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Performance of Thought Leadership | Karen Leland

Performance of Thought Leadership | Karen Leland


How performance is part of delivering thought leadership.

An interview with Karen Leland about using artistic talents in the delivery of thought leadership and the future of our hybrid world.


Today’s guest is Karen Leland, CEO at Sterling Marketing Group, the best-selling author of No Nonsense and The Brand Mapping Strategy, and lifelong artist. Karen Leland has written over 200 articles on business, food, travel, health and lifestyle for a wide variety of magazines and newspapers, including: Self, Woman’s Day, Inc. magazine, The Los Angeles Times, Entrepreneur, The Christian Science Monitor, Hemispheres and others.

Improv and the Arts in Thought Leadership

With a lifelong commitment to the arts, Karen shares how the skills learned in music, theater, and improv have given her the ability to handle rejection. Also, these broad skills help her think on her feet and have served her well in business. She believes that the wide range of skills helps her face any obstacle that might present itself.

A Hybrid World

Next, we continue our conversation by looking at the increased speed at which the industry was forced to move to digital events. Karen shares her thoughts on the hybrid world that she sees evolving from the COVID-19 pandemic and what the new normal might be once we are on the other side of it.

Finally, Karen shares two passion projects she is looking at developing. She shares how many professionals are seeking side businesses that support their passion more than their pocketbook.

Three Key Takeaways from the Interview

  • Thought leaders with a background in the arts are often capable of thinking on their feet and being more agile.
  • With the world forcing thought leaders to change how they deliver content, you have to be willing to figure out a way forward or face extinction.
  • Thought leaders should be seeking to find a way to apply their area of thought leadership to the way the world has changed.

If you need a strategy to bring your thought leadership to market, Thought Leadership Leverage can assist you! Contact us for more information. In addition, we can help you implement marketing, research, sales and other aspects so you can devote yourself to what you do best.

Peter Winick has deep expertise in helping those with deep expertise. He is the CEO of Thought Leadership Leverage. Visit Peter on Twitter!

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