Steve Schwab

In this special Chief Influencer Power Breakfast episode, Anthony moderates a dynamic panel featuring five powerhouse nonprofit CEOs. Together, they explore how leaders can harness the power of personal branding to amplify their missions and drive greater impact.You'll hear real-world strategies and inspiring stories from:📌 Steve Schwab (Elizabeth Dole Foundation)📌 Jean Accius (Creating Healthier Communities)📌 Katie Schubert (Society for Women’s Health Research)📌 Jennifer Sirangelo (Points of Light)📌 Lidia Soto-Harmon (Student Conservation Association)Discover practical tips for staying authentic, elevating others, and using social platforms to build influence. Whether you're leading a nonprofit or looking to grow your own leadership brand, this conversation will equip you with the insights to take the next step forward.Takeaways:Start from Within: Make sure your internal team, staff, board, and volunteers understand and champion your mission. Internal alignment fuels external influence.Prioritize Authenticity: Share real, personal stories in your own voice. This helps build trust and deepens audience connection. Don’t be afraid to show who you are behind the title.Use Social Media Strategically: Even simple tactics like tagging people and using @ mentions can significantly expand your reach and engagement.Create a Posting Routine: Block small pockets of time, like at the airport or between meetings, to engage on platforms like LinkedIn. Consistency matters more than frequency.Leverage Visual Tools: Think creatively about how to drive connections. For example, use a LinkedIn QR code on your name badge to make networking easy and immediate.Elevate Others: Use your platform to spotlight team members, partners, and community leaders. Sharing the stage amplifies your mission and builds goodwill.Engage Without Overthinking: You don’t have to post every day. Commenting, liking, or resharing valuable content is just as impactful, and a great way to start building your presence.Quote of the Show"It’s irresponsible for nonprofit leaders not to have a LinkedIn presence." — Steve SchwabLinks:Kathryn Godburn SchubertLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathryn-godburn-schubert-07352a7/ Website: https://swhr.org/ Jean AccuiusLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/accius4/ Website: https://chcimpact.org/ Jennifer SirangeloLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-sirangelo-62a8723/ Website: https://www.pointsoflight.org/ Lidia Soto-HarmonLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lidia-soto-harmon-a921a213/ Website: https://thesca.org/ Steven SchwabLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-schwab7676/ Website: https://www.elizabethdolefoundation.org/ 

How can a mission greater than yourself fuel meaningful change and inspire others to join the movement? Steve Schwab, CEO of the Elizabeth Dole Foundation shares key lessons he learned from Senator Dole, including the importance of having a mission greater than yourself for true health and vitality. Steve discusses how authentic storytelling and persistence helped grow the Elizabeth Dole Foundation’s mission into a nationwide movement, through the Hidden Heroes Campaign, with support from influencers like Tom Hanks and Savannah Guthrie. He reflects on the power of coalition-building and leadership, stressing the need to never give up, even when the path to change is challenging.Takeaways:Clear mission or purpose: Having a mission larger than yourself drives personal motivation and organizational success, fueling health, vitality, and passion for your work.Authentic partnerships: Successful coalitions are built on genuine, passionate connections with partners who are sincerely committed to the cause, leading to long-term collaboration and impact.Balance evidence with storytelling: Combining factual evidence (science) with emotional storytelling (poetry) makes your message more credible, relatable, and impactful, especially in advocacy campaigns.Authenticity in endorsements: When selecting influential figures to endorse your cause, ensure they have a true connection to it for more meaningful, long-term advocacy support.Persistence pays off: Achieving long-term goals requires persistence. The passing of the Senator Elizabeth Dole Act highlights the importance of pushing forward despite setbacks and obstacles.Self-reflection and planning: Regular self-reflection and planning, through practices like quiet time, weekly sessions, or yoga, help maintain clarity, purpose, and proactive focus.Leveraging LinkedIn: Using platforms like LinkedIn to share achievements, highlight partnerships, and promote your mission strengthens relationships, increases transparency, and broadens your reach.Quote of the Show:"It’s incredibly important to recognize the divisive times we are in, and that people are hungry for things that unite us and bring us together."Links:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-schwab7676/ Website: https://www.elizabethdolefoundation.org/ Shoutouts: Senator Elizabeth Dole Senator Bob Dole  Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement ActHidden Heros Campaign: https://www.elizabethdolefoundation.org/campaigns-programs/hidden-heroes