Elevate Your Industry: The Essential Role of Thought Leadership in Business In the latest episode of the Thoughtful Entrepreneur podcast, host Josh engages in a compelling conversation with Ryan Klee, co-founder of Rootstock, a thought leadership consulting firm. The episode delves into the nuances of thought leadership, the power of storytelling in business, and the strategic approaches Rootstock employs to help clients articulate their narratives effectively. This blog post will break down the key insights from the episode, offering actionable advice and thorough explanations to guide listeners in their thought leadership and branding efforts. Josh opens the discussion by emphasizing the critical role of thought leadership in today’s competitive business environment. He notes that every individual has a unique message that can positively impact the world, and it’s essential for business leaders to communicate their stories effectively. Ryan agrees, highlighting that many professionals, while experts in their fields, often struggle to convey their insights in a compelling way. This is where Rootstock steps in, helping clients refine their messaging and elevate their brands. Ryan introduces Rootstock as a consulting firm dedicated to helping ambitious leaders and organizations grow their brands and scale their businesses. The firm focuses on harnessing the potential of clients' best ideas, refining their narratives, and sharing these stories with broader audiences. Ryan shares his passion for connecting people and ideas, which he believes is fundamental to effective storytelling. He describes himself as an extrovert who thrives on conversations and connections. This enthusiasm translates into his work at Rootstock, where the focus is on helping clients organize and present their stories. Ryan emphasizes that storytelling is not just for marketers; it’s a vital skill for anyone looking to make an impact in their industry. He elaborates on the concept of a "thought leadership position," which involves articulating what one stands for and believes in. This foundational work serves as a guiding framework for all content creation and public engagement, ensuring that the messaging remains consistent and impactful.   About Ryan Klee: Co-Founder at Rootstock, Ryan is a true believer in the powers of authentic connections, strategic storytelling, curiosity, and mutually beneficial collaborations. After graduating from the University of Florida with a BS in Telecommunications, Ryan honed his PR, marketing, and business strategy and development skills over nearly 15 years at some of Atlanta’s best marketing agencies and the world’s leading online boating marketplace. Turns out, this constantly curious, challenge-seeking, lifelong lover of learning, words, and stories was also an entrepreneur at heart. His extroverted nature, communications skills, natural inclination for collaboration, and desire to impact others and go good work in the world meld into the perfect combination to help entrepreneurs, founders, leaders, businesses, and organizations grow their brands and scale their businesses as a thought leadership consultant.   About Rootstock: A team of consultants rooted in the convergence of strategic storytelling and business acumen, we connect with innovative organizations on their most human level in an ever more automated world. Together, we develop and deploy thought leadership and brand growth campaigns that scale our clients’ reach and reputations beyond existing practice and networks. With learned understanding, we tap into the potential of our client’s best thinking to hone their stories, expand their target audiences, and drive new business. Apply to be a Guest on The Thoughtful Entrepreneur: https://go.upmyinfluence.com/podcast-guest Links Mentioned in this Episode: Want to learn more? Check out Rootstock website at https://rootstock.agency/ Check out Rootstock on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/rootstockagency/ Check out Ryan Klee on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-klee/ Don’t forget to subscribe to The Thoughtful Entrepreneur and thank you for listening. Tune in next time!   More from UpMyInfluence: We are actively booking guests for our The Thoughtful Entrepreneur. Schedule HERE. Are you a 6-figure consultant? I’ve got high-level intros for you. Learn more here. What is your #1 Lead Generation BLOCKER? Take my free quiz here. Want to learn more about all the podcasts managed by UpMyInfluence? Opt in here.