Fundraising Beyond Size: Secrets for Scaling Nonprofit Impact| James Misner | 644
Have you ever wondered why some nonprofits make a huge impact while others struggle to grow? The difference isn't always their mission—it’s their ability to fundraise and scale effectively. James Misner, founder of the Kipos Group, joins us today to reveal why bigger doesn’t always mean better in the nonprofit sector. James spent 25 years witnessing smaller nonprofits achieve incredible results—only to remain largely invisible due to weak fundraising skills. We dive into the critical business skills most nonprofit founders lack, from building fundraising teams to understanding marketing ROI. James explains how he helps these leaders think differently, equipping them with essential tools to fundraise confidently and sustainably. James also shares powerful insights on thought leadership strategy. Instead of chasing large, vague markets, he advocates for targeting highly specific audiences. He discusses why giving away your best insights freely creates a pipeline of opportunity, helping more people and generating growth simultaneously. Finally, we explore the challenge of perfectionism in thought leadership content. James encourages leaders to overcome their fear of judgment and embrace sharing imperfect but impactful ideas. If your mission matters, James argues, it’s time to hit “publish.” Three Key Takeaways: • Smaller nonprofits can achieve massive impact if they master fundraising and marketing skills typically seen in larger organizations. • Focusing your thought leadership on a narrowly defined audience can drive stronger engagement and better outcomes than chasing broad markets. • Overcoming perfectionism and generously sharing valuable insights can create trust, generate opportunities, and significantly accelerate your organization's growth. If you found value in James Misner’s insights on equipping nonprofits with the tools to scale through thought leadership and targeted fundraising, you won’t want to miss our conversation with Stu Manewith in the episode "Thought Leadership Advocacy for Nonprofits". Stu dives into how nonprofit leaders can leverage their voices to advocate for their mission, build trust with donors, and create lasting impact. Together, these episodes offer a powerful playbook for nonprofit professionals looking to pair strategic thinking with storytelling to drive real change. Listen to both and discover how to amplify your organization’s influence from the inside out.
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Leading with Data, Scaling with Purpose | Aaron Marcum | 643
What if your greatest business challenge could become your launchpad into thought leadership? Today, Bill Sherman sits down with Aaron Marcum, visionary behind Breakaway 365 and bestselling author of EntreThrive, to explore how a journey from entrepreneur to industry thought leader unfolds—often unintentionally. Aaron shares how his frustration with data gaps in the home care space led to the founding of a data analytics company and, unexpectedly, a national reputation as a thought leader. Along the way, he leveraged the insights of thinkers like Brian Tracy and Michael Gerber, and later deepened his impact through a Master’s in Applied Positive Psychology under the guidance of Dr. Martin Seligman. Aaron breaks down how storytelling with data shifted his role from CEO to an in-demand industry voice, fueling brand growth, product evolution, and ultimately, a lucrative exit. But he didn’t stop there. With EntreThrive, he’s now equipping entrepreneurs to beat burnout, overcome inertia, and find lasting fulfillment. Whether he's on stage, coaching leaders, or writing his next big idea, Aaron exemplifies how thought leadership evolves with intention and legacy in mind. He doesn’t just teach frameworks—he lives them. And his mission? To empower other coaches and entrepreneurs to do the same, with impact that extends beyond business and into family, travel, and values. Three Key Takeaways: • Thought Leadership Can Be Accidental—But It Shouldn’t Stay That Way: Aaron began as a consumer of thought leadership, applying insights from Brian Tracy and Michael Gerber to his business. Over time, he evolved into a recognized voice in the home care industry by solving real problems with data, eventually becoming an intentional and strategic thought leader. • Data + Storytelling = Impact: His ability to interpret data and turn it into actionable insights transformed his brand visibility, customer engagement, and exit valuation. By controlling the narrative through thought leadership, he elevated his company’s reputation and market value. • Purpose Drives the Next Chapter: After exiting two companies, Aaron continues to lead with purpose—not for profit, but for impact. Through EntreThrive and Breakaway 365, he’s focused on coaching entrepreneurs to overcome burnout and thrive, combining positive psychology, personal experience, and a calling to serve others. If you're exploring how thought leadership can evolve from personal insight to organizational strategy, this episode offers complementary perspectives. In Discovering Thought Leadership, Mark Smith shares his journey from HR research to establishing a formal thought leadership role at SHRM, navigating internal structures to align research with actionable business goals.
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From Local Landmark to Global Platform: The Digital Evolution of the 92nd Street Y | SethPinsky | 642
Can a 150-year-old New York City institution thrive in the digital age? Seth Pinsky, CEO of the iconic 92nd Street Y, joins us to reveal how they turned crisis into innovation. Founded to support immigrant communities, the Y evolved into a world-renowned cultural hub. Seth shares how, despite the initial shock of COVID-19 closures, the organization quickly pivoted, transforming itself into a global digital platform overnight. Discover how they scaled online to reach millions—expanding their audience far beyond Manhattan. Seth explains key lessons learned, including tapping into an international market hungry for quality cultural content. By offering online programming, they attracted world-class talent and students from around the globe, dramatically increasing their impact and revenue streams. We explore the Y's innovative "Dialogue Project," a fresh approach to civic discourse. In a polarized era, Seth discusses the project's success in fostering respectful, mind-changing conversations. Audiences come away not just entertained, but transformed, underscoring the enduring power of meaningful dialogue. Finally, Seth highlights the dual identity of the Y as both a prestigious cultural center and a vibrant community hub. He details strategic initiatives that integrate these aspects, creating unique experiences that foster deeper audience engagement. The 92nd Street Y's reinvention shows that even historic institutions can harness change and become stronger than ever. Join us and learn how flexibility, digital transformation, and courageous programming decisions can turn disruption into lasting opportunity. Three Key Takeaways: • Rapid digital transformation can dramatically expand audience reach and create new, sustainable revenue streams for traditionally location-based institutions. • Structured civic dialogue offers a powerful way to engage polarized audiences, encouraging openness and the potential to shift deeply held perspectives. • Organizations with dual identities—such as cultural and community centers—can leverage this unique positioning to create highly impactful and engaging experiences for diverse audiences. If you found value in our discussion on the 92nd Street Y's digital evolution and commitment to community engagement, you'll appreciate episode 305, "Performance of Thought Leadership." with Karen Leland. Discover how embracing a digital-first mindset can amplify your organization's reach and impact in today's rapidly changing landscape. Tune in to gain actionable insights that can help you navigate and lead in the digital era.
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Accidental Thought Leadership: When a Minor Point Becomes a Major Movement | Ellen Joan Ford | 641
What happens when leadership, military service, and motherhood collide with a mission for change? Dr. Ellen Joan Ford didn’t set out to become a thought leader—she became one by accident, driven by action. A former army officer, academic, and founder of Belonging, Autonomy and Purpose Leadership, Ellen first spoke about the challenges of working parents as a small part of a leadership talk. But that minor moment struck a nerve—and sparked a tidal wave. Strangers reached out. Stories poured in. And suddenly, Ellen was leading a movement. That movement became #WorkSchoolHours, a principles-based approach to workplace redesign. Through a TEDx talk, a book, and ongoing advocacy, Ellen challenges leaders to reconsider the structure of work—not just for productivity, but for humanity. Her research began informally, collecting real stories from overwhelmed parents, but it soon evolved into a mission grounded in compassion and backed by data. Ellen’s leadership philosophy is shaped by three defining moments: serving in the military, becoming a parent, and helping evacuate Afghans to safety. Each began with getting "pissed off" enough to act—and that same passion drives her thought leadership today. But she’s not just collecting stories anymore. She’s implementing solutions. In this episode, we explore how passion becomes platform, how impact is scaled through persistence, and how thought leadership can evolve from lived experience. If you’ve ever wondered how to turn a personal challenge into systemic change, this conversation will show you what’s possible. Three Key Takeaways: • Big impact often starts small. Ellen didn’t set out to lead a movement—she simply mentioned the challenges of working parents in a leadership talk. That small moment resonated deeply, leading to thousands of unsolicited stories and the creation of the #WorkSchoolHours platform. • Thought leadership is fueled by personal experience and action. Ellen’s credibility and influence stem from her lived experiences: leading in the military, becoming a parent, and coordinating a massive humanitarian effort. Her thought leadership emerged not from theory alone, but from taking action when she saw problems that needed solving. • Change begins when someone gets “pissed off enough to act.” Whether improving military leadership, reshaping workplace norms, or saving lives, Ellen demonstrates that passion, combined with persistence and a clear purpose, can spark real-world impact—even on systems as entrenched as the modern workplace. If this conversation sparked your interest in how empathy and personal experience can fuel workplace transformation, don’t miss our earlier episode with Scott Shute, former Head of Mindfulness and Compassion Programs at LinkedIn. Like Ellen Joan Ford, Scott turned personal conviction into a platform for change—advocating for compassion as a strategic business imperative. Together, these episodes offer a powerful look at how thought leadership can humanize work and reshape what leadership looks like in today’s world.
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Crafting Books that Grow Your Brand and Business | Cathy Fyock | 640
What’s the real reason you want to write a book? If your answer doesn’t connect directly to your business goals, you may be missing the mark. In this episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership, Peter sits down with Cathy Fyock, a book strategist who helps authors write the right book—the one that aligns with their business, audience, and long-term strategy. Cathy shares why writing a book should never be step one. Instead, authors must start with a solid strategy: What do you want the book to do for your business? Who exactly are you writing it for? How will you leverage it to create opportunity, revenue, or credibility? We explore the importance of aligning your book’s content and audience with your current business model. Cathy also explains why writing for “everyone” is a mistake, and why serving a clearly defined niche can lead to powerful results—even if it feels narrow. If you’ve ever wrestled with the choice between self-publishing, hybrid, or traditional publishing, Cathy breaks down the pros and cons of each. Her recommendation? Own your IP, own your margins, and stay in control. You’ll also hear surprising insights about how some authors make more from not selling books—using them as a powerful sales tool to land clients, speaking gigs, and consulting contracts. Three Key Takeaways: • Start with strategy, not writing. A successful book begins with clear goals, a defined audience, and alignment with your business model—not just a blank page and good intentions. • Niche focus drives greater impact. Writing for a well-defined, specific audience builds credibility and creates stronger results than trying to appeal to everyone. • Books are business tools, not just products. The real ROI often comes not from book sales, but from using the book to generate leads, secure speaking engagements, or land high-value clients. If you found value in the strategic insights shared in this episode, you won't want to miss our conversation with Becky Robinson: "Writing a Book As an Extension of Your Business." Becky, the founder and CEO of Weaving Influence, delves into how authors can seamlessly integrate their books into their broader business strategies. She shares practical advice on launching a book, building a lasting platform, and ensuring your message reaches the right audience over time. This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to amplify their thought leadership and make their book a cornerstone of their business growth.
Welcome to the Leveraging Thought Leadership podcast, a beacon illuminating the paths and possibilities of thought leadership. With your guides, Peter Winick and Bill Sherman, we will embark on a journey into a captivating world where ideas converge with strategy and insight.
Where will thought leadership take you?
In each episode, we engage with thought leaders from diverse backgrounds. Whether it’s professional keynote speaking, writing your own thought leadership book, investigating the niche expertise of specialized consultants, or crossing mental swords with distinguished academics, our guests collectively paint a vivid mosaic of thought leadership's multifaceted potential.
Through nuanced perspectives and rich experience, our talented co-hosts aim to offer you views of the ways independent thought leaders navigate success, elevate talent, and change company culture – while simultaneously examining how organizations harness the power of thought leadership to catalyze innovation and nurture sustainable growth.
Peter Winick is your guide through the realm of independent thought leadership. For the past two decades, he has helped individuals and organizations build and grow revenue streams through designing and growing their thought leadership platforms as well as acting as a guide and advisor for increasing business to business sales of thought leadership products. Peter is the Founder and CEO of Thought Leadership Leverage. His clients come from a diverse set of backgrounds and specialties. They include New York Times bestselling business book authors, members of the Speakers’ Hall of Fame, recipients of the Thinkers50 award, CEOs of public and privately held companies, and academics at prestigious institutions such as Yale, Wharton, Dartmouth, and London School of Business.
With a keen eye for detail, he delves into the intricacies of crafting personal brands, fostering genuine engagement with audiences, and expertly monetizing one's expertise. From the artistry of crafting keynote speeches that resonate with audiences to the strategic deployment of bestselling books as conduits for inspiration and insight, Peter's guests offer a treasure trove of strategies for creating value and impact and driving revenue through thought leadership.
Bill Sherman specializes in the exploration of organizational thought leadership. He examines how companies conceive, curate, and deploy thought leadership initiatives, and how those initiatives benefit the orgs and the people who work within them. Bill listens to the stories and advice of industry leaders and their triumphs within the competitive business landscape. Whether through the dissemination of white papers that shape industry discourse, webinars that educate and engage, or insightful executive blogs that offer thought leadership at the highest echelons of corporate governance, Bill's guests provide illuminating perspectives on the evolution of organizational thought leadership and its pivotal role in shaping industry paradigms and perceptions.
Bill concentrates on organizational consulting and business expertise, investigating organizational thought leadership and its effects, from instructional design and learning product development to marketing strategy and execution, to organizational development and transformational consulting. He enjoys working with business leaders, speakers, authors, academics, and other consultants, connecting their ideas organizational platforms and enterprise-ready product development.
As the series unfolds, Peter and Bill will lead us through a nuanced exploration of the latest trends and advancements in thought leadership. From the transformative impact of technology on communication and collaboration to the evolving preferences of consumers in an increasingly digital marketplace, they will dissect the shifting landscape with precision and insight. Moreover, they will shine a spotlight on emerging modalities that are reshaping the contours of thought leadership, from the ascendance of virtual events as a cornerstone of engagement to the growing influence of social media platforms as conduits for thought dissemination and audience interaction. Through their discerning analysis, they will reveal how thought leaders can adeptly harness these trends to amplify their reach, captivate new audiences, and maximize their influence in an ever-evolving business environment.
Whether you find yourself at the height of your career as a seasoned thought leader, or whether you stand at the threshold of possibility as an aspiring entrepreneur, the Leveraging Thought Leadership podcast offers an enriching voyage of discovery.
Join us as we unravel the enigmatic secrets to success in the vibrant realm of thought leadership, where ideas have the power to shape perceptions, drive change, and inspire action. Together, let us explore how you, too, can engineer value, evoke impact, and cultivate revenue through the sheer power of your ideas and expertise.
Welcome aboard.
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