What does real influence look like? Forget follower counts. In this episode, recorded ahead of The Influencers 2026, Anthony Perl sits down with business strategist Russell Pearson, co-creator of the event. Real influence, Russell argues, is access: walking into a room and having everyone turn around, waiting for you to speak. It is being the person people think about when you are not there.
Key talking points
- Why influence is access, not followers, and what that means for the way you show up
- How to position yourself in the minds of the people you want to work with, so you become the obvious choice
- The relationship between influence and leadership: you do not have to be a leader to be influential, but you need influence to lead
- Why everything is trying to influence you right now, from advertising to social media to artificial intelligence, and how to stay in control
- Where Russell’s competitive streak came from: five boys under the age of seven in Somerville
- Inside The Influencers 2026: run three times, the first time in person, and why it is not a sales event
About Russell Pearson
Russell Pearson is an award-winning business strategist and Hall of Fame speaker. Across three decades, his strategies have shaped growth in more than 280 industries and been applied by leaders in 63 countries. A regular commentator on television, radio and podcasts, with more than 350 episodes to his name, he works with organisations to energise people, build resilience and lift performance in uncertain times. He is the co-creator of The Influencers 2026.
The Influencers 2026
The Influencers 2026 is one morning in Sydney: Wednesday 7 October 2026, 8.30am to 12.00pm, Northside Conference Centre, Crows Nest. The theme is there’s more than one way to become influential, explored through five lenses: media, communication, marketing, leadership and business. Tickets and group bookings are available via influencers2026.com.au.
Links
- The Influencers 2026: influencers2026.com.au
- Podcasts Done For You: PodcastsDoneForYou.com.au
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