Blue Ocean Thought Leadership
Most thought leadership drowns in overcrowded, generic discussions, failing to differentiate in a sea of sameness. A blue ocean strategy shifts focus to untapped topics, unique insights, and a multi-channel approach that creates lasting engagement. By leading with originality and depth, firms can cut through the noise, shape industry transformation, and establish a true leadership position in institutional finance.
Paying Down the Decency Deficit
Institutional finance marketing must move beyond short-term tactics and transactional engagement to act as a steward of knowledge and trust. Thought leadership should elevate expertise, provide clarity, and enable sound decision-making rather than manipulate for conversions. By prioritizing substance over superficiality, firms can not only strengthen their competitive position but also help restore a culture of integrity in financial decision-making.
Contentism or Heroism
Contentism—formulaic, engagement-driven content—erodes credibility and stifles innovation, especially in institutional finance. Thought leadership should challenge industry assumptions, elevate expert voices, and break free from predictable narratives. The firms that reject conformity in favor of depth, originality, and strategic influence will be the ones that truly lead and differentiate in the market.
Tailoring Thought Leadership to Institutional Finance
Effective thought leadership in institutional finance requires more than generic insights—it demands strategic, research-backed content that addresses decision-makers’ core concerns, from integration to compliance. Success hinges on targeted distribution, personalized outreach, and leveraging platforms where executives engage. By shaping strategic thinking and providing actionable insights, thought leaders can position themselves as indispensable partners in a highly competitive market.
Involution vs Evolution
The content-industrial complex traps thought leadership in cycles of diminishing returns, where hyper-specialization and formulaic tactics stifle innovation. True thought leadership breaks free by embracing bold ideas, challenging conventions, and fostering meaningful conversations. In institutional finance and fintech, resisting this involution not only differentiates firms but also drives innovation, economic growth, and long-term success.
The Point of a Network: How to Help LA
As Southern California faces devastating fires, my annual theme of stewardship feels more relevant than ever. Stewardship isn’t just about long-term growth—it’s about helping each other in times of need. Today, I invite you to join me in supporting those affected by the fires through organizations like the Red Cross, World Central Kitchen, the LAFD Foundation, and the Pasadena Humane Society. Let’s come together to care for our community.
The Frog in Our Throats: AI in 2025
In 2025, the rise of generative AI poses a challenge: as companies adopt AI for marketing content, voices risk converging into indistinguishable sameness. To stand out, brands must rigorously define their voice, systematize their unique insights, and keep humans at the helm of thought leadership creation. This approach ensures differentiation, builds a competitive edge, and prepares brands for an AI-driven future without losing their distinct identity.
How to Make Your Panel Appearances Shine
Panel appearances are a chance to share expertise while engaging the audience effectively. Focus on preparing three key messages, using memorable and relatable examples, and maintaining audience connection through eye contact and vocal modulation. End with one clear takeaway to ensure your insights leave a lasting impression.
Climbing Mount Distribution
Effective thought leadership demands both flawless production and strategic distribution. Success hinges on leveraging owned channels beyond the basics, aligning thought leadership with internal practices, and prioritizing targeted, one-to-one outreach over mass engagement. By focusing on what truly influences decision-makers, you transform thought leadership into a tool that drives meaningful change and delivers tangible results.
Putting Theory of Mind Into Practice
Marketing often lacks a true “theory of mind,” failing to consider the complex mental states of decision-makers. Effective thought leadership, by contrast, is driven by deep empathy, anticipating the unspoken questions, fears, and desires of its audience. This approach builds trust and shapes decision-making by addressing the rational and emotional dimensions of high-stakes choices, proving that meaningful influence depends on a sophisticated understanding of the audience’s mindset.