If They Don’t Feel It, They Won’t Follow
This Week’s Playbook: The Move That Actually Builds Trust You can write the best mission statement in the world. Design the perfect deck. Nail the speech. And still — no one moves. Because people don’t follow words. They follow evidence — the kind they can feel. If you’ve been following this series, you know the […]
The Hidden Power of Being Underestimated
YouTube Girl Walks Into a Boardroom… There’s a certain kind of moment that stays with you. Mine? A sleek conference room. One of the top business schools in the world. I had just stepped into a leadership role in their MBA program. One of the senior faculty looked across the table and said: “We […]
How to Build Real Influence
Branding doesn’t come from a logo. It comes from trust. Most brands are built backward. They start with the design. The tagline. The visual identity. And then they wonder why nobody actually cares. Real branding—the kind that moves markets—starts with understanding your audience so deeply that you can predict what will influence them. It’s about […]
Expertise is Not Authority.
You can be the smartest person in the room and still have zero authority. You can have spent 20 years building expertise in your field and still not be sought out for your opinion. You can know more than anyone else about your domain and still be invisible when it matters most. This gap—between […]
Personal Branding Tips for Executives and Entrepreneurs
Personal branding isn’t narcissism. It’s survival. Most executives I meet have spent their entire careers becoming excellent at their jobs. They’ve built deep expertise, solid track records, and genuine impact. But when it comes time to move up—to the board, to the C-suite, to the investor meeting—they’re invisible. Not because they’re not good enough. But […]
The 3 Layers of Trust (Only One of Them Is Expertise)
Trust isn’t just a feeling. It’s a currency. And in rooms that move markets, it functions like capital — earned, conferred, and spent. You can have all the credentials in the world and still be excluded from the real decisions. Not because you aren’t good enough. But because no one has vouched for you yet. […]
The 5 Types of Charisma (And How to Use Yours Without Losing Yourself)
Which type of charisma do you actually have (or not)? Most people lead with one — and misread the rest.. Note:I used to think charisma was just about being the loudest in the room. But the more experience I gained — especially as I stepped into more scripted, “professional” environments — the more I realized […]
Charisma holds the room. But only influence can change it.
Challenging the Concept of Imposter Syndrome: A Riveting Discussion + Podcast
“If you created a word cloud of the most popular subjects on LinkedIn, somewhere between “let me help you skyrocket your sales” and “AI will destroy us all” is imposter syndrome. It seems to be everywhere.” This is the theory of one of the most interesting thinkers and brilliant marketers I know (and I don’t […]
Exeleon Magazine – Amanda Russell: Putting the Human Back into the Digital World
Exeleon Magazine is one of the leading magazines for businesses and entrepreneurs, showcasing global leaders of transformation across all industries. Known for delivering the unvarnished truth, the misery, the victory, and the path of the people who have been recognized as achieving excellence. I couldn’t be more honored and humbled for this recognition and the candid […]
The School Of Influence Ep. 30: How to Build Influence through the Power of Human Connection
In every episode we dig in to find out their actionable secrets and strategies to command real influence, and in this episode Kanika Chadda Gupta, former CNN journalist and top rated podcaster who is also a master of creating connections with high profile individuals, explains how she was able to get some of the most […]
The School Of Influence Ep. 29: How to Launch a Successful Brand Using Influencers in a Hyper-Competitive Industry
Many would say you’d be crazy to try and compete with the L’Oreal’s and Estee Lauder’s of the world to launch a beauty brand, especially with no experience in the beauty space. That didn’t stop Divya Gugnani, a former Goldman Saks executive, to defy the odds, successfully launching what is now one of the most […]
The School of Influence Ep. 28: How to Build A YouTube Following for Your Business – at Any Age – in Any Industry!
This episode is proof that any one at any age can use social media to build their brand, cultivate a global community, and ultimately transform their life! We interview the most famous plumber, YES plumber, in the world, Roger Wakefield, and learn how this man started a YouTube channel to gain more clients and how […]
The School of Influence Ep. 27: The Relationship Between Innovation and Influence
Businesses that innovate yield unparalleled influence. But how does an organization or ourselves innovate? Author of the newly published RE:Think INNOVATION, Carla Johnson, argues that people make innovation much harder than it has to be. She also says that coming up with great ideas isn’t a talent one is born with or a skill that […]
The School of Influence Ep. 26: How to Build Influence through Content
Content is the currency of digital media, but its more than that: Smart businesspeople are becoming content entrepreneurs and launching businesses from their content. New media companies are being born every day. Learn how to build influence through content from the #1 authority on content marketing, best-selling author and founder of Content Marketing Institute AND […]
The School of Influence Ep. 25: How to Gain INFLUENCE by Playing BIG
The king of sports marketing, Brandon Steiner, breaks down his approach to building influence in a unique way, with incredible unique and inspiring examples of how he did it, not just with some of the biggest athletes of our time, but to create and scale his influence into so many ventures. This podcast took an […]
The School of Influence Ep. 24: Why and How Every Executive and Entrepreneur Can Increase Their Influence
Most business leaders misunderstand influencer marketing to be just about selfies and vanity metrics. The core concept of influence marketing, creating and tapping into influence, has been around way before social media. It is also equally applicable to businesses as it is to consumers. Listen in to Amanda and Neal’s advice for those of you […]
The School of Influence Ep. 23: How a World Class Athlete Took a Flywheel Approach to Building Influence Across Broadcasting Platforms and Social Media
What does it take to become one of the most respected influencers in the highly competitive space of fitness? Caroline Pearce has done it all, from world class athlete to the host across some of the biggest broadcasting platforms for sports (ESPN and SKY), to being the face and chief educator of several top equipment […]
The School of Influence Ep. 22: Hollywood Entertainment Host and Reporter Jezlan Moyet on the Celebrity Influencer
Host of Good Morning LA LA Land and Fanvestor Report talks about the hustle to garner the mainstream spotlight in traditional media. Tune in here.
The School of Influence Ep. 21: How to Grow Your Audience: I Have a Great Idea, and All the Expertise, Now How Do I Get the World to Know?
This week Neal and Amanda do something a little different! They speak to renowned Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon and Stanford Continuing Studies Instructor Dr. Allan Mishra, who has been working to grow his side hustle into a full-fledged business. Dr Mishra asks Neal and Amanda for advice. If you are an entrepreneur, or just looking […]
The School of Influence Ep. 20: The King of Hollywood’s Take on Influence with Founder of E! Entertainment Larry Namer
This is the man that created the $4 billion television network E! which pioneered the entertainment of mainstream celebrities. But what many don’t know are the bigger ventures he’s scaled all over the world, from China to Russia – there are few people that hold more influence than Larry Namer. In this candid interview, we […]
The School of Influence Ep. 19: Ann Handley on Building Influence through Content
Ann Handley, co-founder of MarketingProfs, began her career as a journalist, and her roots in storytelling and understanding the needs of her audience helped her launch a media business which has since evolved into becoming the premiere destination for professionals and educators to learn and get training for marketing, The best-selling author of two books, […]
The School of Influence Ep. 18: The Future of Online Influence: Virtual Influencers, Memes and what EVERY business needs to know about it.
When Mark Cuban calls YOU ask for an investment in your company, you know you have a pulse on influencer marketing, not to mention a truly influential company! But when you look at what Shep and his company have accomplished in just 3 short years, it’s no surprise. He has spearheaded the growth of cult-like […]
The School of Influence Ep. 17: What is Influencer Management – and What Brands Need to Know About It!
The world of talent management is very confusing – even people who do it have trouble explaining it. And if you’ve ever reached out to a celebrity or social media star, chances are you may have been passed along to some agent or manager. In my experience, this is often where the buck stops, as […]
The School of Influence Ep. 16: Miri Rodriguez on Building Influence Company-Wide through Storytelling
Miri Rodriguez went from a Community Manager to becoming one of Microsoft’s top influencers and Storytellers. Now she is the author of Brand Storytelling and advises other companies how to bring out the stories from their employees. Listen in as Miri teaches you about the unique connection between storytelling and influence. Listen here.
The School of Influence Ep. 15: Dave Kerpen on the Importance of Building Likeable Influence
New York Times Best-Selling author Dave Kerpen emerged as a major marketing influencer out of nowhere with his Likeable brand, books, and successful agency. Dave explains the importance of branding and relationships in building and sustaining influence. Listen here.
The School of Influence Ep. 13: Serial Founder/Investor of PELOTON and ACTIVE, Dave Alberga, on Silent Influence and How to Leverage It for Astronomical Business Impact
Whether it’s A-list celebrities looking to launch their own brands or successful entrepreneurs looking for advice, there is one person they call: Dave Alberga. Dave is the silent and humble influence behind many of the biggest brands you know. It seems as if anything he touches turns to success, and for the first time ever, […]
The School of Influence Ep. 12: How Plastic Surgeon Dr. John Layke Became an Entrepreneur and Industry Influencer
In business, ambitious people either aspire to become an influential leader in their industry, or grow a company into greatness, Dr John Layke managed to do both, and he is far from stopping. What has been his formula to translate influence across categories? Find out in this riveting interview. Listen here.
The School of Influence Ep. 11: Founder of ‘Women in Influencer Marketing’ (WIIM) Gives Her Thoughts on Influencer Marketing
Jessy Grossman not only manages influencer talent, she also founded the rapidly growing community of women marketers. Her view of influencer marketing comes from the lens of influencers as social media content creators. Listen here.
The School of Influence Ep. 10: John Lee Dumas: The Common Path to Uncommon Success
How does one become an influencer in a crowded online space and launch a successful business? John Lee Dumas began as a podcaster and now generates 7 figures from a variety of digital and physical products. His Entrepreneurs on Fire podcast is one of the most popular business podcasts of all time. JLD shares what […]
The School of Influence Ep. 9: Barry’s Bootcamp CEO Joey Gonzalez Explains the Human Science of Influence
Barry’s Bootcamp CEO Joey Gonzalez explains the human science that enabled them to influence the way people work out, and got celebrities flocking to them! Joey shares how Barry’s Bootcamp changed the game for fitness and created a cult-like following with an audience that includes Hollywood’s top A-list celebrities flocking to them and bragging about […]
The School of Influence Ep. 8: Shane Vitaly, Founder, Vitaly: Breaking the Rules to Build a Mini Empire – and Influence a New Category of Brand
The motorcycle-driving, tattoo loving classic ‘bad boy look’ that Shane Vitaly had rocked since his anti-authoritarian childhood was not a likely candidate to create a global jewelry brand…for men! And yet by age 34 he boasts an 8 figure (and vastly growing) empire. In addition to the complete story of how he built his kingdom, […]
The School of Influence Ep. 7: Jen Groover: Think You Know How to Influence? Think Again
In the professional and private spheres, we are constantly searching for ways to maximize our influence. In this interview, Jen Groover challenges the old persuasion styles of marketing that hold most people and business back from actualizing their growth potential. She argues that influence is something that can be learned but it starts with a […]
The School of Influence Ep. 6: Carmax Co-Founder Austin Ligon on The Gold Standard of Branding
Austin Ligon has demonstrated influence at the highest level, the ability to not simply launch a new product, but an entirely new concept, in an industry peppered with skepticism: buying cars. Our conversation with him covers his time as cofounder of CarMax from its inception to his retirement in 2006. Since then, we discuss his […]
The School of Influence Ep. 5: Nigel Barker: America’s Next Top Influencer
The man who literally broke the ‘model’ for what it means to be a fashion photographer. Having worked with every major iconic face of our time, Nigel not only understands influence, he has amassed what can be considered industry-changing influence – from prime time reality shows to furniture collections, clothing labels and gyms, the man […]
The School of Influence Ep. 4: Zico Coconut Water Founder Mark Rampolla on Deep and Narrow Influence
We often think of influence as being about individuals with large followings, but Rampolla makes the case for leveraging all stakeholders as strategic key influencers. Rather than large followings, he argues the value of going deep and narrow with influencer engagement. Listen here.
The School of Influence Ep. 3: Lamborghini CMO Katia Bassi on the Brand as Influencer
Lamborghini CMO Katia Bassi has paved a new way of defining influence from her leadership. Learn why “Brands should inspire to expand people’s cultural horizons.” Listen here.
The School of Influence Ep. 2: Jesse Itzler on How to Build an Influential Life Resume
Jesse Itzler on what it REALLY takes to achieve INFLUENCE (and it’s NOT experience). Listen here.
The School Of Influence Ep. 1: Andy Roddick on Influence
Andy Roddick talks about no longer cringing at the word ‘influencer’, and how to leverage fame to create greater social good influence. Listen here.
This is the Future of Marketing – Nice article Forbes
American Marketing Association Book Club Choice
I have long believed that the American Marketing Association is a must-join for marketers of all levels. It is easy to get caught in a rut. Doing the same things over and over. Losing motivation or creativity. Or just doing things the way we know how. AMA pushes you to constantly push yourself, meet incredible […]
Personal Statement: Why I decided to write a book like this!
PERSONAL STATEMENT Ever since I started teaching strategic business courses at UCLA in 2015, I had a strong feeling that something was missing in the field of marketing. Each semester, as I continued to teach while simultaneously working to grow and eventually sell my own brand, I was growing more and more frustrated. Why was […]
What Are We Really Saying When We Talk About ‘Influence?’
While this article is actually entitled “What Are Micro-Influencer Campaigns, Anyway?“, I feel like the article is a bit of an oxymoron when it comes to the heart of the content. I mean the article opens by defining a micro-influencer as: someone with a social media following that’s larger than a normal person’s but smaller […]
It All Began With A Career Ending Injury.
A world-class distance runner, Amanda’s accomplishments had earned her an automatic spot in the 2008 Beijing Olympic trials—before a life-altering injury brought her career to a halt. Rather than giving up, Amanda took the curveball life threw at her as an opportunity to rewrite her story. Against all odds, she not only recovered but forged […]
The Story of The Influencer Code
I am incredibly excited to share a huge moment with you today: the official release of The Influencer Code. My entire life, I have aimed to be at the pinnacle of anything I wanted to achieve. As a former athlete, that pinnacle was the Olympics, but a career-ending injury closed, or actually slammed that door […]
5 Key Ingredients for Successful Influencer Outreach
While a strong alliance with an influencer can be pure magic for your brand, half the battle is establishing the connection to the desired influencers. Especially since most subject matter experts and online influencers are flooded with brands and people pulling at them from every direction. Therefore, there is an art to crafting that original […]
Finding Your Niche
It’s important for an influencer—and the brand—to collaborate and find their niche. Map your influencer search to bestselling author Andrew Davis (“Brandscaping”) keynote on how to make it pay off. Watch his keynote here and then read our commentary below on how to find your niche with influencer marketing. COMMENTARY: FINDING YOUR NICHE WITH INFLUENCER […]
Why Some Professional Speakers Provide Value WHENEVER They Go and Others WHEREVER They Go
Steal the Show author and Co-Founder/CEO of Heroic Public Speaking. Michael Port weighs in on ways to influence and increase your public speaking value: There’s an old saying that speakers and writers who work for free—for the “exposure”—can die of exposure. It’s a response to the classic free vs. fee argument that is regularly raised […]
Credibility and Connection
The general concept of influencer marketing has been around for decades. Think of OJ Simpson and Hertz Rent-A-Car. Actually – scratch that – probably not an ideal example. Influencer marketing has been heightened exponentially with advent of social media… and has been on fire the past 3 years. Why? There is no barrier to entry. […]
Who Influences the Influencer?
Bloomberg Technology recently posted the below article and I thought it worth sharing for a few reasons, as it sheds light on some great points, but also misses the boat on a big one. Here’s my take/summary, and of course, please I’d love to hear yours! People trust people, and will buy from people they […]
It’s a Marathon, Not a Sprint
There’s a reason running is the best metaphor for so many things in life. Having devoted the majority of my life to running, I believe this grueling sport is the purest example of how a combination of the right strategy and mindset equals success. Serious runners and other elite athletes practice “brain training”, honing their […]
Want to Actually Put Influence to Work for Your Brand?
Stop being a slave to the stats, and focus on impact. If you’ve engaged with a company as an influencer, or you’ve sought out influencers to work on your company’s behalf, you’ve probably played the numbers game. How many followers? How many views? How many comments? How many hits? How many of anything can we […]
Who Are Influencers?
Who are Influencers? They aren’t necessarily who you expect. They are the people with the most impact, the ones who actually move the needle and cause desired action — the ones who tell their neighbors what to buy, which politician to support and where to vacation. Social Media is not Influence. Popularity is not Influence. […]
Break Through the Noise: Social Media is Not Influence
The world’s largest taxi company, Uber, owns no vehicles. The world’s largest accommodations provider, Airbnb, owns no real estate. The world’s largest media company, Facebook, owns none of their own content. We are in the midst of an incredible revolution in business models. Industries that have operated the same way for decades are being wildly […]