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 

Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, former Member of Congress and now the Executive Director of GW’s Graduate School of Political Management (GSPM), shares the deeply personal story of immigrating from Ecuador, watching her mother work multiple jobs, and discovering early the power of resilience, community, and education. These experiences shaped her leadership philosophy and her belief that influence begins with listening.Debbie reflects on her time representing Florida’s 26th District, how she navigated a diverse constituency from Miami to the Keys, and the critical role of bipartisanship in addressing issues like climate change, immigration, and criminal justice reform. She also offers an honest look at the realities of public service—balancing family, confronting disinformation, and facing electoral challenges—all while staying grounded in purpose.Today, at GSPM, she’s preparing the next generation of leaders to rise above partisanship, embrace critical thinking, and approach politics with integrity, curiosity, and courage. Her story is a testament to the power of personal narrative, the necessity of coalition-building, and the importance of inspiring others to recognize their own agency.Takeaways:Influence Starts with Listening: Debbie shares that arriving in the U.S. as a teenager taught her “the art of listening,” a value that remains central to her leadership. Listening with curiosity—especially across difference—is what allows leaders to build trust, understand stakeholders, and create meaningful coalitions.Navigating the Noise of Technology and Social Media: Social media plays a major role in how constituents communicate—but also poses risks. Debbie discusses how leaders must distinguish real community feedback from bots, misinformation, and AI-generated content, all while staying grounded in values and not getting distracted by the noise.Turning Personal Stories Into Policy Impact: Her decision to run for Congress was sparked by seeing firsthand how the lack of access to healthcare harmed her community. Personal stories—like those shared by incarcerated women in a Judiciary Committee hearing—often have the greatest influence on policymakers, more than cable news or the loudest voices online.The Power of Authenticity: Debbie reflects on the pressure to present a “perfect” front as an immigrant woman in politics, and how letting go of that was key to connecting with people more deeply. Authenticity, vulnerability, and showing one’s full self are essential to building trust.Leading With Bipartisanship and Relationship-Building: Serving a swing district taught her that progress is impossible without cooperation. She shares how building relationships—across her own party and the other side—enabled her to address issues like environmental protection with colleagues who shared common concerns.Preparing the Next Generation of Public Leaders: At GSPM, Debbie is shaping future leaders who can think critically, work across partisan divides, and address major challenges—from AI to international conflict—with integrity and courage. Students’ optimism and commitment give her hope for the country’s future.Defining Influence Today: Debbie defines influence as the ability to remind people of their own power—bringing them together, helping them see their shared values, and catalyzing collective action toward a common purpose. She sees herself as a “vehicle” who helps activate that power in others.Quote of the Show:“Influence is reminding people of the power they already have.”Links:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debbie-mucarsel-powell-0077437/ Website: https://gspm.gwu.edu/

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/ 

We’re excited to re-air this powerful conversation with Terry Szuplat, former White House speechwriter for President Barack Obama and author of Say It Well: Find Your Voice, Speak Your Mind. Inspire Any Audience.Originally released as an in-person discussion, this episode quickly became a listener favorite for its timeless insights into authentic communication. Terry explores why simplicity, clarity, and personal storytelling matter more than ever—especially in a noisy digital age. Whether you missed it the first time or are revisiting it for fresh inspiration, this conversation offers practical guidance for leaders, communicators, and anyone striving to speak with impact.Takeaways:Talk Like a Human: Communicate with clarity and avoid jargon so your message resonates.Know Yourself Deeply: Authentic influence starts with understanding your identity and values.Utilize Personal Stories: Your unique experiences create connection and credibility.Prepare Thoughtfully: Terry’s 50-25-25 rule helps craft messages that hit the mark.Embrace Authenticity Over Perfection: Audiences value sincerity more than flawless delivery.Quote of the Show:"When you tell the stories that only you can tell, then no one can steal your words, ever."Links:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/terry-szuplat-456914137/Website: https://globalvoicescommunications.com/about/Say It Well: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/say-it-well-terry-szuplatShout Outs:Former President Barack ObamaTim WalzThe George Washington University College of Professional Studies

In this powerful episode, Anthony Shop sits down with Jill Houghton, President and CEO of Disability:IN, the world’s leading nonprofit driving disability inclusion and accessibility across global business. With a career shaped by personal experience, public policy, and transformative corporate partnerships, Jill shares how she has helped build a global movement rooted in the belief that disability is a strength and a critical competitive advantage for companies.Jill brings more than leadership insights; she brings stories of CEOs, next-gen talent, global boards, and individuals who found their voice through disability inclusion. Together, these stories illustrate how influence fueled by authenticity, visibility, and data can create lasting change.Takeaways:Disability as a Strength—and a Source of Innovation: Jill describes how her own learning disability shaped her understanding of disability inclusion and purpose. She explains why disability is not a deficit but a “natural part of the human experience” that brings insight, adaptability, and innovation to business.From Policy to Business: Where Real Influence Happens: After early work supporting the Americans with Disabilities Act, Jill realized that legislation alone can’t change attitudes. Business, she says, has unmatched power to accelerate disability inclusion—especially when leaders see disability inclusion as good for business, not just good intentions.The Rise of Cross-Industry “Frenemies”: Jill shares how competitors across tech, finance, and healthcare have become collaborators through Disability:IN—driving each other to improve, learn, and push the movement forward.Inside the Disability Index: Jill breaks down the origins, purpose, and future of the Disability Index, now in its 12th year and undergoing a major modernization. She reveals why companies crave maturity models, benchmarking, and transparent reporting—and how measurement fuels momentum: “What gets measured matters.”Visibility as a Strategy for Influence: Jill discusses why encouraging leaders to talk openly about disability—internally and publicly—is essential. Visibility creates momentum, breaks stigma, and empowers others to come forward.Stories That Change Culture: From Microsoft’s Jenny Lay-Flurrie openly identifying as deaf, to a senior executive who uses captions in secret finally naming his disability, Jill shows how storytelling unlocks culture change.Influence as Connection, Trust, and Listening: Jill closes with her personal definition of influence: using your power for good by listening first, building trust, and responding authentically to the needs of others.Quote of the Show:“Disability is a strength and a natural part of the human experience.”Links:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jill-houghton/ Website: https://disabilityin.org/