What if the true secret to success in sales and leadership isn’t about being the best—it's about being there for someone else?

In this episode of The Influence Gap, Bernadette McClelland sits down with the #1 global sales guru of 2024, Colleen Stanley, to uncover the real power behind mentorship. Drawing from her farm-town roots and her groundbreaking book Be the Mentor Who Mattered, Colleen Stanley shares how small acts of guidance, risk-taking, and paying attention can turn ordinary leaders and professionals into transformational figures.

Key highlights include:

• A raw exploration of how personal tragedy shaped Colleen Stanley's mentorship mindset
• Why informal, "in-the-moment" mentor moments are more powerful than formal programs
• How technology and self-absorption threaten human connection and what to do about it
• Practical advice for leaders and aspiring mentors to foster genuine trust, resilience, and culture
• Why everyone—regardless of titles or fame—has the ability to create lasting influence

If you’re ready to learn how ordinary actions can have extraordinary impact, this is the influence conversation you can’t afford to miss.

Connect with Colleen StanleyWebsite

LinkedInColleen’s latest book: Be the Mentor Who Mattered: Make a Difference. Be the Difference

Timestamped Overview:

00:01 – Welcome & Setting the Stage

01:23 – Colleen Stanley's Global Recognition

02:46 – Small-Town Upbringing & Early Mentor Moments

05:51 – The Farming Metaphor & Mentorship

06:30 – The Origin Story of “Be the Mentor Who Mattered”

09:11 – Personal Loss and Community Support

12:04 – Flipping the Script: Finding a Mentee

13:34 – Emotional Intelligence & Self-Awareness for Leaders

15:26 – Everyone Has Value: Everyday Mentor Moments

17:48 – The Power of Asking Good Questions

21:17 – Real-world Mentor Moments Changing Lives

23:19 – Community Loss in Remote Work Era

25:01 – The Invisible Cost of Lack of Mentorship

27:17 – Trust, Stress, and the Human Side of Leadership

29:06 – Technology as the Elephant in the Room

31:26 – Presence, Multitasking, and True Teamwork

33:28 – What the Best Mentor-Leaders Do Differently

35:55 – Tough Love, Standards, and Multiplying Leadership

37:18 – Creating Cultures of Mentorship & Influence

39:55 – Rapid Fire: Mentorship, Connection, and Trust

40:08 – Where to Find Colleen Stanley & Her Work