Ep 112 - Alvaro Fernandez, CEO at SharpBrains - Growing SharpBrains: How to Amplify Your Influence and Impact

Learn more about Michael Wenderoth, Executive Coach: www.changwenderoth.com

In this episode of 97% Effective, host Michael Wenderoth continues his conversation with Alvaro Fernandez, CEO of SharpBrains. They dive deeper into the specific actions that transformed SharpBrains from a blog into the “go to” platform on Brainfitness – creating a profitable business that has enabled Alvaro to stay at the forefront of a field he is deeply passionate about. They discuss the power of physical proximity in building relationships, harnessing industry controversy to gain media attention, and becoming a hub to detect signals and latent needs. You’ll gain insights into sharp ways to amplify your influence – and smile listening to Alvaro’s personal encounters with the late greats Larry King, the CNN legend, and Dr. Marian Diamond, the brain science pioneer.

 

SHOW NOTES:

• Getting started: How Alvaro first connected, as an outsider, with leaders in neuroscience
• “At the very beginning, nothing really replaces physical proximity”
• The power of visibility: How to be featured in the popular press and get invited to the World Economic Forum
• The importance of having a good online presence so people can find you
• Navigating hiccups: What SharpBrains stopped doing when people started trusting them less
• “Controversies are not bad”: How 3 media uproars brought SharpBrains massive media attention
• The power of “connecting the dots” for journalists
• “You are Dr. Fernandez for the day!”: When Alvaro was interviewed by the Larry King on CNN
• How being the hub of the network brings people and opportunities to to you
• When Dr. Marian Diamond reached out: joy, a keynote, and lifelong respect
• How conferences can be powerful mechanisms that provide interesting signals
• Why you need to quiet your mind and listen
• Get bored easily? The importance of creating a business that is consistent with your values and priorities - but demands that you grow and adapt
• Navigating tradeoffs
• Big Idea #1: The top way to start developing your neuroplasticity (from a lunch chat with the late Dr. Marian Diamond)
• Big Idea #2: What companies most want to address employee mental health – but what SharpBrains believes they most need (feel free to copy and spread their idea!)
• Got an idea about how to harness the human brain? How to reach Alvaro.

 

BIO AND LINKS:

Álvaro Fernández Ibáñez is CEO of SharpBrains, the leading brain fitness and neuroscience think tank and advisory. Named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum, Alvaro has been quoted by The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, BBC, AP, CNN, and more. He co-authored the book The SharpBrains Guide to Brain Fitness: How to Optimize Brain Health and Performance at Any Age, and is the Editor-In-Chief for seminal market reports on neurotechnology and digital brain health. Alvaro enjoys serving in the World Economic Forum’s Council on the Future of Human Enhancement, and in the Global Teacher Prize Academy run by the Varkey Foundation. He holds an MBA and MA in Education from Stanford University and a BA in Economics from Universidad de Deusto, in his native Spain.

• The previous episode on 97% Effective: <insert link here>
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alvarofernandez/
• SharpBrains Advisors: https://sharpbrains.com
• His book, SharpBrains Guide to Brain Fitness: https://a.co/d/gRrA0qC
• Public speaking: Alvaro featured on CNN’s Larry King Live and other recent talks: https://sharpbrains.com/about-us/speaking/
• Becoming the hub of the network: HBR article “Find networking stressful? Try becoming a connector instead” https://changwenderoth.com/articles/
• Understanding the brain, with the #2 most popular college professor in the world: Dr. Marian Diamond, “My Love Affair with the Brain”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIB1v0pLhNM

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