Establishing yourself as a thought leader takes expertise, visibility, and strategic engagement. Ward Baker (Baker Group Strategies) and Raghu Devaguptapu (Left Hook Strategy) share key steps to build your influence:

🔹 Get Involved – Volunteer for committees and serve on boards to connect with industry leaders to showcase your expertise.

🔹 Be a Resource – At conferences, ask insightful questions, contribute to discussions, and engage authentically on panels.

Leverage Your Track Record

Ward Baker emphasizes that a strong foundation of success is essential. “First and foremost, I would argue a track record of success is critical for establishing yourself as a thought leader in any field or industry. It's also important to strategically select opportune speaking engagements as well as boards to serve on. Your work has given you the deserved credibility, but it's also important that you properly share your experiences—both good and bad—with peers and colleagues.”

Raghu Devaguptapu echoes the importance of collaboration and knowledge-sharing: "It's not just about ad-making or being a media consultant—for me, it's been about what we should be doing to coordinate. It's important to provide insight, and as consultants, we have a role in sharing our expertise with partners across the industry."

Thought leadership starts with action—step up, share your insights, and make an impact! As Raghu noted, "Everything from the AAPC to the DCCC offers opportunities to contribute and grow credibility.”