The Power of Peer-to-Peer Leadership | Ken Banta | 671

What makes a podcast truly powerful — and worth your time? In this episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership, Peter Winick sits down with Ryan Estes, co-founder of Wildcast and Kitcaster, to unpack what separates a great podcast guest — and host — from the rest. Ryan’s work connects CEOs, founders, and thought leaders to the right audiences through strategic podcast placement. His mission: to turn conversations into meaningful distribution. Ryan explains why founder-led marketing outperforms brand marketing — by as much as 80%. He reveals how showing up authentically on podcasts isn’t just about exposure; it’s about building credibility, creating demand, and sparking conversations that open doors to your ideal clients. Together, Peter and Ryan explore what makes a podcast worth appearing on. It’s not about chasing the biggest show or the biggest name — it’s about relevance. For many business leaders, the right niche podcast might be the only place where all their potential buyers are listening. Ryan walks through how to identify the right shows for your goals, the importance of energy and chemistry in a podcast conversation, and how to develop the skills — from delivery to lighting — that make you a guest worth remembering. They also discuss the “guest hygiene” problem: why so many smart leaders fail to prepare properly, neglect to promote their episodes, or treat podcasts like disposable media hits. Ryan argues that building a personal distribution network — your own voice, audience, and presence — is an investment that carries over to every project, every company, and every new venture. If you’ve been thinking about launching a podcast, or becoming a sought-after guest, this episode is your roadmap to doing it right — and doing it with purpose. Three Key Takeaways: • Founder-led marketing drives results. When leaders speak directly to audiences through podcasts, their message builds far more trust and engagement than traditional brand marketing. • Relevance beats reach. The best podcasts for business growth aren’t always the biggest — they’re the ones where your ideal buyers actually listen and engage. • Consistency builds credibility. Thought leaders who prepare well, promote their episodes, and keep showing up authentically develop a personal brand that outlasts any single company or project. If this conversation inspired you to think differently about using your voice and platform, take the next step by listening to our episode with Srinivas Rao. He dives deep into how creativity, curiosity, and personal expression fuel powerful thought leadership. Discover how to build an audience that connects with your ideas — not just your brand.   Listen here.

What happens when senior executives step into a room and speak with radical candor? In this episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership, host Peter Winick sits down with Ken Banta, Founder and CEO of the Vanguard Network, to explore how real leaders grow stronger through dialogue—not monologues. Ken doesn’t just advise on leadership—he builds ecosystems where executives learn directly from each other. The Vanguard Network creates peer-to-peer forums where GCs, CEOs, and senior leaders share their toughest challenges and unfiltered lessons. The power comes not from lectures or PowerPoint, but from raw, honest conversation. Members of his network walk away with two powerful outcomes. First, practical insights they can use immediately—solutions drawn from peers who’ve been there before. Second, the relief of knowing they’re not alone. When a board chair demands instant answers, having the confidence that others face the same issues is invaluable. These conversations create resilience, credibility, and a stronger sense of leadership presence. Ken also shows how these networks spark new thought leadership. Dialogue around real problems fuels fresh ideas, posts, and even books like his "Seeing Around Corners". This isn’t theory—it’s leadership in action, captured and shared for broader impact. The results are tangible. Leaders leave with new strategies, new allies, and sometimes even new career opportunities. One member walked peers through a cyberattack disaster, openly admitting mistakes and lessons. Another two struck a career-changing deal over dinner. This is thought leadership at its highest level—intimate, applied, and deeply human. If you want to see how conversation transforms into influence, this episode is for you. Three Key Takeaways: • Dialogue beats monologue. Executives gain more from candid peer conversations than from lectures or presentations. • Leaders don’t stand alone. Sharing challenges in trusted forums provides reassurance and practical solutions. • Conversations spark influence. Real stories and exchanges fuel new thought leadership, stronger presence, and fresh opportunities. If you found Ken Banta’s episode insightful, you’ll want to keep the momentum going with Karen Leland’s conversation on the performance of thought leadership. Ken showed how peer-to-peer dialogue fuels fresh insights and builds executive presence. Karen takes it a step further, exploring how leaders can deliver their ideas with clarity, confidence, and authenticity so they truly land with an audience. Together, these two episodes connect the what and the how of thought leadership: Ken highlights the power of conversations that spark ideas, while Karen shows you how to perform those ideas so they inspire action. Listen to Karen’s episode to learn practical strategies for elevating your communication, amplifying your presence, and making your thought leadership unforgettable.

What happens when a CEO treats thought leadership as essential as strategy? In this episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership, host Peter Winick sits down with Des Hague, an acclaimed executive who has led global brands like PepsiCo, IHOP, and Centerplate, and now advises startups, nonprofits, and private equity firms. He’s also the author of "Think Your Way to the Top" and "15 Minutes of Shame", with a third book on the way. Des doesn’t see thought leadership as an optional side project. For him, it’s the natural extension of leadership itself—codifying the models, frameworks, and mindsets that fuel success. He shares why talent is always the starting point, how leaders must prioritize relentlessly, and why making time for writing and reflection is a choice, not a luxury. We dig into the dangers of mediocrity and entitlement, the critical role of sacrifice, and how to stay focused in a world addicted to distraction. Des’s mantra, NSL—Never Stop Learning—pushes leaders to reject complacency and demand excellence from themselves and others. He also opens up about resilience, accountability, and how leaders respond to their lowest moments. Through transparency and candor, Des reframes failure as a lesson, not a life sentence. His story challenges executives to hold themselves to higher standards, embrace growth, and remain relentless in their pursuit of impact. This is an episode for leaders who want more than buzzwords. It’s about discipline, clarity, and the courage to lead with integrity—even when the spotlight is harsh. Three Key Takeaways: • Thought leadership is leadership. Codifying frameworks, sharing ideas, and investing in personal development are essential for leading organizations and people effectively. • Focus and sacrifice drive results. Great leaders prioritize ruthlessly, avoid distractions, and make deliberate trade-offs to create time for what matters most. • Resilience and accountability matter. Owning mistakes, learning from setbacks, and maintaining a growth mindset separate leaders who stagnate from those who continue to make an impact. If you enjoyed Des Hague’s perspective on leadership, focus, and turning ideas into impact, you’ll want to dive into our episode with Will Milano. Both conversations tackle the discipline behind thought leadership—how leaders move beyond inspiration to frameworks, focus, and execution. Des shows how personal accountability and clarity shape great leadership, while Will unpacks how organizations can build a repeatable engine that scales those ideas into measurable business results. Together, these episodes give you a 360° view: the mindset of the leader and the system that powers the enterprise. Listen to both, and you’ll walk away with practical insights for making thought leadership not just personal, but organizational. Listen to Will's episode here.

What if time wasn’t fixed, but something you could stretch, compress, and reframe? In this episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership, host Bill Sherman sits down with John Coyle—Olympian, design thinking expert, and author of "Design for Strengths". John has spent his life chasing the meaning of time, from hundredths of a second on the ice to decades in thought leadership. His work asks us to reconsider not just how much time we have, but how we experience it. John shares how fleeting moments can reset the trajectory of our lives—an insight that came from his Olympic journey where fractions of a second separate gold from "first loser". He explains the Greek distinction between Chronos (clock time) and Kairos (human, transformative time) and why organizations and leaders need to design for the moments that truly matter. We explore John’s unique career path—from competing alongside Lance Armstrong and working with Enron to translating neuroscience and psychology into practical lessons on leadership, innovation, and resilience. Along the way, he reveals how flow state, storytelling, and emotional engagement can make time slow down and make ideas stick. You’ll also hear John’s most powerful Kairos moment—the story of a silver medal, a boy who became an Olympian, and how one act of kindness changed two lives forever. It’s a reminder that you never know when a small choice can alter someone’s future. This conversation challenges leaders to rethink their relationship with time, memory, and meaning. It’s not about adding years to your life—it’s about adding more life to your years. Three Key Takeaways: • Moments reset the future. Leadership pivots often come from brief Kairos moments that redefine direction more than years of steady effort. • Memories are the currency of time. Flow states, risk, and storytelling create lasting memories that make life feel longer and leadership more impactful. • Design for strengths, not weaknesses. Leaders unlock innovation and resilience when they focus on amplifying strengths instead of patching flaws. If you found value in today’s conversation about designing time, flow, and moments that move you forward, you’ll want to listen to Maximizing the Flow of Ideas for Your Organization with guests Jeremy Utley and Perry Klebahn. That episode digs into how leaders generate more ideas over time—and why volume, variety, and experimentation are just as important as insight or vision. Both episodes ask a powerful question: how do you create an environment where your best ideas don’t just happen—but compound? In short, if you want tools for turning strengths into breakthroughs, and moments into momentum—this is your next listen. It’ll help you scale creativity, lead from possibility, and expand what “thought leadership” can mean across your team or organization.

What if the key to transformation isn’t a new app, a coach, or a seminar—but a 99-cent notebook? In this episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership, Peter Winick sits down with Klint Guerry, Group Vice President at Sewell Automotive Companies and author of "A Guide to Self Disruption". Klint reveals how a simple daily practice evolved into a powerful system for accountability, focus, and lifelong learning. At the heart of Klint’s thought leadership is the Guerry Notes Process—a structured, five-step method that has shaped his career, his leadership, and now, the lives of others. It’s not about lofty theories or abstract models. It’s about discipline. Responsibility. Curiosity. Service. Humility. These principles are practical, repeatable, and deeply transformative for anyone serious about growth. Klint explains how great leaders, teams, and individuals thrive not on charisma alone, but on process. Just as top athletes rely on rigorous training, professionals need daily systems to harness their strengths, stay focused, and deliver extraordinary results. His framework isn’t just personal—it applies to mentoring, team development, and building high-performance cultures. The book itself functions as both a mentor and a tool. With prompts, exercises, and curated wisdom, it bridges the gap between intention and action. For leaders, it’s a way to instill accountability and growth in their organizations. For individuals, it’s a guide to disrupting old patterns and unlocking potential. Klint’s work is a reminder that thought leadership is about more than ideas—it’s about building processes that others can adopt, adapt, and thrive within. Whether you’re a CEO, a rising professional, or a mentor, his insights will challenge you to ask: What system am I using to become the best version of myself? Three Key Takeaways: • Process beats charisma. Long-term success isn’t about charm or improvisation—it’s about having a disciplined, repeatable system that drives accountability and results. • Five principles power growth. Responsibility, focus, curiosity, humility, and service form the foundation of the Guerry Notes Process, helping leaders and teams consistently elevate performance. • A simple tool creates transformation. A 99-cent notebook, used daily with intention, can become a personal operating system for lifelong learning, stronger mentorship, and building high-performance cultures. If Klint’s episode got you thinking about the power of process, discipline, and structure in driving growth, you’ll want to dive into this conversation with Manja Horner on Thought Leadership and Adult Learning. Both episodes explore how simple, repeatable systems can transform potential into performance—whether through a daily notebook practice or by designing learning experiences that stick. Together, they show you how to move beyond inspiration into measurable impact. Listen here to see how you can apply these ideas to sharpen focus, accelerate growth, and create lasting change: Thought Leadership and Adult Learning with Manja Horner.

What does it take for a self-published author to turn a niche book into a best-seller—and then hand it over to a traditional publisher for its second edition? Erik Hanberg did just that with "The Little Book of Boards: A Board Member’s Handbook for Small and Very Small Nonprofits". His journey offers lessons in entrepreneurship, publishing strategy, and the business of thought leadership. In this episode, Erik shares how his early board experiences shaped his expertise and sparked a desire to help others avoid common pitfalls. What started as trial by fire became a passion for teaching—and a book that has sold more than 40,000 copies. By targeting a highly specific audience, he created a resource that spread by word of mouth, bulk orders, and Amazon’s niche algorithms. We explore the business side of publishing, from self-funded ads that fueled sales growth to negotiating with a Big 5 imprint for the book’s second edition. Erik reveals the financial trade-offs between steady monthly royalties as an independent author and the broader reach a publisher’s distribution network can provide. He also explains how he negotiated a contract that protected his long-term interests. Beyond sales, Erik talks about the opportunities that came once he became “the guy who wrote the book.” From board retreats across the country to consulting engagements, his authorship opened doors that no marketing campaign alone could create. And as AI reshapes how people access answers, Erik reflects on why human experience, frameworks, and authenticity still matter in thought leadership. If you’ve ever wondered how to transform expertise into a platform, or how to balance independence with institutional backing, Erik’s story is both practical and inspiring. Three Key Takeaways: • Niche sells big. By writing The Little Book of Boards for small and very small nonprofits, Erik reached the largest segment in the nonprofit space—and sold more than 50,000 copies. • Publishing is strategy, not luck. Erik turned modest sales into consistent revenue by investing in Amazon ads, then leveraged his track record to negotiate a traditional publishing deal on his terms. • Books open doors. Beyond royalties, authorship positioned Erik as an authority, leading to nationwide consulting and board retreat opportunities—proof that thought leadership creates business growth far beyond the page. If Erik Hanberg’s story showed you how a single book can spark authority and open doors in the nonprofit world, you’ll want to hear how Andrew Button is doing the same—this time in local communities. Andrew shares how thought leadership builds courage, activates ideas, and fuels grassroots change. Don’t just think about scaling ideas nationally—see how they thrive locally, too. Listen now to Andrew Button’s episode on thought leadership in local communities.

What if gambling with your time was the smartest investment you could make as a thought leader? Today on  Leveraging Thought Leadership, host Peter Winick sits down with Dan Ariely—renowned behavioral economist, three-time New York Times bestselling author, and one of the sharpest minds in decision science. His work has influenced companies like Google and Apple, guided governments, and sparked movements in how we understand human behavior. Dan shares why he doesn’t believe in rigid career paths but instead embraces intellectual adventure. His approach? Say yes to opportunities, experiment widely, and learn fast. From writing children’s books to advising on Middle East diplomacy, he treats each project as a test of impact and possibility. It’s thought leadership powered by curiosity, not by a fixed roadmap. We explore how Dan chooses where to focus his time and energy—not on where the money is, but on where humanity is underperforming. Whether it’s helping people rethink end-of-life care, confronting our irrational use of social media, or tackling the psychology of sleep, his work points toward reducing suffering and increasing human well-being at scale. What stands out is not just Dan’s research, but his method. He embeds himself in the world he studies. He spends Fridays with palliative care doctors and end-of-life doulas, visits slums to understand poverty, and listens deeply to those at the margins. For him, real thought leadership means turning lived experience into research-backed insights—and transforming those insights into powerful stories people remember. This conversation is a masterclass in aligning expertise with purpose. Dan shows how storytelling, data, and empathy intersect to create impact. And he reminds us that luck isn’t found—it’s generated by saying yes, trying widely, and learning relentlessly. Three Key Takeaways: • Gamble with your time wisely — saying yes to diverse opportunities creates luck, generates new insights, and fuels thought leadership. • Focus where humanity underperforms — the biggest impact comes from tackling areas where society consistently falls short, like end-of-life care, social media use, or health behaviors. • Turn research into stories — embedding in real-world experiences and translating data into memorable narratives makes ideas resonate and spread at scale. If you found this episode thought-provoking, you’ll want to keep the momentum going with our conversation on organizational thought leadership in nonprofits with Marci Alboher. Both episodes shine a light on how thought leadership can tackle the places where humanity underperforms—whether it’s rethinking end-of-life care and decision-making, or changing the narrative around aging and intergenerational collaboration. In Dan’s episode, you’ll hear how curiosity and experimentation fuel insights that reduce suffering and spark change at scale. In Marci’s, you’ll discover how nonprofits can amplify voices, craft stories, and shift perceptions to unlock the untapped value of older generations. Together, these episodes show how purpose-driven thought leadership—grounded in storytelling and human impact—can create real transformation. Listen to Marci’s episode next and expand your perspective on how ideas can drive change across both individuals and organizations.

What happens when every member of your team thinks, works, and communicates differently? Do you see chaos—or do you see opportunity? In this episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership, Peter Winick sits down with Stephanie Chung, bestselling author of "Leading People Who Are Not Like You" and a pioneering executive in the aviation industry. Stephanie challenges leaders to move beyond surface-level diversity and embrace the reality that every team is built on differences—in age, gender, culture, abilities, experiences, and thinking styles. Her thought leadership reframes leadership for today’s workplace. This isn’t about DEI checkboxes. It’s about ROI. Leaders who know how to harness diverse perspectives build stronger, more innovative, and more resilient organizations. Stephanie introduces her ALLY framework—Ask, Listen, Learn, and then act—to help leaders cut through the noise and lead with both head and heart. She points out that too many leaders default to “safe teams” where everyone looks different but thinks the same. Safe teams don’t innovate. They underperform. Great leadership requires stepping into the challenge of managing complexity and difference. Stephanie’s work equips executives with the tools and mindset to do just that. Stephanie also highlights the real business case. Diverse teams deliver better outcomes, but only when leaders develop the skill—and courage—to engage differences instead of ignoring them. Her book and keynotes are sparking a movement that’s helping organizations move past fear of mistakes and into a more open, adaptive, and human style of leadership. If you lead people—and especially if they’re not like you—this conversation will challenge your assumptions and expand your playbook for growth. Three Key Takeaways: • Safe teams underperform — When everyone thinks alike, innovation stalls. Real growth comes from embracing differences, not avoiding them. • Leadership is about ROI, not DEI checklists — Diverse teams deliver stronger results, but only if leaders know how to harness and manage those differences. • The ALLY framework matters — Ask, Listen, Learn, and then act. This simple model helps leaders navigate generational, cultural, and communication gaps effectively. If Stephanie’s episode got you thinking about the challenges—and opportunities—of leading people who aren’t like you, then you’ll want to dive deeper with Lily Zheng’s episode on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Deconstructed. Both conversations cut through the noise and focus on what really drives results: leaders who can embrace differences, move beyond surface-level DEI checklists, and create teams that thrive. Where Stephanie gives you the ALLY framework to navigate everyday leadership dynamics, Lily brings a data-driven lens to diagnose what’s working and what isn’t inside organizations. Listen to both, and you’ll walk away with a sharper playbook for leading diverse teams, boosting innovation, and turning inclusion into real ROI.

Are you the bottleneck in your own business? Many entrepreneurs wear every hat—CEO, sales, R&D, even accounts receivable—yet still feel stuck. Cary Prejean, founder of Strategic Business Advisors and author of three books, has spent 40 years helping business owners shift from operator to visionary leader. In this episode, we explore why entrepreneurs don’t need to become great managers—and why trying to do so can hold them back. Instead, Cary shows how to build processes that keep the business running without you, freeing you to focus on vision, growth, and impact. We break down the opposite skill sets of entrepreneurs and managers—why one thrives on vision, speed, and risk, while the other thrives on stability, patience, and process. Cary explains how to use the language of leadership to engage your team, enroll them in your mission, and empower them to take ownership. It’s about letting go without losing control, and creating repeatable, scalable systems that make you irrelevant to daily operations—in the best possible way. Cary shares practical ways to get the attention of distracted, fast-moving entrepreneurs, starting with the right questions. He reveals how to uncover hidden bottlenecks, fix chronic operational headaches, and stop training your team to rely on you for every decision. We also discuss the parallels between leading people and prompting AI—clear direction, desired outcomes, and the freedom to innovate. From his roots in accounting to his evolution as a leadership advisor, Cary’s journey offers a blueprint for sustainable growth. We talk about his upcoming books—one on common business-killing mistakes, and another on the lost art of relating—and how improving communication can transform not only your business but your relationships. If your business can’t run without you for more than a day, this conversation could be your turning point. Three Key Takeaways: • Entrepreneurs shouldn’t try to become great managers — The skill sets are fundamentally different. Instead of forcing yourself into a management mold, focus on evolving into a visionary leader who sets direction, inspires others, and empowers the team to execute. • Build processes that run the business without you — Repeatable, scalable systems free you from daily firefighting. When your team owns the process and delivers consistent results, you can step away from the weeds and focus on growth and innovation. • Empower and engage your team through clear vision and communication — Enroll employees in your mission, give them ownership of solutions, and resist micromanaging. Leadership is about prompting for outcomes, not dictating every step—just like using AI effectively. If Cary’s episode got you thinking about how to stop being the bottleneck in your own business, Jonathan Raveh’s conversation is your perfect next step. Both episodes tackle the same core challenge—how to move from doing it all yourself to building systems and empowering others. Cary shows you how to evolve from operator to visionary leader, while Jonathan dives deep into scaling thought leadership so your ideas can live and grow beyond you. Listen to Jonathan’s episode to see how you can turn your vision into a shared organizational capability, equip your team to contribute their voices, and create thought leadership that scales—without burning you out. Pair these two episodes and you’ll have a roadmap for scaling both your business and your ideas.

What if your next career move wasn’t about climbing the ladder—but making real progress toward a life of purpose? In this episode of Leveraging Thought Leadership, host Peter Winick sits down with Michael Horn—author, speaker, and co-founder of the Clayton Christensen Institute for Disruptive Innovation —to explore how thought leadership can transform education, careers, and the way we make big life decisions. Michael has spent decades applying the "Jobs to Be Done" framework—originally developed by Clayton Christensen—to help individuals and organizations rethink their goals. He’s worked alongside entrepreneurs, university presidents, and innovators who are reshaping the future of learning and work. His latest book, "Job Moves: 9 Steps for Making Progress in Your Career", takes this powerful research and makes it personal—helping people make smarter, more fulfilling choices. We dig into how ideas evolve beyond their original intent. Christensen’s theory of disruptive innovation started with disk drives, yet found its way into steel mills, education, and now career design. Michael shares how “Jobs to Be Done” is following a similar path, expanding from product design into deeply human territory—helping people identify the real motivations driving their decisions. We also tackle the big shifts in higher education. From universities facing demographic cliffs to the innovators thriving in the post-COVID landscape, Michael offers an unflinching look at what it takes for institutions to adapt—or be left behind. His insights bridge the gap between theory and practice, showing how thought leadership can both diagnose challenges and drive measurable change. This conversation is a masterclass in taking a proven idea, reimagining its applications, and building influence by serving a market that’s ready for transformation. Whether you’re leading an organization, shaping public policy, or charting your own next move, Michael’s approach offers a blueprint for progress. Three Key Takeaways: • Decades of consulting experience can be distilled into a compelling book that captures proven strategies, lessons learned, and actionable insights for a targeted audience. • Translating expertise into thought leadership requires transforming complex, insider knowledge into clear, engaging narratives that resonate beyond your immediate industry. • A well-crafted book serves as a strategic asset, building credibility, expanding reach, and opening doors to new opportunities and revenue streams. If you enjoyed hearing Michael Horn unpack how big ideas like Jobs to Be Done can move from theory into real-world impact, you’ll want to keep the momentum going with Liz Wiseman’s episode, Taking Thought Leadership from Page to Practice. Both conversations dive into the art of translating deep expertise into actionable strategies that resonate beyond your immediate circle. Michael explored how to adapt proven frameworks to education, careers, and personal decisions. Liz builds on that by showing how to make your thought leadership stick—turning insights into tangible change within organizations. By listening to both episodes, you’ll gain a powerful one-two punch: Michael’s perspective on expanding the reach of great ideas, and Liz’s blueprint for ensuring those ideas drive real, measurable results. Together, they’ll give you fresh tools to move your own thought leadership from inspiration to implementation.