Chief Influencer®

What does it take to influence people in an era where trust is harder to earn, and attention is harder to capture?In this episode of Chief Influencer, Anthony Shop sits down with Dr. Loretta Doan, CEO of the American Association of Immunologists (AAI), to explore how leaders can turn expertise into influence, build trust across diverse audiences, and create alignment that drives meaningful impact.Drawing on a career that spans science, communications, policy, and association leadership, Loretta shares how she helped transform AAI into a more outward-facing organization and talks about the launch of the Immunology Explained initiative. Along the way, she reveals why influence is not about being the loudest voice in the room, but about earning credibility, empowering others, and creating opportunities for trusted messengers to connect with the audiences they serve.The conversation explores the power of "borrowing trust," building internal alignment before pursuing external visibility, and why authentic leadership is more important than polished messaging in today's environment.Whether you're leading a nonprofit, association, company, or movement, this episode offers practical lessons on how influence is built, sustained, and scaled.Takeaways:Influence Starts With Listening: Before leaders can communicate effectively, they must understand their audience. Loretta explains that meaningful influence begins with listening, learning where people are coming from, and meeting them where they are.Trust Is Built Through People: Institutions may struggle to earn trust, but people still trust other people. Leaders can extend their reach by empowering ambassadors, advocates, and trusted voices who can connect authentically with their own communities.Internal Alignment Creates External Impact: Successful public-facing initiatives rarely start with marketing campaigns. They begin with alignment among leadership, staff, stakeholders, and members. When people share a common vision, influence becomes far more powerful.Borrowing Trust Accelerates Credibility: One of the episode's most memorable concepts is the idea of "borrowing trust." Strategic partnerships with respected experts, creators, and advocates can help organizations reach new audiences and build credibility faster.Great Leaders Create Space for Better Decisions: Loretta shares how presenting multiple options rather than forcing binary choices helps encourage collaboration, reduce defensiveness, and create stronger outcomes across teams and boards.Authenticity Matters More Than Perfection: In a world saturated with polished content, authentic human connection stands out. Influence grows when leaders show up as people first and allow others to connect with the human side of leadership.Influence Evolves Over Time: Early in a career, influence often feels tied to personal recognition. As leaders mature, influence becomes less about individual visibility and more about helping others succeed and creating lasting impact through collective effort.Quote of the Show:"People trust people. We borrow the trust of these influencers who do have these followings of people who trust them."Links:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/loretta-doan-9b876a4/ AAI Website: https://www.aai.org/ Immunology Explained: https://linktr.ee/immunologyexplained Shout Outs:Gwen Fortune-Blakey: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gwenfortuneblakely/ Dr. Meghan Martin:Linktree: https://linktr.ee/beachgem10 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@beachgem10

As LinkedIn continues to solidify its role as the front line for executive visibility, institutional trust, and digital leadership, we’re re-airing one of the most timely conversations in the Chief Influencer archive. Recorded at the National Health Council’s Health Leadership Conference last year, this discussion has only grown more relevant as leaders across sectors rethink how influence is built and measured online.The National Health Council (NHC) Leadership Conference brings together leaders from top patient organizations and nonprofits to foster connections, discuss leadership topics, and share best practices in nonprofit management. At the event, host Anthony Shop moderated a powerful panel of CEOs who discussed their roles as Chief Influencers on LinkedIn. The panel features Chuck Henderson, CEO of the American Diabetes Association; Katie Schubert, President and CEO of the Society for Women's Health Research; and Steve Taylor, President & CEO of the Arthritis Foundation. They shared insights into their success on LinkedIn, focusing on how they have built trust, maximized engagement, and fostered personal connections through the platform.The CEOs offer practical tips on content strategy, posting frequency, and how to engage with comments and tags. They highlight the impact of their social media presence in achieving meaningful outcomes such as talent recruitment and securing major funding. The discussion highlights the importance of utilizing LinkedIn to reach a broader audience and the value of commenting, liking, and reposting relevant content to amplify organizational messages effectively.Takeaways:CEOs see ROI from LinkedIn: Make it a habit to regularly connect with peers, industry leaders, and your audience. For instance, the speaker encourages everyone to connect with him on LinkedIn as a first step toward meaningful engagement.Faces Are the New Logos: Personal presence is key to building trust. Share your personal experiences and stories to create a deeper connection with your audience. Remember, trust is built through people, not just organizational logos.Share the Stage: Celebrate and promote others. Instead of focusing solely on your own achievements, highlight the successes and contributions of colleagues and partners. This not only amplifies your message but also uplifts others.Build Internal Champions: Cultivate a strong internal network within your organization. True external support begins with advocacy and engagement from within your own team.Embrace the Gray: Blend your professional and personal brand by showing up authentically. While different contexts may call for varying levels of personal sharing, authenticity should always be at the core.Engage with Content: Actively like, comment, and share relevant posts. This increases visibility and sparks conversations, making networking just as important as posting your own content.Schedule and Be Consistent: Use scheduling tools to ensure regular content posting at optimal times. Reposting or sharing valuable content with your own insights can further boost engagement. Repurposing content from other platforms, like Instagram, can also be effective on LinkedIn.Links:Chuck HendersonLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlesdhenderson/ Website: https://diabetes.org/ Kathryn Godburn Schubert LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathryn-godburn-schubert-07352a7/ Website: https://swhr.org/ Steven TaylorLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-taylor-a18b9b2/ Website: https://www.arthritis.org/ Shout Outs:Eric Racine: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericracine/ Jean Wright: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeanwrightmdmba/ Randall Rutta: https://www.linkedin.com/in/randall-rutta-1622952/ National Health Council: https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-health-council/

The meal is the entree that opens the door...It’s maybe the only time someone is going to see a person in a given day or even a given week, depending on where they’re living.Ellie Hollander, President and CEO of Meals on Wheels America, explores this question by highlighting that her organization provides far more than just nutrition; it offers a "more than a meal" service that includes safety checks, home repairs, and social connection. While the brand is recognized by nine out of ten voting adults, Hollander emphasizes the urgent need to turn awareness into action as part of the "End the Wait" initiative, as one in three providers currently maintains a waiting list due to funding failing to keep pace with rising costs. She advocates for this mission by presenting a stark economic reality to decision-makers: the cost of providing a senior with a nutritious meal, a visit, and a safety check for an entire year is equivalent to just one day in a hospital or twelve days in a nursing home.To lead a federated network of over 5,000 community-based programs, Hollander utilizes a "people-centered" influence strategy shaped by her previous experience as a Chief People Officer. Because the model prevents "command and control" leadership, she focuses on building trust, listening to local providers, and aggregating the network's collective power—such as chicken purchases that rival the volume of a major fast-food chain. This empathetic approach extends to her internal team, where she fosters an award-winning culture through flexible work policies, accountability, and personal touches like singing to employees on their birthdays. By tailoring her messaging, she demonstrates that effective influence is about finding the specific language that resonates with a stakeholder's values.Takeaways:Influence hasn’t changed—delivery has. Ellie explains that while platforms and tools evolve, influence still comes down to trust, credibility, and inspiring action.Meals on Wheels is “more than a meal.” Beyond nutrition, the organization delivers safety checks, social connection, and independence—often serving as the eyes and ears in a senior’s home.The urgency of the waitlist crisis. One in three Meals on Wheels providers has a waitlist, driven by rising demand and funding that hasn’t kept pace with inflation or population growth.Ending the wait. Ellie discusses the End the Wait initiative—a bold national platform to drive action and ensure that no senior who needs Meals on Wheels is left waiting.People-first leadership. Drawing on her background as a former Chief People Officer, Ellie shares how employee engagement, flexibility, and accountability can coexist—and fuel performance.Tailoring the message. Whether speaking with lawmakers, donors, or community leaders, Ellie explains how she adapts her language to resonate—without losing sight of the mission.Stories that move people. From volunteers learning sign language to connect with clients, to partnerships that keep seniors safe at home, Ellie highlights the human moments that drive influence.Quote of the Show:“Understanding what individual providers are grappling with, what they’re dealing with on the ground on a day-to-day basis, is so important. So listening is critically important.”Links:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellie-hollander-6418a/ Website: https://www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org/

Dr. Jean Accius, President and CEO of Creating Healthier Communities and a globally recognized authority on health equity and longevity, joins host Anthony Shop for a compelling conversation about what it truly takes to influence across sectors, build trust, and drive lasting social impact. Dr. Accius reflects on his Haitian upbringing and the guiding wisdom of his grandmother, who taught him “Tout moun se moun,” meaning every person is a human being. That simple but profound truth fuels his life’s mission to ensure that a person’s ZIP code no longer shapes their health, opportunity, or life expectancy.Grounded in data and lived experience, Dr. Accius discusses the stark reality that life expectancy can vary by decades between neighborhoods only a few miles apart. He challenges leaders to confront the forces that create these disparities and to recognize that the most pressing problems of our time do not respect boundaries. In an era defined by disruption, he urges leaders to get close to the communities they serve, collaborate beyond traditional silos, and build coalitions grounded in trust, accountability, and measurable action.Takeaways:Influence Begins with Proximity and Permission: Jean reminds leaders that influence is not defined by a title but by the permission others give you to earn their trust. You cannot influence what you refuse to understand, and trust cannot grow from a distance. His message is clear: leaders must get close, listen deeply, lead with humility, and demonstrate consistency.Health Equity Requires Cross-Sector Courage: Life expectancy can vary by 20 to 30 years between neighborhoods only a few miles apart. Jean emphasizes that these gaps are not biological. They are shaped by policy, power, and unequal access to opportunity. Since the most urgent problems ignore boundaries, the solutions must bring sectors together with intention and courage.Every Leader Is Going Through a Fire: Across business, government, and community organizations, leaders are facing unprecedented disruption. Jean insists that the ones who succeed are those who acknowledge the fire, adapt with resilience, collaborate openly, and commit to moving forward with others.Collaboration Must Be Measurable to Matter: Drawing on his experience building major coalitions, Jean reinforces a guiding truth: collaboration without measurement is simply conversation. Real impact requires shared goals, shared metrics, and shared accountability.LinkedIn as a Leadership Room Without Walls: Jean views LinkedIn as one of his most powerful tools for influence. It allows him to elevate community voices, highlight innovation, inspire leaders, and build meaningful partnerships. His presence on the platform has led to new collaborations, new funding, and national engagement.Rethinking Workplace Giving for a New Era: CHC now approaches corporate engagement as Workplace Solutions and Innovation. This model supports multigenerational workforces with programs that strengthen mental health, caregiving, volunteerism, and employee engagement. It also improves retention, productivity, and organizational trust.Redefining Influence: From Success to Significance: Jean reflects on how his understanding of influence has evolved. Influence is not about doing more or accumulating more. It is about service, connection, and shared humanity. For him, significance begins with the belief his grandmother instilled in him: every person counts.Quote of the Show:“Influence is about permission. And permission requires trust.”Links:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/accius4/ Website: https://chcimpact.org/ Shout Outs:Dr. Johnny ParkerFrontstage Backstage Book: https://a.co/d/hyfK27T

This special edition of the Chief Influencer podcast brings together some of the most powerful moments from conversations with seven remarkable leaders who are shaping the future of influence across public policy, mental health, women’s rights, technology, journalism, and social impact.Each guest: Jaymes Black, Patrick J. Kennedy, Kathryn Godburn Schubert, Craig Newmark, Frédérique Campagne Irwin, Steve Schwab, and Anna Palmer, approaches influence with authenticity, courage, and a deep commitment to service. Their stories illuminate how true influence is built: through connection, clarity, empathy, and a willingness to speak boldly for those who need it most.Takeaways:Lead with human connection, not organizational talking points: Jaymes Black demonstrates that influence grows when leaders start with why the mission matters personally before describing what their organization does, grounding conversations in shared humanity.Scale your impact by elevating others’ stories: Patrick J. Kennedy shows that amplifying raw, courageous personal stories can move audiences more powerfully than statistics or policy arguments, helping leaders expand their influence with authenticity.Start with education to drive advocacy: Kathryn Godburn Schubert underscores that many decisions rest on misunderstandings—like the assumption that women are routinely included in medical research—so leaders must illuminate gaps, share facts clearly, and build awareness before change can happen.Ground your leadership in core values—and expect resistance: Craig Newmark illustrates that influence is strongest when anchored in moral principles like service and honesty, while reminding leaders that doing good often invites pushback from those threatened by integrity.Use authenticity to connect across audiences: Steve Schwab emphasizes blending personal motivations with professional strategy—sharing family, emotions, and purpose—to build trust, unify stakeholders, and inspire people through both vulnerability and competence.Treat LinkedIn as a leadership responsibility, not optional homework: Multiple guests show that consistently posting, tagging partners, celebrating others, and sharing behind-the-scenes moments turns social media into a strategic engine for connection, credibility, and collaboration.Influence through a multichannel strategy, not a silver bullet: Anna Palmer highlights that meaningful influence requires using a mix of platforms—from social media to hometown newspapers to direct outreach—because different audiences pay attention in different places.Quote of the Show:“Influence today is a fragmented system—more people can be influential, and that’s a good thing for democracy. There’s no silver bullet. Influence requires a multi-platform, multi-audience strategy.” - Anna PalmerLinks:Kathryn Godburn SchubertLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathryn-godburn-schubert-07352a7/ Website: https://swhr.org/ Steven SchwabLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-schwab7676/ Website: https://www.elizabethdolefoundation.org/Jayme BlackLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thejaymesblack/ Website: https://www.thetrevorproject.org/ Anna PalmerLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-palmer-124a295/ Website: https://punchbowl.news/ Patrick J. KennedyLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-j-kennedy-6821ba165/ Website: https://www.patrickjkennedy.net/ Books: “Profiles in Mental Health Courage”: https://a.co/d/0kFiw9G “A Common Struggle: A Personal Journey Through the Past and Future of Mental Illness and Addiction”: https://a.co/d/2ObOEdP Frederique IrwinLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/frederiquecirwin/ Website: https://www.womenshistory.org/ Craig NewmarkLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craignewmark/ Website: https://craignewmarkphilanthropies.org/