Chief Influencer®

Sharon McBride is the Global Head of Mobilization at DoorDash. Sharon is a pioneer in the field of public affairs and grassroots mobilization, both in the United States and around the globe. She believes fervently in giving people a voice in government, and throughout her career, she's advocated for workers and small businesses, helping them connect with policymakers. Sharon joins Host Anthony Shop to share what it means to help others with a servant’s heart, the importance of in-person interactions with customers, and how to take the first steps toward building influence.

This episode is a special, live recording that was filmed at the George Washington University Graduate School of Political Management in collaboration with the George Washington University College of Professional Studies. 

Takeaways:

• Being an advocate for others can be particularly fulfilling because you are amplifying the voices of those folks who don't think they have a voice. Regardless of the situation, if you have connections or a platform, you should use your means to share the message of those who need to be heard.
• Elected officials in Washington, D.C. really do want to hear what their constituents have to say and what issues impact them. Those officials genuinely want to represent the opinions and concerns of those they serve.
• Spend time with your customers both in-person and over the phone. These two methods of communication are much more valuable compared to text-based communication such as email. These high-value touchpoints build the relationship with the customer.
• To truly understand the perspectives of people that you serve, you need to walk a mile in their shoes. For example, Sharon shared that even those in Doordash’s C-Suite take part in “we-dashes” where they deliver actual Doordash orders to really understand what the experience is like for dashers.
• If you struggle with promoting yourself, your company, or your accomplishments, pivot to elevating team members, peers, etc. 
• The first step toward influencing your community, neighborhood, and family is to start with bettering yourself, your family, your community, etc. Once you start making a difference that change will compound, gradually building to an immense total impact.

Quote of the Show:

• “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

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharon-mcbride-advocate/ 
• Doordash Careers Website: https://careers.doordash.com/ 

Daniel Buezo is the Founder and CEO of Kids of Immigrants, a Los Angeles-based, purpose-driven streetwear brand. Alongside Co-Founder Weleh Dennis, Daniel has collaborated with top brands and celebrities such as Apple, Nike, Vans, and Bad Bunny, among many others. Daniel joins Host Anthony Shop to discuss the story of how the brand came to be from humble roots, why Daniel’s most important meeting of the day is with himself, and how they stay committed to their mission in the face of all of their success.

Takeaways:

• A major factor behind the launch of Kids of Immigrants was the goal, of bringing people of all backgrounds together. This was in contrast to the often exclusive attitude proliferating the world of fashion and streetwear. 
• Daniel and Weleh wanted to create clothing that genuinely represented who they are and their experiences. This was something they found lacking in many of the popular and readily available clothing brands in the United States.
• When launching the brand, Daniel and Weleh realized that even if the brand evolved, there would be a constant factor tied to the company, which was that they were “Kids of Immigrants.” Their roots and community are interwoven into the initial creation of the brand, and its continued evolution. 
• Daniel says that his most important meeting of the day is with himself. Taking a moment to reflect or meditate gives him a chance to communicate with his inner self,  which helps him find a sense of calm, make tough decisions, and become inspired. 
• Recognize that productivity and inspiration are two separate things. While Daniel’s days can get very busy, allowing him to be very productive, he knows that to find inspiration, he needs to get out of the office and have time alone. Taking the time to find what inspires you is crucial. 

Quote of the Show:

• “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

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-buezo-581815189/ 

Company Website: https://kidsofimmigrants.us/ 

Frances Reimers is the Founder and CEO of Firestarter Communications LLC and is a personal branding expert. Frances has helped some of the country’s leading high school, collegiate, and professional athletes, coaches, and sports executives develop, manage, enhance, and protect their brands. Among those that Frances has helped are the Denver Nuggets, Las Vegas Raiders, Washington Commanders, San Francisco 49ers. Frances joins Host Anthony Shop to discuss how to build a personal brand that is authentically you, why experimenting with different platforms and formats is important, and how to build stronger relationships through digital channels.

Takeaways:

• When developing your personal brand, it’s more important to be authentic than it is to be perfect. Imperfect yet genuine content resonates more with audiences. Don’t let perfection become a roadblock to getting started.
• Similarly, building an authentic personal brand doesn’t require grand actions or carefully organized campaigns. The important part is to geter started by taking small actions to build your personal brand and experiment with new content or platforms to expand your reach.
• Implement a weekly practice of reconnecting with three people you haven't spoken to in six months or more to maintain and strengthen relationships. For example, every Monday morning, Frances sends three LinkedIn messages to stay in touch with people she hasn’t heard from in a while.
• No matter what industry you work in or what level you are at, you should leverage LinkedInas a platform to showcase your personall brand and engage with industry-related content to foster connections with your peers.
• Different cohorts of people respond differently to certain content formats. As you build your brand, try to experiment with different types of content and platforms to engage your audience and stay relevant.
• If you're a leader, empower and mentor young talents by sharing your knowledge and insights to help them build their personal brands and navigate their careers effectively.
• Recognize the power of YouTube as a platform to share valuable insights, stories, and expertise, and consider incorporating video content into your strategy.

Quote of the Show:

• "Personal branding has evolved over the past decade. Once upon a time, the leader was behind the corporate brand, and now I truly think the leader can step out in front …and lead the corporate brand." - Frances Reimers

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/francesreimers/ 
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/yourfirestarter 
• Firestarter Communications LLC website: https://www.yourfirestarter.com/ 

Stacey Hanke is a renowned orator, speaking coach, and Owner of Stacey Hanke, Inc. Stacey is also the Author of two books, Influence Redefined and Yes You Can!: Everything You Need From A to Z to Influence Others to Take Action. Stacey helps leaders become more effective communicators, build trust, and drive engagement. In her conversation with Host Anthony Shop, Stacey defines what it means to communicate with influence “Monday to Monday,” the connection between great speakers and Michael Jordan, and how to address the three communication issues that cause most problems in business.

Takeaways:

• Communicating with influence Monday to Monday requires consistency in your body language and messaging across environments. That means you show up in the same way regardless of the setting. Your verbal and non-verbal communication is authentically you, whether you’re in a virtual or in-person environment. 
• If you act differently to others in one setting than you do when in another, those around you will begin to question your authenticity, thereby undermining your credibility as a leader with influence. 
• If you are leading a meeting, your job is to ensure your listeners understand your message and to motivate them to take action. One of the best ways to ensure you accomplish both parts of your job is by embracing brevity.
• A cornerstone of building and growing trust is staying connected with the individuals in your audience anytime you’re speaking, whether it's virtual or in person. You should only be speaking when you're connecting with a pair of eyes. This allows you as the communicator to stay focused and constantly read your listeners to make sure that they feel personally involved in the conversation, which is crucial to keep them attentive, engaged, and connected.
• Becoming a great communicator and an impactful influencer is similar to becoming a professional athlete. How? Through constantly practicing and making the most of every opportunity, you have to get feedback on your speaking progress. Build time into your schedule to practice every day.
• Most problems that arise in companies are caused by either a lack of communication, communicating the wrong message, or using non-verbal body language distracting from the verbal message.

Quote of the Show:

• “Communicate with influence, Monday to Monday. Every interaction is an opportunity to practice." - Stacey Hanke

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/staceyhanke/ 
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/StaceyHankeInc 
• Website: https://staceyhankeinc.com/ 

In this special episode of Chief Influencer, we wanted to highlight some of the key insights 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 eleven episodes!

A Few Key Takeaways:

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• “I believe all people need to have that voice and all people need to feel seen and represented from a stage.” - Luke Frazier, Founder and Music Director of The American Pops Orchestra - Episode #001
• When you discover a new insight, it’s better to share it freely with others rather than hide it behind a paywall. As you become a source of knowledge, your influence in your niche will expand. Even if your competitors draw from your research, it only shows the value of your work.
• 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. 
• Many public-facing leaders avoid going live with their constituents as they are afraid of making a mistake and tarnishing their image. When Rob Sand, Iowa State Auditor, live-streams, he focuses on being himself, something that people really connect with. 
• Leaders need to be storytellers every day of their lives, throughout meetings, introductions, etc. To be a great storyteller, you must be clear, concise, and compelling. Your stories should convey what you’re doing, what you want to make, and who you are.
• “Thrive because of who you are, not despite it” - Danica Roem, Member of the Virginia House of Delegates - Episode #007
• 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. 
• “If there's not a seat for you at the table, grab a chair” - Nedra Dickson, Managing Director and Global Supplier Inclusion & Sustainability Lead at Accenture - Episode #005

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

Anthony Woods is the Secretary of the Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs. After serving two tours of duty in Iraq and earning a Bronze Star, Anthony was discharged from the US Army under the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Policy. Through his work, and the work of many dedicated others, that law, which barred members of the LGBTQ community from serving openly in the military, was repealed and Anthony rejoined the US Army. Anthony shares the importance of using inclusive language when communicating with veterans, what to do to attract the next generation of leaders, and how his military service prepared him for a career in both the public and private sectors. 

Takeaways:

• 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.
• The widely held stereotype of a military veteran as a straight, white male that saw frontline combat is not wholly representative of the diversity of the men and women of all races, ethnicities, and sexual orientations that have sacrificed for the United States. 
• One way to overcome this stereotype is by asking, “Have you served?” instead of “Are you a veteran?”. In particular, many women who have served in the military don’t think of themselves as “veterans” because of the connotations associated with that term.
• Only approximately 40% of female veterans utilize at least one of the benefits available to them, which they earned through their uniformed service.
• Companies competing for talent need to know that potential Gen Z job applicants value authenticity and can easily sense when being pandered to. This means that pictures of diverse groups of employees or promises about DEI on a company website won’t hold much weight in the minds of this generation. Companies need to make real efforts to back up their commitments.
• For those that are hesitant toward promoting themselves or their work, Tony’s advice is to focus on promoting their team or organization and the work they are doing. Promoting the great work of your team is a critical way to grow support for broader organizational goals among new and existing audiences.

Quote of the Show:

• “Take those calculated risks, do what you think is right, and if it doesn't work out, you'll bounce back.” - Tony Woods

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-woods-22390978/ 
• Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs website: https://veterans.maryland.gov/ 

Gina Schaefer is the Co-Owner of A Few Cool Hardware Stores, Board Member at CCA Global Partners, and the Author of Recovery Hardware, a book about Schaefer's path to building a business that revitalized her neglected urban community and provided opportunities for everyone to thrive, no matter their past. While expanding to 13 hardware stores in the Washington, D.C. Gina established a culture of acceptance, respect, and community. Gina shares why no question is a dumb question, how to develop greater buy-in from employees, and what happens when you treat everyone around you with the same respect without judging their past.

Takeaways:

• For a successful business, the local community it is a part of is more important than the walls that support the company’s roof. 
• 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. 
• When leading with humility, influence, and culture are exchanged and built by both the leader and the follower. 
• Ace Hardware is not a franchise-based business. It operates on a Co-op model, which fosters stronger communities because everyone is mutually invested in working toward a successful outcome that is only achieved by working together. 
• Don’t be afraid to ask a question if you’re unsure about something. Ensuring everyone is on the same page is more important than trying not to embarrass yourself by asking a “dumb” question.
• You don’t have to be a licensed professional to act in a professional manner in everything you do for your company. Gina emphasized how important it was to instill that a retail job is still an important part of anyone’s career and the more that her staff bought into that idea, they became more committed to giving their best effort.
• As a leader, it’s crucial to know when you're out of your depth and to be humble enough to listen to your employees and trust their insights when they have greater expertise in a particular area.

Quote of the Show:

• “When you're trying to build a business, you need every single body inside the business to be affecting everyone who walks through the doors.” - Gina Schaefer

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gina-schaefer-56380a8/ 
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/hardware_gina?lang=en 
• Personal Website: https://ginaschaefer.com/ 
• Recovery Hardware: https://ginaschaefer.com/book 
• CCA Global Partners website: https://www.ccaglobalpartners.com/ 

Shout Outs:

• Father Gregory Boyle - Founder of Homeboy Industries
• Roberta McDonald - Former Marketer at Cabot Cheese
• Zingerman’s Deli

Dean Fealk is the Co-Managing Partner of DLA Piper, founding member of the Halifax International Security Forum, Co-Founder of Transatlantic West, and Co-author of the Wall Street Journal Best-selling book Impact the World, a motivational guide to becoming a superpowered individual committed to improving your community―and the world―through your values and actions. Dean shares how he defines being a “citizen statesperson” and how everyone can make an impact on the world by adopting this framework.

Takeaways:

• A citizen statesperson refers to a civic-minded person that wants to drive change and use the incredible technological tools at their disposal to do more. They want to affect meaningful change both at home and abroad.
• Anyone can raise their hand and decide that being a citizen statesperson is a role that they want to play in their community and in the world. And it's not something you have to wait for someone else to bestow upon you.
• You don't always have to be the expert in the room. If you're the one who listens and synthesizes what the experts say that sometimes is one of the most valuable things that you can contribute to a conversation.
• If you notice that there is not a group focused on fixing a specific issue, it’s up to you to start that initiative. Even if you’re not an expert on a topic, you still have valuable experiences and insights that you can bring to be part of the solution. 
• There is immense value in being the person that brings leaders together, no matter the size of the group. For example, Dean shared how bringing together Bay Area CEOs to meet the Mayor of Seoul, South Korea led to the start of many new initiatives. 
• Seek out young voices and listen to them for inspiration as they have a different way of viewing the world. 

Quote of the Show:

• “It's never too late to be a citizen statesperson.” - Dean Fealk

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dean-fealk-79a611/ 
• DLA Piper Website: https://www.dlapiper.com/en-us 
• Impact The World: https://www.impacttheworldbook.com/book

Bruce Mehlman is the Founding Partner of Mehlman Consulting and a renowned lobbyist. Bruce shares quarterly infographic analyses for free which are packed with high-level insights that aren’t found anywhere else. Bruce explains why you should share your discoveries publicly, the importance of using brevity in your content, and why elevating others around you is so important!

Takeaways:

• When you discover a new insight, it’s better to share it freely with others rather than hide it behind a paywall. As you become a source of knowledge, your influence in your niche will expand. Even if your competitors draw from your research, it only shows the value of your work. For example, when discussing the use of his research by a competitor, Bruce shared that recipients of that information will want to work with him more because he is the source of the insights they received.
• Brevity goes a long way. Making a message longer does not make it easier to understand. If three paragraphs get the message across, don’t write five pages.
• Use visuals to illustrate the ideas that are difficult to verbalize. Imagery can make your overall message more impactful
• Positivity and Feedback Drive Results. While negativity may have a short-term impact, a positive approach is more effective for long-term influence. Providing constructive feedback and celebrating the achievements of your team members cultivate a culture of growth and motivation, resulting in greater overall success.
• Create content that you would want to read and avoid perpetuating harmful narratives. When posting on social media, Bruce suggests trying to “un-spin” the conversation as much as possible and get to the root of the story or issue.
• Elevate those around you that enable your success. Recognizing the members of your team for the work they do provides validation for them, a  short-term dopamine boost for you, and strengthens the long-term relationship between you and your team. 

Quote of the Show:

• “Sharing the work more widely makes it more valuable” - Bruce Mehlman

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bruce-mehlman-51239136/ 
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/bpmehlman

Shout Outs:

• John Chambers - Founder of JC2 Ventures and former CEO of Cisco
• Jim Collins - Business researcher and Author of Good to Great

Danica Roem is a member of the Virginia House of Delegates and is currently a candidate for the Virginia State Senate. 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