FIR Podcast Network

#720: Whitney Vosburgh and Mitchell Levy on Thought Leader Life Credibility Episode

Work to lead transformation from crisis to change. This episode features #ThoughtLeader and #Expert Whitney Vosburgh (https://www.linkedin.com/in/whitneyvosburgh/), a future-forward leader.

Whitney Vosburgh is the co-founder of Work the Future! Today. He is committed to delivering management, business, brand, marketing, educational and healthcare consulting, as well as advertising services. Whitney is the Chief Marketing Officer of Fortune 20 companies, such as Hewlett-Packard Enterprise and McKesson.

If you’re questioning right now where you belong and you’re wondering, “Is this me?”, then you should reach out to Whitney Vosburgh by visiting his LinkedIn page at https://www.linkedin.com/in/whitneyvosburgh/ or his website at http://www.workthefuture.today/.

Here are several AHA messages from this episode:

* Humans searching for their place in life should reach out to Whitney Vosburgh. #Work https://www.linkedin.com/in/whitneyvosburgh/ @brandguru

* I have guided over $20 billion in value creation– M&A, IPOs, sales, pivots, launches + turnarounds! #Work https://www.linkedin.com/in/whitneyvosburgh/ @brandguru

* I help people find and follow their lead, guided by their North Star based on their purpose and how best to share their unique gifts with those most benefit from it. #Work https://www.linkedin.com/in/whitneyvosburgh/ @brandguru

* I lived, I grew up all over the world my entire life. I never felt I belonged. And so, if there’s anything I know, it’s so important, it’s so rewarding to have a sense of belonging. #Work https://www.linkedin.com/in/whitneyvosburgh/ @brandguru

* I’ve done many things in my life. I went to divinity school to study Community Building. I’ve worked with Fortune 20 companies and Silicon Valley startups to find how they can be better together with those who matter. #Work https://www.linkedin.com/in/whitneyvosburgh/ @brandguru

To view the video interview click here.

#721: Sarah Wilson and Mitchell Levy on Thought Leader Life Credibility Episode

Make your message pop. This episode features #ThoughtLeader and #Expert Sarah Wilson (https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahawilson/), the founder and chief communications officer of Pop Communications Campaigns.

Sarah Wilson helps businesses with their books, as well as with marketing, PR, social media, and tech for thought leaders and brands. She uses the hands-on approach when working with authors, and she customizes her campaigns according to each client’s needs.

If you want success with your book, it is best to reach out to Sarah Wilson by visiting her website at http://popcommunications.io/ or her LinkedIn profile at https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahawilson/.

Here are several AHA messages from this episode:

Faisal Saeed Al Mutar is the founder and CEO of Ideas Beyond Borders, a non-profit organization based in New York. We recently connected on Twitter and Faisal was telling me about a project to rebuild the library of the University of Mosul in Iraq that had been destroyed by the Islamic State or ISIS during the war in Iraq.

It’s been almost four years since ISIS was expelled from the city of Mosul, but life is still far from normal at the University of Mosul, where students pass bombed-out departments on the way to class that have yet to be replaced.

The central library—once among the largest in the Middle East with over a million books in English and Arabic—has become a symbol of the devastation suffered by the whole city, its charred columns and scorched shelves a stark reminder of the education blackout imposed under the occupation by ISIS.

I spoke to Faisal on July 15th and recorded our conversation. He described the project to bring back the books and computers that began in 2017. Book by book, the library is being rebuilt: by 2021, IBB has donated more than 4,000 books and 20 computers and printers to the University.

We also talked about the project to translate English-language Wikipedia articles into Arabic for the Arabic Wikipedia that we covered in FIR 188 in October 2019, a project at the heart of IBB’s work to address misinformation and “to make the inaccessible, accessible.”

And Faisal speaks of the mission of Ideas Beyond Borders, to champion a positive alternative to the extremism, authoritarianism, censorship, and violence that plagues the Middle East.

Watch the interview here or on the FIR YouTube channel, and you can read a full transcript below. Learn more at ideasbeyondborders.org (Arabic website: Bayt Al Hikma, or ‘House of Wisdom’).

Conversation Transcript

Via rev.com

Neville Hobson: I have on Zoom, from New York actually, Faisal Saeed Al Mutar, who’s the founder of Ideas Beyond Borders. Pleasure to meet you virtually, Faisal, welcome to our podcast.

Faisal Saeed Al Mutar: Thanks for having me.

Neville Hobson: Yeah, it’s my pleasure. We’re going to talk about the Mosul University Library project. It is most interesting what I’ve read about this particular project and how you addressed the destruction of this immense library by ISIS in that time. Could we start our conversation by, just introduce yourself and tell us about Ideas Beyond Borders and how you got it started?

Faisal Saeed Al Mutar: The mission of the organization is making inaccessible information accessible. Unfortunately, there’s very little content available on the internet in Arabic, and what’s more unfortunate is that there’s very little factual content available in Arabic.

#718: Mike Jones and Mitchell Levy on Thought Leader Life Credibility Episode

Social selling built on credibility to be world class entrepreneurs. This episode features #ThoughtLeader and #Expert Mike Jones (https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-jones-uk/), CEO of Beep2B, helping business leaders position themselves as thought leaders and connecting with like-minded people to network and learn from one another. He co-founded the company with a simple idea and a powerhouse of highly intelligent social marketing selling processes and tools and have grown to service members all over the world in 22 different countries.

Mike has made it his mission to help as many people as possible to be productive in their LinkedIn marketing efforts, giving them freedom to do the things that really bring value and joy to their business and their lives.

To learn more about the core principles of social selling, consider reaching out to Mike Jones, visit https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-jones-uk/ and join https://www.facebook.com/groups/BeepSocialSelling.

Here are a couple of AHA messages from this episode:

* Professionals who are afraid of looking sleazy on LinkedIn should reach out to Mike Jones. https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-jones-uk/

* My role is to deliver effective tactics, training, and technology so you can efficiently strengthen business relationships built on trust. #SocialSelling https://www.facebook.com/groups/BeepSocialSelling

* I can show you how to have personalized and targeted nurturing at scale to not only grow your network but nurture existing ones to stay connected. #SocialSelling https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-jones-uk/

* With my guidance, I can help you automate a lot of your menial tasks in building a solid presence to improve your LinkedIn content marketing strategies. #SocialSelling https://www.facebook.com/groups/BeepSocialSelling

* I can provide you with the best strategy, technology and support in creating opportunities your competitors can only dream of. #SocialSelling https://www.facebook.com/groups/BeepSocialSelling

To view the video interview click here.

#719: Jef Loeb and Mitchell Levy on Thought Leader Life Credibility Episode

Bring clarity to your branding. This episode features #ThoughtLeader and #Expert Jef Loeb (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jefloeb/?_l=en_US), the creative director, strategist, writer, and director at Brainchild Creative.

Jef ushers brands to understand their core and truths so they understand their problems and opportunities in a clear way. He comes up with creative solutions to issues that take away the clarity and present it in a magnetic way to the customers.

If your branding is lacking clarity, it is best to reach out to Jef Loeb by visiting https://www.linkedin.com/in/jefloeb/?_l=en_US and https://www.brainchildcreative.com/, or by e-mailing [email protected].

Here are several AHA messages from this episode:

* Brands without #Clarity should reach out to Jef Loeb. https://www.linkedin.com/in/jefloeb/?

I’ve been thinking a lot about artificial intelligence and how it and machine learning and natural language processing and all of the other robots can help us do our jobs. In fact, a couple of months ago, Martin Waxman introduced me to Copysmith as a way to create ideas for repetitive tasks…and I fell in love with it.

It is billed as a way to “create high-converting ads, product descriptions, emails, and more in seconds,” but I’d say that’s pretty aspirational of it. It does, however, make it crazy easy to create the first draft of some of those things. I’d say ads and product descriptions are where it excels, but anything longer than perhaps 100 characters is pushing it.

And, because pushing it beyond 100 characters or using it to provide a final draft are not yet feasible, all of this stuff still needs a human being overseeing it all.

On today’s episode of the Spin Sucks podcast, we are going to talk about who, what, why, when, and how of using robots in your communications program.

Resources Included

* Copysmith

* PRWeek AI Article

* Helloscribe

* Ms. InterPReted Podcast

* Spin Sucks Community

Crisis communication begins long before an organization experiences a crisis. Planning to communicate in a crisis involves considerable preparation, running the gamut from ensuring contact lists are up to date to establishing an organizational culture that is prepared to swing into action when things go south.

Organizations that prepare are able to identify most issues before they become crises. But every organization will experience a crisis when decisions must be made quickly and communicated deftly and frequently across multiple channels. Missteps can exacerbate the situation but a strategic approach to a crisis can help the organization recover quickly with its reputation untarnished (or, at least, ready to be rehabilitated quickly).

Four crisis-tested IABC Fellows gathered on Thursday, July 15 for a conversation about crisis communication and leadership. The conversation, moderated by IABC Fellow Shel Holtz, covered the preparation and execution of crisis communication, including a look at the leadership role communicators can play.

About the panel

James E. Lukaszewski, America’s Crisis Guru ®, is a bestselling author, national speaker, and trusted strategic advisor to FPO and NPO business operators and leaders during crises, disasters, reputation attacks, contentiousness and when the boss’s future is at stake. Corporate Legal Times listed him as “one of 22 crisis counselors to have in your speed dial when all hell breaks loose.” For more than 30 years, he has confidentially guided hundreds of company leaders thru tough, touchy, sensitive situations. Lukaszewski’s strategies inspire constructive, ethical problem resolving management behavior. A powerful and inspirational speaker, he teaches executives and managers the lessons he has learned. A prolific author, he is quoted and interviewed often as one of the most recognizable leaders in his profession. Lukaszewski is on the web at www.e911.com.

In 1996, while on the fast track to a partnership in a growing PR agency, John Deveney opted to strike out on his own and form Deveney, a process and a practice that embraces the soundest principles, the newest media, and the most innovative technologies. Based in New Orleans, Deveney is particularly strong in the areas of crisis, healthcare, tourism, and hospitality. (After hurricanes Katrina and Rita, John led the only on-site communication operation and media center for both the City of New Orleans and the Louisiana Office of Tourism.)

Martha Muzychka speaks, writes, listens, and helps others do the same to make change happen. Martha is a strategic, creative problem solver seeking challenging communications environments where we can make a difference. She helps her clients navigate competing priorities and embrace communications challenges. Martha offers strategic planning, facilitation, and consultation services as well as writing and editing, qualitative research, and policy analysis. Her work has been recognized locally, nationally, and internationally with multiple awards.

Caroline Sapriel, a member of the 2021 class of Fellows participating in her first Circle, is a seasoned international crisis resilience professional with over 25 years experience in risk, crisis, and business continuity management; she has extensive expertise in crisis communication. Caroline is an accomplished coach, trainer and facilitator in my field and is acknowledged industry wide for her ability to provide customized, results-driven counsel at the highest level of organizations across industry sectors globally.

#715: Dr. Sylvia Lafair and Mitchell Levy on Thought Leader Life Credibility Episode

Drive positive energy at work through effective leadership. This episode features #ThoughtLeader and #Expert Dr. Sylvia Lafair (https://www.linkedin.com/in/sylvialafair/), the CEO of Creative Energy Options. With over 25 years of experience, she offers award-winning leadership programs, consulting, and business coaching solutions.

Dr. Sylvia Lafair takes pride in rendering the best management and leadership training available. She has been named one of the Top 30 Leadership Gurus for the last eight years in a row, and she has been listed as one of the Top 200 Thought Leaders for 2021.

If there’s organizational conflict in your organization, consider reaching out to Dr. Sylvia Lafair by visiting her LinkedIn profile at https://www.linkedin.com/in/sylvialafair/ and her website at https://ceoptions.com/ or by calling her at 707-658-1904.

Here are several AHA messages from this episode:

* Organizations that have organizational conflicts should reach out to Dr. Sylvia Lafair. #Leadership https://ceoptions.com/ @SylviaLafair

* Conflict is conflict. Thus, I used what I learned and got them to find how to work with conflict faster and more effectively. And it was just thrilling. It changed my career to work in the workplace! #Leadership https://www.linkedin.com/in/sylvialafair/ @SylviaLafair

* I’ve written books, and I often will go in and teach. But I like to work with individuals, executives, and groups to get them to really figure out with me how to make conflict less intense. #Leadership https://www.linkedin.com/in/sylvialafair/ @SylviaLafair

* We work as a system. And we learned an old way, you know, there’s the door, that’s no good, and they keep bringing people back. And so I teach people how to get along much more effectively and have fun! #Leadership https://www.linkedin.com/in/sylvialafair/ @SylviaLafair

* I’ve been named one of the Top 30 #Leadership Gurus for the last eight years in a row. And I just recently found that I was on this list to be one of the Top 200 Thought Leaders for 2021! https://www.linkedin.com/in/sylvialafair/ @SylviaLafair

To view the video interview click here.

#716: MariAnne Vanella and Mitchell Levy on Thought Leader Life Credibility Episode

Fuel real pipeline growth 5x above industry standards for sales and development. This episode features #ThoughtLeader and #Expert MariAnne Vanella (https://www.linkedin.com/in/telesales20/), CEO of the Vanella Group and creator of Telesales 2.0 methodology which allows enterprise tech companies to continuously identify active-by-cycles and achieve revenue growth.

MariAnne is passionate in helping deliver teleprospect-based engagement and lead generation for enterprise tech like HP, SAP, Hitachi, Nokia, etc. focused on producing real pipelines. She has a successful track record in executive management positions with mainstream companies, early and late stage start-ups, and services firms.

The July installment of The Hobson & Holtz Report includes reports on these stories:

Subway employs SEO and SEM to fight reports that there's no tuna in its tuna sandwich

Wikipedia in Arabic and bring books back to Mosul: A brief interview with Ideas Beyond Borders founder Faisal Saeed Al Mutar

Communicating the return to the workplace is a change management challenge

Is the digital nomad dream over?

Don't give up on Clubhouse just yet: The social audio service has done a deal with TED

Is short-form audio the next big social network trend?

#712: Warren Whitlock and Mitchell Levy on Thought Leader Life Credibility Episode

Make your message heard by getting through the clutter. This episode features #ThoughtLeader and #Expert Warren Whitlock (https://www.linkedin.com/in/books/), the founder and CEO of Stirling Corp.

Being the director and advisor in the business of future tech, Warren Whitlock is focused on exponential growth in blockchain, media, and e-commerce. He advises companies on the strategies needed to take advantage of digital media tools and online opportunities that drive growth and profits.

If you’re a startup, and you have a message that is unheard, it is best to reach out to Warren Whitlock by visiting his LinkedIn page at https://linkedin.com/in/books or his website at https://warrenwhitlock.com/.

Here are several AHA messages from this episode:

* Startups that have an unheard #Message should reach out to Warren Whitlock. https://linkedin.com/in/books @WarrenWhitlock

* People ask, how do you get 500,000 people on Twitter? We just have a nice conversation, and it always leads to that. And the reason is they see that they’ve got somebody that cares and the other thing is dependability. #Message https://linkedin.com/in/books @WarrenWhitlock

* What I try to do is focus on what that #Message really is, and then, get it out to the right kind of people. There are just millions of people that are dying to get your answer for whatever their problem is. https://linkedin.com/in/books @WarrenWhitlock

* My job is to figure out that not everybody wants anything. But that’s okay. There are 7 billion people on the planet. There will be a lot of people wanting whatever it is that you do. Find that market, make sure we get it! #Message https://linkedin.com/in/books @WarrenWhitlock

* There are just millions of people that are dying to get your answer for their problems. They just don’t know you, and they need to get to know you. When we build rapport, tell them the #Message, and then that’s when the magic happens! https://linkedin.com/in/books @WarrenWhitlock

To view the video interview click here.

#713: Susan Trivers and Mitchell Levy on Thought Leader Life Credibility Episode

Make more money with value-based pricing. This episode features #ThoughtLeader and #Expert Susan Trivers (https://www.linkedin.com/in/susantrivers/), a pricing consultant.

Susan Trivers is the president of Trivers Consulting Group, which she founded in 1999. She is driven by her mission to work with clients to increase company profits and their wealth.

If your pain point is hourly billing, it is best to reach out to Susan Trivers by logging on to https://susantrivers.com/ or by visiting her LinkedIn profile at https://www.linkedin.com/in/susantrivers/.

Here are several AHA messages from this episode:

* Professional services firms that have an hourly-billing pain point should reach out to Susan Trivers. #Pricing

Look. Most communications professionals have the best intentions and behave in an honest and ethical way.

But there are some less than scrupulous PR fooks whose approach and choices reflect badly on the industry.

Now, it’s not just communicators who are guilty of this. Certain journalists, media outlets, bloggers  and influencers are also not as honest or transparent as they could be when it comes to conflicts of interest.

And because social media has given us all a voice, we need to make sure we think through the consequences of how we use it.

That’s what we talk about for this week’s podcast.

We got the idea from a Washington Post story about a site that bills itself as an investigative blog. Turns out, it has financial ties to a PR firm and seems to focus on stories where the agency’s clients have a vested interest.

In our opinion, this contravenes many PR codes of ethics and standards including PRSA, CPRS and the Global Alliance to name a few.

Have a listen and let us know what you think.

And if you want to dig deeper, check out Gini’s Spin Sucks post on the subject.

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It’s your turn

We’d love to hear what you think and if you have any subjects you’d like us to cover in upcoming episodes.

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Send us an email or an audio comment to [email protected],

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Thank you to the people behind Inside PR

Our producer is Jacob Waxman, a talented musician, producer, and recording engineer.

The 2021 JOTW Strategic Comms Survey has just been published, which Ned Lundquist and Frank Strong have worked on for the past four years to analyze what’s going on in the communications industry. And, like the MuckRack survey we talked about a couple of weeks ago, there are some challenges communicators face, both because of that little pandemic we went through and because of how fast things have changed. 

They found that many communicators have far too many priorities (I can attest to that!), that cutting through the noise continues to be a challenge—and so does working with leaders who don’t understand communications. 

This year 300 communications professionals took the survey, and they had six contributors who helped shape the question and analyze the results. Those contributors included Karen Swim,  Michael Smart, Michelle Garrett, Stacey Miller, Shel Holtz, and Shonali Burke. 

A few minutes ago, we discussed some of the top challenges for communicators, but the interesting thing about those is that it’s a massive switch from challenges in the past, which were budget and measuring results. Because of the shift, more than half (54%) think more work will be shipped to outside agencies to relieve the pressure. We’re certainly seeing that happening with our clients—more work, more meetings, and more priorities. 

Some of the other key findings were:

Organizations value communications more than ever

The media relations struggle

Credibility of sponsored content

Brands taking stands on political or social issues

DE&I programs

Making an effort to measure is half the battle

Communications technology

Reporting structure for communicators

Yes, yes, yes, yes, and yes. Yes to all of these things.

On today’s episode of the Spin Sucks podcast, we are going to go through each of them—and what you might be able to do about them if you find yourself in the same position.

Resources Included

* 2021 JOTW Strategic Comms Survey

* MuckRack Survey

* Ragan Survey

* PESO Model Certification

* Ned Lundquist 

* Frank Strong

* Spin Sucks Community