducts natural, engaging interviews, creating tailored content that mirrors the expert’s unique voice. Consultants, regardless of their industry, can consistently generate high-quality content, showcasing their expertise and providing value to their audience. The main challenge? Perfecting the tone of voice to ensure the content feels authentically personal. Netanel emphasizes their ongoing commitment to refining this feature, making sure the content truly represents the expert's unique style. Three Key Takeaways: • Efficient Content Creation: Queue's AI, "Jessica," transforms short conversations into ready-to-post content, saving time and making it easier for experts to maintain a consistent online presence. • Authentic Voice Representation: Queue focuses on creating content that mirrors the expert’s unique voice, ensuring the material feels personal and genuine, which is crucial for engaging audiences. • Broad Applicability for Consultants: The platform is versatile and benefits consultants across various industries, helping them regularly produce high-quality content that highlights their expertise and provides value to their audience.
Amy Shoenthal, USA Today bestselling author of "The Setback Cycle: How Defining Moments Can Move Us Forward," joins Bill Sherman on the Thought Leadership Leverage podcast. Amy is a seasoned journalist and marketing executive with 20 years of investigative reporting. Her passion for profiling founders, executives, and leaders who take risks and create something new began at the University of Maryland, where she reported on student entrepreneurs.
Amy’s book, "The Setback Cycle," explores how setbacks can lead to success. She discovered a pattern: significant achievements often follow major setbacks. In numerous interviews, she noticed that transformative ideas often arose after overcoming significant challenges. She researched extensively, consulting psychologists, neuroscientists, and executive coaches to develop a step-by-step framework for overcoming setbacks.
One surprising finding? Many people fail to recognize when they're experiencing a setback, making it harder to recover. Amy's framework helps identify setbacks early and provides tools to rebuild. She emphasizes that acknowledging a setback is the first crucial step towards recovery. Ignoring or denying a setback can make it more difficult to move forward and find new opportunities.
Amy was driven to create not just a narrative but a practical guide. She wanted to understand the common threads that enable individuals to rebuild and succeed after setbacks. Her book offers a playbook for anyone facing life's inevitable challenges, providing both inspiration and actionable steps.
Her goal? To make the concept of the "Setback Cycle" part of our cultural lexicon. Amy hopes people will see setbacks through the lens of her framework, allowing them to emerge stronger and more resilient. She envisions a world where setbacks are viewed as opportunities for growth and innovation, and where everyone has the tools and resources to navigate adversity.
Three Key Takeaways: • Setbacks as Catalysts for Success: Amy Shoenthal's research reveals that significant achievements often follow major setbacks. Her book, "The Setback Cycle," emphasizes how overcoming challenges can lead to transformative ideas and innovations. • Recognizing and Addressing Setbacks: One of the critical insights from Amy's work is the importance of recognizing when you're experiencing a setback. Identifying and acknowledging a setback is the first step in the recovery process, allowing for a proactive approach to rebuilding and finding new opportunities. • Framework for Resilience: Amy has developed a step-by-step framework, backed by extensive research and consultations with psychologists, neuroscientists, and executive coaches. This framework provides practical tools and strategies for individuals to navigate setbacks, emerge stronger, and turn adversity into opportunity. If you feel like your Thought Leadership is having a Setback, make sure to check out Amy's framework for overcoming it as well as this Four Part Framework for Thought Leadership.
In this episode of the Thought Leadership Leverage podcast, host Peter Winick chats with Minette Norman, an author, keynote speaker, and leadership consultant with decades of experience leading global technical teams in the software industry.
Minette shares her journey from a stellar tech career to becoming an influential voice in inclusive leadership, psychological safety, and collaborative teams. Despite her success in tech, she realized many leaders were ill-prepared for their roles. As she advanced, the lack of proper leadership training became evident, and she often found herself and others navigating leadership by trial and error. When faced with a manager who didn’t appreciate her contributions, she chose to leave and focus on helping others become better leaders through her books, speaking engagements, and consulting.
Minette emphasizes the need for better leadership training and creating pathways for individual contributors to advance without necessarily moving into leadership roles. She discusses the importance of learning from poor leadership examples and using those experiences as lessons on what not to do.
Minette’s consulting work often begins with addressing issues of inclusivity within companies. She recalls working with a company where women felt they lacked opportunities for advancement and were often relegated to note-taking roles in meetings. By promoting inclusive meeting practices, she helped shift the company culture.
Her approach to consulting varies but always centers around inclusion, psychological safety, and creating environments where diverse teams can thrive. She notes that while psychological safety is now a buzzword, understanding its importance isn’t enough. There’s a need for practical guidance, which led her and Karolin Helbig to write "The Psychological Safety Playbook," providing actionable steps to foster safe spaces at work.
Minette’s latest book, "The Boldly Inclusive Leader," serves as both a resource and a calling card, drawing new clients who want to bring her expertise into their organizations.
Three Key Takeaways: • Inclusive Leadership is Crucial: Minette Norman emphasizes the importance of fostering inclusive leadership and psychological safety in the workplace. Creating an environment where diverse voices are heard and valued is essential for team success and employee well-being. • Practical Guidance for Psychological Safety: While the concept of psychological safety is widely recognized, Minette and her co-author Karolin Helbig identified a gap in practical guidance. Their book, "The Psychological Safety Playbook," provides actionable steps for leaders to create safe spaces where employees can speak up and contribute fully. • Learning from Poor Leadership: Experiences with poor leaders can be valuable lessons. By observing and understanding what ineffective leadership looks like, individuals can avoid those pitfalls and strive to become better leaders themselves.
Welcome to another dynamic episode of the Thought Leadership Leverage podcast with your host, Bill Sherman. Today, we delve into the heart of innovation with two distinguished guests: Peter Boatwright, Professor of Marketing at the Tepper School of Business, and Jonathan Cagan, the Coulter Head and Lab Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University. These experts have spent their careers studying and teaching the innovation process and now share their groundbreaking insights with us.
Peter and Jon are the co-authors of "Managing the Unmanageable: 13 Tips for Building and Leading a Successful Innovation Team." Their book tackles the often chaotic realm of product and service innovation within organizations. They discuss the essential question: What does it mean to manage the unmanageable? Drawing from extensive research, they reveal how to embrace the chaos of innovation and transform it into productive progress.
One captivating study highlighted in the episode involved replacing an engineer with a manager on a design team. The manager, focusing solely on communication and problem-solving processes, led to a fivefold increase in productivity compared to unmanaged teams. This experiment underscores the profound impact of managing the innovation process rather than directly engaging in it.
The conversation explores the delicate balance between continuous exploration and decisive action. Peter and Jon stress that while endless discovery is tempting, knowing when to optimize and move forward is crucial. They draw from their classroom experiences and corporate collaborations to illustrate how theoretical principles can be effectively applied in real-world scenarios.
As professors, Peter and Jon have the unique advantage of using their classrooms as innovation laboratories, blending academic rigor with practical challenges from corporate partners. This intersection of theory and application equips their students with robust, repeatable frameworks for tackling real-world problems.
The discussion then turns to the future. Jon is deeply interested in the role of Artificial Intelligence in enhancing team dynamics. He envisions AI agents that can monitor team conversations in real-time, offering nudges and suggestions to keep teams aligned and productive. Early results suggest that AI could match or even surpass human managers in this role.
Peter, on the other hand, is focused on the practical application of their principles. He's keen to see how organizations digest, use, and implement the insights from their book, continually exploring the next big questions in innovation management.
Join us for this enlightening episode packed with actionable insights and revolutionary ideas that promise to transform your approach to managing innovation.
Three Key Takeaways: • The Power of Process Management: Replacing an engineer with a manager who focused on communication and problem-solving processes led to a fivefold increase in productivity. This highlights the crucial role of managing the innovation process rather than directly engaging in it. • Balancing Exploration and Decision-Making: While continuous discovery in innovation is tempting, knowing when to optimize and make decisions is vital. The balance between exploring new ideas and refining existing ones is key to successful innovation management. • Future of AI in Team Dynamics: Jon Cagan's exploration into AI's role in team management reveals that AI agents can effectively monitor and enhance team interactions. Early results show AI's potential to match or even surpass human managers in keeping teams aligned and productive. There is a delicate balance between integration and innovation in Thought Leadership. Learn more about this dilemma from this article written by Peter Winick.
In this engaging episode of Thought Leadership Leverage, host Bill Sherman converses with Sean Stewart, an executive coach, keynote speaker, and historical leadership expert at Past Forward Talks. Sean’s journey from maritime historian and archaeologist to thought leadership is both fascinating and insightful, providing a fresh perspective on how objects can help us gain clarity and insight into our problems and leadership challenges.
Sean recounts how his background in maritime history and archaeology led him to realize the profound impact that objects can have on people. He noticed that individuals often become overly focused on their internal struggles, losing perspective. Objects, he found, can help externalize these problems, allowing people to step outside their heads and view their issues more objectively. This shift in perspective is crucial for effective problem-solving and leadership.
Delving into the art of interpretation, Sean explains that as a historian or archaeologist, one seeks meaning in objects by placing them within a historical context. He has adapted this skill to the modern world, using objects to help leaders and teams connect with their stories and challenges. For instance, he describes using an ancient sculpture of a small stylized horse to illustrate how simple, straightforward objects can serve as powerful reminders of lessons learned and goals set, helping people avoid getting lost in their thoughts during difficult times.
A turning point in Sean's career was a visit to a 5th-century Byzantine church, where he encountered a broken mosaic of a laurel wreath—a symbol of victory. This experience led him to question what true victory means in the context of conflicts and disagreements. He realized that many battles are fought for the sake of fighting, rather than for meaningful outcomes. This insight became the foundation of his coaching method, which encourages leaders to focus on their overarching goals rather than petty disputes.
To get his message out, Sean emphasizes the importance of starting small and simple. He suggests giving brief presentations to large audiences, using a single object to illustrate his points. This approach not only captures attention but also makes complex ideas more accessible and relatable.
Sean is currently working on a book that explores leadership through objects, showing the merits and opportunities of this approach. The book begins by laying a foundation of ethics and morality, which Sean believes are essential for effective leadership. It then moves on to practical techniques for using objects to tell stories and reinforce lessons.
For those interested in incorporating objects into their work, Sean offers practical advice: start by selecting four random, unconnected objects and creating a story about life in the early 2000s. This exercise trains the mind to see connections between objects and the people who interact with them, developing a keen sense of interpretation and storytelling. By repeating this exercise with different objects and themes, one can quickly master this technique.
Join us for this episode of Thought Leadership Leverage to gain actionable insights and innovative approaches to leadership from Sean Stewart.
Three Key Takeaways:
• Externalizing Problems through Objects: Sean Stewart emphasizes the power of using objects to help individuals externalize their problems. By focusing on an object, people can gain a fresh perspective, allowing them to step outside their heads and view their issues more objectively.
• Historical Interpretation for Modern Leadership: Drawing from his background as a historian and archaeologist, Sean demonstrates how interpreting objects within their historical context can offer valuable insights for modern leadership. This method helps leaders connect with their stories and challenges, providing clarity and direction.
• Practical Techniques for Leadership Development: Sean's innovative approach includes practical exercises, such as creating stories with random objects to develop interpretation and storytelling skills. His upcoming book will further explore leadership through objects, emphasizing the importance of ethics and morality, and providing techniques for using objects to reinforce leadership lessons.
Sean presents a unique and interesting approach to leadership, if you are wondering if your leadership is as interesting take a moment to read this article by Peter Winick.
In this episode of Thought Leadership Leverage, host Peter Winick sits down with Jason Lavender, the co-founder and CEO of Electives. Jason’s career journey is anything but linear. He started as an actuary, transitioned into strategy consulting, and eventually found his entrepreneurial spirit while working closely with innovators. A serendipitous six-week improv class, gifted by his wife, fueled his passion for creativity and human connection, shaping his unique career path.
Jason founded Electives to revolutionize corporate training. Frustrated by ineffective, impersonal training videos, he envisioned a platform offering live, virtual, and interactive learning. Electives aims to make high-quality, engaging training accessible and redefine who can teach in the corporate world. By recruiting experts from diverse fields—FBI agents, astronauts, professors, and executives—they provide a rich library of curated content, solving real problems without the need for months of searching.
Electives offers two training models: Private classes tailored to a company’s culture and Electives Membership, allowing employees to choose live classes from a broad selection. This dual approach addresses both team-wide issues and individual development needs. Electives also simplifies the procurement process, handling all logistics and payments, thus eliminating administrative headaches for both clients and instructors.
Looking ahead, Jason is excited about integrating AI to match business objectives with the necessary skills and corresponding courses, further enhancing the impact and efficiency of Electives.
Three Key Takeaways: • Interactive Learning Over Pre-recorded Content: Electives aims to replace ineffective training videos with live, virtual, interactive learning experiences, featuring experts from diverse fields such as FBI agents, astronauts, and executives. • Simplified Procurement and Payment Processes: Electives streamlines the process of finding, vetting, hiring, and paying trainers, offering a single point of contact for clients and ensuring instructors are paid promptly. • Future Integration of AI: Electives is developing AI technology to align business objectives with the necessary skills and corresponding courses, enhancing training effectiveness and efficiency. Do you have training videos that you are not sure what to do with? Be sure to check out this short video where Peter Winick gives tips for creating and monetizing training videos.
In this episode of the Thought Leadership Leverage podcast, host Peter Winick welcomes Sohee Jun, a premier leadership coach, mindset expert, corporate leadership facilitator, speaker, and best-selling author of "Mommytracked: How to Take Authentic Risks and Find Success On Your Terms" and her latest release, "The Aligned Mindset: Secrets of High-Achieving Women for Navigating Work and Life." Sohee shares insights from her journey, highlighting the importance of following one’s energy to make a significant impact. Moving from a six-year-old immigrant integrating into a new culture to a leader in organizational psychology, she has always prioritized connection and people. Her extensive career includes working with leaders on strategy, culture, and employee engagement. After 15 years in corporate roles, Sohee ventured into independent consulting. The transition was challenging, requiring her to juggle multiple roles and iterate constantly. She emphasizes the need to discover one’s strengths and delegate other tasks to maintain focus and impact. Initially, she said yes to everything, leading to burnout. Over time, she learned to prioritize quality over quantity, becoming intentional with her time and efforts. Sohee also discusses the importance of expanding beyond one's initial network and maintaining consistent marketing efforts. She stresses the need to be courageous in saying no to misaligned opportunities to prevent falling into a cycle of overwork and dissatisfaction. On pricing, Sohee advocates for openness and transparency, leveraging her insider knowledge to stay competitive and fair in the market. Three Key Takeaways: • Follow Your Energy for Impact: Sohee emphasizes the importance of following where you have the most energy and impact. This approach has guided her journey from a young immigrant to a successful leader in organizational psychology, and later, to an independent consultant. • Quality Over Quantity: Initially overwhelmed by saying yes to everything, Sohee learned to prioritize quality. She now focuses on intentional time management and selecting projects that align with her values and strengths, highlighting the importance of saying no to maintain balance and prevent burnout. • Consistent Marketing and Networking: Sohee underscores the necessity of reaching beyond one's initial network and maintaining consistent marketing efforts. She advises that expanding your reach and staying engaged with your audience is crucial for sustainable business growth. If you're a new consultant or thinking about breaking out on your own, take a few minutes to watch this video from Peter Winick on How to Use Thought Leadership to Grow Your Business.
Bill Sherman hosts Cobe Williams, a pioneer in violence prevention. Cobe shares his journey from personal redemption to global impact. As Director of US Programs for Cure Violence Global, he uses epidemic control methods to halt violence in communities. His story is a powerful testament to transformation and hope. Cobe's defining moment came in court, in restraints, when he embraced his son after a year and a half. This emotional reunion catalyzed his resolve to change his life and be there for his family. Today, Cobe leads violence prevention programs worldwide, from Chicago to Africa, transforming communities and inspiring change. With almost two decades in the field, Cobe began as a "Violence Interrupter," mediating conflicts in his neighborhood. His approach is deeply relational, meeting people where they are, and spreading the message that disagreements don't have to escalate to violence. His work involves intense listening, strategic mediation, and leveraging community relationships to prevent retaliation and promote peace. Cobe also discusses his upcoming book, "Interrupting Violence: One Man's Journey to Heal the Streets and Redeem Himself," co-authored with Josh Gryniewicz. The book aims to inspire others by sharing Cobe's personal journey and the lessons he's learned in violence prevention. Cure Violence Global’s success attracts mayors, health departments, and private funders seeking proven methods to reduce violence. Cobe emphasizes the importance of community credibility and relationship-building in their programs, ensuring local leaders are respected and effective. Through his story, Cobe hopes to show that it's never too late to change, and redemption is possible for everyone. His work and message aim to foster understanding, reduce judgment, and inspire others to share their stories and seek help. Three Key Takeaways: • Transformative Power of Personal Redemption: Cobe Williams' journey from a courtroom revelation to leading global violence prevention efforts illustrates how personal transformation can drive impactful change. His story emphasizes that it's never too late to change and that redemption is possible for everyone. • Community-Centric Violence Prevention: Cure Violence Global’s approach leverages deep community relationships and epidemic control methods to interrupt and prevent violence. By training and supporting local leaders who are respected and credible within their communities, the program effectively reduces shootings and killings. • Inspiring Others Through Storytelling: Cobe's upcoming book, "Interrupting Violence: One Man's Journey to Heal the Streets and Redeem Himself," aims to motivate and inspire others. By sharing his personal experiences and the challenges he faced, he hopes to encourage people to understand the roots of violence, reduce judgment, and inspire others to seek help and share their stories.
In this episode of the Thought Leadership Leverage podcast, host Bill Sherman chats with Karen Wright Gordon, CEO of 5 Dynamics, about revolutionizing organizational performance. Karen explains their unique assessment, a product of Mike Sturm's pioneering research. This tool, while not the company's sole focus, is integral to their methodology. It reveals individual preferences in project phases, enhancing productivity by aligning tasks with personal strengths. Karen elaborates on the five phases: Ideation, Alignment, Planning, Execution, and Evaluation. Each person has phases where they excel and others that drain them. Their assessment helps identify these preferences, fostering a more efficient and satisfying workflow. Karen's journey with 5 Dynamics began when she encountered Mike Sturm at a Women's Presidents Organization meeting. Despite her company's success, she felt unfulfilled. Mike's insights resonated with her, leading her to acquire and further develop his IP, making it accessible and practical for businesses. Karen's vision transcends merely improving performance; she aims to democratize coaching and transform organizational cultures. By focusing on creating a unique lane rather than competing with others, she emphasizes the importance of having Champions—advocates who believe in and spread the methodology. Karen also shares how their methodology has surprised them with its versatile applications, from the corporate world to academia and healthcare. Studies have shown improvements in teamwork, satisfaction, and overall performance when using the 5 Dynamics framework. To keep the work fresh and vital, Karen collaborates with a diverse team, including a young neuroscientist and a seasoned chief revenue officer. This diversity ensures a broad reach and rich perspectives in their thought leadership efforts. Karen feels a profound responsibility to honor Mike Sturm's legacy. Continuing his work and seeing its impact on people's lives keeps her inspired and driven. Three Key Takeaways: • Leveraging Personal Preferences: The 5 Dynamics assessment identifies individual preferences in project phases, enhancing productivity by aligning tasks with personal strengths. • Creating a Unique Path: Karen emphasizes the importance of not just competing but creating a new lane, focusing on democratizing coaching and transforming organizational cultures. • Honoring Legacy and Innovation: Karen's dedication to Mike Stern's legacy drives her to keep the work impactful and fresh, collaborating with a diverse team to reach wider audiences and bring new perspectives.
In this episode of the Thought Leadership Leverage podcast, host Bill Sherman sits down with Judy Wilkins Smith, an executive coach and trainer specializing in Systemic Constellation Work. Judy has recently released her second book, "The Hidden Power in Your DNA: How to Use Genealogy to Explore Ancestral Patterns & Transform Your Life." Dive in as she shares insights from her transformative journey and groundbreaking work. "Decoding Your Emotional Blueprint," emerged from personal tragedy. After losing her father, she turned to writing to channel her emotions. Her background in award-winning poetry helped her craft a powerful narrative that connects deeply with readers. That ability to connect and evoke emotion can be seen in Judy's Systemic Constellation Work. Bringing hidden patterns to light by Using 3D tools like paper and props, she helps clients visualize and understand their obstacles. This method allows for a tangible shift in perception and strategy. Judy talks about the humble journey of becoming the biggest version of oneself. It's about taking full responsibility for personal growth and inviting others to join the adventure. She emphasizes the importance of growth feeling like play rather than a burden. She uses these same ideals when helping clients see the biggest versions of themselves. In her coaching Judy prefers inviting clients to explore their potential rather than pushing them. She’s keenly aware of hesitation, understanding it as a form of self-protection that can be transformed into a strength. Judy reflects on her own journey with undervaluing her work. Coming from a culture that shies away from ambition, she struggled with Imposter Syndrome. Her growth involved recognizing her worth and pushing past those limiting beliefs. Judy discusses her "Head, Heart, and Gut" framework, which combats negative self-talk and aligns these three powerful centers to manifest success. When your heart, head, and gut are in sync, you unlock your full potential. Looking ahead, Judy sees the need for leaders who inspire rather than push. She emphasizes moving beyond victimhood, using personal challenges as a catalyst for remarkable achievements. Three Key Takeaways: • Transformative Power of Ancestral Patterns: Judy Wilkins Smith's work with Systemic Constellation reveals how understanding and addressing ancestral patterns can transform lives. Her books, "Decoding Your Emotional Blueprint" and "The Hidden Power in Your DNA," explore how genealogy and systemic work can uncover hidden influences and provide pathways to personal growth. • Aligning Head, Heart, and Gut: Judy emphasizes the importance of aligning one's head, heart, and gut. By overcoming negative self-talk and ensuring these three elements work together, individuals can achieve conscious manifestation and unlock their full potential. This alignment is crucial for personal and professional success. • Inspiring Rather Than Pushing: Judy advocates for leadership that inspires rather than pushes. She highlights the significance of inviting others to explore their potential and grow in a supportive environment. Her approach focuses on turning challenges into strengths and moving beyond a victim mindset to achieve remarkable outcomes.
In this riveting episode of Thought Leadership Leverage with host Peter Winick, we dive into the world of non-fiction with Phil Simon, a multifaceted writer, ghostwriter, speaker, and podcaster. Phil shares his journey from a college professor in business information systems to becoming a prolific author and the founder of a hybrid publishing company. He explains his dual role as both a creator and coach, helping others craft their books and platforms while avoiding common pitfalls. Phil recounts his transition into writing in 2008, which ignited his passion for the craft and led to the establishment of his own publishing company. His unique perspective as an author, ghostwriter, and publisher enables him to guide others effectively. He emphasizes the importance of finding the right fit with clients, setting clear expectations, and ensuring that the client's voice shines through while adhering to effective business writing principles. Discussing the ghostwriting process, Phil highlights the critical need for compatibility and clear communication with clients. He shares insights into the evolving publishing landscape, noting the rise of hybrid publishing as a cost-effective and rewarding alternative to traditional publishers. Authors now have more control and potential for higher rewards, balancing the risks with substantial marketing and support efforts. Phil also delves into his personal intellectual property, which he proudly owns under "Racket Publishing." This ownership allows him to explore various avenues, such as international translations and teachable courses, without intermediary restrictions. He discusses innovative business models that leverage the credibility of a published book, including bespoke versions for corporate clients, custom training, and webinars. Phil's experience underscores the chaotic yet rewarding nature of thought leadership and publishing. His advice for aspiring authors and thought leaders is to embrace the non-linear path to success and capitalize on the multifaceted opportunities a book can provide. Three Key Takeaways: • Embrace Hybrid Publishing: Phil Simon emphasizes the advantages of hybrid publishing over traditional routes. This model offers authors more control, potential for higher rewards, and flexibility, while still maintaining professional quality. Hybrid publishing allows authors to manage costs and directly benefit from their work. • Find the Right Fit in Ghostwriting: The importance of compatibility and clear expectations in ghostwriting is crucial. Successful partnerships hinge on mutual understanding and clear communication, ensuring the final product resonates with the intended audience and meets client expectations. • Leverage Your Book for Broader Opportunities: Owning your intellectual property opens up diverse monetization avenues. Phil discusses how a book can elevate your brand, allowing for additional revenue streams through custom training, webinars, and bespoke book versions for corporate clients. Embracing these opportunities can significantly enhance your thought leadership platform. If you want to learn more about the Changing Landscape of Publishing be sure to check out this video by Peter Winick.
In this riveting episode of the Thought Leadership Leverage podcast, host Bill Sherman engages with Martin Gonzalez, the co-author of the best-selling book "The Bonfire Moment" and the visionary behind Google's "The Effective Founders Project." Dive into the fascinating journey of Martin, who transformed a personal passion into a global initiative that has reshaped the landscape of startup success.
Martin Gonzalez's journey at Google began a decade ago at their Singapore campus. Embracing Google's culture of innovation and autonomy, Martin seized the opportunity to embark on a passion project that aligned with Google's business goals. His fascination with startup founders and the early stages of company development led him to partner with Joshua Yellin, who was leading Google's Startup Accelerator Program. This program, with its focus on machine learning, globalization, and growth hacking, provided a fertile ground for Martin's innovative ideas, despite his initial lack of expertise in these areas.
Martin's breakthrough came when he uncovered a Harvard study indicating that 65% of startups fail due to people issues. Armed with this insight, he proposed a two-day workshop aimed at addressing these challenges. The workshop, first tested in Jakarta and then in Bangalore, received overwhelmingly positive feedback. Their success was not a one-time anomaly; the workshops continued to garner high ratings worldwide, eventually impacting founders across 70 countries.
In this episode, Bill and Martin explore the journey of understanding why startups succeed or fail. Martin highlights the pitfalls of relying solely on data from successful founders, which often leads to "Survivor's Bias." He stresses the importance of comprehensive data that includes insights from failed ventures to paint a realistic picture of startup dynamics.
Martin also shares the genesis of their book "The Bonfire Moment." Initially hesitant to commit to writing, Martin was eventually convinced by Joshua Yellin, who saw the immense value their workshops offered. The book became a natural extension of their workshops, providing an open-source toolkit for startup founders. This approach, rooted in Google's ethos of sharing and collaboration, aimed to empower others with the tools and knowledge to replicate their success.
The conversation also touches on Martin's unique role as an "Enlightened Practitioner." He bridges the gap between academic research and practical application, translating complex research findings into actionable insights for leaders and managers. This ability to synthesize and communicate evidence-based advice makes Martin a pivotal figure in the startup ecosystem.
The episode concludes with a discussion on the development of a validated measure for assessing founders. Through years of collecting 360-degree feedback surveys and analyzing thousands of data points, Martin and his team published the "Effective Founders Report." This report, which garnered significant attention from their publisher, laid the foundation for their influential book.
Join Bill Sherman and Martin Gonzalez for an illuminating discussion on the intricacies of startup success, the power of data-driven insights, and the transformative potential of open-source tools. This episode is a must-listen for thought leaders, authors, and speakers who are passionate about innovation and leadership in the startup world.
Three Key Takeaways: • Addressing People Issues is Crucial for Startup Success: Martin Gonzalez's research, backed by a Harvard study, revealed that 65% of startups fail due to people-related issues. His workshops focused on these challenges, demonstrating that addressing team dynamics and leadership is essential for early-stage companies to thrive. • Importance of Comprehensive Data to Avoid Survivor's Bias: Martin and Bill discuss the pitfalls of relying solely on data from successful startups, which can lead to "Survivor's Bias." Understanding why startups fail is equally important to gain a realistic and holistic view of what contributes to success or failure in the startup ecosystem. • Open-Source Approach to Knowledge Sharing: Reflecting Google's ethos, Martin and his co-author Joshua Yellin chose to make their workshop tools and insights freely available through their book "The Bonfire Moment." This open-source approach aims to empower a broader audience, emphasizing mission and reach over profit, and fostering a collaborative environment for startup growth. If you want to read more about what it takes to Build Awesome Assessments check out this article by Bill Sherman.
In this engaging episode of Thought Leadership Leverage, host Peter Winick interviews Renee Moorefield, a pioneering leader in human-centered leadership for over 25 years. Renee, the CEO and co-founder of Wisdom Works Group, has been instrumental in transforming how leaders build thriving organizations. Wisdom Works offers innovative resources and guidance to create workplaces and leadership practices that foster well-being and success. Renee discusses the development of her intellectual property (IP). Her extensive experience in global companies highlighted a critical need: leaders often overlook human factors while focusing on financial and technical performance. Observing this trend, she brought her insights to the University of Colorado’s business school, aiming to scientifically explore the factors that contribute to thriving and stress resilience in leadership. This led to the creation of the "Framework of Thriving" under the "Be Well, Lead Well Pulse Assessment" platform. This framework redefines what it means to thrive, helping leaders understand the essential elements for success in complex environments. Wisdom Works is now scaling its impact by working with global organizations, especially in the food and consumer goods industries. They conduct one-on-one sessions, team workshops, and organization-wide assessments to identify areas of high and low thriving. This holistic approach introduces new metrics for measuring organizational success and fosters meaningful conversations about well-being. Additionally, Renee’s team certifies individuals in various industries to implement their tools, creating a network of approximately 225 certified Guides. Peter and Renee discuss the differences between internal and external certified guides, highlighting the unique challenges and benefits of each approach. The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the value of their tools, increasing demand for internal coaches equipped to navigate stressful times. Ensuring the quality and consistency of their certified guides is paramount for Renee. The program sets clear expectations for knowledge, skills, and abilities, relying on an honor system for self-assessment and continuous feedback. With a 94% return on investment rate, the program’s effectiveness is evident, consistently meeting participants' needs and enhancing their capabilities. Three Key Takeaways: • Human-Centered Leadership is Essential: Renee Moorefield emphasizes the importance of focusing on human factors in leadership, highlighting how financial and technical performance often overshadow the well-being of people and organizational culture. Leaders need to prioritize creating thriving, sustainable environments. • Scalable, Science-Based Frameworks: The "Framework of Thriving" and the "Be Well, Lead Well Pulse Assessment" offer a scientifically grounded approach to understanding and fostering leadership that promotes resilience and thriving. This framework helps organizations identify areas of high and low thriving, driving better performance and well-being. • Certified Guides Enhance Impact: Certifying individuals in various industries to use Wisdom Works' tools has expanded their reach and effectiveness. With approximately 225 certified guides, the program ensures consistent quality and effectiveness, as demonstrated by a 94% return on investment rate, meeting the evolving needs of leaders and organizations. Want to learn more about customized training? Be sure to watch this short video where Peter Winick discusses How much customization is needed while developing training.
In this episode of Thought Leadership Leverage, host Peter Winick sits down with Elizabeth Lotardo, author of "Leading Yourself: Find More Joy, Meaning, and Opportunities in the Job You Already Have," to explore her journey into thought leadership. Elizabeth, a consultant, Harvard Business Review contributor, and LinkedIn Learning instructor, shares her inspiring story and insights. Elizabeth's journey into thought leadership began with a powerful act of defiance. After quitting her job at an ad agency due to a toxic culture and lack of opportunity, she penned a raw and passionate article titled "Why Millennials Keep Dumping You. An Open Letter to Management." This article went viral, resonating deeply with professionals who felt unheard and undervalued. Elizabeth and Peter delve into the nature of viral content and the power of authentic, heartfelt writing. Going viral brought both support and criticism. Elizabeth discusses the mixed reactions and how she managed the rough comments alongside the positive feedback. This experience led her to write more on engagement from a Millennial perspective, eventually leading to her involvement with LinkedIn Learning. Transitioning from writing articles to creating courses for LinkedIn Learning was a new challenge for Elizabeth. She shares how LinkedIn helped her transform her engaging writing style into actionable, educational content. The key was to maintain authenticity while adapting to the platform’s demands, focusing on engagement and retention. Elizabeth’s upcoming book, "Leading Yourself," is set to release in Fall 2024. It addresses how to find joy, meaning, and opportunity in less-than-perfect jobs. Drawing from her decade-long consulting experience, Elizabeth highlights how mindset, behaviors, and relationships can transform one’s work experience. Inspired by the success of her LinkedIn course during the COVID-19 pandemic, she realized the growing need for this topic. In addition to her book, Elizabeth is developing a video version and corresponding training programs. These resources aim to help organizations instill the mindsets discussed in her book, empowering employees to create positive changes in their work environments. Three Key Takeaways: • Elizabeth's viral article, "Why Millennials Keep Dumping You," succeeded because of its genuine, passionate approach. Authenticity in thought leadership can resonate deeply with audiences and drive engagement. • Transitioning from writing articles to creating courses for LinkedIn Learning required Elizabeth to adapt her writing style while maintaining authenticity. Thought leaders must recognize and play to the strengths of each medium they engage with. • Elizabeth's upcoming book, "Leading Yourself," emphasizes the importance of mindset in finding joy, meaning, and opportunity in one's job. A positive mindset can empower individuals to thrive in less-than-perfect work environments. If you are interested in additional LinkedIn Learning courses be sure to check out the content from Leveraging Thought Leadership.
In this episode of the Thought Leadership Leverage podcast, host Bill Sherman sits down with Phil Geldart, CEO of Eagle's Flight, to discuss his innovative approach to leadership and learning. With his upcoming book, "Leading What Matters Most: A Business Parable on Unlocking Human Potential," set to release later in 2024, Geldart shares insights from his transformative career.
Early in his career, Geldart faced a daunting challenge: engaging a skeptical audience who believed they had nothing to learn. Hired by a company indifferent to training, he devised a unique strategy. Phil created a desert survival board game and persuaded reluctant factory workers to play. The game’s unexpected effectiveness, leading them to realize the principles could enhance their work, marked the birth of experiential learning. Building on the success of his innovative training methods, Geldart authored his first book, "In Your Hands: The Behaviors of a World-Class Leader." By breaking down complex leadership concepts into digestible sections with practical illustrations, he provided an accessible tool for personal and professional growth. His subsequent books, like "EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING: Changing Behavior to Improve Performance," further solidified his reputation as a pioneer in experiential learning. Despite his success, Geldart humbly resisted the label of a thought leader until his Senior Head of Marketing pointed out his influence. Focused on creating real change, Geldart emphasizes the importance of adding value to others' lives over seeking recognition. This perspective shapes his and Sherman’s discussion on the true essence of thought leadership, defined more by impact than titles. Geldart sees the modern workforce as young, informed, and value-driven, requiring a shift in leadership approaches. His new book aims to address this by equipping leaders with tools to unlock human potential. Partnering with Forbes, Geldart plans to leverage their platform to reach busy CEOs, planting seeds of thought leadership that can flourish when the time is right. To amplify his message, Geldart combines client referrals with strategic exposure through Forbes. Understanding the challenge of capturing a CEO’s attention, he underscores the importance of consistent, value-driven engagement. By doing so, he aims to position the unlocking of human potential as a priority with significant returns for organizations. • Innovative Training Through Experiential Learning: Phil Geldart's use of a desert survival board game effectively engaged skeptical factory workers, demonstrating the power of experiential learning in transforming attitudes and behaviors. This approach laid the foundation for his successful career in developing innovative training methods. • Accessible Leadership Insights: Geldart's books, including "In Your Hands: The Behaviors of a World-Class Leader" and "EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING: Changing Behavior to Improve Performance," break down complex concepts into practical, easy-to-understand sections. These resources provide actionable insights for leaders seeking to enhance their skills and drive organizational performance. • Leveraging Thought Leadership for Impact: Despite initially resisting the label of a thought leader, Geldart recognized the importance of sharing his knowledge to add value to others. His strategic partnership with Forbes aims to amplify his message, reaching influential CEOs and helping them unlock human potential within their organizations.
In this compelling episode of Thought Leadership Leverage, host Peter Winick dives deep with Matt Hullander, a versatile entrepreneur from Chattanooga, Tennessee. Hullander, who has ventured into real estate development, e-commerce, private equity, recently authored the inspiring book "The Daily Climb: 10 Principles to Change Your Life." Today, he shares his transformative journey from business mogul to author. After selling his successful home improvement company in 2021, Hullander faced a life-altering cancer scare. This experience shifted his perspective, prompting him to reflect on his purpose. At 50, he felt compelled to share his life lessons and stories to benefit others. Proceeds from his book, "The Daily Climb," support teenage suicide prevention (The Jason Foundation), demonstrating his commitment to making a difference. Hullander’s book challenges traditional goal-setting paradigms, advocating for a vision-driven approach. He emphasizes building habits that align with the life you want, rather than merely setting goals. Other principles include the importance of finding a guide, akin to his fly-fishing mentor, and the value of surrounding oneself with a supportive tribe. Writing the "The Daily Climb" has created unexpected opportunities, opening new doors for Hullander, expanding his network beyond Tennessee and into various industries. The book has also led to speaking engagements, enhancing his credibility and setting him apart in his field. Hullander encourages aspiring authors to leverage hybrid and self-publishing models. He highlights the importance of seeking guidance, sharing how his publisher, Foresight Publishers, helped him shape his book’s content and design. His message is clear: with the right support, anyone can bring their book to life. Three Key Takeaways: • Embrace Life's Challenges as Opportunities: Matt Hullander's cancer scare transformed his outlook, leading him to share his experiences and insights through his book, "The Daily Climb." This illustrates the importance of turning personal challenges into opportunities for growth and contribution. • Vision Over Goals: Hullander advocates for a vision-driven approach rather than traditional goal-setting. By focusing on the habits and lifestyle that align with your envisioned future, you can create lasting change and achieve a more fulfilling life. • Seek Guidance and Build a Supportive Tribe: Hullander emphasizes the value of having mentors and a supportive community. Whether through a life coach, business guide, or peer groups, surrounding yourself with knowledgeable and supportive individuals can significantly enhance your success and personal growth. If you have a vision for your business, then you'll want to check out this article How Are You Applying Your Vision by Thought Leadership Leverage Founder and CEO Peter Winick.
In this episode of Thought Leadership Leverage, host Bill Sherman sits down with Clemence Sop, the Head of Marketing Innovation at InterSystems, for an insightful discussion on marketing high-ticket items, leveraging digital platforms, and the power of thought leadership. Clemence shares her fascinating journey from yacht sales to marketing innovation, highlighting the complexity and strategy involved in selling luxury items. She delves into the concept of a cultivation strategist, emphasizing the importance of digital knowledge and social listening to engage potential buyers at the right moment. Drawing from real-life experiences, Clemence explains how using LinkedIn and celebrity brand ambassadors can build trust and nurture relationships with high-profile clients. She illustrates how positioning oneself as a trusted advisor can enhance visibility and engagement, even with audiences outside the initial target group. Bill and Clemence explore her career transition from supply chain engineering to big data and social media, driven by her curiosity about the future impact of collective intelligence and connection data on human behavior and business. In her current role, Clemence spearheads innovative marketing solutions to tackle existing challenges. She narrates a compelling story about addressing thought leadership needs in Belgium’s healthcare system through the "One Patient, One Record" initiative. By sharing personal stories and building a community around patient data challenges, InterSystems was able to foster trust and drive meaningful change. The episode concludes with a discussion on overcoming mental and spam filters in today’s saturated digital landscape. Clemence emphasizes the necessity of targeting a specific audience, creating relevant content, and establishing authentic connections through thought leadership. Tune in to learn from Clemence Sop’s unique experiences and insights on transforming marketing strategies through innovation and thought leadership. Three Key Takeaways: • Strategic Digital Engagement: Clemence Sop emphasizes the importance of leveraging digital knowledge and social listening to effectively engage potential buyers. By cultivating relationships through targeted digital networking and positioning oneself as a trusted advisor, brands can enhance their visibility and build trust with high-profile clients. • The Power of Personal Stories in Thought Leadership: The "One Patient, One Record" initiative showcases the effectiveness of using personal stories to address pain points and build a community. By sharing authentic experiences and focusing on the emotional aspects of patient data challenges, InterSystems was able to establish trust and drive meaningful conversations in the healthcare sector. • Navigating Content Saturation: In a world overwhelmed with digital content, it is crucial to target specific audiences with relevant and purposeful content. Clemence highlights the need for authenticity and relevance in thought leadership, ensuring that content not only reaches but resonates with the intended audience, thereby overcoming mental and spam filters. If you want to learn more about thought leadership marketing check out this article Decoding Thought Leadership Marketing: A Blueprint for Success by Thought Leadership Leverage Founder and CEO Peter Winick.
In this episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership, host Bill Sherman engages with Steve Wunker, Managing Director of New Market Advisors and co-author of the groundbreaking book The Innovative Leader: Step-By-Step Lessons from Top Innovators For You and Your Organization. Join them as they delve into the intricacies of fostering innovation within organizations and cultivating innovative leadership. Steve Wunker shares the core essence of The Innovative Leader, emphasizing its focus on the practical "how" of innovation. Drawing from interviews with 50 top innovative leaders and two decades of professional experience, the book provides actionable insights for individuals and organizations aiming to embrace innovation effectively. Delving into the genesis of the book, Wunker explains the rationale behind merging leadership and innovation, bridging a crucial gap in existing literature. He recounts his journey collaborating with luminaries like Clayton Christensen and Fred Reichheld, emphasizing the transformative power of distilling complex concepts into compelling narratives. The Innovative Leader isn't just another book; it's a culmination of rigorous research and inductive conversations aimed at demystifying innovation. Wunker sheds light on the book's data-driven approach, underscored by the belief that innovation is fundamentally about systems rather than sporadic bursts of inspiration. As they explore the strategies for book promotion, Wunker emphasizes the importance of striking a balance between broad outreach and deep engagement. From social media blitzes to keynote speeches and immersive articles, the book's marketing campaign is meticulously crafted to resonate with diverse audiences. Looking ahead, Wunker envisions The Innovative Leader as a seminal work shaping the landscape of innovative leadership for years to come. With aspirations for it to become a staple on the shelves of aspiring and seasoned leaders alike, Wunker underscores the importance of continuous engagement and dissemination across various platforms. Tune in to this episode for invaluable insights into building a culture of innovation and unlocking the potential of leadership in driving meaningful change within organizations. Three Key Takeaways: • Innovation is Systematic: The episode emphasizes that innovation isn't merely a stroke of luck or genius but a systematic process. By understanding and implementing effective systems, individuals and organizations can foster a culture of innovation and sustain it over time. • Practical Actionability: The Innovative Leader stands out for its emphasis on practicality and actionability. It fills the gap in existing literature by providing step-by-step guidance for leaders and managers who aspire to drive innovation within their organizations, offering tangible strategies derived from real-world experiences. • Comprehensive Marketing Strategy: Wunker highlights the significance of a comprehensive marketing strategy for launching a book successfully. By combining broad outreach through platforms like social media with deep engagement via keynote speeches, articles, and podcasts, authors can maximize their book's impact and ensure its longevity in the market. If you want to learn more about balancing Innovation and Integration be sure to check out this article by Thought Leadership Leverage founder and CEO Peter Winick.
In this episode of "Leveraging Thought Leadership," host Peter Winick sits down with Tony Martignetti, Founder and Chief Inspiration Officer at Inspired Purpose Partners, author of climbing The Right Mountain: Navigating the Journey to An Inspired Life and host of the Virtual Campfire podcast. Tony shares his journey into the world of thought leadership, which began not from a clear plan, but through a series of life shifts that revealed a deeper passion for guiding leaders in chaotic times. Tony describes how his path transitioned from finance and strategy roles in biotech to thought leadership and executive coaching. Despite success in his previous careers, he felt something was missing. Growing up, Tony had a creative side, known for his art, but societal expectations pushed him toward pre-med and then business. The discomfort of being in the wrong field led him to re-evaluate his career, ultimately deciding to forge his own path. He emphasizes the importance of creating your own place when you don't fit in elsewhere, using curiosity and exploration to discover where you belong. His approach to finding his niche combined a balance of passion, skill, and market demand. Tony introduces his guiding philosophy, "Expand your vision, narrow your focus," encouraging exploration before narrowing down on a specific area to serve. By having "curiosity conversations," he was able to understand the problems and pain points of others, leading him to his current role as an executive coach for tech leaders. Tony's clients are typically in the tech industry, where his unique perspective aligns well with innovative thinkers. He helps chief technology officers, chief science officers, and chief strategy officers communicate their technical ideas to a broader audience and break down silos within their organizations. Through his work, he facilitates better communication among teams and creates a collaborative environment for leaders. While most of his work requires being physically present with his clients, Tony is considering productizing some aspects of his coaching to offer more scalable solutions in the future. He acknowledges the challenge many thought leaders face with marketing and sales and shares his three-part strategy to overcome it: "Affiliate, Associate, Collaborate." This approach involves partnering with other experts, engaging in professional groups, and collaborating with others to create greater impact. Overall, this episode delves into Tony's journey from a traditional career path to becoming a thought leader in the tech industry. It highlights his insights into building connections, fostering communication, and navigating the challenges of a rapidly hanging world. Three Key Takeaways: • Forge Your Own Path: Tony Martignetti's journey illustrates that career paths are not always linear. He transitioned from finance and strategy roles in biotech to thought leadership in tech, emphasizing that sometimes you need to create the place where you belong rather than trying to fit into predefined roles. He encourages people to use curiosity and exploration to find their unique path. • Expand Your Vision, Narrow Your Focus: Tony's guiding philosophy underscores the importance of exploring a wide range of possibilities before honing in on a specific niche. This approach allows for a broader understanding of where one can make the most impact before concentrating efforts on a particular area. Through "curiosity conversations," he was able to understand others' needs and pain points, guiding him to his current role as an executive coach for tech leaders. • Affiliate, Associate, Collaborate: Tony shares his strategy for overcoming the marketing and sales challenges that many thought leaders face. This three-part approach involves affiliating with other experts to offer comprehensive solutions, associating with professional groups for personal and business development, and collaborating with others to create greater impact. These steps highlight the importance of building relationships and leveraging a network to succeed in thought leadership.
In this episode of the Thought Leadership Leverage podcast, host Bill Sherman dives into the realities of space settlement with Kelly Weinersmith, biologist and adjunct assistant professor at Rice University, and Zach Weinersmith, comic artist and author. Known for their book "Soonish: Ten Emerging Technologies That'll Improve and/or Ruin Everything," the Weinersmiths have recently released "A City on Mars: Can We Settle Space, Should We Settle Space, and Have We Really Thought This Through?"—a book that raises tough questions about the feasibility and ethics of colonizing new worlds.
The episode uncovers some hard truths behind the idea of settling space. While space exploration seems exciting and full of promise, the Weinersmiths caution that many of the technological, biological, and social challenges remain unsolved. In their book, they explore whether the dream of building new worlds in space is achievable or could lead to unexpected consequences.
Kelly and Zach discuss the evolution of their book's thesis—from an optimistic view of imminent space settlement to a more nuanced, realistic perspective. They reveal how their research journey influenced this shift, sharing the complexities of dealing with sensitive topics and the mixed reactions they received from the space community. While some experts supported their critical approach, others reacted with resistance and disappointment.
The episode also touches on the importance of humor in science communication. The Weinersmiths explain how humor helps make complex ideas more accessible and engaging. Their book, filled with witty illustrations and anecdotes, balances deep scientific insights with a lighthearted touch, providing a unique take on the question of space colonization.
Bill and his guests explore the broader implications of space settlement, examining potential issues such as the environmental impact, the governance of space colonies, and the psychological effects of living in confined, isolated environments. The conversation also highlights the importance of empirical evidence and the rigorous research methods employed by the Weinersmiths, who sought input from a wide range of experts to build a comprehensive view of space settlement's challenges and opportunities.
Tune in to this thought-provoking episode for a deep dive into the reality of space exploration, the impact of metaphor on our understanding of complex concepts, and the role of humor in making science accessible. Whether you're a CEO, leadership coach, entrepreneur, or thought leader, you'll find valuable insights into why space settlement might be more complicated than it seems—and why a critical perspective is essential as we look to the stars.
Three Key Takeaways:
• The Challenges of Space Settlement Are Complex and Multidisciplinary Kelly and Zach Weinersmith's book, "A City on Mars," explores the myriad challenges of space settlement, from technological to biological, psychological, and legal issues. Their extensive research reveals that many unresolved questions make the idea of colonizing Mars or other celestial bodies far more complex than it might seem. They underscore that successful space settlement requires significant advancements in multiple fields, and many assumptions about its feasibility may not hold up under scrutiny.
• Humor as a Tool for Science Communication The Weinersmiths demonstrate the importance of humor in making complex scientific topics accessible and engaging. They explain how humor can be used to break down barriers and keep audiences interested, even when discussing dense subjects like space law or the psychological effects of isolation. By weaving humor into their work, they make the science approachable while still maintaining accuracy and depth.
• The Impact of Metaphors on Perception The guests discuss how metaphors can shape our understanding of complex concepts like space exploration. Zach Weinersmith points out that metaphors, like the "wagon train in space" analogy from Star Trek, can both guide and limit our perception of what space settlement entails. This observation underscores the importance of critically examining the stories and metaphors we use to describe emerging technologies and scientific endeavors, as they can influence public opinion and expectations.
In this episode of the Thought Leadership Leverage podcast, host Peter Winick sits down with Robert Hargrove, founder and CEO of Masterful Coaching, co-founder of the Harvard Leadership Project, and author of ten influential books, including "Masterful Coaching." This insightful discussion explores the evolving landscape of thought leadership, focusing on the shifting dynamics in publishing and the rise of social media. Robert shares his unique perspective on how publishing has transformed over the years. During a recent visit to a Barnes & Noble, he noticed that most books in business and politics were authored by thought leaders. However, when he browsed LinkedIn, he observed a wave of recycled content from decades ago, repackaged as something new. This led to a conversation about how thought leadership has moved from long-form content, such as books, to short-form content on social media. While social media provides rapid access to ideas, Robert and Peter discuss the significant difference in depth and quality between reading a book and scanning a LinkedIn post. Defining thought leadership, Robert describes it as presenting a big idea that is eye-opening, brain-tingling, and paradigm- shifting. He emphasizes that the idea doesn't need to be entirely original but should offer a new perspective or improve upon existing concepts. He uses Marty Neumeier's "Brand Flip" as an example of how traditional ideas can be approached in a fresh way. The conversation delves into the nuances of thought leadership on social media, addressing the importance of civil discourse and respectful disagreement. Robert stresses that engaging with others' ideas and leaving thoughtful comments can foster a healthy exchange and build new relationships. He also discusses his journey into podcasting and the impact of verbal interactions on the audience, highlighting how even non-groundbreaking conversations can spark meaningful thoughts among listeners. Finally, Robert and Peter share their favorite podcasts and writers, such as Malcolm Gladwell and Adam Grant, comparing their unique styles in both book and podcast formats. Tune in to explore the evolution of thought leadership and gain insights into how to navigate and succeed in this changing landscape. Three Key Takeaways: • Shift from Long-Form to Short-Form Thought Leadership: The landscape of thought leadership has shifted from long-form content, like books, to short-form content on social media platforms. While this change offers accessibility and immediacy, it can lead to a reduction in depth and quality. Robert Hargrove discusses how, in the past, a book was a hallmark of thought leadership, but today, many thought leaders focus on shorter, more digestible content. This shift requires a balanced approach to maintain quality while reaching a broader audience. • Redefining Thought Leadership: Thought leadership is not just about creating original ideas; it's about presenting concepts in a way that is eye-opening, paradigm-shifting, or improving upon existing ideas. Robert emphasizes that thought leadership can be delivered through various mediums, including speeches, podcasts, and social media, not just books. He cites Marty Neumeier's "Brand Flip" as an example of presenting traditional ideas with a fresh perspective, highlighting that thought leadership can be achieved without a book. •Civility and Respect in Social Media Discourse: The episode explores the dynamics of thought leadership on social media, where it can be challenging to maintain civility and respect in discussions. Robert suggests that engaging in respectful disagreement, seeking dialogue, and contributing thoughtful comments are crucial for meaningful exchanges. He underscores that these interactions can help build relationships and open doors to new audiences. This approach fosters a collaborative environment where different viewpoints are valued and respected. Whether you publish your content in a book, on social media, or other medium it has to be clear and engaging. Peter Winick and the team at Thought Leadership leverage can help you develop a variety of material for any medium!
In this episode of "Leveraging Thought Leadership" with host Peter Winick, the guest is Rob Volpe, a keynote speaker, award-winning author, and trainer who focuses on promoting empathy in the workplace. Volpe is the author of "Tell Me More About That: Solving the Empathy Crisis One Conversation at a Time," and founder and chairman of Ignite 360, a marketing and research firm that emphasizes empathy. Volpe discusses his journey to becoming a thought leader, starting from a background in Hollywood where he became interested in marketing and understanding human behavior. His journey eventually led him to realize that empathy was the key to his success. Through storytelling, he shares how empathy can be used to understand others and build better relationships, which also contributes to improving business outcomes. He recounts his experience growing up in a small town in Indiana, where he used empathy as a survival skill to navigate bullying. This led him to understand others' perspectives, even when he didn't agree with them, and helped him develop a communication style that fostered positive relationships. Volpe addresses the question of whether empathy is innate or developed. He likens it to a muscle that needs constant exercise to grow stronger, emphasizing that leaders should promote empathetic cultures. However, he notes that many CEOs struggle with empathy, as they fear losing respect if they show vulnerability in the workplace. Despite these challenges, Volpe believes that a culture of empathy can improve business metrics. Studies are emerging that support this idea, demonstrating that empathetic organizations perform better over time. The challenge, however, lies in changing long-held beliefs about workplace dynamics and encouraging a shift toward embracing emotional intelligence (EQ). Finally, Volpe discusses the services he offers through Ignite 360 and his keynotes. His audience includes professional workplaces where empathy can improve customer service, finance, and other functions that require a higher degree of emotional intelligence. He provides training and presentations that help organizations understand and apply empathy to create better work environments. Three Key Takeaways: • Empathy as a Core Skill: Rob Volpe emphasizes the importance of empathy in both personal and professional contexts. He shares how empathy can be developed like a muscle through consistent practice and active engagement. This skill not only improves workplace dynamics but also enhances customer relationships and overall business performance. • The Role of Empathy in Leadership: Many CEOs recognize the need for empathy in fostering a positive workplace culture, yet many struggle with vulnerability and fear of losing respect. Volpe underscores the importance of empathetic leadership in setting the tone for an organization, encouraging a shift toward embracing emotional intelligence (EQ) despite long-held corporate beliefs. • Empathy's Impact on Business Success: Volpe discusses studies that demonstrate a correlation between empathetic organizations and better business outcomes. He points out that while industries like tech and healthcare may not traditionally prioritize empathy, they can benefit from embracing it to improve customer experiences and employee satisfaction. His work at Ignite 360 aims to help organizations build empathetic cultures to drive better performance over time. Rob's business is empathy but it can be hard to create offerings around soft skills. If you have big ideas around EQ but are struggling to bring that content to your audience in a meaningful way, Peter Winick and the Thought Leadership Leverage team can help you!
In this episode, we dive into the often-discussed but seldom addressed divide between academics and practitioners in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) field. We welcome two esteemed guests: Dr. Amanda Diekman, Professor of Psychological and Brain Sciences and Associate Vice Provost for Faculty and Academic Affairs at Indiana University, and Jayshree Seth, Chief Science Advocate and Corporate Scientist at 3M. Dr. Diekman acknowledges the existence of a gap between academia and industry, suggesting that it persists partly because people believe it does. However, she emphasizes that the divide can be bridged through effort, communication, and setting clear expectations. The most immediate impact of academic work is when students apply it in their careers, indicating a strong need for better alignment between academic research and industry practice. Jayshree Seth uses the metaphor of "paths not taken" to explain the academic-practitioner divide. She points out that when people stick to the familiar, the less-traveled routes become increasingly invisible. To bridge the gap, individuals must step out of their comfort zones and embrace new approaches, even if it means learning new rules and navigating uncharted territory. Jayshree and Amanda share a common interest in understanding why women, who earn STEM degrees, often do not pursue careers in STEM. Jayshree approached this issue from a social science perspective, seeking ways to ensure persistence among women in STEM fields. Amanda, with a background in gender roles and representation, found stability in the gender distribution within STEM unexplained by conventional narratives. Their collaboration aimed to identify and address the signals that deter women and minorities from engaging with STEM. Jayshree's role as Chief Science Advocate at 3M emerged from the company's efforts to understand public perception of science, which revealed that many people believed science had little impact on their lives. This realization motivated her to advocate for science and connect with like-minded researchers like Amanda. Amanda's research on gender roles and communal goals resonated with Jayshree's experience, leading to their collaboration. Amanda and Jayshree conducted a study to examine how goal congruity, the alignment between personal goals and workplace or academic values, affects students' engagement in STEM. They focused on communal goals, recognizing that a lack of context, collaboration, and empowerment might deter underrepresented groups. The study sought to document the psychological benefits of nudging students toward a purpose-driven approach in STEM, highlighting the need to shift the culture to foster inclusion and belonging. Jayshree identifies three critical areas where communal goals play a role in STEM: contextualization, collaboration, and empowerment. She shares her journey of feeling out of place in a male-dominated lab, only to discover the importance of her work later. At 3M, she found these communal goals embraced, contributing to a more inclusive environment. The PRISM (Purpose Reflection in STEM Modalities) project is an effort to provide practical tools for STEM faculty to create assignments that encourage students to reflect on their purpose and engage in meaningful conversations. This initiative, funded by 3M, aims to bridge the gap between academia and industry, promoting STEM equity and supporting minoritized talent pipelines. Both Amanda and Jayshree share their visions for the future. Jayshree hopes to see the PRISM curriculum become mandatory in STEM classes, fostering a sense of belonging and encouraging students to align their goals with communal values. Amanda envisions a broader cultural shift that creates more space for diverse values and perspectives in STEM, ultimately leading to increased retention and success among faculty and students alike. Join us as we explore these critical topics and uncover actionable steps to bridge the gap between academia and industry in STEM, ultimately creating a more inclusive and supportive environment for all. Three Key Takeaways: • Bridging the Academic-Practitioner Divide: The divide between academia and industry in STEM is real but can be overcome with better communication, clearer expectations, and a focus on shared goals. Both academic researchers and industry practitioners need to explore untaken paths and learn from each other to close this gap.
• The Role of Goal Congruity in STEM: The concept of goal congruity—alignment between personal goals and workplace or academic values—is critical in encouraging underrepresented groups to pursue and persist in STEM careers. The lack of communal goals, such as collaboration and empowerment, can create barriers for women and minorities. Addressing these gaps can increase inclusivity and belonging. • The PRISM Project and Cultural Change: The PRISM (Purpose Reflection in STEM Modalities) project is designed to provide practical tools and templates to help STEM faculty integrate purpose-driven assignments into their curriculum. By promoting a more inclusive culture that values communal goals, the project aims to drive cultural change in STEM, ultimately leading to increased diversity, retention, and success for students and faculty alike.
Join us for a riveting episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership as host Bill Sherman welcomes Dr. Davron James, a renowned public speaker, life coach, and the host of the weekly live radio program, "Everyday Peace" on the Unity Online Radio Network. In this enlightening conversation, Dr. James shares her inspirational journey into thought leadership, which began at the age of 17 when she stumbled upon the transformative book "The Power of Positive Thinking." This encounter sparked a profound realization - she already had access to everything she needed to achieve her potential! Driven by this newfound insight, Dr. James embarked on a mission to empower others, unleash their innate abilities, and embrace a mindset of positivity and resilience. As Dr. James delves into her thought leadership platform, "Everyday Peace," she reveals how she seamlessly integrated principles of peace and wholeness into her professional endeavors, particularly in the field of pharmacy. By infusing her lectures with insights on cultivating inner peace amidst life's challenges, she witnessed a profound impact on her audience's well-being and mindset. Through her keynote speaking engagements and writings, Dr. James continues to spread her message of empowerment, encouraging individuals to redefine their perceptions of stress and adversity, and embrace a "can do" attitude rooted in self-awareness and acceptance. Drawing upon her background in acting, Dr. James illuminates the connection between presence, authenticity, and effective communication in thought leadership. She shares valuable insights on utilizing acting techniques to connect with diverse audiences authentically, emphasizing the importance of being fully present in the moment to foster genuine connections and empathy. As the conversation unfolds, Dr. James offers practical advice for aspiring thought leaders, advocating for the Meisner Technique as a powerful tool for cultivating empathy and understanding in professional interactions. She also provides a glimpse into her upcoming venture in thought leadership, a forthcoming book on forgiveness, highlighting the emotional challenges and rewards of navigating this transformative journey. This will be Dr. James' the second book after "Freedom Is Your Birthright", which teaches how to attain internal freedom, an essential ingredient on the exciting journey to Everday Peace. Don't miss this captivating episode as Dr. Davron James shares her invaluable wisdom and insights on leading with purpose, authenticity, and everyday peace. Tune in to Leveraging Thought Leadership and embark on your own journey of empowerment and transformation. Three Key Takeaways: • Inner Potential Unleashed: Dr. Davron James's journey underscores the transformative power of self-belief and inner exploration. Her encounter with "The Power of Positive Thinking" at a young age ignited a realization that everything she needed to succeed was already within her grasp. This highlights the importance of self-awareness and tapping into one's innate potential to drive personal and professional growth. • Everyday Peace: Through her thought leadership platform, "Everyday Peace," Dr. James emphasizes the significance of finding peace and wholeness amidst life's challenges. By incorporating principles of positivity and resilience into her professional endeavors, she empowers individuals to redefine their perceptions of stress and adversity. This takeaway underscores the importance of cultivating a mindset of gratitude and acceptance to navigate life's ups and downs with grace and resilience. • Authentic Connection: Dr. James's insights on leveraging acting techniques to foster authentic connections underscore the importance of presence and empathy in thought leadership. By being fully present in the moment and embracing vulnerability, thought leaders can forge genuine connections with their audience and inspire meaningful change. This takeaway highlights the transformative impact of authentic communication in fostering empathy, understanding, and positive change. If you are like Dr. James and have an idea you need to share with the world, Bill Sherman has some additional advice that can help you make the platform for that idea powerful!
Join us for an enlightening conversation on the latest episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership with esteemed guest Dr. Helen Mesier, a trailblazer in the field of translational medicine. Dr. Mesier shares her remarkable journey from a childhood dream of becoming a family doctor to her current role at Fountain Life, where she is pioneering groundbreaking approaches to healthcare.
During our discussion, Dr. Mesier candidly reveals the challenges she encountered in bridging the gap between scientific research and clinical practice. With a deep commitment to applying cutting-edge science to patient care, she recognized the critical need for more proactive and preventive measures in addressing the rising tide of chronic diseases. This realization led her to Fountain Life, where she is leading efforts to shift the conversation around medicine from reactive treatment to proactive prevention.
At Fountain Life, Dr. Mesier and her team are revolutionizing healthcare by adopting a proactive approach to screening and preventive care, even in asymptomatic individuals. By challenging traditional healthcare paradigms and leveraging innovative strategies, they aim to empower individuals to take control of their health and well-being.
Throughout our conversation, Dr. Mesier shares valuable insights into the importance of collaboration and thought leadership in driving meaningful change in healthcare. From engaging policymakers and industry stakeholders to collaborating with fellow thought leaders, she emphasizes the power of collective action in advancing the field of medicine.
Tune in to this thought-provoking episode as Dr. Helen Mesier shares her expertise and vision for the future of healthcare. Whether you're a healthcare professional, thought leader, or executive, you won't want to miss this insightful discussion on the evolving landscape of medicine and the critical role of proactive healthcare in shaping a healthier future for all.
Three Key Takeaways:
- Proactive Healthcare: Dr. Mesier emphasizes the importance of shifting the healthcare paradigm from reactive treatment to proactive prevention. By implementing proactive screening and preventive measures, individuals can take control of their health and address potential health risks before they escalate into chronic diseases.
- Collaborative Approach: Collaboration is essential in driving meaningful change in healthcare. Dr. Mesier highlights the power of collective action, whether through engaging policymakers, collaborating with industry stakeholders, or partnering with fellow thought leaders. By working together, healthcare professionals can leverage their collective expertise to advance the field and improve patient outcomes.
- Evidence-Based Practice: Dr. Mesier underscores the importance of evidence-based practice in healthcare. From conducting rigorous research to publishing peer-reviewed articles, she emphasizes the need to substantiate innovative approaches with scientific evidence. By demonstrating efficacy and credibility, healthcare professionals can garner support for new initiatives and inspire confidence among patients and stakeholders.
If you want your content to reach your primary audience but are struggling to identify them reach out to Peter Winick to discuss getting help developing an editorial plan that will bring your best ideas to those who can have the most impact!
Welcome to another insightful episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership with your host, Peter Winick. Today, we are honored to have Dr. Pradeepkumar Sacitharan, the CEO of Donsfield, a distinguished global business and trade development firm dedicated to empowering individuals and organizations to expand and reach their full potential. Dr. Sacitharan is also the author of "99 Trillion Helpers To Improve Your Gut Health: How To Boost Your Metabolism, Productivity, And General Wellbeing In As Little As A Month Without Popping Any Pills," a groundbreaking book that explores the transformative power of gut health on overall wellness.
Join us as Pradeep shares his remarkable journey of resilience and triumph, from being a war refugee smuggled into London by his brave mother to navigating the challenges of growing up in social housing surrounded by gangs. Despite facing adversity, including a serious gang fight that left him in a coma, Dr. Sacitharan remained determined to change his life trajectory. Through sheer perseverance and an unwavering commitment to self-improvement, he embarked on a path of education and discovery that ultimately led him to Oxford and Harvard, catalyzing his thinking on the world and what is possible.
Dr. Sacitharan's journey is a testament to the power of resilience, determination, and the transformative potential of education. From dropping out of high school at 16 to becoming an associate professor and VP of Development in Biotech, he defied the odds and carved out a path to success that few could have imagined. His story serves as an inspiration to individuals from all walks of life, demonstrating that with passion, perseverance, and grit, anything is possible.
As a thought leader and visionary entrepreneur, Dr. Sacitharan is driven by a singular mission: to be of service to his species and inspire the next generation to reach new heights. Pradeep shares invaluable insights on the importance of emotional drive, setting bold goals, and the fundamental role of sales in every aspect of life. From overcoming personal and professional hardships to navigating the complexities of the business world, his wisdom and experience offer invaluable lessons for aspiring thought leaders and entrepreneurs alike.
Join us as we delve into the mind of Dr. Pradeepkumar Sacitharan and discover the secrets to unlocking your full potential and making a lasting impact in the world.
If you want to set bold goals for your own career or business but are not sure where to start reach out to Peter Winick, CEO of Thought Leadership Leverage to discuss what strategies we can provide to propel you forward.
Three Key Takeaways:
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Resilience and Determination: Dr. Pradeepkumar Sacitharan's journey from being a war refugee to a successful entrepreneur underscores the importance of resilience and determination in overcoming adversity and achieving one's goals.
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Emotional Drive and Purpose: The episode highlights the significance of emotional drive and purpose in fueling personal and professional success. Dr. Sacitharan emphasizes the importance of identifying what emotionally drives you and using that passion to fuel your journey toward your goals.
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Sales as a Fundamental Skill: Dr. Sacitharan discusses the role of sales in every aspect of life, from personal relationships to professional endeavors. He stresses the importance of developing strong sales skills and emphasizes that salesmanship is essential for building meaningful connections and achieving success in today's world.
Step into the world of thought leadership with host Bill Sherman on the latest episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership. Joining him is Anton Skornyakov, the Managing Director and co-founder of Agile.Coach, who brings a wealth of knowledge from his diverse background in mathematics, physics, and teaching Scrum methodologies. Anton's journey into the realms of leadership and coaching offers a fascinating exploration of how technical expertise can be translated into accessible language for beginners. Anton's multilingual proficiency – with Russian as his first language, followed by German, and English as his third – adds an interesting layer to his ability to communicate complex ideas in a clear and relatable manner. As he delves into the intricacies of teaching Scrum and workplace transformation, he shares valuable insights on the art of moving from highly technical jargon to language that resonates with beginners. His approach is rooted in active listening and attentiveness to the audience, ensuring that concepts are conveyed effectively and comprehensively. A key aspect of Anton's teaching methodology lies in the use of metaphors drawn from everyday experiences. One of his favorite metaphors involves assembling Ikea shelves, which serves as an analogy for understanding knowledge work. By comparing the process of assembling furniture to the nature of knowledge work – where the majority of time is spent on cognitive tasks rather than physical labor – Anton provides a tangible framework for grasping complex concepts. Through such relatable examples, he emphasizes the importance of managing knowledge work effectively to drive success in various industries. When it comes to identifying his target audience, Anton emphasizes the value of specificity. His insights are tailored for middle management professionals tasked with organizing work for their teams, regardless of the industry they operate in. By distilling his expertise into actionable advice, Anton aims to empower leaders with practical strategies for navigating unpredictable projects and fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration. His goal is to make his insights accessible and applicable to a wide range of professionals, from software developers to non-profit managers. Anton's journey from training to writing his book reflects his commitment to validating ideas through real-world applications. By testing his material through blog articles and training sessions, he ensures that his insights resonate with his audience and offers tangible value. His upcoming challenge in thought leadership involves generalizing his insights even further, drawing on patterns from physics to provide enlightening "A-ha" moments for managers. As he continues to explore new frontiers in leadership and workplace transformation, Anton Skornyakov's insights promise to inspire and empower leaders across industries. Tune in to this captivating episode for a deep dive into the world of thought leadership and practical strategies for success. Three Key Takeaways: • Effective Communication: Anton Skornyakov's approach to bridging technical language with accessible explanations underscores the importance of active listening and adaptability in communication. By leveraging everyday metaphors, he demonstrates how complex concepts can be made relatable to beginners, fostering understanding and engagement. • Embracing Knowledge Work: Anton highlights the significance of understanding knowledge work in modern-day tasks, where cognitive tasks often outweigh physical labor. Through relatable examples like assembling Ikea shelves, he emphasizes the need for effective management of knowledge work to drive success across various industries. • Audience-Centric Approach: Anton's focus on targeting middle management professionals underscores the value of specificity in thought leadership. By tailoring his insights to meet the needs of this audience segment, he aims to empower leaders with practical strategies for navigating unpredictable projects and fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration.
Welcome to the latest episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership featuring our special guest, Liz Wiseman, CEO of the Wiseman Group and renowned author of bestsellers like "Multipliers: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter" and "Rookie Smarts: Why Learning Beats Knowing in the New Game of Work." In this captivating conversation, Liz takes us on a journey into the world of thought leadership, sharing invaluable insights gleaned from her multifaceted career. With a blend of humility and expertise, Liz reflects on her organic approach to thought leadership, emphasizing the importance of going where you can make a meaningful impact. Drawing from her experiences managing learning functions at Oracle University and later transitioning to teaching and advising top organizations worldwide, Liz offers a unique perspective on leadership development and the complexities of managing and leading. Throughout the episode, Liz sheds light on the challenges and nuances of being a speaker and thought leader, from the pressure to deliver value despite external factors to the importance of building lasting relationships beyond the keynote stage. She shares practical strategies for creating real change at an organizational level, drawing from her experiences and her commitment to equipping others with the tools they need for success. In addition to reflecting on her journey as an author and thought leader, Liz offers a sneak peek into her latest research project, exploring the formative experiences in people's work lives and the lasting impact of first bosses. With her signature blend of insight and authenticity, Liz leaves listeners inspired to embrace their own journey of thought leadership and drive positive change in their organizations and beyond. Don't miss out on this enlightening conversation! Three Key Takeaways: * Organic Career Growth: Liz Wiseman's journey into thought leadership underscores the importance of embracing opportunities where one can make a meaningful impact, leading to a diverse and rich career path. * Delivering Value as a Thought Leader: Liz shares insights into the challenges and nuances of being a thought leader and speaker, emphasizing the necessity of consistently delivering value and building lasting relationships beyond the keynote stage. * Empathy in Thought Leadership: Liz Wiseman highlights the importance of empathy in thought leadership, emphasizing the need to understand and empathize with the motivations and expectations of those who invite speakers. By making meaningful connections with clients and understanding their needs, thought leaders can deliver impactful presentations and foster long-term relationships.
In this podcast episode, Dr. Marie-Hélène Pelletier, author of "The Resilience Plan: A Strategic Approach to Optimizing Your Work Performance and Mental Health," shares insights into resilience and its profound impact on work performance and mental well-being. Dr. Pelletier discusses how her background in psychology and executive coaching led her to focus on resilience as a proactive opportunity for influencing outcomes earlier in individuals' lives. She emphasizes that resilience is not merely a personality trait but a skill that can be developed over time, influenced by factors such as emotional intelligence and optimism. By translating academic research into actionable strategies, Dr. Pelletier aims to empower professionals and leaders to enhance their resilience in practical ways that positively impact their work and personal lives. Drawing from her diverse experiences as an academic, clinical practitioner, executive coach, and business consultant, Dr. Pelletier provides valuable insights into navigating the journey of writing and launching her book. She highlights the importance of creating space and energy for intellectual creativity and resilience-building, ultimately aiming to prevent burnout and enhance thought leadership effectiveness. Looking ahead, Dr. Pelletier hopes that her book will not only inspire strategic thinking and action but also foster greater trust and opportunities for executive coaching and speaking engagements. Through her work, she seeks to empower individuals to embrace resilience as a strategic tool for success and well-being in both professional and personal spheres. Three Key Takeaways: * Resilience as a Strategic Focus: Dr. Pelletier emphasizes the proactive nature of resilience, highlighting its potential for influencing outcomes earlier in individuals' lives. By reframing resilience as a skill that can be developed rather than a fixed personality trait, she encourages listeners to invest strategically in its cultivation. * Translating Research into Action: Dr. Pelletier discusses the challenge of translating academic research on resilience into actionable strategies for practitioners and leaders. Drawing from her diverse background, she offers practical insights and approaches to resilience-building that resonate with her audience's experiences and needs. * The Journey of Writing and Launching a Book: Dr. Pelletier shares her personal journey of writing and launching her book, "The Resilience Plan." From creating space and energy for creativity to navigating the demands of publishing, she provides valuable lessons learned and insights into the process of bringing her ideas to fruition.
Join us in this episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership as we sit down with Eric McNulty, an esteemed educator renowned for crafting and delivering transformative educational experiences at prestigious institutions like Harvard and MIT. With a background in communications, Eric's journey from the business to the creative side, and later to the agency side, defies convention, ultimately leading him to a pivotal role as Creative Director at Harvard Business Publishing, and then on to a role as Associate Director of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. In this episode, we discover Eric's insights on thought leadership, gained through his immersive experiences in marketing and global conference management. We uncover how his interactions with top executives and thinkers ignited his passion for leadership development, paving the way for his current focus on fostering purpose-driven leaders. Explore the genesis of Eric's thought leadership journey and his strategies for effectively disseminating ideas into the universe. Learn the art of asking probing questions, cultivating curiosity, and nurturing cross-domain knowledge to unlock innovative solutions and spark meaningful conversations. Further, Eric offers insightful advice for those just embarking on their career journey, emphasizing the importance of curiosity, adaptability, and lifelong learning in navigating the rapidly evolving landscape of leadership and professional development. Tune in to uncover Eric McNulty's unique approach to thought leadership and his mission to empower individuals to create positive change in their organizations and beyond. Three Key Takeaways: * Cultivating Curiosity and Cross-Domain Knowledge: Eric McNulty emphasizes the importance of curiosity and cross-domain knowledge in thought leadership. By exploring diverse perspectives and asking insightful questions, individuals can uncover innovative solutions and foster meaningful conversations. * Leadership Development and Lifelong Learning: Eric underscores the significance of leadership development and lifelong learning in today's rapidly evolving world. He encourages individuals to continuously seek satisfaction and joy in their work while adapting to new challenges and acquiring new skills. * Effective Response over Reaction: Eric discusses the importance of distinguishing between reaction and response in leadership. By learning to calibrate pace, accurately assess situations, and forecast outcomes, individuals can avoid knee-jerk reactions and achieve more positive results in challenging situations.
In this enlightening podcast episode, Shanil Ebrahim, Partner and National Life Sciences & Healthcare Consulting Leader at Deloitte takes us on a journey through his professional evolution from bioethics to consulting, shedding light on how he has become a key player in shaping the discourse around the future of healthcare. Ebrahim begins by recounting his early career as a bioethicist, where he grappled with profound issues ranging from pediatric intensive care to end-of-life care, advocating for patients and their families during difficult times. This experience spurred him to pursue further education, obtaining a Master's in Bioethics alongside medical science and later a Ph.D. in clinical epidemiology, all while maintaining a steadfast commitment to serving underserved and vulnerable groups. At Deloitte, Ebrahim has found a platform to amplify his impact, using his insights to identify healthcare challenges before they became apparent to others and advocating for patient-centered care. Over time, his role at Deloitte evolved from transactional problem-solving with clients to becoming a voice within the broader healthcare ecosystem. This evolution was further accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which provided an opportunity for Ebrahim to foster critical dialogue between private and public sector organizations on a national and global scale. One of Ebrahim's key strengths lies in his ability to convene diverse stakeholders to tackle complex healthcare issues. Whether through formal national roundtables or more informal collaborative think tanks, he brings together a multidisciplinary mix of healthcare leaders, policymakers, and technologists to explore innovative solutions. By leveraging his extensive network and personal relationships, both within Deloitte and externally, Ebrahim ensures that the right voices are at the table to drive meaningful change. However, building trust and fostering open dialogue among participants is no small feat. Ebrahim emphasizes the importance of establishing trust through long-lasting one-on-one relationships, creating an environment where individuals feel comfortable challenging each other's perspectives. This foundation of trust enables Ebrahim to facilitate conversations where participants can explore nuanced viewpoints and strategies, ultimately leading to collective action. Three Key Takeaways: * Complex problems require a diverse range of stakeholders from various backgrounds and fields to come together in an open and trusting manner to seek collaborative solutions. * Trust is a critical part of collaboration. Through long-lasting one-on-one relationships and transparent communication, you can create an environment where participants feel comfortable challenging each other's perspectives and exploring innovative strategies grounded in reality. * Thought Leadership is about being agile and being able to have insights into the changing landscape of your domain of expertise.
In this episode, we welcome Janet Foutty, former Chair and Consulting CEO at Deloitte, and co-author of the insightful book "Arrive and Thrive: 7 Impactful Practices for Women Navigating Leadership." Janet shares her journey from the corporate world to becoming a thought leader in women's leadership development. We delve into why, despite her demanding career at Deloitte, Janet chose to invest her time in developing thought leadership. Janet emphasizes that in professional services and consulting, thought leadership is crucial for staying ahead in the market and providing valuable insights to clients. Janet reveals the inspiration behind "Arrive and Thrive" and how a collaboration with Simmons University sparked the idea. Together with Simmons' president, Lynn Perry Wooten, they aimed to explore not just how women arrive in leadership positions, but also how they thrive once they get there. This concept of continual arrival and thriving resonates deeply in the careers of many women, prompting Janet and Lynn to craft a book that goes beyond their own experiences by incorporating insights from interviews with various professionals. We uncover the process of testing ideas for the book, including reaching out to successful clients for their input. Despite initial apprehensions, Janet was overwhelmed by the positive responses, reinforcing the value of meaningful connections in professional circles. With the book now published, Janet reflects on the impact it has had, sparking engaging conversations with women in leadership roles and even influencing discussions with men on leadership principles. The book has become a catalyst for diverse conversations and has expanded Janet's outreach beyond her previous endeavors. Join us as we explore the journey of leadership with Janet Foutty, from arrival to thriving, and discover the insights she's gained along the way. Three Key Takeaways: * Developing thought leadership is necessary to stay ahead of market trends and to provide valuable insights to clients. * Many thought leaders have valuable experiences they could incorporate into a book. However, by including the experiences of others you can validate and elevate your ideas. * Maintaining a professional network of people you trust and who trust you in return can prove valuable far beyond the sales cycle.
In this episode, Kate Bravery, the Global Leader of Advisory, Knowledge, and Insights at Mercer, discusses the importance of thought leadership in today's workforce. Kate, also a co-author of the book "Work Different: 10 Truths for Winning in the People Age," shares insights into her roles at Mercer, including leading the Talent Advisory practice globally. She emphasizes the significance of thought leadership in bringing new perspectives to clients, particularly in the areas of health, wealth, and career. Kate highlights the integration of thought leadership into both internal and external practices, stressing the importance of aligning language and ideas to foster genuine conversations and feedback with clients. She emphasizes the need for compelling thought leadership that resonates with both internal teams and external audiences. Furthermore, Kate provides valuable insights into the setup of thought leadership functions within organizations, emphasizing the need to consider placement, ownership, and measurement of success. Unlike traditional functions, thought leadership can sit in various areas depending on the organization's structure, in Mercer's case, within global business solutions with a reporting line to strategy. This episode offers practical advice for organizations seeking to enhance their thought leadership capabilities and drive innovation in the ever-evolving workforce landscape. Three Key Takeaways: * Thought leadership can serve as a vehicle for challenging traditional perspectives and bringing new insights to clients, ultimately enabling organizations to tackle persistent challenges in innovative ways. * It is important to align language and ideas internally and externally to foster genuine conversations with clients and drive meaningful feedback loops. * When setting up thought leadership functions, consider placement, ownership, and metrics for success.
In this episode of the podcast series on bridging the researcher/practitioner public divide, Dr. Priya Nalkur, president of the Round Table Institute and author of "Stumbling Towards Inclusion: Finding Grace in Imperfect," shares insights on bridging theory and practice. Dr. Nalkur emphasizes the importance of language in communication, advocating for accessibility and authenticity by embracing diverse vocabulary and genres. She encourages individuals to find their unique voice, navigating the discomfort of being different and the fear of not being accepted. Moreover, she discusses the significance of audience engagement and dialogue, highlighting the value of listening to diverse perspectives even amidst resistance. The conversation delves into Dr. Nalkur's upcoming book, which champions the idea that imperfection is inherent to humanity. She likens relationships to icebergs, with much depth hidden beneath the surface, and advocates for vulnerability and courage in acknowledging mistakes and repairing relationships. Furthermore, the framework of adaptive challenge in coaching and organizational work is explored, distinguishing between technical and adaptive challenges. Dr. Nalkur emphasizes the necessity of adapting to change, learning from experiments, and embracing life's lessons to navigate complex challenges effectively. Originally conceived as a companion to workshops, the book expanded in scope due to her publisher's interest in personal details like the origin of her workshop. Dr. Nalkur shares the excitement surrounding ongoing dialogues sparked by the book, even in the pre-order phase. Continuing research has led to the identification of eight common stumbling blocks for leaders, with an accompanying assessment on her website to aid readers in overcoming these obstacles. Through the podcast, Dr. Nalkur provides valuable insights into fostering inclusive communication, embracing imperfection, and navigating adaptive challenges in both personal and professional contexts. Three Key Takeaways: * To bridge the gap between researchers and practitioners we need to be aware of the language we use and how to use inclusive language. * Vulnerability and courage are the keys to owning mistakes, learning from them, and allowing others to do the same. * By listening and understanding diverse perspectives even in the face of resistance you can gain a powerful and new understanding of a situation or problem.
In this podcast episode, we venture into the intricate world of ghostwriting with AJ Harper, a seasoned editor, and publishing strategist who helps authors write transformational books that enable them to build relationships, grow their brands, and make a significant impact on the world. Ghostwriting, a term often shrouded in misconceptions, is dissected to reveal its multifaceted nature, shedding light on the diverse roles a ghostwriter can assume. AJ underscores the importance of understanding that ghostwriting is an umbrella term with no standardized regulations, urging aspiring authors to exercise caution and discernment in their collaborations. Central to the conversation is the collaborative essence of ghostwriting. AJ shares how a skilled ghostwriter can serve as a guiding force, refining the author's concepts and intellectual property while remaining attuned to their vision for the book. Contrary to the misconception that ghostwriters simply pen entire books in isolation, AJ emphasizes that most engagements involve a symbiotic relationship aimed at honing the author's message, understanding their audience, and ensuring the book fulfills its promise. As the conversation unfolds, AJ offers invaluable insights into optimizing outcomes with a ghostwriter. From clarifying book fundamentals to incorporating contractual safeguards such as exit clauses and rewrite provisions, authors are equipped with practical strategies to navigate the ghostwriting process effectively.
Furthermore, AJ underscores the paramount importance of long-term book marketing—a facet often overlooked by aspiring authors. By emphasizing the need for sustained promotional efforts spanning several years, AJ empowers authors to harness the full potential of their literary endeavors. In essence, this podcast episode serves as a beacon of guidance for aspiring authors navigating the labyrinth of ghostwriting. Through AJ Harper's illuminating insights and practical wisdom, listeners are empowered to embark on their literary journeys with clarity, purpose, and confidence. Highlights: * Ghostwriting involves collaboration to refine concepts, understand readers, and meet the author's goals, emphasizing clarity in book fundamentals. * Authors must be prepared for long-term marketing efforts, nurturing their books for several years beyond publication to maximize benefits. * It's crucial to ask the right questions and seek referrals when choosing a ghostwriter, ensuring they have relevant experience in the author's genre.
In this podcast episode, Thought Leadership Leverage Founder and CEO Peter Winick and COO Bill Sherman engage in an extensive exploration of the realm of enterprise thought leadership, drawing from their wealth of experience in the field. They dissect the crucial frameworks and models required to seamlessly integrate thought leadership into large organizations. Highlighting the evolving demand for meticulously researched and validated content over mere opinion-based insights, they stress the importance of aligning thought leadership endeavors with the strategic objectives of the enterprise. Moving beyond theoretical discussions, Winick and Sherman explore the practicalities of scaling thought leadership within corporate landscapes. They underscore the fundamental distinction between catering to end-users and economic buyers, emphasizing the imperative of delivering actionable and measurable ideas tailored to meet the diverse needs of large organizations. Their insights shed light on the necessity of adapting thought leadership strategies to accommodate high-volume, low-ticket sales approaches, are crucial for penetrating vast enterprises and ensuring widespread adoption of transformative ideas. The conversation culminates in an exploration of emerging trends reshaping enterprise buying behaviors and presenting new opportunities for thought leaders. From the advent of "train-the-trainer" models to the integration of additional needs into core programs, Winick and Sherman dissect the complexities of these trends and offer strategic insights into navigating integration deals effectively. They underscore the critical importance of aligning thought leadership initiatives with tangible business outcomes, highlighting the need to demonstrate how intellectual property can directly contribute to revenue growth, customer satisfaction, and overall organizational success. Three Key Takeaways: * Thought Leadership has to be validated when taking it to large organizations. More and more companies are seeing the importance of consistency and credibility that are found in validated models. * When scaling our thought leadership for the enterprise level don't get fixated with the end-user. Remember the needs of the economic buyer can be very different and when dealing with the organization the pains of the economic buyer have to be your focus. * Trends in frameworks and models don't change as fast as fashion but you still need to be aware of where the industry is going and move with it.
In this captivating episode, we sit down with Robin Daniels, the Chief Business and Product Officer at LMS365, to embark on a profound exploration of thought leadership in the ever-evolving landscape of technology and software companies. With a career adorned with pivotal roles in various tech enterprises, Robin brings forth a wealth of experience and insights. Throughout the discussion, Robin unveils the pivotal role that thought leadership plays in the trajectory of tech firms. He emphasizes the transcendence of competition beyond mere product features, underscoring the imperative for companies to anchor themselves in a higher purpose. It's this alignment with a broader mission, Robin suggests, that fosters enduring connections with customers and stakeholders. A particularly enlightening segment of the discussion revolves around the role of internal champions in driving organizational success. Robin shares how cultivating a culture of empowerment and trust can transform employees into passionate advocates for the company's vision. These internal evangelists, he argues, are instrumental in securing high-stakes deals and fostering organic growth. Three Key Takeaways: * Companies often compete at the feature or product level, but if you want to stand the test of time you have to stand for something bigger. * Moving from evangelizing to evangelizing through is a massive step, that takes time and trust but can have huge rewards. * People are social media are not looking to be sold to. If you want your thought leadership to catch on find the things you are passionate and knowledgable about and speak to those.
In this episode, we sit down with Russell Kern, a seasoned business leader, entrepreneur, author, and speaker renowned for his expertise in organizational development and the transformative potential of effective coaching. As the founder of Kern and Partners, Russell has dedicated himself to optimizing human capital and empowering high-performance teams. Russell shares his insights on leveraging thought leadership to drive business growth through education, embracing the philosophy of "Give to get." Rather than focusing solely on brand recognition, Russell emphasizes the importance of addressing the immediate problems and challenges faced by his audience. He likens his thought leadership to "pain magnets," aiming to provide relief and solutions to pressing issues. Russell emphasizes the need for practical, actionable content that facilitates skill mastery and drives behavior change. Distinguishing thought leadership and content marketing, Russell highlights the importance of credibility and relevance in thought leadership. He underscores the need for visually engaging, quick-hitting content that captivates and excites the audience, whether it's through traditional mediums or emerging platforms like TikTok. Join us as we explore the strategies behind effective thought leadership and learn how to craft compelling content that resonates with your audience in today's fast-paced digital landscape. Three Key Takeaways: * You can draw in your target audience by creating thought leadership that not only speaks to their problems at the moment but also provides the promise of a solution. * Smaller firms can benefit immensely from investing in thought leadership, allowing them to punch above their weight class. * Effective thought leadership needs to grab the audience's attention. Make sure it is visually compelling and quick-hitting.
In this episode, we sit down with Larry Harding, the Founder & CEO of HSP Group, Inc., a renowned provider of solutions for companies venturing into the global expansion market. Larry sheds light on the complexities and surprises that often accompany international expansion efforts. Larry explains that many clients underestimate the challenges of global expansion, emphasizing the mantra "you don't know what you don't know." HSP Group assists companies in managing various aspects of their global footprint, from finance and accounting to legal compliance and human resources. Despite clients' initial interest in expanding overseas, they often come to realize the intricacies involved and the need for expert guidance. Drawing from his own experiences, Larry discusses the genesis of HSP Group. Frustrated by the inefficiencies and challenges faced during his tenure as a finance professional overseeing international expansions, Larry recognized the necessity for a dedicated company to address these issues comprehensively. Targeting fast-growing companies lacking infrastructure or experience, HSP Group aims to be a trusted resource for CFOs and venture capitalists navigating global expansion. Larry emphasizes the importance of thought leadership and establishing credibility within the industry. Through strategic partnerships with legal and financial professionals and by utilizing their own services internally, HSP Group builds trust and demonstrates its expertise in managing global operations. Join us as we delve into the complexities of global expansion and the crucial role of education and expertise in ensuring success.
Eric Siegel is a seasoned consultant with more than twenty years of experience with machine learning. In today's podcast, Eric shares insights from his best-selling book, "Predictive Analytics: The Power to Predict Who Will Click, Buy, Lie, or Die," and his second book, "The AI Playbook." Having taught AI and machine learning at Columbia, he expresses frustration at the underutilization of machine learning. His mission with "The AI Playbook" is to bridge the gap between data scientists and business professionals, emphasizing the need for a customized process, discipline, and playbook for successful machine learning projects. The conversation delves into the misconception surrounding AI and machine learning, emphasizing the importance of planning for business outcomes and operational changes from the project's inception. The guest stresses that the value of AI lies not in its cool factor but in successful deployment. Discussing his second book, he reflects a focus on preorders and an emphasis on podcasts, he shares his strategy for getting the book into the hands of Fortune 500 stakeholders vested in machine learning success. Tune in for an insightful journey into the world of predictive analytics, AI deployment, and the passion that fuels success in the realm of thought leadership. Three Key Takeaways: · Business professionals must gain some technical knowledge to establish a standardized practice for machine learning. · Understand the use case – what is predicted and how it’s acted upon are the cornerstone of driving value in machine learning projects. · AI and machine learning are powerful tools but don’t get lost in the wonder of them. Stay focused on what you need them to do for you.
Organizations often talk about having a culture of innovation. But what does that look like? To explore innovation and how to achieve transformative breakthroughs I’ve invited Kim Christfort to join me. Kim is the Chief Innovation Leader and National Managing Director of Deloitte Greenhouse Experience, where they work to spark new thinking, accelerate decision-making, and build long-term business development. Kim shares how her background in theatre and science gave her a love for problem-solving and interacting with people, but it wasn’t until she created her position at Deloitte for herself that she could fully incorporate her creative side. The Deloitte Greenhouse Experience is not just a space, it is an experience, a stage where Kim can set the environment to diagnose what is holding the group back and activate the brain through immersion to create momentum and opportunity to break through the barriers that are holding you back. For ten years Kim and her team have been working with people, teams, and leaders to achieve breakthroughs but have never codified or packaged the research and data they have been doing. This was the catalyst for Kim’s book The Breakthrough Manifesto which acts as a field guide for leaders and organizations to act, join the movement, and achieve breakthroughs that can fundamentally shift the way an organization thinks and operates. Three Key Takeaways: · A good metric for thought leadership is repeat usage. If people continue to come back time and again, investing their time and money they must be seeing value from it. · Moments are all around us. They are opportunities. Thought leadership can have a huge role in making those opportunities visible to clients. · Thought leadership that can become a movement is powerful. Those who believe in your ideas will become your biggest and loudest champions.
When complex topics come up, thought leaders typically have a list of usual suspects we can turn to for information. However, by continually going to these same sources you might become repetitive and miss out on new and important perspectives. To explore why these old habits can be detrimental and how we can overcome our presets I’ve invited Watchen Nyanue Hampton to join me. Watchen is the Founder and CEO of I Choose the Ladder, a boutique consulting firm in Chicago that does work at the intersection of talent culture and strategy. Watchen starts us off by discussing how our defaults could be drowning out other voices and perspectives that could potentially be advantageous to your business. Further, she shares how breaking that cycle can only happen with conscious and thoughtful effort. Finding new voices that want to step into the spotlight can be difficult. Watchen explains how finding them can only happen by getting to know people as people, by humanizing the way we interact with others in our personal and professional spaces. Asking questions and being genuinely interested in others can help them feel seen and heard, which will have a massive impact on how they work and the pride they feel. Watchen shows how elevating others in thought leadership and using your own power to share the spotlight can be good for retention, succession planning, and reaching wider audiences through wider conversations that you otherwise might never have been aware of. Three Key Takeaways: · If you are in a leadership role it is your job to know the people who you are leading. · Be intentional about the way you craft your life and your career. Always know that you have a choice. · If you are not part of the community and are aware of the conversations that are going on, you are never going to think about engaging them.
AI is a hot topic right now, but many don’t fully understand the ramifications. How do you present data sets and explainable AI to the average person? Today we sit down with Keith Goode, the Vice President of Services at ZeroedIn Technologies which provides HR solutions by combining people data with business data for one source of truth. Our conversation begins by getting a sense of how complex ideas like AI can be used by people who are not familiar with it. Keith shares how he identifies the business issue or concern at hand and that AI could be useful to help solve those problems. From there they seek the right data to answer the questions and then qualify that information by looking at historical data, then aggregating it together to generate an AI model that can predict outcomes based on the predetermined traits. Building a data set is a crucial part of creating an accurate AI model. Keith explains how they use a template that has key factors that have been used in the past coupled with various data elements that are unique and important to the client. Keith continues by explaining how the model can be tested and updated to make the model more accurate. If you want a better understanding of AI in terms everyone can understand you’ll want to tune into this episode. Three Key Takeaways: · If an idea is not explainable, then it is also not actionable. · AI models are not a one-and-done solution. You need to update and retrain them to ensure relevance and effectiveness. · AI models allow for a deeper and more complex dimension of examination of complex topics.
Why do we do what we do and buy what we buy?What invisible forces drive those actions - and how can they be seen? Today our guest is Marcus Collins an award-winning marketer and culture translator. He is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Marketing at the Ross School of Business and an award-winning author. His newest book is For the Culture: The Power Behind What We Buy, What We Do, and Who We Want to Be. Marcus shares how there is no greater external force more influential to human behavior than culture! However, if you ask ten people what culture is you’ll get a different answer each time. Marcus explains that you must understand who you are, how you see the world, and what you believe if you are going to create a coherent and positive culture. Marcus’s first solo book For the Culture: The Power Behind What We Buy, What We Do, and Who We Want to Be came from his exploration of social sciences to understand better who we are as people and what the underlying physics of why we take the actions we do. Marcus states that as a marketer we have to gain that understanding to get others to adopt the behavior we are promoting. While launching the book Marcus chose to eat his own dog food, taking the same approach to his book launch as he would launch a client’s product. Building out from understanding the culture the book represents he reached out to former students who embraced the thinking he taught, enlisting them to boost the signal of the book on launch day. By doing this he created a following of true believers willing to evangelize his book and ideas! Marcus shares smart advice for anyone who feels their culture is lacking clarity or for those who struggle to truly connect to their target audience. Three Key Takeaways: · There is no external force more influential to human behavior than culture. · It's about getting your thinking in the hands and minds of more people. · If you can activate people with shared convictions, then those people will evangelize on your behalf.
Should you try to make your thought leadership relevant to everyone? Or, is being focused the answer? To examine the effectiveness of "going narrow" with your thought leadership, I’ve invited David G Ewing to join me. David is a trailblazer in customer experience innovation, and the CEO of Motiv, the world’s largest Oracle CX exclusive partner allowing clients to manage their customer experience (CX) through every step of their journey. David shares how he uses thought leadership to differentiate and drive business, by narrowly focusing on customer experiences using technology from a single vendor. This has allowed him to tackle any challenges a customer might bring his way. David explains that a narrow focus allows him to find the exact target customer which is a match made in heaven for both sides. With thought leadership content focused directly on their pain points the customer knows from the outset the partnership is a good fit. Part of finding that focus came from coming up with a mission and motive. David trimmed that down to a single word “Growth.” Having a one-word mission made it possible to have a lot of creativity while remaining focused. David shares excellent advice for going deep for elevated relevancy! Three Key Takeaways: · The more focused you are the more useful you are despite being relevant to a smaller group of people. · Having a good and clear mission statement can allow you to stay focused on your vision. · It’s never too early to start thought leadership.
In today’s episode, we showcase some of the best guests from our Organizational Thought Leadership series. We think their insights will be as useful this year as it was last! Lynette Jackson is the Head of Communications at Siemens. She shares how thought leadership can act as an umbrella for your brand, bringing all the various disciplines of communication together under it, enabling them to move in the same direction with purpose! Kathy Risch is Senior Vice President, Shopper Insights & Thought Leadership at Acosta. She takes us inside what it takes to understand how and why people buy. She shares how it goes beyond the usefulness of a product and dives into the impact the emotion a product or service can tap into while speaking to an underlying need or frustration in the consumer's life. Kasey Lobaugh is the Chief Futurist for the Consumer Industry and Principal at Deloitte Consulting, LLP. He shares how the research they did over a year is more than a white paper, it’s a platform! Kasey explains how they can shape the thinking of the future of not only Deloitte but their entire industry by engaging with hundreds of people inside and outside the company. He shares how they approached people from diverse backgrounds to get a better picture of the future by seeing it through many unique perspectives. Three Key Takeaways: · Having the ability to create content that speaks to an audience on their level, be it introductory or expert is the key to reaching a wider audience. · Connecting your product or service with the consumer's insights is how you hit the sweet spot. · When engaging others on large scale research you need to allow them to engage with and shape the content.
As we ring in the New Year it is always a good idea to take a moment and reflect on the past year. We continue our tradition of doing so by providing a compilation from a few guests who provided timeless advice. Jenna Fisher is the Co-lead of Global Financial Officer Practice at Russell Reynolds Associates and a Wall Street Journal bestselling author with a new book To the Top: How Women in Corporate Leadership Are Rewriting the Rules for Success. In this conversation, Jenna shares how she interviewed dozens of women who provided inspirational and practical stories that she used in her book. In addition, she discusses the synergy the book has with her business and what she learned in the process of writing. Mark Miller, is the Vice President of High Performance Leadership, Chick-fil-A Inc. and author of Culture Rules: The Leader’s Guide to Creating the Ultimate Competitive Advantage. Mark gives insight into being an embedded research house within Chick-fil-A and how pragmatism and leadership are the keys to balancing the scales between the two. Lily Zheng is a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion speaker, strategist, and organizational consultant. Recently they wrote DEI Deconstructed: Your No-Nonsense Guide to Doing the Work and Doing It Right. Lily discusses the ebb and flow of DEI in the workplace and how it is something that is needed all the time not just when things go wrong. Jane Hanson is an Emmy Award winning Journalist with thirty years of coaching experience helping people communicate more clearly and efficiently. Jane shares what thought leadership means to her and how the heart of soul of it is communication. She discusses knowing your purpose and provides tips and advice for communicating in mediums you might not excel at. Three Key Takeaways: · While doing research for a book or any thought leadership, reaching out to a diverse audience can help give you a wider and more balanced perspective. · Everything rises and falls with leadership. · As a thought leader your purpose needs to be getting the important information you have out into the world for others to hear and use
Thought leaders come from a wide variety of backgrounds and skills. Each unique path leads to inspiration, solutions, and frameworks that can reach niche groups on a personal level. Selena Rezvani is an internationally recognized author, speaker, and consultant on leadership. Her newest book, a Wall Street Journal bestseller “Quick Confidence: Be Authentic, Boost Connections, and Make Bold Bets on Yourself" is a guide for overcoming the nine most common obstacles that stand in the way of building authentic confidence. Selena shares how her journey in thought leadership started while she was a young management consultant whose boss created a policy that all consultants would have to write and present at conferences twice a year. While incredulous at first she was also thrilled at the challenge and agency the opportunity presented. That push into thought leadership resulted in seeking an MBA to better speak to her audience. Selena shares how during her MBA program she interviewed high performing C-suite level women to discover the commonalities and hardships they face. The result of these interviews came together as her first book The Next Generation of Women Leaders: What You Need to Lead but Won't Learn in Business School and led to continued relationships with many of the women interviewed and Selena breaking out on her own to further her thought leadership work. Selena shares how her business continued to grow adding speaking, learning to value herself and the years of previous research that were required to create engaging and actionable speaking engagements. Selena shares wonderful advice for speakers, authors, leaders, and budding thought leaders on how to create content, build relationships, and measure your own success and self worth. Three Key Takeaways: · Great things happen when you bring the frameworks and thinking of one discipline into another that might not typically be blended. · You have to value yourself. You have to own your authority. Ask for what you need. Don't settle. · The success or failure of an experiment is not a measurement of your success or worth. You will either win or you’ll learn.
You can find an audience for your thought leadership on almost any social media platform. Time is the ultimate commodity - so, how do you break through the noise to get your audience's attention? Today’s guest has a keen understanding of audience, message, and modality! Robert Glazer is the best-selling author of Elevate: Push Beyond Your Limits and Unlock Success in Yourself and Others, a keynote speaker, award-winning executive, and host of The Elevate podcast. Our conversation starts by discussing creating content and discovering what the audience is seeking. Robert shares how experimentation is required, but one trick for content creation is writing an article on anything you’ve been asked about five times. This shows that the topic is a pain point to many and allows you to point back to the article as something you’ve previously dealt with, not something you are tackling at the moment. Furthermore, Robert tells us why you have to create content that is more than a sales pitch. By creating content and opportunities that are mutually beneficial you increase the odds of reaching your audience. In addition, we look at the medium for thought leadership Robert explains that you need to understand the reason for tackling the platform you are. Many platforms like podcasting reward longevity, so digging in and preparing to stick it out through the crickets is required to find success down the road. He also discusses picking one channel and learning to excel at it. Once you’ve built an audience there, you can expand to other platforms. Three Key Takeaways: · Pick a strategy, pick a tone, and pick a channel. Learn to do that one channel well before moving on to another. · Success of a platform can take on various looks. From increasing brand awareness, creating new relationships, or by establishing yourself as an expert in your field. · If you want to make something go viral, make something worth sharing.
Can you spot a good idea? And when you do, how do you successfully find its best audience? These are just two questions we examine with today's guest, Ward Kampf. Ward is the President of Northwood Retail, which leases, manages, and markets a portfolio of over five million square feet of mixed use and community properties. With retail facing constant technological changes, leaders are always trying to discover the next frontier. Ward shares with us the exciting way content and context come together to impact a potential consumer. Part of creating that impact involves staying relevant, fresh, and - if possible - first to market. Searching for the next frontier means having to constantly examine new ideas. Ward explains why we need to step back, absorb the idea, and learn about it. Only then can you create a vision, strategy, and execution that can bring success. We also discuss building relationships. Again, retail and thought leadership involve creating relationships based on trust, which means not always seeking to make a sale. Ward shares how some of his best relationships took years to develop before any business transactions took place, but that time invested has paid off in the long run. Today’s episode is a great example of how thought leadership can have an impact on a wide variety of industries - around the world! Three Key Takeaways: · You have to have an open mind and a want to listen and learn. It's an evolve-or-die environment. You can’t afford to become irrelevant or stale. · Financial and human resources are not infinite. Go where you can be your most productive with the resources you have. · It can take years to develop a business partnership. Investing time can pay off down the road when you are trying to sell a better experience and partnership instead of just a product.
It can be easy to think “I’m just not a confident person” But confidence isn’t something you have to be born with. Like any other skill, you can practice behaviors to grow that skill. Our guest today is Emily Jaenson, a keynote speaker, host of the hit podcast Leadership is Female, and co-founder of The Assist Group a collective of experienced sports professionals ready to step in and provide sales, marketing & leadership consulting. Emily has an impressive resume in sports and thought leadership, but at one time she was too shy to even order a pizza. She shares her journey leaving her small town to attend university where she realized she needed to level up and that could only be accomplished with confidence! She pushed through one uncomfortable situation after another taking them as opportunities to grow and even take on leadership roles helping others grow. One way Emily has been able to help others grow is with her TEDx talk “Six behaviors to increase your confidence” which has been viewed more than 3 million times. Emily discusses how the TEDx talk was the culmination of years of knowledge, experience, and interviews from her podcast distilled into an incredibly impactful twelve-minute talk. The talk was so impactful that corporations began to reach out to her to deliver that message to their employees. We learn how she took this opportunity to grow her business, going on the offense creating a website, networking, and developing a pitch to take her content to the world instead of waiting for it to come to her. We wrap up our conversation with Emily giving examples from her career on the behaviors others can practice to get through tough times, expand their comfort zone, and ultimately grow their confidence! Three Key Takeaways: · Once you have content out in the world you can’t sit and wait for the clients to come to you. You need to network and take the content to the people who need it most. · People tend to believe you are born with confidence or you’re not. However, confidence is a skill. It can be taught and learned. · Confidence is competence. And you gain competence through curiosity.
When the time comes to hire someone new, how can you tell if you have the right candidate? Plenty of thought leaders can tell you that even the best programs often have knowledge gaps, between what is learned in school and what it takes to do a job from day to day. Our guest today is William Vanderbloemen. William's been a senior pastor for 15 years, and comes from a strong HR background at Fortune 200 companies. He is the founder of the Vanderbloemen Search Group, helping churches, schools, nonprofits, family offices, and values-based businesses find key staff, and also the author of Search: The Pastoral Search Committee Handbook, the go-to guide for creating a pastoral succession plan. William shares his journey into thought leadership, starting with his blog on how to build, run, and maintain a great team. As his business expanded, he instituted a content quota for everyone in the business, literally making thought leadership a companywide responsibility. With so many contributors to the content pool, it would be easy to get off track. William describes how they’ve created detailed "personas" (also called "avatars") to guide their marketing. These "personas" are clearly defined, allowing them to address specific, identifiable pain points. Additionally, William shares how these personas are regularly updated to keep up with the changing world. Finally, William discusses his book Search: The Pastoral Search Committee Handbook, which targets a micro-niche audience but has sold 60000 copies and secured him a spot as the go-to guy when churches are seeking a succession plan. William shares how the book is full of quantitative data with qualitative stories, giving data-driven facts instead of opinions. This conversation demonstrates how you can find great success by getting super focused on your audience and how you can accomplish that. Three Key Takeaways: · If you create target avatars to guide content creation, update them often – and be sure to know their current challenges! · Content-based marketing and thought-based leadership that doesn't come from the top it's not going to work in the organization. · Clickbait might get immediate attention, but thought leadership earns you a loyal following!
Thought leaders know that a sharp eye is the best tool for keeping a sharp mind. In fact, others see abilities in us long before we see them in ourselves, and can support us as we blossom into a new role or skill. Our guest today has found herself asking “Who me?” and “Why me?” at almost every step of her incredible career. Deborah Levine is the Founder and Editor of the American Diversity Report, whose mission is to boost the effort to repair the world and inspire fellow diversity, equity, and inclusion change makers with the resources they need. Deborah shares how her history weaves together seemingly unrelated skills and experiences that take her from being the only Jewish girl in her community in Bermuda, to unexpectedly being put in charge of inter religious affairs at the American Jewish Committee, and eventually becoming an award-winning screen writer and producer! One of the threads that is common through most of her experience is others offering aid to move her career and thought leadership forward, eventually allowing Deborah to learn and step up to the task on her own. Deborah shares real life experiences of getting help and learning to grow into new roles that she might have thought were impossible for her to accomplish. This episode is full of stories and antidotes that are sure to inspire anyone who has been asked to step up to the plate and thought “Why me?” Three Key Takeaways: · When asked to do something, take the opportunity that is presented. Don't say no because you aren't sure how to do it. Take the time to learn and grow. · Part of being a thought leader is encouraging and creating spaces for conversations that will have meaning and value. · Being a thought leader means being in a constant state of evolution of who you are.
Before anyone shares their ideas, feedback, or concerns they tend to ask themselves two questions: Am I safe to speak? And is it worth it? If the answer to either of these questions is no, odds are they will stay silent. So how can leaders, teams, and organizations facilitate an environment where speaking up is celebrated and not ignored or punished? Our guest today is Stephen "Shed" Shedletzky, a speaker, leadership coach and advisor who is using his new book Speak-Up Culture: When Leaders Truly Listen, People Step Up to help create a culture where people feel safe and supported to take part in and start conversations. Shed shares how his work with Simon Sinek laid the groundwork for developing his own content that focused on two areas that stood out to him over his years of work: Psychological safety and living your message. We examine what Psychological safety and Speak-Up Culture mean to Shed and how he is bringing these elements to individual’s, teams, and organizations. In addition we discuss how psychological safety still comes with accountability, which is best achieved by mutually established agreements that bring what is best for both employee and employer to the front. Three Key Takeaways: · Business books are written for two reasons. It's something you are so good at you want to share that knowledge. Or you are so bad at it that you need to write a book to fix it. · Whatever you message is you have to live it inside and outside of your organization. If you talk the talk, but fail to walk the walk people will see right through you. · When people don’t feel like speaking up will have an effect they become apathetic. When they don’t feel safe they stay silent. Creating an environment where employees can speak and be heard can create a happier and higher functioning atmosphere.
The journey of a thought leader often involves moving from being a subject matter expert inside the house, going from room to room sharpening various skills, to eventually leaving the house and applying all of those skills to the greater neighborhood you’ve always lived in. Kon Apostolopoulos is the Founder and CEO of Fresh Biz Solutions. He's been helping businesses achieve strategic goals for more than 20 years by preparing people for the right leadership roles. In addition, Kon is the co-author of 7 Keys to Navigating a Crisis: A Practical Guide to Emotionally Dealing with Pandemics & Other Disasters, a guide to help readers through crisis both personal and global. Kon takes us through a series of milestones, including publishing his first book, having to take that material to scale, and finding success that had his audience asking new questions — forcing him to continually expand his thinking and problem-solving. We explore the way thought leadership needs to move the audience further along than they are. Kon explains how this often means having to speak in simplified terms that allow you to break through both ego and preconceived notions. We learn how this can only be accomplished by understanding your audience, where they are, and where they need you to take them. Three Key Takeaways: · There are two parts to thought leadership. The idea and thought part. And the action and external part. They are symbiotic and necessary to each other to create content that is actionable. · Thought leadership needs to move the audience further along than they are. The conversation doesn't have to go from 1 - 100, but you have to move the audience at least from 1 to 2 and beyond. · Sometimes the best way to break through adult egos and preconceived notions is to present complex ideas in simple ways.
Topics like climate change can be a hot button issue in discussions. So how can you deliver thought leadership on controversial topics without disengaging various portions of your audience?
In order to thread that difficult needle, I’ve invited Nora DePalma to join me. Nora is the CEO of Dialogue, a modern PR firm that builds value for organizations seeking to advance climate solutions. Nora starts the conversation by sharing how discussing climate solutions instead of climate change helps to shape the conversation, allowing them to start a dialogue without turning off certain parties that might be needed in order to meet their goals. Once your audience is open to hearing what you have to say you’ll need to be prepared for what comes next. Nora explains how you need to tie activity to business outcomes and understand what action you want them to take next, moving them deeper into your content but not necessarily leading them into a sales funnel. She shares why not every call to action has to lead to sales and why education and relationship building can be as powerful and lead to sales in other ways. Nora provides great advice and examples of how to deliver complex thought leadership that tactfully opens the door to deeper, more meaningful conversations. Three Key Takeaways: · In addition to understanding your audience and shaping the conversation you have to deliver your ideas with authenticity and passion. Otherwise, they are likely to tune out. · Not all calls to action have to lead into the sales funnel. They can be a call to education, or to further a relationship. · You have to earn people's attention. That is how you build trust and sustain relationships.
A lot of thought leaders have written books, eager to get their insights out into the world. Yet many start the task without having a well-defined plan for what comes next! Our guest today has literally written the book on writing thought leadership books! “Build a Better Business Book: How to Plan, Write and Promote a Book That Matters” is the work of the amazing Josh Bernoff, and we can’t think of a better person to help nonfiction authors succeed. In order to help authors find success, they first have to understand what that means to them. Josh explains how success can look differently to each author and often is unrelated to the quantity of books sold. Success can take the form of launching a speaking career, generating leads, or purely having a book that makes you the authority in your field. Once you know what sort of success you want, you’ll need to plan beyond the book. Josh shares how many authors don’t look beyond the launch of their book and become disappointed when nothing happens. However, those that properly promote their book, and have scalable plans in place for after the book is launched, can take their business to the next level. If you have an idea for a book, but you're not sure if it checks the boxes of "big, right, and new," then this episode will guide you on your journey. Three Key Takeaways: · For authors the success of a book is typically not measured in sales but in the additional business generated from the book. · Before you publish a book have a plan to define yourself beyond the book. · Tradition, hybrid, and self-publishing all have pros and cons. You have to understand the needs of your book to find the right fit.
Could poor leadership have a direct impact on workers' insurance claims? Today, we go outside the box by discussing insurance with Clint Tripodi. Clint is a National Practice Leader for The Liberty Company where they are changing the way business leaders look at and think about insurance - through the use of thought leadership. While insurance is often thought of as "mundane," Clint shares what his company found when they tracked leadership's impact on workplace culture, and why they are looking to find the root issues, in order to mitigate risks downstream. Through data analytics, Clint is able to see where claims have an impact, and then go directly to the root of the problem, which is often a lack of leadership. Clint uses data analytics to show the way poor leadership has an effect on workers' compensation claims as well as employee retention, and ultimately, ROI. Clint helps us understand how the culture of wellness at Liberty is being spread to their clients through thought leadership that sets them apart from and above the competition! Three Key Takeaways: · Culture is a strategic tool and insurance can help you drive that strategy. · When working in a highly commoditized market you have to position yourself as a business partner, not just a solution. · Data analytics can help to identify problems so that you can go upstream and fix them at the source.
If Generative AI is fed all writing on the internet, then when you ask it a question, it can give you a good answer. Or at least an answer that is good enough. For this reason, good enough is no longer good enough. To discern the role Generative AI can play on the future of thought leadership I’ve invited Mahan Tavakoli to join me. Mahan is the CEO of Strategic Leadership Ventures which helps people become the sort of leader people want to follow. He is also the host of the Partnering Leadership where you can learn the leadership journeys of successful CEOs and the top global thought leaders. Our conversation with Mahan starts with getting an understanding of both generative AI and what we would call good ideas. From there we explore how asking the right questions is the secret to getting useful knowledge out of either. While asking the right questions of AI can allows us a great understanding of the vast amount of data in our organizations, the right questions of an idea can discover the power of differentiation and niches. If you’re looking to expand your use or understanding of AI and how we can unlock the power of our ideas this is a great episode for you. Three Key Takeaways: · Part of thought leadership is marrying the ideas of others to see new patterns. · When we think we know the answer, we don't ask the simple fundamental questions that can unveil new insights. · The power comes from the differentiation and the niches. Rather than the belief that you need to go wide.
Moving from internal thought leadership to being a solo act means having to take on a lot of new roles. Marketing, research, and publishing all fall on your shoulders now. Are you prepared? Today our guest is Dan Pontefract, who, after a long prosperous career at companies like Telus, struck out on his own as a leadership strategist, change expert, keynote speaker, and award-winning author. His fifth book Work-Life Bloom: How to Nurture a Team that Flourishes will be released in November of 2023. Dan shares his journey from working at Telus as Chief Learning Officer, using the company as a lab with the ability to real-time test ideas to teaching the models he helped create internally, to external companies guiding others through leadership development and culture change. As an author much has changed over the ten years since his first book was published. Dan shares his experience both with untrustworthy and fantastic partners in publishing. In addition, he explains why you should be ready to market the book yourself, the big differences between self, hybrid, and traditional publishing! If you are just getting started or about to break out from corporate thought leadership, Dan provides valuable advice for thought leaders at any stage! Three Key Takeaways: · When doing market research look at others in your sphere at your level. Then look at those above you and determine what sets them apart. What can you learn from what they are doing? · Be continually and continuously adding to your body of work. · Thought leadership can take a product that might not land you a meeting, and open the door to a more interesting conversation.
What happens when the tools we use to analyze and take control of our environments become the cause of our destruction? Is your company using the tools they have at their disposal? Or are the tools using you? Our guest today is Don Schmincke an explorer, researcher, and partner with The Pacific Institute. He is also the author of Winners and Losers: Entrepreneurial Lessons from 30,000 CEOs on How to Come Out on Top, which teaches entrepreneurs how to win powerfully! Our conversation begins with Don telling us how he went from almost dropping out of high school, to learning technology and ultimately strategy and leadership. While working at Johns Hopkins he began to find an astonishingly high failure rate in management theory – and he knew he could help. Don goes on to explain the seduction of tools. Why we believe they can save us, allowing us to analyze and control our environments. And how we can easily fall to letting the tools use us because without altering human decision making through true transition, the tools won’t change the choices we make. With such a high failure rate many might think diving into the entrepreneurial pool would be foolhardy. However, Don gives us hope by telling us about losing powerfully – taking the loss and learning from it, picking ourselves up and becoming stronger from it. Three Key Takeaways: · It doesn't matter how good your theory is if it doesn't have a measurable impact. · We get seduced by our tools because we think they will save us. But without changing how we think the tools won’t change the outcome. · Formulation without execution is just a good idea on a shelf.
How does a thought leader get an audience to take notice, remember, and actively use the content you are putting out?
To get a firm grasp of exactly what engagement means and how to get your audience there, I’ve invited Scott Gould to join me. Scott is a consultant, speaker, and author of The Shape of Engagement: The Art of Building Enduring Connections with Your Customers, Employees, and Communities. Our conversation begins with Scott not only defining what engagement is but how he has broken out into three types. Head, Hands, and Heart engagement – while each is very different, we learn how they act as building blocks on each other to create deeper connections between you, your idea, and your audience. A big part of having an audience become engaged is presenting an idea that is easy to understand and remember. Scott shares his process for distilling an idea down to the essentials, which sometimes means blowing the idea up to something huge first! In this episode Scott offers great insight for taking ideas from brainstorm to living at the heart of an audience! Three Key Takeaways: · Properly defining the topic you want your thought leadership to center around is one of the biggest jobs that you have. · The name of an idea is incredibly important. People engage with ideas when it is easy to remember the essence of that idea. · Sharpening ideas to the finest point often involves discarding ideas that you like but don’t connect with your audience.
The past few years have seen shake-ups in almost every aspect of thought leadership. Big challenges can - and have - pushed a lot of people out of the field. But what some call a "big challenge" is everyday fare to a fighter pilot. Our guest today is Christian " Boo" Boucousis, a former fighter pilot in the Royal Australian Air Force. He's an inspirational keynote speaker, author, and CEO of Afterburner; an org that helps corporate teams execute with the same precision and accuracy as elite pilots. After Boo’s Air Force career ended he reinvented himself numerous times by transforming his ways of thinking and working using the skills he acquired as a fighter pilot. This eventually led to the purchase of Afterburner a globally connected group of current and former fighter pilots, U.S. Navy Seals, and other elite military professionals that use the discipline and strategy developed in their previous careers to enable organizations to achieve new levels of success. Much of the Afterburner experience came from in-person speaking, which instantly became impossible when COVID shut the world down. Boo, shares how he led his company through the turbulent time, moving to virtual mediums to deliver immersive movie-quality experiences. As an author and speaker, Boo is keenly aware that audiences have a shrinking attention span. He shares advice for understanding the differences between information, knowledge, and wisdom – and how to walk your audience through those phases over various modalities using humor and emotion to keep the audience's attention. If you are in need of advice for making your content soar, this episode is the one for you. Three Key Takeaways: · As a thought leader you should be infinitely curious. Not just about your domain but about how you communicate that information. · You need to be versatile with your content. Delivering important and valuable information but also including humor and things that maintain the audience's attention. · We remember what we feel more than we remember what we see or hear. That is why you have to evoke an emotion that is connected to the message.
Death is a natural part of life, but our ideas and dreams can live beyond us - and be an inspiration for generations to come. Today, our guest is a dear friend and mentor, Dr. Mark Goulston. During his long career, Mark moved from being a psychiatrist and FBI hostage negotiator to being one of the most highly regarded coaches and keynote speakers in the business. He helps companies and individuals gain deeper self-awareness, and grow as leaders. Now Mark is facing his most difficult challenge yet. Having been diagnosed with a condition that leads to acute myeloid leukemia, Mark is learning not only to accept his diagnosis, but also, how to walk the road ahead with grace. More, Mark is sharing that knowledge, and the lessons he's learned through life experience, to help others. Mark discusses how he is able to have a good death because he has lived a good life. But what does a good life look like? Mark shares how he is focusing on the things that really matter in life, the need to hire and connect with people that share compatible values, and how his life as a psychiatrist has translated to corporate leadership. In this frank and open conversation Mark gives advice for life, death, and leadership. It's a must-experience episode that celebrates life, and how our journey can help others - even generations after we have passed on.
Part of thought leadership is making the invisible, visible. When that happens, it can challenge beliefs and make people uncomfortable and defensive. So, how can you break through feelings, and make change deeply significant to that future? Our guest today is Dr. Suzanne Wertheim, the Founder, and CEO of Worthwhile Research & Consulting, where she uses her expertise to improve hiring, organizational culture, engagement and retention. She is also the author of The Inclusive Language Field Guide: 6 Simple Principles for Avoiding Painful Mistakes and Communicating Respectfully, which is filled with real-world examples and exercise that can help boost your inclusive language skills. As a linguistic anthropologist, Dr. Wertheim has been researching and studying the intersection of language, power and culture for decades. She shares how linguistics, like thought leadership, is about recognizing patterns. Accomplishing this can be a difficult task, as people realize they might not be as inclusive as they had believed. Suzanne explains what inclusive language is and why it matters. We learn how language is social action and the building blocks of how we create, maintain, and end relationships. She shares the six principles found in her book that can be worked on in order to better our own use of inclusive language. In addition she gives real life examples of how the wrong wording can cause a deal to go south, as well as how inclusive language can repair that damage. If you want a better understanding of inclusive language as well as how you can move from being able to identify those problems to acting differently this is a must listen episode. Three Key Takeaways: · Just because something is simple to describe does not mean it is easy or effortless to implement. · Inclusive language is like learning any new language. It takes time and practice to become good at seeing it and changing behavior. · A lack of inclusive language can force great employees to leave for greener pastures. This is one of the many reasons leaders need a better understanding of what is acceptable language.
Thought leaders are often torn between scale and depth.Scale allows you to reach a large audience, while depth allows you to have massive impact. So, where's the happy medium? Today’s guest is Jennifer Dulski, the CEO and founder at Rising Team which blends experience and science to help leaders ensure people on their teams feel valued, motivated, and connected. In addition, she is the bestselling author of “Purposeful: Are You A Manager or A Movement Starter?” The book provides invaluable resources for leaders who want to step up and make a difference. Jennifer has had a number of roles in her career from entrepreneur for a non-profit start-up, high school teacher, and executive leadership roles at Facebook, Google, and Yahoo. We learn how all of these roles have given her the experience to take her passion for creating a happy and successful high-performing team to scale using technology. Often thought leaders believe they have to stick to a single domain, but Jennifer shares how her varied career has allowed her to adjust, grow, and change her domain expertise over time as her own experience has developed through both success and mistakes in the field. Our conversation wraps up by discussing putting content into various modalities and how using LinkedIn, being an educator, and writing a book all play together. Jennifer explains how the book and book talks helped to tighten up her content and give her credibility while bite-sized portions of that content go out on LinkedIn to have larger engagements with her audience. Jennifer shares useful information on taking ideas to scale and leveraging a book to create a deep impact on your audience. Three Key Takeaways: · You don't have to be a thought leader in only one domain. You can grow your thought leadership in multiple domains as your experience grows. · Having successes and mistakes are both part of the thought leadership journey. · A book can help you solidify your ideas and present them in the clearest way, which you can then build additional product offerings.
How do you get people to think about new ideas?And then, how do you move your audience from thinking - to buying? To examine how ideas go from brainstorming to industry-changing, I’ve invited Pete O'Heeron to join me for today's podcast. Pete is the Founder and CEO of FibroBiologics, a leading biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing fibroblast cell-based therapies. We kick the conversation off discussing how Fibroblast has gone from a few peer reviewed papers a year to dozens each week in the span of a mere eight years. Pete helps us understand exactly what fibroblast cells are and why the amount of interest and important research for them has spiked. Not only is research into fibroblast cells new but the work Pete is doing at FibroBiologics is going in directions no one else is. Pete discusses why they are doing work no one else is and how the research and science are the mechanics that steer the direction of the company. Working on such new and cutting edge ideas often means having to convert people from no, to yes. Pete shares how their scientific discovery board is made up of world leaders in stem cell research, which gives the work they do a great deal of credibility. This creates an opportunity to start conversations that spark interest in what the company is doing and allows the science to sell itself as people dig into these new ideas. Pete offers great insight into how to take new niche ideas from prototype to market and have conversations that draws your audience in. Three Key Takeaways: · Allowing research and science to dictate the direction of your company can take you in new directions. · Getting new ideas out means starting a conversation with the points that will spark interest. After that follow with research and science that can’t be disputed. · Having a board within your company that is filled with respected professionals will give the new ideas you produce a level of credibility that others might not have.
An investment in thought leadership - for yourself or your org - compounds over time. Starting earlier in your career will have a greater impact. So what's stopping you from getting started? For today's episode, I've invited Vaishali Dialani to chat with us. Vaishali is a Senior Customer Experience Strategist at Konabos Consulting; a full-service, end-to-end, digital experience solutions agency. Vaishali paints a picture of her earliest journey in thought leadership by participating in everything she could find, and every event possible – often leading events, even though it was early in her education and career. By taking these initiatives she was able to get speaking and presenting opportunities that strengthened her confidence and opened the door to networking prospects. Meeting a connection at a conference is great but you need to follow up to foster that new relationship. Vaishali shares how she does active outreach, reaching out via LinkedIn to grow her network. She goes beyond people she has met in person and explains what you should be looking for in a contact before reaching out. Finally, Vaishali shares how growing up in India and being from a blended family gives her unique perspectives that she uses to enhance her Customer Experience (CX) work. We learn how her personality not only affects the CX work she does but also how her personality is blended directly into the work. In this episode Vaishali shares incredible advice for starting the thought leadership experience, excelling at customer experience, and nurturing a network of value. Three Key Takeaways: · Thought Leadership doesn't have to be industry changing ideas. If you have thoughts and opinions - share them! · You are never going to know everything about your field of expertise. Share what you know now, you can share now. · People don't invest enough in learning. You can never know enough and can always be sharpening your craft.
All right, thoughtleaders – be honest. Have you ever nodded off a little during a presentation? Now imagine a conference filled with rock and roll, choreographed numbers, and comedy. That’s a presentation you’d sit up and pay attention to! Our guest today is Kraig Kleeman, the founder and Executive Producer for Rock the C-Suite a production company that brings electrifying original and relevant musical performances to corporate events. In addition, he is the author of The Must-React System: User's Guide to Prospecting C-Suite Executives which provides a strategy for winning meetings with senior executives. Kraig shares where the inspiration for Rock the C-Suite came from and how corporate messaging is better received through the performing arts. He describes the high energy performances he produces that can be the main stage of a conference delivering an audience-focused show that provides researched topics that mean the most to those putting on the event. Before Kraig was rocking the stage he had authored The Must-React System and he explains why when doing outreach leading with value proposition and product benefit language might seem intuitive it actually isn’t the most effective method. In fact, providing fact-based briefings combined with smart questions can allow the potential client to map your research to their own experiences and advance you to the next step! Kraig provides great advice for landing meetings with executives and creating high-octane events that any company can take advantage of. Three Key Takeaways: · Conference producers should prioritize the well-being of the audience over the distribution of information. If the audience has zoned out, they will not take in the information. · When crafting content for a conference make sure to collaborate with the event owner to really dial in a deliverable that is effective for them and their audience. · Cold call outreach to executives will have greater success if you lead with fact based research and not value proposition
Data Governance may not sound exciting - but it's critical! It covers how your company produces, consumes, collects, and destroys data. So, with businesses generating and using more data than ever, why is this role so often forgotten? Our guest today is Lauren Maffeo, Author of "Designing Data Governance from the Ground Up" and an adjunct Lecturer of Design at The George Washington University. Lauren sets the tone for us by explaining what Data Governance is and how too much data is produced for one person or even a single team to own it all. Lauren lays out how you can create data points from subject matter experts around key areas of data your company produces or ingests, such as Sales, Marketing, and Customer Data; each of which can then have sub-sets to provide even more structure. Lauren shares why you need to understand how data works in the subject matter expert’s day to day job and how data governance will help them do their job more effectively. In addition, we learn about data dictionaries and the big part they play in data governance and enablement efforts to ensure clarity is provided across domains on the exact meaning of terms that might have different meanings depending on the context. Three Key Takeaways: · The biggest challenge to doing data governance well is having a thought leadership strategy around it to get other colleagues on board. · There is too much data produced today for one person or one team to own all of it. You need to make it a collective effort across technical and non-technical roles. · You can not succeed in sales, marketing, or customer success without data.
The road to becoming a Thought Leader is never a straight one. So going from college basketball coach to book influencer might not seem that odd. Still, the map to get there is fascinating! Our guest today is Owen Sammarone the Founder and CEO of Unleash the Knowledge, LLC; an online, educational community of lifelong learners and avid readers helping authors reach a larger audience. Having a business based around books you might assume Owen has a background in publishing or marketing, but he was previously a graduate assistant with the UConn men’s basketball program. Owen shares that while he loved basketball his true passion came from the self-development habits of coaches. Owen began to explore what his coach was reading and listening to, then sharing the takeaways he found on Instagram, nurturing a following of self-development junkies. After Owen was contacted by a heart doctor, seeking to pay for promotion of his new book to Owen’s followers he realized Unleash the Knowledge could be more than a social media platform. IT could become a business model. Through this episode Owen shares his journey growing his platform and finding his footing as well as tips you can use to grow your own social media platform! Three Key Takeaways: · In order to grow a social media platform you need to create a niche that works for your audience and provides value. · Certain social media platforms tend to skew towards certain trends or topics. That doesn’t mean you can’t grow a successful audience outside those bubbles if you are dedicated to it. · Growing a platform requires consistency. You can’t just post when you need something from your audience.
There are few thought leaders who work behind the scenes to create, develop, and deploy programs while simultaneously being the face of the brand. What does it take to find success on both ends? Today we’ve invited internationally recognized presenter, content developer, business leader, and coach Curtis Bateman! He is currently the Vice President of International Direct Offices at FranklinCovey, and was previously the President and CEO of Red Tree Leadership before orchestrating a buyout to FranklinCovey. With few thought leaders working both the back and front of the house, Curtis gives us some insights into what it takes to be successful in doing both. He tells us about the passion and extra hours that are required to practice what you preach. However creating doesn’t have to be a solo job, in fact, Curtis shares how having Brain Buddies can help sharpen your skills. Having a knowledgeable team around you to help research stories and ideas as well as draft or polish content creates a high quality end product. Curtis tells us how being in the marketplace every day while creating content creates a constant cycle of feedback as content goes out to the audience, gets live reactions, and can be revised based on that input. This system has been used to pressure test everything from their framework to his newest book Change: How to Turn Uncertainty Into Opportunity. Having had a boutique company that exited to FranklinCovey, Curtis fully understands what it takes to position himself for acquisition. While each instance is different Curtis shares how having principle-based content that matched up with the prospective buyer, having a Fortune 50 client, and thought leaders with significant industry experience that were capable of making contributions inside the new organization all played a role in a successful acquisition. Three Key Takeaways: · Content creation doesn’t have to be a single player game. By working with others you can polish your skills and elevate your content. · Taking ideas to your audience and revising based on feedback can give you real time advice on where the market agrees or disagrees with your content. · Exiting a boutique firm for a bigger company means you don’t get to touch every aspect of the business anymore. You have to learn to trust others.
How do you get attention for a product that could be used by millions but few are aware of without having a massive marketing budget?
Thought leadership!
Our guest today is Martha Orellana the Vice President of Marketing for MrSteam, a company that converts regular showers into steam showers in personal residences as well as gyms and spas.
While most people have heard of a steam shower, few would imagine that you could have one in your home or that people have had them for decades. Martha shares the history of MrSteam and the challenges they faced getting people to know they could have such a product in their own homes. By targeting and educating architects, plumbers, and designers MrSteam was able to create a chain that not only knew about their offerings but became champions of it!
When it came to educating the professionals that would be installing and selling their products Martha went beyond information sessions or bookwork, creating elegant invitations to Camp Feelgood, hosted at high end hotels where they would not only explain the health benefits of steam showers but spend time in them providing a luxury experience they could then speak directly to when answering questions of future clients.
Martha offers great insights into reaching new audiences and differentiating yourself from the pack by using interesting, dramatic, and meaningful tactics.
Three Key Takeaways:
· When you don’t have a massive marketing budget, solid thought leadership can allow you to punch above your weight class.
· When getting the message about your offering out you have to target the right audience. By going after the professionals between you and your product you can educate the supply chain and create champions.
· Theatric and dramatic visuals can often help grab the audience’s attention and allow you to differentiate yourself from the competition.
Publishers often look at books as seasonal, but an author needs to look at their book as a long term investment. What should you be thinking of a year before publishing, and how can your book help your business - even years after it was released? I’ve invited Katie Anderson, internationally recognized leadership coach, consultant, speaker, and founder of Katie Anderson Consulting to join me. At the time of this recording, Katie was celebrating the three year anniversary of her book, Learning to Lead, Leading to Learn: Lessons from Toyota Leader Isao Yoshino on a Lifetime of Continuous Learning. Katie’s journey into thought leadership literally took her around the world, from California to Australia and then to Japan, where she had the unique opportunity to partner with Isao Yoshino, a 40-year Toyota Motor Corporation leader. This time spent together became the fuel for her book, Learning to Lead, in which she weaves together Mr. Yoshino’s heartwarming and deeply reflective stories of personal discovery and organizational history, and offers her own unique perspective, with the intention of helping others learn to lead and lead to learn. In the year leading up to publishing the book, Katie had a lot of big decisions to make. Katie shares how she was introduced to traditional publishers both big and small, but ultimately chose to self-publish. We learn the importance of having the goals of the publisher align with those of the author, and how an author can maintain control over the message and look of the book. Now, three years after publishing, Katie shares the impact the book has had on her business and what she did to ensure it found its way into the right hands. She talks about sharing stories from the book and doing so from the heart, without a focus on selling units, but with a passion for the lessons that can be learned and the impact and value the book can have for others. Three Key Takeaways: * You need to have a full understanding of the purpose of your book. Allow that purpose to influence the choices around publishing, look, and feel. * There needs to be complete alignment between a publisher and author. If you can’t find that perhaps another publishing method would better suit you. * When self-publishing it is still important to hire professionals to do the work you are not good at. This will ensure a polished end product.
You need top talent to start a thought leadership function in your organization.
But what if that talent already exists in your org?
Whether you are responsible for starting a thought leadership function at a startup, or at a large company, you need to have the right talent, the right org support, and the right metrics to define success. In today's episode, we're chatting with Dr. Karthik Nagendra, Founder and CEO of ThoughtStarters, the first thought leadership marketing company in Asia. He's also the author of The Thought Leader Way: Leading Your Business with Thought Leadership in an Altered World, which details his experience and journey as a thought leader, and offers mental blueprints for helping new thought leaders and their teams excel.
Karthik takes us back to 2007, when he first started doing thought leadership at a startup in an emerging field. He shares how an assessment they created boosted the profile of the organization, and shaped the engineering industry as a whole.
Moving onto larger corporate thought leadership roles, Karthik shares how he helped stand up thought leadership as a research wing. He worked to identify internal subject matter experts and help them "come out of the shadows" and share their knowledge and passion. This partnership led to co-created white papers and other content that elevated organizational awareness while increasing their credibility.
We also discuss category creation and the need to continue to look forward, finding new ways to solve old problems. Karthik discusses how we often keep doing things the same old way, even if that way might not be as effective as it once was. He explains how he’s helped take salespeople down a journey of exploration and experimentation, to a point where it influences their peers to seek newer methods as well.
This episode tackles thought leadership from both a large and small scale, and offers advice for leaders, sales teams, marketing, and researchers alike!
Three Key Takeaways:
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When starting a thought leadership function look internally for experts who are eager to share their knowledge and passion. Then give them a platform to do so.
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The buy-in from senior leadership is key when starting thought leadership. If they don’t believe in working for the long game, then thought leadership won’t be effective.
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If you are asking poor questions you are going to get poor answers. And if you are creating thought leadership from those answers, people are going to think you’re a poor thought leader.
A thought leader's business often comprises writing a book, traveling to do keynote speaking, networking with other experts, and building lots of content. However, if you want that business to live on after you no longer can or want to do those tasks, what can you do to reduce the liability of yourself?
Our guest today has excelled at everything a thought leader needs to know how to do, including removing himself from the day-to-day of a business he built. Michael Bungay Stainer is the best-selling author of The Coaching Habit, a renowned keynote speaker, and Founder of Box of Crayons, a learning and development company that provides training to enterprise companies.
With Michael’s newest book How to Work with (Almost) Anyone: Five Questions for Building the Best Possible Relationships having just hit the shelf we start our conversation discussing the phases of a book launch and how marketing a book is more than marketing just the book. He shares how a book can become the gateway to your larger ecosystem. Michael gives the pros and cons of traditional and hybrid publishing as well as why you need to treat your book like starting a business, giving it at least 2 – 3 years to flourish and grow.
In addition to being an author, Michael knows the keynote speaking side of the business sharing how at the best of times focusing on speaking can be lucrative, ending with standing ovations and nice hotel rooms. However, it can also mean hundreds of days on the road, airport delays, and fatigue. We learn the criteria Michael uses for saying Yes to a possible gig and how speaking can fit into your business model.
Books and speaking are powerful tools for spreading thought leadership but how can your business go on without you writing and speaking? As the Founder of Box of Crayons, Michael ensured the company benefitted from his best-selling books and reputation but also ensured the sales training could stand without him. He shares both the B2B and B2C strategy that is allowing him to work 1 hour a month for Box of Crayons without the company falling apart in his absence.
This episode is a master class on everything a thought leader needs to know to ensure not only the success of their personal brand but the company they someday will leave behind.
Three Key Takeaways:
· It is really hard to write a book. Except compared to marketing a book. It's really hard to market a book... except compared to getting people to read a book.
· Hybrid publishing means you are the executive editor of your book. You get to call it what you want and give it the look and feel you want.
· As time goes on you need to watch the market and see if your target avatars have changed. When they do you may need to update your content and offers to accommodate their growing needs.
You've been invited as a guest on a podcast! How exciting! But... what now? What should you say, and how do you use this opportunity to shine a spotlight on your best ideas? Our guest today is Dana Lindahl, the Founder and CEO of Legendary Podcasts, an agency that helps clients get booked on podcasts, so they can increase their visibility, brand, and legacy!
Being a guest on a podcast can be of tremendous benefit to your thought leadership. Dana explains how most clients are seeking to increase their exposure, create brand awareness, and generate leads. Many believe being on a podcast with a larger audience is the way to do this but Dana clarifies why a smaller audience is the one that needs to hear your message the most can have more impact.
Getting booked on a podcast often means doing a quick call beforehand to ensure what the guest has to offer fits the needs of the host's show. We discover how a shockingly low number of potential guests have taken the time to listen to the show they are seeking to be on. Dana tells us why this is a critical mistake that can lead to the guest being passed over. The host/guest relationship needs to be a mutual one where the guest is providing valuable information to the host’s audience. If both ends are not getting something out of the interview it might not be the right fit.
Finally, Dana takes us beyond the podcast interview to the benefits that can blossom afterward. A guest appearance is more than a way to reach a larger audience it is a unique networking opportunity where the host and guest can find further ways to work together, share their network, and help each other. However, if only one side is doing the work the relationship will fail leading to missed opportunities.
If you are looking to be a guest on podcasts, you’ll want to check out this link where Dana has collected valuable information you can put to use in your quest to become a legendary guest!
Three Key Takeaways:
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A podcast that directly speaks to the audience you want to reach most is more powerful than a larger more general audience.
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When seeking to be a guest on a podcast research both the show and the host. Listen to the previous episode to identify how you can provide value to their audience.
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The value of a podcast doesn’t have to be one-and-done. The episode can be repurposed into blog posts, infographics, and sound bites continuing to provide content for weeks.
We’ve all heard the saying, "many hands make light work." Can collaborating help thought leadership content reach scale and create greater impact?
In today’s episode, we discuss the critical impact of allies and ambassadors in thought leadership. We highlight valuable conversations from past guests that truly understand that collaboration with influencers and others can significantly elevate a brand or idea.
Morag Barrett is the Founder and CEO of Skye Team. She helps us define what allies and ambassadors are and how they can help take ideas to scale or even create a movement that would be unachievable alone.
Kerry-Ann Stimpson, Chief Marketing Officer at The JMMB Group shares how the influence of a corporate brand can be expanded by working in tandem to build personal brands of the employees. We learn how this creates new ways for the audience to interact with the brand while increasing confidence and trust in both brands.
Jacqueline Jodl, Senior Vice President of Global Youth & Education, and Haylie Wrubel, Director of Global Unified Champion Schools discuss the importance of allies and ambassadors to the Special Olympics. They share how they seek out thought leaders that are sharing message which run parallel to their own, then co-create content to reach a larger audience with the message. Three Key Takeaways:
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Personal brands can be good for corporate brands. Don’t feel the need to micro-manage employees who are building their own brand. Instead, work with them to align the goals of the individual with the organization.
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Allies and ambassadors often create a greater level of trust in a brand. People trust individuals faster than organizations.
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Having brand ambassadors is a great way to be better in tune with what is being said about your brand.
If fewer people are buying and reading books, why should a thought leader write one?
Today we delve into the world of authorship and publishing with Henry Mintzberg. Henry is a Cleghorn Professor of Management Studies at McGill University and the author of more than 20 books including Managers Not MBAs: A Hard Look at the Soft Practice of Managing and Management Development and Simply Managing: What Managers Do - and Can Do Better.
Our conversation starts by discussing where you find the value in writing a book. Whether it be the intrinsic value of codifying your thought leadership or the extrinsic value of higher engagement and client acquisition.
Henry shares with us his compulsion to write books, regardless of if they succeed or not. He discusses how a few newer books have not done as well as expected and how difficult topics like climate change might play a part in those results.
When publishing about important, but hard topics that many would rather not think about how do you get your message out? Henry talks about expanding into new modalities to capture the audience’s attention and how hard it is to get uninterrupted attention for your topic. He explains how interruption is just one of the reasons a book can have a bigger impact than articles, even if the book reaches only a fraction of the audience a short-form piece might.
Three Key Takeaways:
· Reaching ten thousand people with a book can be far more influential than reaching one hundred thousand people with an article.
· A publication date is not a measurement of value. Many books continue to be relevant years after their publication.
· Do what is in your heart. Don't let anyone talk you into something else because you will end up doing it badly.
When seeking to implement change in your organization are you going off what your gut tells you or are you asking questions to as many people as possible in order to see the patterns that exist and discover ways to change them for the better?
To discuss how thought leadership can be beneficial in change management I’ve invited The Chief Innovation Officer at Prosci, Tim Creasey to join me. In addition to his work helping individuals and organizations build their own capabilities in change management, Tim is the author of Change Management: The People Side of Change.
For Tim and Prosci, creating thought leadership starts with pattern recognition and identification. By asking questions of hundreds of people and documenting their answers you are able to start to see the patterns that already exist and get input on how to create impactful change. Only then can you synthesize the information into content that is actionable and accessible.
Creating content that can have a positive impact goes beyond research and a good idea. What you make has to be relevant to the audience and suited to their knowledge level. Tim discusses setting a contextual anchor for the conversation and using different modalities to reach the audience where they are comfortable and in a way they can understand.
Three Key Takeaways:
· Thought leadership comes from a lot of hard work, and asking smart questions. Then discerning the patterns that others can act on.
· There is an art to asking the nuanced questions that are going to yield the insights you are looking for.
· Creating good thought leadership comes from collecting data, analyzing it, and then turning those findings into actionable content that is easily accessible.
Thought leadership is a great source for lead generation.
So how do you create content that a sales team can easily access and assess?
And how can you measure the success of it?
To discuss these topics I’ve invited Dani Buckley the Vice President and General Manager of LeadG2 to join me. LeadG2 is a sales performance agency helping businesses sell smarter and faster. Dani is also the host of the podcast Sell Smarter, Sell Faster where she offers insights, strategies, and real-world examples to help her audience take sales enablement to the next level.
Our conversation begins by establishing a baseline of how thought leadership and lead gen intersect. Dani talks about how powerful thought leadership can be and how it really needs to come from a philosophical belief in wanting to help people and your industry, even if you never get anything in return.
Next, we discuss reaching your audience and focusing on them. Dani shares how they have a created persona they keep in mind while creating content, but also how a few times a year they look at who their largest clients are. Discuss what their needs and problems are, even reaching out to them to gain greater insights into what they are looking for. Then incorporate that real-world information into the content they create.
Often the bridge between sales and thought leadership can be a tough one to cross. Dani tells us why it doesn’t have to be. Having a sales background she offers examples of what sales team love to see from thought leaders, from the time of content they seek, how technology can make it accessible, and even help evaluate how popular or useful content is.
Three Key Takeaways:
· When creating thought leadership for sales teams take the time to understand their role. Listen to sales calls, and get to know what they do, and what sales conversations sound like.
· Thought leadership has a compounding effect year over year. Start making content early and be consistent in sticking with it.
· Thought leadership needs to be created with a very specific audience in mind. Look at the clients you’ve had success with and use them as a template of who you should be speaking to.
Accountability and compassion are often thought of as two things that can’t go together. Yet they are not ideas that are in opposition to each other. In fact, when put together they can have a transformational effect on the employees, leaders, and culture of your organization.
In order to really understand how we can merge these two concepts I’ve invited Nate Regier to join me. He is the Founder and CEO of Next Element, a global leadership firm helping build cultures of compassionate accountability. And his newest book is Compassionate Accountability: How Leaders Build Connection and Get Results.
We start with Nate explaining exactly what Compassionate Accountability and why putting the two ideas together can create psychological safety and build trust that will ultimately lead to stronger relationships and increased performance.
Now that we know what Compassionate Accountability is, how can we practice it? Nate explains how he has developed a working definition of compassion that helps to shift our mindsets. This mindset is about more than simply getting along it is about being an active participant in solving problems and being in the trenches together.
Not only does Nate help us understand how to practice this mindset he shares how you can deploy it across your entire organization! In order to do that you have to be clear about what the behaviors norms are. Nate lays out the six areas of organizational life where you can apply this new lens, how you can identify critical behaviors being manifested, where the gaps are, and where the opportunities for improvement are.
If you want to see revolutionary change in yourself and your organization you’ll want to listen to this episode and immediately pick up Nate’s book!
Three Key Takeaways:
· Leaders that hold people accountable without also treating them as valuable and capable will not have employees for long.
· Compassion is a teachable and learning capability. And it can have a dramatic positive impact on people's lives.
· If we struggle together and bring more compassion to the world then everyone wins.
Thought Leadership can be very complicated, with nuanced ideas and industry jargon. Unfortunately, complex language and niche ideas won't catch your audience's attention!
To explore how to take big thought leadership ideas to market, I’ve invited Jessica Duffield to join me. Jessica is a Senior Consultant at Thought Leadership Leverage. She's worked with clients for nearly 10 years, helping them create content, find their best audience, and go to scale with unique ideas.
We discuss the most effective ways to take big ideas and turn them into bit-sized content, ensuring your audience will notice them - and easily remember the content. Jessica walks us through the process of finding the strongest core ideas of your thought leadership and focusing on those, creating a simplified vision of your content that can be easily grasped.
In addition to breaking your content down, you need to know your audience - who do you want to work with and for? Jessica gives valuable advice not only for finding your audience, but understanding their needs, worries, and where they are within their organizations.
Additionally, we discuss the need for a hook that will grab your audience quickly. Jessica shares how and why sharing your story authenticity can be the "hook" you need to get your audience to stop scrolling and want more.
Three Key Takeaways:
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You often only get a few seconds to grab your audience's attention. And if you can't evoke interest and curiosity in your idea in that time, you've failed.
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When creating content, sometimes you’ll have to "Kill Your Darlings" to maintain focus on the most important facets of your thought leadership and your audience.
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Big ideas don’t have to be complicated. In fact, making your ideas easy to understand means a larger audience will be able to consume your content and follow you to the next level.
Summary:
Ever heard, "To be successful, you have to get out of your comfort zone!" But if your "comfort zone" aligns with your core values, what then? Can you find an alignment between those values and marketing that will allow you to stay in your comfort zone and find success?
Our guest today is the “Go for Yes Gal!” Stacey Hall! Stacey is the founder of Success with Stacey Hall, a well-known success strategist, TedX speaker, and best-selling author with her fifth book “Selling from Your Comfort Zone: The Power of Alignment Marketing”.
Our conversation starts by covering the 23 years between Stacey’s first and fifth books. She shares what has changed and what has stayed the same in the publishing industry and why she returned to BK Publishing for her newest book.
Stacey discusses the content of her book Selling from Your Comfort Zone explaining how people want to stay aligned with their core values and are no longer willing to let them go. She covers how the current environment for sales can be confusing and why it is often better to stay in your comfort zone, expanding on it in alignment with your current values and skills.
In addition to learning about the content of the book Stacey shares how she is marketing the book and what she is doing differently now. She gives us insights into using technology like social media, AI, and podcasts to market the book from home to create both free and paid offshoots of the book that you can use to lead people to the book or your other offerings.
Three Key Takeaways:
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Put tidbits of your book on social media. Don't just tell them the book is coming give them bits of the content as a teaser.
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When creating free tie-ins to the book, they have to come out before the book to create interest and excitement.
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It is important to publish your book in different formats. Paper, ebooks, and audio have all become popular methods of consuming books.
AI is a powerful tool that is growing at an astonishing rate, but can thought leaders trust the technology? Or should a human be keeping an eye on the process - and importantly, the output?
Our guest today is Stephanie Grayson, a Content Marketing Leader and Thought Leadership Advisor with experience in the worlds of agency marketing, large consulting houses, and enterprise scale software. She is also an AI enthusiast with a creative view on how to best use this remarkable new technology.
We start the conversation by defining the difference between thought leadership and content marketing. Stephanie helps us understand how content marketing focuses on the now, while thought leadership focuses on the future.
Stephanie explains how the current limitations of AI make it unlikely to generate truly new ideas that could be considered genuine thought leadership. In addition, since AI can only learn from what we give it we have to be careful about introducing bias and be sure to fact check any results it gives to ensure it isn’t a very convincing AI hallucination.
So if AI isn’t completely trustworthy, how can we best use it? Stephanie shares AI would be capable of sorting through huge datasets that might be too cost and time prohibitive for people to go through. From these datasets, the AI could deliver valuable stats and even pose answers to various hypotheses allowing the thought leader to spend more time asking smart questions.
Three Key Takeaways:
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AI cannot (yet) accomplish the level of thought leadership that gets executive response. Collation is not creation!
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Great thought leadership should stop you in your tracks for a moment and make you say, "Now that is a unique and interesting #idea."
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There is a need for more than one set of eyes on large company-level data-backed thought leadership - be it human or AI. Check your facts, your sources and make sure everything is correct.
Thought leaders have a passion for ideas, frameworks, and methodologies. But many struggle with defining their brand, finding clients, and maintaining a stable revenue stream. Don't worry - help is on the way! Today, we're talking with Vaughn Sigmon, the co-founder of Results Driven Leadership which specializes in helping businesses unlock their full potential through transformative leadership practices. Vaughn is also the host of The Business Mechanic – where he shares his expertise to improve the impact of executives and managers by enhancing their knowledge, skills, and abilities.
Leaving a stable executive position to start his own leadership development business was a huge risk. We talk with Vaughn about the driving force behind his shift in career and why he chose the area he did.
Leadership development is a crowded space to enter. Vaughn shares what he did to stand out and win clients. Acquiring clients is the hardest part that few want to talk about. We learn how it requires a multi-step marketing process that creates multiple touch points, allowing potential clients to get to know you, what you stand for, and the problems you are able to solve.
Vaughn explains how the two main marketing platforms he has been using are LinkedIn and podcasting. We learn how Vaughn became smart and focused on who his audience would be and how to create awareness, interest, and a relationship with your audience on the platform.
Finally, we learn about the advantages of starting a podcast or doing the circuit as a guest. Plus, he shares tips for getting your audience to engage and move further down the sales funnel.
Three Key Takeaways:
· You need to get in front of the right people so they get to know you. If they don't buy who you are they're not going to buy your concepts.
· If you are smart and focused, your message is on point, LinkedIn can be a gold mine.
· The title of a podcast or blog entry is of utmost importance. Having great content won’t matter if no one reads it because the title does not entice them.
Authors tend to be very proud of their books and believe what they've written can help anyone, anywhere! Although that might be correct, the hard truth is you are going to have to focus on the .001% of the population that is going to get the most out of your book and that will in turn get the most out of your content.
To discuss the ins and outs of marketing to your target audience we’ve invited first time author Michelle Gladieux to join us. Michelle is the president of Gladieux Consulting, which offers one-on-one executive and employee coaching and strategic plan facilitation. Michelle’s first book is Communicate with Courage: Taking Risks to Overcome the Four Hidden Challenges.
Michelle shares how she spent four years writing her book to ensure it was ready for publication. Then, her editor suggested that she rewrite the book and focus on an overarching message that would better resonate and pull the reader in. That message would become the four hidden challenges that prevent people from becoming fearless and peerless communicators
Peter and Michelle discuss the hard task of marketing a book, and why you need to start marketing before you're published. We learn what personal touches Michelle used to give the book legs and what experiments she has tried and is continuing to do that have a low cost but potentially high impact!
Three Key Takeaways:
· For most people making money cannot be the main driver for writing a book.
· Don’t be afraid of failure when experimenting with marketing. Some ideas might not fly, but others could go further than you might imagine.
· It is easy to fall into the trap of feeling like everyone can use your book. In order to get the best return on your investment you have to drill down deep into who your target avatar really is.
It's celebration time! The Leveraging Thought Leadership podcast is celebrating our 500th episode with our co-hosts, Peter Winick and Bill Sherman. In this special episode, Bill and Peter share news about their most recent white paper, "The OrgTL Canvas," and walk us through the deep insights they've gained by spending more than 20 years working with thought leaders, from Fortune 500 and Global 100 successes to new, single-shingle startups - all looking to get their remarkable insights out into the world. Over the past four years, Peter and Bill have spoken with more than 250 heads of thought leadership, many of them on this very podcast. Those conversations have given them incredible insight into the pain points that organizations face when creating, curating, and sustaining thought leadership initiatives. The OrgTL Canvas synthesizes their acumen into actionable steps that help organizations use thought leadership to gain higher visibility, greater success, and a strong, loyal following.
In today’s conversation, Bill and Peter share how organizations are changing the way they interact with consumers (and potential clients), and how thought leadership can bridge the gap that leads to "next steps" for their audience. They discuss thought leadership strategy (and how to create one), as well as the baseline criteria and metrics you should use, the warning signals that your strategy isn't working, and the importance of alignment across the organization.
The OrgTL Canvas is a framework that can help your ideas spread beyond the walls of your organization, and create real impact. We're pleased to share it, and to join with our listeners in celebrating an amazing 500 episodes of Leveraging Thought Leadership. Thank you for listening to our podcast, and here’s to 500 more!
Three Key Takeaways:
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Strategy does not happen by accident. It has to be purposeful.
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You only need 3 - 5 core provocative ideas to bang the drum on. More isn't always better.
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Thought leadership works to facilitate awareness, provoke curiosity, and serve as a call to education.
Many organizations want to formalize their thought leadership efforts and take it to the next level. But how do you turn a "casual thought leadership presence" into something more? Today, we discuss ways to harness a "casual" message and turn it into powerful thought leadership that you can take to scale.
Our guests are Stacey Flax, Thought Leadership Communication Manager and Carlos Williams, Applications Development Manager from Hach, an organization that focuses on water analysis.
Stacey and Carlos share how people at Hach had been doing thought leadership on their own, before Hach chose to formalize it and amplify the expertise the organization had to offer. Carlos explains how part of the job of a thought leader is to convey your message in relatable terms but also somehow make it fun, through story or anecdotes.
Stacey further explains the need to take a step back and think about your message. Who are you trying to reach? What's the core essence of your insights? They discuss how to convey your thought leadership message in different ways, using different media forms and different techniques.
We also learn how Stacey aided in putting the formal structure in place, getting a baseline of subject matter experts, cataloging all of the previously produced content, and gaining further support from the leadership by being able to show the impact thought leadership was having.
As a bonus, we take a look back at John Snow’s discovery of cholera in the water in the 1920s - perhaps some of the first thought leadership on the topic of water analysis - and how those insights still affect us today.
Three Key Takeaways:
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When formalizing thought leadership within an organization, start by discovering the experts in your organization, and curate the material they have already produced into a usable catalog.
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When creating thought leadership for technical or niche topics, it is important to use storytelling to spice up the content and make it somehow relatable.
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Ensure any information you distribute in your thought leadership aligns with the organization's strategy.
Executives often feel they need to be the ones out in front, creating thought leadership for their org, True thought leadership needs to move beyond a single individual, in order to move forward at scale.
In order to fully understand how organizations build their thought leadership teams, I’ve invited Will Milano to join me. Will is the Chief Marketing Officer for Integrity Solutions, which focuses on sales training for organizations. He is also the host of the podcast “Mental Selling”.
Early in Will’s career, he found that content and insights could drive conversations, increase credibility, and create strong brand affinity. Since then, he has been encouraging organizations to move their thought leadership beyond the C-Suite, bringing senior consultants into the game and allowing clients to see the full extent of what your organization has to offer. While many fear saying too much or “giving away the magic,” it actually works as a sneak peek that shows clients why they need your services.
One of the hardest parts of creating a thought leadership engine is keeping it going. Will shares how having a knowledgeable team can make it easier to keep that engine going and take your ideas to scale. In addition we learn the importance of by-lines, which give potential clients a name they can seek further content from and grow to trust, and why you’ll want to not only meet your audience where they are, but also meet your content creators where they are most comfortable.
Three Key Takeaways:
· Thought leadership is about relationship building. Building trust and credibility and authenticity as a brand (and individuals in a brand) above anything else.
· Early in the sales cycle customers care far more about what you have to say than what you have to sell.
· More and more people are seeking to know exactly where their information is coming from. By-lines on articles allow the audience to build trust and know it isn’t simply AI-generated content.
Ever thought about writing a book to support your thought leadership? Or maybe you have already written a book - and now you're trying to get the word out! Either way, a book can be an incredible investment for an entrepreneur, but to get the full return on that investment, you’ll need a marketing plan and a product roadmap.
Today, we’ve invited Stephanie Chandler to be our guest. Stephanie is an experienced consultant, specializing in content marketing, internet marketing, social media, search engine optimization, and publishing. She is also the founder and CEO of Stephanie Chandler Enterprises, and the author of The Nonfiction Book Publishing Plan and The Nonfiction Book Marketing Plan.
We start our conversation by discussing the huge changes in the publishing industry during the last few years. Stephanie shares that physical books are still being read (as well as a surge in e-books), but sales of audiobooks are rising, and expected to grow exponentially through 2030. In addition to audio, self-publishing has exploded - bringing more than 1 million titles to the market each year!
With so many books being published, having a strong promotion strategy has never been more important. But what does that look like? Stephanie walks us through the best methods to include in your marketing plan, from podcasts and Amazon promotions to book tours and speaking gigs, as well as giving us surprising insight into one method that might not work as well as you think!
In addition to promoting the book, entrepreneurs will want to create additional products to support that book, and give customers something to put into practice right away. Stephanie shares insights around workshops and webinars, and explains an underutilized method that can actually make more money than your book - with less effort! Be sure to listen in!
Three Key Takeaways: * Well-written, well-produced, and well-promoted books will always rise to the top.
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Social media isn't a great way to sell books. It's great to build a platform and your e-mail list.
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To give your book the best chance of success, spend as much time on preparing the promotion strategy and supporting materials as you do in writing the manuscript.
When you start a new thought leadership project, what's the first question you ask? Do you look at who the project is for? What does it mean to your organization? What the ROI could be? Today's guest asks the question, “What is universally true about this topic?”
Our guest today is Mark Miller, Vice President of High Performance Leadership, Chick-fil-A Inc. and Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author of The Secret: What Great Leaders Know and Do and his newest book Culture Rules: The Leader's Guide to Creating the Ultimate Competitive Advantage.
Mark takes us back to his first book and how it was born out of necessity: Chick-fil-A wanted stronger leadership, and took it upon themselves to do the research to find out what that takes. During the process, Ken Blanchard realized the work being done not only articulated what great leaders do at Chick-fil-A, but more, it touched on the things that distinguished great leaders throughout history. And thus, Mark created The Secret: What Great Leaders Know and Do.
With every project, Mark starts with the seemingly simple question, “What is universally true about this topic?” The question acts as a guideline to create a point of view on emerging business issues, and builds a foundation that can serve their organization and the world at large because the viewpoint created reaches beyond any one industry and to the heart of topics like leadership and culture.
Having authored and published books for twenty years, Mark has seen a lot of change. We discuss the strategies Mark is employing as an author, to keep landing on the Wall Street Journal Best Sellers list. We explore prelaunch campaigns, creating a personal army of enthusiastic ambassadors to share the news about your book, and more. Mark gives us the inside track of how he used incentives, gamification, and helping non-profits, to promote the book and find his audience.
Three Key Takeaways:
· With most projects, try to start with "What is universally true about the topic?"
· Everything rises and falls with leaders. If you can help them grow their capacity, impact, and influence, then everyone wins.
· Multi-faceted book launch campaigns that recruit champions, incentivize their participation, and generate Amazon reviews are just a few ways to have a successful book.
Storytelling is one of the most powerful ways you can elevate your thought leadership. It can create an emotional connection, convey the need for change, or provide a vision of the future. In this episode, we collect advice from our experts on the various ways a thought leader can utilize the storytelling skill to elevate their content. Adam Zuckerman is Product Leader, Employee Engagement Software at Willis Towers Watson. Adam shares how his personal approach of sharing experiences in storytelling can help connect the research and data you provide with your audience in meaningful ways. Mary Cronin is a Research Professor at the Carroll School of Management, Boston College. She teaches about entrepreneurship, and explains to us how storytelling is a vital component of the success of both thought leaders and startups. At the time of publication, Michelle Mellon was the Thought Leadership Director of SalientMG. She is also a published fiction author. Michelle takes her experience writing stories and applies those same principles to writing thought leadership explaining how the fundamentals of storytelling need to be followed, as well as how they can be broken to create engaging narratives. Our final guest is Christopher Brace, Adjunct Professor of Marketing at MICA. Christopher helps us understand how storytelling can be used in marketing to build brands. He explains how, by employing a listening ear, you can discover the emotional territories of your audience that will help you know what resonates most with them. Three Key Takeaways: * Storytelling is a component of the success of entrepreneurs and thought leaders; yet storytelling is often neglected. * Don't be afraid to provide predictions for the future in your thought leadership. Your speculation doesn't have to be 100% right it just has to provide a glimpse of what could be around the corner. * When starting a narrative look at the questions of “What if” but ensure the basic elements of storytelling are not forgotten.
Consultants often approach clients seeking to answer the question, “How can I help you?” What would happen if you instead asked, “What can you and I create together, to solve the problem?” Our guest today is Jennifer Kenny. Jennifer is a speaker, technology leader, strategic advisor, and bestselling author of “The Innovation Mindset: Eight Essential Steps to Transform Any Industry.” Jennifer shares with us how her career started out in geology, where she delved into the depths of systems thinking. Those practices, built to support her scientific hypotheses, led her to consulting and developing her own content. Jennifer's innovative attitude to solving problems by using a mastery of coordination, communication, and co-creation of solutions elevated her approach, and allowed her and her clients to overcome complex challenges. One problem that was not easily solved was writing her bestselling book, The Innovation Mindset. Jennifer tells us how the book started with an entirely different focus before getting scrapped for a second iteration… which she also discarded! Through conversation with Page Two Publishing, Jennifer realized that she should be focusing on innovation and collaborative ideas - and thus, her book was born. In addition, Jennifer talks about the huge learning curve that exists in the publishing industry, and how she worked with her daughter to enhance her own capabilities and create an incredible book! Three Key Takeaways: * If you are going to share your mastery of a complex field or system, you need to make it easy for your audience to understand your insights. * Aspiring authors should find a good editor that can elevate a manuscript to its full potential. * If you are going to write with a partner, you need to understand the intricacies of collaboration - and communication!
Some thought leaders focus on long form content, like research papers or books. Others prefer short form media, such as videos and infographics. It's simple: audiences gravitate to formats they prefer. If you know your audience, you can use this information to get your content in front of them - but what happens when your ideas run into modality barriers? Today, Bill Sherman, host of the Leveraging Thought Leadership podcast and the COO of Thought Leadership Leverage, goes solo to discuss the "Comfortable Corners of Thought Leadership" Framework. Bill takes us through each of the four corners helping us understand as content creators how there is a difference between being comfortable with our idea and being comfortable with a modality. We learn that exploring a new modality while working through an idea can spell disaster while sticking with a modality you are most comfortable with while discussing a well-polished idea can allow you to shine! However, what happens when your favorite medium is not one the audience is comfortable with? Bill explains that on average the majority of your audience is going to have a low to mid-level of comfort with your idea, so leaning into a modality they are more comfortable with can help keep them engaged. During this episode, Bill helps us to understand the nuances of using various modalities, from both the perspective of the content creator and the intended audience. Three Key Takeaways: * Where is your comfort zone? Do you stretch yourself to new modalities? Is your comfort zone the same as your audience's? * When looking at the four corners, remember to consider them from the audience's point-of-view. * Avoid "sitting in the opposite corner" (no matter how comfortable it is there!) from your audience.
Healthcare is a serious topic, and it needs great thought leadership to disseminate information swiftly and clearly to those that need it most. In today's episode, we revisit our conversations with three guests who focus on thought leadership for healthcare organizations. * Our first guest is Jean Accius, who at the time of airing was the Senior Vice-President, Global Thought Leadership and International Affairs for AARP. Jean helps us understand how thought leadership can position an organization at the forefront of the issues, challenge the status quo, and engage new audiences. * Next, we turn to a conversation with Traci Conley, Thought Leadership Manager for Standard Imaging, Inc. Traci understands the importance of being able to get valuable information to healthcare professionals and patients. We discuss what you have to do when traditional mediums of communication break down, and how you can continue to provide high quality knowledge and care in the face of restrictions. * Finally, we catch up with Craig Joseph, Chief Medical Officer at Nordic Consulting and Jerome Pagani, the Vice President, Head of Thought Leadership at Nordic Consulting. While healthcare is a serious topic, Craig and Jerome share how they inject a bit of humor into their message in a way that allows them to grab their audience’s attention and build trust. Three Key Takeaways: * Knowledge is the world’s most important currency! * Carefully crafted humor can make serious topics more relatable and easier to discuss. * Well-thought out virtual experiences can deliver the same information and impact as an in person event.
Our guest today is Miriam Schulman, a portrait painter who has had her work displayed in galleries and collected internationally. While this might seem like an unlikely guest for a thought leadership podcast, she is also the author of Artpreneur: The Step-by-Step Guide to Making a Sustainable Living from Your Creativity, host of the Inspiration Place podcast and creator of the popular online art class site, the Inspiration Place. Lots of people have incredible talent. Unfortunately, most creative talent goes overlooked and underappreciated. Miriam shares how the same creativity that feeds your talent can be turned into a survival strategy - through clever marketing. The ability to try new things and be creative can trump a lack of experience (even in marketing!), if you are willing to do a little hard work. Miram discusses her book launch, and how she is marketing her book using the same advice she offers others. In addition, she shares strategies that her book launch team uses, including pre-order bonuses, social network campaigns, and other incentives that help her get reviews and buzz - before the book even hits store shelves. Whether you are an artist seeking advice on making your passion profitable, or a traditional thought leader trying to spread the word about your content, this conversation has some incredibly useful advice you can put into action right away! Three Key Takeaways: * Cheaper is not always easier to sell. Regardless of price, your audience must understand how your offerings will benefit them. * Friends, family, and co-workers will be happy to share your works, but you can make it easy for them and increase the odds of them sharing by writing a blurb for them. * Book reviews are an important part of a launch strategy. They create social validation for those who are not familiar with your work.
Corporate progress for women is historically slow and filled with systemic biases that have stood for generations. So how can we raise up a new generation of female leaders capable of overcoming those challenges? Today I’m pleased to be joined by Jenna Fisher – Co-lead of Global Financial Officer Practice at Russell Reynolds Associates, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author with a new book To the Top: How Women in Corporate Leadership Are Rewriting the Rules for Success. Jenna's amazing book was 8 years in the making, and it took the pause of COVID to provide the free hours she needed to dedicate to the project in order to see it through. In February of 2022 she began interviewing amazing women in various roles and industries all over the world to learn their stories, struggles, and successes. Through these conversations, she learned how women can seize the opportunity in front of them. In addition to the traditional biases that women have to deal with, Jenna learned some of the things that women do that set them back, such as not applying for roles because they don’t tick every box in the job description, while men will traditionally apply even if they only check a few of the boxes. Jenna shares some tips for how women can overcome this hurdle and why they need to put themselves out there with confidence. Finally we discuss how age and focusing on family can set women back in the workplace. Jenna explains that women often focus on being the best in their position, and changing that focus to the family means taking a risk that your career could fall to the wayside. Peter and Jenna share advice for maintaining and growing those aspects that can make a real difference in climbing the ladder, even while you're taking time for your family. This is a wonderful conversation where women at any stage of their career can gain valuable advice on moving to the top! Three Key Takeaways: * Writing a book is like having a baby. Labor is hard, but the real work begins after the child is in the world. * Women who pause their careers to focus on family need to find ways to maintain their network until they are ready to return. * Age does not define the heights that people can go. Give people the grace to run at their own pace.
People don’t easily connect to abstract ideas, we connect to other human beings. With that in mind, how can you tell stories about yourself that bring your ideas to life?
To answer that question I’ve invited David Hutchens to join me. David is the CEO of Mythos Global, the home of the storytelling leader program. He is the author of Story Dash: Find, Develop, & Activate Your Most Valuable Business Stories… In Just a Few Hours! David has built his career around storytelling for business.
Our conversation starts with David telling us his story of going from a copywriter at advertising agencies to attending the ASTD Expo with his portfolio seeking an opportunity to write about the things he really cares about – innovation and leadership.
David’s own personal story gives us an immediate connection to his ideas and he shares how others can use his tools like the Taxonomy of Stories and Story Deck to find the stories they should be telling. These tools were crafted through many years of conversation and hearing the stories of business leaders all over the world. David realized many of the stories had common themes and could be organized into categories that would give sales, strategy, innovation, thought leaders, and much more an idea of the story that they need to tell.
While we learn that storytelling is important David also cautions that it isn’t the only tool to use. He shares how his research into highly successful leaders shows that around 30% of communication should be story-based, while the other 70% can be made up of slides, data, didactic lecturing, and other modes of rhetoric and persuasion.
David gives powerful insights and advice into how leaders and entrepreneurs can use storytelling to break through the noise and reach their audience!
Three Key Takeaways:
· Build a team. If you want to go fast go alone. If you want to go far, take people with you.
· Brilliant ideas don't spread on their own. They need advertising.
· Attention is the new precious resource. You have to be thoughtful about how you’ll break through the noise and keep the attention of your audience.
What does it take to write a book? Or host a podcast? Or start getting speaking engagements based on the content you’ve put out?
To find the answers we’ve invited the Human Venn diagram, Christina Wallace. Christina has crafted a career at the intersection of business, technology, and the arts. She is a Senior Lecturer of Entrepreneurial Management at Harvard Business School, an angel investor, speaker, and Author of "The Portfolio Life: How to Future Proof Your Career, Avoid Burnout, and Build a Life Bigger Than Your Business Card"
We start our conversation by learning how Christina got started by writing bits and pieces about the ideas she had that she wanted to share. These small bits led to getting a column at Forbes.com and eventually becoming the co-host of The Limit Does Not Exist podcast. Christina shares how all of these mediums gave her real-time feedback from her audience and made writing her book so much easier.
Christina explains how each chapter in her book had roots in a podcast episode of the written article that acted as the first draft and then came to full maturity in the book. Not only did all of the previous content give birth to the book but it gave proof to literary agents and publishers that she not only had an established audience but they were actively seeking to know more.
Three Key Takeaways:
· You can get lucky by being in the right place at the right time. It takes courage to say yes to the opportunity presented.
· Having a library of online content is like leaving an everlasting trail of breadcrumbs that lead back to your services.
· Thought Leaders need to proactively tell the story of why they are the expert on the topics they discuss.
We often have an idea of who we are or what it is we will be known for at the end of our career, but when others repeatedly tell you their idea of who you are and what you stand for is something else should you consider changing lanes?
Today we are joined by CB Bowman, the CEO of Courage Consulting, keynote speaker, host of the podcast Courage to Leap & Lead, and now the author of Courage to Leap & to Lead: A Roadmap for Redefining Failure into Success.
Having a business, podcast, and book with the word Courage in the title would make you think CB has been her primary field for many years, but that simply isn’t true! It was only after a conversation with Marshall Goldsmith and members of her society that she came to realize everything else she had accomplished in her career was due to her own courage.
Courage to Leap & Lead is the first book where CB is more than a chapter in someone else’s book. CB shares how she thought about all of the major events in her life when others told her she was courageous and asked herself “How did I get there?” By answering that question she was able to see the processes that she used over and over again. Then she was able to break those down into a teachable 7-step process.
If you are not sure what your lane is or have others consistently tell you another topic is your specialty this conversation might give you the courage to make that change!
Three Key Takeaways:
· A thought leader is someone who can pivot. An expert stays in their own lane.
· Once you put out into the world that you are something, you become the poster child for it. And need to live that every day.
· Sometimes the answer you seek is truly in the question being asked.
As a thought leader, you want to see your content actively helping people, not just sitting on a shelf. But how do you move insight to action? Today, we're going to talk about the intersection of thought leadership and adult learning. My guest is Manja Horner, the founder of Boost Learning Design, where she helps other big-hearted entrepreneurs make a difference - while growing their businesses. Manja tells us how she took her ideas from imagination to actualization, by presenting her insights in ways that showed they were relevant to her audience's needs. In order to do that, thought leaders have to take a step back and put themselves in their audience's shoes. What do they need to know? What problems are they trying to solve? And, most importantly, how does your content address and resolve those challenges? Creating learning that will enhance learning and skills is a difficult task, but creating thought leadership that changes mindsets and behaviors is even tougher! Manja explains why you have to ask questions, and how to encourage your audience to think in larger terms about possible solutions. Furthermore, by helping them develop empathy through role-play, she helps those who are "stuck" to develop a real growth mindset. Additional Resources: During the conversation, Bill and Manja discuss the Wired 5 Levels series; a textbook example of tailoring your ideas to various audiences. In addition Blooms Taxonomy is discussed; you can read more about it here! Three Key Takeaways: * Adults learn by doing. The faster you can take someone from information to application, the better. * When you have even 10 minutes of a learner’s time, think about getting them to apply new knowledge to their situation. * There is a fine balance to knowing your audience because it can be easy to create content that is too complex or even too simple and lose them either way.
"Office shock" is the term for an abrupt, unsettling change in where, when, how, and even why we work. Over the last few years, we have seen an abnormally large number of these events, So how are thought leaders working to be prepared for an uncertain future? To get a better understanding of how to thrive in unpredictable times, I’ve invited Joseph Press to join me. Joseph is the Co-Founder of Make Our Future, a global consulting cooperative dedicated to transitioning organizations to more sustainable and equitable practices. Joseph takes us inside the pages of his new book Office Shock: Creating Better Futures for Working and Living, which focuses on leaders in organizations that have a need to contribute and change both their business practices and culture. The success of Office Shock hinges on it touching a nerve with those leaders, helping them to realize they have an opportunity to make the changes that are needed to build a better future for everyone. Once they do, Joseph's insights help leaders become ready for any changes the future has in store. Joseph shares why leaders need to think outside the box, going back to creating things and focusing on engaging others in collective action. Only by approaching this task humbly and with a sense of empathy and desire to connect with others who are different from you can we hope to create new connections, learn, and innovate. Three Key Takeaways: * Leaders need to be willing to remove themselves from present thinking and be more willing to think outside the now in order to be prepared for the future. * In order for your ideas to successfully reach their audience they have to strike a nerve in a way that moves them to action. * Leaders need to be self-aware and look inwards to understand their strengths and weaknesses before they can hope to have meaningful connections.
When you’ve spent decades behind the curtain, building brands and platforms for other thought leaders - what does it take to step into the spotlight and create your own? Our guest today is Scott Jeffrey Miller, Senior Advisor, Thought Leadership at FranklinCovey, as well as a best-selling author, and host of the hit podcast On Leadership with Scott Miller. Scott discusses the ups and downs of his journey into thought leadership, and what it’s like to be on both sides of the fence. Scott has unique insight into what it takes to create a thought leadership platform - both for others, and for yourself! While you can hire talented people to help get your thought leadership off the ground, ultimately you are responsible for your own elevation, through social media, productization, research, and everything else - and that means you need a strong strategy to get your insights recognized. To be successful, you must have a deep understanding of your audience; what they need, what their problems are, and how you can help them. Scott explains how to look beyond simple demographics, and get to the real pain points your content can solve, so that you can connect with them in a meaningful and trustworthy way. We wrap up the conversation with Scott providing key advice for anyone seeking to become a thought leader. He shares where to start, what other successful thought leaders have in common, and what you’ll need to do in order to reach that level of success. Three Key Takeaways: * Strategy is constantly changing. In order to keep up you have to be constantly taking in new data and pivoting in real time. * Have an abundance mindset! Put your ideas out into the world for free while building deeper content that can be paid for by those who need it. * If you want to start building thought leadership, here's your checklist: Read often; post often, and be prepared to play the long game.
Cyber risk and cyber security are very important but there are also a lot of people in that space. So how can thought leadership elevates you above the others in that space in a way that connects with a larger audience? Today our guest is Jeffrey Wheatman, Cyber Risk Evangelist for Black Kite, a company that is disrupting traditional third party risk management practices worldwide by providing cyber security experts with greater visibility. While the topics that Jeffrey talks about are of the utmost importance to most businesses, many just don’t have the technical knowledge to understand why they are important. Jeffrey explains that by using thought leadership he is able to convey these complex ideas in a language that business will care about and in a context they can clearly understand the threats that exist to their business. Part of his thought leadership includes speaking at conferences and other events. Jeffrey shares why he speaks about topics such as executives who don’t understand IT and understanding risk in 3rd party ecosystems instead of the services that Black Kite offers. By speaking to the issues in an authentic way he is able to build a relationship and get potential clients thinking of what they need to solve the presented problems, which ultimate sleds them back to him and eventually the services he offers. In addition to speaking Jeffrey uses LinkedIn to spread his thought leadership message. He discusses his target of posting at least once a day and how he judges the success of each post. He also talks about why it is important to take part in the discussions others are having, offering support and why it’s alright to be contrary to the original idea. Three Key Takeaways: · You need to find and embrace your own voice with its quarks because that is what attracts people to it. · Thought leadership comes down to being able to say something short, pithy, and that makes people lean in and say "I've never thought about that before". · You need to take what you know and compartmentalize it and share it in a way that it land with the largest audiences
If you had nearly 30 years of experience building brands like American Airlines and Pepsi, wouldn't you want to share all the great insights you'd developed? Our guest today is Michael Tuggle, the President of Tuggle Creative Inc, Chief Creative Officer of Something Else Strategies, and co-author of The Voice Of The Underdog: How Challenger Brands Create Distinction By Thinking Culture First. After having worked with Mike Sullivan (President and CEO of LOOMIS), bringing a strategic advantage to challenger brands for over 10 years, Michael knew that it was time to share his insights with others. Michael discusses what it was like working with his partner for more than 6 months of writing, and another 12 months of editing, in order to bring their book to life. We learn the process used to create the architecture of the book, how the chapters were decided and ordered, and their process: writing notes before letting the creative impulse take over. He also discusses the case studies and stories they included, to make the information more accessible. Spending 18 months putting a book together can come with a huge opportunity cost. Michael explains how self-publishing was only one part of their business model. While most will buy the book and use the information to the best of their ability, some will seek a deeper dive into the content, and will hire him to bring that content to their teams and organizations in scalable ways. Our conversation has great advice for both challenger's brands and would be authors. Three Key Takeaways: * Writing a business book is an efficient way to drive business and build credibility. * The time cost of writing a book can be large, but if you can pick up a handful of new clients it will be well worth the investment. * When writing a book don’t edit yourself as you go. Allow the insights to come out then edit it later.
You're doing research for your thought leadership? Great! But how do you know that you're asking the right questions? Today, we sit down with Mike Ilecki, Vice President of Public Opinion Research and Thought Leadership at Ipsos, a multinational research and consulting firm that delivers reliable information and true understanding of society, markets, and people. People’s perception is often their reality and how perception of the world is constantly changing. With that in mind Mike helps us understand how organizations need to invest in multi-year longitudinal research that tracks not only what the audience thinks and feels now but over time as it changes. Big businesses cannot hope to take the right stand on issues if they are only asking the important questions once. Just as perception changes so too does how people communicate. The method used to capture the data is as important as the questions asked. Mike takes us into the various methods of conducting research and why the method has to match the demographic you are seeking. Because of this it is best to start with the end in mind. Who is it you are trying to communicate with and what are you trying to communicate to them? We also discuss what thought leaders should be aware of when working with research partners. Mike brings his experience of the topic to the conversation explaining that thought leaders need to break out of the box of their organizations point of view and allow the research partner t consult on what the landscape actually is. By learning the right questions to ask and how to ask them you can construct a solid platform to take your message forward with a wide angle view of the topic. Three Key Takeaways: * Thought leadership can be used to better a business and more importantly better the world we live in. * Don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. When you step out is when you experience new things, learn and grow. * In order to take the right stand on the issues that matter you have to understand how both your customers and the population in general feel about those issues.
Do you think that all you need to be successful is a great idea? Well, think again. The million-dollar idea is a myth. Even with a great insight in hand, you still have to take it to market and prove it has value. To discuss what it takes to become a success, we’ve invited Michael McFall, the co-Founder and co-CEO of BIGGBY Coffee. He is also the author of Grind: A No-Bullshit Approach to Take Your Business from Concept to Cash Flow and has a second book coming soon, entitled: Grow: Take Your Business from Chaos to Calm. Together, these books cover what you’ll need to know to go from startup to steady cash flow. Michael talks about his start as a minimum wage barista working in his partner’s coffee shop, and how that relationship grew to a partnership. That partnership launched a company that now has 340 locations with more than 100 more, coming in the next twelve months! Having spent the last 27 years helping others launch businesses, Michael felt it was time to take that accumulated knowledge and codify it in his first book. He explains how revenue is the guiding principle, and you have to have the right mentality to take a product to the marketplace. In addition, Michael shares how you have to understand your own, personal strengths and weaknesses. When you do, you can find ways to supplement your weaknesses, and leverage your strengths. This episode is packed with advice for entrepreneurs, new and established, to elevate and help them become stronger leaders. Three Key Takeaways: * A business book can be a method of self-selection. If people read it and agree with it then they might be a good fit to work with. If they don’t, then it’s best they move on. * Leadership means turning authority over to others, allowing them to grow into leaders, themselves. * Revenue generation is the guiding principle. You have to sell. If you are not comfortable with that you might not be suited to entrepreneurship.
If you are just closing your eyes and hoping your white paper will go to scale… You might be going about it the wrong way! Our guest today is Kasey Lobaugh, the Chief Futurist for the Consumer Industry and Principal at Deloitte Consulting, LLP. As a senior leader, Kasey is working to get people to embrace their ideas and shape the future of their company and industry as a whole. To gain a profound understanding of the future of their industry, Deloitte spent a year speaking with more than 800 people in the industry – including experts of all ages, Deloitte's customers, and even their competition. The culmination of this work is a white paper titled Buying Into Better. Kasey takes us deep into the process of the research, who they spoke to and why. While the information found in the white paper is profound, Kasey helps us understand that the paper is only a derivative of the platform they’ve created which will act as a long lived capability investment and objective that they are organized around. Kasey shares that scale is the biggest challenge most organizations face and how they are training people across the business to fully grasp the ideas and be able to take it into the world in actionable ways. Through a two day workshop people learn how various forces come together to create impact, examine the proud things they’ve learned and find empathy through role-play. Three Key Takeaways: * Value comes from scale, impact, conversation, and stories. * When doing research, one of the most profound questions you can ask is, “Who else should I talk to?” * In order to create change, you have to engage a lot of people in the process.
Statistics have shown that productivity and results go up when you work with friends. If you feel you don’t have a friend at work, ask yourself the question, “Am I being a friend to others?” Today, I’ve invited Morag Barrett to discuss why we need friends at work and how her book, You, Me, We: Why We All Need a Friend at Work (and How to Show Up As One!) is helping people not only make friends but learn to be one as well. In addition, Morag is the Founder and CEO of SkyeTeam, an award-winning global leadership development firm. Writing a book by yourself is a hard task - but, does having co-authors make it any easier? Morag’s newest book is co-authored by Eric Spencer and Ruby Vesely. Morag shares how working with them for eight years shaping the philosophy and thinking turned the book from a piece of work into a true craft - and they made writing together an easy choice and an enjoyable task. You, Me, We discusses the three points you need to be aware of in order to have friends at work. Look up, show up, step up – which all come down to intentionality. Morag shares how we all rely on others for our professional success. It doesn’t matter if you are part of a small team, large group, or even working remotely. You have to be aware of those you rely on, how your feel in their presence and how they feel in yours and intentionally work to create a positive relationship one conversation at a time. You, Me, We is Morag’s newest book but not her first. Having written books 8 and 5 years ago, she shares what has changed and what has stayed the same. We learn how the difficulties of writing, launching, and selling, remain just as hard, but technology such as podcasts and live streams have made marketing the book easier. These new technologies allow you to have conversations from the comfort of your home - while reaching large, new audiences. Today’s conversation is packed full of advice for professionals seeking to have more positive work-place relationship, for authors about to launch a book, and for anyone that has a book seeking new ways to scale their content. Three Key Takeaways: * Instead of asking “Do I have a friend at work?” flip the script and ask yourself “Am I a friend to others at work?” Be intentional and take the first step towards building relationships. * A business book is a great way to augment the work you are already doing as a speaker, consultant or coach. * Keynote speaking can no longer rely only on entertainment. You need to be engaging and interactive for both the live and virtual audiences.
In an organization with a large C-suite, dozens of departments, and hundreds of experts, How could you possibly hope to create a unified direction? To better understand how to achieve this feat, I’ve invited Lynette Jackson, the Head of Communications at Siemens, to join me. Lynette has a background in journalism, communication, and branding making her the perfect person to help us explore the topic. Lynette explains how thought leadership can become an umbrella for the brands of your organization. It can give a safe space for the different disciplines across communication and marketing to come together and move forward in the same direction. Lynette describes how content creates credibility, but it doesn’t have to be high level content only experts would understand. In fact, it is better to have a variety of content that draws in an audience that is new to the topic as well as having deeper pieces that allow experts to explore the bleeding edge of the idea. In addition, we discuss how to draw the experts in your organization out. Many can be concerned that talking about a future which may never come to pass might impact their credibility. Lynette shares where to find a balance between achievable and unreasonable, that will make experts keen to talk to you - and will get audiences excited and engaged. Three Key Takeaways: * When a sudden rainstorm comes, people will cluster underneath the same umbrella and find shelter together. Thought leadership is like that umbrella; where people with the same problem can be together in a defined space, and actually work together to solve their problem. * Thought leaders create valuable content that serves others, transmuting their experiences into insights. That's the science and the art of thought leadership. * Thought leadership encompasses everything from "snackable content;" to a series of white papers that go super deep; to medium-sized, bespoke pieces of content; to broad, multi-sensory content. The breadth of what's possible is amazing.
Creating a strategy to take a book beyond the consumer market requires a lot of thought and many steps. However, if you want to take your content to scale a solid strategy is what you’ll need. Our guest today is Nick Gray, the Founder and Owner of Museum Hack and the author of The 2-Hour Cocktail Party: How to Build Big Relationships with Small Gatherings, which is the ultimate guide for hosting the perfect party to make friends and network. While The 2-Hour Cocktail Party is chalked full of excellent tips and has hundreds of 5-star reviews Nick still struggles to get the book to those he knows it can have the most impact on. Using Nick’s book as an example Peter walks through the process of taking a book from shelf to scale. Nick has seen real-estate agents and financial advisors have great success using the content of his book, together he and Peter dive deeper into those clients to develop a clear avatar, where to find them, and how to take the content to scale by approaching associations and parent companies to license the content on a large scale. Another component to taking a book to scale is moving the contents to versatile offerings. Nick and Peter discuss how the book could become a series of videos, webinars, and training sessions that would allow great access to the material at a wide variety of price points. If you’ve ever wondered what it is we do at thought leadership leverage this episode is like a sneak peek at the range of consulting services we offer and how we could help you take your material to the next level. Three Key Takeaways: · A good strategy covers who are we going to serve, how are we going to serve them, and what are the products offerings and solutions. · You need to understand the use cases for the book. Who would get the most value? · If you are thinking about a book, speaking or just sharing your story what people want are personable moments. So write them down now while they happen and are fresh in your mind.
Writing a book can take a year or more, followed by months of planning, strategizing, and launching.
Once the book hits the shelves — What's left?
Jeremy Utley is the Director of Executive Educational at Stanford D.school and adjunct professor at Stanford's School of Engineering. Recently Jeremy worked with co-author Perry Klebahn to put their experience into their first book call titled “Ideaflow: The Only Business Metric That Matters.”
At the time of this recording, Jeremy’s book had been on shelves for eight days! Jeremy expresses the gratitude he feels toward those that have come forward to thank him for the book, and the actionable ideas it contains. In addition, he shares surprises he has experienced during recording the audio version of the book.
Marketing a book takes a tremendous amount of coordination, even with the resources a publisher offers. The bulk of the work lands on the author's shoulders. Jeremy talks about having to get over being self-conscious about telling people he's an author. He also explains the massive amount of help a launch team can be, in spreading the word about your book, and also in keeping you excited when your personal energy is running low.
This episode has some great insights into the experience of a first time author that don’t often get shared.
Three Key Takeaways:
· A launch team is comprised of people that are excited and happy to share the word about your book. They often come up with marketing ideas and help keep the ball rolling.
· When writing a book, write the book you’d want to read.
· Don’t start your writing journey trying to write a book. Start with a blog, getting in the habit of writing every day to build your skill and create a wealth of material you can draw from.
Unless you are writing a book with a co-author or ghostwriter, it probably feels like a very lonely task. But what if you could find a fellowship that provided encouragement and advice? Our guest today is Jeremy Madsen, Operations Manager for BK Authors an author group affiliated with the award–winning publisher Berrett-Koehler. This group helps authors and publishers bridge the gap to bring better books to market. Jeremy starts by helping us understand what an author’s group is all about. He explains that these communities, especially when supported by a publisher, can give authors a better awareness of the market and industry. In addition, mentoring is a sharing process that works best when all sides open up. Authors further down the path share advice from experience, while newer authors share information about new skills and tools that didn’t exist five years ago. Finally, we discuss the timeline of publishers versus authors. Publishers have limited resources, and need to move on to the next project as soon as possible, meaning they are by your side for mere months. The author’s timeline should be further-reaching, amortizing the investment over 5 – 7 years. Plus Jeremy shares the growing trend of publishers investing into a backlist of older titles, giving non-fiction books an even greater chance to see success over a longer course of years. Jeremy is deeply involved in both the writing and publishing community and brings unique insights in this episode that few others can provide. Three Key Takeaways: * Being part of an author community can be big morale booster to not be alone on the journey. * Don’t be afraid to reach out to established authors who have published books in your area of expertise. You’d be surprised how generous many will be with their time and advice. * A publication date has no bearing on the importance or usefulness of a book. It is a date of reference, not an expiration.
How does the world of thought leadership intersect with the growing technology of AI? A lot of news stories lately have focused on the use of AI "bots" to answer questions, generate images, or create entire dissertations on a topic. As the technology grows closer and closer to replicating actual human thinking, we have to ask, “How will AI be used in thought leadership?” To help better understand the field we are joined by Spencer Ante. Spencer has a background in business journalism, investigative reporting and was most recently the Head of Insights at Meta. We begin the discussion by looking back at the origins of thought leadership which has been around far longer than most people assume. Spencer lays out the three phases of thought leadership he has seen from company blogs in the early days of the internet, to more sophisticated uses blending owned content with earned, paid, and social media. The through threads of all of these are honesty and trust. Spencer explains why these aspects are the foundation of good thought leadership and how you risk your reputation when your thought leadership leans into the realms of product marketing or sales enablement. As for the future of AI, Spencer share how machine learning works – that it requires humans to feed it datasets and that humans will play a key role in that learning for decades to come, working to ensure that the information it is fed is factual and verified. As AI continues to learn it will still lack concepts such as empathy, creativity and the ability to generate original ideas, the ability to connect ideas that are not obviously related remains a human quality. This means AI will serve as a great tool for thought leaders to streamline content creation, having a great new source for communication, research and marketing. This is a great conversation on a topic that is going to be relevant for many years to come. Three Key Takeaways: * The need and dependence on thought leadership will continue to grow, as trust in media and governments dwindles with an expanding world. * When creating thought leadership, lead with the problem your product solves, and not the product itself. That's how you generate an audience. * AI is clever, but it's not innovative or insightful. Thought leaders need to realize that while AI can be of use, it's their insights and experience that will really change the game.
It is important for CEOs to have a personal brand that supports their organizational brand. That's why smart CEOs build their personal thought leadership early on, and maintain it throughout their careers. Today we are joined by Raoul Davis, the Founder, and CEO of Ascendant Group Branding one of the first and most integrated CEO branding firms. In addition Raoul is the author of Firestarters: How Innovators, Instigators, and Initiators Can Inspire You to Ignite Your Own Life which is based on interviews with entrepreneurs and leaders in many walks of life, this self-help book gives readers the tools for finding success in their careers, businesses, organizations, and private lives. Raoul starts by laying out the various types of branding you can build, such as personal and organizational. We learn how a CEO with a strong personal brand can create a sense of connection and commonality with customers, making them trust and want to interact with the company as an extension of the CEO. Building such a strong trusted brand can be accomplished best with thought leadership, which can be institutionalized across the organization as a way of demonstrating leadership in an organic way that is more powerful than traditional marketing. Raoul explains how thought leadership can be evergreen lasting far after you’ve finished paying for traditional marketing. It’s never too early to start building your thought leadership and your brand. Raoul shares advice for those early in their career on where they can start, such as by finding a niche within a larger area of expertise to drill down on and become an expert in. By sharing your thoughts and ideas on the subject on social and within your organization you can become the go-to person for that subject, which can open new doors of opportunity. This conversation provides excellent advice for starting or sharpening a personal and organizational brand that is useful to professionals at any stage of their career. Three Key Takeaways: · It is important for a CEO to have a brand that supports the brand of their organization. · Talk in terms of the interests of the audience, this allows you to communicate in a way that will provide value to them. · There is an authenticity to thought leadership when you are sharing what you know simply so others can benefit from it.
Producing consistent thought leadership is hard work! Thought leaders have to be deeply insightful in addition to a full plate of work, social life, and everything else. But as the best TL's know, consistent content is the only way to make sure your message gets out there and sticks. To discuss building and maintaining the momentum of thought leadership content, I’ve invited Verity Craft to join me for today's podcast. Verity is General Manager and Storyteller for Intelligent Ink where she helps purpose-driven experts become thought leaders that have a greater impact. Verity explains how thought leadership is like investing; it works best when you start early and stay consistent, even if you start small. Starting out you’ll need to use modest resources and grow, but you’ll also want to start as early in your career as possible, to maximize your returns down the road. Next, we discuss some common traps that people fall into that become a barrier to entry and consistency. Thought leadership means doing a lot of experimenting, while this might sound a bit frightening it means not having to have perfect ideas out of the gate. You can put your ideas out and refine them through discourse with your peers and followers. We don’t have to have a perfect idea or even know everything to start the journey. With some ideas in hand, we can start to create consistent content. Verity shares how you can keep on track by scheduling time to work on thought leadership with someone else. This creates a sense of responsibility and accountability that is harder to push aside. In addition, we learn how a single piece of content can be stripped down and repurposed for blog posts, social media posts, and even videos allowing your work to go further and reach a wider audience by using multiple modalities. If you are struggling to keep a consistent release schedule or feel like you’re not able to leverage your content properly this episode is full of great advice that will help you out. Three Key Takeaways: * Thought leadership is about trying things, testing things, refining things. And consistently working to make your insights sharper. * The strongest thought leadership creates a system of community and accountability, to ensure your content stays on track. * Experiment with breaking down your content, to be used on other mediums. The more ways people can access your content, the more it will spread.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are problems that require long term work in order to provide long term impact. So, why do companies keep seeking "quick fixes" and flashy solutions that just won’t work? To understand the issues the industry is facing in DEI, and the hard work needed to change organizations, we’ve invited Lily Zheng to join us. Lily is a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion speaker, strategist, and organizational consultant. Recently, they wrote DEI Deconstructed: Your No-Nonsense Guide to Doing the Work and Doing It Right, a definitive foundational text for critically analyzing and applying actionable DEI techniques and strategies. DEI is an ongoing issue for most organizations, so it’s baffling to think of it as a subject that ebbs and flows with trends. Lily explains why this continues to happen, and the dangers it poses to the long term success of DEI in the workplace. We learn that there are no short term fixes or hacks to solving the problem. It's going to take hard data and hard work to concretely change the way people think and act. Lily further shares how they help companies assess their workforce and understand what is going on beneath the surface. By collecting data on employee engagement, retention, promotion rates, and access to opportunity, Lily is able to get a clear picture of the problems the company is facing and provide solutions that change culture in a lasting manner. With so few best-practices and many underdeveloped strategies out there, Lily took it upon themselves to literally write the book on DEI. Today, they share how they hope the book can teach companies to hold themselves accountable, and also provide a critical resource for budding practitioners in the industry. Three Key Takeaways: * Complex problems such as DEI don’t have quick fixes. It's the nature of the beast. * Thought leadership is a way to up-skill your audience, allowing those who work with you to "skip the baby steps" and spend more time on the hard stuff. * Data has to be the core of problem solving. You can’t provide a solution, when you don’t understand the problem.
If you expect your book publisher to handle your marketing strategy, you are setting yourself up for disappointment. So what are your other options? Today, we have a pair of authors who have written 16 books between them, and they're here to help our audience better understand the world of publishing and marketing, and how to create a well-rounded platform for add-on offerings. Lee J. Colan is an Organizational Psychologist, CEO Advisor, Leadership Author, and Co-Founder of the L Group, Inc. Julie Davis-Colan is a CEO Advisor, Corporate Health Strategist, Leadership Author, Executive Coach, and Co-Founder of the L Group, Inc. Lee shares how they used the mid-size publisher Cornerstone Leadership Institute to publish their newest book Healthy Leadership: How to Thrive in the New World of Work. This publisher offers both publishing and marketing allowing them to get large quantities of the book cheaply and via their direct mail sampling method put the book on the desk of the right people. Next, we learn how Lee and Julie have recently written a book about creating a compelling purpose, engaging teams, culture, positive coaching, and more. All of which deal with aspects known as Growth Factors. All of these factors are built around the focus of Healthy Leadership. By focusing on Healthy Leadership as the core concept, they’ve been able to make their offerings cleaner and decisions easier. A great book with useful ideas won’t get far if it isn’t in the hands of the right people. We discover what the target audience loos like for Lee and Julie’s offerings. Finding the perfect client goes beyond the size of a company or the position they hold. You have to drill down to the mindset, finding the people that want to adopt your views and who are already investing in the education of themselves and their teams. Three Key Takeaways: * You need to find where your passion meets the needs of the market. * You can't have clear writing or clean speaking without clear thinking. * The right client is more about their mindset than the size of their company, or the position they hold.
The best and biggest ventures start by having a dream, and taking risks. Knowing when to keep your feet on the ground, and when to make a leap of faith, is a critical skill. But how do you know when it's time to jump? Our guest on today's podcast is Luke Battye, the founder of Sprint Valley, a change consultancy that helps teams enact their vision, navigate risks, and make bolder moves! In a bold move, Luke starts our conversation off with a fascinating thought experiment he has never done in an audio medium, in order to help us understand how people make decisions under uncertainty. In our conversation, Luke tells us more about human brain functions, and how the choices we make are based on system 1 and system 2 responses and those are what Luke targets to create change. Luke explains how Sprint Valley is merging the science of behavior change with the art of design thinking, to find ways to help people work hand in hand in order to solve complex problems. The amazing insights found in academia are put into tangible practice, turning the natural patterns of brain function into a model that can be understood and used in business. Often, the language of academia gets so specific it leaves the client out of the conversation. Luke shares his insights about the critical principle he calls, “taking the time to teach." By bridging the gap between learning and implementation, teams can instantly apply newly-discovered insights to challenges they are currently addressing. This episode is a deep dive into how the human brain functions, how consumers make choices, and the levers we can use to influence buyer intent. Three Key Takeaways: * Ideas are only useful if they're functional. Don’t fill your thought leadership with verbiage that will leave your audience baffled. * By making your methodologies open source you allow others to understand what you do and force yourself to be constantly innovating for the future. * Take the time to teach your audience. Don’t assume they understand the concepts or models you are discussing.
As a consultant, Bill Sherman has had the privilege of working with countless thought leaders that have shared their ideas and worked with him over the past twenty years. During that time he has built and refined the Four Elements framework which helps sharpen their thinking and communicate an idea effectively. The first element is Ideas – these are the building blocks of thought leadership. In this framework, an idea is a short, provocative statement that catches the attention of the target audience and gets them wanting to know more. Our next element is Content – This is made up of a content library that encompasses the stories, data, antidotes, case studies, and examples that support the idea. If an idea is to provoke discussion, then the content is persuasion. A content library should be well organized and well documented. When it is stuck in the thought leader's head or buried on a hard drive somewhere it creates a barrier to reaching scale. The third element is Offerings – This is where you’ll put your big ideas and persuasive content into a deliverable package. These offerings need to be tailored to the right audience. You don’t want to offer whitepaper to a Gen Z audience or short form video to readers of the Harvard Business Review. Your offerings also need to lead with value and signal relevance to your audience. The final element is Platform – this might be the most overlooked element. Think of the platform as the brand for your ideas. The marketplace for brands is very noisy and without a strong platform, your ideas are sure to get lost. The platform needs to answer questions like “What are these ideas about?”, “What problems do they solve?” and “Who should use them?” all without you being in the room or on zoom. For more information on the Four Elements, you can read the whitepaper mentioned in the episode on Bill’s LinkedIn. Three Key Takeaways: · Every interaction has a transaction cost of time. If you want a fraction of your audience’s time you need to provide value. · When working with a team it is important to have your content organized so that each member can access and deploy content without the need to ask where to find it or what it means. · The number of ways you can package your content is endless but the interest and time of your audience are not. Lead with value and relevance.
How do you take a personality trait that many might consider a setback, and turn it into a multi-faceted business? My guest today is Marcel Wijermars, the founder of Introverted Leadership and keynote speaker for the well-known speech, "The Introvert Way to Create a Life of Abundance." Years ago, Marcel realized his introverted nature was having a negative impact on his professional life. He had difficulties meeting people and networking, and those challenges were holding him back in business. Through self-experimentation, Marcel created models and frameworks to help himself overcome these challenges, and now shares those insights, helping thousands of others understand and appreciate their introverted nature. Being an introvert doesn’t mean you are shy or have poor social skills. Introversion means that you don't get energy from social interaction. Marcel shares why fellow introverts need to be more strategic around which connections give them inspiration and are most beneficial to their business. Marcel gives some valuable tips for introverts traveling and attending events to help manage the energy drain. If you self-identify as an introvert or have associates who do this episode can help you better understand the difficulties and how to overcome them. Three Key Takeaways: * Finding your audience can be as easy as looking for the symptoms of the problem you are looking to solve. * Don’t let what others consider a negative trait hold you back. It could in fact be the key to an entire business model. * Introverts need to focus their time on the connections that are most impactful to their business.
Imagine running a $100,000,000 company that produces airline magazines. Great, right? But then came the Covid era in 2020. When the world literally brings your company to a standstill, how do you move forward? Today, I'm talking with Simon Leslie, the co-founder and CEO of Ink Global, a media company that connects brands with global audiences. Simon is also the author of several books, including, There is No F in Sales: A Book About Selling in Every Market Condition and Equanimity: The Diary of a CEO in Crisis. We start our conversation by talking about Simon's first book, There is No F in Sales, which shines a light on his years of sales experience. Publishing the book brought a new level of credibility to his thought leadership, allowing Simon to take bigger steps in telling the story of his business to wider audiences. As if the world wanted to put his book to the ultimate test, the pandemic ground his business to a halt. Still, that didn’t stop Simon. He shares how a series of conversations with other business leaders, meant to inspire his team, caused the spark that turned into his third book, Equanimity. Like many good stories of hardship, Simon’s ends with an epic comeback! With courage, Ink Global made a huge transformation, heavily investing in digital technology and leading the way to new horizons. Now their content can be found on screens at gates, bars, and restaurants of airports around the world. Plus Simon explains how they feed their content into passengers' social media, based on their travels, to connect brands with audiences in an all-new way. Three Key Takeaways: * Being a visible thought leader for your company allows you to tell the story of your brand on stages you might never get invited to. * Don’t look at your business and think “we are doing ok”. A handful of good or bad deals is all that separates failure and success. * Have the courage to keep moving forward and transform when needed.
Your main goal as a thought leader is to get your insights into the world. But if your communication doesn't live up to its message, then your thought leadership will gather dust on a shelf To offer insights that elevate your communication, I’ve invited Emmy Award winning Journalist Jane Hanson to join me for today's podcast. In addition to being a journalist, Jane is a coach with thirty years of helping people communicate more clearly, more efficiently, and with greater panache. Jane shares a recent study that revealed the average American has an eight second attention span. Eight seconds! That means thought leaders have to be able to take advantage of a tiny flicker of time to communicate ideas quickly and clearly. Often, thought leaders are better at communicating in a single medium. However, to be successful, you'll need to master many different mediums - because different audiences have different preferences! Jane shares great advice for learning new mediums, and offers elements to strengthen your message in any form. Jane shares why thought leaders should follow in the footsteps of comedians, rehearsing their material over and over, working on timing, inflection, and nuance. If you are deeply familiar with your strongest talking points, speaking in front of crowds will become easier, and your speeches will appear more natural. Plus, we learn how to get personal with an audience by mingling and getting to know them before an event, adding touches that make your keynote feel tailor-made for that audience. Jane shares so much advice for becoming a better communicator. You are going to want to listen to the episode, read the transcript, and take notes! Three Key Takeaways: * Good communication is the heart and soul of thought leadership. * Tailor your message to the audience to increase clarity and impact. * Strife to deliver your ideas with passion, confidence, and comfort.
What is a model? How can you make one? How do you know if it is useful and what is a validated model? Statistician George P. Box once said, "All models are wrong, but some of them are useful." Models give us ways to depict how our insights relate to one another, and create structure that can be supported by statistical data – validating and confirming your ideas. Today, we take a deep dive into the process that turns insights into validated models. We will explore the topic with Dr. A.J. Marsden, Associate Professor at Boston College's Psychology and Human Services Department; she's also Thought Leadership Leverage's resident Organizational Psychologist. A.J. clearly defines models, and describes where they come from and how they function. We learn the basic components of a model, and why models need to be clean, simple, and free from anything that isn’t essential. A.J goes on to explain why a good model needs structure and well defined dimensions, and breaks down how insights interact with each other on a fundamental level. In addition, you need to define observable behaviors in order to measure dimensions, providing valuable data for proving the model's validity and reliability. Creating a validated model means finding any weak spots in your content, and correcting them. A.J. describes the process, and goes into the statistical techniques used to create predictive validity. From there, a model can be written up in a technical report that provides functional numerical data to back up the insight and provide proof of your content's validity. If you are a stats nerd, data curious, or just struggling to identify what makes your insights "tick," this is the perfect episode for you. Three Key Takeaways: * When gathering data it is important to use participants that know and understand the concepts being used in the model. * Part of building a good model is understanding how the dimensions interact, and how the ideas support one another. * While you can create a model on your own, it can only be confirmed by a statistics professional who can develop a technical report. Without that, a model isn't validated.
Have you ever thought about writing a book to codify what your business does, and what it stands for? And once you do, how long should you work to promote that book after it hits the shelves? To discuss these questions and more, I've invited Becky Robinson to join me for this episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership. Becky is the Founder and CEO of Weaving Influence where she works with business book authors to build their platform and grow the reach of their work. Additionally, Becky has become her own client having authored Reach: Create the Biggest Possible Audience for Your Message, Book or Cause. Our conversation begins with the difficult topic of measuring the ROI of a business book. Becky shares how that equation held her back from starting a book - until the pandemic hit. With some extra time, she started the journey, seeking to have her book launch coincide with the ten year anniversary of her business. Launching a book and running a company that specializes in the book publishing field gave Becky aunique perspective. Becky discusses some of the methods she used to get her book into the world, including pushing for100 Amazon reviews in the first month. To accomplish this, she sent 400 physical copies of the book to friends, colleagues, and anyone who would get value from it. She explains how a physical copy with a personalized note and signature has a far higher return than simply emailing a PDF. The journey of writing the book forced some additional clarity around the content Becky has used for years. She explains how she developed the four commitments, and defined the concept of "reach" in thought leadership publishing. In addition, she shares the importance of defining various terms, and the iterations authors go through in determining title and subtitle before landing on a final version. If you're planning to write a book, have a book coming out, or are out there supporting one - this episode is trove of advice that can help you reach your widest audience! Three Key Takeaways: * Online reviews are important for new books. They provide social "proof" of your insights and help create * Your book can’t be for everyone. You’ll need to focus on the people that need your book right now. * Don’t view book marketing as a project with an end date. It is a life-long commitment.
Why do people buy?
Does it come down to price and features, or are our purchasing habits driven by deeper needs? To better understand consumers, and how to successfully influence their purchasings, I’ve invited Kathy Risch to join me on our podcast. Kathy is the Senior Vice President, Shopper Insights & Thought Leadership at Acosta, where they provide sales, marketing, and commercial solutions to help lift businesses to success. We begin by examining the similarities and differences between purchasing physical things versus buying intangible ideas. Kathy explains that while data is black and white, people are not. Purchasing habits are based on emotions and needs; therefore, selling a product is easier when you speak to the problems that the product solves for the buyer. Selling ideas can take many forms; speaking on stage, running webinars for hundreds, or working one-on-one. Regardless of medium, Kathy says, you must always set the tone, remaining clear, organized, and straightforward when sharing your insights and ideas. In addition, you need to provide value in exchange for a client's time, delivering fresh and interesting solutions with actionable steps. If you are struggling to connect your ideas to your audience, this episode will provide valuable tips to help you get buy-in and make the sale. Three Key Takeaways: * You need to connect your product's brand and vision with the emotional needs of the buyer * Always be willing to explore new modalities, even if it goes outside your comfort zone. You need to meet your audience where they already get their information. * Fresh insights tend to rise above the noise – always provide interesting and actionable discoveries, to show your value right away.
Can your insights literally change people's lives? That's great! But how do you make sure everyone hears what you have to say? My guest today is Stacy Mayer, a consultant and coach who works with women seeking to get promoted into higher level leadership positions. Stacy talks about her book, Promotions Made Easy: A Step-by-Step Guide to the Executive Suite, from the process of writing, to the effect the book has had on her business and her life. Stacy shares her writing journey, and talks about the impact the book has had since its publishing, elevating her credibility and ability to leverage her thought leadership. Even more, it's had a profound influence on her, personally, as people echo back the importance of her ideas. Now she sees how much deeper she can take her work, helping more women move up the ranks in big business. The effects of the book don’t stop there. The book has also increased her offerings as a coach! Previously, she offered a six-week group training program, but now it has evolved to a lifetime enrollment offering peer round tables, guest coaches, and so much additional knowledge that she's been able to increase her fees. While the outcome of the book is all positive, getting it written wasn’t without hardships. The idea for writing a book came from her husband and those who listen to her podcast Women Changing Leadership, feeling that she already had all the material she’d need for a book. Yet when faced with a blank page it didn’t come easy. Stacy shares how the realization that she didn’t have to start with the introduction, she could write the book in whichever order made sense by collecting the knowledge she had in spreadsheets and various documents she’d written over the years. Three Key Takeaways: * A thought leadership book allows your ideas to stand on their own, and reach people you may never meet in person. * Getting out and talking about your book will help grow your business, but others talking about your work will increase your reach faster. * A book doesn’t have to be written in the order it will be read. Write to your passion, and write the connective tissue as you move ahead.
At one time the undisputed best embodiment of a set of ideas was a book. It was the clear winner, but is that still true? To explore today's best mediums for written media, we’ve turned to five-time New York Times bestselling author Dan Pink. Dan has worked as a writer for politicians and the government before going out on his own to write seven books about business, work, creativity, and behavior. Dan shares why you need to be "medium-agnostic," capable of publishing on many different mediums of media. He shares ways to test your ideas in various mediums, from books to Instagram, from TikTok to long-form articles. Once you've spread your wings a bit, you can build upon a broader foundation, leaning in on the ideas with depth and staying power. While much has changed in the publishing industry over the last twenty years, the need for robust, insightful ideas remains paramount. We discuss the need for thought leaders to produce quality content that engages your audience - and sparks your enthusiasm, too! If you’ve lost interest in your own ideas, the reader will never get hooked. They're only going to be as excited about your insights as you are in talking about them. When trying to determine the best medium for an idea you have to let the material tell you. Dan explains why you have to check the idea by asking “Are you sure?” to avoid having a bloated book that wastes the reader's time and undermines the idea. Three Key Takeaways: * Authors need to be good risk managers. Keep a low overhead, spend money on things that make money, and save money on everything else. * Think of a book as a long-term proposition and stick with it. Try other mediums – a lot of them! – to back up your book ideas. * It takes a certain level of maturity to leave some of your work on the editing floor, but remember that the reader needs to be entertained as well as educated - and keep things simple.
What does it take to put a great idea out into the world - and see it grow? When you have an idea that can potentially help millions, you have to be ready for the challenges that come along with trying to spread the word. Our guest today is Dr. Richard Safeer, the Chief Medical Director, Employee Health and Well-Being at Johns Hopkins Medicine. On January 19th, 2023 his first book, Cure for the Common Company: A Well-Being Prescription for a Happier, Healthier, and More Resilient Workforce hits the market, providing practical tips on creating a culture of well-being. When we think of health and well-being we rarely think of it as a team activity, but we need to have supportive people and supportive environments, including at our workplace. Richard shares how management and HR professionals can be a positive force for workers both in the office and while working remotely. He tells us about his time working at Johns Hopkins, putting the pieces together to develop an employee health and well-being strategy known as "Healthy at Hopkins," which would become the basis for his book. Richard discusses the challenges and growth that were required to get his work to market. He wrote the book without an agent (or contract), but after signing the contract, he realized that - while his work was extremely valuable, it wasn't entertaining! With inspiration from his favorite authors, Richard rewrote the book, seeking to bring more fun and catch the audience's attention, while still providing value and practical tips. Richard tells us how he is not a self-promoter by nature, but the need to get his ideas to the people that would benefit drove him to reach out and learn the skills necessary to market the book. Three Key Takeaways: * Ideas for a book can bubble up from decades of work and experience. * A book that is composed of dry facts probably won’t make an impact. Your work has to be entertaining, in addition to providing value. * To put your ideas into a practical process, you may need to simplify and focus on the details.
Happy New Year! This episode showcases the best of our 2022 podcast. Listen in to hear some great insights from four amazing guests: Kelly Wright is the Founder of Culture Driven Sales which helps companies create exceptional cultures. She is also the President and COO of Gong, a company that analyses customer facing interactions to deliver the insights needed to close more deals. Kelly helps us connect thought leadership and sales. We learn why companies want to work with thought leadership partners that will challenge them and create a better environment for sales. Kelly shares what sales can do to aid in that goal and the tools they’ll need to succeed. Kimberly Ellison-Taylor is an experienced accountant and active member and CEO of KET Solutions, a consulting firm focused on business growth, innovation, strategy, transformation and inclusive leadership. Kimberly has served on a number of boards and shares how thought leadership can help you prepare for such a position. Being a thought leader means having a broad perspective and an insightful, distinct view to share. Kimberly also shares how you can help the board identify gaps in their knowledge, patch them, and then use that knowledge to serve their market both internally and externally. Mark Smith is the Director, HR Thought Leadership at the Society of Human Resource Management (aka: SHRM). Mark has a Ph.D. in Industrial-Organizational Psychology and years of experience in Human Resources consulting. Mark holds the first thought leadership position at his company and was responsible for building the role from the ground up. We learn the steps he had to take to make it a meaningful position within the organization and how he discovered ways to bridge the gap between the important research they were conducting and the audience they hoped to reach. Adam Zuckerman is the Product Leader, Employee Engagement Software at Willis Towers Watson, a company offering data-driven insight-led solutions in the areas of people, risk, and capital. In the last couple of years Adam has focused more on the visibility of thought leadership for the product. One of the ways he is accomplishing that is through social media, specifically LinkedIn, a platform he had previously ignored. Adam shares ways to use the platform as a powerful tool to build relationships, discover new ideas, and hone your content. Three Key Takeaways: * Thought Leadership can help you punch above your weight if you can reach your audience in meaningful ways with actionable content. * Effective thought leadership needs to be well researched, and place its insights into the hands of those that need it most. * Social media can be a powerful tool for reaching your audience, and by listening to your audience you can sharpen your content.
As we move into the New Year, we like to stop and look back at a few of the wonderful guests we’ve had the pleasure of talking with during the year. We hope you’ll take a moment to really internalize their great advice! Art Kleiner is the Editor in Chief and Principal at Kleiner Powell International (KPI). In addition, he's an author and editorial consultant for influential thought leadership. Art starts our New Year's podcast off right by discussing difficulties one faces in building an audience. While technology has increased our reach, it also causes us to gather an audience that's fragmented across various platforms. Art shares the keys to building a sustainable audience: showing up consistently, finding ways to connect, and meeting your audience on their turf. Dan Pontefract is the Founder of the Pontefract Group, leadership strategist, author and keynote speaker. Dan discussed navigating being a public thought leader while working for an organization. This can often be a tricky position to be in and Dan explains how he managed to grow his brand as a thought leader while keeping the best interest of his organization in mind. Last but certainly not least we have Stephen M. R. Covey. He is the co-founder of Covey Link and Franklin Covey, a bestselling author and a global authority on trust, leadership and culture. Stephen shares his experience growing from an analog to digital space and the forward thinking ideas needed to drive change and stay at the top of your game in a digital world. Three Key Takeaways: * Growing a loyal audience means producing consistent content and finding ways to connect in meaningful ways. * When producing thought leadership while working for another organization you have to balance the needs of the company with your own wants. * Finding success in the digital marketplace means transitioning your intellectual property into things like certifications and workshops.
Thought leadership creates real results - but measuring them can be difficult, especially in the short-term. But smart thought leaders know: it's the long-term results that really change the game! Dorie Clark has been twice named one of the Top 50 Business Thinkers in the World by Thinkers50, and the #1 Communication Coach in the World by the Marshall Goldsmith Leading Global Coaches Awards. She’s a consultant, keynote speaker, and author of multiple books including her newest: The Long Game: How to Be a Long-Term Thinker in a Short-Term World. She knows that lasting success takes persistence, effort, and day-by-day advancement, completing a thousand small goals along the way. Our conversation begins on the topic of personal branding. How do you differentiate branding from thought leadership? Dorie explains how thought leadership can create trust and even put you ahead of the competition, by giving potential clients a sneak peek into who you are and where you specialize. Still, it takes long-term work to create lasting success.Dorie shares her insights into the pains a lot of thought leaders suffer when they first start creating content, and how to hang on for the first few years before your big results manifest. By combining consistent content and using multiple modalities to reach your audience, thought leadership efforts can have a huge impact on your business. Lastly, Dorie discusses her newest book, and how publishing can add to your thought leadership movement. Peter and Dorie discuss books as revenue drivers (they aren't), and how a book can introduce your audience to your content, share your most valuable insights, and generate interest in your work. Combined with a strategic business model, a book release can be an important part of building a viable business for speaking, consulting, online courses and more. Three Key Takeaways: * Thought leadership can create a level of trust and familiarity with a potential client. This can be the difference maker that sets you apart. * While there can be overlap between thought leadership and content marketing, thought leadership should be more substantive and less transactional. * Thought leadership needs many touch-points for its audience to engage. Consider writing articles, guesting on or hosting a podcast, doing keynotes, and writing a book. The more modalities you utilize, the better chance you have of reaching your audience.
For decades, businesses have used a "command and control" method of leadership, a top-down authoritative approach that gives privilege and power only to senior management. Today, finding and retaining talent is harder than ever. So why do so many businesses continue to use this outdated style? To examine the changing landscape of leadership I’ve invited one of the foremost experts on trust and leadership to join me. Stephen M. R. Covey is the CEO of CoveyLink, Global Practice Leader at Franklin Covey and a New York Times and #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author of Trust and Inspire. Stephen’s newest book Trust and Inspire, offers a new way to lead that is based on today’s workers and workplace. He shares with us why updating our style of leadership is so critical right now and what can be accomplished by having a high trust culture. Trust can be complicated to manage and manifest. Stephen explains how to build trust at scale (both in person and remotely); what to do when trust has been broken, and the role that the themes of Trust & Inspire can play in Thought Leadership. If you feel your leadership style is no longer meeting the needs of your organization, you’ll learn a lot from this episode. Three Key Takeaways: * Having a culture of trust will help you attract and retain talent. * Building trust at scale means being the model for that behavior both in private and publicly. Once others see it you become an example others can replicate. * Do not attempt to separate the principle of your message from the practice of it. Doing so can cause your message to come off as fake or disingenuous.
Our world is filled with a massive amount of content that demands attention. How do you package your thought leadership in a way that is worthy of your audience’s time? In order to explore ways to create sustainable thought leadership I’ve invited Christopher Fox to join me. Chris is the founder and managing partner of Syncresis, which focuses on thought leadership for financial innovators: banks, financial service providers, and fintechs. A lot of brilliant ideas die on the shelf because no one heard them. Chris helps us understand what it takes to get your ideas heard and have the audience embrace them. His method of creating a Content Hive involves using all the mediums available to reach the several audiences and deliver various facets of your thought leadership to them in meaningful ways that actually change perceptions. While some might think this means blasting your thought leadership out to as many people as possible Chris explains why drilling down to the specific person and position that can have the largest influence on your business can be more effective. Thought leadership created with those people in mind can always be expanded on later for a larger audience relatively inexpensively. As individuals we have a limited amount of attention we can give to the glut of content and information that is thrown at us each day. Chris shares why thought leaders have an ethical responsibility to deliver content that creates a higher value for their audience. He also warns that if you put out content that wastes their time it poisons the soil and makes planting the next idea that much harder. Three Key Takeaways: * Thought Leadership is not about mass scale; it's about getting insights into the hands of decision-makers who are receptive to it. * When creating thought leadership, don’t think of your audience in broad terms. Try to identify the people it can influence most, who have the most influence on moving your ideas forward. * Working with a thought leadership partner allows them to ask the hard questions, and force your content to become sharper and more focused on the right audience.
Many professionals end up in a career that might not represent their passion or the bigger purpose they might want out of life. So what do you do then? To explore how to discover your purpose and find the ambition to go from idea to reality, I’ve invited Sam Seidel and Olatunde Sobomehin to share their thoughts with us. Sam Seidel is the Director of Strategy and Research at the Stanford d.school and author of Hip Hop Genius: Remixing High School Education, which introduces an iteration of hip-hop education that goes far beyond studying music as classroom content. Olatunde Sobomehin is the CEO and Co-Founder of StreetCode Academy, a nonprofit that helps bridge the digital divide, empowering communities of color to achieve their full potential by teaching the mindset, skills, and strategies they need to embrace tech and innovation. Earlier this year, Sam and Olatunde co-authored Creative Hustle: Blaze Your Own Path and Make Work That Matters. We begin our conversation discussing their book, which began as a course taught by Sam and Olatunde at the d.school. In the course, they taught about ways to identify and navigate your creative path, and how to make a living doing things that matter. It wasn’t until co-workers approached them and presented the idea of turning the course into a book that they realized the direction had greater potential. Sam and Olatunde explain how the words "Creative Hustle" are perfect for their endeavor; a combination of imagination and ambition. They want to share insights about finding new creative paths that inspire, building diverse viewpoints, and creating ventures that benefit yourself and your community, while bringing enough entrepreneurial energy to move those ideas forward. In addition, we discuss the journey of co-authoring the book, which is often a tumultuous road. Sam shares how the experience of having a co-author is preferred to writing solo and how the experience bought him so much closer to Olatunde. Three Key Takeaways: * When authoring a book, you should also be considering the business models that can be used once it is published to avoid chasing the hype. * Working with a co-author allows you to push each other to be better and make sure your ideas are concrete. * During the process of writing a book, take some time to enjoy the process.
Are your marketing and sales teams aligned to the overall business goals of your company, or is each team focused on their own success? In this episode, we sit down with Winston Henderson, Founder of ICAD Marketing and ICAD Equip. Winston has worked in both sales and marketing in the past, and now focuses on revenue alignment, and using thought leadership to bring sales and marketing together as a single, unified force. Our conversation starts with Winston's definition of "revenue alignment," and what it looks like when done successfully. Winston shapes our understanding of the power that content marketing and sales have when working together, and how they can define the customer journey - driving revenue for the entire organization. When this happens, neither department is focused on their own metrics or wins. Instead, they unify their efforts, understanding when to take the lead role and when to hand it off, and building a partnership that has exponentially more strength together than either might achieve on their own. With so many organizations struggling to find this kind of alignment, Winston shares a few of the most common reasons why teams can't unify - and three things you can start doing right now to bring yours into sync. In addition, we discuss the role that empathy plays in finding alignment throughout an organization. Winston explains that teams need to be able to step out of their bubble in order to better understand how the other functions in your company operate, and their value to your work and to the whole. Once teams have that understanding, they can better see the system as a whole, and take steps to bridge any gaps that might exist between team functions. That kind of alignment is powerful, and can change the game. Three Key Takeaways: * Don't confuse thought leadership with content marketing. Smart leaders understand the difference, and how to best use each function. * You can achieve better alignment by spending time with those outside of your role. Learn to understand other functions and perspectives, and your organization will do better as a whole. * Understand why your current customers are choosing to do business with you. This can help you better fulfill their needs, and build a strategy to increase customer satisfaction, org reputation, and revenue.
Creativity. Invention. Collaboration. Three skills that are at the heart of design, and the center of great thought leadership. Many people narrowly define "designing," whittling it down to simple artistic talent; drawing, painting, or other traditional crafts. But design is a huge world of possibility, covering thousands of mediums and a fantastic variety of skills that drive creativity, spark invention, create authentic connection, and encourage collaboration. Charlotte Burgess-Auburn is a self-described artist, educator, and extroverted introvert. She's also the Director of Community at the Stanford d.school, where she teaches the role of self-awareness in creativity and design. Her book, You Need a Manifesto: How to Craft Your Convictions and Put Them to Work, is an essential "how-to" for crafting a guiding document that establishes your intentions, increases your creativity, and helps you maintain focus and conviction as you push toward your goals. Charlotte’s role as Director of Community started in the very early days of the school's establishment, and she's always been a creative force, helping the d.school's growth. Unlike the typical slower pace of research, the d.school specializes in swift cycles, rapid iteration of design, and innovative thinking. Charlotte discusses that cycle, and shares how her role has evolved from connecting with students, running info sessions, and encouraging the school's growth, to overseeing a larger group of people who collectively help students learn "thought design skills" that will help them excel when they enter the larger world outside of Stanford. One of the ways Charlotte explains her role is as "a champion for self-awareness," helping designers and tech producers understand each other's function, needs, and dependencies, and work better together. Too many people think of design as a soft, easy-to-master skill - and they'd be wrong! Design thinking shapes goals, builds connection with the audience, and sparks creativity and curiosity. Charlotte shares how she prepares students to deal with difficult critiques, giving them the resources to work with feedback so that both designers and tech creators understand why both sides of the coin are necessary to create a valuable whole. There's no substitute for true creativity and invention, and design thinking elevates any craft, moving it from "what gets it done" to "how can we solve problems, drive innovation, and foster collaboration?" That's the heart of thought leadership, and that's where Charlotte's insights shine. Three Key Takeaways: * Design skills such as creativity, collaboration, and rapid iteration, are essential to leadership roles. These "soft skills" elevate the game. * Being comfortable with change and learning how to think on your feet builds the capacity to handle even the toughest challenges. * Connections and relationships are important - even when they're outside your field. Learning from those with different skills and interests broadens your understanding, and makes you a better leader.
It's certain that thought leadership brings great value to an organization, but how do you calculate the actual ROI of your thought leadership investment?
To demystify the ROI of thought leadership, I’ve invited Cindy Anderson and Anthony Marshall to join me for a discussion. Cindy Anderson is the Global Lead for Thought Leadership Engagement and Eminence, and Anthony Marshall is the Senior Research Director for Thought Leadership, both from the IBM Institute for Business Value.
In this episode, we talk about the IBM Institute for Business Value’s 20 year history delivering thought-provoking insights to business leaders about emerging trends, opportunities, and challenges. Their thought leadership reports offer prescriptive recommendations to address the most pressing challenges and opportunities, and to help determine future organizational success. Since 2004, they have conducted groundbreaking surveys, growing from 300 CEO respondents to more than 3000. Due to the long history of the survey, they have a long horizon of data to track global changes in the CEO role, responsibilities, and best practices. Recently, Cindy and Anthony lead a double blind survey of CEOs, seeking to discover the ROI of thought leadership. The survey included questions on thought leadership consumption, purchasing decisions, and more, all designed to shape insight on the effects of thought leadership, and guide CEO spending. The result was shocking! The data showed that the ROI was 156%, more than 16 times a typical marketing campaign's effectiveness.
We wrap up the conversation discussing how Cindy and Anthony intend to tell the story of their research. They are writing a book which will be published in 2023, including survey data, information captured in follow-ups, the calculations used, and even a tool that companies can use to calculate their own thought leadership ROI! If you've ever tried to measure the impact of your org's thought leadership investment, this is a critical episode. Don't miss it!
Three Key Takeaways:
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Long-term surveys provide essential longitudinal data, showing change over time and tracking trends that underline permanent global shifts.
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In order for thought leadership to flourish in an organization there needs to be an immense level of support from the CEOs - the TL team can't do it alone!
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CEOs spend an average of 2 hours a week consuming thought leadership. To keep them engaged, you need to produce content that is rigorous, robust, and relevant.
One host is good but two are better!
On this episode, Leveraging Thought Leadership's hosts, Peter Winick and Bill Sherman, get together to share their insights about organizational thought leadership, institutionalizing it across an organization, and how it can create authentic relationships and increase audience loyalty.
There's no straightforward way to stand up a thought leadership function or position within an organization. Our hosts share their thoughts on that, and on organizations hiring for thought leadership positions (something unheard of only a few years ago!). The people filling these roles are coming from varied backgrounds – and that helps them bring unique perspectives forward, keeping an audience\s focus on the message rather than the medium.
In the past, the face of organizational thought leadership might be treated like a rock star, going out on speaking gigs and taking the spotlight. While part of that image is still true, organizations today want many disparate voices sharing their thought leadership. A chorus of voices shows that your organization is full of smart people, and that helps attract and retain others.
We round out the conversation by discussing how thought leaders can leverage relationships in order to drive ideas. Narrowcasting (or point casting) your thought leadership to a niche group that can have the most impact can be a game changer, but those relationships can’t survive if they only exist on social media. Those relationships need to be fostered over the phone, in person, and in meaningful ways.
Three Key Takeaways:
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Research shows that three things are needed for successful thought leadership: Buy in from senior leadership, time, and creativity.
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Seeing results from thought leadership requires a long time horizon. Much like research and development, you can’t expect quick results.
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Keynote speakers need to deliver more than entertainment. They need to bring something relevant, insightful, and actionable.
In a world filled with so many voices, how do you distinguish yourself, and show your value? By sharing your ideas freely, and bringing the audience to you!
In today's episode, I’ve invited Malcolm Hawker to join me for a discussion around the value of sharing thought leadership insights outside of the traditional advisory paywall. Malcolm is the Head of Data Strategy for Profisee Software, where they help enterprises solve complex data quality issues that hold them back from so many initiatives.
At a previous company, Malcolm's insights were placed behind a paywall; in order to gain access to his ideas you had to "buy in." Malcolm shares why he moved to a smaller tech firm, ditched the paywall, and immediately saw results. While the larger firm had brand equity and recognition, the freedom of medium and message he's achieved at his new position has allowed him to reach a far broader audience while maintaining alignment with the needs of his company. That's the best of both worlds!
Malcolm discusses how he learned to listen to potential clients, and ask probing questions that get right to the root of their issues. This process often takes them into "negative space" – breaking open new topics and challenges that are critical to their future. This is where thought leadership has its most impact for your audience - and they'll reward you with loyalty, knowing that your ideas are sound.
In addition to paywalls, scaling, and crafting a narrative, we discuss authenticity and entertainment. Malcolm shares how video can be a powerful tool to reach an audience, but warns that a balance between insight and entertainment must be found in order to bring value to your work. While your audience is unlikely to watch a bland talking head, they’re looking for new ideas, insights, and awareness of their challenges that really makes them lean in and say, "This thought leader gets it!" This episode is great for explaining why there's value in sharing your ideas - take a listen, and see if you agree.
Three Key Takeaways:
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Leaving the paywall behind can have long term benefits that offset the revenue made from being behind the paywall.
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As a thought leader for a vendor you need to have separation. If you want to be recognized as a trusted expert in your field you can’t simultaneously be peddling your company’s product.
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Everyone has value to add. Share your ideas and insights and the value will come back to you in time.
Does your thought leadership content focus on hyping your organization or brand, or are you weaving stories where your audience can picture themselves as the hero?
If the second option isn't your answer - you may be doing it wrong!
Thought leadership can ensure you connect with the right audience in a meaningful way. Focusing on your audience and creating content that forges a genuine connection is one of thought leadership's strengths - but to utilize it properly, you have to know how to tell the story. Cristina Loughrey is a narrative architect and content strategist with 15+ years of experience in marketing, communications, and experiential marketing (events). She has multiple degrees in rhetoric, sociolinguistics, and analyzing societal narratives in popular American culture.
Cristina addresses audience advocacy, and why it's important that the audience you want can see themselves in the story of your brand. Building that connection makes your relationship with the audience stronger. Cristina provides us with a deep understanding about how we should think about our audience, and how to find ways to speak to their hearts and minds.
Cristina goes on to discuss why you need to provide room for your audience to relate and connect, and how to use storytelling to put the audience right in the middle of your content. By telling the story in a way that connects, the audience begins to see themselves as the hero of the story - and that engages them in a more dynamic way.
With social media data, we no longer need to "write into the void," just hoping our message hits the audience in the right way. Cristina shares why she focuses on qualitative over quantitative data, allowing that information to inform the construction of stories that are deeply relevant to the audience.
If you’ve been dishing out content but don’t feel like your message is being heard, this episode can help you fine-tune your story and engage your audience.
Three Key Takeaways:
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When seeking to grab the attention of your audience the meaning of your message needs to be in the first few opening sentences.
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Telling an interesting story isn’t enough. You need to present it from the viewpoint of the audience, ensuring it gives them value for their time.
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Don’t look for an immediate payoff using thought leadership. It takes time and consistency to build trust.
Most people think that once you’ve hit the big role at your company, it’s smooth sailing. The reality is far different. C-suite positions often have hardships, and many executives deal with a lot of stress and difficulty in their job. Once you stop and realize that corporate life isn’t fulfilling for you, how do you move on?
On this episode, Jennie Blumenthal, founder and CEO of Corporate Rehab joins us to share her journey from executive to entrepreneur, and how she uses what she learned through more than 20 years in corporate America to help others find their way. Jennie's also the author of Corporate Rehab: Ditch the Hustle Culture and Thrive Again, and we're fortunate to have her share her insights with us, today.
During the Pandemic, Jennie was able to take a moment to stop and think about the corporate ladder she had been climbing. She stopped and asked herself, “Where is this going?” - and the answer was not one she liked. Following her heart, Jennie left her corporate job and started the journey of a thought leader, founding Corporate Rehab to help others in the same position. Jennie shares the hardships of the transition from corporate exec to entrepreneur, and how she needed to be brutally honest with herself about what she wanted to achieve, where she wanted to spend her time, and what it was better to outsource.
While thought leadership played a role in Jennie’s corporate position, she explains how it becomes so much more important for entrepreneurs. Without a big brand behind you, you need to produce quality content that shows your unique perspective, and find a way to share it so that others will lean in and listen to your insights.
Jennie shares valuable advice for people looking to leave corporate life, or those who already have - and are still struggling to find their way.
Three Key Takeaways:
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Once you are out on your own you need to think hard about what your voice is and how you’ll use it to impact your audience.
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As an entrepreneur you won’t be able to outspend big companies but thought leadership is the equalizer that lets you outthink them.
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Thought Leadership content can be used to build a rapport and relationship with an audience that will have value even if they are not in a buying position.
Most people think that once you’ve hit the big role at your company, it’s smooth sailing. The reality is far different. C-suite positions often have hardships, and many executives deal with a lot of stress and difficulty in their job. Once you stop and realize that corporate life isn’t fulfilling for you, how do you move on?
On this episode, Jennie Blumenthal, founder and CEO of Corporate Rehab joins us to share her journey from executive to entrepreneur, and how she uses what she learned through more than 20 years in corporate America to help others find their way. Jennie's also the author of Corporate Rehab: Ditch the Hustle Culture and Thrive Again, and we're fortunate to have her share her insights with us, today.
During the Pandemic, Jennie was able to take a moment to stop and think about the corporate ladder she had been climbing. She stopped and asked herself, “Where is this going?” - and the answer was not one she liked. Following her heart, Jennie left her corporate job and started the journey of a thought leader, founding Corporate Rehab to help others in the same position. Jennie shares the hardships of the transition from corporate exec to entrepreneur, and how she needed to be brutally honest with herself about what she wanted to achieve, where she wanted to spend her time, and what it was better to outsource.
While thought leadership played a role in Jennie’s corporate position, she explains how it becomes so much more important for entrepreneurs. Without a big brand behind you, you need to produce quality content that shows your unique perspective, and find a way to share it so that others will lean in and listen to your insights.
Jennie shares valuable advice for people looking to leave corporate life, or those who already have - and are still struggling to find their way.
Three Key Takeaways:
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Once you are out on your own you need to think hard about what your voice is and how you’ll use it to impact your audience.
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As an entrepreneur you won’t be able to outspend big companies but thought leadership is the equalizer that lets you outthink them.
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Thought Leadership content can be used to build a rapport and relationship with an audience that will have value even if they are not in a buying position.
When launching a startup, there's a lot to think about. Product, investors, marketing. But what about thought leadership? Should entrepreneurs consider making thought leadership a priority early in their venture?
Thought leadership plays an important role in startups, and our guest on this episode, Eric Youngstrom, is just the person to tell us why. Eric is the Founder and CEO of Onramp Funds Inc, which provides expertise in eCommerce, fiancé, and software development to startups. Eric has a proven record of success in start-up technology companies, and brings us his insight about why thought leadership should be top-of-mind for startups. Eric explains that startups need to tell a specific story: what problem you solve, why you care about seeing it solved, and why your solution works. This story must reach buyers and potential investors - and even new hires, convincing them of the longevity and value of your startup. And the best way to tell that story is through thought leadership content.
Eric goes on to discuss how thought leadership needs to open up conversations and share their ideas. Sharpening your insights, and listening to the insights of others, will only make your brand stronger. Your content can also be a recruiting pitch, bringing in top talent that shares your passion and wants to be part of a better solution.
Any successful startup is going to need a savvy team of salespeople. Eric shares how thought leadership is important for the sales team, helping them understand and share the organization's goals and values right from the moment of hiring. We learn how the early years of the company are critical to developing the organization's reputation, reaching one wave of employees and then the next, and ensuring that the culture is instilled in new hires as the company grows.
This episode is full of great advice for creating thought leadership that makes an impact right from the start. Don't miss it!
Three Key Takeaways:
·* Startups need to be able to tell everyone what the problem they are solving is and why it matters. This needs to be done in a way that sets you and your unique idea apart from those that have come before you.
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Thought Leadership is not a short term investment. By creating content that tells your story over years, you will gain trust, brand recognition, and customers.
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The sales team is the last line between you and the customer. Ensure your thought leadership is understood by those teams and that it aids them in their job.
Creating an organizational assessment isn't as simple as you might think. It's more than a list of questions with multiple-choice answers like you might find in a magazine's "personality quiz." Reliable assessments take careful research, which must be validated in order to prove the results are accurate and actionable.
To discuss the intricacies of creating strong thought leadership assessments, I’ve invited Tony Alessandra to join me. Tony Alessandra is the Founder and CEO of Assessments 24x7, the global leader in assessment technology. He is also a prolific author of more than 30 books, including What Makes Humans Tick?: Exploring the Best Validated Assessments and The Ten Qualities of the World's Greatest Communicators. Plus, he is a Hall of Fame speaker and the World’s Top Communication Guru.
We start our conversation by getting an understanding of the difference between an assessment and a validated assessment. Tony explains how a validated assessment meets the requirements of the American Psychological Association, getting a minimum score on a statistical measurement to ensure the results are reliable. That means clients will trust your results, and that means more business.
Often, thought leaders want to take their speaking (or book) and monetize it as an assessment, but to make that work, you need to do a lot of work, validation, and statistical design. Tony gives tips for must-haves, if you want your assessment to find financial success.
We’d be remiss to have a Hall of Fame speaker on without discussing the speaking industry! We close out the conversation by discussing the slow decline of speaking since the early 2000s, and the rise of virtual events. Tony shares the pros of speaking engagements using online technology, and the cons of not being in person.
If you are thinking about creating an assessment for your thought leadership, this episode is essential.
Three Key Takeaways:
* When creating an assessment, have it validated by a third party to avoid any possible bias in the results.
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If you’re thinking of creating an assessment, having a mobile app for it is crucial. The more steps involved in taking an assessment, the fewer people will finish it.
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Technology allows us to do speaking engagements remotely, adding slides, video, and interactive elements that can actually deliver more value than being in person.
It is rare that thought leadership content is well formed and well supported the moment it's born out of inspiration. How can you polish your content, and tighten up the message, to best connect with the audience you are looking to reach?
Today our guests Jerome Pagani and Craig Joseph join us to share how they collaborate to strengthen each other’s content and even add levity to serious topics to allow the audience a lighter read on heavy topics.
Jerome Pagani is a behavioral neuroscientist and the Head of Thought Leadership, Research, and Insights at Nordic Consulting. Craig Joseph is a Pediatric doctor and Chief Medical Officer at Nordic Consulting.
Finding a partner and method of collaboration for thought leadership isn’t easy. Jerome and Craig share their process for creating quality content. We learn how their similar (but not overlapping) backgrounds allow them to establish a common understanding, while broadening one another's perspectives.
Working in the healthcare field means having to tackle difficult topics and reach a wide audience. Craig talks about how humor helps them connect with the audience, and how they create connection and authenticity between themselves and their listeners, in order to help give specific, actionable recommendations that people can use immediately. In addition, we learn how they add a touch of humor to their content, while still treating serious topics with the respect those topics deserve.
If you want to learn how to better collaborate and tailor your message and modality to your audience this episode will be sure to help.
Three Key Takeaways:
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Collaboration works best when all parties have a mutual understanding and are able to challenge each other’s thinking.
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When creating content, put yourself in the audience's mindset and think about what they would want to read or watch.
*When standing up Thought Leadership as a function , make sure everyone understands the message and can communicate it clearly.
When we were young, we all thought we knew what life would be like when we grew up. Most of us were way off!
Life is about more than preconceived notions and expectations. At some point, the steps we take should be a conscious choice, not simply a matter of following the "traditional path." It's important to change our societal expectations as our culture, lifestyle, and technology move forward.
To examine ways to challenge traditional societal expectations, I’ve invited Zale Mednick to join me. Zale Mednick is an ophthalmologist by trade, and also host of the award winning podcast Preconceived and is also the editor of Preconceived: Challenging the Preconceptions in Our Lives.
Zale shares how his journey to become a doctor took a turn when he stopped to consider pursuing interests and passions beyond his profession. He landed on the idea of a podcast, and took up the banner of investigating the preconceived notions that we rarely think to question. What holds us back? What "old" beliefs do we carry - preconceptions that aren't necessarily true anymore?
While it's easy to get started with a podcast, sticking it out is often a challenge, and many podcasters stop creating by episode 25. Reaching out to friends and family, and asking them to sit for a podcast interview, gave Zack the confidence and experience he needed to build a reputation as a podcast host, broadening his guest list with people he didn't know.
After having more than 100 guests, Zale thought the idea would work well as a book. He began to reach out to former guests , asking them to write essays, thought pieces, or short stories about the preconceived ideas they had challenged. 54 of them agreed to join him, and a book was born: Preconceived: Challenging the Preconceptions in Our Lives.
If you are tired of going through the motions and want to jump into something new, check out this insightful episode. It's sure to spark your passion and challenge your assumptions!
Three Key Takeaways:
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Podcasts can take a long time to see results. You need to commit for longer than logic might dictate you should.
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Repurposing and resharing content is a time saving method to reach new audiences and grow your brand.
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If you are looking for a change don’t let fear hold you back. Find a low risk way to make the pivot.
Too often when faced with a problem we rush to find a single solution – something safe, based on solutions we already know. These comfortable answers are nice, but what if you could create an opportunity to not only solve the problem, but excel?
Jeremy Utley and Perry Klebahn are the co-authors of Ideaflow: The Only Business Metric that Matters. It is a book that explores how you and your team can generate a volume of ideas for any situation, by overcoming outdated, stagnant thinking traps.
Jeremy Utley is a dynamic and engaging speaker who co-leads the d.school’s Executive Education programs at Stanford University.
Perry Klebahn is an Adjunct Professor and Director of Executive Education, also at Stanford’s d.school.
We start our conversation discussing Ideaflow, and how the creation of ideas can be summed up as a complex mathematical equation of ideas over time. Perry explains how, when rushing for a solution, we often fall short because we don’t have a volume of ideas. More ideas means more potential directions to overcome a challenge, and even ideas that eventually get discarded may have something to offer our final solution.
People often think that generating ideas is a task for a single, individual mind - but that's not the case. In fact, creating ideas with a team can create broader insights,by drawing on a wider pool of perspectives and backgrounds to create ideas that might be outside the experience of a single person.The more, the merrier!
Much of the work Perry and Jeremy do is with entrepreneurs and students. For more than 10 years, they’ve been encouraging their students to use Launchpad, an accelerator which shows teams how to incorporate, develop prototypes, find customers, and prove their proposed offerings are viable. This kind of rigorous idea-testing is invaluable if you want to create solutions that make a real difference.
If you want to increase the ideas moving through your organization at all levels this is one episode you won’t want to skip!
Three Key Takeaways:
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To find great ideas, you have to let the unworkable and goofy ideas flow, as well. Don't stifle the process!
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In the early stages of business, resist the urge to "lock in" on something just because it is working. Continue to generate ideas and innovate.
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To become a better idea generator, ensure that you are working with a wide net of professionals and not the same small team every week.
Many professionals realize that a published book is a great business card – but is anyone actually reading it? Does your book have an impact?
Today, we discuss the journey of publishing, marketing, and building a full business model from a book. To share their insights on that topic, we've invited two great guests that have the publishing process down pat.
Rita Gunther McGrath is a highly regarded speaker, professor at Columbia Business School, and the author of multiple best-selling books such as Seeing Around Corners: How to Spot Inflection Points in Business Before They Happen.
A.J. Jacobs is a journalist, TED Speaker, and seven-time author including the best-selling book Thanks a Thousand: A Gratitude Journey.
Our conversation starts by discussing the business side of publishing. Our best-selling authors clarify the focus of their recent work, and discuss the various purposes that a published book can serve. While creating a "book-sized" calling card will put you ahead of some, your content still needs to be more than a glorified article if you want people to read it and take action based on your insights.
Many first-time authors believe that once the book is written, the job of marketing will fall to the publisher. That's no longer the truth! Nowadays, publishers have stepped back from marketing - leaving the author to get the word out themselves. Rita shares how she plans the marketing of a book before any real writing even begins, while A.J. seeks innovative and creative ways to slice the topics of his books into as many sectors as possible, in order to earn a larger audience.
The final leg of our conversation involves taking the information from the page and turning it into teachable content. Our guests share their strategies for turning thought leadership insights into lessons, creating systems and capabilities for instruction that can be brought into an organization in order to create measurable impact.
Three Key Takeaways:
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When writing a book, ensure your content is bigger than a simple article could contain.
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Consider the method of publishing and marketing for your book before you start writing.
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Publishers no longer promote books. As the author, you’ll need to build a platform to reach the audience by yourself.
At any given time 95% of customers are not in a buying cycle. With that in mind, how can we stay prepared for the "purchasing 5%"?
Sales has seen huge changes in the last 20 years. To better understand what's happening, I’ve invited Michelle J Raymond to join me on today's podcast. Michelle is the Founder and B2B LinkedIn Strategist at The Good Trading Co., which provides LinkedIn strategies, training, and coaching for ambitious, innovative and purpose-driven business owners, consultants, and marketing teams. Her new book, The LinkedIn Branding Book, is a compilation of ways to support investment and profit through the power of LinkedIn.
We start by defining "Social Selling," and how it has become the new standard. Michelle explains that social selling is about finding the right people, connecting with them, and nurturing relationships. By providing insightful and useful content in a constant flow, you stay top-of-mind, and when your audience is ready to buy, you are the first person they think about. It's important to keep creating content, you also need a strategy for that content. Michelle shares why a brand strategy helps understand your target market, define what to offer them, and finally, set yourself apart from the others in your niche.
Often, people question whether developing a personal or a corporate brand is more important. Michelle explains why these two goals don’t need to be at odds, and how blurring the line between the two can boost the signal of both and create a more powerful presence.
Our conversation is packed full of advice for understanding and implementing social selling, experimenting with content, problem solving and helping people!
Three Key Takeaways:
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You can’t be everything to everyone. Develop a brand strategy based on a deep understanding of your best target audience.
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Staying top of mind means being consistent with content. Slow, or rarely-seen, posts are a fast track to invisibility and stagnancy.
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Don’t be afraid to post rough ideas! The feedback you receive from followers can give you valuable insight and perspective.
s your organization evolving with the needs of its culture, or are you stuck in a mindset that no longer serves your business or its employees?
Our guest today is Eboni Adams Monk, the Vice President of Marketing and Commercial Excellence at Trinseo, a specialty material solutions provider that partners with companies to bring ideas to life in an imaginative, smart and sustainable manner. She is also the author of Leading Wise: Inspirational Reflections for Corporate Leaders, which offers inspirational prompts and a global perspective for corporate leadership.
In our conversation with Eboni, we learn what an evolved corporate community looks like and what it does. She explains that by thinking about the impact a business has on the people and cultures in our community, we can support and enhance those around us - while assisting our company in meeting financial and operational goals.
In addition, Eboni shares how she dances at the intersection of leadership, business, culture, and spirituality, encouraging business leaders to develop themselves in ways that encourage thinking and feeling deeply for the people in their employment, and in their community. This creates a stronger relationship with employees and co-workers, and that brings more out of them - and makes critical or difficult conversations easier to have.
Three Key Takeaways:
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Corporate culture should support the people and communities it impacts the most.
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When creating content, think about how you can spark interest and curiosity in your audience.
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Leaders should take time for reflection and meditation, in order to absorb the world around them and inspire transformation.
There are two major challenges thought leadership practitioners face when they sit down to codify their ideas: Too many ideas, and A big, blank page. Sitting down to codify your content can feel like a daunting task. You've got tons of insights - but when you're staring at that first page, everything freezes up. Where do you even start? To learn how to gather your insights, map them out, and codify expert solutions, I’ve invited Rhea Wessel, the Founder of the Institute for Thought Leadership. Rhea helps companies turn their subject-matter experts into thought leaders, enabling them to share their insights clearly, cohesively, and fluidly.
Our conversation begins with a common issue: Should thought leaders give away their best insights for free? Rhea discusses the balance between how much content a thought leadership practitioner should share, and how much should be kept in reserve for clients, and most importantly - why that line exists and where to draw it.
As a journalist with 25 years of experience, Rhea has developed methodologies to help experts identify topics, map them out, and apply their knowledge in a way that offers a valuable solution to their audience. This "story engine" can help overcome the fear of giving away ideas, by generating a constant flow of topical insights.
Finally, we take a look at the things that make content compelling. Rhea tells us to include an element of transformation - either in a person, team, or project. In order to create that, you need to understand the full story of the transformation, from the beginning to the end. Be sure to describe the waypoints of change, and illuminate why that transformation was critical to success.
Three Key Takeaways:
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Good ideas that sit on the shelf aren't helpful. Giving away ideas that create buzz and show promise is the best way to get your content, and your name, recognized.
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Good content will make an audience say, “Tell me more!” Make sure they see quickly what your insights do, and why they're valuable.
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Compelling content needs to lead the audience through a journey of transformation.
The principles of Green Chemistry have been widely accepted, but are not widely adopted. With solutions for sustainable and profitable innovation available, where is the disconnect between these principles and their use?
Our guest on this episode is Urvashi Bhatnagar, Vice President of Business Development for Healthcare at Genpact, a global professional service firm that transforms industries. She is also the co-author of The Sustainability Scorecard: How to Implement and Profit from Unexpected Solutions.
The Sustainability Scorecard was co-written with Paul Anastas (also known as "The Father of Green Chemistry") while Urvashi was working toward her MBA at Yale. During discussions with Paul about the 12 Principles of Green Chemistry, they examined why those principles had not been widely applied - even though they were widely accepted! With a better understanding of the issues, they proceeded to write a book that would make a big impact in both chemistry and management.
Urvashi shares the three parts of their business model. She discusses advocacy through speaking and engagements, building associated foundations to inspire and support others, and helping people transport important knowledge and structures from one field to another - where big ideas can make a real difference.
We round out the conversation discussing how thought leadership's ability to help design the future. We hear about the increasing need for thought leadership in private equity and startups, and how moving a chunk of marketing budget to create and support an organization's thought leadership can strengthen an organization's reputation and offer an even higher return.
This is a great episode, and we encourage you to listen in!
Three Key Takeaways:
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When taking scientific or research data to a general audience, write with a less academic voice and gear your insights towards leaders.
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When your target market is niche, you have to be very intentional about the content you release.
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Thought Leaders who are conscious leaders – focused on mentoring and enabling – can make great strides in designing a brighter future in multiple fields.
Now that publishing is easier and openly available, we see more books hitting the market than ever before. With that in mind, how can you elevate your book and create a roadmap that leads clients to you and your offerings?
Today, I invite two seasoned experts to share their experience with publishing, and the tools they used to move their audience up the product ladder.
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Andy Paul is the author of "Sell Without Selling Out", Host of the "Sales Enablement Podcast with Andy Paul," and is a Top 50 Global Sales Expert, consulting with the biggest businesses in the world.
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John Jantsch is the President and Founder of “Duct Tape Marketing”, and the author of “Duct Tape Marketing.” As a consultant, he teaches business owners to streamline their marketing approach, increase revenue, and scale strategically.
We begin our conversation by discussing publishing options, and how modern methods are helping authors soar. John and Andy have both published multiple books using various methods, and they discuss the pros and cons of each.
Publishing is only the beginning of an author's work! A successful book launch needs an established following, one that is ready and waiting for your book to come out. Awareness can be built up through podcasts, blogs, or posts on LinkedIn. Andy and John explain how releasing consistent content helps you build a reputation, giving your followers a flow of bite-sized portions that prepare them for the full meal of the book.
And last, we talk about building community. With so many people working alone, the need to communicate and share with like-minded people has increased. Our guests share how they’ve used cohorts, workshops, and mastermind groups to create communities that reach beyond the initial product offering, building lasting relationships.
If your book isn’t driving the traffic you hoped, this episode can help!
Three Key Takeaways:
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The moment you have an idea for a book, you need to start building a following. Don't wait to build the audience after its release!
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Creating content that has value, and deploying it consistently, is key to growing your following and building a reputation.
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Don’t be afraid to experiment with ideas – putting them out into the world, and get feedback to help promote its value.
When businesses talk about "making a pivot," it’s often thought of as something that must happen quickly and with great impact. The reality is – a successful pivot is often anything but quick, and true impact can be difficult to implement.
Who better to discuss bringing big changes to organizations than the "Pivot Catalyst," Lori Michele Leavitt! Lori is the founder and President of Abridge Corp, as well as an accomplished coach, consultant, trainer, speaker, and author of The Pivot: Orchestrating Extraordinary Business Momentum.
Lori shares her insights on bringing about large-scale business changes, from building momentum to bringing people on-board with the shift in mindset. If you want to make a pivot, the leadership of the organization needs to encourage the adoption of many small changes by many people over time - not demand massive changes all at once! Momentum and buy-in are both key to any lasting change.
Lori has guided many businesses and leaders through this kind of process, and has learned a great deal about organizations undergoing large-scale change. She shares how she turned her processes into a book, and later, software that she continues to iterate. She's moved the needle on management software, building a leadership operating system called Aligned Momentum.
Codifying your message and process into a book is complicated, but it's another step to then turn your content into software! Lori shares insights into the process she went through with her content, sharing her insights into the future of consulting software as it continues to evolve.
Three Key Takeaways:
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Helping an organization successfully pivot starts with getting the cultural decision-maker on board with change.
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Being the smartest person in the room isn't the best way to have a lasting impact as a coach.
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Change often happens faster in a safe space, and it's good to have peers and allies to help identify your blind spots in the process of organizing and driving change.
When most hear the word scale they’ll think of a kitchen or bathroom scale - a tool for measuring. When it comes to thought leadership, what does "reaching scale" mean? How can you measure it, and how can you achieve it?
In this special episode, I'm are going to invite a few unusual guests: frameworks and models. These models define scale, measure methods of distributing content, and find ways to assess impact.
When attempting to measure and reach scale, thought leaders often look to social media metrics such as followers, engagement, and likes. But, what's the value of a "like" toward measuring thought leadership? Instead of getting wrapped up in superficial metrics, thought leadership practitioners need to understand that scale happens when people encounter an idea and choose to act on it – because thought leadership,at its very core, needs to be an idea in action.
Thought leadership isn’t about building the largest audience it is about building the right audience. Bill discusses the differences between Total Addressable Market (TAM), and Share of Market (SOM), the market percentage that you are currently reaching. Understanding these two numbers gives a clearer picture of the influence of your thought leadership.
Further, he shares insights about Broadcasting, Narrowcasting, and Point-Casting. Broadcasting is scattering your ideas on the wind and hoping they reach the right market,. Narrowcasting means focussing on the people who need your ideas the most, while point-casting means packaging your idea in particular terms for a VIP within your TAM.
If you’ve been struggling to reach scale, you might need to better understand how to reach your best audience. Don’t default to broadcasting. Take the insights in this episode, and start increasing your SOM!
Three Key Takeaways:
* Thought leadership needs to be an idea in action. Without action, movement, and interaction with an audience, thought leadership can't spread and thrive.
* Organizational thought leadership isn't about building the largest possible audience. It's about building the right audience.
* If you can get your idea to the VIPs in your TAM, and convince them to take action, you've gained a link to the best audiences your thought leadership could attain.
How do you connect a high-profile brand with its best audience? Through great storytelling!
Liz Brunner is the Founder and CEO of Brunner Communications, assisting high-profile individuals and organizations in developing powerful, meaningful, and desirable brand identities. She is also the Founder of Brunner Academy of Online Learning, and the author of Dare to Own You: Taking Your Authenticity and Dreams into Your Next Chapter.
Liz has had a number of professions over the course of her career, from high school music teacher to Emmy Award-winning news anchor. She explains that the key to her success can be summed up in two words: great storytelling. When you know the secrets of storytelling, you can capture the attention of your audience and keep them hooked.
Having worked both in person and on television, it was easy for Liz to transition her work into the digital space after the pandemic started – in fact, she began to teach others how to engage in the virtual space and still move the dial. She shares why digital presenters need to think like TV stars, and how to get your audience to feel your presence - even through the lens.
Our final topic revolves around the energy gained from working face-to-face, versus the newfound advantages of the digital space. Liz explains the pros and cons of each, and how to connect, communicate, and engage, developing the keys to success regardless of your medium.
Three Key Takeaways:
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When presenting virtually and using slides keep things moving! Use more slides with less content on each or include animations to keep the audience constantly engaged.
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Looking directly into the camera when working online gives a feeling that you are looking directly at every member of your audience and engages them more.
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While putting a message together you need to hook people right away, if you don’t you’ll miss an opportunity for your brand (personally and for your company).
There are a lot of hard-working thought leadership practitioners in the non-profit sector! What's it like to face the challenge of communicating complicated, multi-generational problems to a global audience?
We're glad you asked! To better understand the role thought leadership plays at established non-profits, I’ve invited Meghan Quinn, Director of Thought Leadership at Habitat for Humanity International, to chat with me about her work.
Meghan defines her role, elaborating on the meaning of thought leadership means at Habitat for Humanity. In a non-profit, conversations around thought leadership often start by focusing on the role and goals of the greater organization: for Habitat, that's the global affordable housing crisis.
In order to have a real impact, Meghan's work needs to reach policymakers, stakeholders, and donors. Meghan tells us how moving these people to action means taking technical research and creating content that is both curated and simple-to-approach. Rule #1: If your audience doesn’t understand what you're saying, and why, they certainly won't be moved to act on your information.
As with many thought leadership programs, measuring success can be a difficult task. Sales data and leads aren't as tangible in the non-profit sector. Meghan shares how success at Habitat is measured, through anecdotal evidence, making connections with new backers, and deepening relationships. Her primary goals are to spread the word, and to increase credibility and trust in the organization. This kind of vision can't be measured in weeks or months - it can take years to see real results on a global scale.
This conversation gives a glimpse into the unique world of thought leadership in the non-profit sector, and offers valuable insights for organizational thought leaders everywhere!
Three Key Takeaways:
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Curation and Digestibility are the keys to making complicated data into something a general audience can understand.
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Thought Leadership isn’t successful overnight. A plan and vision that spans years is needed to properly measure success.
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Thought leaders need to be able to follow their instinct and not be afraid to experiment – and even fail from time to time.
During the last two years, speakers, consultants, and thought leaders have moved their presentations from in-person formats into relatively unknown digital space. Now, as we settle back into a face-to-face workplace, we look back and consider the lessons learned from online experiences. What would a new, hybrid style look like?
What better way to investigate these topics than to talk with two doctors, who are both experts in their fields!
Dr. Nick Morgan is one of America’s top communication theorists and coaches. He is also a keynote speaker and author who helps people bring clarity to their great ideas.
Dr. Joseph Michelli is a consultant, psychologist, professional speaker, and New York Times Bestselling author. He's been voted a Top 5 Global Guru in Customers Service for more than 7 years!
We start by laying the foundation: discussing what the standard business model looked like, pre-pandemic. Then, we move forward, and explore how each of our guests found ways to deliver great experiences virtually. We talk about their successes, and the hardships they struggled to overcome — such as developing trust and transparency through a computer screen.
The future of keynote speaking and conferences is still uncertain, and many thought leaders are exploring "hybrid" models, moving fluidly between in-person and remote presentations. Nick and Joseph discuss how they believe things will continue to play out, giving examples in the ways their businesses were returning to the “old normal,” and how they continue to incorporate digital modalities.
While this interview took place some months ago, the advice on how to build trust with a virtual audience is evergreen!
Three Key Takeaways:
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Virtual relationships can get clogged up and degrade over time – whenever possible renew that relationship in person.
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If you are going to make video work you have to go deep fast. Forge a strong relationship right out of the gate by being honest, trustworthy, and transparent.
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Virtual speaking means having to grab the audience’s attention in the first 90 seconds. Speakers who don’t have some form of interaction are missing a trick for their
In thought leadership, which comes first: the brand or the people? It's not a chicken-and-egg situation! The answer is always people. You inspire and invest in your employees, and the word spreads. Those people act as ambassadors for the brand, building a strong org reputation — and that brings in customers.
In order to understand where this power cycle starts, I’ve invited Zoe Bermant, the CEO at ZoecialMedia, creator of the Caroself ™, and an expert in organic social media for B2B.
While many believe that the brand needs to be the focus of an organization's social media, Zoe explains that the power in organizational thought leadership comes from the people who work for the company. Thought leadership is about creating a human aspect within a business relationship; moving interactions beyond data and white papers, and sharing meaningful interactions. By elevating your people, you create passionate ambassadors for your brand, and create an online presence that is credible, trustworthy, and relatable - and that brings in more customers!
Learn why Zoe recommends starting this cycle at the executive level, and how doing so can create a culture of engagement both internally and externally. When executives interact with employees (and customers) online in a direct and meaningful manner, it helps build genuine relationships. This bolsters new sales, employee retention, and even talent recruitment.
Great ideas can spark from anywhere, even a simple typo. Zoe shares how she mistyped "caroself" in a message to a coworker (instead of "carousel") and came up with a brilliant new idea. Using the pdf carousel function of LinkedIn, Zoe made a document that humanized her work experience, letting people know where she grew up, went to school, and even her likes and dislikes - and she called it the Caroself™. She then tagged others, and challenged them to do the same. Before long the idea had spread to thousands of users who saw the benefit of giving the world a deeper look into their personalities, and move their career prospects forward by going beyond the professional persona.
We wrap up our conversation discussing women in thought leadership. Zoe works with hundreds of executives, and has seen a trend of women being overly timid about sharing their insights. Many incredibly insightful female leaders don't promote themselves through thought leadership - and they should! The chat explores why that trend continues, and gives suggestions around how to encourage others to take control of their power and seize the opportunities thought leadership presents. The world needs more great ideas!
Three Key Takeaways:
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The cycle of "invest in your people - let them be ambassadors for your brand - build your brand reputation - engage more new customers" is powerful, and it's one that more organizations should use.
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You can't rely on a random algorithm to get the word out. You have to actively seek out and build relationships, sharing things about yourself (or your org) and creating a human connection in order to succeed.
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When cultivating your social media profile, it's beneficial to ensure that personal stories still relate to your expertise or experience in a professional sense. Don't forget to show your strengths!
When it comes to the "higher purpose" of your brand or organization, how much control do you have on either versus the values customers will place on them?
Today we will examine the impact COVID has had on how consumers see brands and the value we place on them. To get a better understanding I’ve invited Dr. Martina Obert to join me. Martina is the CEO of Meaning Global, an expert strategy consultancy helping leaders envision new possibilities for future innovation, value creation, and growth. She is also recognized by Forbes as The Meaning Expert™.
Martina explains how COVID created a shift in the marketplace that moved emphasis from brands to the people they serve. The feeling of being "stuck" was pervasive, and led many consumers into a period of self-reflection about themselves, their lives, and their goals. This realignment of values as impacted advertising, and to be successful, brands today need to do more to deliver appreciable, meaningful value.
Brands and organizations often promote meaning and purpose, but what does that mean — and how much control do they really have over their audience's perception? Martina shares stories about how our values impact the perception of our brands, and what audiences look for when choosing to buy.
This is a fascinating conversation about the rise of the 'humanistic paradigm" and how brands, organizations, and advertising are having to change in its wake.
Three Key Takeaways:
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Organizations need to consider how to fundamentally improve customers' lives with their advertising, and align with each person's sense of greater meaning.
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COVID-19 has made the emerging humanistic paradigm more profound and cohesive.
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When starting out in thought leadership, find your niche! Hint: It's the thing you are more passionate and knowledgeable about than anyone else!
An interview with Ryan McCarty and Mark Goulston that originally aired on January 26th, 2021, as part of Leveraging Thought Leadership Live on LinkedIn.
How do you use thought leadership?
Some thought leaders use it to build a brand, or to share an idea.
My guests today come from a background of service, and they use thought leadership to help people find purpose and hope.
Ryan McCarty is a keynote speaker, co-founder of Culture of Good and co-author of Build A Culture of Good: Unleash Results by Letting Your Employees Bring Their Soul to Work.
Mark Goulston is the world's leading Healthy Conflict Coach and author of multiple books including Get Out of Your Own Way: Overcoming Self-Defeating Behavior and Just Listen: Discover the Secret to Getting Through to Absolutely Anyone.
In this episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership, we discuss how the purpose of helping others started them in their original careers (ministry and psychiatry, respectively), and how they continue following that purpose through the practice of thought leadership. Ryan shares how he spent 20 years in ministry focused on community, and how he found his purpose in helping people find a sense of purpose in their everyday lives. Mark comes from a background of psychiatry, and after his own brush with depression while in med school, rose to specializing in suicide prevention so that he could help others discover hope and meaning in their lives.
Our guests have traveled parallel paths, helping others live happier and healthier lives through their work. Now, they're bringing those insights about hope and meaning to the corporate sphere. We learn how Ryan built a Culture of Good and how that philosophy gets companies to create a meaningful and fulfilling workplace that also improves the bottom line. Mark works with executives and leaders, teaching them to carve away the negative aspects that create a culture of mistrust, fear, or hopelessness at an organization, and build trust and purpose into the everyday life of the org.
Our guests today provide actionable advice on how you can change the culture of your company and employees, and live a more meaningful life — starting today!
Three Key Takeaways:
- Every leader — from thought leaders to the organizational C-Suite — needs to be authentic, caring, and purposeful, and strive to be the type of person others want to follow.
- Keeping a journal of thought and ideas can build a deeper understanding of everyday insights, and might even create the basis for your thought leadership!
- Doing good and making money doesn’t have to be at odds. A profitable business can use its strength to create and fulfill a meaningful purpose.
The words power, politics, and leverage typically have a negative connotation. They bring to mind times when good people have been oppressed and mistreated. But what if you could leverage power and politics ethically?
Michael Wenderoth is a speaker and executive coach who works one on one with leaders and executive teams, inspiring and teaching them to ethically leverage power and politics to get things done. Earlier this year, he authored Get Promoted: What You're Really Missing at Work That's Holding You Back, codifying his philosophies around thought leadership and morality.
In today's chat, we examine power in the workplace; from the fundamentals to the uses of leverage. Too often, good people stand on the sidelines of leadership, afraid of the negative associations or power - and therefore, those people are not making a positive impact. Michael explains how power is simply the force needed to get things done. It's not good, or bad, and it can be used to help others.
Michael has seen an increase in organizations wanting to shape the next generation of ethical and more diverse leadership. He shares how many people who are not used to being in a position of power or leadership can be ill-equipped to take the lead. Companies are investing in their future leaders by hiring coaches to help the next generation reach their full potential.
In March of 2022, Michael published Get Promoted: What You're Really Missing at Work That's Holding You Back. We discuss why launching a book takes years of investment, and talk more about navigating the two sides of a coaching business - doing the grunt work of business, and the amazing potential of coaching.
Three Key Takeaways:
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Power and politics in the office can be leveraged ethically to accelerate your career.
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Organizations wanting diverse leadership need to invest the time to train these potential leaders – but also accept that leadership can look different to many people.
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When working as a coach for a company you need to be frank about the deliverable and how you will impact those you serve.
Our guest today is Michael Gallagher, Founder and CEO of The Stevie® Awards – the world’s premier business awards. He's also the co-founder of ImageShield, a web based program that helps protect images from unauthorized use.
Today, Michael tells us why he founded The Stevie® Awards, and how it has grown from its origins among The American Business Awards® to include eight award categories each with their own focus, list of categories, and schedule across the globe.
Next, we turn our attention to Michael's newest endeavor: ImageShield. Millions of people share their images online every day without much thought to who else could be using those images, and negative ramifications that could come when someone steals your images and uses them without your permission. Recognizing this growing problem, Michael is developing ImageShield - a service which will provide updates to its users, helping them keep track of how and where their images are being used.
Launching a new product like ImageShield requires educating the target audience on why this product is a necessity. Michael shares how he turned to Leveraging Thought Leadership for help in creating avatars, images, and strategies for reaching ImageShield's core audience and helping drive an understanding of its services
Three Key Takeaways:
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People have a need to be recognized for their dedication and hard work.
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Good thought leadership can draw attention to common problems that are not top of mind to the average person.
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When investing in thought leadership, find the people in your organization that can vocalize your org's mission, clearly and compellingly serving the brand.
Do you know why you choose one brand over another? Traditional market research focuses on what people are buying. They study the number of items sold, where they're sold, and how those numbers are shifting. But traditional research doesn’t tell you why people are acting in a certain way. That's where human insight comes in!
To understand the best way to merge human insight with market data, I’ve invited Manish Bahl to join me for a conversation. Manish is the Chief Executive and Founder of Curious Insights – where the company mission is to humanize data for analyst firms and organizations.
Traditional research has its place, but it can show a limited, one-dimensional perspective. Manish explains how data often misses the "human connection," and how the warmth of human insights can make research truly revelatory. Adding an understanding of human behavior, the way individuals think and feel, puts people back at the center of market research..
Convincing C-Suite executives to participate in surveys and interviews can be a challenge. Their time is precious, but so is the information they have to offer. Manish shares his best tips for turning a data-driven interview into a two way street, where both parties are engaged and learning from the discussion.
Manish also discussed how to create content that is fresh and compelling. Too often, content creators become focused on SEO results, which can create bland, cookie-cutter content. Manish shares how having passion and invoking curiosity in your audience can draw people in - and take your ideas to scale.
Three Key Takeaways:
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Blending human science with data collection allows us to understand what customers think and feel about our thought leadership.
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In order to have successful interviews, the interviewer must also be transparent and open. A conversational experience will yield better results than a static list of questions.
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People have a short attention span. If your content does not grab them in the first 5–10 lines, you will lose them.
Do you know why you choose one brand over another? Traditional market research focuses on what people are buying. They study the number of items sold, where they're sold, and how those numbers are shifting. But traditional research doesn’t tell you why people are acting in a certain way. That's where human insight comes in!
To understand the best way to merge human insight with market data, I’ve invited Manish Bahl to join me for a conversation. Manish is the Chief Executive and Founder of Curious Insights – where the company mission is to humanize data for analyst firms and organizations.
Traditional research has its place, but it can show a limited, one-dimensional perspective. Manish explains how data often misses the "human connection," and how the warmth of human insights can make research truly revelatory. Adding an understanding of human behavior, the way individuals think and feel, puts people back at the center of market research..
Convincing C-Suite executives to participate in surveys and interviews can be a challenge. Their time is precious, but so is the information they have to offer. Manish shares his best tips for turning a data-driven interview into a two way street, where both parties are engaged and learning from the discussion.
Manish also discussed how to create content that is fresh and compelling. Too often, content creators become focused on SEO results, which can create bland, cookie-cutter content. Manish shares how having passion and invoking curiosity in your audience can draw people in - and take your ideas to scale.
Three Key Takeaways:
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Blending human science with data collection allows us to understand what customers think and feel about our thought leadership.
-
In order to have successful interviews, the interviewer must also be transparent and open. A conversational experience will yield better results than a static list of questions.
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People have a short attention span. If your content does not grab them in the first 5–10 lines, you will lose them.
If you thought a global pandemic would dim the lights of customer service - you thought wrong! Customers still want answers to questions, friendly assistance, and solutions for their problems. But one thing is changing: the way we deliver answers and solutions. To take a deeper look at the customer experience, and how employee satisfaction relates to it, I’ve invited two good friends to join me in conversation.
Shep Hyken is a customer service and experience expert, keynote speaker, bestselling author of I’ll Be Back: How to Get Customers to Come Back Again & Again.
Shane Green is a culture consultant for Fortune 500 companies, and Founder and President of SGEi, a company that helps customer-focused organizations develop a culture that attracts the right people and retains top talent longer.
We start our conversation by discussing the way reliance on virtual meetings has created new pressure on speakers, and how the speaking industry has changed. Shep and Shane share why many organizations are likely to keep the bulk of their company-wide meetings virtual, and how that has put pressure on speakers not only to entertain but also to provide actionable advice.
As part of the changes to the workforce, we’ve experienced The Great Resignation - which Shane feels is more of a "A Great Reshuffling." He states that more than 80% of employees who quit their job during this period were looking either for better payment or for a better culture.
It's simply true that companies with higher employee satisfaction have higher customer satisfaction. Shep and Shane explore how a strong, well-communicated company vision can increase employee satisfaction, especially when supported by proper training. Companies need managers and leaders who role model that vision, and they need to celebrate the times when that vision translates into meaningful goals.
Company culture is the combined attitude of the hearts and minds of an organization's employees. If you want to raise your company - and it's culture - to new heights. you’ll want to listen to this episode!
Three Key Takeaways:
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Thought leadership practitioners delivering a keynote need to tell a good story, but also ensure that their content is actionable right away.
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People have a need to collaborate and learn, so webinars need to be far more interactive, and contain more than simply a lecture.
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Research and surveys must always be updated. The information you had five years ago may not be relevant today.
If you thought a global pandemic would dim the lights of customer service - you thought wrong! Customers still want answers to questions, friendly assistance, and solutions for their problems. But one thing is changing: the way we deliver answers and solutions. To take a deeper look at the customer experience, and how employee satisfaction relates to it, I’ve invited two good friends to join me in conversation.
Shep Hyken is a customer service and experience expert, keynote speaker, bestselling author of I’ll Be Back: How to Get Customers to Come Back Again & Again.
Shane Green is a culture consultant for Fortune 500 companies, and Founder and President of SGEi, a company that helps customer-focused organizations develop a culture that attracts the right people and retains top talent longer.
We start our conversation by discussing the way reliance on virtual meetings has created new pressure on speakers, and how the speaking industry has changed. Shep and Shane share why many organizations are likely to keep the bulk of their company-wide meetings virtual, and how that has put pressure on speakers not only to entertain but also to provide actionable advice.
As part of the changes to the workforce, we’ve experienced The Great Resignation - which Shane feels is more of a "A Great Reshuffling." He states that more than 80% of employees who quit their job during this period were looking either for better payment or for a better culture.
It's simply true that companies with higher employee satisfaction have higher customer satisfaction. Shep and Shane explore how a strong, well-communicated company vision can increase employee satisfaction, especially when supported by proper training. Companies need managers and leaders who role model that vision, and they need to celebrate the times when that vision translates into meaningful goals.
Company culture is the combined attitude of the hearts and minds of an organization's employees. If you want to raise your company - and it's culture - to new heights. you’ll want to listen to this episode!
Three Key Takeaways:
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Thought leadership practitioners delivering a keynote need to tell a good story, but also ensure that their content is actionable right away.
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People have a need to collaborate and learn, so webinars need to be far more interactive, and contain more than simply a lecture.
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Research and surveys must always be updated. The information you had five years ago may not be relevant today.
Thought Leadership sits at different positions in different companies. It can be bucketed with research, content marketing, or even brand building.
Given those options, how can you ensure all divisions are aligned in the story an organization's thought leadership is telling and the brand it is building?
To examine how to achieve a harmonious alignment, I’ve invited Ginger Conlon to join me for a conversation. Ginger is the Thought Leadership Director at Genesys, a software company that specializes in customer experience and call center technology.
At Genesys, thought leadership is research-driven and sits at the top of the funnel. Ginger's team works with content marketing to learn about their customers and focus on the most important issues - then, the thought leadership team creates research reports which form the foundation of content for the months ahead. Through a shared editorial calendar, all parts of the organization tell the same story, and align around key points of the research.
Too often, great content sits on a shelf, untouched. To ensure that doesn’t happen, Ginger forms relationships with the owners of internal content management hubs and creates team-specific newsletters. That way, she keeps them informed of new, relevant content, and uses their channels to push content through the organization. In addition, by seeking input from others throughout the organization, Ginger creates a sense of ownership in the content as leaders see their contributions included with each newsletter.
Ginger shares great advice for anyone working on or alongside a thought leadership role on how to create a great end user experience for content.
Three Key Takeaways:
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Thought Leadership is about engaging your audience and sharing insights with them on a broader level.
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A shared editorial calendar is the key to ensuring thought leadership and content marketing work hand in hand.
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In order to get your message across an organization you not only have to build relationships but you have to understand how information is disseminated across it.
Did you know that more than 50% of executives struggle to feel satisfied with their work? It's important to have a sense of purpose around your job; the feeling that you've contributed, that you're respected, and that your work matters.
Today, I'm speaking with Gene Rice, the Founder and CEO of Rice Cohen International, which provides executive search and consulting services to a premier list of global clients across the Learning & Development, Ed Tech, and Management Consulting fields. Gene has personally helped place more than 1000 executives, and has a deep understanding of what companies are looking for in senior management.
Over his thirty years of experience in the search industry, Gene discovered several important trends. While corporations are seeking people that meet "standard metrics," those that excel have a proven track record of building growth. Gene explains that the most valuable executives are those who found a sense of purpose that drives their success - and their job satisfaction.
For years, Gene had been recording life lessons that he would share with interns at his firm. These lessons led to questions which showed how ill equipped many young adults are to start their personal and professional lives. This realization was the driving reason for Gene to collaborate with his daughter, Courtney Bejgrowicz, and write 68 Tips to Excel in Your Personal and Professional Life. This book gives Gene's experienced tips for life, job search, career, and personal finances, while adding Courtney’s comments to give her perspective as a teacher and mother, and the understanding of the younger generation.
The passion to help others with the book extends beyond the hope that people can learn a thing or two from it. Gene and his wife created The Plant a Seed Inspire a Dream Foundation which provides annual scholarships for children ages 10 to 18, to pursue passions and interests outside of school. With this foundation, they work to inspire young people from low-income households with life-altering athletic, artistic, musical and creative activities led by positive role models.
Three Key Takeaways:
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Those seeking a role as a senior executive will need a proven track record of building growth, to get ahead of their competition.
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It's important for an executive to have a sense of personal purpose, and to share that passion and drive with others.
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A good match between an executive and company means feeling like you can make a real contribution, and drive your personal as well as professional goals.
How does a public speaker deliver a message without a stage? Speaking events screeched to a halt when the pandemic put an indefinite stop to in person events. To find out how speakers moved forward, we’ve invited Mitch Joel , the Co-Founder of ThinkersOne to chat with us about the future of the speaking industry. Mitch is a visionary, digital expert, community leader, and author of Six Pixels of Separation.
Mitch shares how a speaker must split their attention when doing a virtual event, and how they must control music, slides, and other technological aspects as opposed to having a crew to handle those needs. That can put a distance between speaker and audience, making presentations feel slapdash or hesitant. It's hard to do all that, and still be "in the moment" with the content and audience.
While the pandemic has had many effects on our global culture, Mitch adds another term to the discussion: The Great Compression, which happened among many trade associations and even organizations. He explains that an amplification happened where many began to realize the need to be more diverse becoming a content provider and not just a conference. Second, everyone learned to become more digital. Mitch explains how this was not a revelation — we already had the technology in place, we just hadn't been forced to adapt to use it.
Another consequence of the pandemic was forced innovation. That pushed many to discover new business models in order to stay relevant, and connect with their clients. Now that the world is slowly returning to normal, many are forgoing those new ventures. We discuss finding the will to scale business to include both the old ways that worked for years, and the new methods that were developed for the pandemic and continue to be relevant today.
Finally, we discuss the hard task of developing community and relationship online. While in-person conferences have started to return they are not back to normal and might never be. Mitch shares his thoughts on the fundamental need to gather in person and how that need is forcing speakers to elevate the quality, relevance, and actionability of the content or they might find the audience wishing they were elsewhere.
Three Key Takeaways:
- Speaking in person allows you to "feel the room." Speaking into a webcam gives nothing back, so you have to ensure your content and stories resonate in a virtual format.
- If you developed new business models due to the pandemic, don’t discard them now! Discover ways to scale your business to incorporate both the old and the new.
- As in-person events return, speakers have to deliver high-quality content to justify the expense and travel time of on-location keynotes.
Is happiness something that comes naturally to some people? Can it be measured and taught?
In order to answer these questions I’ve invited the Happiness Strategies Monique Rhodes to join me. Monique is the CEO of One People Productions and her mission in life is to lead you toward a lifetime of happiness. To accomplish that, she combines teachings with powerful, habit-changing exercises.
Monique wasn’t always a happiness expert. Growing up in New Zealand, she was the victim of abuse as a child. That lead to depression in her teens and ultimately a suicide attempt. While in the hospital recovering, she chose to make it her mission to find happiness - and to understand why some people seem naturally happy, while others struggle.
This mission took her all over the world. In India, she began teaching mediation to a group of young girls who persistently asked for lessons. While Monique was not a natural teacher, she learned her passion about meditation - and her search for happiness - could be a driving force for others. Before long she was teaching 50 people a day.
These early teaching sessions evolved into a program. Monique trialed her thought leadership to a class of 20 people at University College in London, and watched as that class swelled to more than 100. By the end of the trial, more than 2500 people were involved! Monique began marketing the program to various universities and colleges, along with word of mouth, and due to positive feedback she was able to build a business around the program.
Monique has created The Happiness Baseline, 8 week program that not only guarantees results for those who finish, but has provable metrics, using Penn State University's Authentic Happiness quiz.
This episode shows how thought leaders can tackle a personal problem and take their lessons to market, making the lives of thousands of others better! It's a winner, and we're thrilled to share it with you.
Three Key Takeaways:
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Many are not natural teachers, but if you have a passion for your thought leadership you can develop the skills needed to help others.
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Positive word of mouth about the effectiveness of your thought leadership can be better than a marketing budget.
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If you want to prove your thought leadership, ensure there are hard metrics to back it up.
How do you best showcase your organization's depth of expertise?
Have you ever thought about the way thought leadership intersects with the executive search? Many organizations encourage broad diversity, and during executive search periods, they want to showcase and bolster that practice. But how do you demonstrate it to your target audience?
Today, I’ve invited Louis Montgomery Jr., Partner, Practice Leader Human Resources and Diversity Officers at JM Search, a firm that (through rigorous assessment) provides the right candidates for open positions to private equity firms, venture capital firms, and select corporate clients.
Louis understands what it takes to be successful in demanding fields. He discusses his path as an HR leader and Diversity Officer, and how he assists candidates seeking opportunity and growth. When he changed course during his career, he quickly realized, as many others do, that his reputation as an expert in HR didn’t follow him to his new position. He discusses his experiences with networking and creating thought leadership, and explains how he established himself as an expert in the new field — and how others can do the same.
Having worked with both large and small firms, Louis understands what it takes to get thought leadership into the world. He's built an established thought leadership engine that carries his name and reputation forward. In our discussion, he shares tips for building your firm's reputation (and your own!) by leveraging established thought leadership or marketing roles.
Developing smart thought leadership content is about providing answers to your audience's questions, and as Louis says, a listening ear is the best tool. Learn how to tune into what others are saying, and to notice the questions that come up time and time again. These are prime topics for thought leadership!
If you are considering starting a journey into thought leadership, start now! The sooner you delve into the field, the more rapidly you will master it.
Three Key Takeaways:
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Networking provides an advantage in the job search, when the time comes to seek a new role.
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Thought Leadership allows you to share your expertise and establish credibility, and differentiate yourself from others in the market.
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Being a thought leader and active practitioner of your field of expertise can give you a greater credibility with clients. That makes you stand out!
How do you help a client integrate research into their thought leadership, and what are the benefits? Enterprise software can be a complicated story to tell. To explore ways to humanize a complex brand or product, I've invited Denise Broady to share her expertise in research, thought leadership, and consulting. Denise is the Chief Marketing Officer at Appian Corporation, helping clients build apps and workflows with a low-code automation platform; combining people, technologies, and data in a single workflow to maximize resources and improve business results.
Our conversation begins with an active discussion of thought leadership's ability to help tell a complex, enterprise story in a way that humanizes your brand. Denise shares how the lens of a business user can be used to create greater impact, preferring a personal touch and layman's terms rather than complex, high-level terms that might not be understood by an audience.
Often, marketers feel the need to go it alone and control all aspects of their content's delivery, but thought leadership doesn’t have to be a solo project. Denise shares how her co-sponsored research with The Economist is helping reach a global market, and how surveys on IT and business issues give her the information she needs to create thought leadership rooted in data - and bring solutions to the problems her audiences face.
Toward the end of our conversation, we examine ways to build a thought leadership team. Denise recounts a tale of starting with a task-force that grew as it brought on e dedicated people and found dedicated funding. Nobody approaches accounting as a part-time hobby, and thought leadership is no different. Without a dedicated team and reliable resources, thought leaders can't be expected to develop the reach and cadence needed to effect significant change.
Three Key Takeaways:
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Choose your words carefully when explaining complex thought leadership; it's critical that your audience understand, so speak in terms they will grasp easily.
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Creating co-sponsored thought leadership can create content with wider reach and a deeper, more informed perspective.
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Thought leaders coming from a marketing background can be tempted to use a marketing playbook – but think before you jump! Understand where your content fits in the cycle, and how to deploy it.
When it comes to thought leadership, every corporation needs people that are building new ideas, sharing new insights - in essence, creating new maps to move things forward! But it's not just about the "map makers." It's also about the "expedition leaders," people who can share those ideas and insights, and bring others onboard - even if they didn't create the maps themselves.
To discuss "map makers" and "expedition leaders," and really delve into the most effective ways to invite your whole organization to do thought leadership, I’ve invited Steve Watt to join me on the podcast. Steve is the Director of Market Insights at Seismic, the world’s largest enablement platform. In both social selling and thought leadership people need to show up, speak up, and publicly demonstrate both subject matter expertise and org-centric passion. Not every sales person can or should be a thought leader, but they can always be a spokesman for the org's thought leadership content. We discuss the need to empower not just sales people, but everyone within a company, by showing them the benefits that being associated with an org's thought leadership can have on their careers and reputation.
Steve shares why it is important to start with the right mindset, which may mean tearing down and overcoming staid beliefs and old perceptions about "how sales are done." We discuss the way social media is constantly misused by sales people seeking to use it as a hunting ground full of traps rather than a fertile field for relationship-building. Steve is changing the mindset towards meaningful conversations and interactions, and teaching insights that will magnetically draw clients in.
Many sales people agonize over the deals they lost out on, while remaining blind to just how many deals never even gave them consideration. Steve explains the importance of conversation, interactions that build relationships, and how to stay top-of-mind when a client enters a buying cycle.
Three Key Takeaways:
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Many smart and capable people in your org are sitting by, silently, because they aren't "map makers." Speak up early, and build your reputation as a subject matter expert.
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In order to build thought leaders in your organization, you have to empower people and help them see the benefits - not just to your organization, but for their careers and reputations.
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If your thought leadership boils down to “and that is why you need me,” that's not thought leadership. That is just selling - and in today's market, you need more than a pitch to make your organization stand out.
How many new skills did you learn during the pandemic? The lack of face-to-face meetings required everyone to adapt, and for many, that included the ability to build connections and community online.
To discuss the skills and adaptations we all needed to update our lives to fit the new modality, I’ve invited two good friends to join me in a chat.
Nadia Bilchik is the President of Greater Impact Communications. She's a speaker, trainer, and author of Own Your Network: Expert Networking In Person & Online.
James Kerr is the founder of Indispensable Consulting. He's also a speaker, as well as a leadership coach and the author of Indispensable: Build and Lead A Company Customers Can’t Live Without.
First, we look at the way presentations and communication skills training have changed in the wake of the first Covid outbreak. Nadia explains ways that our language has become more intentional due to the lack of ability to read body language in the virtual world. She gives advice on connecting with your audience on camera, and describes changes that will make you stand out and make your message clear.
James discusses time constraints, and how we (and our audience) have begun to think about and value time differently. We no longer spend days traveling in order to accomplish a two-hour task. The ability to give a presentation in various time zones within a single day is a dramatic shift in itself, but it has also changed our understanding of real human interaction. We examine how to use online chit-chat and build toward deep "getting to know you moments" that build strong and memorable relationships.
We wrap up our conversation by looking at the concept of "Zoom Fatigue." Nadia shares tips for placement of your camera, while James discusses how to interact with clients who prefer to leave their cameras off. The world has changed irrevocably, and the best thought leaders know how to keep up, adapt, and even excel in our new, digital-focused age.
Three Key Takeaways:
* When delivering thought leadership online ensure your camera is parallel to your eyes and you look directly into it while speaking. This gives the same effect as looking into someone’s eyes while speaking in person.
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While we have had to reengineer the way we do things - the what is still the same.
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It is important to get to know your clients on a deep personal level when you are only able to connect with them online. Ask personal questions about family and hobbies to help develop that relationship.
What is the relationship between thought leadership and entrepreneurship? Both are forward-thinking problem solvers who know that passion and vision can take you far!
To dig deeper into the ways these two paths intersect, we sit down with Mary Cronin, a research professor at Boston College. She's also the Founder and President of 4Q Catalyst LLC, a business advisory firm that provides strategy consulting, market analysis, and leadership development services.
We start our conversation by discussing the similarities between thought leadership and entrepreneurship. In addition to passion and vision, both roles require a fine understanding of storytelling; a key component to success. Mary describes the impact of storytelling, and why it's often an overlooked function for start-ups as they focus on bootstrapping their business to achieve success.
In May of 2021, Mary published Starting Up Smarter: Why Founders Over 50 Build Better Companies, which provides a keen look at entrepreneurs starting companies, and how their success rates were often impacted by the founder's age and experience. The book's research investigates 7 million US start-up companies over the last decade, and provides a keen look into the how's and why's of their success. Mary explains the research showing that most successful founders are in their 50s, which is also the age of many established and successful thought leaders.
We further explore the traits of successful founders, and how they cross-over into successful thought leadership. Mary tells us that starting a business in your 50s means having a great sense of purpose, a willingness to partner with the younger generation, and the persistence to keep pushing forward and rethinking problems in order to achieve success.
While the most successful founders are in their 50s this conversation will give you great advice to find success as a thought leader or entrepreneur at any age.
Three Key Takeaways:
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Good storytelling is a useful tool to ensure clients, employees, and investors fully understand your vision - whether you're building a company or creating thought leadership.
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Partnering with team members or co-founders of different generations will give your work a broader reach and greater perspective.
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Having an overwhelming passion for your mission, whether thought leadership or business, will go a long way to overcoming difficult challenges in your path.
What does it take to become a game-changer in your industry? We are constantly bombarded with products and brands seeking our attention and money. How can thought leadership help your brand stand out?
Today, we are joined by Karen Hold, the founder of Experience Labs and co-author of Experiencing Design: The Innovator's Journey. Karen’s mission is to build creative capacity in individuals, organizations, and cities, using the language of design thinking. The trick is to turn abstract thought into concrete ideas, and to visualize those ideas in a way that captures your audience's attention.
Karen takes us back to the early days of her career, at Procter & Gamble, where her focus was on the Folgers Coffee brand. At the time, as Starbucks was starting to emerge, and Folgers needed a way to stand out in order to keep its share of the market. Karen shares how Folgers studied the Starbucks experience, and - due to flawed assessment - decided that the newcomer wasn't a threat to Folgers' market dominance. Fast-forward to 2022, and Starbucks has a major market share - a share that could have belonged to Folgers', if they'd determined the market need and used it to their own advantage. Determined not to miss the next big opportunity, Karen explains how she changed her thinking. As media changed and people's needs evolved, Karen realized that brands needed better tools to assess market needs - and step forward, staying ahead of the curve by visualizing the future and being ready for the next change. By preparing content with the right approach, you make sure that your thought leadership is there when the audience is ready to receive it.
Karen shares even more insights in her book, and discusses the amazing experience she had working with Jeanne Liedtka and Jessica Eldridge to complete and publish her thought leadership. In addition, we learn about the digital tool for creating personal development plans that was recently launched as an add-on, giving even more value to the text and its content.
Three Key Takeaways:
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Don’t blindly follow data. Use your instinct, experiment, and create thought leadership that sees around corners and tries new things.
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Ensure that your thought leadership is available in a variety of modalities. This allows you to connect with an audience, regardless of their preferred method of communication.
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Adding development tools to a thought leadership book is a method to continue the research you’ve begun, and expand your insights.
Your org's thought leadership illuminates a highly technical field. So how do you make it accessible to a broad audience? In technical fields like A.I., it can be hard to clearly communicate your organizational insights in a manner that your audience can grasp. In order to make technical insights accessible, you have to get out of your bubble and into the mindset of your audience!
Our guest today is Amelia Ross, Director of Content Strategy at Primer AI, a company dedicated to helping organizations make the best use of their investment in data. They do this by using best-in-class machine learning and natural language processing technologies, to help their customers scale and optimize intelligence workflows.
We discuss how an organizational thought leader determines the right target audience for their insights. Amelia tells us that it isn’t just about reaching the economic buyer, but also spreading your content to the influencers that surround such a buyer. It's important to create content that shows your company as empathetic, leading edge, and knowledgeable — and to take an informed stand on emerging technology, trends, and social issues.
The modern world is moving fast, and thought leadership must be timely and relevant in order to have impact. Ameila shares how timely events shaped the course of Primer AI's thought leadership. The Russian invasion of Ukraine sparked Primer AI to use their product, Command, to create content that illuminated events in real time. That thought leadership gave decision-makers under time constraints a complete and accurate view of the information faster than ever before.
In addition to reaching your audience in a timely manner, you also have to ensure that your content is presented in a way your clients will easily understand. Amelia explains the need for educational content in thought leadership, and the challenges of creating content at various levels in order to connect with everyone — from the average audience member to industry experts.
This conversation is an enlightening look at creating thought leadership that illuminates complex ideas, and doing it in a way that connects with a broad audience.
Three Key Takeaways:
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When creating Thought Leadership content for complex topics, consider other influences that might support your insights with your economic buyer.
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Thought Leadership that connects to trends and social issues needs an immediacy that keeps pace with the news cycle.
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Don’t assume your audience understands the jargon, terms, and acronyms of your thought leadership. Create content that reaches and enlightens consumers at all levels.
What does a successful entrepreneur do for their second act?
Most entrepreneurs work hard to create a prosperous business, perhaps even with the intent of selling it and making an exit. For those who succeed, the next question is — now, what? Do you start a new business and begin the cycle again? And how do you give back to those who helped you reach success?
Today, I sit down with Jay Steinfeld, a world-renowned entrepreneur and early ecommerce adopter who took his small blinds business online in the early days of the internet, and the story of how blinds.com became the largest online blinds retailer in the world. He is also the author of Lead from the Core: The 4 Principles for Profit and Prosperity, which lays out the “Four Es” — a set of guiding principles that can help overcome any obstacle to your organization’s success.
Jay takes us back to 1993, and tells us how he experimented with online sales to supplement his brick-and-mortar store. While it was slow at first, the online channel grew so large they chose to sell the physical business and concentrate on online sales. In 2014, Jay sold blinds.com to Home Depot. Unlike many entrepreneurs, Jay chose to stay with Home Depot for 7 years, leading their online leadership team. Jay explains that his vision was not complete, and he seized upon the opportunity to see it through to the end. He moved his knowledge of online sales into adjacent categories, and found even greater success.
Now, Jay tells us about his book, Lead from the Core, which teaches the four 4’s E's: Evolve, Experiment, Express, and Enjoy. He uses the book, and it's lessons, to elevate others and help their businesses rise and grow - giving back to the communities and people who supported him in his initial ventures.
Our conversation is packed with powerful advice for entrepreneurs at any stage of business!
Three Key Takeaways:
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When you have a compelling vision for your entrepreneurial efforts, share it with others - it will improve everyone's success, and move the world forward.
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Don’t be afraid to take chances and experiment with the way your business operates. You might discover new opportunities.
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A compelling vision and positive culture is crucial to retaining key employees through any transition. Be transparent with the 'why' as well as the 'how,' and you'll see people lean in!
A single keynote won't incite change, but it can start the ball rolling. Companies are starting to demand programs that take a keynote's lessons deeper, investing resources in building long term relationships with thought leadership.
To discuss the way keynote speaking has changed since the onset of COVID-19, I’ve invited two of the best speakers in the business to share their insights and talk about how they've navigated this new era of thought leadership speaking.
David Burkus is a best-selling author of Lead From Anywhere: The Essential Guide to Managing Remote Teams and internationally renowned keynote speaker, using forward thinking ideas to help leaders and teams do their best work.
Stephen Shapiro is the author of Invisible Solutions: 25 Lenses that Reframe and Help Solve Difficult Business Problems, and a Hall of Fame Speaker helping organizations keep up with the increasing pace of change.
David and Stephen share how they’ve changed their keynote services to meet the needs of a remote clientele, and what it's like to have their business moving to more than 50% non-speaking generated revenue. They share how they are creating webinars, master classes, and certification programs, that take the ideas in their keynote and make them have a longer lasting effect.
We discuss the benefits of virtual speaking, such as no longer being restricted by travel and time zones, as well as being able to offer bookended solutions that make a good keynote serve as an introduction to an ongoing engagement - instead of the end of one. In addition, we look at the drawbacks of being remote, such as difficulties networking and building community. Our guests offer great insight into how to create long lasting relationships through gamification, competition, and other online tools.
This conversation offers incredible information on pushing your keynote beyond a single transaction, and into a long-lasting relationship!
Three Key Takeaways:
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Build your keynote as a bookended experience, using speaking as a lead-in to a multiple-week challenge, and adding a debrief at the end in order to create greater engagement.
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Companies want more than an inspiring keynote. They want thought leadership that will take your insights and ideas and make them actionable for every employee.
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You can create networking and community in virtual thought leadership events by providing tools that allow the audience to engage with the content, and each other both during and after the event.
While many things in Thought Leadership have changed over the years, one constant is the appreciation of a great subject matter expert. But how do we find those experts?
To examine modern methods of developing a reputation and gaining the trust of your audience, we’ve invited Kevin Eikenberry, Chief Potential Officer at The Kevin Eikenberry Group, a leadership and learning consulting company. He's also the best-selling author of Remarkable Leadership: Unleashing Your Leadership Potential One Skill at a Time and The Long-Distance Leader: Rules for a Remarkable Remote Leadership.
When Kevin started as a speaker and consultant, thought leaders had far less options for building a platform. You could make a website, start blogging, or pay a PR firm to get your name out there - but those methods are outdated, and lack greater appeal. Modern social media offers an almost overwhelming number of options, and it's smart to utilize many different platforms to get the word out about your content.
Kevin discusses the platforms he prefers, and why he's open to experimenting on new platforms. Not every platform will be the right fit, and Kevin explains how he repurposes content during his platform experiments to keep both the time and financial cost relatively low.
Being on a new platform only has value if your ideal audience can be found there, and if you give them content specific to their needs. Although every thought leader has their preferred method of producing content, it's important to be able to discern whether your standard method isn’t your audience's preferred medium. Kevin discusses his methods of finding out what the audience wants, and valuing the consumer's interests and needs - even if they aren't currently ready to buy.
If you want a better understanding of the way a strong platform can elevate your mission and create commercial success, this conversation has tons of insights for you!
Three Key Takeaways:
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In order to make experiments with new platforms have value, be certain that your audience spends time there and will see your content.
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Repurposing content for different platforms and mediums is a great way to save time and money.
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In order to find success, you have to manage some level of commercial expertise. Your audience needs to keep your content top-of-mind!
In rural communities, there are many would-be entrepreneurs with big ideas. Can you imagine how much change for good would happen if every entrepreneur could bring their dreams to life?
In order to better understand the role thought leadership can play in reaching entrepreneurs, we're sitting down with Andrew Button, Founder and CEO of Mashup Labs. He's helping rural entrepreneurs grow their ideas, their businesses, and their communities.
Today, we're talking about thought leadership, nonprofit startups, and how creative ideas and insights can make a real difference to communities that need a boost. Andrew discusses the difficulties in getting a big idea off the ground, finding people who share your perspective and curiosities, and those who are willing to lend a hand to help things grow. There's a critical mass challenge, finding enough interested people to make an entrepreneur's dream a reality — and Andrew knows how to make it happen.
Finally, we discuss how Andrew is stepping into the role of a thought leader and the courage it takes to stand up and make your voice heard. Andrew shares why people should not be so concerned with the aspect of failure but more on getting your ideas out there, testing the theories and sharing what you’ve learned, right or wrong.
While Andrew specializes in activating people in rural communities his advice is solid for any landscape and we hope you’ll take the time to listen to this episode.
Three Key Takeaways:
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In order to find those who share your thought leadership views, you’ll have to be courageous about your viewpoint -- even if it doesn’t align with the norm.
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Thought Leadership allows you to connect with people in places and roles you might not otherwise access.
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Don’t wait to 'perfect' your thought leadership. Put it into the world, test it in real situations, and share what you learn with others.
You've got big ideas that you know could help people. But it's hard to articulate that insight as an actionable plan for business partners, clients, and investors. So, how do you move forward?
Today, we’re sitting down with Tamsen Webster, a TedX speaker and author of the new bookFind Your Red Thread: Make Your Big Ideas Irresistible. In her insightful text, Tamsen codifies her method, and helps others find the throughline that connects an idea to the hearts and minds of the audience.
Many new authors suffer from the "curse of the expert," unable to put their methodology and processes on the page in a way that's accessable to beginners. For Tamsen, that was the easy part. In fact, she struggled with letting go of the book, unsure that the process she had been successfully using for the previous five years was enough to warrant publishing.
As with any good business book, Tamsen has found that hers has drawn multiple new clients — without the usual 2 degrees of separation. Now, people are finding the book and reaching out to her on their own, and that's growing her business exponentially. She's also dipped a toe into licensing her IP, and creating an accreditation program to help other businesses share her Red Thread method with their clients.
Lastly, we discuss the hard part of creating and licensing a properly… protecting it. In order to maintain your trademark, you have to defend it. This can mean awkward conversations about how and where your method can be used. Unfortunately, many people who are interested in thought leadership content are unaware that they are violating copyrights, but there are ways to handle such issues amicably, and to the advantage of both parties.
This interview is a great example of a thought leadership book propelling your ideas to scale!
Three Key Takeaways:
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When writing a thought leadership book, remember to clearly convey what you do best.
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Construct your chapter outline by ensuring that instructions before theoretical examples. This way the most useful part comes first.
- When writing a thought leadership book, consider creating an accreditation program to give organizations a legitimate way to institute your trademarked ideas.
Imagine being 18, and standing on the doorstep of a monastery in the Himalayas, believing you are there to help the monks speak better English — to find out they do not speak any English at all. Could you teach the language, using only body language and tone of voice?
This is the actual story of our guest Richard Newman, and the beginning of his fascinating journey into the lessons of non-verbal communication. Richard is the CEO and Founder of UK Body Talk, the global leader in evidence-based training on the psychology of communication, and the author of You Were Born to Speak, which is Richard’s personal journey of discovering the secrets of communication and is filled with practical strategies that you can immediately apply to transform your success.
Richard shares the story of his journey to a Tibetan monastery to spend six months teaching the monks English. During this time, he learned much about non-verbal communication, and how comfort and discomfort can impact our shared dialogue. During our conversation, Richard shares the insights that help people move out of their comfort zones, so that they can become aware of and change habits that stand in our way. He teaches ways to unlock communication, how to mentor others, and ways to inspire those around you through earnest communication.
Moving people to change habits, or encouraging a business to make large changes, isn’t as simple as providing evidence that the change is for the best. Richard explains how storytelling can be a great tool to connect with the emotional mind stagnant. Then, we can connect with the logical brain and share information that will support and maintain change.
The insights Richard shares into communication are powerful, and can help move employees, companies, and executives forward!
Three Key Takeaways:
- Moving people through change means taking them into an uncomfortable place. In order to be successful, your thought leadership will have to offer a safe space to listen and accept new ideas.
- Storytelling is a powerful tool that,if done correctly, can change people’s beliefs and actions.
- In order to get people to accept your thought leadership insights, you have to help them feel a sense of ownership in that idea.
An interview with Waldo Waldman & Freddie Ravel that originally aired on November 3rd, 2021, as part of Leveraging Thought Leadership Live on LinkedIn.
In March of 2020, the keynote speaking business came to a grinding halt. Before Covid-19, many speakers were predicting a record-breaking year for events and conventions. During the pandemic's height, speakers and live workshops went on hiatus, hoping the shutdown wouldn’t last long. But a few visionaries forged new ways forward, using technology and innovation to help them deliver their message.
To discuss how keynote speaking changed during the pandemic and where keynote speaking is going in the future, I invited two of the best in the business to join me.
Waldo “The Wingman” Waldman is the bestselling author of Never Fly Solo: Lead with Courage, Build Trusting Partnerships, and Reach New Heights in Business, and a member of the Speaker Hall of Fame. He speaks around the world on the topics of trust and teamwork.
Freddie Ravel is a Grammy Award-winning musician who delivers dynamic multimedia “keynote concerts” on leadership, sales, and performance.
In this episode, we explore how each of our guests has pivoted their innovative style of keynote speaking to a virtual platform, using video and technology to connect with clients and audiences. Even with huge advancements in technology, speakers will still be faced with the difficulty of proving their value in a virtual setting, in order to maintain price integrity. Waldo warns that speakers who are not adept with (or willing to learn) new technology are going to be shot down. Freddie explains how he created a custom home setup that allows him to bring messages and music to audiences in a dozen time zones — all at once. We further discuss the way additional products and solutions can give your virtual keynote an advantage, and create momentum that sustains change and creates actionable items for anyone who attends.
This is an insightful conversation into the ways that keynoters have sustained and grown their businesses using hybrid models, technology, and innovation. Come and listen — this information is sure to be useful to anyone operating in a speakers' arena.
Three Key Takeaways:
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When speaking virtually, you need a clear picture of your audience's needs and interests, and an understanding of their pain points, in order to connect with them emotionally.
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Regardless of how you deliver your thought leadership speaking, content is king.
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Be ready to offer follow-up products and solutions that will ensure your message goes further.
How soon should a startup start thinking about using thought leadership? Startups usually focus on customer acquisition, building their brand, and traditional marketing, believing that thought leadership is something that would be nice to have down the road —but not a must-have out of the gate. Turns out, that's not the best way to forge a business.
Investing in thought leadership early can propel a brand to great heights. To explore the concept, we’ve invited Jody Padar to join us. Jody is known as "The Radical CPA," and is one of the few CPAs that has built a personal brand. She is currently the Head of Tax Strategy and Evangelism at April, a new tax program going to market through banks.
We explore how Jody built The Radical CPA brand, starting 15 years ago when accounting, as a field, was going through major changes. She felt the tools she needed were not available, so she started blogging and writing to try to understand the changes taking place. She quickly gained a following that agreed with her thinking, accepting her non-standard methods and innovative techniques. Plus, Jody shares her difficulties with criticism, and how being open-minded allowed her ideas to sharpen and grow.
Now that Jody is with April, we learn how her personal brand works to bring a deeper level of authority and expertise to April, defying all the expectations of a startup. In addition, her high profile plays well with potential investors, who trust Jody as the face of a new brand.
This is an excellent conversation that illuminates personal thought leadership brands, and the power they can have when they partner with new (or experienced!) organizations.
Three Key Takeaways:
• It is never too early to share your opinion, take a unique stance, and start creating your own thought leadership.
• Having an established thought leadership brand can allow you to justify higher fees and the ability to demand a premium when being acquired.
• Thought leadership practitioners need tough skin when it comes to critics, and it is in their benefit to be open-minded and use criticism to refine their ideas.
Why do so many business owners spend time creating strategy, only to put it on the shelf? Strategies can't help your business grow unless they've been fully integrated into the decision-making process, and are part of the daily running of the business. Without a strategy, time is wasted, teams are out of alignment, and vital revenue is lost or misspent. So what's happening?
Today we sit down with Simon Severino, the Founder of the Strategy Sprints Method and author of Strategy Sprints: 12 Ways to Accelerate Growth for an Agile Business. This method focuses on three strategies, three habits, and three numbers to double the revenue of B2B businesses with 90 days of coaching.
We start with the origin of The Strategy Sprints Method as Simon shares how his 17 years working as a strategy advisor left him feeling like there was something missing. Only after he started his own business did he become frustrated and see what the market needed. As many entrepreneurs do he looked back into his career to find the tools that worked and started to build the Strategy Sprints Method.
Simon explains how his method of three strategies, three habits, 3 numbers and 274 prebuild modules gives clients the tools they need to deploy a strategy in a manner that can move the company forward faster, bring teams into alignment on a single sheet of paper, and help them learn faster than the competition.
In addition, we learn how Simon uses his own strategy within his company to avoid the many pitfalls that take executives off track and allow them to get overwhelmed, which often leads to burnout. He shares how having hard checks in place can save you from jumping into new trends that everyone else is doing but won’t actually have a positive impact on your business.
If you’re seeking a strategy for your B2B business and want to increase revenue this might just be what you need.
Three Key Takeaways:
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Thought Leadership strategies need to offer clients a way to move forward that they can understand and buy into.
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Thought Leadership tools need to be accompanied by a strategy to deploy them. A good tool without an instruction manual will not be used.
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Don’t fall into the trap of excitement around new technology and trends. Analyze their usefulness, before committing time or money.
Working with a ghostwriter can be confusing and complex. In this episode, we are joined by an expert in each of these fields, to help thought leadership practitioners get a better grasp of the possibilities.
Dan Gerstein is the founder and CEO of Gotham Ghostwriters, where he uses his talents to connect authors with speakers looking for help, focusing on matching both people's needs and personality.
Jesse Finkelstein is the co-founder and Principal of Page Two, a publishing agency helping non-fiction authors navigate the full range of options while providing high-level support for a wide variety of organizational publishing activities.
We start the conversation by discussing the concept of ghostwriting, and the tasks available to those who perform that function. Dan helps us understand that ghostwriters can write every word of a book, or work as a developmental editor— or anything in between! All the while, their duty is to maintain focus on the expertise, reputation, and authority of the client.
With a firm grasp of the writer in hand, we move to the publishing side. Jesse clarifies the mysterious business of publishing. We learn about the various methods of publishing, the need for an established platform, and why authors want to retain the rights to their book — as they do with their other intellectual property.
This episode takes us from page to print and everything in between!
Three Key Takeaways:
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It’s easier than ever to publish a thought leadership book, the task a ghostwriter can help you accomplish is standing out and making an impact.
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Before starting a thought leadership book, you need to know your unique value proposition and how it fits into the world.
· Publishers look at more than the content of your book. They want to see that you have a strategy, and that the book aligns with your larger business model.
To celebrate our 400th episode, our two hosts Peter Winick and Bill Sherman disperse insights they’ve gained having spoken to hundreds of thought leaders over decades of working in the field.
We start with a look at the widely varied paths to thought leadership. There are no schools, no set career path to follow to become a thought leader. Unlike becoming a doctor or lawyer, thought leadership is often the second act of a career. People branch into it once they've become a subject matter expert, have conquered many challenges of their own, and have developed a unique voice that needs to be heard.
With no set route, thought leadership practitioners are often faced with experimentation as they create content and sharpen their message. Bill talks about the need to simply get content out and not be afraid of failure. Ideas need to take root, and you need defined goals in order to measure its success. Thought leadership practitioners need to shepherd their ideas, constantly look for new ways to present them, and find their best audience.
Looking around the corner, Bill and Peter discuss the drivers that will change thought leadership over the next few years. We examine how publishing will continue to shift its place in a thought leader’s toolbox, and the bar for quality content is only going to get higher as publishing becomes a simple, even easy, task. In addition, we learn why a visible digital footprint adds glue to business proposals and engagements, and why lack of visibility will be a major career impediment in the next few years.
We want to thank all of our listeners for joining us over the last 400 episodes, and we look forward to bringing you more great content and exciting guests in the future.
Three Key Takeaways:
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Don’t wait for your thought leadership to be perfect. Put it out there, and if it falls short, use that as a learning opportunity.
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Your message needs to be independent of the modality. Build a strong foundation of ideas instead of focusing on how to "hack the algorithm" of the platform.
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The cost and ease of publishing is allowing a flood of new ideas to enter the milieu. This signal-to-noise ratio can only be overcome with high-quality content and good marketing.
How do you bring thought leadership online in an organization that is quickly growing? It might seem simple but it is a task that often becomes over-complicated, adding more spinning plates to employees who are already spinning a stack.
We’ve invited Eric Dates, the Director, Growth Marketing at
Ncontracts, a software firm providing risk management and compliance to a rapidly expanding customer base of financial institutes. Eric's voice adds to the conversation as someone who is currently adding and expanding the role thought leadership plays at his company.
Eric shares how he has started thought leadership at Ncontracts by finding people inside the organization who have an opinion and are interested in becoming the face of their brand in some way. He’s found that people get excited at the prospect of being offered the space to share their voice and grow the brand.
Getting people interested in thought leadership might be easier than the task of creating it. Eric explains how he helps people break down the large task of thought leadership creation into smaller chunks to avoid employees feeling overwhelmed at the thought. We also discuss how to integrate a high-profile employee into the thought leadership program without having them overshadow everyone else and take away from the many voices that are involved.
If you want to understand how to better shine the spotlight on the amazing talent in your company and not just ideas this episode will move you in the right direction.
Three Key Takeaways:
· By showcasing the many talented people in your organization you credential them and create a level of trust that will pay off in every interaction they have in the future.
· Getting subject matter experts to move into thought
leadership involves giving them the space and confidence to share their ideas.
· Marketers can move the needle by understanding the full
the potential of having employees move into thought leadership within the organization.
A short video has 3-5 seconds to get the viewers’ attention, and 30 seconds to get them to stay. Are you up to the challenge?
Creating videos, catching attention, and the ability to speak well on camera are acquired skills - and today's guest, Lynn Smith, knows how to master them all. Lynn is a journalist and former news anchor with NBC News, MSNBC, and CNN Headline News. With 15 years of experience in headline news, Lynn knows how to take complex stories and boil them down to a single, strong core. Lynn is now using that experience as Founder and CEO of Rylan Media, helping clients tackle their biggest branding and
communication challenges.
We start by asking Lynn about her insights on taking a complicated story and communicating it to the audience in a clear, succinct manner. Lynn explains how she breaks it down to the headline to grab attention,fills out the story with compelling details, and finally, adds "the chill factor" to leave her audience with a thoughtful takeaway. While many thought leaders can command attention and be charismatic on stage and in person, video meetings, online conferences, and video content creation have changed the game. Lynn shares tips on ways to overcome your awkwardness and connect with the lens in the same way you would a close friend. Her years of experience provide many tips and clear insight that you simply won’t want to miss! If you want to create compelling videos that get a ton of hits, this episode is for you!
Three Key Takeaways:
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Thought leadership videos need to be short. You must connect with the audience in the first five seconds.
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Many people experience Zoom fatigue, but we should also embrace the change that has facilitated simple global communication.
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Budding thought leaders need to be resilient and keep going. Failure is just a lesson, a minor obstacle on the path to success.
Modern marketing means using popular social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter. But how can organizations make sure such marketing is effective, when it's hard to reach or measure the results? Behind the scenes of social media are a million private messages, e-mails, and other chatter that has as much effect on a brand as public announcements. How can that be measured, harnessed, and addressed?
To help us navigate the “Dark Social” parts of the net, we’ve invited Kerry-Ann Stimpson, Chief Marketing Officer at The JMMB Group, an integrated financial service provider who values and promotes heart-to-heart connections and authentic, caring relationships through online media. Kerry-Ann is also the host of The Internal Marketing Podcast, where she gives tips and insights about ways companies can supercharge their brand by focusing on their employees.
First, we define the idea of the “Dark Social" connection, and the important role it plays in the way brands are viewed. Kerry-Ann shares ways to educate your employees so they can play important roles in building the company's brand - along with their own! This is best accomplished by giving employees the freedom and trust to use their voices, and follow their passions.
Kerry-Ann further gives insights about the ways she's been helping employees step out of the shadow of their company's brand, and share their personal experiences. An employee's personal experiences have great value to a company's reputation, helping organizations create communities that allow budding brand ambassadors to connect, learn, and inspire each other.
Three Key Takeaways:
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Thought leaders should embrace the idea of "dark social" connections, and build trustworthy allies to carry the conversation in those places.
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A customer will never be more excited about your brand than your employees. Thought leadership helps employees get charged up and eager to share those ideas.
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You may never have the resources to accomplish all of your marketing goals, but if you create an army of advocates, they'll help take your ideas further than any marketing budget ever could.
This was originally a LinkedIn Live recorded on October 6th, 2021
In our first Leveraging Thought Leadership Live session, we invited two amazing guests to speak with us about challenges and the grit it takes to overcome them. Jan Rutherford is a former Green Beret, and the founder of Self-Reliant Leadership. He's also the author of The Littlest Green Beret: On Self-Reliant Leadership. Shanon Huffman-Polson is one of the first female Apache helicopter pilots, and also the founder of The Grit Institute and author of The Grit Factor: Courage, Resilience, and Leadership in the Most Male Dominated Organization in the World.
Together, these two brilliant leaders, vets, and authors, discuss with us the importance of laying down a strategic plan early in your thought leadership journey. We discuss how they found ways to convey their leadership experience in methods that help others learn from it, and developing avatars to help reach the audience who needs you the most. The conversation covers the need to iterate in order to stay on top of your game, and how to listen to the market in order to keep your business growing with today's needs.
Jan and Shannon share why they chose to become authors, and their reasons for wanting to write a book about their personal experience. Both created books that focused on making their personal stories a delivery mechanism for inspiration, insight, and ideas that others can use to improve their lives.
If you missed this episode when it was live, this is the perfect opportunity to get caught up. Three Key Takeaways:
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Understand your thought leadership's deeper purpose, identify the people you want it to serve, and reach out to them early in your career.
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The market will tell you what it values — which might be different than what you want! Be open and willing to listen, and change course toward success.
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It can be easy to create thought leadership based on our experiences, but it shouldn’t be about you. Make sure you are giving your audience something they can use.
Traditionally, great marketing requires a big budget, a great deal of manpower, and broad advertising. When your organization isn’t able to compete in those arenas, what can you do to punch above your weight class?
To help us level up, we’ve invited Heather Donids, the Director of Thought Leadership and Insight at Harbor Capital Advisors to join us for a chat. Harbor Capital Advisors is an investment company that specializes in helping clients achieve the financial security they deserve.
Together, we explore the ways thought leadership sits outside of the traditional streams of marketing. When done properly, thought leadership allows companies and individuals to compete on a higher level — but only if they have something to say, and the conviction to broadcast and shepherd that idea.
Once your organization has zeroed in on the message they want to share, you’ll need to get it to the right audience. Heather explains how she views thought leadership as an asset, comparing it to human capital. If you develop a content strategy and program, you can create a strategic asset that can be measured, compounded, and guided. The goal is to use many voices and mediums to reach your audience where they naturally spend their time; both in terms of what they are thinking about, and where they are, physically.
Three Key Takeaways:
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Thought leadership needs to be in perfect alignment with your company’s business strategy and values.
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If you have someone in your organization with something valuable to say, equip them with the tools they need to take that message to scale.
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Proper curation of thought leadership will cut through the clutter and put the spotlight on important ideas.
Have you ever thought about publishing a book? Be careful! There are a lot of misconceptions and bad information about publishing. If you want to publish successfully, and see your work reach it's best audience, you might need to do a little research — and our guest on this episode is a treasure-trove of information.
To clear up the misinformation and get our listeners started on the right foot, we’ve invited Matt Holt, Editor-in-Chief of Matt Holt Books (a BenBella Books imprint) to join us. Matt was previously Senior Vice President and Executive Publisher at John Wiley & Sons, where he oversaw a team of 85 staff. Over his 27-year career, he’s acquired over 1,000 titles and published 10,000 titles!
We start with the questions you need to answer before you set pen to paper. Matt believes you need to know your book's goal; why you are writing it, and for what audience? Once you have those answers, you can start thinking about the publishing model that will best suit your authorship.
Having had literally thousands of proposals cross his desk, Matt can tell in only 30 minutes whether a manuscript merits further exploration. During our conversation, he shares what he is looking for in a proposal, and the methods he uses to look into each potential author's background and qualifications. Lastly, we discuss the tension that often exists between author and publisher. The author is making a long-term, multi-year connection ,while the publisher is looking to get in, publish the manuscript, and move quickly onto the next project. Matt explains what both sides can do to provide the transparency needed for everyone to achieve their goals. If you want to ensure that your manuscript proposal doesn’t get tossed into the “pass” pile, you’ve got to listen to this episode!
Three Key Takeaways:
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You can get a book done quickly and cheaply, or you can get it done right.
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Thought Leaders who are also practitioners often have an advantage in promoting their books as they already are in direct contact with their audience.
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A book is a mass-market tool, you’ll need methods of taking your content to scale if you want to fully capitalize on your book launch.
Thought leadership is all about unconventional ideas. But unconventional ideas can be intimidating. How does a thought leadership practitioner stir curiosity, draw in an audience, and make potential clients want to engage? Does giving the client agency draw them in or push them away?
In seeking answers, I’ve turned to an unconventional guest, Vince Kadlubek. Vince is the founder and director of Meow Wolf, an art studio creating massive, world-class experiences that weave art, space, and narrative into one inspirational adventure.
To start things off, Vince explains Meow Wolf's purpose and design, and talks about the three major Meow Wolf experience spaces. These huge art installations provide an environment to explore the unknown, something
essential to an authentic, visceral experience. That's the kind of place, Vince says, where real transformation happens. Bringing these massive events to life takes many iterations of prototyping, and many artisans working towards a unified vision. Vince explains how Meow Wolf creates the theme, seeks artists, and builds both teamwork and autonomy, creating a collaborative effort built on trust.
This episode takes many concepts and ideas used in the arts, and shows how they can be applied to thought leadership advancements in any industry, to make dreams come true.
Three Key Takeaways:
* Thought Leadership needs to marry art and adventure, leading their audience into the unknown - where transformation happens.
* True collaboration means each side provides 50% of the work toward a result; it's the merging of both that creates something richer and more meaningful.
* Prompt your audience to participate in your thought leadership instead of simply being a spectator.
Chief Marketing Officers (CMO) often think in terms of campaigns, responses, and calls to action. Everything is about selling a product or service. So, when it comes to using thought leadership for marketing, how do you thread the needle? How do you show CMOs that thought leadership can develop a brand, bring in new clients, and not look like just another advertisement?
To tackle this tough question, we’ve invited Drew Neisser, the Founder of Renegade, a B2B marketing agency that helps their clients do the heavy lifting of brand strategy, market research, content, and social media. Drew is also the author of Renegade Marketing: 12 Steps to Building Unbeatable B2B Brands, helping readers remove the complications of B2B marketing.
For thought leadership to be successful, you need to be clear about what you are trying to accomplish. Drew discusses the way CMOs should be focusing their efforts, and ways to express how thought leadership differs from traditional marketing.
Once you have a clear purpose, you need a clear vision. Drew explains that thought leadership needs to be developed from the viewpoint of the customers, creating content that encourages them to think more deeply about problems in order to find solutions. Drew's CATS (Courageous, Artful, Thoughtful, and Scientific) method is one such framework. It can be used as a guiding light to ensure your content hits all the right targets.
We conclude the conversation by examining Drew's goals Drew in writing his book. He set out to make B2B marketing easier by creating a 12-step program that he used in the field to gain real-life feedback and viscerally improve the book. Drew shares how the pandemic affected the release schedule of the book, and how he stripped it back to a massive blog post — which then exploded in popularity, proving that he was on the right track.
B2B marketing has never been more complicated. If you are struggling to find your share of the market, this episode might just have the advice you need to find your audience.
Three Key Takeaways:
* Thought Leadership content should be created with the focus of helping clients solve problems by looking at challenges from a different perspective. * Low or mid-level marketers should consider creating thought leadership content early in their career, as a means of building a reputation for the long run. * Make sure you've considered the three C’s when creating thought leadership: Content, Connection, and Community!
Many organizations deploy assessment tools, only to have the results ignored because of a lack of understanding or motivation. What do we do with them, now? What do the numbers really mean? Our guest today will help us understand not only what it takes to build a valid assessment, but how to use one to drive measurable behavior change. Meredith Bell is the co-founder and president of Grow Strong Leaders, where they help individuals discover key areas for development, and implement strategies for achieving higher levels of performance. She is also the co-author of Connect with Your Team: Mastering the Top 10 Communication Skills and Peer Coaching Made Simple: How to Do the 6
Things That Matter Most When Helping Someone Improve a Skill. Meredith started her journey into the assessment tool space in the 90s, when she became frustrated at the lack of customizable tools at her disposal as a consultant. Before long, she had made the pivot from consulting to software creation. Her original product, 20/20 Insight, is still in use today. In addition to having been a consultant and creating assessment tools, Meredith is also an author, speaker, and thought leader. With so many plates spinning, she knows well how each label factor creates multiple touchpoints for potential clients to utilize her expertise. From those touchpoints, she helps companies and organizations discover which of her offerings will have the most impact for their needs.
If you're looking for an in-depth understanding of assessment functionality, and why peer-to-peer coaching can be the most cost and time-effective method for moving the performance needle, you’ll want to listen to this episode.
Three Key Takeaways:
* When creating assessments, keep your questions indirect. Indirect questions create more connection between behaviors and other elements.
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Helping people reach their full potential is all about changing the habits that are standing in their own way.
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Effective communication often means having to ask, “Who do I need to be, in this moment, in order to connect with my audience?”
How can you tell — in an instant — whether an in-person event will be a success or failure? Are there key items that can predict an event's outcome?
In-person events are returning, and with them, questions of their utility and ability to really change the behaviors of those who attend. How can a thought leadership practitioner speak about their insights on stage in a way that brings about lasting and sustainable change?
In order to better understand the challenges and pitfalls of organizing an event, we’ve invited Ruud Janssen, the Managing Director and Co-Founder of The Event Design Collective to join us. The Event Design Collective is a group of event designers who train and consult with event owners to elevate events using the Event Canvas model. As the co-creator of The Design Canvas, Ruud shares how they altered Alexander Osterwalder's Business Model Canvas to suit the event space, creating a model that any event owner could use under the creative commons license.
Taking an idea and making it shine on stage isn’t as simple as it sounds. Ruud helps us grasp the key elements that events need to create value through behavior change. While many concentrate heavily on the look or feel of an event, smart show-runners know that the real selling point is an event's outcome — and how it shapes ideas and habits for those who attend.
The most successful events begin by taking notice of the event stakeholders; who they are, what they want from the event, and how they hope it will unfold. Ruud explains why we need to keep in mind those critical elements, and how to both manage expectations and surpass them. He also shares his thoughts on articulating thought leadership on stage, and what we can do to create behavior change from entry to exit.
In addition, we learn how his business grew from offering a better understanding of The Design Canvas, to the creation of the Event Design Certificate program, and the creation of the Event Design Handbook — all to help empower event organizers to create amazing, impactful gatherings.
If you want to learn more about The Event Canvas, you can get it free along with the first 100 pages of the Event Design Handbook HERE.
Three Key Takeaways:
- Thought Leadership isn’t just about insights. It needs to shape those insights and focus them in ways that deliver behavior change.
- Thought Leaders should spend at least 1% of their total attendance time thinking about the event they are hosting, and how to best reach attending stakeholders.
- You don’t have to have a Hollywood budget for a Thought Leadership event! The production quality simply needs to elevate the conversation taking place.
Advertising and innovation are perhaps the two most important components of a company, and both are changing faster than ever before. So, how can advertisers better understand and harness the influence of social media content creators?
Our guest on this episode is Geoffrey Colon, Head of Brand Studio at Microsoft Advertising and the author of Marketing: What Growth Hackers, Data Punks, and Other Hybrid Thinkers Can Teach Us About Navigating the New Normal. Geoffrey is well qualified to discuss how individual creators and organizations are being challenged to think about accountability, and how their message and actions affect their reputation.
We start off the conversation by discussing how every action taken by your company and its employees is a marketing action, even if you don’t intend it to be. Geoffrey explains why companies need to consider how they are seen - from interactions with customer service, to social media, to advertising campaigns and thought leadership. Are you presenting a clear and consistent message?
Content creators on TikTok and Instagram are capable of massive reach and influence. With that in mind, what can be learned from their methods? Geoffrey talks to us about the changing world of public relations, and how companies can team up with like-minded influencers to create unique campaigns that are mutually beneficial.
We round out the conversation by discussing how thought leadership can help build a brand's reputation. Geoffrey goes on to explain how this can only be done when an organization's thought leadership matches the actions being taken by the company. Trust is immediately lost when the audience sees a company speak about something they clearly don't understand, or worse, when the organization's actions are contrary to their thought leadership message.
If you want a better picture of how to bet on the future of your company's public relations and reputation you’ll want to listen to this episode!
Three Key Takeaways:
- Thought Leadership should stay true to the actions of the company. Don’t tell others about customer service practices if your company is known for having bad customer service.
- Brands can reach new audiences by teaming up with content creators to spread the thought leadership message of their company.
- It is important for thought leaders to understand not only the financial standing of the company they are working for but the ethical standing as well.
76% of people say networking is the top driver for attending an event, but the amount that have a plan to achieve that goal is much smaller. With many events having moved to a digital platform, networking has become harder - and yet, even more critical to success.
To help understand the problem, and find some answers, we’ve invited Robbie Samuels to join us. Robbie is a networking expert, consultant, and advisor. He is also the author of Croissants vs. Bagels: Strategic, Effective, and Inclusive Networking at Conferences and Small List, Big Results: Launch a Successful Offer No Matter the Size of Your Email List, plus, he is the host of the podcast On The Schmooze.
The arrival of the pandemic meant the end of in-person conferences, but as restrictions are loosening, we are starting to see these events return. We discuss what the post-pandemic conference scene will look like. Robbie explains that there is still great importance for in-person events, but they will have to be more thoughtful and meaningful than ever before.
We also discuss the undeniable value of virtual events. Robbie explains that many of the tricks of the trade used by keynote speakers in person simply don’t work on a small screen. He compares in-person speaking to a theatrical performance, and virtual events to a television show, where production and delivery is very different. Robbie gives examples to help speakers make changes to their delivery and connect with the audience in either style.
Lastly, we discuss how the virtual environment has changed business models. No longer can keynote speakers rely solely on big conference gigs. Robbie discusses the diverse platform you need to deliver content, and how you can continue to provide in-person value - digitally!
Robbie has a special offer for our listeners! Click HERE to get The Big Results Toolkit for Free!
Three Key Takeaways:
- Thought Leaders need to have a clear plan to achieve networking goals at both in-person and virtual events.
- When delivering thought leadership content virtually, consider changing the pace every seven minutes to keep the audience engaged.
- Don’t rely too much on one method of income for thought leadership. By diversifying your business model, you’ll increase revenue and protect yourself from future disruptions.
Few children say, ” I want to be a thought leader when I grow up.” So, when did you realize this was what you wanted to do with your life? Every thought leadership practitioner comes from a unique background. Most began in other roles, following twisted paths that unexpectedly led them into thought leadership. When your organization needs a formal thought leadership position, how do you take people from disparate backgrounds and successfully stand up that new function?
To better explore this transition, we’ve invited Mark Smith. Mark is Director, HR Thought Leadership at the Society for Human Resource Management (also known as SHRM). Mark’s background includes a Ph.D. in Industrial-Organizational Psychology and years of consulting in Human Resources, so he's got the right background to help us answer this question! Mark started his career at SHRM by leading a team to develop certification exams for HR. This research led Mark off the beaten path into marketing, social media, and sales - all the while continuing to lead his team. Eventually, Mark’s boss recognized that Mark was doing incredible work outside of the scope of his position, and created the title of Director, HR Thought Leadership that Mark holds today. As the first official thought leadership role in the company, Mark was tasked with creating the responsibilities, roles, and tasks that the position would require, and building it into a meaningful part of the organization. He had to discover ways to bridge the gap between their important research and the audience he hoped to reach.
Mark further shares his ideas about white papers. He tells us that they're not a great medium for the average audience, but those papers, infographics, sound bites, and more, can be shared on social media to offer people simple ways to take action toward more complex ideas.
This is a wonderful conversation about standing up a thought leadership position. From the first steps of writing a vision for the role, to seeking mutually beneficial partners to collaborate with and reach larger audiences, Mark's got amazing insights that can help you do the same.
Three Key Takeaways:
* Research often sits to the side of business goals. Thought Leaders need to bring that research to their audience in an actionable way.
* Organizational Thought Leaders need to navigate the complexity of silo'ed teams, develop buy-in, and get everyone on the same page.
* A fast way to grow your thought leadership reach is to collaborate with complementary partners - especially those whose work doesn't share the same audience.
Ever thought you'd found the best solution - only to discover in a few years (or a few months!) that the solution was unsustainable?
The truth is that management solutions are complex, and sometimes our answers only complicate the original challenge.
We’ve turned to one of the grandfathers of thought leadership, Art Kleiner, to address this difficult issue. Art is a recognized expert on management thinking, thought leadership, organizational learning, and scenario planning. He's the Principal Consultant at Kleiner Powell International (KPI), and the author of a number of books including Who Really Matters: The Core Group Theory of Power, Privilege and Success and The Age of Heretics: A History of the Radical Thinkers Who Reinvented Corporate Management.
Art shares stories of a time when business knowledge was universally applied, leading to a range of difficulties with every new application. Leaders wanted "the one right way" to run a business, not realizing that business isn't a one-size-fits-all scenario. Eventually, thousands of people started offering simpler solutions to complex problems, each expressing the way they'd addressed the challenges. This created a new problemL hundreds of answers, and no way to tell which would be the right fit for any individual organization.
Management problems have become more complex than ever, and leaders now face the difficulties of employees who struggle to deal with the global pandemic, radical changes to the workplace, and a much higher standard of responsibility. All of this adds up to the need for thought leaders who can be part of the community and who speak directly to employees with open eyes and empathetic understanding.
We wrap up the conversation by discussing why it is much harder to build an audience today. The technology to reach thousands of people actually causes part of the challenge, creating fragmented audiences scattered across various platforms. In order to build your audience, you have to show up on a regular basis, find a way to connect with them, and share simple ideas that bring about complex changes.
This conversation is filled with great advice for managers and leaders seeking to better understand the complications of their position.
Three Key Takeaways:
- Thought leaders get a lot of return from being an active part of the community they wish to serve.
- Clients are seeking a connection that feels real. They want someone who speaks from experience, and doesn't just peddle a quick solution.
- Different audiences prefer different media. Some might want to read short blurbs, others listen to a podcast, and a third group might prefer video. Thought leaders must connect with audiences in the manner they prefer.
Many thought leaders start with speaking, consulting, and creating content. They love their insights, and want to share them - but they don't always stop and think about their business model. What products will you offer? How will you market them? What kind of ROI, KPI and other metrics will you use?
What would it be like to start on the business side, before stepping out with your thought leadership?
We are thrilled to have Stephen M. R. Covey join us again on our podcast. Stephen is the co-founder of Covey Link and Franklin Covey, the bestselling author of The Speed of Trust, and a global authority on trust, leadership, and culture. Stephens’s incredible career can be divided into two acts: first, as a leader on the business side of operations, he was charged with figuring out how to scale and leverage the work of his father Stephen R Covey; then, he stepped forward to share his own thought leadership alongside the gold standard his company achieves.
Stephen explains his realization that thought leadership practitioners don’t have to choose between impact and income. By aligning the two, and focusing on the audience that would benefit most from your insights, you can have great ideas and make money
Over the years, Stephen has watched the industry move from analog to digital and has continued to be at the forefront of change. We discuss the forward-thinking ideas he had during the analog years (creation of certifications and train-the-trainer), and talk about the challenges and successes involved with staying at the top in this digital world. Stephen also shares his reasons to believe that intellectual property will always be the underlying engine of any platform or medium.
We wrap our conversation by discussing Stephen’s new book, Trust and Inspire. Stephen enlightens us about how little leadership has changed from the industrial age. While we have polished and refined the system of “Command and Control,” today’s environment requires more. Stephen gives us a rundown of his new system, what “Trust and Inspire” looks like, and why it's more complete and robust way of leading is more relevant in today’s workplace.
Three Key Takeaways:
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The primary goal of thought leadership should always be the mission. Balance the scales between margin and reach, and don't lose sight of the mission.
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Even if you believe that your insights are for everyone, don't overreach. Focus on your most integral audience, and create a profitable core before reaching out to a broader field.
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When the market wants something - give it to them!
Is the thought leadership of your organization integrated with other teams?
Or it is something you do on your own time, without broad company support?
To explore how thought leadership is about the effective deployment of great ideas, we sit down with Mike Zimmerman. Mike is the managing editor of The Thought Leadership Hub and Newsroom at Hitachi Vantara, a company helping mission-critical organizations get from data-rich to data-driven!
Purchasers for businesses now spend 83% of their buying cycle educating themselves on the products and services they seek. Mike helps us understand how thought leadership can get you on that shortlist, by helping those purchasers understand what your product is – and more importantly, why they need it.
Thought Leadership takes a different position inside every company. We examine where it sits within Hitachi Vantara, as well as the investments they are making in it. They integrate thought leadership on a top-down basis, and their “Insights” platform provides a home for stories about innovation, and perspectives on everything from supply chain to sustainability.
In order to have a successful thought leadership platform, you need a fertile source of new content. Mike takes us through the steps he used to identify and recruit his subject matter experts and the various skills they contribute to the platform.
This episode provides critical information for listeners seeking to develop a curatorial role for thought leadership in their organization.
Three Key Takeaways:
- Your commitment to thought leadership shows in the frequency of the content you produce.
- When your thought leadership gets published, it is as important to clarify where you stand on each issue, both for and against.
- When developing your company's thought leadership, make the org’s manifesto of ethics and values is the anchor for your thoughts.
How do you go from "outsider" to "pro"? Through recognizing your unique perspective - and sharing it, with great thought leadership.
Many thought leaders initially feel like "outsiders" in their industry. They have niche interests, new and potentially counterintuitive perspectives, and they think so far ahead of the game that it might seem outrageous to those more comfortable working "inside the box."
Monique Maley is the Founder and President of Articulate Persuasion, working at the intersection of leadership and language. She is equipped with the belief that engaged, articulate, and persuasive leaders and teams can scale faster, build dynamic cultures, and impact those around them for the better. Monique is also the author of Turbulence, where she shares her insights about the way explosive challenges affect an organization. In it, she provides tools and strategies to overcome turbulence and build stronger organizational cultures.
Monique grew up feeling like an outsider due to her bi-cultural background. Her life changed when she realized that she could be more authentic in work and with conversations, and that her background gave her a unique and insightful perspective. Being an outsider has given her a strong advantage when it comes to consulting and advising, and Monique uses that advantage to help her clients and encourage those with similar situations. She tells us how an "outsider's" perspective allows you to see things more clearly, and be more direct, while overcoming internal politics that might try to hold you back just for being different.
As "outsiders," thought leaders must develop tools that put the spotlight on their perspective and hold the attention of their audience. Monique has a rich background in acting and theatre. She shares methods to help those without such a background become comfortable in the spotlight, and shares the real reasons that you need to be authentic in order to build trust.
Three Key Takeaways:
- Thought leaders should embrace their unique backgrounds and be authentic. Those strengths bring a unique outlook to your content.
- Thought Leadership that comes from outside an organization can provide a different and important point of view to those whose information has been isolated.
- Thought leaders need to be able to present themselves in a manner that keeps an audience engaged. Don’t copy someone else’s performance; stay true to yourself, or you risk losing the trust of the audience.
Anyone with the right academic training can understand research materials and data points. The struggle comes when we try to use that knowledge to move people to act. How can we fuse personal experiences with statistical information, to connect with people and get them excited about the future?
Our guest today is Adam Zuckerman, Product Leader, Employee Engagement Software at Willis Towers Watson, a company offering data-driven, insight-led solutions in the areas of people, risk, and capital. They work to make organizations more resilient, more motivated, and capable of amazing things.
Adam shares insights about crafting a unique voice for your thought leadership. He used a personal approach, sharing his narrative and using storytelling skill to add emotion to cold, academic numbers. Through this approach, he connects thought leadership to business development - and enhance employee performance.
When it comes to employee experience, WTW has a host of technological tools at its disposal. Adam knows that technology has become increasingly important to employee satisfaction and engagement. However, he firmly believes that a smart organization's focus needs to remain on people. He tells us how he uses technological data to identify employee needs, and then spur action to address and solve those problems. That's what sets orgs apart from their competition.
We also explore Adam's growing love for social media, particularly Linkedin, a platform he had previously all but written off. At the suggestion of a co-worker, he started to use Linkedin as a platform to share his ideas, and quickly realized it is a powerful tool for sharpening content, building your network, and discovering new ideas.
This conversation is a delightful exploration that ranges from crafting your thought leadership voice to integrating technology into employee performance. Be sure to listen in!
Three Key Takeaways:·
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Leaders who encourage their employees to believe in themselves create a stronger work environment.
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Customer and employee experience are deeply related. If you take care of your employees, they will take care of your customers.·
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Posting thought leadership content on social media is a great way to sharpen the content and see what resonates!.
While thought leadership has been around for a long time, it's only recently started popping up as a topic of discussion in major boardrooms. Company executives and board members want to know the ROI and KPI of a thought leadership investment. So how do you quantify thought leadership's impact and worth?
To help me add up the numbers, I’ve invited Kimberly Ellison-Taylor to join us in this episode of our podcast. Kimberly is a thought leadership practitioner, an experienced accountant, an active board member and the CEO of KET Solutions. She has the perfect balance of knowledge to assess the usefulness and impact of thought leadership at the highest levels.
We discuss thought leadership's impact within the executive suite, and how it can help prepare someone for a board position. Find out what the executive team of any organization should be thinking about when they begin a thought leadership journey; from roll out to measuring impact on a wide scale. Kimberly shares the reasons that an organizational thought leadership role is critical to the client-value proposition, and how great thought leadership can set your organization apart and push it toward greater levels of success.
Kimberly understands the need to include diverse groups of people in your organization's thought leadership, to ask the questions that might otherwise be missed. She also celebrates the next generation of thought leaders, and talks about drawing attention to the time and focus that people put into attaining their professional goals.
This is an exciting conversation for board members, executives, and thought leaders, focused on truly understanding how the power of thought leadership goes beyond the spreadsheet and into the core values of an organization.
Three Key Takeaways:
· Don’t assume executives have a lot of bandwidth for research. Be sure to discuss with them, rather than asking them to investigate on their own.
· Thought leadership is about peering around the corner into the future. Investing in thought leadership ensures that your organization is at the forefront of change.
· You need a network of leaders and executives you can rely on, to help answer questions, solve problems, and discuss current topics of thought leadership.
What if you could change fields - without losing the relationships you'd made at your current organization?
Many thought leaders start their careers working for an organization or company. Some begin by writing about culture, leadership, and developing content for the organization, or, thought leadership may be a passion that they follow on their own time. But what do you do when you're ready to take on thought leadership as a full-time practice? Do you have to abandon the relationships you've made in your career?
Our guest in today's episode is Dan Pontefract. Dan is a TedX speaker, and author of two really special books; Lead Care Win: How to Become a Leader Who Matters, and Open to Think: Slow Down, Think Creatively, and Make Better Decisions. He is also the Founder and CEO of the Pontefract Group, a firm that aims to improve the state of leadership and organizational culture.
Dan talks about what it was like to start his thought leadership career as the Chief Learning Officer at Telus, while writing a personal blog on culture, leadership and learning. From there, he began writing for the leadership channel at Forbes, and sharing his ideas through keynote speaking. When Dan felt his role as CLO had reached its natural peak, he proposed a partnership with Telus. He created an external consulting business, focusing on sharing the same culture changes he'd achieved with Telus - and his thought leadership took off!
Dan shares how he navigated being a public thought leader while working at an organization; how he navigated that relationship; and how he worked with Telus when he was ready to expand beyond their interests. He kept the relationships he made at Telus, and expanded beyond them - while not losing the connections he'd already made.
If you're a thought leader who wants to move from working in an organization to developing your own firm, Dan's insights will prove invaluable. Be sure to listen in!
Three Key Takeaways:
- It is possible for a thought leader of a company to have a public profile. However, you should ensure that the public persona does not develop at the expense of your internal work.
- If you have a good working relationship with a company, there is no need to separate as your career advances. Find ways to keep the relationship mutually beneficial.
- Writing thought leadership for a personal blog can be a gateway to writing for larger publications, or even getting a publishing deal.
When you try to please everyone, you end up pleasing nobody!
It can be a hard pill to swallow, but 99.9% of the world isn’t interested in your thought leadership. Focusing on a vast, wide audience only ends up wasting your time - and might cause you to miss the people who really need your content. When you figure out what the 0.1% needs from you, and how you can serve them, that's when the magic happens.
Today’s guest is Sean M Doyle, Sean is a speaker and advisor helping small-business owners improve their marketing so that they can increase sales and work with more profitable customers. He is also the author of Shift: 19 Practical, Business-Driven Ideas for an Executive in Charge of Marketing but Not Trained for the Task
We talk with Sean about what a thought leadership practitioner can do when great ideas just don't get traction, and what to do to boost them. He also discusses how thought leaders are their own harshest critics, and why content needs to be bespoke if it is really going to reach and connect with a target audience.
Over the last two years, we’ve seen massive changes in the speaking industry. Sean shares insights into the changes speakers have had to make in order to thrive in this new environment. No longer are generic speeches acceptable, nor can speakers rely on choreographed music, lights, or entrance to create energy. To succeed, speakers must have strong content, clear talking points, and shining authenticity.
If you want insight into ways that thought leadership practitioners can raise consciousness, uplift ideas that haven't reached their pinnacle, and make a difference to clients, you’ll want to listen to this episode.
Three Key Takeaways:
- Thought leaders are often the worst judge of their own content, due to stubbornness or ego.
- Thought leadership should be bespoke and feel personal to your audience.
- Once you recognize and understand patterns in people, you can use thought leadership to reach them and create long-lasting culture change.
How can you identify allies and ambassadors for your thought leadership, and what can you do to cultivate a relationship with them?
When trying to expand the reach of your thought leadership, having allies and ambassadors is essential. You need people who can amplify your ideas when you are not in the room, and who will help to take them to heights you could not have reached on your own.
Morag Barrett is the Founder and CEO of Skye Team, an international leadership development firm. She is also the author of The Future Proof Workplace: Six Strategies to Accelerate Talent Development, Reshape Your Culture, and Succeed with Purpose.
In this episode, we discuss allies and ambassadors – people who evangelize and help grow your thought leadership reach. What makes a person an ally or an ambassador? What are the differences between the two? Morag not only helps us define their traits, but also helps us understand how to identify these amazing resources.
Next, we talk about building relationships. Morag shares her insights about the conversations that are critical to creating allies and ambassadors, and how sharing the spotlight can get you further. She cautions against engaging in “transactional relationships,” preferring to look at the long game – be generous with your time and energy, and buy in to the relationship at first, in order to get the returns you hope to achieve.
Three Key Takeaways:
- A thought leadership ally can be a sparring partner as well as a spokesperson for your ideas.
- When seeking allies, don’t just look at your current circle. Reach out to past circles and reconnect.
- When starting to build a relationship with an ally, avoid asking favors. Concentrate on getting to know them, and find out how you can help each other.
Most authors spend, on average, three and a half years from the time they decide they want to write a book until the time the book hits store shelves. That is a massive investment of time that thought leaders and executives could be using to increase other revenue streams. What if you could speed the process up, without sacrificing quality?
Today’s guest, Aurora Winter, has a method for doing exactly that. Aurora is the Founder of Same Page Publishing and creator of the Spoke Author Method. Both help authors get their ideas on the page faster and on track to having a final product they can be proud of that will impact the lives of others and the author's business. Aurora is also the best-selling author of Turn Words Into Wealth: Blueprint for Your Business, Brand, and Book to Create Multiple Streams of Income & Impact (Turn Your Words Into Wealth).
Having started as a television writer and producer, she grew frustrated with the financial restraints and turned to books. As a first-time author, Aurora faced many problems. However, in solving those problems, she found a passion for helping other authors, too. Today, Aurora shares some of the common hardships authors face, and gives suggestions to help those problems be overcome.
Many authors forget they will have to promote the book themselves. While the publisher is a partner, they will publish the book and then quickly move on to the next book in their lineup. We discuss with Aurora the pros and cons of traditional vs self-publishing, why you need a clear business goal for your book, and how you should be looking at your book as a long term legacy piece.
As we wrap up, Aurora gives us the perfect example of how a solid business plan can create more revenue than book sales. She gave her book Marketing Fastrack: The Little Book That Launched A New Business: $250,000 in 90 Days (which you can download for free) away to interested readers for just the price of shipping. She followed that book with a video series, and offered "business breakthrough" sessions. After 90 days, Aurora had generated $250,000 in sales from a book she was literally giving away.
If you want to better understand how your book can amortize over the years and gain a huge ROI, you’ll want to listen to this episode!
Three Key Takeaways:
- Thought Leaders don’t have to be constantly at the keyboard. Many successful books are dictated to a team who can shape those ideas into magic.
- Once your thought leadership book is done, the real work starts. You have to put in a lot of effort to promote your book, as the publisher will only do so for a relatively short period of time.
- A book is a mass-market product, but you must have a solid strategy if you want to use that book to increase your thought leadership business.
Is it possible to transform the world of sales through thought leadership? And if we could, how would we change and improve sales culture?
While many industries and positions change and evolve at high speed, the world of sales is often seen as foundational. Companies educate their salespeople about their product or service, and send them to sell as many units as possible. That's the way the game is played, right? But what if things could be different?
Our guest today is Kelly Wright, Founder of Culture Driven Sales, an organization on a mission to help companies create exceptional cultures. Kelly helps orgs drive sales by bringing all levels of the company together around a unified purpose, creating a healthier, more aligned culture. She is also the President and COO of Gong, a company that analyses customer-facing interactions to deliver the insights needed to close more deals.
We start our conversation by discussing how thought leadership and sales connect. Kelly shares her experiences, noting that many salespeople don’t realize how powerful thought leadership can be in selling and what a game-changer it can be! The competitive market no longer wants vendors who are just "going through the motions." They want a partner that will challenge them, help them keep up with modernization, and work with them to create a better environment for sales.
Kelly is on a mission to transform the sales world. When companies spend more time educating salespeople on the why as well as the what (knowing the product, but also how it helps their clients), they can create a true partnership between sales and customer. Through storytelling, salespeople can connect with their customers, creating a unified mission and vision that can spur success and create growth for both sides.
If you want to transform the sales culture in your company this is the episode for you!
Three Key Takeaways:
- Thought Leadership creates, persuades, and "sells" a vision of the future.
- Many thought leaders have a gut feeling about how things work, but choices need to be based on research and data.
- Your thought leadership is not for everyone. Don’t spend time on people who aren't interested in learning more about your core insights.
What's the best way for a speaker to help their audience connect with their ideas?
Many organizations have brilliant employees with a great depth of knowledge, but when it comes time for them to share that knowledge, they have trouble finding their voice. How does a speaker connect with their audience? How do you evoke emotion, and gain the investment of your listeners?
Our guest today is Dr. Nick Morgan, one of America’s top communication theorists and coaches. He is also the President of Public Words, coaching speakers and business leaders in methods of connection, helping them develop their ideas, and bringing their insights to life with powerful language that will move people to action.
We discuss why it's best for thought leaders to focus on their insights, narrowing their area of expertise and making their ideas accessible to learners. Nick explains that speakers should share stories that are relevant to their audience, otherwise it won't hold interest. In addition, your story should identify a specific problem that the audience understands, and illustrate concrete solutions. That's how a speaker connects emotionally with their listeners.
One method of establishing an emotional connection is by telling stories of conflict or failure. While many have difficulty sharing such personal stories, Nick describes why these are exactly the stories your audience most needs to hear. They want to understand the stumbling blocks you faced, and how to overcome those challenges and reach success.As a coach of some of the world’s top speakers, Nick shares great advice for breaking through the primal fear of public speaking. He discusses why speakers should establish a clear narrative, and how to gain confidence through repetition of those stories.
If over the last two years you've felt disconnected or misunderstood during virtual conversations please check out Nick's book Can You Hear Me?: How to Connect with People in a Virtual World.
If you are planning to add speaking to your repertoire, or even if you're an experienced speaker, this episode is a trove of wisdom. Listen in!
Three Key Takeaways:
- To make an emotional connection with your audience, you need to find the intersection between thought leadership and listener relevance.
- Share your thought leadership expertise in a narrow band, and seek out an audience that needs your insights.
- Be passionate about your thought leadership. The audience can only be excited if you're excited, too!
There are a lot of myths that first-time authors have about publishing: Having a literary agent guarantees you a book deal; book contracts are too complicated for a normal person to understand;authors need huge social media numbers to get published. Getting published can be a complicated process, but it doesn't have to be a confusing one! To help us debunk these myths, we invited Lucinda Halpern to join us for a conversation. Linda is the president of Lucinda Literary LLC, a literary management firm that champions leading thinkers and emerging voices. As President of the organization, Lucinda relies on her deep knowledge of the industry, and decades of experience guiding authors to break-out success and long-lasting careers.
We start our myth-busting by talking about book agents, and what happens during the lead time before a book hits the shelf. Lucinda explains that engaging a literary agent can help understand publishers' needs, and add an additional level of polish to your manuscript - but it doesn't guarantee you'll find a publishing deal. While thought leaders often want their book published immediately, Lucinda explains that it can take 12 to 18 months for the publishing process, even after your manuscript is written.
Next, we shine a light on the myths of platform and marketing. While publishers still require fantastic content, Lucinda shares the importance of creating a visible author presence. We get a brief overview of ways that publishers review a potential author's platform and reach, and where an aspiring author might focus in order to improve their chances of becoming published. In addition to publishing their manuscript, authors need to think about the long-term business plan for their book. Lucinda gives us insights into the long-view of business books, why lower than expected sales do not equate to failure, and how lead generation is the place to make real profit.
We wrap up our conversation by discussing the frustrations that can arise when dealing with publicists. Lucinda helps us understand the steps an author should take to screen a potential PR company, the questions that need to be asked, and the routes you can take - depending on your budget.
This conversation is a deep dive into what authors need to know and understand - from the moment they seek an agent, to the years following the publication of their book.
Three Key Takeaways:
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Thought Leaders should work with a literary agent, to polish their manuscript and shop it to publishers.
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Authors need to look at publishing a book as a long-term investment in their thought leadership; books are best thought of as lead generation tools for speaking and workshops.
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If you are not interested in being part of marketing your thought leadership book, you are putting yourself at a disadvantage. Find a platform that allows you to shine.
Is kindness a mindset, culture, or capability? What is the cost of empowering your employees to be kind to their co-workers, customers, and themselves?
To get a deeper understanding of where kindness fits into the workplace, we’ve turned to The Kindness Catalyst, Linda Cohen. Linda is a nationally recognized kindness expert and keynote speaker with over a decade of experience. Her new book, The Economy of Kindness: How Kindness Transforms Your Bottom Line, provides real-life examples of companies that have employed kindness as a secret weapon to build and maintain their organizations.
We start our conversation by discussing how Linda started her kindness movement by writing her first book, 1,000 Mitzvahs: How Small Acts of Kindness Can Heal, Inspire, and Change Your Life, as a project to honor her father. As she began to deliver keynotes on the topic, she truly realized her passion for the subject. Linda discusses the concept of an "economy of kindness," and how kindness is a soft skill that businesses rarely emphasize. Yet, the ROI of kindness in your business is undeniable.
Linda has had to use her agility and willingness to learn in the last two years, overcoming massive changes to the keynote speaking industry caused by our current workplace situation. Linda shares tips on transitioning to virtual events, including the skills she had to learn and the changes she made to her delivery in order to ensure she
still connects with her audience on an emotional level.
Kindness is essential in today’s business world. Times are changing, and thought leadership delivery methods have to change with them. Discover ways to effectively connect and deliver your message, no matter the circumstances..
Three Key Takeaways:
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Growth is possible when kindness is part of your DNA. Does your thought leadership encourage people to be kind?
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Delivering a thought leadership keynote virtually requires additional means of interactivity to avoid the risk of losing the audience.
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After delivering a virtual keynote it is important to seek feedback to ensure your thought leadership was delivered in the way you intended.
How do you help people see new truths, change their behaviors, and rekindle the spark of insight in their everyday life? Through thought leadership! At its best, thought leadership is incredibly empowering. By sharing our experiences, great thought leadership practitioners can help their audiences elevate their lives - day by day. Our guest on today's podcast understands that process better than anyone. Amanda Morin is the Director of Thought Leadership and Expertise at Understood, a nonprofit organization that is a leader in the fields of education and disability inclusion. Amanda helps those who learn and think differently discover their potential, take control of their education, and find community.
Amanda explains Understood's mission, and explains how she leads the org's efforts to build knowledge about learning and thinking differences. Amanda walks us through Understood's humble beginnings in 2014, focusing on empowering school-age children and their teachers. Through the years, the strategy shifted to include helping individuals take charge of their lives and find strength in their differences.
We discuss the various modalities used to reach a broad audience. Amanda discusses the need for a diverse team, and adapting her thought leadership to be used with websites, the mobile app Wunder, and the podcast she co-hosts, In It, where Amanda gives advice for parents, teachers, and even kids who are "in it" with those who learn and think differently. We also discuss other social media platforms she's used for her thought leadership, and the types of content that work best on each (and why!).
Amanda draws from a full team of researchers, experts, and content creators, to create the perfect team for any task. By maintaining a pool of talented people, she's sure to have the right skills for any project. She explains why her job isn't simply to lead the team, but also to help team members find their distinct voices, lift them up so their ideas are heard, and know when to help them change direction when a project isn't hitting the mark.
This is a wonderful conversation about deploying thought leadership to help those who might otherwise never be given the chance to unlock their full potential.
Three Key Takeaways:
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When deploying thought leadership, you need to find your audience - and put your insights where they already spend their time.
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Not everyone will have the same entry point (or end goal) for thought leadership. It is important for your audience to have different points of entry, and to consider their disparate objectives.
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When leading a thought leadership team, ensure you are giving a platform to each distinct voice. By raising them up, you elevate the whole team.
With a seemingly endless supply of options for any service or product, how do you make sure that yours rises above the noise? Better yet, as a buyer, how can you know which product or service is right for you?
Today we are joined by Howard Brown, the Founder and CEO of ringDNA (now known as Revenue.io), an AI-powered platform that helps clients unlock revenue growth. Howard has also been listed as one of the 100 Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs by Goldman Sachs, and a top CEO according to Comparably. With a strong background in clinical psychology, Howard’s position on thought leadership comes from a deep understanding of the way people work and think.
Howard shares his insights on thought leadership, how using TL internally can help your employees find strength, realize opportunities, and improve, so that they can deliver their best performance.
As a CEO, Howard shares great advice for those who are just starting on the leadership journey. He delves into the how's and why's of using thought leadership internally and externally at your company, and what it means to be a CEO who understands thought leadership's purpose. In addition, we discuss "finding your superpower," and why being hyper-personalized with your message will better connect with a specific audience. Make sure they know you are speaking directly to them, and taking into account their individual needs! If you want to use thought leadership to tell a story and deliver value for your entire organization, this is a great episode for you.
Three Key Takeaways:
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As digital conversations replace more and more face-to-face ones, we need Thought Leadership to build those connections. Listen to your audience, pay attention to their needs, and create a sense of insight and vision.
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When starting down the path of thought leadership, start by doing your research! It's important to truly understand what thought leadership is… and what it is not.
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It can be tempting to create thought leadership for “everyone” because it’s easy. Narrowcasting is much harder, but the ROI is greater - especially if you crack the code and reach the right audience for your insights.
How do great thought leaders successfully connect their content to their business objectives in a way that causes real impact? It's all about strategy. Strategy is the most overlooked piece of thought leadership. Even with compelling stories, brilliant insights, and a drive to share with their audience, some thought leaders fail simply because they didn't know how to craft a winning strategy to deploy their content.
Our guest today is Trevor Merriden, Founder and CEO of Merriborn Media Ltd, a company that puts businesses on the fast track to content competency. Trevor started his thought leadership journey as an economist, finding the stories in numerical data. He took those insights and became a business journalist, helping Human Resources (or, in UK terms, the Personnel Department) find more strategic approaches to telling those stories - and delivering them with impact. After taking the role of editor as far as he could, Trevor started his own company. Now, he helps business clients deploy their thought leadership content with comprehensive, successful strategies.
Trevor discusses the future of thought leadership, and how the field might grow and change as it evolves. Trevor also shares the three C’s: Curiosity, Clarity, and Collaboration; when used effectively as a strategy, these can give your insights the impact and reach necessary for success.
In addition, we discuss how the pandemic has had an impact on thought leadership, encouraging people to make better use of time and technology and allowing ideas to move faster than ever before. We also discuss the pitfalls of the virtual world, and how quiet voices can be lost amid the noise - unless they possess a strategy to help draw attention to their insights.
Our conversation covers how a thought leader can grow from any role where a passion for curiosity and storytelling exists.
Three Key Takeaways:
* If you have a driving curiosity to find answers and share insights, you need to be part of an organization that will support your creation of thought leadership content.
* Organizational thought leadership content needs to keep the strategic goals of the company in mind.
* Thought Leadership doesn’t have to be a solo mission. The world’s largest problems will require collaborative efforts.
When did you first realize you were creating and deploying thought leadership? Many thought leadership practitioners were unknowingly performing the function before they stepped up to the title. However, adding the words
“Thought Leader” to your title shines a particular spotlight on your talents. The title often comes with high expectations — and a need for clear metrics to show that your work makes sense.
To explore how a new thought leadership role can be developed, and how to help it evolve and move forward, we turn to Clarinda Cerejo, Senior Director of Thought Leadership at Cactus Communications, a technology company that is accelerating scientific advancement by making research available to communities around the world.
Clarinda tells us how Cactus Communications supported her work developing a formal thought leadership role, from the earliest days of research to the expansive plan of building communities. She also discusses what it meant to both her and her organization when she finally included the words “thought leadership” in her formal title.
Determining what success looks like for thought leadership can be challenging. Clarinda gives clear examples of metrics you can
use, why you need to celebrate the small victories, and how success is cumulative. Thought leadership means being invested in the long haul, and watching trends, not fads.
We examine the work Clarinda is doing, and the challenges she has faced in moving from scientific research to content marketing. She carries the scientific method into her work doing community building, helping others get their work published, and navigating the difficult peer-review process.
This conversation is a perfect example of the arc a career can take, from subtly doing thought leadership to steering the ship for your company. Listen in, and get insights from one of the most insightful new thought leaders in the business!
Three Key Takeaways:
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Remember that the external perception of your role is more important than any title. Do the work - recognition will come! * Success in Thought Leadership often looks different than success in marketing or sales. Celebrate the small victories, because they
will add up to big changes. -
Focusing Thought Leadership on community lets you create content that gives voices to those who have been most impacted.
Many believe that being a great leader in the business world means you're automatically going to be a great leadership coach. If you can do it, you can teach it, right? Wrong! Teaching is a difficult skill, one that must be learned and developed like any other. Many brilliant leaders fail to achieve success as a coach simply because they don't prepare for "Teacherhood." They face difficulties translating their insights, as well as discussing premium fees, or maintaining networks. So how do you make the leap?
For our answer, we turn to Lance Tanaka, Founder and Managing Director of the Lance Tanaka Group, an organization focusing on coaching the best of the best around the world.
Lance shares how he went from the general manager of Pepsi Tokyo to being a renowned executive coach, accumulating over 17,000 hours helping executives around the world since the Lance Tanaka Group's inception in 2001. He expresses the importance of self-discovery as an aid in coaching, and explains why more CEOs need to take time out for their own self-reflection.
We examine the three things Lance looks at when hiring coaches to work at his company, and ways that new coaches can avoid falling prey to common problems. He explains why it's critical to keep an updated and relevant network, secure referrals, and be steadfast in your fees - and how many new coaches struggle with these issues. Lance lists the critical strengths a coach needs to bring to the table - and specific industry knowledge isn't at the top of the list!
If you are starting to think about your future moving from the corporate space into coaching, or have struggled as a new coach, this is a great episode for you!
Three Key Takeaways: * Thought Leaders seeking to coach need a passion for helping people change, and a strong ability to connect and empathize with their clients. * It is imperative that Thought Leaders keep in touch with their network as their career path evolves, to ensure your connections know about your current offerings. * When it comes to fees for Thought Leadership, don’t be afraid to stand your ground. Offer smaller scope for a limited budget instead of discounts on your rates.
Over the holidays, we took a look back at the conversations that have stood out from 2021. We were honored to speak with some amazing thought leadership practitioners, but a few really stood out, and we wanted to share them again:
Jayshree Seth, Chief Science Advocate at , shares the way she is turning the scientific methods and processes used in the lab to also promote science advocacy. She talks about how to create a clear picture of goals, raise awareness, and break down the barriers and boundaries that impede scientific progress.
Jeff Kavanaugh is the Global Head of the Infosys Knowledge Institute, the research and thought leadership arm of the Infosys diversified technology and digital firm. Jeff helps us understand the idea of "Quantum Organization," his method of doing many things at once, and challenges us to see how even small changes can bring about drastic impact.
Melanie Huet is the Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of Serta Simmons Bedding. She provides critical insights about using modern marketing tools like TikTok to elevate awareness and spark conversations, and the challenges of transforming a long-established brand into a modern must-have.
Thomas Kolditz is the author of Leadership Reckoning and Director of The Doerr Institute for New Leaders at Rice University. Thomas shares The Institute’s two-fold mission: to create a powerful and widely available leader development experience, and to improve the quality of leader development in higher education everywhere. These were inspirational guests, with meaningful messages. We're thrilled to be able to shine a spotlight on them once more, and wish all of you the very best in 2022!
What role can yoga and meditation play in the business world? Can leaders use these unconventional methods as an epic spiritual guide? How do you use empowering techniques to coach executives and corporations toward greater success?
Today our guest is Kristoffer "KC" Carter, author of Permission to Glow: A Spiritual Guide to Epic Leadership, which outlines the first of four permissions that will create a long-term framework for Kristofer’s works. He's the author of Permission to Glow: A Spiritual Guide to Epic Leadership, as well as an international speaker and retreat leader who teaches at the intersection of consciousness and business.
We begin our conversation by exploring what KC means by "spiritual leader," and how meditation connects to business and thought leadership. Techniques like yoga and Transcendental Meditation are being used by high-profile CEOs around the world, and KC's methods bring those insights into the business world.
KC discusses the ways that spirituality and meditation are critical to business leadership, and how he's pushing past the barriers of skepticism to bring deep insights to leaders from the Fortune 100 as well as newly-minted start-ups. He uses mindset to help leaders find clarity, and commit to the things that energize, inspire, and ignite them.
KC's deep knowledge of instructional design is being put to good use, creating a strong thought leadership IP that is teachable, and requires only 15 minutes a day for leaders to change their lives. He shares details on his coaching certification program, allowing others to manage relationships within their organization and take back control of their lives.
If you are curious about how spiritually can give your business a boost, KC's insights and thought leadership are a great place to start. Listen in, and it might just make your life epic, too!
Three Key Takeaways:
· Help organizations justify the expense of bringing in your thought leadership by providing benchmarks, methods for measuring success, and hard data to back up your content.
· Creating a program of certified coaches to deliver your Thought Leadership is a great way to take your message to scale.
· Without proper instructional design, your thought leadership programs could feel like nothing more than speaking notes. Take some time, and prepare for success!
It has become a tradition to start the new year off with a look back at a few of the great episodes and most inspiring guests of our previous year's podcast. For 2021, we hope you’ll enjoy great advice from:
Doug Conant, best-selling author of The Blueprint and CEO of Conant Leadership. Doug shares insights about balancing his time as a thought leader and a CEO, and ways to make time for self-reflection. It's important to ensure that the things which matter most are never forgotten in the press of less-important burdens.
John Warrillow is the Founder of the Value Builder System and Best-selling author of Built to Sell. John talks about the best parts of coaching, and opens up about the psychology of selling to entrepreneurs vs. enterprise, and the need to find the niche that works best for you.
Lisa Bodell is the CEO of FutureThink and author of the best-selling book Kill the Company. In our conversation, we explore the meaning of her term "futurist," and how Lisa found a way to guide people to their potential and teach change through a structured format.
Tom Schwab is the founder of Interview Valet and the author of PODCAST GUEST PROFITS. Tom sheds light on proper etiquette as a podcast guest, and talks about ways to turn guest speaking on an episode into a relationship that can help you attract and keep engaged customers.
How do you grow a movement from a backyard enterprise to a global mission reaching hundreds of thousands of people each day?
Today, we discuss the ongoing 50+-year mission of the Special Olympics with Jacqueline Jodl, Senior Vice President of Global Youth & Education and Haylie Wrubel, Director of Global Unified Champion Schools.
We start our conversation by discussing the way Special Olympics is bringing together people with and without intellectual disabilities to share experiences and build a common language. Their goal: create an understanding of the value of social and academic inclusion. One of the methods by which they achieve this goal is through creating Unified Champion Schools, a worldwide network of schools with inclusive programs, both sport and academic. Together, they bring people with differences together to build friendship and create leadership.
Taking a grassroots idea to scale is never easy, but is exactly what the Special Olympics has done. Jackie and Haylie share some of the methods they’ve used to create an impact on a global level. We discover how thought leadership resides at the intersection of research, policy, and practice, and how creating that thought leadership is at the heart of their work. In addition, we learn how a focus on storytelling and sharing the real-life stories of individuals and schools can resonate with policymakers and move the needle on a global scale.
In addition, Jackie and Haylie discuss how they go about cultivating allies and ambassadors for their movement. They explain why you shouldn’t be too narrow while identifying allies, how you can co-create content, and how you can turn followers into allies and ambassadors.
This is a fascinating look at how the Special Olympics has grown, and continues to grow, across the world - creating a positive social impact for everyone.
Three Key Takeaways:
- Scaling thought leadership can be done by using a policy that works in one area and modifying it to suit another.
- Thought leadership is more authentic when you give voice to those it is intended to impact.
- Creating thought leadership for a global movement involves having an infrastructure with staff and volunteers in the communities they are intending to work with.
With so many brands in the marketplace, how can you elevate yours? And how do you stay unique, eye-catching, and authentic to your vision?
To help address these questions, we turn to Denise Blasevick, CEO and Founding Partner of The S3 Agency. The S3 Agency provides advertising, marketing, and PR for companies seeking stronger strategy and an authentic voice that differentiates your brand from all others.
Denise shares how thought leadership can make your business stand out, and earn trust. She was the on-air marketing make-over expert for an MSNBC program for nearly a decade, and that exposure allowed her company to compete with larger firms and punch above their level. She offers tips she learned staying true to her vision in a sea of competition, and how she found people that shared her breakthrough point of view.
In today’s society, your brand must be authentic. Some choose to lean into (or away from) certain political issues, but Denise used her unique perspective to guide her brand's voice. Today, she walks us through the reasons how and why a brand should engage in the conversation about difficult topics. Further, she reminds us that leaning into a cause means more than giving lip service to your views; you must act on them, or your audience will call your authenticity into question.
The S3 Agency has helped clients, from BMW Motorcycles to Tetley Tea, develop their brands. Denise explains the Brand Elevation Process used to collaborate with clients and help them reach the next level. She explains how she broke years of gut instinct down into small, measurable parts, then used her insights to build a codified process that allows brands to scale their business.
Whether your brand is big or small, this conversation can help you find clarity and meaning - and find success!
Three Key Takeaways:
- When codifying your thought leadership, break it down into its most basic pieces. Then, of each part, ask “Does this really matter?”
- For thought leadership to change the world, it must do more than talk about it. You must stand for something, take action, and be the change you want to see in the world.
- The only way to scale thought leadership effectively is to create a process that allows others to replicate your results.
Once you realize that your company needs a full-fledged thought leadership role, how do you make that vision a reality? What information should be included in your proposal? Who do you need to buy-in, and what would the role entail?
These are some of the questions we explore in this episode. Our guest is Erica James, Director of Customer Marketing and Thought Leadership at Medallia. Medallia's award-winning SaaS platform, the Medallia Experience Cloud, leads the market in the understanding and management of experience for customers, employees, and citizens by utilizing a proprietary AI technology to turn personalized and predictive insights into tremendous business results.
We explore the journey Erica has taken; from her instinctive talent for thought leadership, to pitching and developing her formal position as thought leader at Medallia. Erica describes how she knew the position would benefit the company, the way her personal love of thought leadership played a part in getting executive buy-in, and the way her new role increases employee satisfaction throughout the entire organization.
Erica shares with us the way feedback from current clients is a source of inspiration, as she takes their requests for information and turns that into a drive that shapes content. She discusses the many people who have come out of the woodwork to work with her now that her position is formalized, and how she shines the spotlight on them (both internally and externally) to develop their brand.
Finally, we discuss the methods of coaching Erica employs to move others along the thought leader road. By using an apprenticeship model she is able to make meaningful relationships and then by breaking down thought leadership into bite-sized chunks, she makes the task manageable and more comfortable for new practitioners to accomplish.
This episode gives amazing insights and pathways toward standing up a new thought leadership role inside an organization, and will be useful to those looking to become thought leaders as well as to executives wanting to create a thought leadership function inside their organization. Be sure to listen in!
Three Key Takeaways:
- Thought Leadership is like a marching band. Everyone on the team has a unique role that adds to the harmony of the music.
- When adding a thought leadership function to an organization, start with the question, “What outcome are we trying to reach?”
- People are seeking thought leadership content that is authentic and approachable. The personal touch can carry you far!
Today’s guest is Michelle Mellon, Thought Leadership Director at SalientMG, a strategic marketing firm that creates custom programs for clients seeking to spur new business, create awareness, or get recognition as an industry leader. Michelle is also an accomplished short-fiction author; her work can be found in compilations like The Year’s Best African Speculative Fiction. She's an expert in using creative storytelling to drive insights and make thought leadership accessible and powerful.
When writing a work of fiction, Michelle often starts with the question of “What if?” And, indeed, as she tells us today, that question also forms a powerful intersection between fiction and thought leadership. Michelle explains how her thought leadership goes deeper. She looks at trends, listens to her audience, and crafts stories that will both educate and entertain.
In our conversation, Michelle explains the basics of storytelling, and how the elements of fiction can also empower good thought leadership content. Michelle walks us through the best practices of crafting and telling engaging stories about leadership, brand, and mission, and explains that by following and even sometimes breaking the rules of basic storytelling, one can capture and inspire an audience.
Every author has to find their voice and stay true to it. Michelle explains why an authentic voice is necessary to craft good thought leadership. In addition, we discuss ways to develop the mind’s ear, and how to use voice and language that is specific to every audience. Having a distinct voice will only carry you so far - if your audience doesn’t understand or isn’t interested in what you are talking about, your thought leadership won't stick!
This is an insightful episode for creative writers entering the world of thought leadership, and for those seeking to breathe life into an idea and share it with others. Listen in!
Three Key Takeaways:
- Thought leaders should embrace the speculative and look into the future as they craft their content. Your ideas don’t have to be 100% right; they just have to be engaging and enlightening.
- It's a fallacy to think that long-form content has more prestige. Convey your thought leadership in a variety of formats, and you'll reach a wider audience.
- Thought leadership needs to tell your personal story, share your experiences and your mission, but it must also inspire others - and to do that, you must share it in a way that they can understand.
There are two popular roads that can be taken when building a consulting firm. The first is intense specialization; becoming the gold standard in a particular domain. The other is to have a more general focus, relying on a broad variety of topics that can be combined and recombined to solve many different problems. But what happens when the truth of your brand lies on both roads?
Niko Canner is the Founder of Incandescent, a firmwhich has many talents: it serves as a thought partner to leaders of large enterprises on strategy, organization and innovation; advises founders on the development of their ventures; and partners with foundations and non-profits engaged in systems change.
Prior to founding Incandescent, Niko was co-founder and Managing Partner of the consulting firm Katzenbach Partners. In our conversation, he recalls his struggles to properly but concisely describe their firm to the market, and how many potential buyers walked away without properly understanding their value. Niko also shares how the term "Breakthrough Organizational Performance" was the key that let them go to market as both specialists and generalists, and find buyers competing for their attention.
Niko shares the conversations that took place prior to that acquisition, how to find a good fit for both acquiring and acquired company, and explains the factors anyone hoping to see their firm acquired someday should be considering now.
Three Key Takeaways:
- In order to successfully market your thought leadership, you need a platform that is succinct and resonates.
- If your thought leadership brand is too general, you can get lost in the crowd. Get too specific, and you could become irrelevant to most. Find the path between!
- When looking to have your thought leadership firm acquired, you need to establish a relationship and prove that you are a good strategic fit to your buyer.
Today’s guest is Everett Harper, the Founder and CEO of Truss. Truss isa software company that works with teams to design, build, and scale software and tech infrastructure to give them the tools they need to excel. Everett is also the author of Move to the Edge, and Declare it Center, a book that helps people lead organizations, solve problems, and sustain company growth with effective practices for complex, uncertain, and unpredictable environments.
Many CEO's want to write a book about their experiences, but doing so can be an expensive and time-consuming process. How do you know it’s the right time to write a book? What insights and experiences should you share? In Move to the Edge, and Declare it Center, Everett discusses a moment of disquiet in 2020 that compelled him to write - and how that moment has gone on to inspire others through his book.
Everett also describes the process Truss uses with their clients, interviewing not only the leaders of a project but also software operators, end-users, and partners, in order to gain the widest view of complex problems. With that information in hand, they create an infrastructure to help the designers of a software system understand the needs of its end users, and keep both involved throughout the entire entire development cycle.
Three Key Takeaways:
- Nobody knows everything, and not knowing can feel frustrating. Great thought leaders manage that feeling and find a way forward.
- Complex problems don't always have linear solutions. Thought Leaders can make amazing discoveries by keeping an experimental mindset.
- A good thought leadership book can get you recognized, and bring your insights respect - giving you an edge on the competition.
Have you ever had to onboard a new hire, or explain a complex task to a colleague not in your field? How can you get a novice up to speed without giving them a doctoral-level lecture?
Today’s guest is Ashley Faus, Content Strategy Lead for Software Teams at Atlassian. Atlassian is a software development company that creates tools which are used worldwide to unlock the potential of high-functioning teams in the workplace.
We start our conversation by discussing frameworks for thought leadership, content, and broad ideas, and how building a content framework can make even complex ideas accessible to learners of all levels. Ashley goes on to share the four pillars of her framework: Credibility, Profile, Prolific, and Strong Depth of Ideas. She explains how frameworks can be a tool to assess areas of specific challenge or difficulty, and how to use them to create a stronger focus to improve. In addition to her four pillars,
Ashley shares how she arrived at the idea of the "Content Playground," and how she builds on her experience in content marketing to turn ideas and inspiration into learning journeys. An audience can be engaged by allowing them to choose their own path through content, discover insights that speak to their personal perspective, and grow through the novelty of play.
Ashley explains that trust is an essential quality of thought leadership, and that to be a great leader, you must be open, honest, and vulnerable. Organizations, too, need to manifest those traits, remaining consistent and authentic in their actions and messaging, so that audiences understand and believe in the brand'.
Three Key Takeaways:
- A well-built framework can be a great way for others to more easily grasp the core of your thought leadership.
- Thought Leadership can be used for content marketing, but that should not be its main goal.
- Thought Leadership is a long-term play, unlike most marketing, and should be constructed and utilized to withstand the rigors of time.
When you can't gather in person, how do teams manage strategic planning, maintain role clarity, and build both alignment and consensus?
Today’s guest on our podcast is Dr. Sharon Lamm Hartman, the Founder and CEO of Inside-Out Learning. She talks to us about the content of her book, The Authenticity Code: The Art and Science of Success and Why You Can’t Fake It to Make It, and how she helps clients, professionals, and leaders to be real and authentic no matter what communication obstacles they may face.
Having a published book codifying your thoughts and processes can be a useful tool as a thought leader. Yet, in our present environment, buyers often have different expectations of virtual programs and how they will put forward the information and insights in the book. Sharon helps us understand those expectations, and talks about the ways thought leaders can both meet and exceed them, giving your thought leadership book even more staying power. Further, we explore the way relationships develop differently in a learning environment than in a typical working one, creating stronger teams and closer community.
In addition to utilizing virtual programs to support her book, Sharon's also added the power of an easy-to-use app to her arsenal. The app guides readers through the 5 habits and 15 steps of her thought leadership, standing beside them every step of the way. It provides easy access to her content, and quick reminders that keep leaders on track. Buyers of the book unlock the app, and receive information about 1 habit and 3 steps for free. Then, the remainder of her content is accessible as an additional unlock, providing access to a community of leaders on the same journey.
Three Key Takeaways:
- Thought Leaders need to be real and authentic in their work, both with clients and in content creation.
- If you are moving your thought leadership programs into a virtual model, you need to ensure they are engaging and interactive in order to meet buyer's expectation.
- Developing a companion app is an incredible value add to any thought leadership book.
We are assaulted by digital pollution on a daily basis: spam calls, fake e-mails, harassing chats, phishing scams, and worse. With all the noise, how can thought leaders create a message that our audience wants to hear? How do we make them understand that our outreach is important?
To help answer these questions, we’ve turned to Ethan Beute, the Chief Evangelist at BombBomb; a company that uses video messaging to build better business relationships. Ethan is also the co-author of Human-Centered Communication: A Business Case Against Digital Pollution. This book is a great read for anyone who needs to generate attention, build trust, and create engagement online!
Discover the pitfalls of "digital pollution," and how it negatively impacts our ability to reach potential customers. Listen in, as Ethan shares insights about Human-Centered Design, and how it breaks through the noise to reach customers, and make sure the message they hear is deeply relevant to their needs. He discusses his job as Chief Evangelist, telling us how he is a staunch advocate for Human Centered Design. Learn why boasting about your product instead of addressing people's needs, emotions, and challenges, can cause your audience to stop listening.
Some content modalities come easily, while others require greater amounts of study and even coaching. Ethan explains how he began by using his strong command of short-form writing, and over time, has mastered the ability to host his successful podcast, The Customer Experience; communicate with his audience through a video format; and even take the stage for live events.
This is a great episode for anyone struggling to ensure that their brand doesn’t get lost in the noise.
Three Key Takeaways:
· Thought Leadership built on Human-Centered Design should focus on desirability, feasibility, and viability.
· Spreading your Thought Leadership through short personal video messages can have greater results than mass e-mail blasts.
· While evangelizing your Thought Leadership, focus on your client's problems, not the product you are trying to sell.
Every day, we are berated with advertising for products and services trying to convince us to switch to their brand. What makes us take pause and pay attention is no longer the fear of missing out. Audiences want to find meaning in the products they buy and activities they take part in. So, how can you convey to your customer that your brand has meaning?
Our guest today is Emmanuel Probst, Global Lead of Brand Thought Leadership at Ipsos, where they are passionately curious about society, markets, and providing a game changing understanding of the world to help clients make faster, smarter and bolder decisions. He is also the author of Brand Hacks: How to Build Brands by Fulfilling the Consumer Quest for Meaning. In this book, Emmanuel shows us how to use simple hacks to create and grow brands that deliver meaning — even with a limited budget.
We ask Emmanuel, “What is the quest for meaning in branding? Why do people care about some brands and almost instantly forget others?" and his answers deliver! Emmanuel helps us understand why customers are seeking meaning and why companies need to focus on creating long term strategies that incorporate feelings of nostalgia, joy, and empathy. That's what makes people want to come back year after year.
Next, we move to discuss how thought leadership connects to branding and how the thought leader needs to inject a level of self into their work regardless of where it can be found. We study how academics and practitioners often have a large gap between each other, when in fact they can learn a lot from each other. Emmanuel teaches us to bridge that gap and bring complex ideas to customers in simple, intuitive, and relevant ways.
We round out the conversation with Emmanuel's thoughts on why thought leadership works at Ipsos, and how true leadership involves listening to what the market wants to learn, hear, and monetize. From there, they help the customer answer the questions of “So What?" and "What Now?” by giving them ideas that are relevant and actionable to the market.
This is a great episode for everyone interested in brand-building. Listen in!
Three Key Takeaways:
- Thought Leaders need to help clients create a brand that has meaning, in order to create customer loyalty.
- The fear of missing out brings short term results, but creating a positive emotional connection with a brand will make consumers invest for the long term.
- Great thought leadership ideas shouldn't be complex! Find ways to make your concepts quick and easy to understand.
Working 40 hours has been accepted as the "standard work week" since Henry Ford implemented it almost 100 years ago. What would happen if we focused more on the outcomes that we wanted from our labor, instead of focusing on the time it takes to accomplish them? Could we learn to work less and do more?
Our guest today is Joe Sanok, host of the popular The Practice of the Practice, the #1 Podcast for counselors in private practice and one of the top 50 podcasts worldwide! Joe has gone from working as a full time physiologist to teaching others how to structure their practice in a way that will increase ROI and reduce time spent working. Joe's also is the author of Thursday Is the New Friday: How to Work Fewer Hours, Make More Money, and Spend Time Doing What You Want.
Today, Joe shares his story; from working at a Community College, to building a strong and profitable side practice that made more than his full time job. Learning how to leverage his gifts helped Joe make the journey to becoming a thought leader, starting a podcast, and helping others think differently about mental health in the workplace.
In addition, Joe is helping counselors in private practice build their business and their brands. We discuss how to effectively use your time, why you should find clients that are the right fit for you, and ways to outsource the things you are not good at. It's possible to build healthy teams by asking the right questions!
Finally, we wrap up by discussing Joe’s book Thursday Is the New Friday, which offers exercise, tools, and training to help people create the work schedule they want — and the results they need: less work and greater income!
Three Key Takeaways:
- Thought Leaders can accomplish more by outsourcing less important tasks, or things they are not good at, in order to focus on important matters.
- By specializing your thought leadership, you can be a more effective help to your clients and outpace your competition.
- It's easier to convince clients to buy into your Thought Leadership when you can clearly explain the way your fee will save the client time and increase their ROI.
The word Redneck tends to conjure up a certain image in most people’s minds. When you hear the word do you think Director of Radiology and author?
Our guest James Harold Webb is a self-proclaimed redneck who despite the obstacles that stood in his way went to college became a radiology technologist, then Director of Radiology at a hospital in Dallas, and now is the author of Redneck Resilience: A Country Boy’s Journey To Prosperity.
James shares how his simple upbringing in Mississippi was actually the bedrock of his work ethic and resiliency, watching his parents overcome various challenges in their personal and professional lives implanted the idea that he too could always find a way to overcome and rise up.
We discuss the origin of his book Redneck Resilience and what exactly is the meaning of resilience. After many telling him he should write a book he started jotting down notes and stories realizing that he wanted the lessons he learned to be able to be passed onto his children and others that would benefit from them.
James has faced a large amount of personal strife, from a brain tumor to a cancer diagnosis for both him and his wife. These personal experiences have changed how James views problems and stress as well as how he works, closing the door to business at the end of the day to focus on what really matters in life: family.
James shares personal stories of resilience and shows how regardless of your origin you too can get back up after being knocked down and find a new path forward.
Three Key Takeaways:
- Writing a book for your Thought Leadership does not have to be part of a business plan. It can be to leave a legacy.
- If you are being told to put your Thought Leadership into a book, start by writing your thoughts and stories for 30 - 60 minutes a day and see if it meshes together.
- Resiliency in Thought Leadership means finding an alternative path when the road gets blocked.
Ten years ago, the term "thought leadership" did not exist. Yet, the principles of thought leadership were being practiced, shaped, and refined by pioneers in the field; people whose great ideas literally shaped the road for all others.
Our guest today is Amelia Folkes, Senior Manager of External Relations at Workiva. Previous to that, she worked at Emerson Automation Solutions and State Farm, where she worked to implement changes that made the world a safer place - through practices and insights that we now recognize as true thought leadership.
Changing an organization's culture can take years of effort. Amelia explains how she did it: by positioning brands as more than just vendors. She taught her companies to become solutions providers and partners to their customers, and level up the organization's voice. In this way, she created earnest relationships, and helped her brands gain the trust and loyalty of their audience.
Relationships are important, but the hardest work of thought leadership is finding a way to take those values to scale. Amelia discusses the use of both broad and narrowcasting, and the ways she works to position Workiva at the front of the ESG (Environmental Social Governance) frontier. Through her work, their clients themselves become integral thought leaders on the topics of sustainability and diversity.
We finish our conversation by discussing the importance of establishing your voice, and creating key messages. Amelia explains that it's important to maintain consistent messages across multiple platforms, from social media to personal relationships. This helps create an echo chamber that, over time, will move into broader and broader audiences.
This episode is an exploration of the way thought leadership has changed over a decade. Listen in, to learn some of the fascinating history, and to discover ways to define your voice, stay on message, and grow your reach for the next decade of thought leadership!
Three Key Takeaways:
- Thought leadership needs to create trust in the things you are doing or selling.
- In order for thought leadership to take your client's voice to the next level, you must focus on storytelling and influence.
- It takes time for thought leadership to become part of the mind of your audience. Repetition and consistency are crucial.
Being a working mother means juggling a lot of balls. Stress, overload, and exhaustion can make work a nightmare and in turn create an unhealthy home environment. Is it possible to simply let go and focus on the important things one at a time?
Today, we sit down with Dr. Whitney Casares, a private practice pediatrician and mother. It was the combination of these two life paths that led her to write The New Baby Blueprint: Caring for You and Your Little One and her newest book The Working Mom Blueprint: Winning at Parenting Without Losing Yourself.
Whitney discusses the significant changes to the pediatric approach that have occurred in the last decade, and how doctors are becoming more involved in the physical health of parents as well as the mental health of both parent and child.
Whitney shares her experiences as a working mother trying to manage a time consuming career while figuring out how to care for a colicky newborn. She touches on her challenges with postpartum, and later, anxiety for both mommy and daughter. She created revolutionary ways to overcome these experiences, so much so that the American Academy of Pediatrics approached her about writing books to give advice to the large population that struggles with similar issues.
We wrap up by exploring the way Whitney uses her books as credentials; allowing her access to organizations and corporations. There, she talks health, strategy, and awareness about the working mothers' needs, and how businesses can make simple changes that will save them time and money - and improve their working mothers' lives.
If you are concerned about your company's approach to mental and physical health, this podcast is an eye-opener. Listen in, and learn about simple changes you can make to retain working mothers and help them flourish.
Three Key Takeaways:
- Thought Leadership that comes from personal experience can be incredibly powerful.
- Thought Leadership needs to help organizations be proactive about creating a happy and healthy workplace.
- Using thought leadership to make small changes that accommodate working mothers can shape both careers and organizations.
When you can no longer meet face to face, how do you update vital information with medical professionals and the at-risk patients they serve?
Our guest today is Traci Conley, the Thought Leadership Manager for Standard Imaging, Inc., a company that has become the leading supplier of calibration and quality assurance instruments for healthcare, including a broad range of solutions and support for radiation therapy. Traci is also the host of Out of the Gray, a podcast that looks at the world of Radiation Oncology.
Traci started her role as Manager of Thought Leadership around the same time as the COVID-19 outbreak, which made the traditional means of communications with healthcare professionals and patients nearly impossible. In today's conversation, we discuss new methods being used by thought leaders in the healthcare field to maintain the spread of crucial information while keeping everyone safe.
Before moving into the role of thought leadership practitioner, Traci worked as a radiation therapist. She shares how her work in the field gives her a unique view of medical processes and communication; a viewpoint that now allows her to help develop practical and effective solutions. This includes building communities to provide open communication, allowing the flow of questions and answers to better the whole.
If you are struggling to find new ways to maintain communication, or want to build communities for your industry, this conversation will give you insight about practical steps toward success.
Three Key Takeaways:
- When unable to meet in person, being able to deliver Thought Leadership through webinars and e-training is essential.
- Podcasts can provide a much-needed space for experts to share experiences. This is a great way to expand your Thought Leadership presence.
- When building communities of thought leadership, be careful to share the spotlight, and make sure everyone has a voice.
Thought Leadership means peering around corners to predict changes, innovations, and challenges in your field. How far into the future is far enough? 5, 10, 20 years? Is it possible plan for 50 years down the road?
We answer these questions with the help of today’s guest, Peter Griffiths. Peter is the City Strategist at ING Media, and an Urban Content Consultant specializing in building cities that will thrive and grow. We discuss how he is using thought leadership to get ahead of the curve, and develop the cities that will embrace and support humanity's future.
Looking into the future means asking the right questions about the impact of today's choices, and how we can affect tomorrow's dreams and solve challenges before they arise. Peter finds the right questions thanks to a background in journalism; he looks for right answers by understanding that a unique view of the world is valuable, but so is the strength of collaboration. By being willing to merge his vision with the expertise of others, Peter makes the world better for us all.
This conversation is an intriguing look into how thought leadership can help cities evolve, and also the ways that thought leadership can be used to predict - and plan for - humanity's future.
Three Key Takeaways:
- Your thought leadership should allow others to get ahead of the curve and plan for tomorrow.
- Allow your thought leadership to take into account the experience and expertise of others, to benefit everyone.
- Thought leadership should be transactional, focusing on two-way conversations and an open exchange of ideas.
Today’s guest is Leslie Ehm, Swagger Coach, Amazon #1 best-selling author of Swagger: Unleash Everything You Are and Become Everything You Want, speaker, and Chief Fire Starter at Combustion Training:a creativity-fueled training company that transforms people so that they can transform organizations.
In today's conversation, Leslie tells us her story; from working as a TV host, script editor, and advertising creative director, she found her true voice and started her own training company, building creative companies through a foundation of support for creative and inspirational people.
We discuss the slow growth of Combustion Training due to the need for trainers to be subject-matter experts in order to avoid the sub-par training experiences that she has seen in the past. From this realization came the origin and process of Leslie’s book, Swagger. Leslie shares the hard choices she made to keep her authentic voice, the methods she used to keep the words of others out of her mind, and how she connected her unique story to thought leadership. Plus, she shares the favors she called in to generate word-of-mouth for the book, and why paying back those favors is an important part of her publishing process.
Three Key Takeaways:
- When bringing others onboard to spread your thought leadership, be picky. Only work with those who are the right fit for you.
- It is crucial to write your thought leadership book in your authentic, individual voice.
- If you ask others to promote your thought leadership, pay it back (and pay it forward).
We all have personal stories of triumph and growth. Our history, our experiences, shape us and drive the most insightful parts of our thought leadership. So why is it so hard for us to share those stories?
Aliza Hughes is the Director of Thought Leadership at Zoecial Media, a company that provides social media management with the aim of growing the client’s audience and credibility through brand storytelling.
We start our conversation by discussing how uncomfortable it can be to share personal stories in our thought leadership - the very stories that best illuminate our insights, strengths, and growth! Aliza shares her thoughts on telling personal stories, and how even tales of failure can connect you to your audience, and connect you as humans in search of growth.
Aliza also explains that LinkedIn is important - get that first post out! While a certain level of professional polish needs to be present, perfection isn’t required, and seeking it is just another method of procrastination. We discuss getting comfortable with yourself, and growing your audience by taking part in comments - on your own posts, and on posts made by others - as well as how to turn those comments into full fledged posts of their own.
This is a wonderful conversation for anyone looking to add a personal touch to their Linkedin and make audiences take notice!
Three Key Takeaways:
- Don’t be afraid to have a more personal voice in your Thought Leadership content.
- Passion plus expertise = Successful Thought Leadership.
- Don’t compare likes and comments to other thought leadership posts; everyone is at a different place in their journey. Instead, focus on beating your own personal best.
Not that long ago, books about emotions, vulnerability, and transparency would have been found in the self-help section. Now, business books about those same "soft skills" top best-seller lists. What has changed and why have these skills become so important?
Our guest on this episode is David Wood, a former consulting actuary to Fortune 100 companies and founder of the world’s largest coaching business, serving an audience of 150,000 coaches across 12 countries. He also hosts the Tough Conversations podcast, and is the author of Get Paid For Who You Are as well as an upcoming book titled Name that Mouse.
David shares his journey, from developing his intellect while shutting down his emotional side, to his realization that there is a great need for emotional intelligence, vulnerability, and transparency on the path to excellence as a leader. We also discuss the change in the way these necessary soft-skills have been perceived in the last decade, and how they moved out of the self-help section and onto every major executive's must-have list of proficiencies.
Further, David shares news about his upcoming book, Name That Mouse. Much like the "elephant in the room," there are often other smaller, more subtle problems in any workplace that are not discussed - "mice" that everyone ignores. David explains why simply naming "the mouse" and addressing it can alleviate anxiety, create transparency, and avoid negative feelings that are easily avoided.
This conversation is a fascinating look at soft skills in the business world, and why they are essential for success.
Three Key Takeaways:
- Thought Leadership needs to support emotional intelligence, communication, and authenticity within the corporate world.
- Thought Leadership can be used to enrich both career and our home life, giving us skills that are universal.
- Naming a problem can give it less power. Thought Leadership should help to bring these small, necessary issues into the light.
Decades of economic principles have been written in stone, followed blindly by leaders and scholars alike. But, as with all things, stone erodes over time. Our guest today is ready to shatter the rock, and set minds free. Listen in!
Today, we're honored to speak with David Weitzner, author of Connected Capitalism and Fifteen Paths. David primarily identifies as a philosopher, but has spent time as a music industry executive, a professor of management, and has spent nearly two decades studying the philosophies that make our economic principals work. Now, he teaches at York University, where he advocates for co-creation, not management.
David shares with us some of his deep thoughts, explaining the meaning of the term "Connected Capitalism,"and how it differs from Conscience Capitalism or ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance). David also explains how Connected Capitalism offers a deeper sense of spiritualism and harmony; two traits which are often thought of as taboo in the modern business world - but traits that are helping today's leaders break old boundaries and forge new paths..
In this episode, we discuss the generational shift in business, and how employees are concerned about staying true to their values as well as finding success in their careers. This move away from the old mindset of "chasing the dollar" will, over time, change many of the financial models and practices that have stood for decades.
This episode is full of philosophical, economical, and socially responsible advice that leaders and employees of any generation can put to use. It's the cutting edge of financial thought leadership - and it's all right here!
Three Key Takeaways:
- People want Thought Leadership that answers big questions; ideas that will help them reopen, rebuild, or pivot their business for the pandemic and post-pandemic age.
- Thought Leadership can be the key to helping decision-makers open their process to new voices - without creating chaos.
- Can your thought leadership help employees find meaning in their work? Does it connect them into a society, and help them find a sense of wonder in their job?
Great leaders have to handle tough situations. Inevitably, the time will come when you have to make a hard choice or deal with a crisis. Will you be prepared?
Our guest today is Thomas Lahnthaler, Founder and CEO of The Crisis Compass, an organization which teaches leaders and companies innovative and resource-based crisis management. We start our conversation by discussing the concept of risk and how it relates to Thought Leadership. Thomas explains that "crisis points" are inevitable, and the future is always unknown. We get through crisis points by being prepared, stepping up, and making choices, not by ignoring possible difficulties.
These crisis points are often a source of fear and tunnel vision, even for the best leaders. We tend to rely on assumptions, or feel as if a leader needs to take full responsibility and solve the problem alone. Thomas shares reasons why these assumptions can be dangerous, adding to the feeling of risk. He also addresses the way tunnel vision can be an advantage when specific insights are shared with others, adding a variety of focuses to your own point of view.
Preparing your organization to handle crises means teaching them to share ideas, have empathy, and work in teams that are deeply diverse. These are only a few of the ways Thomas suggests a great leader keep themselves ready for any crisis, and be in the best position to deal with difficulties as they arise.
Three Key Takeaways:
- When aiding others through a crisis, your thought leadership needs to create comfort, establish solid choices, and avoid feeling overwhelmed by risk.
- Exchanging ideas and perspectives is a great way to create thought leadership for crisis preparedness.
- Thought Leadership helps others have smart conversations and create positive teamwork skills, and those habits can carry you through any crisis.
Can creating a brand make your brand distinct, and give you a competitive advantage? Today, we dive into the deep end with a true shark of brand creation. We'll answer that question - and more!
Kevin Harrington is an entrepreneur, business executive, and one of the most well-known hosts of the investment reality show Shark Tank. Kevin has decades of experience helping people like George Foreman and Tony Little build their brands, and generate billions of dollars in sales. And today, he's our guest!
Kevin created his first infomercial in 1985, identifying an opportunity to fill late night and early morning dead air on cable networks. He's seen the rise and fall of many brands, and has become one of the foremost thought leaders in the sphere of productization. Today, he explains how he noticed the change in trends and habits surrounding television, and why he chose to sell millions of assets to move away from broadcast television and toward the internet.
While Kevin has not been on Shark Tank for a few years, he still gets thousands of investment pitches per year. Now, he shares with us the checklist he uses to examine proposals, and why finding a "problem solver" is top of the list.
Finally, we discuss ways to use a book to elevate your brand. Kevin uses examples from his own books, Key Person of Influence and Mentor to Millions, to illustrate how he elevated his brand by writing books, creating content, and being a guest on great podcasts!
Three Key Takeaways:
- Creating a top-shelf thought leadership brand can set you apart, and give you an advantage.
- Don’t be afraid to surround yourself with experts outside of your area of thought leadership, or to get a mentor that can help you find traction.
- Being a guest on podcasts can open new relationships and build broader audiences for your thought leadership.
Trying to get your thought leadership to the employees of your company is never an easy task but attempting to reach 250000 employees in your organization can feel like trying to climb Everest. Making the tools to climb that mountain is what today’s guest excels at.
Vishwas Anand is part of the Infosys Knowledge Institute which helps industry leaders develop a deeper understanding of business and technology trends through compelling insights.
Vishwas shares how he aided in the creation of the Infosys Insight Store -- a platform people can use to access hundreds of articles, podcasts, and video. It is meticulously cataloged to make finding the right content simple without having to take a deep dive into it.
Many companies are still trying to understand how to measure the success of thought leadership. Vishwas explains why vanity metrics such as likes and shares may not be as important as many think, in fact, they can end up being more of a distraction to the brand in the long run.
If you have thought leadership content that needs to get out to your organization but struggle to make it accessible or reach those that need it most this is the perfect episode for you.
Three Key Takeaways:
- The key to making a library of thought leadership content useful is creating a system that allows users to find the content they need with speed and ease.
- When creating thought leadership for a sub-brand you need to ensure it has synergy with the parent brand to avoid confusion.
- Authenticity, Accuracy, and Agility are the three As of thought leadership.
Can thought leadership help organize people towards a common goal? The answer is yes!
Our guest in this episode is Royal O’Brien, General Manager of Digital Media and Games at Open 3D Engine, an important facet of the Linux Foundation.
Open 3D Engine (O3DE) is an Apache 2.0-licensed multi-platform 3D engine. This engine enables developers and content creators to build AAA games, cinema-quality 3D worlds, and high-fidelity simulations. And, because it's "open source," creators can use the engine without fees or commercial obligations. Open source projects create base code and make that code available to everyone. This allows the audience to modify and innovate that code for their own projects, continually updating and adding to the base.
Motivating, coordinating, and moving people towards a common goal can be a challenge. Yet, organizing large groups of creative people without restricting or stifling them is the key to Royal's success, and he's managed to do it time and time again. Today, Royal shares the thought leadership that guides his path, shaping the questions he asks about his audience: Who will use this product? How will they use it? How will they change it? and, most importantly, What kind of impact will it make?
From those questions, he creates a "flywheel effect," aligning short- and long-term goals, and focusing his attention on creating products that will move his organization into new financial markets. He even discusses how tools like Discord and Game Jams bring people together and unleash their creativity, allowing him to watch for direction and advancements in real-time as his engine is shaped by the community.
Royal's advice about community-building can be applied to many communities and industries; anything that encourages creative individuals to work in concert towards a common goal. If that sounds like your org, don’t miss this episode!
Three Key Takeaways:
- Thought leadership can be the key to ensuring that communication between creative, innovative individuals or teams is clear and productive.
- When building a community, you can use thought leadership to increase inclusivity and make sure everyone’s voice is heard.
- Once you've started a movement, you need to nurture it (both short- and long-term) in order for it to succeed.
Savvy authors know that public relations can be more unpredictable than marketing. So, how do you navigate those treacherous waters and find success?
Today’s guest is Mark Fortier, founder of Fortier Public Relations. Mark has spent 30 years publicizing hundreds of important books, including 140 bestsellers! Now, he's here to share tips and tricks with us that are essential for making your thought leadership book a success.
When taking a book to market, authors often only look at big wins. It's important to get coverage in large media outlets, but what most don't realize is that it's often small, incremental goals that really move the needle. Mark explains how and why it is important to manage expectations, and why you should work to create close relationships in order to help your book's audience grow. He also discusses the ways PR has changed over the years, and how online interviews and podcasts have become an important part of any successful author's portfolio.
One of the ways that authors and publishers support a book is by focusing on an existing platform. Mark discusses the importance of creating a pre-established, strong social network (and potential audience) before your book gets published, and offers alternatives if you don’t have one in place. It's important to live up to your publisher's expectations, but Mark shares his hard-won wisdom on the things an author should look for and expect from their publisher as well.
Three Key Takeaways:
- Thought leaders publishing their first (or fifth!) book can benefit from the knowledge and experience of public relations firms.
- Social media is a long term strategy. Thought leaders publishing a book need to start building a large, connected network as early as possible.
- Thought leaders should seek out a publisher they can work with, and ensure that their publisher truly understands the material's message.
Today’s guest is Raj De Datta, Co-Founder and CEO of Bloomreach,a company bringing solutions that are uniquely built to serve digital commerce and marketing professionals. Their mission is to deliver meaningful moments to customers; moments that result in organizational growth.
Raj shares Bloomreach's goal to use AI and machine learning for delivering exactly what a customer is seeking. Moment to moment, a customer's needs change — and so should an organization's digital response.
With Bloomreach powering roughly 1/4th of e-commerce in the United States and the UK, Raj is often asked "What helps organizations succeed in the digital arena?" In an effort to answer that question, Raj wrote The Digital Seeker: A Guide for Digital Teams to Build Winning Experiences, published by Columbia Business School Publishing. Raj explains that his book is more than a rendition of the typical CEO experience. He discusses the reasons for his research, shares insights, and talks about how organizations can succeed in a digital arena. The academic point of view brings new details to light, and powers a sharper understanding of the fundamentals of success.
Raj shares his hopes for the future of the book, and talks about ways the industry could prosper from these understanding. He's got a long-term view on measuring success, and the book is a critical part of elevating his position as CEO as well as Bloomreach's expertise with eCommerce.
Three Key Takeaways:
- Authoring a thought leadership book from the perspective of an academic could open additional publishing options.
- Having your CEO write a Thought Leadership book is a great way to elevate the profile of a company.
- Many Thought Leaders underestimate the difficulty of marketing a book. There are complex nuances in getting it published, and you need to think ahead!
Ever wondered what it was like to be the Director of Thought Leadership for a major corporation?
Many organizations don't define their thought leadership role at creation, leaving the shaping of those responsibilities up to the first person to take the position. That's a tough job!
To better understand the first few months in such a role, we turn to Tammy Ammon, Senior Director of Thought Leadership at Acxiom. Acxiom is a corporation that strives to ethically use data and technology to fuel meaningful connections between brands and the people who love them.
Like many thought leaders, Tammy had already pursued a long career in product development and marketing. Senior Director of Thought Leadership was the perfect position to blend her passion for storytelling with her deep knowledge of client needs. Even so, her first few weeks in the role were spent defining the position , mapping existing pieces of content, and aiding with branding, marketing, and innovation at the highest levels of the organization.
Over time, Tammy realized that content creation, a big component of thought leadership, quickly evolves storytelling and strategy at the highest levels. She explains how she learned to define a brand's story, and find the specific themes that will be helpful to support a compelling rendition. By moving through the organization at all levels, she's learned to maintain a broad view of the company and carry that perspective to her audience.
Tammy ends our conversation with advice for those who are new to the role of thought leader in their organization; sharing tips, best practices, and inspiration she learned along the way.
Three Key Takeaways:
- Organizational thought leadership is about making time to learn your industry and understand your audience.
- Thought Leaders can draw insight by listening in on a wide variety of meetings, networking on Linkedin, and taking part in strategy discussions.
- As you grow in the role of director of thought leadership, you will need to learn which topics require your time, and which to pass on to your team.
How do you plan for something you can't predict?
Today’s guest is Lance Mortlock, a Strategy Partner at EY (Ernst & Young) Canada, where he manages a team tasked to drive growth for clients in the oil, power, and mining industries. Earlier this year, Lance authored his first book, Disaster Proof: Scenario Planning for a Post-Pandemic Future. Disaster Proof is a practical and accessible guide for identifying risks, facing unpredictable challenges, and planning for the future.
Lance discusses the process of writing an in-depth thought leadership book while also working a demanding day job. Getting the book across the finish line required long hours, the support of his family, and surprisingly, the support of his employers at EY. Employers might be quick to think that writing a book would take away from an employee's daily focus. Not always true! Lance explains why elevating his personal brand elevated his employer, as well.
Lance had many years of articles, papers, and industry experience that give business leaders the tools they need to understand a volatile, rapidly changing world. Organizations with long-term thinking will excel in competition, and their leaders will be prepared to handle unexpected challenges. He discusses why business leaders need a wide view, to predict and understand long-term forces that will affect their organization.
We wrap up by discussing the difficult and often uncomfortable task of marketing a thought leadership book. Many writers and thought leaders are not used to having to push sales, but it's important to get your text in the right hands. This means shepherding a consistent present on social media, and understanding that increasing book sales requires a slow but continual effort.
If you are currently working on your first book, and trying to navigate balancing your day job and marketing your finished text, this episode has a wealth of helpful information. Think long-term - and be consistent!
Three Key Takeaways:
- Thought Leaders don’t have to leave their current organization to develop their own brand. Enriching your personal brand can be beneficial to both parties.
- A book based on your Thought Leadership can stem from the articles and materials you’ve published in the past, combined with an expanded viewpoint for the future.
- If you want your Thought Leadership book to be a success, you’ll need to create a flourishing social media platform to announce, elevate, and enhance publication.
Does your thought leadership solve global issues? How do you draw attention to a multinational crisis, on a personal scale?
Our guest in today's episode is Reilly Brock, the Associate Creative Director at Imperfect Foods. Imperfect Foods is a weekly grocery delivery service on a mission to build a better, less wasteful food system. Through their efforts, they help people save time, money, and the planet.
As Associate Creative Director, Reilly has a passion for making the average person aware of the global food waste problem, and giving them options to waste less food. Through his work, he educates customers on ways to increase and improve regional sourcing, utilize food that would otherwise be squandered, and make empowered decisions. They pay attention to wide-scale problems (like the reason Imperfect Foods doesn't sell bananas), so their customers can feel assured that their choices are having a positive impact on the world.
Reilly has been delivering his message in long form writing, infographics, and even a podcast, in order to engage different audiences through the mediums they prefer. He, and Imperfect Foods, seek to spread the message that even multinational problems can be solved by individual action. By creating a sense of agency for their customers, Reilly creates excitement, so his audience will further share the ideas. That way, he can create an even broader movement.
We close with useful advice for those just starting out in a thought leadership role. Reilly explains why you should determine who your audience is, and just as importantly, who your audience is not. Don't water down your content to reach a wider audience. Focus your efforts where you can have the most impact, and your audience will carry the message forward for you.
Three Key Takeaways:
- Thought Leadership has the power to shine a light on invisible problems, and provide tangible ways the audience can get involved in solving them.
- Don't dilute your Thought Leadership message! Instead, use different mediums and types of content to reach a wider audience.
- When creating powerful Thought Leadership, make sure you have evergreen content that draws your audience back — time and time again.
Welcome to this episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership! Today’s guest is our very own Peter Winick, Founder and CEO of Thought Leadership Leverage, a firm that helps thought leaders of all kinds develop strategies for branding, marketing, technology, and sales.
The episode begins with Peter outlining the similarities and differences between marketing and thought leadership, particularly as it pertains to sales. While some comparisons can be made, thought leadership targets a small, very selective audience, giving timeless advice directed toward specific challenges. Sales, on the other hand, commonly relies on wide reaching, less focused tactics, marketing consumer products to a broad audience and relying on wide appeal.
Peter tells us that the true art of thought leadership means your offerings are unrelated to 99.9% of business problems, but laser-focused on solving the issues of a sharply defined target audience. In that space, your insights and products can deliver solutions that change the client's world. Peter and Bill outline the reasons that seeking a "necessary minority" is important: people who truly need your solutions get maximum benefit from applying your thought leadership. Plus, they discuss reasons that thought leadership practitioners should create touchpoints, low time commitments that display the benefit of their insights, before expecting a potential client to spend valuable time reading a white paper or book.
We wrap up our conversation with some great advice for those just starting a thought leadership journey. From reintroducing yourself, to expanding critical relationships, from asking for help, to finding the right cadence for publishing your content, Peter and Bill share a vast amount of experience on thought leadership and sales. This episode is a beginner's guide — and an expert's handbook, all in one!
Three Key Takeaways:
· Thought Leadership needs to be focused on a small and specific audience where it can truly shine.
· Thought Leadership ideas should be introduced in small chunks, leaving discussion of larger offerings for after the audience leans in.
· New Thought Leaders should reach out to their network and reconnect, explaining their new venture, their offerings, and the solutions they offer.
Today, we sit down with the incredibly insightful Jon Levy! Jon is a behavioral scientist and social engineer best known for his work on human connection and decision making. Jon is the founder of the Influencers Dinner, a secret dining experience started in New York in 2009. Twelve thought leaders, tastemakers, and influencers from various industries attend, but do not discuss their professional career, or share their last name - in order to guess, at the end of the dinner, what the other attendees do professionally. What started as an experiment has turned into a world class experience that brings guests from a broad spectrum of fields together to share insights, camaraderie, and a great meal. In addition to being a TED speaker, Jon also has a new book: You’re Invited: The Art and Science of Cultivating Influence.
We start today's conversation with a discussion about the way humans, as a whole, possess a desire to experience something different and unique. Jon explains a bit about the SN/VTA part of the brain, which governs reward cognition, associative learning, and positively-valenced emotions. The SN/VTA engages during unusual experiences, and that response can be used to inspire curiosity and get an audience to authentically engage with your ideas. Behavioral science for the win!
The traditional methods for networking have become stagnant and overblown. People "turn off" when they're bored, so how can we create a stronger connection? Jon shares tips about bringing people together for a mutual, unique experience, and how that can create relationships that are stronger than plain ol' humdrum networking.
John talks about the enigmas of connection, and helps thought leaders understand why people do the things we do. This is a great lesson on how to tap into those responses by using a little bit of social engineering! Don't miss it!
Three Key Takeaways:
- Thought Leaders can create more interest in their products and ideas by adding a little uniqueness and novelty; raising people’s curiosity makes them engage more fully.
- When designing Thought Leadership courses, think about the frequency of communication, not just the depth of ideas.
- Trust is a must-have in Thought Leadership, but to gain trust you must be willing to show a level of vulnerability.
Today’s guest is Mandy McEwen, the CEO of Mod Girl Marketing, a firm that helps their clients increase brand presence and stand out from the crowd by offering innovative content marketing & social media strategies, and by leveraging the organization's best asset – their people.
Many companies are asking employees to engage on the org's behalf through social media, but not everyone really understands LinkedIn's power to increase brand presence. Mandy shares common reasons people struggle to support their company through posts, likes, and comments, and why there's a lot of social anxiety around the topic.
Mandy gives advice on ways that managers and leaders can empower their teams, methods for starting or joining appropriate conversations, and ultimately, how your workforce can generate their own content all as part of a daily routine!
Getting the most out of any social media platform will mean becoming comfortable with experimentation; employees need support and flexibility with the type of content they provide and how it's presented. Best of all, Mandy explains why even social media "failures" can be successes in disguise - if both employees and the organization are committed to learning from mistakes.
Mandy has a great point: Every interaction can be a source of Thought Leadership content! Building content is as simple as having great conversations. You can do it, and your employees can, too!
Three Key Takeaways:
- Getting started with Thought Leadership on Linkedin can be as easy as leaving meaningful comments in industry-related conversations.
- It might be tempting to use bots or direct messages to blast your Thought Leadership as broadly as possible, but be warned: Such tactics can backfire, driving people away.
- When developing teams to use Linkedin on an organization's behalf, you have to empower them to share their ideas, coach them on how to get engaged, and give them the thoughtful support they'll need to create great Thought Leadership content.
Today’s guest is Adam Bryant, Managing Director at The ExCo Group (formerly Merryck & Co. Americas). The Exco Group specializes in helping boards, executives, and teams unlock their full leadership potential and deliver high-impact performance for their enterprises. Adam is also the author of The CEO Test: Master the Challenges That Make or Break All Leaders; a book that focuses on the seven most critical reasons leaders succeed or fail.
Adam hasn’t always been a Thought Leader. For 30 years, he had a successful career as a journalist, editor, and columnist, primarily at The New York Times. As he honed his communication skills and learned the ins-and-outs of complex teams, Adam focused on the question: “What if we interviewed a CEO for an article and didn't discuss their business background?” Instead, he focused the conversation around the lessons of leadership, culture, hiring, and talent, to see what made high-powered leaders flourish and grow.
Over 10 years, Adam interviewed 525 CEOs. Those lessons eventually became a book: The Corner Office: Indispensable and Unexpected Lessons from CEOs on How to Lead and Succeed. In it, he presented the insights and advice he gleaned through those interviews in order to to help others master the steep learning curve of leadership.
In today's episode, Adam discusses his skills as a journalist, and how they positioned him to elevate others through the practice of thought leadership. He credits that background with his impressive ability to see patterns, focus on the essence of an issue, and find insights in both challenges and success - and share those gifts with others. If you're feeling blocked, this is the episode that can show you how to find your strengths and bring them into the game!
Three Key Takeaways:
- Non-traditional questions can be a great way for Thought Leaders to gain new insight.
- Thought Leaders can find strong, accessible examples of leadership lessons in TV and movies.
- Thought Leadership might start out as a "side-hustle," but if nurtured properly, can take on a life of its own!
Today we are excited to sit down with Lisa Bodell. Lisa is the CEO of FutureThink, an award-winning learning company that is transforming the way teams work in organizations. She helps leaders guide teams to build skills that are radically simple and immediately impactful. Lisa defines herself as a "futurist," and is an expert on the topic of innovation. She's been named one of the Top 50 speakers in the world by Thinkers 50, and is the best-selling author of Kill the Company and Why Simple Wins.
Lisa explains what it means to be a futurist, and how she brings a compelling message of simplification and innovation to over 100,000 people each year. Lisa also discusses manufacturing strategic luck, and ways to teach others to recognize potential and capitalize on opportunity. It's not ESP - it's science!
Teaching these powerful skills is no small task. It may take work before mastery becomes instinctive, but Lisa's innovative process breaks the challenge into many small steps. Through studying these steps and integrating them one by one, a leader can change behavior, overcome difficulties, and move toward greater success.
Don’t waste your time looking into a crystal ball! Learn how to be a futurist, and predict tomorrow's opportunities - today!
Three Key Takeaways:
- Thought Leaders need foresight as well as insight. Learn how to see the potential in opportunities, and act.
- Thought Leaders often suffer "the curse of the expert." Breaking down complex knowledge into simple steps can help others master difficult skills.
- If you are seeking to change behavior with Thought Leadership, simplify the changes you want to see, create small challenges that teach fundamental skills, and build on those skills to achieve high-level success.
Welcome to the Leveraging Thought Leadership podcast! Our guest in this episode is Dan Sanchez. Dan is the Director of Audience Growth for Sweet Fish Media, a full service podcast agency focused on B2B brands. Dan is also the co-host of the go-to podcast for marketers seeking to grow: B2B Growth.
Many businesses have thought leaders producing content and drawing attention to the company, but how many take the next step and create a program that evangelizes thought leadership within the org? That's the way to create a body of thought leaders, so that everyone in the company takes part in elevating and sharing those insights.
Today, Dan talks about the way he started such an evangelist program, kicking off elevated leadership and organically taking Dan’s Linkedin connections from 1000 to 10,000 in just 5 months! Dan describes how everyone at his organization was offered a chance to invest in and create thought leadership, so long as they committed themselves to the work for a period of time.
Join us as Dan talks about his insights and elevates the conversation, sharing his experiences around developing methods of engaging employees to develop the organization's brand. If you want everyone to join in, you need to find the topics they identify with, and help them share their passion for their organization's insights and good work - though thought leadership!
If you want to jumpstart your Linkedin brand, be sure to sign up for the 3-part Sweet Fish video series - it's free!
Three Key Takeaways:
- When creating an interactive group of Thought Leaders, your first step is to engage your employees. Give them reasons to be excited, and they will start acting like thought leaders, too!
- Learning a pyramid. There may be people above you, but remember, a lot more are looking up at you and could benefit from your thought leadership. Preach!
- The best way to engage B2B accounts and gain a larger following is by creating and maintaining a thought leadership podcast.
Today’s guest is Maura Barclay, a transformational leadership consultant. In addition to being the author of Unbreakable Women, her previous occupations range from firefighter to fitness trainer to military consultant! In this conversation, she shares the ways that her wide variety of previous experiences make her an incredible consultant and coach.
Maura has always been interested in building and relying on proven methodologies that can be repeated for reliable outcomes. Learning is only the beginning; a great leader needs to continue to upgrade and iterate their knowledge into stronger, even more functional methods. In her work, she often utilizes check-lists, setting goals and building methods to achieve more Creating a solid list will anchor the methods in your brain, teaching the instinctive left-brain to perform tasks automatically - and guiding you to greater success.
Maura uses her powerful and proven neurofacilitation system to help people build new mindset pathways. Armed with this tool, a leader can trust their well-trained instincts, and recognize good intuition, thus breaking bad habits and learning productive ones!
If you are tired of second guessing yourself, and want to train your mind to fire all cylinders toward success, this episode has the best tips for you!
Three Key Takeaways:
- Thought Leadership should use a methodology that is reliable, duplicable, and effective.
- Intuition often comes from past experience. Thought leaders can build intuition by creating habits that recognize good instinct, and build on it.
- If you want to sharpen your thought leadership content, spend time ruling out the things on which you don't focus. What's left will be your passion!
Welcome to Leveraging Thought Leadership! Today’s guest is Stu Manewith, Director of Advocacy and Thought Leadership at Omatic Software. Omatic Software deals in data integration for non-profits, helping them maintain and grow donors and donations. His thought leadership changes lives!
Before joining the team at Omatic Software, Stu worked as a fundraising director for non-profits for 16 years. His deep experience gives him an exceptional view of the sector, and taught him to understand the needs of both software vendors and fundraisers. By marrying those two interests, Stu was able to create incredible insights. His work became a turning point, helping non-profits achieve even greater mission impact though using cleaner, more integrated data and finding effective pressure points.
Stu talks about the epiphany that made him realize that non-profits could better serve their customers by studying past stories, tracking data points, and comparing the outcomes. Utilizing this process, he's been able to better deploy software into non-profits, helping them create case-studies, assess previous assumptions, and create new, stronger methods of fundraising. In turn, those case studies have shaped informational blogs, webinars, and internal training documents to raise awareness both inside and outside non-profit fields.
Thought leadership practitioners often debate the advantages and challenges of top-down versus bottom-up approaches to organizational education. Stu chimes in with his thoughts on why bottom-up has worked better for him and his clients. He uses that approach to learn about customers and their problems, taking those issues to heart. In this manner, he helps non-profits place the customer's needs first, allowing the organization's success to grow naturally from that good work.
If you deal often with non-profits, or if you seek to understand the importance of data integration to thought leadership, this conversation offers clarity and inspiration. Stu offers a ton of valuable insights, so you might want to listen to this one twice!
Three Key Takeaways:
- If you want people to listen to your thought leadership insights, be sure to present yourself as a trusted subject matter and domain expert.
- Never undervalue the importance of listening! Through understanding a client or customer's needs, you gain an intimate knowledge of their problems, making it easier to create custom solutions.
- Get out those case studies! Study them, challenge the outcomes, and turn that content into blogs, webinars, and other great learning tools.
Today’s guest on our podcast is Jayshree Seth, Chief Science Advocate at 3M. Jayshree works to raise awareness and appreciation of science and how it aids us in our everyday life. Her first book, The Heart of Science: Engineering Footprints, Fingerprints, & Imprints furthers conversation around science advocacy, thought leadership, and inclusive progress.
In one of our most fascinating conversations to date, Jayshree shares the process she uses in the lab, and talks about the similarities between that process and the ones great thought leaders use. Through analytical thinking and empathy, she determines what people think about science, where the gaps and barriers are, and ultimately, how to overcome them.
One challenge of working in a scientific field is overcoming the stereotype that scientists are elitists; unrelatable and hard to understand. Changing people's perspectives on science is a huge task, and one that Jayshree is tackling on multiple fronts. Today, she talks about how her podcast series, Science Champions, speaks to educators and young students about science - in terms everyone can understand. She was also featured with other scientists in the documentary Not the Science Type, shattering stereotypes and inspiring young women and minorities to get involved in STEM.
Jayshree fights "science apathy" by focusing on science's relevance to everyday life. By giving her work a human context, she is able to inspire, inform, and influence those around her to action. Today's chat is a great one, and we hope all of you are inspired to listen in!
Three Key Takeaways:
- Thought Leadership needs to identify people's problems, find the gaps, and develop methods to solve those issues.
- If you are going to advocate with thought leadership, you need to be passionate as well as informed.
- Mentoring is an important part of thought leadership. Our experience and hindsight can help others avoid or overcome essential challenges.
Is there a difference between activity and productivity? Both make you busy, but only one makes you fulfilled!.
Our guest on today's episode is Garland Vance, the co-founder of Advance Leadership, a firm that helps leaders accomplish more and stress less. Garland is also the author of Getting’ (un)Busy, a book that takes you through the 5 steps to overcome "busyness" and live with purpose, productivity, and peace.
The conversation is an insightful and active one, with Garland sharing how his own "busyness" caused him significant health problems. This sparked his initial research, hoping to discover ways that he (and others) could accomplish more while doing less. He discovered ways to identify and focus on important tasks, and how a positive "ripple effect" could elevate everything else.
Garland's business mode, delivering content through coaching and keynote speaking, was upended over the last year by COVID-19. Like many others, he needed to retool his content to reach a virtual audience. Always an innovator, Garland doesn’t simply talk for an hour and then disappear; he has found ways to make a 500-person Zoom call feel like a personal learning event, and he knows how to make each guest feel like the center of attention.
Garland also talks about the fact that "busyness" doesn't qualify speed or skill. He assesses the 20 best practices of highly productive people, and why they aren't overwhelmed with "busyness" - because they practice habits that make real differences! Combined with the 5 steps in his book, Gettin’ (un)Busy, he shares insights and ways you, too, can deconstruct bad habits and design the life you want to live!
Three Key Takeaways:
- Thought Leaders are easily overwhelmed with "busyness," which can affect personal life and even health. Focus on the tasks that matter, and accept that you can’t do everything all at once.
- Productivity and activity are not the same thing. Garland's thought leadership helps focus on productivity, and ways to fulfill life's greater purposes.
- Taking a Thought Leadership keynote into a virtual presentation requires additional work, and there are simple ways to make the experience personal and create genuine connection with your audience.
Today's guest on our podcast is Dolores Hirschmann. Dolores is well known for organizing TEDx conferences, and is also the author of Clarity First, a recently published book that helps people find the clarity they need to grow their business. She has deep experience in marketing, and has blended coaching into her unique approach for helping businesses scale. We are so excited to spend some time talking to her!
Dolores uses her time as a TEDx organizer to delve into the way many brilliant minds lack the succinctness needed to deliver their message. Too often, great leaders get tangled in the details, and can't connect in a way that gets others to lean forward and buy-in. By applying her knowledge of coaching skills to marketing tactics, she has enabled countless leaders to read between the lines of conversation - and strike upon the best ways to share the parts of their leadership that really matter most.
However, clarity isn't the only struggle. Even leaders who instinctively grasp clarity often still struggle to make an impact. Some fight the fear of failure, and others find themselves facing fear of success and "what-happens-next?" Dolores discusses the way these fears are two sides of the same coin, and how to overcome them. In today's conversation, we explore self-worth, self-doubt, and how to change your mindset. You can create a new way forward, build your confidence and assuredness, and give yourself the permission to succeed.
If you have ever had the nagging fear that you weren't enough, or that you were just muddling through when you could be winning, this episode can help you realize and accept your full potential. You can do it, and Dolores Hirschmann's Clarity First can get you there!
Three Key Takeaways:
- If your Thought Leadership lacks clarity, the greatest potential of your insights will be hidden behind a messy message.
- Once you find clarity in your Thought Leadership, you need to take action to create impact.
- Even things you consider failures can drive success! Take a moment to study challenges, learn from them, and use those lessons to shape a better way forward.
If one voice can reach a wide audience, what about a hundred voices in unison? Think that would get some attention? You'd be right!
Our guest on today's episode is Joe Sullivan, the co-founder of Gorilla 76: a firm that specializes in helping mid-sized B2B manufacturers modernize their marketing programs. Joe is also is also the host of The Manufacturing Executive Podcast, celebrating a year’s worth of content helping manufacturing leaders find the right growth strategy for their organizations..
In our conversation, Joe shares how Gorilla 76 helps their clients find the right audience. He discusses having a focus on clients that can be helped efficiently, profitably, and with expertise in their challenges. By developing a deep understanding of the decisions involved in purchasing, manufacturers can create and capitalize on the strongest opportunities for growth.
Amazingly, Joe isn’t the only thought leader at Gorilla 76. Along with his partner, Jon Franko, Gorilla 76 is striking out in a new direction - encouraging and supporting thought leadership created by everyone in the company! Joe details how the skills and experience of many like-minded voices help them create content that proves the company has varied, deep expertise in many subjects - and they're eager to share that knowledge in order to help others!
Measuring the success of thought leadership in marketing and sales is a difficult task, even with great analytical tools. Joe helps leaders avoid getting caught up in the routine of "counting likes and shares" without stopping to fully understand what the data is saying. It's easy to be overwhelmed by statistics, and great leaders need to focus on the most important information, and weed out the rest. Thought Leadership is a long game that feeds your sales pipeline, but first, a leader needs to build trust and become established as an expert in their domain.
If you want to add thought leadership to your B2B company, or grow innovation across your entire organization, this episode is full of great advice for you.
Three Key Takeaways:· Be sure that your thought leadership is tailored to your audience, and addresses their specific challenges and needs.
- Don’t allow metrics and stats to rule your actions. Thought Leadership that connects with a narrow, but well-researched focus will have a higher return than broadcasting to a wide, but uninterested, audience.
- Podcasts and blogs are a perfect way to give your thought leadership a voice and build community. Just remember, these methods require focus, time, and commitment. They are not a magic wand to bring short-term sales.
Our guest today is internationally renowned business leader, Doug Conant. Doug is the best-selling author of The Blueprint, an eminently smart and practical guide to leadership that contains 6 content-rich steps to creating a richer, fuller, more elevated professional life. With more than 40 years of leadership experience at first-class companies like Campbell Soup and Nabisco, Doug now focuses on Thought Leadership as the Founder and CEO of Conant Leadership.
In today's episode, Doug shares his passion about his life's work in Thought Leadership, and how he implemented positive, meaningful change at Campbell Soup Company. Years after he began, he chose to leave the corporate world and move into Thought Leadership full-time, using his experience and expertise to help leaders world-wide.
Doug tells us about his legacy of contribution, and the ways in which he is inspired to transcend the ordinary and elevate new, innovative ideas. Doug talks to us about his book, The Blueprint, and how following a few simple steps can help leaders "up their game" by focusing on ways to constantly elevate their interactions.
Doug and Peter discuss the need to take time for reflection and study; how to know what matters most; and how to change small things to get big impact. Great leaders are pragmatic about where they spend their time, focusing on the things that matter the most in order to see the biggest - and best - return for their efforts! If you've been looking for ways to increase your focus and bring innovative ideas about leadership into your life, this is the episode for you!
Three Key Takeaways:
- Leadership is "sacred ground," where you affect people’s lives and livelihoods, and great Thought Leadership should improve the quality of leaders in order to change a myriad of lives.
- Thought Leaders need to be meditative about their time and their goals, focusing on the things that matter the most!
- When seeking to improve as a Thought Leader, seek out role models, pay attention to those who had a profound positive impact on you, and actively follow the leadership they've shown - as you develop your own path!
When an issue is too important and too big for a single leader or team member to own?
How can massive organizations tackle challenging issues in a manner that is beneficial to society? Our three guests in this episode are Surya Kolluri, Jeanne de Cervens, and Brian Forbes. They join us to discuss their critically important study: The Pandemic’s Perfect Storm. This study examines COVID-19’s impact on Gen Z and Millennials, and delivers some surprising results. Surya Kolluri is the Managing Director at Bank of America, where he structures and leads their Thought Leadership, with a focus on retirement, longevity and social impact. Jeanne de Cervens is a public policy strategist and advocate, with a deep understanding of complex legislation and regulations. In the past, she has worked at both Transamerica and Georgetown University. Brian Forbes is the current Director of Thought Leadership and Strategy at Transamerica. He oversees that organization's research and sales enablement programs, and focuses on healthcare costs, caregiving, and retirement. Our three guests recall how they crossed paths within various research groups and institutions before coming together to examine the impact of the pandemic. They discuss the population groups that are most affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, and give us their insights about ways to position thought leadership to better serve the people who are most affected. Our guests explain why large corporations are collaborating on these issues, and why society's interests outweigh the need for prestige or monetary gains. Previously established relationships between organizations allow for broader teamwork, and create more leverage for the message. We shed light on the ways Bank of America and Transamerica sponsored the work being done at Georgetown University. This study, and its success, would not have been possible if our guests had not previously established a relationship between themselves. Further, we discuss the importance of building relationships with individuals from other industries who share our passions. This can bring a myriad of viewpoints to the table, benefitting society as a whole. Collaboration can increase the credibility of a project, allowing it to reach a wider audience. If you want your organization to be more collaborative, this episode is for you! We chat about how to find solid, inter-corporational partners, ways to create mutually beneficial engagements, and how to make an impact on topics too big for one person to take on alone. Three Key Takeaways:· * How Thought Leadership collaboration can create solutions that reach beyond a single organization.
* Successful Thought Leadership needs to include establishing and nurturing relationships outside your organization.
* Ways that thought leaders can go beyond research, and bring effective, meaningful results to your constituents.
If you've ever felt creatively "stuck in a rut," and innovation seems out of reach, this is the episode to cure your woes! Our guest today is Dr. Chitra Anand, an award-winning Communications & Marketing executive with over 20 years in the technology industry. She's an extraordinary leader, and has spent time as the head of Communications for Microsoft Canada, Director of Marketing at TELUS Corporation, and Director of Operations at Open Tex. She is also the author of The Green House Approach, a book filled with insights about innovation, creating compelling storytelling in business, and fighting complacency in the workplace. The Green House Approach is a mindset shift; a change in the way we approach thinking, and gives strong advice about "breaking out" and challenging current structural norms.
Bill and Chitra reminisce about her career in various tech companies, and discuss the way she implemented thought leadership to educate customers about new trends - long before "thought leadership" was a commonly used term! Plus, Chitra illuminates the many contrasts between content marketing and thought leadership, and how your organization needs both if you're going to thrive. Chitra is leading a new movement in the workplace: Intrapreneurship! Today, she tells us what the term means, and how Intrapreneurship can drive innovative thinking and build new, better ways of conducting business. Chitra gives thoughtful advice for those looking to include "Intrapreneurship" in their organization. This is a great episode, sure to change your mindset and leave you with great ideas. Give it a listen! Three Key Takeaways
* Thought leadership means building new ideas and concepts; content marketing means leveraging an existing product or service.
* Thought leadership that forces clients to question old, staid habits, and identify behavioral shifts that can move an organization forward.
* Good thought leadership creates trust, and trust builds business.
Today’s guest is Jim Kouzes the coauthor with Barry Posner of the award-winning and best-selling book, The Leadership Challenge. He's also the Dean’s Executive Fellow of Leadership, Leavey School of Business, Santa Clara University.
Jim tells us about his first meeting with Barry and how they quickly became best friends. That friendship and their complementary skills and interests led to writing The Leadership Challenge which has sold more than two million copies worldwide!
Jim’s focus on the applied and Barry’s emphasis on research has allowed them to develop the Leadership Practices Inventory (LPI) a standard 360 leadership assessment. Jim explains the process of creating LPI and how real-life examples play heavily into the ability of clients to grasp the concepts.
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way many people work and think. Jim discusses the changes in leaders and what employees look for in leadership due to the pandemic and whether we can expect these changes to subside as we move forward or if some of them will become the new norm.
If you want a deep understanding of how evidence-based research can become applied skills you can use in daily life this is a great episode for you!
Three Key Takeaways:
- When collaborating on Thought Leadership try to work with those who have complementary skills and not competing interests.
- Your Thought Leadership should not include anything you cannot factually demonstrate.
- Real-life stories of how your Thought Leadership has worked can help others understand the principles of your content.
Tom Schwab is the Chief Evangelist Officer and Founder of Interview Valet, which helps hosts find great guests for their podcast. He is also the author of PODCAST GUEST PROFIT which gives step-by-step systems from taking your podcast from obscure to acclaimed!
With more than 2.1 million podcasts out there you are probably curious as to how to get yours heard. Tom gives us strategies for getting the most out of your podcast, how to hit the right audience, and why big numbers don’t need to be a priority.
In addition, we discuss the pros of being a guest on the bevy of podcasts that exist. Tom explains why you should try being a guest 20 or 30 times before starting your own. Then he breaks down why being a guest might be better for some than putting in the time and money to become a host of their own show.
If you chose to be a guest you’ll want to hear the advice Tom has for ensuring you maximize the potential of your appearance. Tom compares being a podcast guest to being invited to the host’s home for dinner.
If you have a podcast this episode will help you reach new heights. If you want to be a guest it will make sure you don’t arrive empty-handed.
Three Key Takeaways:
- When producing a thought leadership podcast hitting the right audience is more important than hitting a large audience.
- If you are going to be a guest on a thought leadership podcast ensure you research the host and their audiences before you sign on.
- The greatest benefit of being a host or guest of a thought leadership podcast is the relationship you can build.
Our guest is Tom Kolditz, the author of Leadership Reckoning and Director of The Doerr Institute for New Leaders at Rice University. The Institute's two-fold mission is to create a powerful and widely available leader development experience and improve the quality of leader development in higher education everywhere.
Tom shares how many universities include the development of leaders in their mission statement. However, he explains that few have any focused programs to bring about that mission. Many focus on what Tom calls “leadertainment” which has no lasting benefit.
We discuss Tom’s book Leadership Reckoning, which outlines the failure of higher education. In addition Tom defines leadertainment and reveals how to measure outcomes and design programs to improve leadership development.
Tom informs us about the upcoming classification system from The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching that is compelling Universities to listen to the problems being presented. Afterwards, he gives insight into how it will aid them in moving towards better programs for leadership development.
If you want to understand how Universities can develop better leaders and why they are currently struggling to achieve that, you’ll want to listen to this episode!
Three Key Takeaways:
- Thought leadership needs to include methods of measuring outcomes. In addition, you should be tracking goals in order to truly understand its effectiveness.
- Thought Leaders often have big ideas, but you have to cultivate the right conditions for the ideas to take root and grow.
- Your thought leadership should include a system of checks to ensure that a client is progressing. These checks should also account for movement backward.
Today’s guest is Melissa Davies, Founder, and CEO of Wieseways Consulting, author of How Not to Act Like a BLEEP at Work, and founding member of the Global Institute for Thought Leadership. Melissa is a Dynamic Facilitator, Educator & Executive Coach with a global perspective.
Melissa walks us through the path she took to become a thought leader having first had a career as an educator in Canada and The Middle East before landing in the States to use her global insights to understand people, gain their trust, and provide a unique perspective to complex problems.
When seeking to improve leadership or teams we often seek to introduce change. Melissa talks about being intentional with those changes, using performance management, and being mindful of the culture you are intending to introduce and the possible negative implications of those changes.
Our conversation concludes with a look at how COVID-19 has affected training. We will no doubt return to in-person training on some level, the virtual method is here to stay. Melissa shares how the structure of presentations should change to keep the attention of an at-home audience.
Three Key Takeaways:
- When seeking to introduce thought leadership, find what your audience has in common at their core and understand why they do things the way they do.
- When using thought leadership to build new processes analyze the positives but also what negative impacts these changes might have.
- When delivering thought leadership online keep your presentations to 20 – 25 minutes before moving to discussion and activities.
Today’s guest is Jim Adler Founder and Managing Director of Toyota AI Ventures, a standalone early-stage venture capital fund that invests in startups working on A.I., robotics, mobility, and more.
We start the conversation with Jim describing what Toyota AI Ventures does and what its mission is. From we get into how they help startups take their idea to scale when to introduce processes and how to find a balance that allows creativity and growth.
Jim shares how Toyota AI Ventures bridges the gap between global enterprise and startup, which is an important step. If an investor is too involved it can stifle innovation that happens early, but if they are not involved enough the startup could end up lacking the ability to recruit, build company culture, or find clients that see the value in their idea.
Next Jim shares the success story of Joby Aviation, his first meeting in a canyon to see their air taxi in flight, going to bat for them, and their goal of saving one billion people an hour each day!
We wrap up discussing the qualities Jim looks for in a startup, separating signal from noise, and how to take advantage of the hype cycle!
If you have a startup and are seeking knowledge on how to attract investors this is a must-listen episode for you!
Three Key Takeaways:
- It is important to build thought leadership processes around the areas you are weak in, not just your strengths.
- When working with a startup your thought leadership should add value to the areas they need help with but not overshadow their creative energy.
- All leaders should be thought leaders. Thought Leadership is a team sport.
Today's guest is Jody Grunden, a visionary accountant with over 20 years of experience that has helped pioneer innovative changes to his industry. Jody is the co-founder and CEO of Summit CPA Group, author of Digital Dollars and Cents.
Jody takes us back to 2013 when he arrived at a conference to speak only to have a series of events go wrong that ended with him giving his presentation off the cuff while wearing a Hawaiian shirt and becoming a huge success!
Since that fateful event the Summit CPA Group has undergone a lot of changes. We discuss why they’ve moved to focusing on creative agencies and how thought leadership has become their only form of marketing, and how they are teaching other firms their methods.
Getting your thought leadership off the ground is often time consuming and expensive. Jody shares his experience getting things off the ground, what it took to find success, and how he got his business partner on board with his ideas.
If you are looking to develop your own thought leadership or are struggling to find your audience this is a wonderful episode filled with excellent advice!
Three Key Takeaways:
- When delivering thought leadership don’t use jargon the audience might not understand. Speak in the vernacular of your audience.
- Even if your thought leadership might be useful to a wide audience, find a space to become a specialist in. Become a resource to that market so clients come to you for advice.
- No one will ever care more about your thought leadership than you. You have to have passion and conviction in your delivery to get clients to see you.
Today’s guest is Sandra Smith, Founder, and President of Smith Publicity a marketing company that focuses on authors and expert promotions.
Many things have changed in the last ten years and publicity is no different. Sandra walks us through some of the big changes authors should be conscious of and why their social media presence and what they share are more imperative now than ever before.
When it comes to success for an author, selling books seems like the logical focus. We discuss why selling books is great but getting the attention of your industry is even better. Sandra explains why authors don’t need to be overly concerned with metrics and how the shelf life of business books is much longer than it used to be.
Sandra goes on to explain why authors should start a conversation with a publicist before they start writing. Getting a firm grasp on why you want a narrow audience, how your release date isn’t that important and the benefits of hiring a publicist outside of your publisher can save time and money down the road.
If you are thinking about writing a business book and want to ensure success this episode is a great place to start!
Three Key Takeaways:
- You need to be sharing your thought leadership content and cultivate your social media presence all the time not just when you have a book coming out.
- Authors often get fixated with the metrics around the publication date of their book but thought leadership books often do better in their second year than their first.
- Getting media attention for your thought leadership is good but you have to make sure you have content and systems in place to monetize the spotlight.
Today’s guest is Christopher Brace, a global executive successful at building highly effective integrated marketing teams across complex organizations to drive awareness and product sales.
We start our conversation off by discussing how you can emotionally bond customers to a brand of consumer product and how these same techniques can be used to create an emotional connection to an idea.
Christopher shares how he gets his customers to tell the stories that connect them to a brand, how he is able to fast track focus groups to get to the emotional core, and how that information can be used to tell a story that can inspire and ultimately alter behavior.
It takes more than simply getting people emotional to create loyalty, you first have to dislodge customers from old ideas before they’ll accept the new ones. Christopher walks us through that process and why you have to be careful to not attempt to change too many behaviors at one time or you risk people digging in and not budging at all.
This episode is a fascinating look at how emotion can rule our choices over rational thinking and how thought leaders can use that for a positive change!
Three Key Takeaways:
- Thought leadership that connects on an emotional level allows you to engage people in your brand's story and inspire them to action.
- Research into what clients like or dislike about your thought leadership content has to move beyond rational thinking and into the emotional realm in which we often make choices.
- The average person is only capable of changing three behaviors at a time. To avoid clients resisting change ensure your thought leadership does not attempt to change many habits too quickly.
Today’s guest is Scott Shute, the Head of Mindfulness and Compassion Programs at Linkedin and the author of the new release book The Full Body Yes.
Compassion is the #1 thing you can do to be successful in business and life. That philosophy is something Scott shared with the CEO of Linkedin which allowed him to use his history in customer service combined with his passion for wellness to create a position to introduce mainstream mindfulness and operationalized compassion to the company.
Scott explains how internal compassion involves a change from me to we thinking and how if employers care about their employees they need to have the tools and system in place to care for the mental well-being of their employees in the same manner, a gym helps to maintain and grow physical well-being.
We discuss with Scott how his recent book The Full Body Yes benefits not only himself but the company he works for and the other employees there.
If you have a passion for compassion, Scott suggests you find a way to introduce and practice that at your company, and should your organization not be receptive perhaps you need to find somewhere else that will embrace that passion.
If you care for your employees this episode is a trove of information on how to add a gym of compassion and wellness to your company.
Three Key Takeaways:
- Having a real human element of compassion to your thought leadership can help you connect with clients in a deep and meaningful way.
- Thought leadership bringing compassion to an organization needs to define how to care for employees while still meeting the demands of the job.
- If you care about your employees find ways to introduce thought leadership to care for the mental well-being of your employees.
Today’s guest is Michael F. Schein, the author of The Hype Handbook, founder and CEO of MicroFame Media a company that turns consultants into celebrities.
Very few people ever become worldwide famous, but is that really what you need to be a known entity in your field? Michael shares why micro fame is a better goal to seek when you are selling ideas.
Michael and Peter discuss how hype is can be more effective than traditional marketing by relying on centuries-old psychological principles you can create a highly emotional reaction that will allow you to move people and create a sense of loyalty to your brand or idea.
Last we wrap up by talking about Michael’s recently launched book The Hype Handbook, how the book connects to the business, the effects it has had, and even what Charles Mason and Warren Buffet have in common!
If you’ve been struggling to conquer your little corner of the universe this episode has some great advice for hyping your content!
Three Key Takeaways:
- Thought Leaders seeking to be known by everyone need to refocus on only being known by those who would be interested in your ideas.
- Using hype to work your followers into a frenzy can be a more effective tactic than traditional thought leadership marketing.
- If you thought leadership agrees with everyone else in your field, you need to rethink what you are bringing to the conversation.
Today’s guest is Stephen G. Pope the founder and CEO of SGP Labs a creative marketing, media, and technology company with the goal of helping others grow their business faster.
Creating video is as easy as hitting the record button, but once that is done what do you do with it? Stephen shares the importance of having a solid process in place that makes for an easy workflow for everyone involved in it.
Stephen talks about how you can take existing video content such as zoom calls and repurposes them into shorter video clips for social media, transcribe them for consumption on your website, and even convert them into other blog posts to create a deep pool of content suitable for any platform.
If you are thinking about adding video to your thought leadership arsenal or already have video sitting on a drive somewhere this episode is just what you need to turn that unused potential into a new content library!
Three Key Takeaways:
- When creating thought leadership videos you should be mindful to highlight what your company is doing and what value you bring to the table.
- Thought leadership videos are a great way for people to meet you and remember your name.
- Don’t let a thought leadership video stay in that one format. Reuse it in smaller clips, transcripts, or slide decks.
Today’s guest is Justin Foster, the author of Oatmeal vs Bacon and co-author of Rooting Up. He is a speaker consultant and co-founder of Root + River a practice that specializes in branding for defiant leaders.
Justin shares his path to thought leadership and the tricks he learned along the way, including a brilliant method for how to get in front of potential clients when they won’t answer the phone for a sales call.
Breaking through the noise to have your voice heard amongst an abundance of other consultants is tough enough, but how do you get heard without coming across annoying or worse like a jerk? Justin tells us how conviction and originality can be the key!
Last we discuss methods of generating content, the pros and cons of going with the method you are comfortable with and have energy for versus the method that you audience might expect from you.
This episode is filled with a ton of TLPM (Thought Leadership per Minute) so grab a pen and take notes!
Three Key Takeaways:
- Being an expert in your clients business is just as important as being an expert in the thought leadership you look to delivery to the client.
- Your thought leadership cannot afford to be bland. You have to have an original take on an idea and the conviction to stand by it.
- It’s okay if your thought leadership is heretical or counter-intuitive, so long as you can prove and defend your content.
Today’s guest is Ali Ahmed, the director of thought leadership at Fidelity.
We discuss with Ali the work he is doing at Fidelity leading a team of thought leaders, two of the audiences they focus on, and the modalities used to help people along their financial journey that is often not a straight line.
Ali has a strong background in experience design that he incorporates into the content they create. We discuss the techniques that carry over, how to put the user at the center of the journey, and ways to avoid overwhelming the user.
Three Key Takeaways:
- When creating thought leadership makes it impactful in a way that will inspire people to action.
- Thought leadership that focuses on the experience of the user is better than content that overwhelms the user with data.
- Thought leaders need to understand when and where to insert themselves into the conversation.
Today’s guest Tendayi Viki, author of Pirates in the Navy and the Corporate Startup and associate partner at Strategyzer, the global leader in enterprise growth & innovation services.
Tendayi shares how his path to thought leadership involved leaving Zimbabwe for the UK and teaching forensic psychology before transitioning to social psychology.
We discuss how Alexander Osterwalder created Strategyzer and how the platform was designed to deliver consistent results for clients by well-trained consultants allowing the model to be scalable and consultants to create plug-ins that add to and modify the platform.
Tendayi and Peter discuss the danger of the personality of a thought leader is a cliff that can be hard to climb and how if used properly you can instead be a platform to raise up others.
We wrap up our conversation discussing the changes Strategyzer went through to flourish during the COVID-19 pandemic. After the initial panic that everyone felt they quickly transitioned their offerings to digital formats, creating high-level engaging content that presented the same value.
Three Key Takeaways:
- When creating a platform for your thought leadership is sure the content is scalable and deliverable by others.
- If your thought leadership is only based on your personality you risk overshadowing your own content.
- When creating virtual content you need to find ways for your thought leadership to deliver the same value you present in person.
Today’s guest is Dr. Troy Hall Chief Strategy Officer for South Carolina Federal Credit Union, and the lead consultant for SCF Solutions, LLC. He is the best-selling author of Cohesion Culture and his newest release Fanny Rules.
Troy shares the heartwarming story of his mother’s leadership that makes up the lessons that in his book Fanny Rules and how these lessons are suitable for both the home and office.
We discuss how Troy has developed the consulting and executive coaching division for South Carolina Federal Credit Union and how that position allows him to work with leaders who want to grow, advance, and develop while focusing on the internal culture of their organization.
Finally, Troy gives advice for burgeoning thought leaders. He shares how if you believe something you have to speak it and become your truth now not someday.
Three Key Takeaways:
- The earliest lessons in our life can become the basis for our thought leadership.
- Developing thought leadership for an organization requires trust that both sides are working towards the same goals.
- Transformational leadership involves focusing on the needs of others before yourself.
Today’s guest is Karen Leland, CEO at Sterling Marketing Group, the best-selling author of No Nonsense and The Brand Mapping Strategy, and a lifelong artist.
With a lifelong commitment to the arts, before moving into thought leadership Karen shares how the skills learned in music, theater, and improv have given her the ability to handle rejection, think on her feet and be fearless in her knowledge that she can face any obstacle that might present itself.
We continue our conversation by looking at the increased speed at which the industry was forced to move to digital events. Karen shares her thoughts on the hybrid world that she sees evolving from the COVID-19 pandemic and what the new normal might be once we are on the other side of it.
Finally, Karen shares two passion projects she is looking at developing and how many professionals are seeking side businesses that support their passion more than their pocketbook.
Three Key Takeaways:
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Thought leaders with a background in the arts are often capable of thinking on their feet and being more agile.
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With the world forcing thought leaders to change how they deliver content you have to be willing to figure out a way forward or face extinction.
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Thought leaders should be seeking to find a way to apply their domain of thought leadership to the way the world has changed.
Today we make a small departure from our usual format of interviewing a guest. Instead, we shed a light on the series of short videos Bill Sherman has been producing over the last year that focus on specific issues related to Organizational Thought Leadership.
First, we look at the many varied paths that professionals travel to land in a thought leadership role.
Second, we examine the skills thought leaders need to be successful. While there are many that are useful we discuss the three key ones: analytical thinking, storytelling, and empathy.
Third, we look at the four primary ways that ideas emerge in thought leadership: forge, sharpen, weld, and transport.
Fourth, we discuss the benefits of narrowcasting, which might seem counterintuitive given the constant hype we hear around clicks, likes, and shares. But do those metrics really hold value?
Three Key Takeaways:
· Thought leaders with empathy are able to break through the distractions of what interests themselves to focus on what their clients truly need.
· Many believe new ideas in thought leadership are brand new, but in fact, most are rooted in evolving and combing existing ideas.
· Narrowcasting allows thought leaders to speak more directly to the audience that is most important to them.
Today’s guest is William Arruda, a personal branding pioneer, speaker, and coach. William is the author of Digital You and Career Distinction and creator of 360 Reach a web-based personal branding survey that has helped more than 1.8 million people!
William tells us how in 2001 he went from a comfortable job at IBM to having no income for 18 months after reading Tom Peter’s The Brand Called You. The hard 18 months helped him develop this thought leadership and methodology that he uses to this day!
Peter and William discuss the importance of constructing methodologies and frameworks that can be repeated and explained in meaningful ways, which allow you to stand out from the competition. Those frameworks build the foundation that you can spread your thought leadership in endless ways.
William shares the three C’s for branding: Clarity, Consistency, and Constancy. He explains how to properly deploy them and the importance of each for building a brand that has meaning and is unforgettable.
We wrap up our conversation with William giving advice to anyone looking to establish or expand their brand.
Three Key Takeaways:
· Your thought leadership needs to have solid processes and frameworks to ensure it is repeatable with the same outcome each time.
· Thought leaders should consider the external view of their personal brand. Seek external feedback to verify how your brand is held in the hearts and minds of your clients.
· Every day we are overwhelmed with information. You need to be consistent and constant with delivering thought leadership to your audience.
Today’s guest is Jeff Kavanaugh, the Global Head at Infosys Knowledge Institute, the research and thought leadership arm of Infosys diversified technology and digital firm. Earlier this year Jeff published his second book The Live Enterprise.
Jeff explains how the institute isn’t just a place for people to have a platform but a place for teaching others to build communication and extend their voice. We look at the three audiences that the institute serves best.
Jeff and Bill spend some time discussing the transformation of the digital age and the concept of the invisible brain, an evolution of the invisible hand. We examine the knowledge graph and how it connects data to people and things. Plus we look at how the digital brain can take rules-based information that has become digitized, then automate and optimize it. Together, the digital brain and the knowledge graph set the tone for the curation of knowledge in a company.
We wrap up with Jeff giving some valuable advice for anyone who might want to turn their ideas into a book for their organization, from where to start to actually publish the project.
Three Key Takeaways:
· Branding you thought leadership is a long game. You have to be comfortable with giving value with no expectations of something in return.
· Your thought leadership needs to have its own edge. If you are saying the same thing as everyone else you are invisible.
· When making the choice to write a book start with a four thousand word keystone, then determine if there is still enough depth to write a full book that others will want to read.
Today our dueling hosts Peter Winick and Bill Sherman sit down together to give an overview of the thought leadership world.
They start with the topic of Organizational Thought Leadership, which TLL has had a heavy focus on. We examine why more and more companies are investing in dedicated thought leaders, how those companies are struggling to define what it means to them, where it falls in the company, and how to measure its success.
Peter and Bill discuss to find the right audience for both organizational and standalone thought leadership can be a challenge. The old method of broadcasting to as many people as you can isn’t as effective anymore. They give us some insights into how narrowcasting small chunks of information can have a greater impact.
We wrap up our one on one discussing the transformations that have happened over the last year due to COVID-19. With most in-person events canceled people are missing the community aspect of conferences. How can you build a successful community online and have members become engaged and excited? The lack of travel to events has given many thought leaders far more free time which has caused creative renaissances, but when the world fully re-opens will that come to an end? How will thought leaders protect that time they’ve gained for deep thought and development?
Three Key Takeaways:
· If an organization is going to invest money into thought leadership they need to have a firm grasp on what that means to them and how to scale it through the organization and beyond.
· Measuring the success of thought leadership isn’t a simple metric. It has to be measured over a long period of time and the precise ROI often cannot be calculated.
· The so many events being digital the barrier to entry has dropped. This allows thought leaders to attend more events and still save time and money.
Over the past three years, Peter and Bill have interviewed hundreds of guests learning their stories, sharing advice, and expanding each other’s understandings of the various facets of the thought leadership market. Today we celebrate our landmark 300th episode by looking back at a few of the many great guests that we’ve had the pleasure of interviewing.
We start with Scott Miller, Executive Vice President of Thought Leadership at Franklin Covey, the host of On Leadership with Scott Miller and co-author of Everyone Deserves a Great Manager. Scott explains how he helps clients get up to speed on mixed platforms, why you need to have one established before publishers will seriously look at you and the art and science of speaking.
Next from the best-selling franchise Chicken Soup for the Soul and author of other best sellers such as The Power of Focus, The Aladdin Factor, and Dare to Win we sit down with Mark Victor Hansen. Mark shares how he has harnessed the power of licensing for books and beyond.
Up next is the “Dean of Innovation” Jeff DeGraff, Jeff is the founder of the Innovatrium, a professor and bestselling author of The Creative Mindset. We discuss forging your own path as a thought leader and how creativity and innovation come from positive deviance.
Finally, Peter talks with one of the Top 50 Thinkers in the world Dorie Clark. She is the author of Entrepreneurial You and Reinventing You as well as a business professor at Duke and Columbia University. Dorie shares how she has transformed her standard offerings to the digital world during COVID-19 and how she continues to deliver value in this new medium.
Next, we shift gears to our Organizational Thought Leadership series where Bill interviews Melanie Huet, the Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of Serta Simmons Bedding. Melanie shares how she helped transform a hundred-year-old company by understanding the culture, building trust, and helping others realize their role in the change.
We wrap up this great compilation episode with Mike Kleinemaß, Digital Marketing & Communications Expert at ThyssenKrupp, a company that deals with engineering and construction of plant technology. Mike explains why building and maintaining a relationship on Linkedin means having two-way conversations that help others solve their problems and provide value.
We want to thank all of our guests and especially our listeners for being part of our podcast journey. We hope you’ll continue to listen, share, and learn for years to come.
Today’s guest is Susan Scott, the founder of Fierce, a TedX speaker, author of best-selling books Fierce Conversations and Fierce Leadership.
Most people understand the importance of having good conversations but most are unaware of how lousy they actually are at having them. Susan explains how her system to have fierce conversations facilitates increased productivity, problem solving, and builds relationships and trust.
Susan shares how she codified her content to make it teachable with consistent outcomes regardless of if it is taught by an internal or external facilitator.
During the last year of the pandemic Susan has had unprecedented digital innovation! She shares how her team has developed a client facing app, realistic 3d simulations that can be customized to specific scenarios, and soon a digital version of the training that will not require a facilitator.
If you struggle to have real conversations, productive meetings, and helpful feedback this episode might be the eye opener you need.
Three Key Takeaways:
· Thought Leaders need to ensure their conversations are impactful. The topic, the manner it is discussed, and who is invited to the conversation can all affect the outcome for better or worse.
· When creating thought leadership consider that organizations might want you to train their trainers and not have you send in a facilitator.
· Being able to scale your thought leadership to a digital platform is a must.
Today’s guest is Jonathan Raveh, the head of Thought Leadership at AppsFlyer a company with a mission to help marketers succeed by being committed to accurate data, unmatched privacy and security, open tech-stack innovation, and an unbiased, customer-obsessed approach.
Jonathan shares how he spends his days work with 80+ people going over multiple documents helping them write, edit, and develop their thought leadership content. Jonathan walks with them from the first step of coming up with the idea, through helping them establish their voice and values, getting the post onto Linkedin, and even tracking the performance of it after it goes live.
Often thought leadership comes from the top down but Jonathan explains why he feels that employees at all levels can have a valuable impact on both the company and the brand. We discuss the top three things that keep people from becoming involved in thought leadership development and why those are excuses that can be overcome.
We wrap up the conversation with some advice for up-and-coming thought leaders who might get tapped to develop or lead a team in their own organization.
If you want to develop successful content and broaden the scope of the team creating it this episode is full of insightful information you’ll not want to miss.
Three Key Takeaways:
· The difference between thought leadership and content marketing is not mentioning the company.
· Every day you have conversations that could be used for thought leadership content. When discussing problems with others remember to think that others are probably having the same issue.
· Posting your thought leadership to a platform isn’t enough to develop a community. You have to be engaged on both your posts and the posts of others.
Today’s guest is Dan Lier a best-selling author of The 10 Minute Coach and Is Your Child Wired for Success, sales and leadership expert, and internationally recognized motivational speaker with the experience of presenting over 3,500 customized talks to companies around the globe.
Selling your service as a speaker means serving two masters. Dan explains why you need to satisfy both the event planner that hired you and the attendees of the event. We discuss the competitive market, the things you need to provide to stand out, and why having video content is of the utmost importance.
Over the last year, speakers have had to make incredible changes to the way they sell, attend, and deliver keynotes. Peter and Dan discuss how pricing has changed, the skills you need for success on camera, and what you can do to add value to your virtual speaking.
Three Key Takeaways:
- Thought leaders must be aware of the needs of both the buyer and attendee of keynote speeches in order to truly be successful.
- Delivering thought leadership digitally means having to be charismatic in a box, and that takes practice.
- You can add value to virtual speaking engagements by adding on additional training of your thought leadership in workshops after the event.
Today’s guests are from S3 - Strategic Speaker Services: Lori Zetlin (Rosmarin), the Founder, and Managing Principal, and Eric Zetlin Managing Director. S3 builds world-class executive visibility programs for global brands and dynamic startups - delivering the right speaking opportunities and the most desirable audiences to our clients.
Eric and Lori explain the concept of Earned Speaking and how executives can go about gaining speaking engagements at conferences without having to pay to be a sponsor. They shed some light on what those earned speaking opportunities look like, the matchmaking process they through to line their clients up with the right conference.
For the last year, speakers have had their careers turned upside down by COVID-19, Lori and Eric share their experience taking things virtually, why many conferences are getting larger turn outs virtually than they ever did in person and the benefits of not having to travel beyond just the time savings.
If you are a speaker looking to increase your visibility and stay thriving in this virtual setting this episode is tailor-made for you!
Three Key Takeaways:
· Becoming an earned speaker as a thought leader means landing an engagement based on the content of your message and not the size of your wallet.
· It can be best to pass on speaking at some conferences. You want to ensure your thought leadership is delivered to the right audience and not simply the widest one.
· Virtual conferences are allowing thought leaders to attend conventions nationally and globally that would have been difficult to attend in the past due to time and travel.
Today’s guest Becca Bycott, the Director of Thought Leadership and Engagement at FiscalNote, a technology and media company that provides information services and software that connects the world to their governments.
Becca started her role at FiscalNote during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic working remotely and developing programs that would be offered virtually. Those programs are tailored to give executives an exclusive and interesting experience driving by thought leadership that allows them to interact with others across various roles and industries to identify what issues they are facing and solve problems.
We discuss the challenges of creating virtual communities that have the same meaning and sense of togetherness that face-to-face meetings do. Becca shares she gets participants to go beyond attending a meeting to making them active participants in a personal way that will build solid relationships for years to come.
This conversation tackles common issues like Zoom fatigue and how to move your social media away from being a one-way street of information into meaningful conversations. Plus Becca shares some great advice for anyone looking to develop thought leadership for their company or organization.
Three Key Takeaways:
- Thought leadership aimed at executives needs to help them put the current news into a larger context of how they can be more proactive in their leadership.
- Building virtual communities for thought leadership needs to create a sense of belonging for people to share the ideas and problems that mean the most to them.
- Using social media to spread thought leadership is great but you need to be engaged in conversations and not just talking at your audience.
Today’s guest is Francis Cholle, Founder and CEO of The Human Company, which designs, teaches, and implements unique ways to innovate and outperform competitors and achieve accelerated growth. Additionally, he is the Founder and CEO of the SQUIRCLE Academy and author of SQUIRCLE which is teaching a revolutionary method to make better, deeper, and more important decisions.
Francis shares how he is helping clients bring their instincts into business to change the way we look at and solve problems. His unique system of gamification that mirrors business allows people to relax and stop overthinking, thus giving better access to the instinctual part of our brain.
Having started his career in his 20s in publishing Francis shares his unique view of being an author having experience on both sides of the table.
If you want to dig deeper into SQUIRCLE you can discover your SQUIRCLE score by taking this self-assessment. Just text SQUIRCLE to 484848
Three Key Takeaways:
· Sometimes to solve unique problems your thought leadership will have to abandon the traditional and rely on your gut instincts.
· The gamification of your thought leadership can be a new way for clients to relax and learn your content in memorable ways.
· Thought Leadership needs to include concrete data but how you interpret it is what can make all the difference.
Today’s guest is John Warrillow, the Founder of the Value Builder System and Best-selling author of Built to Sell and The Automatic Customer.
John explains how the Value Builder system was inspired by the IP in his book Built to Sell and the errors they made trying to take the software directly to the consumer and why going for a niche audience was a better choice.
We explore how a blend of traditional coaching and software tools can be merged together for powerful results and how John is supporting and training his coaches to ensure they are comfortable with both the product and working in this blended world where we cannot always be face-to-face.
If you are planning to use technology to aid in delivering your coaching this episode might just help save you time and money by avoiding costly mistakes.
Three Key Takeaways:
· Taking thought leadership directly to the consumer can be expensive.
· Thought leaders need to be able to break their content down into the smallest steps or work with an outside partner who can aid them in breaking it down.
· When creating thought leader content to be delivered by others never underestimate the importance of training your advisors.
Today’s guest is Helio Fred Gracia, the CEO of Logos Institute for Crisis Management and Executive, teacher of crisis communications and crisis management at the Stern School of Business and ethics at Columbia. In addition, he is the author of Reputation Management and Words on Fire.
We start our conversation by discussing how trust is built, lost, and restored. Then how patterns that arise in these actions can be studied to help give us a predictive power to help anticipate how the outcome can change when we intervene in a minor or major way.
Helio discusses his work in crisis management and why we need to prepare for a disaster before it happens to ensure a proper response.
We wrap up with a deeply philosophical discussion on the works of Aristotle and how his three essentials elements for a speaker to influence an audience remain true more than a thousand years later. Learn what Ethos, Pathos, and Logos are, and why they are the cornerstone and the origin of the name of his company.
Three Key Takeaways:
· Thought Leaders can learn from studying the patterns that cause us to gain or lose trust, so we can make adjustments and avoid negative outcomes in the future.
· The works of thought leaders from more than a thousand years ago are still relevant today.
· Thought Leaders need to make plans to deal with disaster before they strike to avoid reacting with an emotional response instead of a well thought out one.
Today’s guest is Rod Robertson, Managing Partner of Briggs Capital, guest speaker at forums ranging from the Harvard Business School and the Babson MBA program, and author of two books The Human Vector and Winning at Entrepreneurship.
We start the conversation with Rod discussing how he uses thought leadership and authorship to drive business. Why having a published book can be important for clarifying your thoughts.
We continue our discussion on authoring and publishing by talking about how a ghostwriter can help you put your thoughts to paper in a more timely fashion than a first-time author. Rod explains why the table of contents of a book is not only a forcing mechanism to give your book structure but as a marketing tool to draw in potential readers. In addition, Rod shares how he used an agency for his second book and why there were more capable of driving the book to the market for him.
Our conversation concludes with Rod giving some great advice to the potential first-time author that might be listening.
Three Key Takeaways:
· Having a book is a great way to solidify your thought leadership and drive business.
· Working with a ghostwriter can allow a thought leader to take their book to market much faster than writing it alone.
· Books on thought leadership need to have a strong table of contents at least 30% of the chapters speaking to the potential reader.
Today’s guest is Ron Crabtree, CEO of Meta Ops Inc | Meta Experts. Meta Experts is a global network of OpEx development experts ready to take on interim roles as advisors and executives to solve operational problems in fast-paced industries.
Ron shares how he got his start in thought leadership at Disney in the late 70s creating training materials for complex problems so they could be understood by everyone. Over his thirty plus year career, he has worked for automotive supply chains, implanted Lean Six, Sigma and continues to be a lifelong learner.
As we continue down Ron’s career path we learn about his company Meta Experts. We learn what happens when an expertise gap occurs in a company and why their network of experts might be the best route to fill that gap.
Ensuring any knowledge gaps you have are filled can be critical but how do you know when there is a gap that needs to be filled? What does that gap look like? Ron gives great examples for identifying the gaps and the process they use for vetting the talent you can hire to fill those gaps.
Three Key Takeaways:
· Thought leaders can find success with content that identifies a market that needs new solutions to ongoing problems.
· When time is money, your thought leadership needs to help clients avoid days of lost profit.
· People skills are almost as important as your knowledge. If you can’t get your thought leadership to connect with people, it will all be for naught.
Today’s guest is Melanie Huet Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of Serta Simmons Bedding.
We discuss with Melanie taking Serta Simmons, a 100-year-old brand, and transforming it for modern-day operations. How she came to understand the culture of the company, built trust and had clear communication to ensure everyone understood where the company was heading and what their role was.
Melanie talks about separating the Simmons brand and repositioning it to be appealing to the Gen Z market, including having a hugely successful launch on Tik-Tok with Snoozapalooza. She shares the task of pitching such a new idea and platform to the board and how she got them on board.
The success of the Tik-Tok launch wouldn’t have been possible without proper research and creativity. Melanie gives us an overview of the work that went into ensuring marketing was in the right place with the right message to guarantee the campaign didn’t come off force or fake.
We conclude this great interview discussing where thought leadership fits into the Serta Simmons brand, how they find new ideas and ways you can measure the success of those ideas.
If you are working with a well-established brand that is looking to update itself or find a new audience, get your pen and paper ready because this episode is full of great information
Three Key Takeaways:
· If you want your thought leadership to be effective you’ll need to understand the culture of the brand you are working with.
· Deep research is a must if you want your thought leadership to move your audience to action.
· When developing content thought leaders should listen to ideas from anywhere, not just from the top of an organization.
Today's guest is Matias Obludzyner, a leadership and communications consultant with years of experience at the International Finance Corporation and author of Expanding Circle.
Matias shares his experience working at the IFC helping leaders with communication and change management. He explains how his time working with incredible leaders there was a key influence in writing his book.
We discuss how Matias has struck out on his own to help the leaders of other organizations with how they position themselves externally and how they influence others. Plus we chat about finding the first clients, developing price and scope without a known brand behind you.
Finally, Matias shares the journey of writing the book which started before he left IFC and what the book brings to the table in the next phase of his career, how he uses it to his advantage, and how he promoted it.
If you want to take your Thought Leadership out of a corporation and go it alone this episode is filled with great advice.
Three Key Takeaways:
* Thought Leaders can learn from the experience of the others they've worked with and include it in their own content.
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If you are to successfully market your thought leadership you'll need to know who you are solving problems for and what the problems are.
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Adding a book to your Thought leadership toolbox is a great way to start conversations with potential clients.
Our guest today is Sue Yasav, CEO and Founder at Marquette Marketing LLC. Previously she was the Vice President, Thought Leadership and Content Strategy at Synchrony Financial.
Sue discusses her early work at GE Captial building value proposition for credit card brands and the processes she developed that she would later apply to many other topics. She discusses moving to Synchrony and having to build value for a brand that wasn't instantly recognizable.
In addition to building processes, Sue was involved in developing content and talent to speak about the brand so customers would understand what the company stood for, who they were speaking to, and why a customer would want to be involved with the brand. We discuss what successful thought leadership means to Sue, how to measure it, and how to identify when something isn't working and adjust the course. We wrap up with Sue giving some critical advice for anyone seeking to move into a thought leadership role at some point in their career. This is a great episode for anyone seeking to better understand and build value in their brand.
Three Key Takeaways:
* Thought Leaders need to understand what a brand stands for and how to portray those ideals in order to successfully build brand value. * The manner in which content is ingested has changed and thought leaders need to do the proper research to connect with their audience where they are, not where you want them to be. * The measurement of successful thought leadership is often gauged by being asked to speak in the media, be part of a panel, or being quoted.
Jim Kerr is the founder of Indispensable Consulting, author of The Executive Checklist, and his newest book INDISPENSABLE. Jim is one of the foremost authorities on leadership and community culture and we are excited to have him as our guest today.
Jim discusses the frustrations that led him to write his first book and we explore the changes and challenges that have taken place over the years as publishing methods have transformed, leaving authors to be the main promoter of their books.
Jim shares the successful methods he has used to promote his books, gain name recognition, and build credibility with his peers and audience.
Having successfully exited two previous companies Jim has a keen knowledge of the topic, he tells us why having models, frameworks, and mythologies to your IP is the key to a successful handoff.
Finally, we wrap up talking about the power of networking with other thought leaders to promote each other, problem-solve, and perhaps most importantly come together in what can be a very lonely profession.
This is an insightful episode for thought leaders and authors at any stage of their career! Be sure to tune in and take notes!
Three Key Takeaways:
· If you are seeking to write a book, it should be about a topic of thought leadership that you are passionate about and is lacking in the market.
· Building towards being able to exit a thought leadership business means building in systems that will eventually make you irrelevant.
· Networking with other thought leaders is a great way to share ideas, brainstorm, and meet other generous and smart professionals.
We continue to look back at 2020 this time with a focus on some of our favorite guests from our Organizational Thought Leadership series.
We kick things off with Surya Kolluri, the managing director at Bank of America leading Thought Leadership efforts for retirement and personal wealth business services. Surya shares how they are helping people lead better richer financial lives by training advisors on the financial challenges that various life stages present.
Next, Nora Super joins us. Nora is the Executive Director at Milken Institute, and the Executive Director of the Alliance to Improve Dementia Care at the Milken Institute. Nora discusses how convening authority helps thought leadership and why bringing people from different areas and industries together to tackle a problem can have a huge impact.
Finally, we wrap up with Luke Collins, the Managing Director, and Global Editor-in-Chief at EY. Luke explains how EY is changing the modalities in which they deliver content to ensure they are reaching their customers in the method that will connect with them best and how the first twenty seconds of your content is the most important.
We start the New Year by looking back at a few of our best guests of 2020.
We start with John Jantsch, the Founder of Duct Tape Marketing Consulting Network, and the author of The Self-Reliant Entrepreneur. John discusses making his consulting networking, packaging the content to be delivered by others, and how he maintains quality control over the process of those that join the network.
Next, we chat with Jonah Berger, a marketing professor at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and internationally bestselling author of Contagious, Invisible Influence, and The Catalyst. Jonah shares the challenges and joys of being a keynote speaker, how price can help you narrow down which engagements to take, the relationship you need to develop with the speaker's bureaus, and why it’s important to add value off stage to your bookings
Last but not least we finish with the incredible Tom Peters. Tom is the co-author of In Search of Excellence in addition to seventeen other books that have sold more than 10 million copies combined and recipient of the Thinkers50 Lifetime Achievement Award. Tom discusses writing about Brand You, how it is misinterpreted, the evolution of how we see personal brands and intellectual property.
Today’s guest is Jen Cohen the Vice President of Engineering at the Toyota Research Institute (TRI). Jen has over twenty years of technology and operations leadership experience that she uses to make technology work for business.
Jen shares how her work at TRI is helping to strengthen the research structure that is developing technology that amplifies humans, allowing them to age in place and continue to enjoy their lives with the aid of AI and robotics without replacing the human aspect.
Jen discusses the ever-important need to create processes in the development stage that will guide a project to completion. With 50% of IT projects failing, she understands the need to have effective change agents in place and to never take shortcuts in development.
During our discussion of what successful thought leadership means to Jen, she shares the concept of Ikigai, a Japanese concept meaning “A reason for being.” We chat about how our lives feel most fulfilled when we incorporate work that we love and how TRI is helping people to achieve their Ikigai.
Three Key Takeaways:
· Thought Leaders can include various forms of automation in their work, the key is to ensure it enhances the human experience and does not replace the human.
· When developing processes for anything thought leadership should look at the end goal and ensure the steps to get there are developed early and nothing is skipped.
· Ikigai is a great concept for thought leaders. Finding ways to help others live their best life by doing work they love will increase the productivity and satisfaction of clients.
Today’s guest is Cara Macklin, Founder of Caram, Innovative Entrepreneur, and Success Coach helping entrepreneurs to do things differently, accelerate success, and create meaningful change.
Cara discusses her early work in her family business of healthcare and hospitality and how she helped to more than double the size of the business, while training as a coach that allowed her to understand and replicate processes and outcomes.
We discuss the type of clients Cara works with, how she finds them, and why fit it isn’t a good fit you might be better off referring the client to someone else.
We wrap up our conversation discussing how Cara has taken coaching, which often has an outdated modality, and create a suite of offerings that allow her to serve clients one-on-one, create groups from various industries together, and finally a wide audience with an online course.
If you want a sample of the aid Cara can offer check out this video just for listeners of our podcast!
Three Key Takeaways:
· Learning to become a coach is one of the best ways to understand the processes of thought leadership and reliably replicate the outcomes.
· Your thought leadership isn’t going to be the right fit for every client. Passing on clients that don’t fit your offerings is better than failing them down the road.
· Having multiple modalities will allow your thought leadership to reach a variety of clients with multiple platforms.
Today’s guest is Harry Kraemer, a professor of management and strategy at Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management, where he teaches in the MBA and the Executive MBA programs. Previous to that he was CEO of Baxter Healthcare. These two careers have given him a unique perspective on how academia and business work hand in hand.
Harry shares his journey from being a student at Northwestern to CEO, and back to Northwestern as a professor. We explore the somewhat strange origin of his first book Becoming the Best and how a student was the forcing mechanism that brought it to life.
We discuss the trilogy of books (Becoming the Best, From Values to Action and Your 168) that Harry has written over the last ten years and how the themes all tie together to help you become a value-based leader, running a value-based organization while living a value-based life!
All of the profit from the sales of Harry’s books go to One Acre Fund, we highly encourage you to learn more about this incredible initiative.
Three Key Takeaways:
· Thought leaders can gain a lot from listening to the academic and business communities and developing a perspective that understands both.
· Thought leaders need to know their values and their purpose if they want to understand how they affect how you lead and interact with people.
· Thought Leaders must live their values even in the face of distraction and difficulty.
Today’s guest is Rita Clifton, the co-founder, and chairman of BrandCap. She has been called “The Brand Guru” by the Financial Times and is the author of a new book Love Your Imposter: Be Your Best Self, Flaws and All.
Rita is best known for her work on branding, so a book on imposter syndrome might seem like a departure. She shares why she wrote the book and the principles from branding she incorporated that can work in any aspect of your life.
We discuss moving the book to the next stage and creating a business around it. What the goal of that might be, how it could play out, and how to scale it to reach more people than you ever could 1-on-1 or by webinars.
In addition, we discuss the change many have experience of working from home using video tools to communicate and how it has added a touch of humanization to a business that is dearly needed in today’s troubling times.
If you feel like you are just faking it in your job you are not alone. 70% of people feel that way at some point in their career and this might be the conversation you need to hear in order to start believing in yourself.
Three Key Takeaways:
· Even the most successful professionals often feel like an imposter. Thought Leaders really need to come to understand themselves to overcome that feeling and help others.
· When taking your thought leadership from written to scale, you need to fully understand your content or the tools you build from it will fail.
· Often thought leaders will think of a brand as a logo, design, and packaging but it is the substance that lies beneath it all that is the most important part.
Today’s guest is Dorie Clark, one of the Top 50 Thinkers in the world by Thinkers 50 and the #1 Communication coach in the world by the Marshall Goldsmith Leading Global Coaches Awards. She is the author of Entrepreneurial You and Reinventing You as well as a business professor at Duke and Columbia University.
Dorie joins us to discuss what traditional avenues are still working for thought leaders in a world on pause due to COVID-19 in addition to what creative and new ideas have come from having to adapt to how the industry functions.
Dorie shares how she created an online course by starting with a test group and developing the content in real-time, asking questions,s and taking feedback from the participants to nail down what was most important to them. Plus she explains how she adds community to the fully developed course and why that aspect is so important to make the content really stick.
Last we discuss the future of thought leadership post-COVID-19, the plans that are being made to account for the unknown variables that still lie ahead, what changes we’ve made that we might stick with and what old habits will we return to.
If you are thinking about developing online content or worried about how to continue business in the future Dorie and Peter have some amazing advice for you in this episode.
Three Key Takeaways:
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Thought Leaders can gain an invaluable amount of feedback from running their content at a discount with a test group.
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You can add additional value to your thought leadership by developing a community that allows peer-to-peer learning. * Thought Leaders need to be prepared for how the industry will change post-COVID-19 and what aspects we are currently living with that might stay the same.
Today’s guest is Rhett Power. In 2007 he co-founded Wild Creations which became one of Inc. Magazines 500 Fastest-Growing US companies. Currently, he is a co-founder of Courageous Leadership a consultancy that brings an amalgamation of experienced behavior scientists, entrepreneurs, and best-selling authors together. He is the best-selling author of The Entrepreneur’s Book of Actions and One Million Frogs.
Rhett discusses how the need to follow his gut led him from position to position while avoiding becoming complacent and then as he became better known avoided becoming over-committed.
Rhett has a strong background as a writer, starting with Inc. Magazine and he shares how working for them allowed him to use their brand recognition to open doors and meet people he previously might not have received access to.
Rhett hosts Linkedin Live interviews and he details how he is not only able to build two and three other pieces of content out of each interview but how he is building relationships that help share his content, introduce new people, and even become clients!
Three Key Takeaways:
· Thought leaders need to trust their gut and move to new challenges when it tells them to.
· Live interviews via podcast or Linkedin live can be turned into multiple pieces of written short-form Thought Leadership after the fact.
· Building a following for your thought leadership is a multi-year commitment. You have to have a work ethic around it and be persistent.
Today’s guest is Michele Zanini, the co-founder and Management Director of Management Lab and co-author with Gary Hamel of the best-selling book Humanorcracy a thought-provoking book about organizational change that will help you scale the creative ability of each person in your organization and break through the bureaucracy that often kills innovation.
Michele discusses why many organizations continue to operate with a top-down bureaucracy heavy structure that is outdated, while those that embrace change and enable the power of each individual in the company are having record-breaking production and innovation.
We discuss the struggle of creating and transmitting thought leadership ideas internally across a company with thousands of employees and how enabling the voices that are often not heard, both inside and outside of an organization can be part of the solution.
Michele and Bill also talk about the need for a clear and solid strategy and how it will be impossible to create compelling thought leadership without it.
If this deep conversation leaves you wanting more pick up Humanorcracy and for a limited time you can get a four-hour free course filled with tools and tips that will help you create a resilient, creative, and daring organization!
Three Key Takeaways:
- Thought leaders should consider an approach that unleashes the creative potential of each individual in an organization.
- Thought leaders will need to develop a clear and well thought out strategy if they want to cultivate persuasive thought leadership.
- Thought leaders in an organization should reach out to the voices that are often not heard to find new points of view that are likely valuable and overlooked.
Today’s guest is Luke Collins, the Managing Director, and Global Editor-in-Chief at EY. Luke has had a number of thought leadership roles at high profile companies with a background in journalism before that.
Luke talks with us about thought leadership being at an inflection point where there is tension between the need to push users towards the products you are offering and the need to retain a sense of objectivity that engenders trust.
We discuss how EY managed to reframe their thought leadership early in the year with the outbreak of COVID-19 and how they are using a Now, Next, Beyond framework to manage what type of content they publish as the world changes.
Next Luke shares how he is using his journalistic sensibilities to help build content that is able to grab reader attention in the first 20 seconds and present short-form articles that deliver powerful and useful information. Plus we discuss how you can use the same content in different formats to reach the end-user where they are and not where you want them to be.
If you want to make content that tells the user what they need to know in a manner they will actually consume it, this is an episode filled with advice for you.
Three Key Takeaways:
· Thought leaders need to deliver the information leaders want to know and the information they need to know.
· The format of your thought leadership is critical. Breaking it down into bite-sized chunks is more effective than a 3000-word essay.
· Creating thought leadership like a journalist would deliver a story can capture an audience and connect with them in an impactful way.
Today’s guest is the “Dean of Innovation” Jeff DeGraff, is the founder of the Innovatrium an innovation consulting firm focusing on creating innovation culture, capability, and community. Jeff is also a business professor at the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan and bestselling author of The Creative Mindset.
Jeff sits down with Peter to discuss how positive deviance is the driving force behind innovation and why bureaucracy both can stifle progress by attempting to pull everything into a more traditional standard.
Jeff explains his business model, how it evolved, and how finding new applications for established schools of thought has allowed him to create hybrid schools that have become the key to innovation.
Last Jeff tells us the four things you should think about in your life, why they are important, and why for better or worse you need to own them!
If you are the creative type, feeling stifled by red tape this episode will give you the insight you need to charge forward!
Three Key Takeaways:
- Cutting edge thought leadership will often feel deviant to the norms because it does not fit into the established standards.
- Thought leaders should surround themselves with other talented people that will challenge your thinking and force you to regularly evolve.
- Often there is no career for thought leaders. You’ll need to create your own job and make it up as you go.
We are thrilled to have Kara Goldin join us again! Kara is the Founder and CEO of Hint Inc, the host of the podcast Unstoppable with Kara, a keynote speaker first-time author of the best-selling book Undaunted!
Kara shares how the four-year process of writing the book played out, while she continued to run her company and host a podcast! She explains how continuous e-mails from customers who were influenced by her story of becoming an entrepreneur influenced the stories she shared and how the stories in the book were therapeutic to share.
We discuss with Kara how the book has helped the business and how it can be used as a recruiting tool for attracting talent to the company. Many first time authors have different objectives for their book, Kara talks about what she wants from the book and what success would look like for her.
If you enjoyed this episode and want to learn more about Kara and Hint Inc. check out episode 90!
Three Key Takeaways:
· Thought leaders can take the stories of their experiences and hardships and turn them into a book or larger content to help their audience.
· A book about your thought leadership can be a good tool to attract people who will better understand you to want to work with you.
· Thought leaders who keep an open means of communication with their audience can use that to determine what content would be useful to them.
Today’s guest is Geoff Woods, the co-founder, and vice-president of The One Thing, a training and education company based on the best-selling book The One Thing. Geoff is also the host of the One Thing Podcast which is in the top 5% of podcasts in the world.
Geoff shares how he had a successful job that lacked fulfillment and how he found his purpose after rushing to meet Jay Papasan when he came off stage at a conference. Geoff faced the uphill task of making a successful business based on the content of The One Thing without the ability to use either Jay or Gary Keller as the face.
We dig deep into building content and IP from the book, the business model, and why thought leaders should distance themselves from their own work to ensure the content and assets can stand on their own.
Geoff talks to us about the training they do, how they’ve found success in the virtual space by looking at what they can become and not getting hung up on what the company was in the past.
If you want to be able to detach yourself from your product to have the freedom of being obsolete this is an episode for you!
Three Key Takeaways:
- Thought leaders need to invest time in the creation of content that can stand without them in the room.
- As thought leaders move deeper into virtual events, you need to think hard about how to continue to build a sense of community in that space.
- A common problem thought leaders face is the inability to look forward. Don’t get obsessed with what you used to be to the detriment of what you might become.
Today’s guest is Moshe Engelberg, the founder, and CEO of ResearchWorks and author of The Amare Wave. The Amare Wave is an incredible book about breaking away from the old warlike paradigm in business to introduce love and outperform the completion.
Moshe explains the origin of the Amare Wave and the common things he found in a traditional business that made him realize the old ways were outdated. He explains how business tradition had a warlike paradigm of terms like “Crush the competition” and “Killing it” that we're creating a resentful environment for employees and clients.
Moshe goes on to talk about how brands that are loved tend to build loyalty with their clients and loyalty can quickly turn to profits!
Some might think love isn’t a suitable word in business, but who doesn’t want people to love their company? Join the Amare Wave and watch your profits soar!
Three Key Takeaways:
- The paradigm of business is changing. Is your thought leadership changing with it?
- Thought leadership can often include words like love that make people uncomfortable, so sometimes you need to be able to use other words to get the same point across.
- If people come to love your thought leadership, they will be loyal to your brand, and that will result in increased profits.
Today’s guest is Mark Victor Hansen, the co-creator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul franchise and best-selling author of The Power of Focus, The Aladdin Factor, and Dare to Win.
Mark discusses how he shifted from a business going bankrupt to a best-selling author! He shares his years of experience about how the book business has changed from selling books at the back of the room to online, and how things are changing again due to COVID-19.
Mark gives incredible insights into how he makes a licensed the Chicken Soup for the Soul books when no one had ever thought it was possible to license a book.
We wrap up by disusing how you can keep your name relevant while travel restrictions remain in place by taking advantage of being a podcast guest and learning to speak without an audience in front of you.
Three Key Takeaways:
- Thought leaders need to keep up with the changing environment of sales for books.
- Licensing your thought leadership might be the method you have not thought of to reach a huge audience.
- Thought Leaders should be seeking podcasts to appear on to spread the word about their content while our movement is restricted.
Today’s guest is Mike Kleinemaß, Digital Marketing & Communications Expert at ThyssenKrupp, a company that deals with engineering and construction of plant technology.
Mike discusses how he came to thought leadership while doing other research and how it fits into his role in digital marketing. Bill and Mike discuss the place of platforms like Linkedin in B2B sales and why building a following and creating truly useful content for your prospective clients is important.
In addition, Mike talks about the importance of building a relationship in which you are open and available to answering questions, having conversations, and engaging with your followership instead of just pushing out a message.
Mike helped create a task force at ThyssenKrupp and explains how that came to be, the purpose of it, and why those involved need to understand their value within the organization and the impact they have.
As a digital marketing and growth expert Mike shares some incredible knowledge that can be applied to any company or organization seeking to understand how to be successful in the digital space.
Three Key Takeaways:
· As more digital transformations happen thought leaders need to understand the new journey their customers will undertake.
· Thought leaders can gain a great deal of insight from examining the analytics of their social media and website. That information can be used to create targeted sales strategies.
· Becoming a thought leader for your organization will mean understanding the purpose and goals of the company, then building a strategy to convey that to the right people.
Today’s guest is David Hancock, the co-author of 16 books including Performance Driven Thinking, The Best of Guerrilla Marketing, and The Entrepreneurial Author. David is the Founder of Morgan James Publishing and Chairman of Guerrilla Marketing International.
David sits down with Peter and immediately puts some commonly held myths regarding publishing to bed. During the course of their conversation, they explore the wants of a publisher and the needs of the author. They discuss the pros and cons of a book advance why it isn’t just free money, and what you might want to negotiate for more than an advance.
David shares what you’ll want to look for in a publisher before finishing our conversation with advice for authors about to seek a publisher for their first or next book.
Three Key Takeaways:
- Thought Leaders need to be aware that a publisher is not going to take care of everything for you during the publishing process.
- Many try to seek a book advance, but thought leaders would be better served to negotiate for higher royalists.
- When seeking a publisher for your book on thought leadership find a publisher who is going to give you the control you need over your content.
Today’s guest is James Carbary, founder of Sweet Fish Media, the executive producer of the B2B Growth podcast, and the author of Content-Based Networking.
James chats with us about how he is using podcasting in a much more thoughtful and strategic way to create a flywheel of content that can be used outside of the podcast itself. James talks about the questions he asks before an interview to prompt passionate replies that you can build an incredible episode around.
We discuss using your podcast guests to do original research to gain powerful insights into the wants and needs of the very people you are looking to help and how you can use that research to fuel your content strategy for months to come.
Finally, James shares how he is going beyond the podcast to create communities and achieve content-based networking to create meaningful relationships.
If you have a podcast or are thinking of starting one this is the episode for you!
Three Key Takeaways:
- Thought Leaders can use a podcast to forge new relationships with guests that can lead to the guest becoming a client.
- During your podcast don’t be afraid to ask the guest to do a short survey you can use to fuel your thought leadership.
- A podcast about your thought leadership should be named around being a useful resource to the client and not around yourself.
Today’s guest is Roger Connors, chairman and co-founder of Zero to Ten, best-selling author of Fix It, Change the Culture, Change the Game, and his upcoming book Get a Coach, Be a Coach. Roger was a co-found of Partners in Leadership before having a successful exit and is one of the top organizational cultural professionals in the world.
Roger shares with us how his first book turned into a tipping point for his business to be a break out success. We discuss the lessons learned while building Partners in Leadership and the steps it took for him to successfully exit the company.
Roger talks about his new book Get a Coach, Be a Coach, and how the average person has ten coach ready skills. We get into how to get the best out of those skills and coaches as well as the technology needed.
If your organization is seeking coaches, you might be surrounded by them and not even know it! This is a great episode for anyone looking for or looking to become a coach for their organization.
Three Key Takeaways:
- If a thought leader wants to be able to exit their business, then it needs to be based around models and not your name and charisma.
- The average person has ten coach ready skills and most skills take fifteen minutes or less!
- Thought Leaders using digital solutions need to help organizations adopt a culture that can use it, not just teach them the ins and outs of the software.
Today’s guest is Larry English, president, and co-founder of Centric Consulting, a management consulting firm that guides organizations through complex digital business and technology problems. Larry has also recently written Office Optional, a timely book about moving from the office to remote working.
Larry explains how his book was in the works before COVID-19, how his company has been working virtually for 20 years, how they have cultivated a positive work culture, and how they are teaching others to do the same.
We discuss the issues employees face when starting to work remotely, like finding a work/life balance, managing the freedom of not being in an office, and avoiding having your team feel disconnected from each other and the organization.
We end the conversation talking about understanding how a book can play into your business, why something’s that are important to do won’t have a measurable ROI, and why producing content can give you an edge on your competition.
This is a great episode for anyone working in or managing a company dealing with the hardships of moving your teams to work virtually.
Three Key Takeaways:
- Thought Leadership will play a huge part in maintaining the culture of an organization during the move to remote working.
- Not all thought leadership will have a hard ROI, yet the importance of your content will be immense.
- Thought Leaders should consider the breadth of their content and how it will play into the future of how people work and live.
Today’s guest is Trond Arne Undheim, author of Pandemic Aftermath and Disruption Games, host of Futurized Podcast, speaker, and futurist.
Trond joins us to share how it can be tricky being a thought leader on a blend of topics and how there is an underlying common thread that connects it all together. We discuss why Trond writes books, how he monetizes them, and why sales of the book aren’t where your focus should be.
Trond explains what a Futurist is and how he has grown into that title. Plus we look at the future of thought leadership post COVID-19 and why Trond believes the role is going to come roaring back!
Three Key Takeaways:
- Networking in thought leadership isn’t just about connecting people, it also involves making knowledge connections.
- Writing a book on your thought leadership can create a gateway to paid speaking.
- Thought Leaders need to have actionable content instead of motivational speeches. There is no alternative to a knowledge-based view of the future.
Today’s guest is Elizabeth Bachman, Presentation Skills Trainer at Strategic Speaking for Results, host of Speakers Who Get Results podcast, and former founder and artistic director of the Tyrolean Opera Program.
Elizabeth shares how she helps professionals find their voice, get on the stage and elevate their profile within their organization. We discuss building credibility, overcoming stage fright, and ways to find opportunities to get on the stage
Elizabeth discusses how her incredible talents as an opera director have allowed her to shape the way an audience takes in what speakers are sending out and how you can tailor your message to the different audiences without having to change the meaning of your content.
We wrap up the conversation talking about Elizabeth’s passion for working with women to break the gender stereotypes that exist. She shares valuable advice for women looking to break into the speaking scene and why allies could be the difference-maker.
The advice in this episode can take young speakers out from behind their computer to the stage and beyond!
Three Key Takeaways:
- If you want to be recognized for your Thought Leadership you have to stand up and be noticed.
- Having a poor speaking engagement doesn’t have to be the end of your Thought Leadership. It is simply a moment to learn, go back to the basics, and continue to practice.
- Thought Leaders should seek allies who believe in you to keep you going when you doubt yourself.
Today’s guest is Mark Hunter, author of best-selling books High Profit Prospecting, High Profit Sales, and his newest book A Mind for Sales, Mark is a Certified Speaking Professional, and one of the top 50 sales and marketing leaders in the world.
Mark shares with us how the role of sales has changed over the years as technology has evolved and how it is changing again in the face of COVID-19. We discuss how to modify sales training to deliver it online with the same efficiency as in person.
Mark talks about the need to protect your fee, regardless of the method your content is delivered because your fee should be based on the outcome of your content.
This episode is full of amazing sales tips from one of the world’s best! If you want to keep up with the changing landscape you’ll want to tune in to this episode.
Three Key Takeaways:
- Sell your thought leadership is less about education and more about helping a client to see what they did not think was possible.
- If you need to take your sales training online you’ll need to break your thought leadership into smaller bit-sized chunks then you would for a two day event.
- The price of your thought leadership needs to be based on the outcomes you deliver and not the method of delivery.
Today’s guest is Bennie Fowler, former Group Vice President, Global Quality and New Model Launch at the Ford Motor Company. Bennie has taken his 40 years of executive experience and is now President and CEO of Bennie Fowler LLC where he is helping clients with their most challenging and complex business problems.
Bennie shares where his passion for thought leadership comes from and how his decades of experience in the C-Suite have played a big role in his ability to help others now. We discuss how teams can deliver quality and productivity at the same time when good leadership is in place. Bennie talks about how he wrote down and documented the various processes he was involved with at Ford and how those practices have helped in creating content for his new venture.
If you are an executive thinking about making the jump to thought leadership, this episode has some great advice on what you’ll need to do to create a road map to success in a new career.
Three Key Takeaways:
- Thought Leaders can use the years of experience in a previous role to develop new content.
- Thought Leaders need to be able to adjust and adapt to the needs of their clients.
- When transitioning from executive to Thought Leader you’ll want to have a road map of where you want to go and who you want to help.
Today’s guest is Brandon Steiner, the founder of the Steiner Agency and Collectible Exchange, host of Unplugged Podcast, and author of You Gotta Have Balls and The Business Playbook. Brandon is a sports marketer, renowned motivational speaker, and creator of the Everything Bagel!
Brandon shares how he actually created the Everything Bagel in 1973 before starting Steiner Sports where he represented athletes for speaking engagements and corporate appearances. Brandon talks about how the blog he started opened the door to become a speaker and author. He explains how he is open and honest, which might not always be pretty but creates a close connection with the audience.
We also discuss how Brandon branched out from his sports crowd to join the McKay Group to grow as a speaker and author.
Three Key Takeaways:
- Thought leaders need to create content for their audience to get to know them and trust their voice.
- Thought Leadership should be truthful and transparent, even when it shows the hardships of your journey.
- If you thought leadership encourages others to grow and change, you need to be able to grow and change as well.
Today’s guest is Nora Super, the Executive Director at Milken Institute, a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank that helps people build meaningful lives. She is also the Executive Director of the Alliance to Improve Dementia Care at the Milken Institute.
Nora explains the power of Convening Authority and how it helps in thought leadership to make high-level changes to global problems. We chat about the need to get the right people in the room and how to get others to understand the importance of your issue.
We also discuss the creation of the Alliance to Improve Dementia Care, the white paper that started it, and the types of members that are included to create a community through a shared passion to find clarity around the mission and purpose.
Three Key Takeaways:
- Thought leaders need to get the right people in the room to find the right solutions.
- A topic might be important to you, but unless your thought leadership makes it important to others it will fall on deaf ears.
- If your thought leadership duplicates work that is already being done it might be best to join forces with them to elevate the conversation.
Today’s guest is Terry Jones, founder of Kayak and Travelocity, author of Disruption Off and Innovation On. Terry is a digital disruptor, and venture capitalist with a deep knowledge of what it takes to change and thrive in a changing industry.
We discuss with Terry what thought leaders and keynote speakers who have been disrupted by COVID-19 should be thinking about. We explore methods to continue delivering content, examine why price should be protected even when delivering digital content, and what types of speakers might be hardest hit.
If you are a speaker and thought leader wondering how to continue working, worrying about the future of large scale meetings, and the communities that host them this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.
Three Key Takeaways:
- Thought leaders need to find a way to deliver quality digital productions from home.
- If the content of your thought leadership has not changed then the price should not be deeply slashed, even while delivering it remotely.
- Corporations will still want thought leadership, but you’ll have to be clear about the value you offer.
Today’s guest is Vince Molinaro, founder, and CEO of Leadership Contract Inc, former Managing Director - Leadership Solutions at Knightsbridge Human Capital Solutions, author of the best-selling book The Leadership Contract and Accountable Leaders.
Vince shares his experience working at Knightsbridge helping to establish the brand and creating differentiated intellectual property. We explore how the new knowledge he created was used to help grow the business and expand from Canada into the US market.
Vince shares how different selling thought leadership can be from other products and the difficulties sales teams can have with it and the methods he has used to bring the marketing and sales team together to create a more effective pipeline.
Three Key Takeaways:
- Thought leaders can use writing articles and creating other content to help establish their brand.
- Targeting areas with a similar culture can help thought leaders take their content across borders and into new markets.
- Thought leaders should have their sales team take the program they are having them sell to ensure they fully understand the product they are selling.
Today’s guest is Todd Cherches, the founder of Big Blue Gumball, a consulting firm specializing in leadership development, management training, team building, public speaking, and coaching. Todd is a TEDx speaker and the author of VisuaLeadership!
Todd shares his story of the winding road that took him from his dream of working at TV studios to becoming a thought leader. We explore the challenges introverts face and how to grow as a speaker and trainer. Todd explains how his book was born from ten years of notes and 2000 pages of content. He shares valuable advice for getting your idea on the page and hitting a deadline.
Three Key Takeaways:
- When opportunities present themselves, thought leaders need to jump on them even if they feel out of their comfort zone.
- Introverted thought leaders can be excellent speakers with time and practice.
- Getting a book written on your thought leadership will require dedicated time to write without distraction.
Today’s guest is Anthony Vade, the Experience Architect at FMAV an audiovisual and event technology company that is helping event planners and thought leaders transform how events are produced.
Anthony starts by explaining what an experience architect does and how he is helping to transform the events industry to be more than just a box of gear. We discuss the Event Design Collective and the Events Canvas, what the core principles are and how this powerful tool is helping uncover what the needs are and how to get everyone in alignment with what the event should be.
Anthony gives some excellent advice for speakers seeking to find a solution in our COVID-19 world where digital presentation is the only available avenue. We get some insight into the technology available and what the future of events might look like using VR, AR, XR, or a mix of these exciting technologies.
You can find a sample of the uses of technology Anthony spoke of here.
Three Key Takeaways:
- When planning a digital event thought leaders need to consider timeframe and intimacy.
- Thought leaders will want to ensure everyone involved in an event and on the same page about what they want the event to accomplish.
- If thought leaders are going to produce digital content you have to ensure your audio quality is good or risk losing your audience.
Today’s guest is Scott Miller, Executive Vice President of Thought Leadership at Franklin Covey, the host of On Leadership with Scott Miller and co-author of Everyone Deserves a Great Manager.
This conversation focuses on how both Scott and Peter both work to develop and launch new thought leaders, they compare methods and tactics. We explore why defining your audience is the biggest challenge thought leaders face, how social media plays a massive role when looking to publish a book, and why you need to know and understand who your competition is.
This episode is chalked full of insight from two people with decades of knowledge on helping thought leaders find success. If you want a jump-start on your thought leadership career this episode is for you.
Three Key Takeaways:
- Thought Leaders need to find and understand their audience. Your content can not be for everyone.
- Social media has become a very important platform thought leaders need to cultivate if they want to get a book published.
- Your content doesn’t have to be 100% new ideas. It is okay to stand on the shoulders of other thought leaders and expand the conversation.
Today’s guest is Al Shalloway, Director of Thought Leadership for Agile at Scale Programs and Founder and former CEO of Netobjectives.
Al joins us to talk about how he is using thought leadership at the Project Management Institute to help teams and entire businesses learn to become more agile. We discuss how to scale an idea into a movement, the importance of understanding value stream management, and why leaders need to be in the middle of the pack, not out in front of it.
Three Key Takeaways:
- Thought Leaders need to help teams to become more agile to help create a business that is agile.
- Sometimes it is better for you thought leadership to focus on the part that the client needs to know and not overwhelm them with trying to take over everything.
- Thought Leaders need to step back and seek the big picture to see the problem or they might find themselves solving a symptom and not the real problem.
Today we are joined by JD Gershbein, the Founder and CEO of Owlish Communications, a company that helps clients build a strong online presence to achieve a distinctive and competitive edge. JD is a TEDx speaker, LinkedIn expert on personal branding, and at one time a member of the Second City Improv group in Chicago!
JD takes us down his unusual path towards becoming the digital branding expert he has become and how his improv skills are still at use every day. We discuss LinkedIn as a platform that has evolved from a job seeker site to possibly the most important document you’ll build in all of business. With the evolution of LinkedIn, we have seen video become a prominent source of content, JD shares with us what you need to keep in mind when doing video and why your brand could be on the line.
This is an insightful conversation for anyone looking to expand their LinkedIn profile or exploring video as a means of delivering their content.
Three Key Takeaways:
- Thought Leaders can use LinkedIn as a flexible platform that can change and grow with them.
- Delivering your thought leadership by video requires a certain level of authenticity and production value.
- Improvisation isn’t just a skill for the stage, thought leaders can develop it to have better conversations.
Today’s guest is Mike Mansfield, the Program Director for the Aegon Center for Longevity and Retirement. We talk with Mike about the research that goes into creating thought leadership for retirement planning and how Aegon is helping people think about more than just finances for their later stages of life.
Mike shares how Aegon is finding their audience and reaching them by partnering with other organizations, the methods they use to measure success, and how thought leadership is serving both the organization and its clients.
Plus we explore how the preparation and deployment of their retirement readiness survey have changed post-COVID-19.
Three Key Takeaways:
· How the previous experience Thought Leaders have can elevate their message.
· Thought Leadership is as much of a people game as it is a knowledge game.
· Use short targeted content to reach specific groups with your thought leadership that might not spend the time to read a full survey or report.
Today we have the lovely Juliet Funt joining us! Juliet is a keynote speaker, the CEO of White Space at Work, a business that for the last decade has helped businesses gain back thousands of hours of lost productivity by helping employees find more time to pause and think. In 2021 Juliet’s first business book being published by HarperCollins will hit the market.
We take a retrospective of Juliet’s work starting with her time as a youth and education speaker, how her speaking advanced to helping at the university level, and finally turned into a message that corporations could use.
Juliet explains exactly what her platform White Space is, where the idea came from, and how her content has evolved over the years and across modalities.
This is a great conversation that shows how thought leadership can go from a single page with three words written on it to advise for Fortune 500 companies.
Three Key Takeaways:
· Thought Leaders should keep a notepad or voice recorded to jot down ideas as they come to them regardless of when or where inspiration strikes.
· Thought leaders need to document stories of client success using their content. It can be useful in many ways in the future.
· Locking yourself in a room with other creative types for a long period of time can create more impactful thought leadership than what will come out of several hour-long conversations.
Wow— It’s been 2 and a half years of doing the podcast and I’m honored to have had the privilege of interviewing so many world-renowned thought leaders. I’m proud to present to you our 250th episode today featuring none other than Tom Peters. Thanks to all of my guests and listeners for making the podcast a success. I hope that many thought leaders, authors, academics speakers, and organizational thought leaders continue to achieve the impact and leverage they wish from their work.
- Peter Winick
Tom Peters is the co-author of In Search of Excellence—the book that changed the way the world does business, in addition to seventeen other books that have sold more than 10 million copies combined and recipient of the Thinkers50 Lifetime Achievement Award.
Tom shares candid stories of his time writing In Search of Excellence, and how it found success amongst an audience that no one was targeting at the time, despite many expecting the book to be a failure. We discuss his article The Brand Called You, how it changed the way people market themselves, and how many who’ve read it have actually missed the true meaning.
Don’t miss this fascinating conversation with one of the most prolific business authors and speakers in the world.
Three Key Takeaways:
· How timing can play a big part in the success of your thought leadership.
· Why you can’t be mad at others when they misinterpret your thought leadership.
· What you need to do to make your thought leadership invaluable to your organization.
Today’s guest is Brian Smith, the Founder of UGG a company started on shores of Southern California that would become a globally recognized brand. He is the author of The Birth of a Brand, and one of the most sought after speakers and business leaders in the country.
Brian tells the tale of starting UGG and eventually selling it in the late 90s, writing The Birth of a Brand during the recession from years of notes on building UGG, and how he became a keynote speaker using many of the themes from the book.
We discuss the speaking business as it existed prior to the global pandemic and how speakers are continuing to work without being able to travel.
If you are a speaker concerned about the future of your industry this episode has great insights into speaking during COVID-19, what the future of speaking might look like, and why being social will always be a key to successful speaking.
Three Key Takeaways:
- How thought leaders can take one modality and use it in different formats.
- What stages a thought leader can expect their business go to through and how they compare to stages of life.
- What keynote speaking for thought leaders looks like now and might look like in the future.
Today’s guest is Steve Markman, who has headed the conference divisions for Comdex and The Conference Board before launching his own firm Markman Speaker Management in 1994 where he provides executive visibility and speaker bureau services.
Steve gives us some insight into the free-speaking circuit and how executives and organizations can get raise visibility, gain credibility, and get their thought leadership message out to large audiences. We discuss what conference organizers look for when speakers submit proposals, who you want your audience to be, and why COVID-19 isn’t the end of the speaking industry.
If you are a speaker waiting for COVID-19 to pass, you need to hear this episode and learn how you can get speaking from the comfort of your home.
Three Key Takeaways:
- Why thought leaders should consider speaking for free.
- What thought leaders should absolutely avoid doing when pitching to conferences for speaking gigs.
- What thought leader speaks should be doing to be prosperous in a COVID-19 workplace.
Today’s guest is Jessica Rhodes the leading expert on how to leverage podcast guesting for increased brand awareness, generation of more leads, and how to gain higher profits. She created the podcast booking industry in 2013 when she founded Interview Connections, the first and leading agency of its kind. Plus she is the host of Rock the Podcast, a podcast where you will learn all about podcast guesting and how to leverage podcast interviews to grow your brand awareness.
Jessica shares the benefits of committing long term to be a podcast guest and why trying it short term will not have the desired effect. We discuss finding the podcasts that are right for you, narrowing your audience, and perhaps most importantly having systems in place to leverage your episodes after they go live.
This is an incredible episode packed with a ton of great advice for anyone looking to increase their positioning by being a guest on podcasts.
Three Key Takeaways:
· The length of time thought leaders need to commit to being involved in the podcast guest circuit.
· Why thought leaders need to be specific about the type of podcast they appear on.
· How being a guest as a thought leader can be more than an interview and why you need to take the opportunity to build a relationship.
Today’s guest is Scott Ambler, Project Management Institute Vice President and Chief Scientist of Disciplined Agile. Scott is the co-creator of the Disciplined Agile Toolkit, author of Introduction to Disciplined Agile Delivery, and Choose Your WoW.
Scott talks with us about the creation and evolution of the Disciplined Agile Toolkit and how businesses can use it to create agile teams capable of responding to various situations properly regardless of their skillset, then adjust in the future as they learn and grow.
We discuss the position of Disciplined Agile at PMI and how the two work and learn together to be a stronger single organization and how PMI has allowed stronger creation of communities that include chapters all over the world helping people learn and expand their knowledge.
Three Key Takeaways:
· How thought leaders can use Agile Discipline to better adjust to any situation.
· Why thought leaders should not get stuck in a “best practice” might not be for the best.
· Why thought leaders need to focus on creating communities and what can be gained from them.
Today’s guest is Bea Wray! Bea has been a speaker for 20 years on the topics of entrepreneurship, leadership, and women in business. She is the co-founder of the Millennial Women Network and author of the upcoming book What an MBA Taught Me…: But My Kids Made Me Learn which is available for pre-order!
Bea and Peter dig deep to explore the questions many business authors never ask themselves and why 1/3 of authors writing business books never actually finish them. Bea tells us the Who, What, and Why questions you need to ask before you put pen to paper. Plus we examine not only the financial cost of publishing a book but the opportunity cost which many overlook.
Don’t miss this incredibly insightful conversation for anyone looking to publish a business book from two people with a ton of real-life experience on the topics.
Three Key Takeaways:
- What questions thought leaders should be asking themselves before starting a book.
- How can thought leaders figure out the real cost of a book and what can you expect as a return on that investment?
- What thought leaders can expect from publishers and how to ensure the long term success of your book.
Today we have two guests from FLSmidth, a company that provides global cement and mining industries with factories, machinery, and knowhow. William Leahy is a Senior Marketing/Communications Manager & Strategist for the mining industry. Morten Fløe Knudsen leads Thought Leadership Communication for the cement industry.
Together William and Morten explain how they use thought leadership to carry on conversations with customers and make their brand known as the go-to people for an industry with a long buying cycle. They share how FLSmidth is focused on sustainability and how digitization plays a big role in making scarce resources go further than ever before.
In this episode, William and Morten give invaluable advice for any thought leader who works in an industry with a sales cycle that measures in years, not months or weeks.
Three Key Takeaways:
· How thought leadership can be used to influence long sales cycles and keep you relevant.
· Why digitization is playing a big part of their thought leadership.
· What audience and issues thought leaders need to keep in mind when dealing with long sales cycles.
Today’s guest is Lindy Greer, an associate professor of management and organization at the University of Michigan and Faculty Director of the Sanger Leadership Center. She focuses on how to design and lead effective organizational teams, with specific interests in intra-group hierarchy, conflict, diversity, leadership, and emotion.
Lindy introduces us to what is being taught to leaders and how science and data are playing a bigger role in the instruction than ever before. We explore what companies are looking for in leadership both from the perspective of older audiences and in the digital world.
Lindy spends some time sharing her experience publishing her content beyond the world of academia, how to gain credibility and tips for co-authoring!
We wrap the episode up discussing distance working and learning, as well as the best practices being used to create a more efficient and productive workforce for remote working
Three Key Takeaways:
- What traits thought leaders need to consider for good leadership.
- How thought leaders can gain credibility and get published in various mediums.
- What thought leaders can do to create a strong team working remotely.
Today’s guest is Surya Kolluri, the managing director at Bank of America leading Thought Leadership efforts for retirement and personal wealth business services with a deep strategy background.
Surya chats with Bill about how Bank of America is forming partnerships with groups you might not typically associate with banking to create valuable thought leadership to help their clients through various life stages. Surya shares how he is leading the team to act as a bridge between their researchers and the clients looking for solutions to complicated problems. Plus we discuss best practices for delivering your thought leadership so that is not only remembered but used.
Three Key Takeaways:
· Why organizational thought leaders should seek to form partnerships with other groups to leverage leading thinkers outside of their own company.
· How thought leaders can create deeper and emotional connections to their clients.
· What methods thought leaders should consider for the delivery of their message to colleagues, associates, and the outside world.
Today’s guest is Merit Kahn, the founder of Merit-based Business, co-host of The Smarter Sales Show podcast, author of Myth Shift: Challenging The Truths That Sabotage Success, Certified Professional Speaker, entrepreneur, educator, and even stand-up comedian!
Merit explains how she started her sales training business after leaving a radio station as an ad salesperson. She used free speaking as a marketing tool for her sales program but loved speaking so much she started to explore how to make that the business.
Merit and Peter discuss the tools used for training and which fall into the professional or personal development bucket and why many methods that were once considered personal are a hard part of the business world now.
We wrap up talking about the need to have systems in place to ensure every speaking engagement has the highest possibility of a follow-up conversation and why you can’t leave that responsibility to the audience.
Three Key Takeaways:
- How doing thought leaders speaking for free can lead to higher-paying paid gigs.
- Why thought leaders need to have emotional intelligence and why it is now a business skill.
- What steps thought leaders can take to follow up with their audience after a speaking engagement.
Today’s guest is Cynthia O’Neal, the thought Leadership and content strategist for the intelligent networking division at Verizon professional services with 20 years’ experience leading change across marketing, sales, and technology in both the corporate and government sectors.
Cynthia walks us through what Intelligent Networking is and how Version is using it to maintain a cutting edge in their industry. Cynthia discussed how she is helping subject matter experts develop and implement thought leadership for use on the marketing side. She shares how they are creating their methodology for use internally before taking it externally, the challenges they’ve faced and the incredible success they’ve achieved.
Three Key Takeaways:
- How thought leadership connects to intelligent networking.
- How to develop organizational thought leadership methodologies and strategies.
- Why you need to equip people with the right thought leadership tools to ensure they are comfortable talking about the subject.
Today we have a special episode with two guests! Richard Citrin is the president of Citrin Consulting, author of The Resilience Advantage, an international consultant, leadership coach, and organizational psychologist. Michael Couch is the president of Michael Couch and Associates with 30 years of experience as an internal organization effectiveness consultant combined with Business Unit P&L and Operations Management experience. Together they co-authored the book Strategy Driven Leadership.
Richard and Michael tell us how they came together to write the book to find matching their background and experience was beneficial to their clients and each other. We learn how they divided the writing duties, had multiple publishers interested, and why they chose their publisher they did. During the interview, we explore their goals, expectations, and the effects of getting their book on the market had on their consulting.
Three Key Takeaways:
- How thought leaders can come together to co-author a book.
- What thought leaders should ask their publisher before signing with them.
- What thought leaders can expect from a publisher in terms of marketing and sales support.
Today’s guest is Sean Davis, Information Security Advisor, DevSecOps at TransUnion, and former Chief Transformation Evangelist at Equifax.
Sean sits down with us to explain the role of an evangelist, the challenges they face, methods of engaging with clients, and how to build trust. We discuss how connecting with employees and helping them understand their value to the mission and vision of the company can increase happiness and uncap the potential client satisfaction. Sean goes into detail on connecting the evangelism in the field to the leadership and management of the company to help define how the overall vision comes to life. We finish off with Sean sharing some great tips for anyone entering the role of evangelist for their organization.
Three Key Takeaways:
· How to evangelize your thought leadership to build trust.
· How thought leaders can improve employee satisfaction by helping them understand their importance to the overall mission.
· What hardships thought leaders will face when trying to spread the message of the company.
Today’s guest Elizabeth McCourt, Global Leadership Executive Coach for McCourt Leadership Group, TEDx speaker, consultant, and author of the fiction novel Sin in the Big Easy and soon to be the author of her first business book.
Elizabeth has had many roles during her career and she highlights how going from lawyer to headhunter to consultant and coach makes perfect sense! She explores how she gave a TEDx talk, how the creativity used to write her fiction novel has come around to help her clients, and why failure isn’t bad it can be the non-linear path to success!
Three Key Takeaways:
· How thought leaders can use all the experience from previous careers to excel.
· Why creativity that isn’t part of your billable thought leader hours can be beneficial to your clients.
· Why thought leaders should consider the purpose of their book before picking a publishing option.
Today’s guest is Matthijs Van den Broek, head of thought leadership and the energy industry at WUA!; a digital research consultancy in Amsterdam that focused on digital experience benchmarking and the customer journey.
Matthijs discusses how his work at WUA! moves thought leadership from the role of a small team to the duty for every employee at the organization. We discuss the methods they’ve used to form guidelines for involvement and the hurdles they face getting people involved. Matthijs shares how they used their thought leadership in 2016 to write the book The Digital Excellent Challenge, what success looks like, and how they are connecting their thought leadership to sales and marketing to fill the sales pipeline while building trust with their clients.
Three Key Takeaways:
· How thought leadership can be created by an entire organization.
· What the biggest obstacles are that prevent people from getting involved in creating thought leadership.
· Why connecting your thought leadership with your marketing team can prevent your assets from sitting idle.
Today’s guest is Srinivas Rao, the founder of Unmistakable Creative, host of the long-running hugely popular Unmistakable Creative podcast. He is also the author of a number of books such as An Audience of One and The Small Army Strategy.
Srinivas has a candid conversation with us about the world of podcasts. We decrypt the imperfect information that is out there regarding podcasting and how it isn’t a get rich quick scheme. Srinivas and Peter discuss the levels of digital intimacy that can be created with an audience, and how a scripted conversation can actually be more stilted than a candid one that flows naturally.
Three Key Takeaways:
- Why thought leaders might want a podcast and why it might not be the medium for you.
- How thought leaders can create a higher level of digital intimacy with their audience.
- Why telling a great story is the key for thought leaders to grab their audience.
Today’s guest is Stan Lepeak. he is the founder and Chief Research Officer at Lepeak LLC. Previously he served as head of marketing research and thought leadership for KPMG consulting and global head of marketing research and thought leadership at EquaTerra. Stan has more than 20 years of experience in developing and researching thought leadership. Stan shares with us the difference between working at the back of the house vs client-facing, as well as what can slow down or speed up the process of moving thought leadership between the two.
Stan guides us through what content developers should be thinking about to grab the attention of busy executives and why you are wasting your time if you don’t have a next-step build into your conversation.
We end the conversation with Stan giving three great pieces of advice for anyone developing thought leadership for their organization.
If you are looking to join your organization's thought leadership team this episode is for you!
Three Key Takeaways:
- The key differences between qualitative and quantitative thought leadership.
- Where to find new voices for your organization's thought leadership team.
- Why thinking about thought leadership from the view of the consumer is important.
Today’s guest is Cassie Solomon, CEO of The New Group and co-author of Leading Successful Change.
Cassie shares her experience as a co-author with Gregory Shea and how his academic approach blends perfectly with her case study method. She also discusses revising the book to include more relevant cases from her own experiences.
Cassie talks about her next book and the pivot to helping clients navigate an uncertain future and how her expertise in change management fits perfectly into her emerging role as a futurist.
Three Key Takeaways:
- How thought leadership can be used to navigate change in organizations.
- Why blending two perspectives on the same thought leadership made for an incredible book.
- What a futurist is and why thought leadership plays an important role.
Today’s guest is Nicole Truhe, Director of Thought Leadership at United Health Care Community and State. Nicole sits down with Peter to discuss how she uses her position to educate the space about emerging health and human services policy. We discuss the different effects of internal vs. external Thought Leadership. Why her position isn’t part of the marketing team and why the number of followers isn’t as important as who your followers are.
Three Key Takeaways:
- How you can use Thought Leadership to influence policy.
- Why building a network of Thought Leadership is important for your own message.
- What stats are truly important to the growth of your Thought Leadership on social media
Today’s guest is David C. Baker an advisor to entrepreneurial creatives worldwide who has written five books including The Business of Expertise and is the co-host of the podcast 2Bobs.
We start with David sharing the importance of positioning yourself as an expert in your field. We discuss having to say no and getting over the fear of lost opportunities. Then the conversation shifts to the practice of giving away your content and why you need to hold back on applied knowledge. Finally, we wrap up with tips on getting through rough times and coming out the other side without giving up the position you’ve built.
Three Key Takeaways:
- Why Thought Leaders need to narrow their focus to create a better position.
- How giving away your Thought Leadership can make closing a sale easier.
- Why you should never water down your focus as a Thought Leader even when times are rough.
Today’s guest is Ernie Humphrey, the Vice President of Thought Leadership at Stampli. Ernie was a long time treasury manager before becoming a Thought Leader and community builder for finance professionals. We talk about what it takes to build a community, how to build credibility, what content to use, and whether you should be monetizing the community you are building.
Three Key Takeaways:
- How you can get an audience to take notice of your Thought Leadership?
- What steps you can take as a Thought Leader to build a trusted community.
- What you can do to build credibility as a Thought Leader.
Today’s guest is Thom Singer, a renowned speaker on growth leadership, author of a dozen books including Batteries Not Included, and host of the podcast Cool Things Entrepreneurs Do.
Thom shares his journey from sales and marketing to Thought Leader and how he realized he wanted to be a keynote speaker. Thom details how he gets bookings and the various touchpoints he uses to stay on the radar of potential meeting planners. Peter and Thom discuss the sometimes difficult task of making both audiences and the planner who hired you happy.
Three Key Takeaways:
- How a Thought Leader can follow up with potential clients.
- The ways Thought Leaders can make the life of a meeting planner easier.
- Why Thought Leaders doing speaking engagements should involve themselves in the conference beyond their stage time.
Today’s guest is Polly Mitchell-Guthrie, Vice President of Industry Outreach and Thought Leadership at Kinaxis - a technology company focused on the supply chain.
Polly talks to us about how Kinaxis is earning trust through credible standalone Thought Leader content that comes from not only within the company but from their peers as well. We discuss the difficult task of measuring the success of Thought Leadership and how Kinaxis uses a promoter score as part of their metric. Plus Polly gives some great insight into what anyone looking to bring Thought Leadership to their organization will need and what they should be prepared to do.
Three Key Takeaways:
- How to gain trust with Thought Leadership is more than just speaking about your own organization.
- Why Thought Leadership needs to be bi-directional.
- What an up and coming Thought Leader needs to be thinking about before jumping into the role in their organization.
Our guest today is Jonah Berger, a marketing professor at Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, international best-selling author of Contagious, Invisible Influence, and the Catalyst. He is a world expert on change, word of mouth influence, and consumer behavior.
Jonah takes us through his world as a Thought Leader and how publishing his book Contagion opened the door to new opportunities. We discuss the highs and lows of being a speaker and the types of projects he takes on as a consultant. Last but not least Jonah gives advice on the challenging marketplace both publishers and authors face. This is advice you certainly don’t want to miss.
Three Key Takeaways:
· How Thought Leaders can position themselves for better bookings with speaker bureaus.
· Why Thought Leaders need to understand the purpose of their book in order to get the most out of it.
· What Thought Leaders can learn by working in different industries that push your boundaries.
Today’s guest is Jean Accius a nationally recognized thought leader on aging, longevity, and long term health care policy and the Senior Vice President of Global Thought Leadership at AARP.
Jean shares with us what Organizational Thought Leadership is at AARP, who their target audience is, and what successful thought leadership looks like for them. Bill and Jean have a deep conversation about the multi-generational workforce that exists today, how untraditional partners can be the key to spreading the conversation, and how Jean is leading a team to influence the influencers for positive change around the world.
Three Key Takeaways:
- How to take Thought Leadership from idea to impact.
- What AARP is doing to share their Thought Leadership in the age of COVID-19.
- Why Jean encourages his team of Thought Leaders to go out in the community and come back with new ideas.
Today’s guest is Alex Osterwalder an influential strategy innovation expert, the co-founder of Strategyzer, and author of the best-selling book Business Model Generation.
Alex shares how he followed the positive signals he found in response to his blog and other early sources towards writing his first book and the unconventional ways he found the funding to get an unconventional book to market.
Three Key Takeaways:
- How to take your Thought Leadership from book to digital products.
- Why you need to listen to even the weak signals in your Thought Leadership.
- What you can do to build a business model around the Thought Leadership in your book
Today’s guest is Marci Alboher, the author of The Encore Career Handbook and Vice President at Encore.org a non-profit focused on connecting, collaborating, and innovating across generations.
Marci tells us how Encore is using Thought Leadership to change the story for older people in the workplace. We discuss what goals they are trying to achieve, the need for a myriad of perspectives, and how they gain visibility to influence change in the world.
Three Key Takeaways:
- How to use Thought Leadership to navigate the change from the corporate sector to non-profit.
- The difference between a solo Thought Leader and Organizational Thought Leadership and how Encore blends the two effectively.
- Why Thought Leaders can have a greater reach by having multiple voices all speaking about the same subject.
Today’s guest is Simon Leslie, CEO and Founder of Ink Global and the author of There is no F in Sales. Ink Global delivers print magazines for airlines; an industry many thought obsolete, yet Simon leads his company to grow year after year.
Join us as Simon shares why he wrote his book: There is no F in Sales, which highlights the struggles and successes of his career.
Learn why having a published book has personally changed Simon, how he views business, and what opportunities are on the table now that he is an author.
Three Key Takeaways:
- How you can gain confidence in your Thought Leadership from publishing a book.
- Why Thought Leaders need to think long term and not just about the next quarter.
- Why you need to understand the contract you sign in order to get the full potential of putting your thought leadership into a book.
- When is the right time to put your Thought Leadership into a book?
Today COO of Thought Leadership Leverage Bill Sherman takes over the topic Organizational Thought Leadership; in future episodes both Bill and Peter will tackle the subject.
Bill’s first guest is Dan Hawthorne Director of Industrial-Organizational Psychology at PAIRIN. PAIRIN is a social enterprise software company looking to do good in the world by helping people get the answers they are looking for.
Dan explains how they use science to back up their Thought Leadership while building behavoiral assessments to help people find jobs, advance in their careers, and move into their next stage of life. We also talk with Dan about how the world has changed in recent months, how he is adapting to it, and how his company is doing their part to bring validated information in a way people can understand.
Three Key Takeaways:
- How to use good science to back up your Thought Leadership.
- Why using the right language in your Thought Leadership is key to the audience being able to grasp the subject.
- How to celebrate the success of Thought Leadership.
Today’s guest is Becky Robinson, the Found, and CEO of Weaving Influence, a company that helps authors and Thought Leaders build online influence. Becky gives us tips on looking at the bigger picture when focusing your social media to promote a book. How you can leverage the larger platforms of people in your network, and why you should be giving your book away for free!
Three Key Takeaways:
- How to measure the success of a Thought Leader’s book.
- Why you might expect larger sales of a Thought Leadership book in year 2 than year 1.
- Why you should focus on a single platform for your Thought Leadership.
Today’s guest is Chris Clews, a speaker, marketing consultant, and author of What 80s Pop Culture Teaches Us About Today’s Workplace. Chris takes us on a journey from having 23 years in corporate marketing to being a Thought Leader spreading his message using 80s pop culture to connect with audiences in ways they will retain.
Three Key Takeaways:
- How to move from a corporate position to an independent Thought Leader.
- When to make the move from your day job to Thought Leader.
- What you need to do to test your Thought Leadership early on.
Today we sit down with Anthony J. Algmin, Founder and CEO Algmin Data Leadership and author of Data Leadership: Stop Talking About Data and Start Making an Impact! Anthony shares his journey of starting his company and writing his book. We discuss reasons to revisit your own book now and whether you should hold back your IP or make it fully accessible.
Three Key Takeaways:
· Why Thought Leaders should make their IP accessible.
· How revisiting your own book can give you a fresh look at your own Thought Leadership.
· Why Thought Leaders need to understand the data they have available to them.
Today we interview Joan Driggs, the VP of Content and Thought Leadership at Information Resources Inc. She shares how to get buy-in on Thought Leadership from senior management and people in the field. We explore the idea of soft ROI and how to measure the return on your Thought Leadership. Finally, we wrap up by discussing spreading content across multiple platforms to suit the needs of various audience types.
Three Key Takeaways:
· How to measure the return on Thought Leadership.
· What you can do to get buy-in for Thought Leadership in your organization.
· How to move Thought Leadership to new modalities and new audiences.
Today we have the pleasure of talking with Michael Watkins, Co-Founder of Genesis Advisors and author of Right from the Start and International Best-seller The First 90 Days. Michael discusses his switch from academic to consultant, Thought Leader, and author. We discuss his hit book and the difference in approach from his first book.
Three Key Takeaways:
· How academics differ from Thought Leaders.
· Why being able to scale your Thought Leadership is the key to a successful business.
· How Thought Leaders can take advantage of a test bed audience.
Today’s guest is Jesse Finkelstein, the Co-Founder, and Principal of Page Two, an agency run by publishing veterans helping non-fiction authors navigate their full range of publishing options to achieve each client’s unique goals. Jesse shares her experience in the publishing world, what to watch out for when signing a contract, how to avoid friction with your publisher and the type of control you can maintain by not going with a big publishing house.
If you're a thought leadership speaker looking to create real impact, you need to base your work on a strong content model. Don't know how? Then this episode's for you! Today’s guest is Lee Colan, a leadership adviser, consultant, best-selling author of multiple articles, co-founder of the L Group, and author of 14 leadership books including his new release, The Power of Positive Coaching. He’s here to talk to us about thought leadership speakership, creating content models, and providing actionable insights that move your audience to act - from the minute you leave the stage.
If you're looking to create a strong content model for your thought leadership, TLL can help!
Is authenticity the most important part of your thought leadership? Authenticity is a major reason why clients listen - and a high factor in forging a strong, continued relationship! In today's episode, we interviewed Carmen Fontana, an organizational thought leader specializing in Cloud and Emerging Tech. She leads Centric’s Innovation program, helping identify and cultivate new ways of solving clients’ problems, and she’s here to talk to us about authenticity, engagement, and how to get your thought leadership to resonate inside and outside of your organization. If you want your thought leadership to resonate, you need to distinguish between thoughts that are sand, clay, and bedrock!
Do you know the difference between "accidental" and "intentional" risk? Are you taking enough risks to grow your business? Today’s guest is Steve Anderson, sought-after speaker, influencer, and author of the widely anticipated book, The Bezos Letters. Steve has a Masters in Law, and for the last 20 years, he has crossed the nation speaking for state and national organizations, helping people make sense of rapidly changing technology, and learn how to effectively use these new tools. He talks to us about his new book, the process it took to write it, and how his book is opening doors! Steve also addresses the idea of "intentional" risk, and why businesses need to be able to take risks in order to survive and prosper. This is a great episode, so listen in! If you're writing a business book, you need to know the 3 Things Your Book Needs From You!
Today's episode is a compilation of our favorite guests, talking to us about the ins-and-outs of digital products and online learning! John Tota, a pioneer in online education for corporate training, moved from a Wall Street career to founding his own company, Edulence, developing online training solutions for corporate educators. He talks to us about the trends in online learning, and what thought leaders need to understand to operate successfully in that space.
Patricia Fripp, the first female president of the National Speakers Association and a Hall of Fame speaker. She discusses ways to take content, put it online through multiple modalities, and scale it to every end of the price spectrum.
Lastly, we have Vince Poscente, Olympic skier, award winning sales and marketing executive, and member of both the USA and Canadian Speaker Hall of Fame. He talks about how speakers and speaking agents can make each others’ lives easier, how to create real relationships through digital connections, and why great production value is a must.
We hope you enjoy this compilation about digital products and online learning!
Do you know the difference between using your visionary thought leadership for social interaction, and actually building a business that thrives – and helps others? Today's guest is Julian Birkinshaw, Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship at the London Business School, and the Academic Director of the Deloitte Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship. He's also the author of Reinventing Management: Smarter Choices for Getting Work Done and Becoming a Better Boss: Why Good Management is So Difficult. Listen in as he discusses thought leadership academia, and how to bring your visionary thought leadership to the world in a way that solves problems – and makes money!
A lot of thought leaders wonder how to align their thought leadership to business metrics, and what it looks like to achieve "success" with your thought leadership. If it's crossed your mind, then this is the episode for you!
We interviewed Alan Alper, V.P. of corporate marketing and global thought leadership programs at Cognizant Technology Solutions, which is a global I.T. consulting and business services company.
Alan’s work with organizational thought leadership is groundbreaking, and helping to forge new standards for content marketing in major organizations worldwide. He talks about ways to give your thought leadership a credible foundation, why sharing your thought leadership content for free can increase your business, and why he created a "Blue-Ribbon Panel" of the best and brightest thought leadership within his organization. Listen in, and learn more!
The average business book sells less than 2000 copies in its lifespan, with that in mind, would you want to invest thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours into getting one to market? What purpose could the book serve that makes it all worth it?
Michael Bungay Stanier is the founder of Box of Crayons, Canadian Coach of the Year, and author of the self-published books The Coaching Habit and The Advice Trap that have collectively sold more than 700,00 copies!
Michael has recently stepped away from the CEO role at Box of Crayons and shares the experience of handing his company over to a new CEO. Peter asks about the pains of making that step and the positive outcomes from it. With Michael having two hugely successful self-published books on the market we had to ask him about the secret sauce to that accomplishment. Michael walks us through writing, publishing, and most importantly marketing his books and why you have to commit to the long game.
If you want to play the long game get TLL on your team and we will help you create a long-lasting successful book campaign.
As a keynote speaker and content creator, your message will probably connect with your target audience regardless of where in the world they live. However, the business side of those engagements could be wildly different.
Keld Jensen is the Founder and CEO of Marketwatch Center for Negotiations, a speaker with 20 years experience, author of 24 books including The SMARTnership Negotiation Manual and Honest Negotiation. K
As a dual citizen in Denmark and the United States Keld shares his unique insights into speaking in North America and across the pond. What can you expect regarding fees and how are those audiences different? Keld has written 24 books and discusses how you narrow down what to put into a book and how to set expectations for getting your book published.
Keld has managed to write two dozen books and still maintains a very successful business. Writing a book can become all-consuming Don’t Let the Process of Writing a Book Control You Or Your Business!
Ten years ago many people thought the idea of being on Twitter or Facebook was a silly waste of time. Not a serious place for business leaders to be. Now building your social media platform is an essential piece of almost every business out there.
Today we offer a wide assortment of advice on getting the most of your social media platform from some of the people that use those mediums best.
Andy Molinsky is a Professor at Brandeis University’s International Business School, with a joint appointment in the Department of Psychology and author of Global Dexterity and Reach starts us off sharing what it takes to build a platform and how you will need to change and adapt as both content and platform evolve.
Then Holly G. Green the CEO of The Human Factor and author of Using your Brain to Win walks us through the rules and protocols of the various social media platforms and what value you should place on metrics. Do likes and shares have a value?
Finally, we wrap things up with Rusty Shelton the Founder and CEO of Zilker Media and author of Authority Marketing and Mastering the New Media Landscape. Rusty will help you figure out which platforms to invest in, what channels build relationships and which sustain them and how you can use Twitter as a cocktail party to build relationships with targeted groups.
If you want to add an extra punch to your platform take a minute to read the Four Qualities That Make a Platform Powerful!
If you are starting a content-based business you'll need to keep things lean and focused. Are you sure your hypothesis around your content, audience, and marketing are correct? Have you test them or have you starting making content without a lot of research because you have a passion to put the idea out there regardless of who might listen to it.
Our guest Steve Blank is the father of modern entrepreneurship and credited with starting the lean startup movement. He is the author of The Four Steps to the Epiphany and The Startup Owner's Manual.
We discuss the need to be specific about the problem you are solving and the results that will happen as a result of it. Steve explains why he gives his best ideas away and how that will attract more people to you. We dive deep into creating content, the questions you need to ask yourself and whether you need to reinvent the wheel or if it is okay to stand on the shoulders of others.
One major product people are pulled towards is writing a book, but you have to understand the reason for doing it. Here is a short video of Peter talking about Reasons to Write a book that might be helpful.
The art of customer experience can be a difficult thing to master. Determining the content you audience wants, in what format, and even if you should co-create can lead to different end results and different experience journeys for the client.
Our guest Claus Raasted is the co-founder and director of the College of Extraordinary Experiences, Senior adviser to McKinsey, author, coach, and host of The Business of Extraordinary Experiences podcast.
Claus has a long history of experience design that started in his teens doing Live Action Role Playing. Claus shares with Peter how NOT being a perfectionist allows him to get things done and produce content at an alarming rate. We debate the time and place to bring your A-game and when it's okay to simply get the content out to the world. Plus we explore how to deal with the gap that might exist between your level of content creation and the level at which your audience can consume and comprehend it.
Claus has no problem finding his productivity but often it can be a hurdle to get over. TLL has a perspective on how tension can Improve Productivity.
Many authors and content creators try to break into the speaking space to further promote their Thought Leadership and reach new clients. If this is a route you are looking to take then this is a must-listen episode for you!
Today we collect advice from some of the best keynote speakers in the industry.
Robert "Dusty" Staub is the founder and CEO of Staub Leadership and author of The Heart of Leadership, and The Seven Acts of Courage Robert starts us off talking about the strategic use of speaking and the type of audience you need to seek out.
Next up we have Anton Gunn, a keynote speaker and author of The Presidential Principles and The Audacity of Leadership. Anton tells us how to narrow down who you'll serve best and the differences between what the buyer of a keynote and the buyer of consulting services looks like.
Nick Morgan, the world-renowned founder of Public Words and the author of Can You Hear Me? and Power Cues brings us home with advice about going from entertainment versus impactful and the pressure speakers are facing today.
If you are going to have any hope of achieving a successful keynote you need to keep the audience's attention. Check out our Smart Guide to Audience Engagement.
The average person only reads 18 pages of a non-fiction book. With this in mind is writing a 200+ page business book going to serve you best? Or could you get the content you need down in 50 pages and increase the chances of your book getting read?
Our guest Judy Weintraub is the Founder of SkillBites, host of the SkillBites podcast and is helping empower people, inspire them to write and help them get published.
Judy talks about helping clients write short-form books that act as a perfect lead generating tool. We cover the clients and industries that this type of book works best for and the advantages that it offers. We also discuss the need for a marketing plan to make the most of the book and ways to pull readers of the book into other modalities and product offerings.
Don't get lost making a book and other products, make sure you have a Roadmap!
Receiving coaching can help you find new success but you have to be able to look into the mirror and commit to changes. If you are not willing to change it will be a waste of time for both you and the coach.
Oleg Konovalov is on the Thinkers50 Radar, has been recognized as #1 Global Thought Leader on Culture by Thinkers 360 and is #1 Global Leading Coach by Marshall Goldsmith Thinkers50. He is also the author of Leaderology and our guest this week!
Oleg talks with us about the differences in coaching in Russia versus other places in the world. He shares how he helps people realize what is new, what is coming, and how to close the gap between them and the people they need to connect with. Plus he shares the word a coach needs to watch out for from potential clients that might signal they are not ready to commit to change.
Failure is something we all experience. Oleg discusses finding success in failure and we have some additional thoughts on Failing Forward.
The road to becoming a Thought Leader is seldom a straight one. Our guest this week built a thriving business from a book that was meant to close that chapter of his career.
David Friedman is the Founder and CEO of High Performing Culture, author of Fundamentally Different and Culture by Design. Now David is bringing culture to the palm of your hand with the mobile app CultureWise.
David and Peter discuss the process of writing a book to leave a legacy and how that turned into speaking gigs, engagements, then a whole new career. We explore the process for turning a speaking hobby into a business model that would not solely rely on having David in the room. Last we finish up by finding the things you do instinctively that need to be codified if you want others to be able to teach your method.
David specializes in helping companies design world-class culture. We have some thoughts for Changing a Company's Culture.
It's hard to believe we are celebrating our 200th episode already! We have had the honor of talking to so many amazing authors, speakers, consultants, and even some musicians, comedians, and even an Olympic Athlete!
In this episode, we highlight just a few of the guests and insightful stories and advice they have given us.
Mitch Joel - Discusses staying true to your voice and needing a platform to get a publishing deal.
Corey Blake - Shares going from actor to brand storyteller and gives advice for nailing your content.
Rita McGrath - a best-selling author shares her experience writing and publishing with and without a co-author.
Joe Nocera - talks about taking a long-discarded story and turning it into a smash hit podcast.
Steve Farber - tells us how he uses love in the workplace to forge stronger leaders.
We’d like to thank all of our listeners, and ask you to continue tuning in, sharing our content, and sending us your ideas. We look forward to making the next 100 episodes even more successful!
Branding has become a fast-growing market. Everyone and everything wants to become a recognizable brand. With everyone competing in the same fast-moving space, how do you make a brand that stands out and creates a positive emotional connection to your audience?
Today's guest is Liz Nickles an award-winning marketer and advertiser. She is the President of Black Label Brand Development a company that specializes in branding, marketing, and strategic vision. She is also the author of 15 books including Brandstorm.
Liz joins us to share her years of experience building globally recognized brands. We discuss how branding is an emotional institution and how hitting the wrong emotions can have a destructive effect. In addition, we get into the changes in publishing over the years and what it takes to have a successful collaboration with a publisher. Plus Liz shares what the first thing publishers ask and you might be surprised to learn that it isn't "What is your book about?"
In today's business, you only have a few seconds to get your point across, this includes letting potential customers know what your brand is about. Peter shares how a Powerful Manifesto is a great way to achieve this!
We often talk about how once you have found your lane you should stick to it. What if you have a message outside that lane that you just have to get out? Should you do it? Can it be successful?
John Jantsch is the Founder of Duct Tape Marketing Consultant Network. He hosts the Duct Tape Marketing Podcast, author of Duct Tape Marketing and Duct Tape Selling. His new book The Self-Reliant Entrepreneur takes a step away from the Duct Tape Brand he is best known for focusing on the Entrepreneur mindset.
John shares how he made contacts and grew his network doing free speaking, which sped up the sales cycle for his consultant work. John and Peter discuss the risks and rewards of stepping outside the brand you are known for. Then we wrap up by discussing building a network to deliver your message and the investments that must be made to ensure that the message is the same regardless of who delivers it.
John's new book provides evergreen content that will simply never go out of style. Do you know what makes an asset evergreen?
Moving from working at a big brand to starting your own marketing firm will present a number of new challenges. How will you face pitching to the big brands without a big name behind you? What will you have to provide to stay a step ahead?
Ron Tite is an award-winning advertisement writer and creative director, author of Everyone's An Artist (or At Least They Should Be) and Think. Do. Say. and is the Founder of Church and State, a Toronto based content and marketing agency.
Ron shares how he took a 20-year career as a corporate stand-up comedian and flipped the career to be a corporate professional with a sense of humor. We discuss building a marketing firm and how to win business over larger well-established brands. Testing new ideas by adding to existing speeches and finally developing a book as a framework and methodology that isn't dependent on your presence for it to be effective.
Ron has done an amazing job of making his content clear and memorable. Take a minute to read this article about making your Thought Leadership as easy as "Stop, Drop, and Roll."
Too often authors start writing based on an idea they have or solution they think the market needs without having interacted with their target audience or taken the solution into the field. Then when the final product is a flop they are disappointed and surprised.
Today we chat with three incredible authors who have taken their direct experience working in the industry and created books to codify their message and help an even wider audience.
We start with Chip Conley who is the Founder of the Modern Elder Academy. Chip talks to us about not only identifying your audience but coming to understand what influences them. In addition, he tells us about his experience working at Airbnb and how his time as a mentor-led to writing Wisdom at Work and coined the term "Modern Elder."
Next up is Shane Green the CEO of SGEi and has drawn on his past experience at The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company to create effective training to create meaningful change to corporate culture. That valuable experience ultimately became his book Culture Hacker. Shane shares why you need to have a long term vision and how you can use it as a marketing tool.
Last but certainly not least is Erika Andersen a founding partner of Proteus International and author of Be Bad First. She shares how she wrote the book by mapping sections of it to her product offerings. Plus she shares how she uses her books to build credibility and increase brand awareness.
When you are ready to turn your experience into a book be sure to read these tips to learn what your book will need from you!
If you plan to self publish or take a more traditional route with your book you still have to be the champion for it and have an established platform to market it to if you want it to take off.
Joesph Michelli is an internationally sought after speaker, consultant and best-selling author of several books including Driven to Delight and The AirBnB Way.
Joseph speaks with us about how he writes books about globally recognized brands while working with them to improve their business. We discuss the changes to publishing and what rights publishers want a big piece of. In addition, Peter and Joesph share their thoughts on moving the contents of a book into other modalities to reach a larger audience. Last we finish off with discussing speaking, what role bureaus play and if those relationships are still important.
If you have a keynote or book and want to move it to other modalities you'll want to think about the market strategy. We have some tips for ensuring you have the right medium for your message.
Do you consider your favorite musician to be a Thought Leader? Take a minute to think about the message they deliver, their ability to inspire and captivate an audience.
Freddie Ravel is a Grammy Nominated performer who has worked with legends like Earth, Wind, and Fire, Madonna, and Prince. Now Freddie merges his music with education to bring his message of active listening to crowds around the world.
Freddie explains how his concerts bring edutainment to the stage with a captivating tempo. Peter and Freddie discuss the business side of keynote speaking, building a relationship with speaker agents, and doing your homework before a gig and being specific about what you bring to the table.
If you have a unique take on the speaker's industry and are seeking to gain visibility let Thought Leadership Leverage help get you out there.
The problems that blue-collar business face isn't all that different than those fortune 500s have to deal with. High turnover rates, stagnating growth, and untapped potential of employees. Are the solutions to these problems the same regardless of the business model?
Jamie Gerdsen is the President and CEO of Apollo Home a home heating & cooling and electrical company, author of Squirrels, Boats, and Thoroughbreds and Zombies Ate my Business and is connecting with traditional businesses to help them grow and renew via Main Street Leadership.
Jamie talks about how he wrote his first book from the personal lessons he had learned at Apollo Home and how with Peter's help they turned that book into an assessment that traditional businesses can use to understand where they are and ultimately how to get everyone focused in the same direction. Jamie and Peter discuss the need to ensure that if you write a book it is filled with content people will want to read and that you are not writing it to fulfill your own ego.
Jamie has proven assessments can be a valuable asset. If you are thinking about making your own check out our 3 Tips and Tricks for Building an Awesome Assessment.
To be a successful keynote speaker you need a lot of skills. The right message to deliver, credibility, a stage presence, and magic?
Jon Petz is the best-selling author of Boring Meetings Suck and
Significance In Simple Moments. He is a world-renown keynoter and emcee that brings stage magic and a performance mindset to delight and surprise audiences at all levels.
Jon chronicles how he merged previous careers of sales and marketing with magic to deliver motivational keynotes around the world. Peter and Jon explore the reasons for having used both self-published and used traditional publishing house methods. Plus they discuss the often difficult topic of pricing and providing value for your fee.
Jon literally uses magic to keep his audience engaged. If you find yourself struggling to keep an audience's attention check out our guide to smart (and simple!) audience engagement!
An essential part of your Thought Leadership is solid content. Without it, you will not be able to reach the audience you want or have the impact you desire. Creating compelling content isn't cut and dry but today we have a wealth of knowledge to share on the topic.
Gregg L Witt is a speaker, author of The Gen Z Frequency, and Chief Strategy Officer of Engage Youth Company. He has a keen knowledge of how to connect with tweens, teens, and young adults. Greg discusses building strategy around giving content away while keeping key pieces gated.
David Mammano is the author of Crash and Learn, TEDx speaker an America's Entrepreneur Coach! David shares how you have to follow the dollars to find what the market wants, why you should not create in isolation and how you can engage your followers and peers to test material.
Nancy Halpern is a pioneer in leadership development coaching executives inspiring to the c-suite. We talk with Nancy about the trouble of getting lost in your head and the need to have ideas externally validated. Plus she shares why you just need to focus on what you need to do in the next 15 minutes to push things forward
Once you have brilliant content in place you'll need a solid model for it. Check out this article for creating an effective content model.
When you see a professional mix-martial arts professional you don't think "There is someone who has anxiety." The fact is most people have shortcomings or demons they need to overcome.
Our guest Eliot Marshall is a former UFC fighter, co-owner and head instructor at Easton Training Center, host of the Gospel of Fire podcast and author of the Gospel of Fire.
Eliot gets candid about his struggles with anxiety and having a complete breakdown. He shares how with the help of friends he built himself back up and is now taking the lessons he learned to help others. We discuss Eliot's podcast and how it's the perfect medium for a guy who really likes to talk and get to know people.
A common struggle Thought Leaders need to overcome is Content Insecurity, check out this article to make sure Content Insecurity isn't destroying your work.
Why are negative habits easier to build and what can we learn from them? Is it possible to use the very formula that we build negative habits with and flip it on its head to slowly build positive habits?
Our guest Adam Fridman is the Founder of the digital marketing Mabbly - where exceptional cultures happen when people pursue purpose together. He is also the co-author of The Science of Story and Founder of Pro Habits - a positive psychology-based application that links professional habits to personal and organizational goals.
Pro habits is a highly customizable application that can help you take your company values and make them actionable!
Adam shares how authors, speakers, and consultants can use Pro Habits to help people create long-lasting change by taking micro-actions every day that help build positive habits. We discuss using similar principles social media uses to provide a shot of dopamine to keep you coming back and gamification techniques to keep you engaged.
We share some further insight into the Secrets of Changing a Company's Culture that might help you determine why Pro Habits might be the tool you need if you are looking to change your company's culture.
There is no straight path to becoming a Thought Leader. Many come from careers where what they have learned can be applied to making content to help others. The question remains is the transition from those careers to Thought Leader easy?
Today we talk with John O'Grady a West Point grad, former Army colonel, and distinguished combat leader who managed a 14.4 billion dollar portfolio for the US military.
John shares with us the successes and struggles of transitioning into the Thought Leader space. We discuss the skills and experiences that he is using to build content and coach in the private sector. Plus John talks about the assumptions he had coming into his new career and the lessons he has learned.
If you are starting the metamorphosis to Thought Leader, Peter shares the Three Things you'll need.
Whether you are just starting your Thought Leadership practice or looking to expand you are going to need cash flow. Creating multiple revenue streams and being smart about where you spend your hard-earned income can be a challenge even for veterans in the field.
Our guest Ken "Mr. Biz" Wentworth is the author of the best-selling books Pathway to Profits and How to be a Cash Flow Pro. He is also the host of the Mr. Biz radio show where he shares more than 20 years of experience with his listeners.
Mr. Biz explains how someone who doesn't enjoy writing ended up with on the best-sellers list, plus he describes how you can extract value from your book by giving it away! Plus we talk about creating multiple price points for content to serve a wider clientele that you might not be able to reach otherwise.
Right now Mr. Biz has an incredible offer for his Profit Program. If you are looking for a financial tune-up of your business this might be the solution you've been looking for.
Getting your book on the best-seller list isn't an easy task, but we've got some great tips to help you get there.
If you ask anyone how they feel about trust, you won't find anyone who is against it. Despite that becoming trusted and trusting others can be one of the hardest things to accomplish. Trust can not be measured on a chart or calculated in any ROI.
In this episode, we discuss building trust with clients, partners, and your audience.
Charlie Green is the Founder and CEO of Trusted Advisor Associates and as the author of The Trusted Advisor, he is well versed in the topic. He talks to us about going from product-centric to client-centric and the many benefits of having a client that trusts you.
Jack Daly is the author of The Sales Playbook and leading speaker and trainer with more than 30 years of experience. Jack explains why you need to be passionate and get your ego out of the way. Plus we discuss the doors that open when you are able to build a trustworthy reputation with industry associations.
Peter Shankman is the author of Faster Than Normal and living proof that having ADHD can be a blessing. You just have to learn to use your faster brain. Peter explains why we have to get into the heads of our audience and understand what they want. Then we can use that information to give them what they want and need, only then do we earn the privilege of our audience.
If you want your audience to trust you, you'll need content that connects with them in an authentic and meaningful way. Check out this short video on content to Enlighten, Inspire, and Guide your audience!
When it comes to being a consultant it is a massive mistake to be a generalist. You might be able to widen your audience after years of being established but starting out you have to know your message, your audience, and their problems.
David A Fields has plus years of experience include consulting, speaking and writing The Irresistible Consultant’s Guide to Winning Clients. He has made a career of helping consulting practices become lucrative and lifestyle friendly.
David shares his experience with us on what marketing you can do and what you MUST do. In addition, he explains why having your content solidified is vitally important and why if your core idea isn't easily repeatable then your message isn't clear enough.
It can be easy to veer from your core message into topics that interest you. We share some thoughts on why you have to have message discipline and stick to an editorial plan.
The landscape for being a keynote speaker has changed. Bureaus are being more selective and most speakers booking more than 50% of their engagements directly. With that in mind, do you have a distinct value proposition to attract new clients?
Our guest Vince Poscente is an award-winning sales and marketing executive, one of only four people to be inducted into both the US and Canadian Speaker Hall of Fame, best-selling author of The Age of Speed, and an Olympic athlete.
We discuss the state of bureaus and how you can create a good working relationship with agents. Vince tells us what the anatomy of communication is and how new speakers can use it to grab their audience and connect in an authentic way. Plus we discuss the power of video and tips for making effective marketing videos.
In this episode, we talk about making a video trailer for your speaking. Check out these additional tips for making your Sizzle Reel Sizzle!
In this episode, we continue our look back at some of our favorite guests from 2019.
Claude Silver is an emotional optimist who understands and respects the range of emotions we have as humans and sees the positive side of things guides us through how she teaches and inspires with her motto of One Team, One Dream. A simple concept many find difficult to grasp.
Charlene Li is a best-selling author, respected speaker, and advisor. She shares with us how creating healthy disruption can lead to creative and meaningful growth. Plus she talks about how speaking goes with publishing and finding the right time to publish.
Kara Goldin is the founder of Hint Inc a Healthy lifestyle company where Kara aligns her product with her Thought Leadership. She talks with us about launching a company in a different industry and finding a passion for what you do.
Dr. Ivan Misner is known as the "Father of Modern Networking". He shares what the biggest changes to technology are and the advantages we have because of them. In addition, we delve into sorting out what content to give away and how being open with your content is attractive to the public.
Daniel Pink is an award-winning, best-selling author and one of the world's most influential management thinkers. He tells us of how his journey started by simply raising his hand. He also shares how hard it is to write a book and the need to do whatever it takes to promote it.
This episode is chalked full of great stories and advice. We hope you enjoy it and are excited about the guest we have planned for 2020!
As 2019 comes to a close we look back at some of the best guests we've had on Leveraging Thought Leadership and the incredible advice they've shared with us.
Marshall Goldsmith shares with us his incredible story of how he became the World's #1 Thought Leader. From his story, he talks about the things you can do to find your own success. Volunteering, being clear on your mission, and building a strong brand are just some of the topics we discuss.
Ken Blanchard is the best-selling author of more than 60 books and one of the most influential leadership experts in the world. Ken tells us why books need to be easy to read and simple to use. Plus we discuss taking your book to various modalities to reach a larger audience.
Stephen M.R. Covey is the co-founder of CoveyLink and a sought-after and compelling keynote speaker and advisor on trust, leadership, ethics, and high performance. Stephen helps us figure out what market and modalities to take our content to and how you can meet your margin by finding your mission.
Brian Solis is the award-winning author of Lifescale, a groundbreaking book that examines the effects of technology on our everyday life. Brian discusses how his research into why he was losing focus and creativity led him in an entirely new direction.
Jeffrey Hayzlett is the host of C-Suite with Jeffrey Hayzlett and a leading business expert. He gives a lesson on which metrics to follow and how to find meaning in them. In addition, he presents us with some wise words on getting booked as a speaker and how to make your client's life easier.
It can be easy to get frustrated and disappointed when you don't see early results from your investment of time and money into social media platforms. Growing your audience can be a slow process. You have to determine what your audience wants and what is going to help them. Figuring out these key factors can create an incredible platform you can use to launch any product. Our guest this week is a master of building networks and delivering quality content.
Dave Kerpen is a serial entrepreneur who co-founded Apprentice a platform that connects entrepreneurs and CEOs with ambitious college students seeking real-world experience. He is also the Founder of Likeable Local a business that helps small business transform through the power of social media. If that isn't enough Dave is the author of the best-selling books Likeable Social Media and The Art of People, and is a globally-recognized keynote speaker.
Dave doles out guidance for how you can build your platform and find your tribe and how you can use that platform to push your Thought Leadership to thousands of people. He walks us through the cadence for posting content and why you should feel obligated to repackage and repost your content often.
If you have thousands of followers on a platform you need to understand that less than 5% of them will see the content you post. For this reason, you need to repost and repackage your content. Check out this video where Peter shares why you need to Repurpose Content for New Business Opportunities.
You might think once your book is written your job is done, but the fact is you are only halfway there. The other half is marketing the book in an effective way that will allow you to reach your audience and grow your business.
In this episode, our guest Carolyn Monaco is a publishing consultant with 25 years of experience in consumer marketing. She works with business leaders who are ready to reassess their brand, message, and platform. Before establishing Monaco Associates she co-founded a media company for Tufts University and was Marketing Director for Harvard Business Review’s book imprint.
Carolyn debunks some common myths around publishing and helps budding authors understand what they can expect from traditional publishers, what you'll need to have success self-publishing, and why you need to start beating the drum about your book months before it goes to market.
If you're writing your first or fifth book this episode is chalked full of great advice for authors and Thought Leaders!
Writing a successful book can mean different things to different authors. Peter shares his insights into finding what success for your book might mean to you.
Small and large organizations alike face a rapidly changing globally interconnected audience with diverse needs. Do you have a strategy and the leadership it takes to stay in constant transformation to meet those needs?
Our guest Jennifer Sertl is Founder of Agility 3R, author of Strategy, Leadership, and the Soul and is deeply involved in contributing to her local Rochester and is a leader in Corporate Consciousness - the convergence of neuroscience and existential philosophy.
Jennifer explains how pattern recognition plays a big part in her ability to transform as the needs arise. We discuss how Jennifer gets clients to identify the three most important strategies that zero in on what they do and create behavioral branding. Plus we discuss staying focused, getting the most out of Twitter, and valuing the abilities that come easy to you.
Just like you have to zero in on what you do, you have to zero in on who you do it for. Peter talks more about getting laser focus on your target markets.
One of the most challenging parts of Thought Leadership is taking your content to market? Most Thought Leaders are experts at taking their ideas and presenting it in a way that will help people, but many have no experience in how to sell those ideas.
In this episode we take a look back at some of the great advice our guests have given for Content Marketing!
Nadia Bilchik walks us through why you need to have online credibility to validate your brand, how being available on multiple platforms will help with that and why your online presence needs to be crystal clear about what you do.
Shep Hyken shares how you can use established platforms to give your content an edge and why going for a month to month subscription model might be better than getting a big one-time payment.
Phil Gerbyshak tackles the challenge of marketing your speaking engagements. We discuss speaking for free but still extracting value, the importance of saying no thanks, some tips on what you should and should not include in your keynotes.
If you are struggling to reach your target, let Thought Leadership Leverage bring their marketing experience to the table and help you find success.
What would you do if you were in two consecutive accidents and had to rehabilitate your whole body? Even learn to walk again? Would you take that experience as an opportunity to create a blueprint for others to learn from your pain? That is exactly what our guest did!
Katy Kvalvik is the founder of Southwestern Empowerment, creator of the Harmony Method, host of the Harmony Method podcast and a certified executive coach, board-certified health counselor, certified trainer of Neuro-Linguistic Programming, a certified yoga instructor, and business mentor.
Katy joins us to share her journey to developing a flexible blueprint that can lead to healthier work-life harmony. Katy explains the process she took to make the program, the choices she made in how to present it, and the importance of establishing face to face contact with your clients. Something that is often forgotten in our online driven world.
If you are looking for empowering tools and strategies to elevate performance in your home and work life this is the episode you are looking for.
Katy spent a lot of time finding the right medium for her message. Peter shares some Market Strategy for helping you find the medium that is right for you.
If you struggling to manage your time and increase your productivity you might want to consider using some new technology to get where you want to be.
Our guest Corbin Ball is the founder of Corbin Ball & Co, one of the oldest firms dealing with meeting planning, tradeshow, and event technology. He has written literally hundreds of articles on the topic and was inducted into the Events Industry Council Hall of Fame in 2018.
Corbin shares his passion for helping people understand complex ideas in fun and coherent ways. Peter asks Corbin about what speakers need to focus on while not on stage, methods you can use to get your name out there and how to transition your content to social media.
If you want to stay a step ahead of everyone else in the event technology scene this is the episode for you!
Corbin shares why niche marketing can help speakers stand out. In this video Peter shares some thoughts on Finding Your Niche.
Are you struggling to grow your online customer base, but tired of dealing with the same profit based marketers?
Meet our guest Andrew Gottlieb! He is the Founder and CEO of No Typical Moments. A company not only focused on online customer acquisition but on working with companies looking to advance humanity and leave the world a better place.
Andrew shares how he found the balance between profit and purpose. We discuss the key questions you need to ask when seeking to grow your online market and how being purpose driven can manifest itself in the clients you take, the people you hire and even the language you should use.
Purpose is a large part of what drives our Thought Leadership. Peter shares some advice for what you can do if you are starting to lose faith in your business, mission, or passion?
Daily it feels we are under pressure to succeed and deliver results in the face of unprecedented challenges. Do you have a strategic plan in place to rise to the top and make a difference?
Our guest R.T. Stokes is a certified high-performance coach, author of the Relentless Rise, and a well-known speaker.
R.T. discusses how his three-part process of purpose, vision, mission come together to create a cycle of success. How you can use social media as a laboratory for research and not just broadcasting. Then we discuss publishing and how you can maintain better control of your book with self-publishing.
If you are want help developing your purpose into meaningful life missions check out the Purpose Bound Playbook App!
Plus we have some extra tips for grabbing your audience's attention on social media or in building other content.
How much of your time do you spend creating new content? Does the process of trying to keep fresh content on the growing number of online platforms have you feeling like you are spinning your tires? Maybe it's time to repurpose the content you have and get the most out of your energy.
Our guest Amy Woods is the Founder and CEO of Content 10x, the author of Content 10x, the host of the Content 10x podcast and an expert in content repurposing.
Peter and Amy have a candid discussion about how to squeeze your content for all it is worth!
They delve into how you can take a single piece of content like a podcast and stretch it across various platforms and modalities to reach new audiences.
They ask the question is it better to use the platform that is new and hot or stick with the method you are most comfortable with?
Finally, we discuss the discipline it takes to stay on message and why consistency in schedule and message of the content you deliver is so important.
We talked a lot about repurposing content, but we have a little more to say on the topic in this video that we actually repurposed!
We often have a tendency to push the small things off until they become larger issues that end up taking more of our time and energy. What can we do to tighten the lug nuts before they fall off?
Our guest Rocky Romanella is the President & CEO of 3Sixty Management Services, author of Tighten the Lug Nuts and a top Keynote Speaker.
Rocky talks to us about his book Tighten the Lug Nuts, how it came to be and how he found his voice in Joe Scafone. We discuss what sort of legacy you can leave behind, Rocky's transition from corporate executive to Thought Leader, plus we discuss tips for making your keynote a success.
Diagnostics are a great way to make sure your Lug Nuts are tight! We have some advice for checking up on your diagnostics you'll find helpful.
51% of the US population listen to podcasts. That is a massive audience you could tap into. With 750,000 podcasts out there how can you get your voice heard and not fall victim to "podfade"?
Our guest Ginni Saraswati is an Award winning journalist, Founder of Ginni Media, and host of The Ginni Show podcast.
When clients want to start a podcast Ginni asks "Why?" the answer to that simple question can help lay the groundwork for the frequency of your show and allows you to set reasonable goals. Plus Ginni and Peter discuss what metrics you should pay attention to, options for monetization, and tips for repurposing your content.
We discuss the importance of repurposing content to maximize your reach. For more on the topic check out this video on repackaging your content.
We are excited to celebrate our 170th episode with the #1 executive coach in the world Marshall Goldsmith!
Marshall is a World-renowned business educator and coach, best selling author of such books as What Got You Here Won't Get You There and How Women Rise and the master of helping successful leaders achieve positive lasting change.
Marshall and Peter discuss the need to focus your expertise to build your brand, making successful partnerships, the long game of social media and so much more!
Check out some additional tips from Peter for building your personal brand.
Social Media is one of the fastest ways to grow your audience and reach new clients. With so many different choices how can you figure you where you need to be and what content to be sharing on what platforms?
Our guest Beth Granger is the CEO of Beth Granger Consulting, a firm that helps organizations and individuals learn social prospecting and social media platforms.
Beth shares her advice for discovering the platform and content that will work best for you. We discuss why you should not use social media networking to make cold calls or sales pitches and the advantage of experimenting with new content like LinkedIn Live!
Keep up to date with all Beth has to offer by joining her mailing list.
Expanding your reach on social media often means creating digital content. Make sure to check out our tips for creating great digital content!
Being a woman in the Thought Leader space can introduce unique challenges that can be difficult to navigate. Can being part of a minority group also present unique opportunities?
Our guest Rita McGrath is the best selling author of Seeing Around Corners, a sought out speaker, a professor at Columbia Business School and leader for innovation and growth in times of uncertainty.
Rita joins us for an insightful conversation around being a female author and speaker. She shares her personal experience co-authoring and avoiding getting stuck in the role of women's leadership when her knowledge and content works corporate leaders regardless of gender.
If you don't want to get mislabeled you'll need a clear brand. Check out our tips for building a solid personal brand.
Most people don't think strategically. Speakers focus on the fee. Authors on their book. Should Thought Leaders be thinking wider and seeking multiple ways to monetize their content?
Our guest Cameron Herold is the Founder of the COO Alliance, author of Double, Double and Free PR and is world renown as the CEO Whisperer helping entrepreneurs achieve their dreams.
Cameron shares some of his knowledge as a lifelong entrepreneur working in the small to medium size enterprise space. Cameron and Peter how to avoid going broke as a speaker, tips for maximizing your marketing, and why you need to be thinking about multiple modalities.
Cameron has a passion for helping CEO's find success. If you want to make the most out of any meeting with members of the C-suite we have some additional tips for you.
What is the DNA of greatness? What are ordinary people doing to achieve success? Can greatness be as simple as emulating those who have been successful and being dedicated to producing quality work?
Dan Waldschmidt is the Co-CEO of Edgy Inc, Author of Edgy Conversations, an extreme athlete and elite strategist helping businesses across the world achieve greatness! Dan shares how he turned his blog into a book but only after shooting down four book deals to ensure his book was the exact vision he wanted. Plus he tells us about his edgy marketing maneuver that paid off in a big way, and why your book needs to be more than an oversized calling card. Dan uses his energy and edginess to grab the attention of his audience. How can you grab an audience's attention with your Thought Leadership?
Finding success as a Thought Leader can be difficult if you are unable to get your message out to your audience. Whether you are looking to book more speaking engagements, launch a new book, or start a podcast hiring a PR firm can help you fast track your success.
Our guest Sarah Wilson is the Founder of Pop Communication a firm excelling at book launch management, public relations, speaker management and more!
Sarah has valuable advice on what you should be asking a PR firm before signing on with them. We discuss why the customization of services is ideal, how you can discover the modality that will work best for you, and what expectations you need to set when launching a book.
If you want your book to stand out in the crowd but need help finding a strategy Thought Leadership Leverage can help you.
Our guest Dan Janal is one of the founding fathers of internet marketing and publicity. He is President of PR Leads to Profit and author of best-selling books including Write your Book in a Flash and Risky Business. Dan is currently focused on being a book coach, developmental editor, and ghost writer. Wouldn't it be great to have a session with Dan to get his advice for your next book?
This episode is exactly what you are looking for! Dan joins us to share how stories are important regardless of the type of book, why writing a book isn't a solo job, how you can research to ensure your book hits the mark and so much more!
In addition to all of Dan's incredible advice we want you to know the 3 Things Your Book Needs from You.
Most people don't grow up wanting to become a public speaker. Their careers teach them lessons that become valuable to others and eventually they want to pass that knowledge on to help others.
Our guest William "T" Thompson is a world renowned keynote speaker. As an entrepreneur, Air Force and commercial pilot, lawyer, and President CEO of the Association of Graduates of the United States Air Force Academy William has mastered many fields and has spent years passing his expertise on to others.
Captain T shares his journey, the changes to the speakers industry he has witnessed and what it takes to stand out as a keynote speaker.
If you are starting to break into the professional speaker space, Thought Leadership Leverage can help your career take flight!
If you are in a professional services firm and your are not using the tools of a Thought Leaders you are probably leaving business on the table. What tools should you develop to ensure clients clean their plates and come back for seconds?
Our guest Bill Coletti is the Founder and CEO of Kith a reputation management and crisis decision making firm and the author of Critical Moments.
Bill walks us through his decision to write Critical Moments and what his expectations were from getting the book published. We chat about what doors having a book can open, how Bill turned a years worth of webinars into the foundation for the book and who he brought in to help with the process.
This episode is chalked full of great advice for anyone looking to publish and take their Thought Leadership to the next level. For additional tips for making a great business book check out this video!
Gone are the days of travelling to multi-day courses. Now we find our advancements through e-learning. How do you design a course that solves a legitimate problem and gives you audience some quick victories?
Our guest Jonathan Denwood, the CEO of WP-Tonic a company focused on eLearning for healthcare and business consultants making online content via WordPress.
Jonathan gives us the low down on what you need to do before you even start to make your online content. Once that is in place you can use all the great advice Jonathan and Peter share to make smart moves developing your content, finding your audience, and most importantly properly market that content to them.
Building digital content can be complex and time consuming. You have to do as much research as possible before you dive in. Start with our 3 Tips for Digital Content.
Thought Leadership doesn't have to be about brand new content. It is about adding a unique and different perspective to the conversation that takes the entire body to the next level.
Our guest Steve Farber is the Founder Extreme Leadership Institute, author of the best-selling book Greater than Yourself and his newest release is Love Is Just Damn Good Business.
Steve has been working with organizations that are devoted to cultivation and development of extreme leaders in the business community. We discuss how mentors can give us access to a platform, discovering how your viewpoint can elevate the conversation, and how love is a fundamental part of quality leadership.
Thought Leaders often get hung up on getting their content out. They fret over if the tone or message will come across as intended. Peter has some great advice for getting your content just right!
Starting out you can be unsure of yourself and your skills. This can cause you to under price yourself, miss out on certain clients, and hinder growth.
Our guest Michele Molitor is the CEO and Founder of Nectar Consulting, co-author of the best selling book Break Through Healing and rapid transformation therapist.
Michele shares her experience helping business owners and executives discover what is holding them back and teaches them the skills to move forward. We discuss building confidence, knowing your true value, and finding your target market. Putting your content out in the world can be a hard step to take. Thought Leaders often feel like the content is never good enough. We have some advice for anyone that is insecure about the quality of their content.
On the path to becoming a Thought Leader you are going to invest in a lot of things. A team, marketing, and even your own development. How can you figure out what is going to pay off and what will not?
Our guest Dave Sanderson is the President of Dave Sanderson Speaks, author of Moments Matter, a TedX speaker, and the last passenger off the Miracle on the Hudson.
Dave shares how a single moment on a plane in the Hudson caused Post Traumatic Growth and changed the path of his life forever. We delve into transitioning from a day job to being a Thought Leader. Dave has plenty of tips for those just starting out that could speed your progress and help you avoid the pitfalls he had.
Building solid content can be hard to do and leave you staring at a blank page struggling for inspiration. Check out our tips for ending the tyranny of the blank page.
Many Thought Leaders are capable of making great content, but stumble when it comes to taking their product to market. If you are not able to properly market your work it is never going to hit the audience you need.
Our guest Bill Bice is a serial entrepreneur, partner at Verge Fund and CEO of Boom Time a marketing technology firm.
Bill shares how content driven marketing can be the most effective thing you can do and how you can use the data from various platforms to see your customers journey across all of your channels. Plus he shares how you can use that data to refine your content and methods for staying relevant to past and future clients.
If you want to ensure successful marketing you'll need a team with experience finding your target audience. Let Thought Leadership Leverage be that team!
Have you ever been faced with a decision you have both the talent and experience to deal with but still find yourself unable to make a choice? Being overcome with indecision is a problem members of the C-Suite can not afford.
Our guest Linda Henman, Founder Henman Performance Group and author of The Merger Mindset, Tough Calls, and an expert in helping those on the C-Suite make the choices they can not afford to get wrong.
Linda discusses the barriers that form that stop us from making good choices and how we can break through them. She shares the importance of having a mentor and the need to continually invest in your own development to ensure success decade after decade.
Being part of the corporate procurement process involves many big decisions. If you are going to be involved you should read our survival guide for that process!
Every organization is bound to face a crisis at some point. How will your respond when it happens? Do you have a crisis management plan in place? Is your organization crisis ready?
Melissa Agnes is the President and Co-founder of Agnes + Day Inc, a Tedx speaker, author of Crisis Ready, and leading authority on crisis preparedness, reputation management, and brand protection.
Melissa joins us to discuss the importance of being Crisis Ready! She shares how as a young entrepreneur she found ways to get her content out without a big marketing budget. How she landed a TedX talk and the value of having a skilled team surrounding you.
As a TedX speaker Melissa know what it takes to be successful. We can help you reach new levels of success with your speaking and reach a wider audience.
Blogs and online columns have replaced the monthly magazine, but are the skills required to be successful different? How can writers keep the pace that being online demands while keeping a high quality of writing?
Our guest Joe Nocera is the best selling author of Indentured and A Piece of the Action, a Bloomberg columnist, and creator of the hit podcast The Shrink Next Door.
Joe has been an author and content creator for decades and has experienced the shift from print media to online. He talks with us about what skills are needed to bridge the gap and how to keep up with the frantic online pace. Joe also tells us about how the podcast format revived a long dead story and the challenges of taking the story from the long form written format to an episodic podcast.
Joe has mastered taking his content from one modality to another. If you are having trouble making new products out of existing content let Thought Leadership Leverage help.
Ask anyone and they will tell you education is a top priority for their children and loved ones. Yet the young in America continues to fall further behind in global rankings. What can we learn from how other cultures systems and help give the next generation the edge they need.
Our guest Teru Clavel is an education expert, public speaker, and author of World Class.
Teru shares her story of having lived around the world with her children and getting to experience the education system of other cultures first hand and how returning to the states opened her eyes. Learn how Teru got her book published by breaking all the rules!
Don't miss Teru's appearance on the Today Show!
If you want to join the movement for better education don't miss this episode!
Learning can come in many forms. Learn how the old standard has changed and what Micro Learning is from Peter!
There is a misconception that you have to choose between being ethical and being successful, but catastrophic mistakes can happen to even the biggest corporations when you don't have a culture of ethics. Our guest Rabbi Yonason Goldson is a Tedx speaker, Author of Fix Your Broken Window, and the Director of Ethical Imperatives. Yonason shares with us his journey across Europe to the Land of Israel and how he became a teacher, then transitioned into the world of Thought Leadership. Peter asks how Yonason has figured out his content, market, and how to monetize it all. Yonason's road to Thought Leadership was a long one like many Thought Leaders. We have some advice for those starting the path to Building a Content Business.
Business can change at a breakneck pace. How can you transform your leadership and organization to create breakthrough results at a speed that will allow your business to keep up?
Our guest Mark Samuel is the CEO of IMPAQ, an award winning speaker, and author of B State and Creating the Accountable Organization.
Mark discusses how we can use cross functional accountability to break down barriers and solve problems across the entire organization, how we can create an environment where we can count on each other and still be humans who make mistakes.
When we talk about accountability, at its core, we're talking about focused behavior change. Peter has some advice on Behavioral Accountability
Do you know what your purpose is? What is the story you want to put out to the world? What is the story of your organization?
Our guest Martin Rutte is the President of Livelihood, New York Times best-selling author of Chicken Soup for the Soul at Work and Project Heaven on Earth.
Martin asks the question "What is Heaven on Earth to you?" We explore spirituality in the work place, how our story connects us and how we can change the story of our organization for the better.
Martin is offering a free e-course One Week to Simply Begin Creating Heaven on Earth for our listeners.
Often times Thought Leaders are their own brand. If you want your story to be your brand we can help you create a lasting strategy to make that happen.
It is almost unavoidable that technology is going to be part of our daily lives. What is the impact and potential of technology in our lives? How can we rewire our brain to mange it all in a healthy and productive way?
Our guest Brian Solis is the Principle analyst at Altimeter Group, a keynote speaker, and author of Lifescale and X: The Experience When Business Meets Design.
Brian shares his journey through the years of technological advances and his role in the silicone valley. We dive into how companies use persuasive design, the long term effects of it, and how we can use content in Lifescale to better manage our digital time to live a more creative, productive, and happy life.
Brain has spent years researching the facts behind his newest book Lifescale If you have content you need assistance researching consider making Thought Leadership Leverage part of your team.
Taking your content from a book or video to a speech can be more difficult than it sounds. Finding the right flow and information to include can get overwhelming Even if you are a gifted speaker there is a lot of benefit you can get from a speech writer.
Our guest J.T. Compeau is the Founder "Content Interpreter" and a consultant who helps Thought Leaderships get their public speaking to a higher level.
J.T. lays out his frame work when working with a client and tells us what to look for when seeking a speech consultant. J.T. also shares what should be in a great speech, what to avoid, and some of his philosophies around speech writing.
In addition to J.T.'s great advice we have some tips to ensure audience engagement at your next keynote.
When building a platform what methods can you use to connect with your audience and provide value? How can you determine which platform is going to be best for you? Our guest Rusty Shelton is the Founder and CEO of Zilker Media, author of "Authority Marketing" and "Mastering the New Media Landscape" and an expert in making an impact in the new media landscape. Rusty discusses the need for build a platform before over spending on content, how you can sort out which social media platform will serve you best, and the questions you need to ask if you are going to hire a firm to help with your social media. When you are creating content you want it to provide value but you also need it to memorable. Peter has some tips for making your content sticky.
Businesses want to sell as much directly to the consumer as they can, but you can't ignore the online outlets. How can you use data to tackle the problem? Our guest Dr. Stephen Kraus is the Head of Digital Insights at "Jumpshot", the author of "Selling to the New Elite" and "The New Elite" and one of the world's leading experts on consumer insights and digital trends. Stephen tells us how people are drowning in data but starved for insights. He shares how we can use data to tell stories that connection emotionally with our audience and how the broader forms of consumer behavior can inform specific marketing actions. With access to so much external data it can be easy to not look internally. Have you given yourself a diagnostic check up lately?
Have you ever been presented with a stack of data that makes you feel like your eyes are going to fall out? Is there a way to receive that data in a meaningful way that you can understand?
Our guest Dr. Stephanie Evergreen is the CEO of "Evergreen Data", author of "Effective Data Visualization", "Presenting Data Effectively" and the expert in data visualization.
Stephanie shares her journey from academic to Thought Leader and the challenges in moving between the two. She discusses with Peter how she got a book published and the doors having the book opened for her.
This episode is chalked full of great tips for academics, Thought Leaders, authors, and speakers so be sure to listen in.
With so much data out there it can be hard to find the insights into it. Peter has some thoughts on how to find the right insight.
There are lots of tools we can use to build up our communities, but once you have them following you how do you engage them?
Our guest Jeffery Hayzeltt, is Chairman of the "C-Suite Network", author of "Hero Factor" and "Mirror Test" as well as Prime Time TV host of "C-Suite with Jeffrey Hayzlett".
Jeffery shares why your engagement needs to come from your content, how you can make yourself more appealing as a speaker, and what marketing techniques you should avoid and some tools you might want to try!
Jeffery has a lot of valuable information on the C-Suite, but if you hope to work with them we have three questions you should answer first.
In many industries ruthlessness is the norm, especially in real estate. Is it possible to have success by helping others succeed and not focusing on yourself?
Our guest Jonathan Keyser is the founder of Keyser Institute, author of "You Don't Have to be Ruthless" and has found great success in commercial real estate by helping others.
Jonathan share the philosophy that took him from selfish to serving others that drives his business and is found in his book. Jonathan and Peter discuss the pros and cons of writing with a ghost writer, and why it takes courage to be a Thought Leader and go against the standard practices in your field.
If you want to be effective at serving others we have some tips for how to be a Hero to you Clients.
In the last 2 - 3 years Podcasts have become a huge! How can other bodies of work, like a podcast play into gaining you new business without your actually pitching your content?
Our guest Mike O'Toole is the President of "PJA Advertising + Marketing", author of "The Unconventionals " and host of "The Unconventionals " podcast.
Mike shares some methods we can use to boost the signal to noise ratio, what some things are we can target when trying to hit our market, and why you should look at your Thought Leadership like a movie franchise and not a newsroom.
If this episode has you thinking about what you can do to boost your signal, let us help you energize your marketing!
How does a high school drop out and employee from hell go on to build an accelerator program that helps average people achieve extraordinary results?
Our guest Geoff Hughes is a serial entrepreneur and expert in digital marketing with an online course designed to help you gain clarity of vision and scale your business.
Geoff tells us how the lessons he learned working in sales led him to building the Accelerator program, how understanding what fulfills you can change everything, and how you need to focus on serving people to be successful.
If you are not sure what fulfills you, maybe you should ask the question of what motivates your Thought Leadership?
Are you a victim of network disconnect? Do you go to networking events with the idea of selling your product to people like a cold call telemarketer? Or do you use those events to make connection, build relationships, and expand your sphere of influence?
Our guest is Dr. Ivan Misner, the father of modern networking! He is the Founder and Chief Visionary Officer of BNI and author of two dozen books including "Networking Like a Pro" and "Who's in Your Room?"
Dr. Misner talks about the various reasons for publishing and which method you should use. He shares how networking has changed over the years and what has stayed the same. In addition Ivan and Peter talk about the fear of having your content stolen and if that is a problem you really need to worry about.
If you'd like to build a relationship with Thought Leadership Leverage contact us and let us help you build on the foundations you've started.
Have you ever delayed a conversation even though you knew it was important? Have you made choices that went against what you knew was in your best interest? We do this all the time, but why? And how can we get out of our own way?
Our guest Mark Green is an advisor, coach and author of "Activators: A CEO's Guide to Clearer Thinking and Getting Things Done". Mark shares his experience using his powerful tools to help people dig deep and make the right choices. Mark and Peter discuss using experts in other domains, the experience of writing a book with partners, and if a books should be viewed as long or short term project.
If you are looking for a partner to help with your book launch strategy add Thought Leadership Leverage's expertise to your team.
Every day we hear the challenges of women in the work force. Being a female Thought Leader can come with many of the same challenges. What can you do to push past those hardships and excel?
Our guest Robin Farmanfarmaian is a speaker, entrepreneur, and author of "The Patient as CEO" and "The Thought Leader Formula" and angel investor working with companies in cutting edge technology. Robin has pushed through all the adversity to become a leader in her field and shares how she did so. Robin and Peter compare their views on Thought Leadership, writing a book, narrowing your focus, and analyzing your competition. Robin has an exciting online course to help you start your journey into the world of Thought Leadership. Plus we have tips to help you grab the audiences attention with your Thought Leadership.
It never feels good to fail nevertheless in your career it is going to happen. Are you comfortable with that? Could that story be told in an authentic and vulnerable way to lead to something positive?
Our guest Corey Blake is the Founder and CEO of "Round Table Companies" which is a partner in "Conscious Capitalism Press". As a former actor Corey has learned the art of story-telling and uses it as a powerful tool for branding in truly unique ways.
Corey reveals his path from Actor to CEO. How the art of story-telling, being comfortable with failure, and focusing on purpose and value over goals has helped him understand what corporations stand for and amplify their creativity.
Corey has found motivation for his Thought Leadership through story-telling. What motivates your Thought Leadership?
Speakers Bureaus can open doors and help expand your keynote business; but do you know how to make yourself more appealing and create a positive relationship an agent at a bureau?
Our guest Barrett Cordero is the President of "Big Speak" one of the largest and most successful Speakers Bureaus in America.
If you are a speaker you'll need to listen to the advice Barrett has for what you'll need to get noticed and booked time and time again. Plus Peter and Barrett talk about how technology has changed the pace for speakers and when is the right time to become a full time speaker.
If you are going to get hired you'll need a sizzle reel, check out our tips for making your sizzle reel sizzle!
Taking on the role of CEO and Thought Leader can put a lot on your plate. How do you manage those roles while still making time to listen to your customers and create the content they want?
Our guest Jonathan Raymond, is the CEO of "Refound", the author of "Good Authority" and was named one of Ink 100 Top Leadership Speakers.
Jonathan shares how he manages the front and back end of his business, the important steps to take to get your business out there, how to avoid false starts, and why you need to think like a product designer when starting out.
If you've recently written a Leadership book we have some tips for what you book is going to need from you!
Many people believe that marketing is a book is easier than ever, but could the truth be that is has never been harder?
Allen Adamson is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of "Metaforce" where he leads an elite team that can solve your marketing hardship! In addition Allen is the author of "Shift Ahead" and "Brand Simple". Allen explores how to break through the noise in a world where your first impression might be the only one you get. He shares why writing a book is a bit like going back to school and how you might find the stories people want to hear in the places you might not expect. If you have a book coming you've probably thought a lot about building the brand for it, but you have put any time into building your personal brand?
What strategy do you have to monetize the IP that is in your book after the book is released? Do you have a marketing and sales plan?
Our guest Dianna Booher, is the author of 48 books including "Faster, Fewer, Better Emails" and "Communicate Like a Leader" has been published by some of the biggest houses in the world.
Today she shares her years of experience getting published, working with agents, and how the relationship with publisher and agents has changed. Plus she shares strategies for monetizing the IP in your book after it is published to drive your career beyond that of an author.
One method of taking your IP further is going digital! We have some great advice on digital content creation.
We have so much data available to us, how do you know when it's okay to make a choice that isn't based on data, but on your intuition?
Our guest Jennifer DiMotta, is an Ecommerce specialist, speaker, and trainer who uses her expertise to transform strategy and forge new leaders!
We talk with Jennifer about the overwhelming amount of data available, how to analyze data, and most importantly take action based on understand the data. She also shares with us how she uses speaking as a vehicle to drive business and how you can develop leadership skills even if your company doesn't offer training.
Learn how Thought Leadership Leverage uses data to create a visual case study.
Today speeches need to be more than few funny anecdote, they have takeaways or they won't be taken seriously. So how do you find the balance between information and entertainment in your speaking?
Our guest Nick Morgan is the world renown author of "Can you Hear me?" and "Power Cues", the Founder of Public Words a company that helps their clients create and deliver content that will engage, persuade and move people to action.
Nick fills this episode with amazing advise on how speaking has changed, how to go from entertainment based speaking to impactful speaking, why you need to engage your audience, and why your personal story could be the key to a real connection with your audience.
If you want to share you message with others and need assistance breaking into the speaking arena let Thought Leadership Leverage help.
There is a place for theoretical learning, but how can you produce applied learning in the corporate setting?
Our guest Matt Confer is the VP of Strategy and Business Development at Abilitie; a company that provides award winning leadership programs using simulations for leadership development.
Matt walks us through how the simulations work, why they bridge the gap between theory and practice, and why even in failure students can learn valuable lessons with their unique programs.
After each quarter Matt and his team debrief to see how the program is going. Do you check up on your diagnostics to ensure success?
The curse of the expert is you are always moving to the next level, but where do you go when you've reached the top?
Our guest Jeff Gothelf is the Co-author of the award winning book "Lean UX" and author of "Sense and Respond", the Co-Founder of "Sense and Respond Press" and continue to find places to go after reaching the top of the expert pyramid.
We explore how Jeff went from author to publisher, the options for publishing that will let you keep a larger portion of the revenue, and how you can use the time between writing a book and it hitting the shelf to generate an audience for it.
Check out our 3 tips for a great business book.
Solving your customers problems isn't just about solutions. It is about deep listening. How do you listen to your clients? Do you hear what they are saying and what is not being said?
Our guest Oscar Trimboli is the author of "Deep listening: Impact Beyond Words" and is on a mission to create one hundred million Deep Listeners in the world.
Oscar talks to us about the art and science of listening and breakthroughs. How you need to schedule time for content creation, really think about distribution, and the different flavors of listening.
Oscar invites you to Discover the Five Myths of Listening.
Bill Sherman, the COO of Thought Leadership Leverage shares why Thought Leaders need to listen in conversation and not just talk.
The removal of the gate keepers in traditional publishing has opened up the flood gates in a dramatic way that creates a lot of opportunity for new authors.
Our guest, Mitch Joel is the Founder of "Six Pixels Group", author of "Six Pixels of Separation" and "Ctrl Alt Delete" and is a visionary, digital expert and community leader.
Mitch talks to us about the importance of a strong platform when seeking a traditional publisher, understanding what role they'll play in marketing your book, and why you need to stay true to you voice and care about your audience.
If you are writing a business book Bill Sherman has some tips for making your book great!
Today we change lanes and speak with Daniel Blue, Owner and Founder of Quest Education a company helping business owners manage their retirement funds across all 50 states.
Daniel uses the methods of Thought Leaders to education his clients about options they did not know they had and grow his business. He tells us which social media platform he uses to reach his audience in an interesting way, how his video content has been effective, and even debunks some retirement fund myths!
Daniel has had great success with video content. If you are thinking about making digital content check out our tips on the 3 Stages of Digital Content Creation.
When starting out as a Thought Leader you have to find out what your values are, what your purpose is, and what you stand for?
Our guest Claude Silver, Chief Heart Officer at Vayner Media, Emotional Optimist Coach, Manager, and Mentor is going through this process as she begins to develop her own Thought Leader content. Claude discusses what an Emotional Optimist is, how to bring humanity back to the work place, and we ask the questions "Does your content have to be what people perceive you as? How can you change that perspective?" If you are starting out like Claude is contact Thought Leadership Leverage to setup a Strategy session so we can help you reach your long-term goals.
As we transition from 20th century learning to 21st century learning has the way we consume entertainment changed the way we learn?
Our guest Jeremie Kubicek, is the CEO of Giant, author of "The 100 X Leader" and "5 Voices" and expert in getting leaders to a higher level.
Jeremie breaks down how the event based business has changed and how technology allows big names to come to smaller venues. Plus Jeremie walks us through the concept of on-demand, binge worth education and how assessments are critical.
Find out what your leadership voice is by taking the free 5 Voices assessment.
If you are looking to bring technology to your content contact Thought Leadership Leverage about having our team help you.
Do you feel stuck or average? Like you'll never break through and reach the maximum potential you have trapped inside?
Our guest Brian Bergford, has a degree in Psychology, is a Certified Fitness Instructor and the owner of Bergford Performance System.
Brian talks about how he teaches mental training and mindset mastery to driven athletic Executives, CEO's and business owners. Peter and Brian discuss finding your audience when your target isn't easy to find, creating an online course and managing time spent on social media.
If you have trouble narrowing in on your target market let Thought Leadership Leverage help.
It seems everyone is getting into the online learning space because technology and bandwidth have made it access for anyone at any location. What many are missing in their learning content is the proper ability to transfer knowledge to the end user in a measurable way.
Our guest Jon Tota is a pioneer in online education for corporate training, Co-founder and CEO of Edulence, the creator of Knowledge Link and host of the Learning Life podcast.
Jon takes us through the many changes to online education, the value of watching metrics and how you can alter your content based on that feedback, the importance of educational design and how Game Theory can play into having your end users remember to come back time and again!
Jon has some free content for our listeners! Download the free Enterprise Selling Handbook today!
Jon and Peter talk about the value being able to measure performance in online content. Peter has some advice for measuring KPI in all you do.
Do you know what keeps your clients up at night about the future? Can you offer them the ability to adapt and maintain a competitive edge?
Our guest Diana Wu David is a former Financial Times executive, author of Future Proof and adjunct professor at Columbia Business School’s EMBA Global Asia.
Diana works with global leaders to enhance their ability to adapt, contribute, collaborate and grow. On this episode she discusses the circular effect of content generation, helping people in their 2nd or 3rd act succeed, and how you can gather market intelligence.
Discovering your client needs is not always easy but having a Customer Advisory Council can help. Peter tells us what a CAC is and why you might want one.
There is a simple tool we all have at our disposal to spark breakthrough ideas and improve your daily life. The tool is the ability to ask deep and meaningful questions.
Our guest Warren Berger is a self professed Questionologist, International Best Selling Author of "The Book of Beautiful Questions" and innovation expert.
Warren shares how he spends his time to maximize both his management and creative skills, plus how he built a network and grew engagement before he wrote his book and leveraged that platform while making a book deal.
Warren balances his time but do you balance your content? Peter has some tips on the benefits of balancing your content.
Times are changing faster than most people know or are able to respond to. Are you ready to take advantage of these changes or will you be left behind?
Our guest Nilofer Merchant, is the author of “The Power of Onlyness” and “The New How”. She has been called “The James Bond of innovation” and is on a mission to reimagine a future of work that actually works for all of us.
Nilfer and Peter discuss how to decide what you want to do, how to do it, and how to extract value from it, monetization strategies, and how to increase and invest in your brand to get larger returns.
Finding the best way to monetize your product can be a daunting task. Thought Leadership Leverage has years of sales experience to help you get off the ground.
Ready, Aim, Fire! It is time to get crystal clear about what you are selling and what the promise the solution you are selling is.
Jane Atkinson, is the author of "The wealthy speaker 2.0" and "The Epic Keynote" and host of “Wealthy Speaker Podcast”. Jane has worked her entire life to help people answer the question “To whom or what are you devoted?”
As one of the top business managers for speakers Jane helps busts some common myths around speaking, asks the what you sales superpower is, and helps tackle the hard conversation of fees and selling when you are both seller and product.
Many speakers want to pack all their content into a forty minute keynote. Peter gives some advice on why that might not be a good idea.
Speaker's Agencies no longer control the market. If you are going to go it alone you have an obligation to market yourself to stand out in the crowd. With the ability to self-publish and social media how can you achieve that?
Dr. Rick Goodman, is the author of "The Solutions Oriented Leader" and "Living A Championship Life" a consultant, adviser and Certified Speaking Professional.
Rick and Peter discuss what it takes to increase the probability of getting noticed and ultimately booked for speaking engagements. Rick shares his unique methods of marketing, networking and moving speaking from a transactional business to an ongoing relationship.
If you want to create a dynamic and impactful marketing campaign reach out to Thought Leadership Leverage for help.
The business book genre has a lot of options for readers to pick from. How can you rise above the noise to get noticed and better yet have a successful book?
Our guest Tami Holzman, is an Angel Investor, Advisor, Entrepreneur, Brand Ambassador and author of "From C-Student to the C-Suite".
Tami opens up about how she laid everything on the table to be open, honest, and vulnerable writing her book and how that allowed her to connect with her audience in a way many business books do not.
Tami shares how the skills she learned in previous professions such as being a talent agent, translated into her career as a Thought Leader and how the network she build over time has opened doors for her as she now opens doors for others.
Continue to build you own network by adding Thought Leadership Leverage to your rolodex! Contact us about a strategy session for writing, speaking, or marketing!
When starting out as a Thought Leader you need to understand that it takes time to build your audience and get recognition for your content, but there are ways to accelerate that process! Our guest Michael Zipursky is the CEO of Consulting Success, the host of the Consulting Success podcast and author of the Amazon best seller "The Elite Consulting Mind". Michael has been helping consultants elevate their position and accelerate growth.
Michael breaks down why you need to have a very clear idea of who your client is and how specific you should get when trying to identify your target market.
If you want to make sure your content gets out and is seen contact Thought Leadership Leverage for help with Marketing.
The publishing world is changing at a fast pace as technology evolves and becomes more accessible. Are traditional publishers still relevant? No one knows how the publishing world has changed better than today’s guest!
Ken Blanchard, is the author of the best-selling book “The One Minute Manager” , “Leading at a Higher Level”, "The Simple Truths of Service" and more than 60 other books, is in Amazon’s Hall of Fame as a best-selling author, and is one of the most influential leadership experts in the world!
Ken shares his decades of experience on the changes to publishing, what you should do if you already have an established platform and how some publishers are changing to stay relevant in this new market.
Plus Ken and Peter discuss the unique methods Ken has used to get feedback on his books and the various revision cycles he goes through before taking his manuscript to a publisher.
Ken tells us that your content doesn’t have to be simple, but it does have to be digestible. We have some additional advise on why complex ideas don’t sell.
It is very important to invest in your brand from the get go; but you need to ask yourself if you should be the brand or if you should develop the company as its own brand.
Our guest Charlene Li is the Founder of "Altimeter", author of the New York Times bestselling book “Open Leadership” and "The Disruption Mindset" available June 11th, 2019. For the last two decades Charlene has been helping people see the future as a respected adviser to Fortune 500 companies on digital transformation and leadership.
Charlene walks us through the process she took in building Altimeter and positioned it to be acquired; how she found a company that suited her requirements, and continues to work with them.
Peter asks about how the publishing landscape has changed between her first book 11 years ago and today with a new book on the horizon. Plus, Charlene shares the importance of culture and figuring out what type of relationship you want to build with your audience.
Charlene has 5 books under her belt and understand what it takes to have a successful book launch. If you are looking to publish your first book it can be a enormous task. Contact Thought Leadership Leverage to discuss a strategy for your book launch.
Do you want to be a high performer? Do you want to play in the big time and reach your full potential?
J.V Crum III is the Conscious Millionaire Mentor, host of the Conscious Millionaire podcast, author of the best-selling book “Conscious Millionaire” and our guest this week! Peter and J.V. are big fans of podcasting as a modality, but there are many other ways you can deliver your content. They discuss how you can choose which you pursue, what parts of your content to re-purpose, and why starting in a new modality can be uncomfortable. Plus, J.V. talks about how he gets into the right flow for his work and why you should block your time out into fast flow and slow flow activities furthermore J.V. tells us what the 3 whys are that he asks every client and that you should be asking yourself. This is a must listen episode with a special gift from J.V. at the end! With so many modalities to pick from you might also find yourself overwhelmed with ideas. Our COO Bill Sherman talks about why sometimes you need to close the Idea Factory.
Being recognized for your Thought Leadership in multiple ways is important to build you reputation. But when it comes to building that reputation how do you determine who you should connect with and how can you best build your network?
Jared Kleinert, award winning author of “2 Billion Under 20” and “3 Billion Under 30”, TED speaker and USA Today's most connected Millennial shares how he has built a world class network.
Jared shares how he started his network and looks at the long game of being a Thought Leader. Peter and Jared discuss the need to offer value when building your network, why you need to avoid asking for too much, and why you should not take it personally if you get rejected.
In the journey to become a Thought Leader many people make flawed assumptions, but you don’t have to make those same mistakes. Peter has five things you should not assume.
You might have a lot of ideas but how do you choose which ones to follow through on? What ideas would make a good chapter in a book and what would better serve as a talk or essay?
Our guest A.J. Jacobs is a New York Times best-selling author of "Thanks a Thousand" and "The Year of Living Biblically" as well as a journalist and TED talk speaker.
A.J. tells with us how he generates many creative ideas then hones in on the ones that have the potential to become something bigger. He shares his unique process for editing his books and ensuring that each chapter resonates with the audience.
Peter and A.J. talk about the different skills sets that are needed to be an author and a speaker. How many of those skills do not cross over and how A.J. forced himself to learn the skills to become a great speaker.
This episode is full of great advice for Thought Leaders, speakers, authors, and content creators of all kinds! Be sure to tune in!
To make content successful it has to be memorable. Peter shares some tips for making your "Content Sticky"
What you want from your content can often change based on the demands of your audience. How do you let go of preconceived notions to make way for what people really want?
We are excited to have Linda Fisher Thornton as our guest! Linda is an innovative leadership consultant with a passion for ethical leadership. She is the CEO of “Leading in Context”, an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Leadership for The University of Richmond School of Professional and Continuing Studies and the author of "7 Lenses".
Linda shares how writing her book has meant having to change to meet the demands of her audience and how they want to consume her content. She shares how easy to get attached to an idea and how great things can be when you let go to explore the way things need to be.
Linda tells us how she overcame all the reasons to not write her book and answered the call to do the work she knew would help people. Getting started can be the easy part, Peter offers advice on how to not just start, but reach the finish line.
As an independent consultant you might be very good at what you do. But understanding what you should charge, finding an accountant, insurance and all the sides of a business might be foreign.
Our guest is Will Bachman, Founder and CEO Umbrex, which is the first global community connecting top-tier independent management consultants with one another. Will also hosts “Unleashed” a podcast focused on how to thrive as an Independent Professional.
Peter and Will dig into the best practices for running a podcast to increase awareness of your brand and what value can be created by having a podcast. Plus you’ll learn how having a podcast can keep you up to date on the state of your industry and how your podcast could be viewed as writing a book in public one page at a time!
Hosting a podcast is a great way to come up with new ideas. Our COO Bill Sherman has some other way to start your Idea Factory.
What is the formula for powering up in the face of complexity? How can you differentiate between difficult challenges and complex challenges?
Our guest David Komlos, CEO & Co-Founder of Syntegrity Group works with Fortune 500 companies on transformation and issue related to complexity. Together with is partner David Benjamin they have authored the upcoming book "Cracking Complexity".
David shares with us his unique process of writing the book and what method saw a 40% change in the book over a two week period!
Peter and David talk about why Thought Leadership content marketing is a great indispensable way to amplify the impact you are having and really scale why there is no close second method and why you need to be really aggressive when going after your goals.
If you have a book coming out you’ll need a solid launch strategy. Let Thought Leadership Leverage make that complex process easier for you.
Many people struggle with getting content out because they feel it has to be perfect. That feeling can cause anxiety, fear, and create issues in other parts of your life. How do you go about making great content while letting go of your perfectionism?
Internationally renowned fitness expert and wellness leader Petra Kolber is our guest! As a beacon for change for authentic happiness she shares advice from her first book "Perfection Detox".
Writing a book can seem like an overwhelming task; Petra shares what it took to get it done and how an author’s vision of success can be very different from a publishers. Can that difference cause friction?
Together with Peter they discuss leveraging speaking engagements into a longer commitment to further add value and how to scale your passion of delivering content live to avoid burn out.
You can find more great wisdom from Petra on “Perfection Detox Podcast”.
For some great advice from Peter on “Scaling You” check out this short video.
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) is a term typically used when addressing education policy and curriculum in schools. However these type of organizations exist at the enterprise level too. How can you help these organizations and the people that run them be more effective at what they do?
Dr. Ryan Lahti, founder and managing principal of OrgLeader, author of "The Finesse Factor" is a strategic adviser to Fortune 500 and mid-size companies helping bring finesse to the way they operate. Ryan shares with Peter how he decided what stories and data to include in his book and methods for getting his message out. In addition they discuss how writing a book is a different animal than writing an article or paper and why you need to practice what you preach in your book.
More than a third of American's are working the Gig Economy, mixing short term jobs, contract work and freelance assignments. If you are going to work in the Gig Economy what should you ask yourself when taking jobs? Our guest Diane Mulcahy, is the author of "The Gig Economy", teaches the coarse at Babson Collage, is a contributor to Forbes, Huffington Post, Harvard Business Review and is a professional investor! She shares with Peter the advantages to not working the typical full-time job, how to find the type of work you like the most, and how going deep on a subject can pay long term dividends.
Too many business books don't think about the audience appropriately. Have you thought about the specific person you want to write to? Do you speak the language to reach them? Or should you be seeking a writing partner or ghost writer to make your message clear. Our guest Bronwyn Fryer, is a collaborative writer and editor who has worked with best-selling author Dan Ariely, Dr. Edward Hallowell, Fred Kofman and many more. Peter and Brownyn discuss what a ghost writer can do for you and what a business book needs not only to be successful but good. In addition they share advice on what publishers are looking for, how to outline a book, and the long term effects of having a book on the market.
The purpose of writing a business book has changed over the years. While the focus might have been on units sold, it has shifted to being a tool to increase your reach, brand recognition, and cache.
Our guest Lori Ames, Founder and CEO of PR Freelancer Agency sits down with Peter to share her expertise in publicity, public relations, and marketing for non-fiction authors.
Lori gives advice on how to approach a PR firm, what the long term and sustainable purpose of your book should look like, and why books no longer have a shelf life. In addition to book publishing Peter and Lori discuss the effects of having out dated materials on your website or blog and the benefits of hiring a PR firm directly.
Writing a book can be a daunting task. During the process you have to make sure the other parts of your business continue to work. Peter shares advice for making sure the book writing process doesn't control you.
When writing a book on your content it is easy to feel handcuffed by a fear of saying too much, but there is value in having to write down what you do in a way that others can understand and implement it. Our guest is David Benjamin, Co-Founder and Chief Architect of Syntegrity Group, who specialize in advise for Fortune 500 and Government leaders on how to organize for complexity. David is also the co-author of the upcoming book "Cracking Complexity" available on May 7th, 2019. David sits down with Peter to discuss the process they took writing the book as co-authors, who found a 3rd partner in a ghost writer. They discuss taking their proven method and making a market for it where their target audience might not have been aware they needed the solution. It takes a solid strategy to forge your own marketplace for your product and methods. Make sure you have one in place by working with Thought Leadership Leverage.
We are celebrating our 100th episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership with Peter Winick. Over the last year we have had the honor of having some of the biggest and brightest Thought Leaders, Authors, Publishers, Markets and content creators from a wide variety of industries.
In a retrospective we look back at just a few of our favorite guests and some of the best advice they've been able to provide our listeners.
Chester Elton highlights the need to build relationships and build content. Juliet Funt shares her expertise in Keynote speaking. Stephen MR Covey talks about various modalities and how to align your profit with your mission. Allison Shapira tackles price vs value and the various audiences you might work for. Chip Conely dives into marketing and refining your client avatar and last but not least Daniel Pink discusses his experience with publisher and agents and how they have been a big part of his success in the book industry.
We thank all of our listeners and ask you to continuing tuning in, sharing our content, and helping us make the next 100 episodes even more successful.
Are you looking for creative and interesting way to scale your content? Are you a Thought Leader with content based on teaching some important information? Do you spend too much time focused on speaking engagements and not enough time developing the business? Are you willing to eat your own dog food? Because to succeed you need to!
Our guest Kate Vitasek, a teacher at the University of Tennessee, Founder of Vested, author of "Vested", "The Vested Outsourcing Manual", "Getting to We", monthly contributor to Forbes and Keynote speaker brings a wealth of knowledge on building a business off following the very principles she teaches.
Kate shares how to make a win-win licensing model and why the standard agreement might not be what you need. Along with Peter they share interesting ways to scale your content, how to make sure your spend time on all aspects of your business from content creation to speaking and how you can change the world one deal at a time
Writing a book is hard, but selling a book is even harder. You can make that task easier by hiring a good PR person but how will you know if the fit is right? What questions should you ask? What is the publishing house going to do for you? These are all important questions but what do the right answers look like?
Our guest Tess Woods is an entrepreneurial leader with 20+ years of experience in strategy, branding, thought leadership, and hands-on campaign development who has been featured in The New York Times, Bloomberg Business Week, and Forbes
Peter and Tess discuss why you need to set your expectations for sales, have a marketing plan in place, and be building your followership well in advance. Along with those topics Tess gives expertise on finding a PR person that will fit your needs, understand your genre, and have success in the market your book will be in.
If you want to understand what having a best-selling book means and why hitting that benchmark might not be that important for your goals you'll need to listen to this episode!
When building your Avatar you need to discover what motivates them, what inspires them, what are they worried about, and what is the biggest problem in their environment . Our guest Anton Gunn, is a keynote speaker, the number one authority on presidential leadership in the healthcare environment, and author of "The Presidential Principles" and "The Audacity of Leadership". Anton and Peter discuss how your keynote can be the commercial for what you actually do and how you need to point out the individual problem your avatar is having and how you are the unique solution to it as well as how to add value after a keynote for further business. If you are starting to write a book or take your content to market this episode has great advice for finding your audience, getting more out of keynote speaking, how the riches are in the niches.
When you start thinking about your book, when you put pen to paper, you should already be thinking about target market and publishing pathways. Naren Aryal, CEO of Mascot Books and Amplify Publishing and author of "How to Sell a Crapload of Books" sits down with Peter to share his expertise in the fastest growing publishing method: Hybrid! They share what potential authors should be thinking about before they start writing, the advantages of hybrid publishing, and reasons to write a book, beyond sales.
When it comes to marketing you can't just copy what others are doing. You need to put it through the filter of "what would mine tribe think?" Our guest Heather Dominick, founder and leader of the Highly Sensitive Entrepreneur at A Course In Business Miracles tells us how she transitioned from being a High School drama teacher to leading a movement for an underserved group of entrepreneurs. Heather shares her experience with finding her niche, making marketing trends work for her, and finding ways to best serve her audience.
In an era when everyone can be their own publisher, how to get your get message above the noise? Are you articulating what you are passionate about in a way that your audience can understand and relate? Kevin W. McCarthy, Chief Leadership Officer of On Purpose Partners and author of "On Purpose Person", "On Purpose Business Person" and "Chief Leadership Officer" joins Peter to discuss finding your purpose, delivering your message, and what you will have to have in order to make the sales of both your product and yourself. Kevin can help you discover your purpose in just two words!
Finding the funds for your start up can be a challenge, but the secret is there is no shortage of money or people looking to invest. You just have to know where to look and what they are looking for. Judy Robinett, author of "Crack the Funding Code" and "How to be a Power Connector" introduces us to the world of crowd funding and angel investors who might be the solution to your money troubles. In addition Judy and Peter discuss doing due diligence and how you can make yourself an attractive guest for podcasts and other interviews to help get your message out.
When starting your brand you have to think a lot about what will make it unique and different. How will you position your brand? Will you stay focused on a narrow scope or attempt to go broader? Kristi Faulkner, President of Women Kind and contributor to Forbes.com joins us to talk about her journey specializing in comprehensive and strategic marketing to the largest spending group... women! Kristi shares how she positions her brand against bigger companies, how to choose speaking engagements, and tips for being a good panelist.
A common issue people struggle with is time management. How do you find the time to do your job well and still spend time with your friends and family? Author of "Always Growing" and "Getting To It" Jones Loflin joins us to share his "3P Approach"; Powerful Ideas, Practical Solutions, and a Personal Approach. Jones shares his experience as a speaker and trainer. The importance of rekindling relationships you might have neglected and why you need to focus on the people that want to hear from you.
How do you go from being a major player in the tech industry to owner of a lifestyle based water company? It's an amazing journey and Kara tells us how and why she did it. Kara Goldin, Founder and CEO of Hint Inc a San Francisco based healthy lifestyle company specializing in flavored water is our guest. She shares with Peter her transition from technology to water, how you can compete with the advertising budget of larger companies, and why you should hire people who know something you don't.
Do you feel stuck in your career? Like you could be making more money, spending more time with family, and feeling more fulfilled? It is a problem many people face and one our guest knows a lot about. Andy Craig, a speaker and trainer helps people find their purpose while dealing with adversity and frustrations. Andy shares his journey finding his passion and not being afraid, while finding his audience and message. Get Andy's FREE report that might help you find your purpose!
When the old methods of leadership no longer work what do you do? Are the old practices so ingrained in your business that you can not see they are out of date? Outdated systems and methods are just a few of the reasons big companies fail and disappear.
Marcia Daszko, is catalyst for strategic leadership, transformation and innovation and the author of "Pivot, Disrupt, Transform". Marcia shares her experience bringing the transformation needed help companies rise above, why the numbers might not be the first thing you should be looking at, and what has changed in leadership over the years.
Today's method of training is moving more towards online courses. Are the skills needed to speak in person the same as those needed for a successful webinar? Jill Schiefelbein, owner of the Dynamic Communicator and author of "Dynamic Communication" discusses how she moved from being an educator to pioneering the webinar scene. She shares the skills needed and challenges you'll face hosting webinars. What trainers need to be effective and the importance of volunteering your time.
We get a different perspective on Thought Leadership this episode by talking to a medical doctor. Dr. David Katz, Founding Director of Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center, Founder and President of True Health Initiative and Author of "The Truth About Food" shares how he became a doctor and ultimately an influencer for a healthier life. The choices David makes as a health practitioner involving in so many organization to get his message is parallels those of Thought Leaders in any industry making his advise invaluable for all of our listener.
What are the building blocks of an effective business? Do you just need to know your content? Or do you also have to put your heart and soul into it? Daniel Pink, New York Times bestselling author of "When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing" and "To Sell is Human" is our guest. Daniel and Peter delve into the cyclical nature of business books, book agents, publishing, and what it takes to build a successful business.
Connecting your brand with Gen Z can be a difficult task. How do you speak to the market with authenticity and relevance? Gregg L. Witt, Chief strategy officer at the Engage Youth Company and author of "The Gen Z Frequency" shares his years of experience as a youth brand strategist helping brands reach tweens, teens, and young adults. Gregg and Peter discuss the benefits of giving content away, building communities, and the value of building true relationships.
With technology the world is a different place, but there are basics of selling that will never change. Our guest is Jack Daly, a leading sales speaker with more than 30 years of experience and author of Best Selling books "Hyper Sales Growth" and "The Sales Playbook". Jack and Peter talking about finding clarity for yourself, using leverage to get more business, and the need for assistants. For some great free content check out Jack's magazine.
What does it take for you to be considered trust worthy? It's a function of two major factors expertise and empathy. Jim Karrh, Consultant, Speaker, Coach and author of the book "Managing the Message" coming later this year is our guest this week. He shares with us the importance of building trust, crafting the right message, and the value of writing a book. You can learn more from Jim on his podcast "Manage Your Message"
Taking your book to market comes with many decisions people won't considered until after the book is written. Have you clearly defined your audience? Do you seek a traditional publisher or self publish? Our guest Allison Shapira, CEO of Global Public Speaking and author of "Speak with Impact" gives us her insight on getting her book published, pricing vs value, and how success comes from building relationships of trust with clients.
As you get a calling deep in your soul to do what matters to you take the opportunity if it feels right. Even if you don't know what you are doing because you will learn along the way. Our guest Jody B. Miller, CEO of C2C Executive Search & Strategic Management and best selling author of "From Drift to Shift" introduces us to the MISOGI Method and why being happy with who you are is important to having success in all areas of your life. Together Jody and Peter discuss getting published, taking opportunities when presented, and figuring out the path of a Thought Leader.
When seeking a way to connect with your audience it is often your own personal story that has the greatest impact. We connect with our guest Anthony Davenport, CEO of Regal Credit Management and author o f "Your Score: Understanding, Controlling, and Protecting your Credit Score" on his journey from loan officer to CEO, author, and speaker. Anthony shares with us his journey getting published, working with a ghost writer, and being an entrepreneur.
How do you go about strategically selecting speaking engagements that you can turn into something more after the event? Michael Landers, Principle of Culture Crossing and author of the book "Culture Crossing" is our guest. Michael shares his experience on having a successful speaking engagement, navigating the awkward conversation of budgets, and the need for consistency in both performance and pricing.
Today's world is about facilitation, you need to figure out how to facilitate meaningful conversation and allow people to feel heard and understood. Our guest Lynda McNutt-Foster, CEO of Cortex Leadership Consulting and author of "Time Mastery" and "4 Keys to More Effective Leadership" shares her expertise as a coach and speaker. Lynda and Peter discuss how to deal with rainmakers, learning to work together, and how to make your audience feel heard and understood.
When you are able to build relevant business content, truly intellectually simulating ideas on top of great platform skills then you can really get noticed in the world of speaking. On this episode our guest is Juliet Funt, CEO of WhiteSpace at Work and premier keynote speaker. Peter and Juliet discuss the move from keynote speaking to a scaleable business, the differences between working with mid-size and fortune companies, and the need for practice regardless of natural talent.
There are 3 levels to honesty. And when leaders align all three levels within themselves and their organizations that is when they truly dominate their industry.
Our guest is Peter Kozodoy, Chief Strategy Officer for GEM Advertising and author of "Honest to Greatness". The Peter's discuss entrepreneurship, why you need to be brutally honest and how your identity is your company. If we're not learning we're dying as entrepreneurs. Listen in to learn more!
Almost everyone is on social media these days but as a Thought Leaders what are the do's and do not of using social media? We welcome Karen Yankovich, President of Up Level Media and host of the podcast "Good Girls get Rich". Karen shares her expertise on social media and how it is about the conversation and not just throwing out content. Peter and Karen tackle some of the etiquette for successfully reaching people on social media and not coming off as pushy.
This is a must hear episode!
If you are having trouble with the content for you book you might have to switch how you look at it from writing the book you want to writing the book people will want to read. Peter welcomes Denise Lee Yohn, brand building expert and author of "Fusion" and "What Great Brands Do". Together they discuss the mental and financial burden of getting a book published. Finding the angle to write the book people want to read. And getting the most value out of a position before you make the leap to something else.
Advertising is there to prop up brands that are not doing that well. Really good brands don't need advertising. Aaron Keller, CEO of Capsule and author of "The Physics of Brand" shares why advertising is the tax you pay for not being interesting. Why you need to have a passion for the content you create. What you need to write a good book. And if writing media a few hours a week can have a noticeable return.
A good use of soft skills can make up more than 50% of what drives performance. Nathan Regier,CEO of Next Element and author of "Conflict without Causalities" joins Peter to discuss the changes in the corporate space, switching sales models, and the slow train of effects that take place after your book is published.
Having a coach is a must have for any senior executive who is ambitious to really leverage themselves and leverage the team they have. John Murphy, executive coach and owner of John Murphy International joins Peter to share the power of having a coach, how you can tell if a client is going to be a good fit,and why you need to be the walking embodiment of of the values that are core to your organization. Check out more of John's content: http://www.johnmurphyinternational.com/leveragingthought/
When faced with adversity you need to be accountable for what happened but also look for the lesson to be learned from it. James Kelley, a professor at United Arab Emirates University and author of "The Crucible's Gift" shares his knowledge on how those who can embrace their adversity thrive better as a leader. Together James and Peter discuss building digital content and how you can set yourself apart from the rest of the market.
When delivering content you need to energize the learners who will go out and leverage their strengths and build relationships based on the content. Vicki Halsey, Vice President of Applied Learning at The Ken Blanchard Companies and author of "The Hamster Revolution" and "Brilliance by Design" joins Peter to share why teachers should only spend 30% of their time speaking and 70% of the time listening to students. If you want to know how to deliver content and have learners be engaged this is a must listen episode.
When starting out as an author it can be a good idea to reach out to other authors for tips on getting started. Amy Radin, Marketing and Innovation expert and author of "The Change Makers Playbook" joins Peter to discuss the process of writing her first book and what she learned along the way. In addition they share their knowledge on marketing, pricing, and content development in this must listen episode!
In the past the initial marketing push for your book came from the publisher. Now you have to create your own marketing campaign.
Barbara Cave Henricks, Founder of Cave Henricks Communications and author of "Mastering the New Media Landscape" gives us her expertise on the mistakes people make launching their book, how your should prepare now for the book you might write in the future, and how to set your expectations before you book launch.
In the content business there are only three ways to make more money. Do more of what you are doing. Do more of what you are doing at a higher price point. Or digitise and scale your content. Jackie Woodside, radio and TV personality, Tedx speaker and author of "Calming the Chaos" and "Time for Change" joins Peter to discuss expanding her profits, getting better traction in the market place, and having to do the parts of the business you might not love.
What makes a healthy business tick? Why do some businesses get off track, fall out of line and have missteps that become patterns? Guy Pierce Bell, author of "Unlearning Leadership" and accidental Thought Leader joins Peter to discuss how to keep your business healthy, where innovation happens, and how to prepare after you've booked a speaking engagement. If you want a better understanding of Guy's adventures from musician to Thought Leader be sure to listen in.
What does it mean to be a modern elder? And do you need one in your workplace? Or are you one already?
Chip Conley, Founder of the Modern Elder Academy, Head of Global Hospitality and Strategy at Airbnb and author of "Emotional Equations", "Peak", and his newest book "Wisdom at Work" joins Peter to discuss the concept of a Modern Elder, how age diversity is important in the work place, tips for writing a book, and finding your audience.
This episode is overflowing with great advice be sure to listen in!
What does it take in terms of managing yourself, leveraging your team, and engaging your colleagues for leaders to be fully at their best? Scott Eblin, President of the Eblin Group and author of "The Next Level" and "Overworked and Overwhelmed" joins Peter to discuss how a book can be one channel for a set of ideas but can become the foundation for your entire business for years to come.
People tend to learn differently today than they did in the past. How do content providers cater to the new generation to ensure what they put out is digestible by today's market? Lisa Nirell, founder of Energize Growth and author of "The Mindful Marketer" and "Energize Growth Now" discusses how to make your content for various modalities, the benefits of partnering with LinkedIn, and the power of community! If you have content and want to connect with the current generation don't miss this episode!
As you progress through your journey as a Thought Leader you always have to be willing to learn and unlearn. As times change what once worked may no longer work and being able to grow and change is key.
Holly G. Green, CEO of The Human Factor and author of "Using Your Brain to Win" shares her advice on how she has kept up with the changes in the content space, how writing, speaking and consulting can feed each other, and why making the highest billable hour isn't always best for the long term.
When starting out if you don't have a large network, affiliate with others who are further along to leverage their contacts.
Jim Jubelirer, of Jubelirer Results Group and co-author of "Mastering the Art of Success" joins Peter to talk about his time as a Thought Leader and how he affiliated to move further along. Together they share advice on networking, finding your audience, and why you need to invest in learning about yourself.
Jim also shares why the future is brighter than you think!
http://www.jubelirerresultsgroup.com/leveragingthought/
One simple philosophy for success as a consultant is Be Helpful. Don't make it about selling more tomorrow. You have to genuinely help and be clear about what help you can give.
Thomas Barta primer marketing leadership expert and author of "The 12 Powers of a Marketing Leader" sits down with Peter to help our listeners with advise on marketing, being distinctive, and how keynote speaking can be an opportunity to test new concepts that might one day work themselves into a book.
How do you go from being really good as an investor to developing processes and methodologies that are teachable?
This week Mark Kenney, founder of Think Multifamily and seasoned real estate investor joins us to shares his journey from investor to content producer running webinars and multi-day events helping others find their way in the multifamily investor scene. If you are curious about what it takes to get into investing in multifamily buildings, understand the risks of moving from expert to content provider, and getting tips on how to make the move yourself be sure to listen to this episode.
In your first year of consulting you might find yourself doing anything to pay the bills all the while figuring out what niche you want to specialise in and what areas you do not want to work in.
Dan Hawkins President of Summit Leadership Partners shares his journey from corporate America to the other side of the fence. Peter and Dan discuss the importance of a consistent and ongoing online presence, how to not go broke pitching against bigger firms, and why having original tools for you clients is key!
Publishing books sometimes isn't about making money. It can be about
building credibility, making your brand, and having resources to give
to clients
Erika Andersen, Founding partner of Proteus International and author
of "Be Bad First" shares her insight on how the publishing landscape
has changed, the benefits of getting a book published beyond sales,
and how to make sure you have a successful book.
For information on why you need to be the CEO of your book stay tuned!
Do you have a blog? Or are you thinking about starting one? If so you have to have consistency in your posting schedule and write in a manner that reaches a wider audience than you might be used to writing for.
This week Dayne Shuda, owner of Ghost Blog Writers, joins us to give some great advise about how to have a successful blog and what you can expect if you go with hiring a ghost writer to maintain your blog presence. A blog can gain you traffic to your website, connections on social media, and so much more. Listen in to learn how.
Of all the challenges and problems we see in the work world how can we address those through being more effective leading self, leading
others, and leading the organization.
Jan Rutherford, founder of Self Reliant Leadership and author of "The
Littlest Green Beret" guides us through his experience of teaching in
the military at age 19 to running his own company taking top level
executives and veterans though expeditions to foster the exchange of
new ideas!
The most important thing as a Thought Leaders is to be generous with your thoughts and to be generous with your help.
Lee Caraher, President of Double Forte and author of "Millennials & Management" is generous with her help today sharing her experience dealing with Millennials in the work place, having a book deal dropped into her lap, and why you need to own your own content space.
If you have a solution to a problem, tune in to find out why you should share it and how to best do that.
If you are looking to be a guest on a podcast what are the things you should be aware of and look for. If you are going to host your own podcast it should not only tell the audience what you do, but what you are an expert at.
This week we get meta with out guest Matt Johnson, host of the "YouX" podcast and Founder / CEO of Pursuing Results. Matt shares a bit of his expertise in using podcasting to break into new markets and build strategic relationships.
If you are thinking of starting a podcast don't miss this episode!
Building brand equity can take a really long time and you have to be patient. If you do it right it will pay off!
Christopher Watters, CEO of Christopher Watters International Realty and co-author of "The Million Dollar Real Estate Team" takes us in a different direction this week. Listen in to learn how a real estate agent doing 50x the business of an average agent formed a methodology to teach how he did it.
Chris discusses with Peter the process of going from the B-C to B-B world, the hardships of building brand equity, and how you can hire a team that become experts in their role. This episode has knowledge to share that goes well beyond the Real Estate game!
The internet has changed a lot in the Thought Leader world. The content creation cycle is a lot faster than it used to be and you can no longer just be a speaker or an author. Something that has not changed is you have to know what you stand for.
Cathy Paper, Founder of RockPaperStar and expert in strategic assessment and coaching, joins us to share her experience in helping people develop their content and packaging themselves.
Cathy and Peter give advise on finding your audience, scaling content, and the usefulness of group programs.
Writing your book is only 10% of the effort. The other 90% comes from how you market it, package it, the platform you put it on, and the connectivity you have with your audience.
This week Robert "Dusty" Staub founder and CEO of Staub Leadership and author of "The Heart of Leadership" and The Seven Acts of Courage" joins us to talk about how the publishing landscape has changed over the last 20 years, what level of promotion you can expect from your publisher, and how your book can be both resource and calling card.
If you want to hear how you can turn a speaking engagement into selling hundreds if not thousands of your books tune in!
As a Thought Leader you might feel like you have content that can help everyone. But few have the money to market everyone. The key is to find your niche and market to them!
This week Naphtali Hoff, a successful coach at Impactful Coaching & Consulting and author of "Becoming the New Boss" sits down to discuss his methods for content creation, publishing strategy, and how he went about finding his niche market.
If you are just moving into the Thought Leader space from another occupation finding your value and understanding how you are going to serve your clients can be a tough hill to climb. Tune in and take advantage of the years of wisdom Naphtali and Peter have to share!
As a speaker you have to have clarity of purpose and your purpose is to attract clients. You have to know how you can leverage your speaking engagements into truly becoming a business.
This week Dave Lorenzo, speaker, business strategy consultant and author of "The 60 Second Sale" joins us to dispense some hard truths that other might not tell you. The information you need to hear is: speaking is not a business. It is an opportunity to get in front of an audience and show your value so you can provide that value later on for a multiple of what you would make doing a speech.
Dave and Peter discuss how to develop a relationship, how giving away product can turn into big money, and why it is important to tailor your offer to your audience.
If you want to know what know one else will tell you, don't miss this episode!
There are a lot of ways for a Thought Leader to get paid. Write, speak, advise, building, and training are just some. How can you know which direction to turn your focus? How will you know what the market wants from you?
Tim Sanders, CEO of Deeper Media Research and author of New York Times Bestselling book "Love is a Killer App" has done it all during his career. Today he sits down with Peter to discuss sticking with his gut on the title of his book, his advisory role to businesses going through transition, and what you should be willing to take a risk on.
If you are transitioning from business to speaker / writer this episode will help you understand the needs of being an indirect or direct marketer and why you should be careful collaborating with gatekeepers.
Show the love and listen!
Too often the work place is not considered somewhere the front line employee can make a difference or feel like they are part of something bigger. How can you inspire your employees to show up to work and know their why, beyond just making a paycheck. This week Ryan McCarty, co-founder of Culture of Good and co-author of "Building a Culture of Good" sits down with Peter to discuss how he took his experience in the not for profit world and changed the corporate culture of TCC Communications and many other businesses. Ryan shares his knowledge on why profit doesn't have to be evil. How you can have fun, build your business, and make a difference in the world. If you want your why to equal your what. Tune in!
Forty years ago a speaker could give the same speech to every client. With the reach of technology companies not only expect a key note customized for them but to be able to access your material at any time. How can you take a sixty minute keynote and turn it into something that can truly move the bar? Patricia Fripp, a Certified Speaking Professional, former President of the National Speakers Association, and creator of FrippVT, joins Peter to share her years of experience on how the speakers market has changed and how client expectations have changed. She also gives advise for taking your speaking ability to the virtual realm and why a speakers has to be an excellent listener as well. Test your listening skills and tune in!
In the world of training and the speed of technology it can become adapt or die. When you make the move to digital with your content you have to ask a lot of questions. What platform should you use? How do you break your content down into bite size chucks? And how do you create value in distance learning are just a few. Eric Lofholm, International Master Sales Trainer and author of the best selling book "The System" joins Peter to discuss his journey from being one month away from being fired from his sales job to becoming one of the top sellers in just 60 days. How he used his experience working with Tony Robbins to start his business, and what you should do when moving your training content to an online model. Take action in the face of resistance and don't miss this episode!
Are you a CEO who has lost the love for your work? Burned out and not sure where to go next? It is a common problem that happens to a lot of professionals when their role changes over time. What was once a fulfilling position might feel like little more than paper pushing, leaving you to question what your strengths are and where to go next. Susan Peppercorn, Career Coach with Positive Workplace Partners and author of the new book "Ditch Your Inner Critic at Work" joins Peter to tells us why people often underestimate their own strengths and how Positive Psychology can help you find a new path.
Companies will spend almost a billion dollars in the US this year on training, but what should your training be focused on? Shane Green, President of SGEi and author of "Culture Hacker" joins Peter to tell you why training might actually be the last piece of the puzzle your company needs to move its customer service forward. Starting his career at the Ritz-Carlton, Shane has become a leader in customer experience and organization culture. Together Peter and Shane discuss the process of turning customer experience knowledge into a book. How important it is to have your content out in all aspects of the market, and why re-purposing content can save you time and grow your audience.
When you are developing your platform it isn't temporary. It's got to feel good, you have to be proud of it and it has to be part of you. Dana Shaw Arimoto, founder of Phoenix5 and author of the “Stop Settling” movement talks with Peter about her journey.
Together they share advise and experience working together validating a platform born out of personal necessity. Turning that platform into a book and navigating the road of publishing. And finally taking that book and turning it into a valid assessment tool that can reach anyone regardless of age, gender, or occupation.
If you are struggling with work / life balance, trying to understand the publishing world, or trying to make your assessment tool valid this is the show you must listen to.
If you are an established academic writer looking to make the jump to a more general audience with your material you could end up facing a lot of hardships you did not expect. Today on Leveraging Thought Leadership Jackie Stavros, co-author of the new book “Conversations Worth Having” from Berrett-Koehler Publishers talks about her experience going from a well-respected academic writer to meeting the demands of publishing a book in the life-style genre.
How do you go about finding the right publisher? What should you know before you approach a publisher? How do you manage having to change the voice you speak in, the constraints of page counts, and the often under estimated task of actually launching the book are just a few of the stumbling blocks you might encounter. Be sure to listen in as Jackie shares her story and Peter shares his expertise on the publishing world.
If you are seeking to take your assessment product to the market place you are going to need to know where the opportunity for growth is! Are you aware of why videos need to be shorter than 8 minutes followed by a questionnaire? Do you want to use an off the shelf tested assessment that thousands of companies use. Or do you want to create your own based on your own content? What competencies do you want to measure? If you are already feeling overwhelmed then stay tuned!
This week Dr. Tony Alessandra, CEO of Assessments 24x7 LLC and a prolific author of best-selling books including The NEW Art of Managing People, Charisma; the Platinum Rule, and Communicating at Work joins Peter to shed light on the importance of instructional design to break down your material into specific learning points. Why selling your assessment product on a small scale first can make it easier to get a customer to invest company wide and the importance of keeping in constant contact with your colleagues to get a picture of where the industry is going.
Politics in business is often considered to be taboo and not be be spoken of. Nancy Halpern, a leadership consultant and pioneer in the field of leadership development joins Peter to to discuss how politics can yield positive results and three inspiring tips for anyone starting out on their journey as a Thought Leader.
When it comes to brand marketing it is easy to get lost in the crowd if your not a huge company. This week Adam Witty, Founder and CEO of Advantage | ForbesBooks and author of Authority Marketing shares his insight on how to give credibility to your brand, who you should seek out for feedback, and how quizzes can draw in potential clients. If you are thinking about writing your first book be sure to listen to all the great advise Adam and Peter have to share.
The traditional approach is not always the best. This week Austin Belcak, founder of Cultivated Culture joins Peter to share how he took an unconventional route to landing his dream job at Microsoft and how he turned that method into a business of its own.
If you are seeking your dream job, or seeking to grow your network Austin’s advice is sure to help you on your way.
As a Thought Leader you might be tempted to hold back from putting all of your content into a book. Stephen M. R. Covey author of “The Speed of Trust”, co-founder and CEO of CoveyLink sits down with Peter to talk about why it is okay to put your content out there, how to find the right modality for your client, and how you can make your margin by serving your mission.
When starting a new relationship with a client do you tell them what you have to offer? Or let them tell you what they need? Rose Fass, founder and CEO of fassforward and author of “The Chocolate Conversation” talks with Peter about starting out in the Thought Leader world, how to approach the initial meeting with a new client, and how to make your overwhelmed employees more focused and engaged.
Being authentic can lead to having happy employees from the CEO down to the front line staff. Lesley Everett, Founder and CEO of Walking Tall have been making that happen for corporations worldwide. This week on Leveraging Thought Leadership, Lesley joins Peter to share her insight on the authentic personality of your brand, how to target events to be at, and the changes in eLearning tools in recent years.
Using a journalistic style when starting to write can be an effective method in cutting through the noise in an overcrowded blog space. Internationally recognized executive coach and leadership educator John Baldoni joins Peter this week to discuss how publishing has changed over the years and what you should expect from publishing your first book as well as various means of reaching a wider audience.
Struggling on how to identify and often connect with the audience can be a hurdle for some thought leaders, but today Peter is joined by best selling author and international speaker Dov Baron to discuss the importance of having a strong team around you, identifying your target audience and how being vulnerable can help connect you with your audience in a an impactful and meaningful way.
There's a disconnect between authors and publishers. Publishers are trying to sell books to bookstores. As a thought leader, you want to target the audience and build your brand. David Burkus joins Peter to talk about launching his new book Friend of a Friend and building his speaking business, curating his network, and finding success. If you want tips on driving business growth, this episode is the place to start.
You can't get an MBA in Thought Leadership. When you're looking for credentials for your business, your first big book is a great launchpad for your brand. But how do you know when you're ready to write? Peter is joined by Harper Tucker, VP of Authority Marketing at Advantage Media / Forbes Books to discuss the foundation you need to ensure a successful book launch for your brand.
Connecting skilled writers with unique voices is a day in the life of our podcast guest this week, Dan Gerstein, President of Gotham Ghostwriters, joins Peter to talk about discovering voice, creating content, and building the relationship to create your next book or speech.
Dan shares insights on how writing a book is like being CEO of a pop-up business and bringing in a writer is like hiring a Chief Product Officer. If you're looking to maximize the impact of your book, this episode is required reading.
If you've ever tried to do product development first and market research second, you may wind up with a great product that no one wants to buy. Content expert, David Mammano, joins Peter for a conversation about the journey of an entrepreneur in the content space. David talks about letting the market determine which ideas are worth investing in and licensing content to drive business growth.
Your model is the skeleton that your content needs to anchor it. This week, Erica Dhawan joins Peter to discuss model building, content development, and business growth. She explains how she shaped her assessment tools with a data driven mindset and translated that data into targeted sales strategy.
If you are looking for strategies to establish a lean and powerful sales funnel, check out the episode. Erica's strategy and tips would have a powerful impact on any thought leadership business.
Consulting is a problem solving business. Those problems are changing. The modern consulting landscape needs to change too. Futurist, author, and thought leader Thomas Koulopoulos joins Peter to discuss the ways that thought leadership and consulting businesses can adapt to the challenges of today and tomorrow.
From the overall strategy and product design to tactical decisions and deployments, the conversation covers all aspects of thought leadership business and gives a clear idea of how to plan for success when planning future products.
Don't be afraid to take a risk and create content without worrying about perfection! Roger Brooks from American Real joins Peter to talk about content creation, audience segmentation, and finding your tribe. If you are a thought leader creating content online, this is an episode that can't be missed.
Roger shares his experience learning about podcasting, video creation, and then passing his skills on to others on American Real. Roger shares how he got over his perfectionism and committed to creating content that is exceptional and accessible - skills that will help anyone build their brand in the modern content landscape.
The thought leader's journey is never a straight forward A to B. You're going to have to forge your own path, define your strategy, and set your own targets. Leadership expert, speaker, and author Ron Carucci joins Peter to talk about how he got his journey on track by working with a professional coach and the experience of being on the other side of the consultant's desk. Ron talks about the insight he gained in setting his goals and defining his audience to capitalize on his content.
For any thought leader looking to use podcasting as part of their business development and branding, listen in to this week's episode. Peter is joined by author, speaker, and podcaster Andy Paul and their conversation covers the essential skills needed for podcasting as a thought leader.
Andy's deep understanding of the sales process and brand building provide an excellent template for thought leaders who are looking to make a splash with their content and bring it to market using podcasts as part of their branding.
Don't ever plan to be average. Know your niche and lay the groundwork for success by doing your research into the client's needs and how your content attacks those issues and provides solutions. Lt. Col. Rob 'Waldo' Waldman joins Peter to share his approach to creating authentic, powerful, and actionable content. Waldo provides insight into his high energy, high impact style of sales and the preparation that is essential to his success and staying power.
Waldo talks candidly about the steps he uses to create and curate his brand and sales funnel. The episode is inspiring for anyone looking to improve their sales game and drive a big change in their business.
Shannon Huffman Polson joins Peter to discuss her journey from serving as one of the first female Apache pilot in the US Armed Service to running a business group at Microsoft to authoring a memoir and business book. She shares the advantages of working with Peter and Thought Leadership Leverage to develop her business model (and gives a glowing review).
Shannon discusses developing her diverse product offering beyond keynote speaking and creating a hub for the content: The Grit Institute. Shannon shares her experience investing in the right mix of products (for her and her clients), targeting and segmenting the audience, and the entrepreneurial spirit at work as a thought leader.
If you're looking to position yourself as an authority, grow your audience, and market yourself as a thought leader, do not miss this episode.
From the hosting chair on ForbesBooks Radio, we're joined by Gregg Stebben for this week's episode to share his insights on the world of podcasting, publishing, and interviewing. Gregg's experience as a successful author has led him to join the Forbes publishing group and help other thought leaders achieve success in publishing and marketing their next book. His experience is invaluable for a thought leader looking to market their next book project and the episode is full of great tips.
Author and Brandeis Professor of Business, Andy Molinsky, joins Peter for an invigorating conversation about his journey into thought leadership from the academic world. Andy's decision to create thoughtful and engaging content that is focused on practical skills development and getting out of your comfort zone is the core of his brand. He discusses candidly the process of diversifying his content into new formats and marketing those products.
Andy talks about the challenge of balancing life with his young family, the rigors of academic research, and his thought leadership work. It's a complicated balancing act and Andy shares his experience finding the right mix of investment and time to accomplish his goals in the thought leadership space.
Want to know if your content will get you in the door with enterprise clients? Peter is joined by Thought Leadership Leverage's COO, Bill Sherman, for a conversation about the strategy of scaling your content for major enterprise clients. Bill's expertise on the training industry shines as the conversation covers the importance of digital and accessible training programs in a landscape of reduced training budgets and higher than ever expectations.
This week, we have an in-depth case study of growing a thought leadership business with Pete Weissman. Pete identified his talent for speech-writing and speaking and wanted to amplify his impact by diversifying his offering, focusing his search to a very specific client base, and addressing a very specific need within their organization.
Pete shares his expertise on how to chart the path for this evolution in your own business and how to find your niche.
Publishing your first book or even your tenth book feels like a massive accomplishment, but, in reality, what you do after publishing determines the success or failure of your book in the modern publishing landscape. There's a lot of hard work and hustle still ahead!
Peter is joined by Tanya Hall from Greenleaf Book Group to discuss the path from author to authority after publishing a book in the thought leadership space. Tanya shares the strategies that thought leaders need to manage a successful book campaign, content creation to support the book, and how to advertise and publicize your project for long term success.
This week sales and technology expert, Phil Gerbyshak, brings a fresh take on the keynote speaking engagement - why you should consider giving it away for free and how your business can benefit from capitalizing on the audience in the room.
Phil shares his expertise on how to manage relationships and generate more meaningful contacts and concrete leads using your network. Phil discusses how to produce engaging and exciting video content for your target market.
Mark Jacobs from MeBox Media joins Peter to talk about the journey his company has been on in creating a collaborative and community based learning platform. Mark shares insight about the necessity of building a community of practice and how building community is critical to scaling a thought leadership business and positioning yourself as an authority.
Listen in for great takeaways on the importance of clarity of vision, and a specific and clearly articulated point of view for your audience and how these key ideas will enhance the thought leader's position as an expert and authority for solving your clients' needs.
Peter is joined by The Trusted Advisor Charles H. Green to discuss the power of trust and how to create it in business and how building trust translates to more sales, improved relationships, and better clients.
Charles explains why he shares so much of his content for free and how it pays dividends to his business as a thought leader. He also explores how to successfully license content for long term success and what he has learned licensing his own content.
There are tons of great tips on building a brand, producing great thought leadership products, and qualifying your customers.
Listen in as Peter is joined by the multi-talented speaker, author, and coach Stever Robbins for an engaging conversation about the essential skill that every thought leader needs - expertise. Stever's wide array of talents and his extensive podcasting experience are showcased as he shares stories, tips, and learning!
Check out this electrifying conversation with customer experience expert and veteran thought leader Shep Hyken. Shep and Peter cover everything from customer experience, diversifying and managing a complex product offering, and finding a niche in the industry. Filled with great tips about content marketing, customer experience, and essential skills needed to grow a thought leadership business.
In an upbeat and fun conversation, retired Navy commander and speaker Chip Lutz joins Peter to discuss the importance of fun and humor in Chip's leadership strategy. They explore the process of content marketing for thought leaders and re-purposing content in different modalities to find new leads, build authentic relationships, and generate new opportunities for your business.
Acclaimed author, speaker, and innovator, Stephen Shapiro joins Peter to discuss the rewarding path he has forged for his business as a successful speaker and thought leader. Stephen shares his strategies for growing his business beyond speaking engagements and finding partners to license innovative products and properties. They conclude with a great discussion about the role of speaker's bureaus and tips for new thought leaders looking to make an impact.
This week, Peter Winick and Peter Shankman bring you an entertaining and high energy look at the essential skills a thought leader needs to stand out from the pack. Peter Shankman shares the power of social media for thought leaders, expert tips to grow your audience, and the importance of being relevant, real, and authentic.
What’s the best strategy for keeping your content fresh and impactful while keeping yourself passionate? Veteran speaker, author, and psychiatrist Dr. Mark Goulston joins Peter to share his experience in leveraging his own thought leadership and the value of presenting to new and different audiences. Dr. Goulston shares stories about how this process helped him discover his own content in fresh new ways.
In Episode 2, Peter and Nadia Bilchik discuss the essential skills thought leaders need to be found online. Nadia shares her expertise in building a strong personal brand based on networking with authentic relationships and how to be a valued connection to your network.
In our inaugural episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership, Peter Winick and Chester Elton, acclaimed speaker, co-founder of The Culture Works, and New York Times bestselling author of The Carrot Principle and the The Best Team Wins explore the impact of positivity in business. Listen in as they discuss building responsive and engaging thought leadership content to take the business beyond the book or speaking engagement to real growth and sustainability. Learn new strategies for creating adaptable content that is accessible to all audiences and when to transition from speaking to training.