Chief Influencer®

Danica Roem is the newly-elected delegate representing the 30th District in the Senate of Virginia. To congratulate Danica, we are re-sharing her interview with Anthony from during the campaign. Previously, Danica served three terms in the Virginia House of Delegates and helped her constituents by providing a free school lunch program and improving state infrastructure. Danica is most well known as the United States’ first openly transgender state legislator. She is also a heavy metal vocalist, award-winning journalist, and author of the bestselling Burn The Page. Danica shares how to drive impactful change, why individuals must take the initiative to create positive change, and how to overcome imposter syndrome as a leader.

Takeaways:

• By truly listening to and understanding the needs and concerns of those around you, leaders can incorporate their perspectives into decisions and ensure that their actions align with the interests of those they represent. Danica learned this as a legislator first-hand. This approach strengthens relationships and leads to more effective and inclusive environments.
• Leaders should strive to communicate authentically. Sharing personal stories, expressing genuine empathy, and conveying messages that resonate with others, fosters strong connections and builds trust.
• To create change, you need to take the initiative. Danica shared her experiences of actively advocating for policy changes, such as improving transportation infrastructure or expanding support for LGBTQ+ communities.
• Embrace compromises, but make sure that when you do, make sure it’s a well-informed decision. Leaders must balance personal values with the greater good, which can require making difficult choices, such as in the legislative process.
• To counter imposter syndrome and insecurities, Danica encouraged leaders to recognize their qualifications, unique perspectives, and the support they have received from their electorate. By embracing their authentic selves and acknowledging their value, leaders can overcome imposter syndrome and lead confidently.
• Embrace the hard work and effort required to achieve your goals, whether it's knocking on doors, making phone calls, or biking between constituents in rural areas.
• Combine your instincts with thorough research and knowledge to make well-informed decisions. Danica shared how she relied on her intuition, along with years of living with and listening to her community, to guide her actions as a legislator.

Quote of the Show:

• “Thrive because of who you are, not despite it” - Danica Roem

Links:

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/pwcdanica 
• Website: https://www.danicaforstatesenate.com/ 
• Burn The Page Book Link: https://a.co/d/6ZB0KoH 

Matthew Algeo is the Author of When Harry Met Pablo, along with six other books, including Harry Truman’s Excellent Adventure: The True Story of a Great American Road Trip, named one of the best books of 2009 by the Washington Post. Matthew and Host Anthony Shop discussed the importance of how leaders show up in small moments, how some of the most influential presidents of the United States have capitalized on communication breakthroughs and the importance of building trust with your audience. 

Takeaways:

• Great leaders are willing and able to meet with people who hold different viewpoints than their own. They are willing to listen to others and assess the value of their ideas without dismissing them altogether.
• Small stories can be compelling because they help to flesh out the character of the person you’re writing or speaking about. Showing how leaders show up in everyday moments can inform the next generation of leaders how to act.
• Some of the most impactful Presidents in US history were early adopters of new media forms, allowing them to communicate more directly with voters. For example, Franklin D. Roosevelt embraced the radio, and John F. Kennedy took advantage of television.
• Understand the key decision-makers you need to influence and figure out how to communicate with them directly when you need to. For example, President Truman spoke directly with the leading columnists when an issue arose over how a state-sponsored art exhibit was covered in the press.
• While delivering bad news can be tough, it’s an important skill to have as a leader and a communicator. A key aspect of being able to deliver the truth, whether good or bad, to people is building a foundation of trust with them. 

Quote of the Show:

• “I think you can use the smaller stories to reveal a lot about the character of the people you're writing about.” - Matthew Algeo

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-algeo-35b8512/ 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matthewalgeo/ 
• Website: https://www.malgeo.net/ 
• When Harry Met Pablo: https://bookshop.org/p/books/when-harry-met-pablo-truman-picasso-and-the-cold-war-politics-of-modern-art-matthew-algeo/19789593?ean=9781641607872
• Harry Truman's Excellent Adventure: https://bookshop.org/p/books/harry-truman-s-excellent-adventure-the-true-story-of-a-great-american-road-trip-matthew-algeo/626833?ean=9781569767078  

Anne Rancourt is the Communications Director at the National Institute on Drug Abuse, otherwise known as NIDA, where she oversees communication of the world's largest investment in research on drugs and addiction. Joining Anne is special guest Host Dr. Liesl Riddle, Dean of the George Washington University College of Professional Studies. Anne shares the importance of listening in every communications plan, why communicators should adopt a long-term view of their messaging and tactics, and how to be a great mentor for your team.

Takeaways:

• Despite all of the technological tools available to modern communicators, the most important is listening. Communicators should be listening to their audience from the start of an initiative and at every successive step of that initiative.
• Anne highlights a great example of why listening is so important when recounting the impact of hearing from the community who are working on the frontlines of the drug overdose crisis. Through listening, Anne heard ways that NIDA could better assist in addressing overdose and drug addiction. This also highlights how leaders can give a voice to those without a voice by listening intently.
• Often, the feedback that is hard to listen to is what can inspire the best ideas and solutions. Pay attention to harsh feedback when you get it because that is when you will hear the truths and real information you need to succeed.
• Communicators should adopt a more iterative approach to their messaging and tactics. Recognize that executing the tactic is not the end goal and treat it like an ongoing process that can be adjusted over time to improve results.
• In a post-pandemic world, the impact of showing up to events and meeting people in person is now more effective than ever. Showing up in person is a powerful symbol of how important a person or meeting is.
• Leaders need to show up as their whole selves. The best way to lead and communicate with your team is to be authentic to who you are. Don’t feel you need to take on an archetypal role, just be yourself.
• As a leader, it is essential to provide mentorship opportunities to your team. Encourage them to step into new and unfamiliar situations, providing them with the necessary tools and support, while also instilling trust and belief in their abilities. This enables them to grow and prove themselves, ultimately fostering a strong pipeline of talent for the future.

Quote of the Show:

• “It can be tough to hear feedback, especially when it's not glowing, but that's really when you have to pay attention because that's when you get the real information on how you can do a better job” - Anne Rancourt

Connect with Anne:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annerancourt/ 
• National Institute on Drug Abuse: https://nida.nih.gov/ 

Connect with Dr. Liesl:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liesl-riddle-phd-a66a18/ 

Shout Outs:

• Professor Lawrence Parnell: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawrence-j-parnell-4586a74/

Patrick Sallee, is the President and CEO of Vibrant Health KC and the author of The Solitary CEO. In his book, Patrick generously shares stories that require immense vulnerability and humility, as well as the lessons he's learned and applied in his personal and professional life along with his road to sobriety. Patrick and Host Anthony Shop discuss how to break out of the siloes leaders build around themselves, address the specific needs of multiple stakeholders, and engage with a community to create profound change.

Takeaways:

• Leaders should break down the silos they build around themselves and their work and reconnect with the purpose of their work to foster connection, succeed, and avoid becoming defensive or resentful towards their team and organization.
• Prioritize the needs of the people you serve. For Patrick, in the non-profit sector, the key to handling the needs of multiple stakeholders is to keep the mission and the lives of those being served at the forefront. 
• The focus of your leadership should not be yourself; it should be the mission you are working to accomplish. Addressing the needs of different stakeholders requires a specific strategy for each group; ensuring that all of these strategies align with the mission makes it possible to manage the completion of the mission. 
• The best way to understand community members' issues is to talk with them and get them engaged in developing a solution to that problem. There is no better way to get buy-in for a project than by listening to the stakeholders' feedback.
• When dealing with complex problems, if the members of a community lack the skills or knowledge to understand the problem and possible solutions properly, leaders should take the time to get them up to speed and teach them the necessary disciplines so that they can make educated decisions to solve the problems they face.
• Own your mistakes and don’t try to hide them. Whether you’re interviewing for a job or negotiating a deal, if you try to conceal past mistakes, you allow others the chance to use those past mistakes against you. Be upfront and honest about who you are.

Quote of the Show:

• “If I own it, and I say it first, you can't use it against me” - Patrick Sallee

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patricksallee/ 
• Vibrant Health website: https://vibranthealthkc.org/ 
• The Solitary CEO: https://a.co/d/g0IyOB6 

Shout Outs:

• The Power of Giving Away Power by Matthew Barzun

Chris Ullman is the Founder and President of Ullman Communications, LLC. Chris is also the author of two books, Find Your Whistle and his newest publication, Four Billionaires and a Parking Attendant. Chris joins guest Host, Robert Krueger, the Executive Director of The Communications Board, to discuss the importance of humanizing communication, understanding different perspectives, and finding inspiration in your personal and professional life.

Takeaways:

• Whether you’re working in public office or private equity, you need to know your audience and what matters to them. That way, you can simplify messages down to what they must know. That is a sign of effective communication.
• Humanizing communication involves considering the audience receiving the message so they can understand it. A great example comes from the SEC initiative to make complex mutual fund documents easier to understand for everyday people.
• Speaking in plain English is a crucial way for leaders to provide clarity of thought and language to their audience. Using plain English reduces the chance of a message being miscommunicated or misinterpreted.
• For leaders trying to build influence and gain advocates within an organization, empathy and understanding different audiences are imperative. Whether working in the public and private sectors, you need to build bridges with stakeholders with different opinions or interests. Empathy allows for effective communication and collaboration with diverse groups.
• Find sources of inspiration that uplift and push you to be your best self. For example, the incredible composer Beethoven is a great source of inspiration because he overcame personal challenges and created powerful music.

Quote of the Show:

• “Humanizing my communications has been such an important theme in the work I've done.” - Chris Ullman

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisullman/ 
• Website: https://chrisullman.com/ 
• Find Your Whistle: https://a.co/d/dUCzGym 
• Four Billionaires and a Parking Attendant: https://a.co/d/emuWIEd 

Shout Outs:

• Chuck Schumer - Current U.S. House of Representatives Majority Leader
• John Kasich - Former Governor of Ohio
• Ted Leonsis - Owner of the Washington Capitals and the Washington Wizards 
• Lou Gerstner - Former CEO of IBM
• Glenn Youngkin - Current Governor of Virginia
• Mitch Daniels - Former Governor of Indiana
• Adena Friedman - President of Nasdaq, Inc.
• David Rubenstein - Co-Founder and Co-Chairman of The Carlyle Group
• Bill Conway - Philanthropist

In this special episode of Chief Influencer, Rober Krueger, Executive Director of The Communications Board joins the show to highlight some of the key insights and common threads that our amazing guests have shared in their conversations with Host Anthony Shop. We hope you enjoy this curated selection of moments from each of our first twenty episodes!

Takeaways:

• Take a hands-on approach to your social media presence and activity. Avoid simply handing over the keys to someone else. By logging in, liking, and engaging personally, you can maintain authenticity and connect with your audience. 
• The message is just as important as the medium. Leaders should tailor their message according to what each group of stakeholders needs. 
• “It's important for people to have a sense of the ability to reach their government, to reach levers of whatever degree of power and to actually have an interaction there” - Rob Sand
• As noted by Secretary Tony Woods, to reach veterans where they are and to make the term “veteran” more representative of the full breadth of servicemen and women in this country, it is important to tell a broader range of stories that better reflect the experiences of everyone that has served. This lesson can apply to other communities as well.
• “It's not just a numbers game, it's also a quality game” - Katie Harbath
• “We were kids of immigrants yesterday. We're kids of immigrants today, and we'll be kids of immigrants tomorrow. We knew that wouldn't change.” - Daniel Buezo. For Daniel and his team, this quote signifies the pride they have in identifying as the children of immigrants. They embrace this fact, regardless of the highs and lows, because it is part of what makes them unique.
• Put faith in people who society may have left behind. Your feelings towards someone should not be based entirely on the worst thing they’ve done, nor should they be based entirely on the best deed they’ve ever performed. 
• “I believe the best way to influence either in a small way or in a large way, is to approach everything with a servant's heart.” - Sharon McBride
• The keys to making a difference are identifying the key “protagonists” and leaders within a community or group, understanding the different influential nodes within the community where these leaders cross paths, and discovering which specific levers can be used to result in different behavioral outcomes.

Listen to the Full Episodes: https://www.chiefinfluencer.org/episodes 

Ati Williams and Jess Banks are Co-Hosts of the wildly popular Netflix series, Hack My Home. Ati is the Principal at Honeycomb Residential, a remodeling company that functions as both designer and general contractor to help clients create a comfortable, personal, and functional home or business, to nurture their own unique “honeycomb”; Ati is also the Principal Broker at DC Home Buzz. Jess is the CEO and Founder of RockPaperRobot, a kinetic furniture company that transforms traditionally static furniture into interactive objects. Ati and Jess join Host Anthony Shop to discuss the work that great leaders put in behind the scenes, the benefits of involving multiple perspectives in decision-making, and the importance of representation and role models in media today.

Takeaways:

• When approaching complex problems, it’s best to include a wide range of perspectives that will each consider certain aspects more closely and aid in developing a holistic solution that addresses multiple issues simultaneously. For example, when brainstorming ideas for a certain space on the show, Ati thought about it from a top-down view in two dimensions, Jess’s approach was analytical and calculating, Brooks thought in “5D”, and Mikel explored concepts from a visual and textual perspective.
• While the ideation and decision-making process may appear quick and straightforward on TV, the concepts created are actually the product of a lot of effort behind the scenes that is edited out. Don’t expect great ideas to appear out of nowhere whenever you need them, life isn’t a well-edited montage.
• Don’t let the obsession with perfection stop you from starting a project and accomplishing the 85% of it that is enough to make the desired outcome. Getting 85% of something done is more important than figuring out how to attain the final 15% before you’ve even started working on the first 1%.
• Embrace what makes you uniquely you. While plenty of other people are out there with similar roles and in similar industries, what part of your identity or personality makes you stick out. While this may seem overwhelming to some leaders, knowing who you are and sharing that with others is important to building influence.
• Use your platform to be the source of inspiration you wish you could have looked up to. Others out there need to see and hear that someone like them can be successful and is willing to help them navigate their way up.
• If you are trying to share a message that you don’t believe in or promote it through channels and formats that don’t feel natural to you, this can become a huge burden. Be genuine in what you say and share things how you share them, that will lead to a greater impact.

Quote of the Show:

• “The thing that kept us going was knowing that there were young girls and young Black girls out there who needed to see themselves reflected in the things they’re interested in.” - Ati Williams 
• “A little bit of red lipstick in the same sentence as construction can go a long way.” - Jess Banks

Ati’s Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ati-okelo-williams-39270b7/ 
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/DChomebuzz 
• Honeycomb website: https://www.heyhoneycomb.com/ 

Jess’s Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-banks-04262a7/ 
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/RockPaperRobot 
• RockPaperRobot website: https://rockpaperrobot.com/ 

Michael Ricci is a Partner at Seven Letter, a leading strategic communications firm. Prior to his current role, Michael was a long-time leadership aide on Capitol Hill with senior communications roles in the speakerships of both John Boehner and Paul Ryan. Michael joins Host Anthony Shop for a discussion of how to build trust as a communicator, what type of communication is most effective in times of crisis, and how to approach incorporating new technologies into your communication strategy.

Takeaways:

• Social media is an incredible two-way communication tool. For example, organizations can share broad or narrow messages for different audiences, and those audiences can share their specific perspectives and experiences with the organization at scale.
• A great and often understated way to build trust and influence with others is to show them that you are listening to them and really care about what they have to share. Physically taking notes is a good way to convey that you are invested.
• In times of crisis and when information is scant, many filters that typically govern communication fall by the wayside. For example, early in the COVID-19 pandemic, there were a lot of questions and few answers. However, Michael found that live-tweeting new information as he learned it helped get it into the hands of Maryland residents more efficiently and effectively than a press conference would have.
• People care more about the content of the message than how well-polished it is. The COVID-19 information tweets were valuable because people could ask questions and get direct responses about exactly what they were asking, rather than a long, well-crafted written statement released to the press.
• Too many people are afraid to say the wrong thing, which leads them to try and hide, however, it’s much better and more beneficial to be transparent. When leaders try to hide from something, it spawns mistrust and misinformation.
• Before adopting a new communication technology or channel, ensure it aligns with your overall mission and message. Make a plan for using this new technology or channel to further that mission and message.

Quote of The Show:

• “A culture of trust, not just trust in me as a leader, but in each other, is a big thing for me. There are going to be times when you'll have to rely on each other and trust in yourselves.” - Michael Ricci

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikericci1/ 
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/riccimike?lang=en 
• Website: http://sevenletter.com/ 

Jean-Claude Brizard is the President and CEO at Digital Promise, a non-partisan non-profit organization focused on shaping the future of education and advancing equitable education systems by bridging solutions across research, practice, and technology. Jean-Claude was recognized by the Carnegie Corporation of New York as a member of the 2023 Great Immigrants, Great Americans class. Jean-Claude joins Host Anthony Shop to discuss how to create meaningful change inside of a system and the importance of meeting influential community members where they are.

Takeaways:

• The keys to making a difference are identifying the key “protagonists” and leaders within a community or group, understanding the different influential nodes within the community where these leaders cross paths, and discovering which specific levers can be used to result in different behavioral outcomes.
• Meet people where they are and communicate to them when and where they're willing to listen. Spend time with them and learn how they view the world from different perspectives.
• Create open communication channels to reach your community and for your community to reach you. Jean-Claude shared a great example of this when he spoke with students who called into his radio show about their bad lunches. Jean-Claude listened to them and showed that he cared by going to the school and testing the food himself. This way he could empathize and work with students to create a new, alternative solution that suited their needs better.
• Engage with people at every level of your organization regularly and listen closely to them. This gives you a better overall understanding of the state of the organization, which levers lead to change at which levels, and where issues could arise in the future. 
• One person alone cannot overturn or revolutionize a system immediately by themselves and in opposition to everyone else in the organization. To create meaningful, lasting impact, you need to obtain the buy-in from everyone else. Without being bought into the vision, those within the system or organization won't work to further it.
• Don't back down or shy away from opportunities to have conversations with the people you're trying to help and need to work with. Even if they are upset and that might cause you some temporary discomfort, their ire and discontent can help you uncover problems that are hidden or hard to see from your vantage point.

Quote of the Show:

• “Every child is a work of art, we have to create masterpieces.” - Jean-Claude Brizard

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jean-claude-brizard-0080a810/ 
• Website: https://digitalpromise.org/ 
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrizardJC

Katie Harbath is the Founder and CEO of AnchorChange, a civic tech strategies firm focused on developing solutions at the intersection of technology, policy, and business, focusing on global issues related to democracy, elections, and civic engagement online. She is also the writer of a popular Substack (AnchorChange), along with her work as a Non-Resident Senior Fellow with the Atlantic Council's Digital Forensic Research Lab, Senior Advisor for Technology and Democracy at the International Republican Institute, Fellow at the Bipartisan Policy Center, and more. Katie joins Host Anthony Shop for an enthralling discussion of what success looks like in today’s changing media landscape, why leaders need to discover their own voice, and the keys to developing an audience online.

Takeaways:

• While many leaders are used to discussing stories and topics from their company’s perspective, they have not put much time into thinking about how to tell their own stories. After leaving Facebook, Katie decided to proactively tell her own story and share her views. Her honesty and openness have been integral to her Substack’s success.
• Leaders should focus on the number of people their message resonates with, instead of impressions, likes or engagement.
• You don’t need to think up outrageous hot takes for your content to be successful. Instead, prioritize creating content that is valuable. Katie gave two examples: 1) Sharing job openings within a specific industry. 2) Curating links to the sources you use to keep up with the latest news in your industry.
• No one does it all by themselves and no one’s life is always perfect, so don’t feed into this cultural facade. Rather, spotlight the people and resources that make your success possible.
• As the social and mass media landscapes continue to fracture, it’s impossible for leaders to effectively share their message everywhere at the same time. Because of this, micro-influencers are becoming an increasingly important part of reaching target audiences wherever they are. For example, TikTok’s popularity has surged immensely, particularly among younger generations, making it a great channel to reach new voters. However, the app is banned on devices of anyone in the federal government. To circumvent this, federal leaders have worked with micro-influencers to create and share content about their message.

Quote of the Show:

• “It's not just a numbers game, it's also a quality game” - Katie Harbath

Links:

• Substack: https://substack.com/@katieharbath
• AnchorChange Website: https://anchorchange.substack.com/ 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katieharbath/?hl=en 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harbath/ 
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/katieharbath 

Shout Outs:

• Bruce Mehlman: https://www.chiefinfluencer.org/episodes/bruce-mehlman-on-sharing-insights-freely-chief-influencer-episode-008