This special edition of the Chief Influencer podcast brings together some of the most powerful moments from conversations with seven remarkable leaders who are shaping the future of influence across public policy, mental health, women’s rights, technology, journalism, and social impact.
Each guest: Jaymes Black, Patrick J. Kennedy, Kathryn Godburn Schubert, Craig Newmark, Frédérique Campagne Irwin, Steve Schwab, and Anna Palmer, approaches influence with authenticity, courage, and a deep commitment to service. Their stories illuminate how true influence is built: through connection, clarity, empathy, and a willingness to speak boldly for those who need it most.
Takeaways:
- Lead with human connection, not organizational talking points: Jaymes Black demonstrates that influence grows when leaders start with why the mission matters personally before describing what their organization does, grounding conversations in shared humanity.
- Scale your impact by elevating others’ stories: Patrick J. Kennedy shows that amplifying raw, courageous personal stories can move audiences more powerfully than statistics or policy arguments, helping leaders expand their influence with authenticity.
- Start with education to drive advocacy: Kathryn Godburn Schubert underscores that many decisions rest on misunderstandings—like the assumption that women are routinely included in medical research—so leaders must illuminate gaps, share facts clearly, and build awareness before change can happen.
- Ground your leadership in core values—and expect resistance: Craig Newmark illustrates that influence is strongest when anchored in moral principles like service and honesty, while reminding leaders that doing good often invites pushback from those threatened by integrity.
- Use authenticity to connect across audiences: Steve Schwab emphasizes blending personal motivations with professional strategy—sharing family, emotions, and purpose—to build trust, unify stakeholders, and inspire people through both vulnerability and competence.
- Treat LinkedIn as a leadership responsibility, not optional homework: Multiple guests show that consistently posting, tagging partners, celebrating others, and sharing behind-the-scenes moments turns social media into a strategic engine for connection, credibility, and collaboration.
- Influence through a multichannel strategy, not a silver bullet: Anna Palmer highlights that meaningful influence requires using a mix of platforms—from social media to hometown newspapers to direct outreach—because different audiences pay attention in different places.
Quote of the Show:
- “Influence today is a fragmented system—more people can be influential, and that’s a good thing for democracy. There’s no silver bullet. Influence requires a multi-platform, multi-audience strategy.” - Anna Palmer
Links:
- Kathryn Godburn Schubert
- Steven Schwab
- Jayme Black
- Anna Palmer
- Patrick J. Kennedy
- Frederique Irwin
- Craig Newmark
