About this episode

Anna Covert discusses the importance of authority and brand leadership in the age of AI with Beth LaGuardia Cooper.

Ready to elevate your authority? Click the URL for a free digital copy of The Authority Advantage, available now for Covert Code listeners: https://books.forbes.com/free-resources/the-authority-advantage/?rpaname=annacovert In this episode of Authority as a Growth Strategy, a Forbes Books series presented by The Covert Code, Anna Covert sits down with Beth LaGuardia Cooper, President and CMO of Forbes Books, to explore the big picture of authority and brand leadership in the age of AI. As buying behavior rapidly shifts and answer engines reshape how leaders are discovered, one thing remains constant: trust is the ultimate differentiator. Beth shares: - How AI is transforming buying behavior - Why earned media matters more than ever - The rise of Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) and Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) - Why leaders must become visible guides, not silent operators - How a book serves as the ultimate authority accelerant - How the Authority Maturity Model helps leaders assess and scale their impact - If 2026 is the Year of Authority, this conversation is your blueprint. Authority isn’t about being louder. It’s about being trusted. 📖 GET THE BOOK: The Covert Code –…

People in this episode

Host: Anna Covert

Guest: Beth LaGuardia Cooper

Topics covered

• authority
• brand leadership
• AI
• trust
• buying behavior
• media

Keywords

• authority
• AI
• buying behavior
• trust
• media
• leadership
• optimization

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Forbes Books, Advantage Media

Products: The Authority Advantage, The Covert Code

More episodes of The Covert Code

• Shaoqing Sun on Unleashing Boundless Creativity | The Covert Code | EP 112 · May 1, 2026 · 58 min
• Demystifying the Publishing Process with Tyler LeBlanc | Forbes Books | Covert Code | Ep 3 · April 24, 2026 · 49 min
• Authority Brand Building | Forbes Books | Covert Code | EP 2 · April 17, 2026 · 49 min
• Carly Foy on Programmatic Advertising (What Most Brands Get Wrong) | The Covert Code | EP 111 · April 17, 2026 · 45 min
• Maria Garaitonandia on How High-Performing Teams Talk When No One’s Watching | Covert Code | EP 110 · April 3, 2026 · 37 min
• Freedom by Design: Michael Walsh on Scaling Without Burnout | Covert Code | EP 109 · March 27, 2026 · 44 min

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the The Covert Code podcast page.