August 19, 2025

#253: From Gang Life to Serving Global Influencers… and How to Create Your Greatest Influence, Impact, and Income Through Your Fullest Expression w/ Dmitriy Kozlov

1 hour 20 minutes

As a 13-year-old immigrant struggling to fit in, Dmitriy Kozlov found rap music.

In some ways it saved him — it gave him an outlet and a path to self-expression.

But in other ways it nearly killed him.

Dmitriy ended up getting involved with gang activity — and eventually, the very gang he ran with turned on him and nearly killed him… more than once.

Those near-death experiences became the wake-up call he needed to walk away from that life for good.

Fast forward to today…

Dmitriy is working with some of the most legendary names in the thought leadership world — people like Lewis Howes, JJ Virgin, Daymond John, Dan Lok, and Joe Polish — helping them build “category of one” personal brand websites through his agency, Influex.

Even more incredible?

At age 25, he rediscovered his passion for spoken word poetry — and has since used it to grow his business, attributing over seven figures in revenue to performing live on stages around the world.

Some things to look forward to in this episode:

How Dmitriy uses “unapologetic self expression” via spoken word artistry to land high-end clients
How to integrate your past, present, and future into a brand that feels fully aligned and multidimensional
Dmitriy performs a spoken word piece called, Remember Who You Are!

Show Notes Generated With The Help of AI!

00:00 - Introduction to Beyond Curious and today’s guest, Dmitriy Kozlov

Brandon introduces today’s guest, Dmitriy “Dima” Kozlov—a spoken word artist and the founder of branding agency Influex. Dima shares a teaser of his poetic talent, and Brandon previews the themes of the episode, including unapologetic self-expression, brand alignment, and Dima’s gripping life journey from immigrant to influential entrepreneur.

00:05:24 - The roots of Dima’s expression: Eminem and a near-death experience

Dima recounts his early life as a Russian immigrant, discovering self-expression through rap after being bullied. A pivotal moment came after being jumped by a gang at age 13—an experience that pushed him toward academics, work ethic, and eventually entrepreneurship.

00:10:36 - Reigniting the flame of expression with spoken word at 25

After a major breakup and lifestyle shift, Dima reconnects with his artistic roots. A spoken word piece written in a shower in LA reignites his creative expression and unlocks a powerful tool for healing and connecting with others—especially fellow entrepreneurs.

00:14:25 - Meeting his mentor, Yannick Silver, and entering the world of Mavericks

Dima shares how he earned a scholarship to Underground Online Seminar, where he met Yannick Silver. This connection evolved into mentorship and the co-creation of Maverick NEXT, a community for impact-driven young entrepreneurs.

00:20:13 - Planting the seeds of an elite network through service

Brandon and Dima discuss the ripple effects of co-founding Maverick NEXT, highlighting the long-term impact of building meaningful relationships with purpose-driven peers and mentors.

00:21:41 - The art of mentorship and the power of giving first

Dima breaks down how he approached Yannick Silver with a value-first mindset, offering web services at cost in exchange for mentorship. This “give first” strategy laid the foundation for many high-profile relationships and business opportunities.

00:25:48 - Scaling with soul: Unscalable moves that built a premium agency

Dima shares how going above and beyond for early clients, focusing on quality and relationships, created a reputation that attracted top-tier clients like Lewis Howes and Joe Polish—without heavy marketing.

00:30:43 - Business as a spiritual practice: Finding alignment through expression

Brandon and Dima unpack the idea that business is a path to personal growth. By deeply understanding clients’ essence, Dima’s team creates websites that reflect identity and values—turning the process into a transformative experience.

00:36:18 - Bringing artistry to traditional industries

Dima describes how Influex is helping law firms and financial service businesses stand out by expressing the humanity behind their brands. His team brings “artistry to industry” by revealing the heart behind the corporate exterior.

00:37:08 - You are here to beautifully express your soul

Dima walks through a poetic wordplay exercise that builds from “You are here to be…” to “You are here to beautifully express your soul,” showcasing his creative philosophy and blending spirituality with branding.

00:44:53 - Does branding put you in a box—or set you free?

Brandon reflects on how defining a brand like “Beyond Curious” made him more of who he already was. Dima agrees and explains how naming your brand can help you step more fully into your highest expression.

00:50:54 - Exercises to uncover your essence and build your soul-aligned brand

Dima shares powerful journaling questions from his Creative Clarity Questionnaire, including the “7 levels of why,” identifying your heroes and their traits, and exploring your origin story to connect with your deeper purpose.

00:58:40 - Art as a business asset: The ROI of self-expression

Brandon asks if Dima can quantify how much performing his art has helped his business. Dima reveals that expressing himself through spoken word has directly led to over seven figures in revenue. His performances allow audiences to deeply connect with him and organically open doors to business opportunities.

Links & Resources:

Influex Website – Creative Clarity Questionnaire || Dima’s branding and website agency that blends essence and expression.
Spoken Word Performance by Dmitriy Kozlov
Maverick NEXT – Entrepreneurial community co-founded by Dima for young, mission-driven leaders.

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By Brandon Fong

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