Innovation Playbook: Your Weekly Guide to Business Growth
Are you feeling the pressure to keep up with the rapid pace of change in the business world?
From new technology to evolving market dynamics, it’s a lot to navigate. But what if you had a playbook full of insights from industry leaders?
This week, our Top Voices Unite community explored five livestreams, unpacking the most pressing topics in professional growth, from launching a podcast to using AI and mastering LinkedIn.
Inside, you'll find actionable takeaways, powerful quotes, and surprising statistics that will give you the competitive edge you need.
Ready to get ahead?
Let’s dive into your weekly playbook!
The Mic Is Calling: Should You Start a Podcast?
Ever considered starting a podcast but hesitated? You’re not alone.
The fact is, podcasts have become a powerful way to build a brand, attract clients, and establish yourself as an authority. But with so many shows out there, how do you stand out?
On the August 5th episode of Top Voices Tuesday, our LinkedIn Top Voice host Michael Lopez (Author of “Change”) sat down with Porschia Parker-Griffin, CEO of Fly High Coaching and host of the Career 101 Podcast, to unpack what makes a podcast worth starting—and how to stick with it beyond episode one.
Porschia's own journey to becoming a LinkedIn Top Voice shows that consistency is key.
“You never know who's watching you… we’re putting out this content… and we don’t get that real-time interactive feedback a lot.”
Podcasting is a similar long game. It requires clarity, patience, and persistence, especially when the listener feedback is quiet.
The data supports this: 90% of podcasts don’t make it past episode three. (Podnews)
Why? Because a successful podcast requires more than a good idea—it needs a plan. It's the behind-the-scenes work, from scripting to editing, that truly makes a show last.
Michael also reminded us to start simple, know your purpose, and plan your support system.
“You don't need to have a 60-minute podcast. You don't need to have a podcast that goes every week… It does take a lot of effort… but now is the time. Waiting doesn’t really help.” - Michael Lopez
Key Takeaways
- Consistency is the secret sauce. A regular, authentic voice builds trust over time.
- Success requires a plan, not just an idea. Outline your purpose, content, and process before you launch.
- Starting is better than waiting. Begin with a simple format and grow from there.
Replay + Resources
📺 Watch the Full Episode
- In LinkedIn: “Should I Start a Podcast?”
- In YouTube
🎙️Join the next episode of Top Voice Tuesday with Nick Larson on August 12 at 12:00 PM EST on LinkedIn Live. Register here!
📬 Get the most of the insights from our featured Top Voices in this episode!
- Learn from Michael’s latest thinking on change and transformation, along with current topics discussed on the Top Voice Tuesday Podcast and subscribe here!
- Subscribe Career 101 Podcast on YouTube hosted by Porschia Parker-Griffin and learn everything you were never taught or told when it comes to career growth and change.
Cracking the Algorithm: Your Authentic Path to LinkedIn Visibility
Are you tired of feeling like your content is shouting into a void?
Many people struggle to get their message seen, but what if you could use the algorithm to your advantage without spending a cent?
In this week’s Blue TV livestream, LinkedIn Top Voice and Sellovatorz, Inc. founder Denise Murtha Bachmann delivered a solo masterclass on How we can work with the algorithms, not against it—and do it in a way that’s authentic, effective, and sustainable.
Denise's core message was simple but profound:
“The algorithm loves conversation. It doesn’t just track who sees your post—it notices who talks back.”
She revealed that true momentum comes from sparking meaningful dialogues, not chasing fleeting likes. Her algorithm game plan focuses on a few key actions:
The Metrics Mindset Shift
Denise didn’t serve up a “hack”—she showed us how to play the long game of visibility, credibility, and trust-building on LinkedIn.
- Trigger Early Engagement: The first 15-60 minutes after you post are crucial. Engage with comments immediately.
- Start Real Conversations: Use curiosity-driven questions and stories to get people talking. Stories get up to 7x more reactions and 24x more comments when shared on a livestream.
- Engage Before You Post: Spend 15 minutes commenting on 3-5 relevant posts before you publish your own.
- Prioritize DMs: Even short conversations in direct messages signal to the algorithm that you’re building relationships.
- Test Your Timing: Experiment for 2-4 weeks to find the best posting times for your unique audience.
Did you know? Posts with storytelling get up to 7× more reactions and 24× more comments when delivered as LinkedIn Live, compared to regular videos, fueling deeper engagement. (Vidico)
Replay + Resources
📺 Replay the Full Episode: BLUE TV: How to trigger the Algorithm Without Paid Ads
The next episode of Blue TV will be on August 13 at 11 AM EST (10 AM CST) on LinkedIn Live. Register here!
🔷Learn from our Top Voice Denise Murtha Bachmann
🌐 Sellovatorz.com
📅 Book a 1:1 Strategy Call: Schedule with Denise
The Entrepreneur's Edge: Turning Vision into Value
The entrepreneurial journey is not for the faint of heart.
It demands passion, purpose, and the willingness to change course.
In the 82nd episode of Inspired Money, our host and Runnymede Capital Management’s CEO Andy Wang gathered powerhouse voices shaping today’s entrepreneurial landscape.
The episode spotlighted Ilana Golan (CEO of Leap Academy), James “Jimmy the Pencil Orsini (President Startup Operations of VaynerX) and Nikki Estes (CEO & Founder of Market Me More & Top Voices Unite)—all offering practical wisdom and hard-earned insights about what it really takes to build and sustain something meaningful.
The consensus? Action beats analysis. Ilana's advice:
“Try as fast as possible and validate as close as possible to your clients."
This was echoed by James as your strategy must be grounded in reality, not just optimism:
“A dream without a plan is nothing more than a wish.”
But it’s not a solo act. Nikki reminded us that innovation is a team sport, encouraging entrepreneurs:
"Reach out to one of your community partners, you know, and ask them."
Collaboration is your greatest strength, helping you to avoid blind spots and find new opportunities. Andy summed it up perfectly:
"Entrepreneurship is innovation. It's job creation, it's wealth creation. It's an engine of growth that fuels entire communities and industries."
Key Takeaways:
- Action over analysis: Rapidly test your ideas and get feedback from your clients.
- Dreams need a roadmap: A clear strategy is essential to turn a vision into a viable business.
- Collaboration is key: Don’t be afraid to partner with others and leverage your community.
Replay + Resources
📺 Watch the Full 82nd Episode of Inspired Money
- In LinkedIn: "Unlocking the Power of Entrepreneurship"
- In YouTube
🎙️ Listen to past episodes of Inspired Money Podcast in different platforms here: Inspired Money with Andy Wang
The next episode of Inspired Money will be on August 13 at 1:00 PM EST on LinkedIn Live. Stay Tuned!
🔎 Explore more from our Inspired Money host and guest speakers in this episode!
🔹Andy Wang
→ Company Website
→ YouTube Channel: Inspired Money
🔹Ilana Golan
→ Company Website
→ YouTube Channel: Leap Academy
🔹James Orsini
→ Company Website: VaynerX
🔹 Nikki Estes
→ Company Websites:
→ Subscribe to Nikki’s newsletters!
Beyond the Hype: The Human-Centered Future of AI
AI isn’t just a buzzword anymore—it's shaping our reality.
In the AI Zombies livestream hosted by Silicon Zombies, our Top Voices Nick Larson and Cory Warfield gave us a mind-bending look at a future that’s already here. They went beyond the typical conversation, discussing everything from biological computing to quantum technology.
The discussion highlighted Google’s Genie 3, a tool that can turn a single photo into a fully playable video game.
Cory called it "game-changing," explaining how it could create immersive experiences for everyone. It's a clear signal that the future of brand building will be about generative world-building, not static content.
“You can take any of your pictures and turn them into a fully immersive, fully playable video game.”
The conversation then took a deeper turn, exploring "sensorial AI," or how technology can interface with our physical and emotional selves. Cory described how some tech can simulate taste, smell, and touch, opening up new possibilities for everything from education to entertainment.
Nick challenged our notion of presence:
“Are we really present if we're recording everything?”
Key Takeaways:
- AI is creating new realities: Tools like Google’s Genie 3 will transform how we create and consume content, moving toward immersive, playable experiences.
- The future of tech is multi-sensory: Expect AI to interface with our physical senses, from touch to smell.
- Presence is a choice: We must be mindful of how technology impacts our ability to be fully present.
This is more than science fiction—it's now. The immersive media market is projected to reach $134 billion by 2030. (Precedence Research)
Replay + Resources
📺 Replay the full livestream: Silicon Zombies 191: AI Zombies ft. Cory Warfield
The next episode of AI Zombies will be on August 13 at 2:30 PM EST on LinkedIn Live.
Stay Tuned!
🤝 Connect with our AI Zombies speakers making waves as LinkedIn Top Voices!
🔹 Nick Larson
→ Company Website: Silicon Zombies
→ YouTube Channel: subscribe here!
→ Need Advice? Book a 1:1 with Nick in Hubble!
→ Subscribe to Nick’s LinkedIn Newsletter: Brain Food
→ Join Nick and his Silicon Zombies team as they host Ageless Evolution Longevity Summit 2025 this October 10th in Silicon Valley! Grab your tickets here!
🔹 Cory Warfield
→ Company Websites:
- Coryconnects
- DCRBN
- Agora World
→ Subscribe to Cory’s newsletters!
- LinkedIn newsletter: Tech for Good
- The Best Tech Newsletter
Tech and Touch: Redefining the Future of Healthcare Work
The healthcare industry is experiencing a profound shift, driven by technology and a greater need for human connection.
In a recent Live with Top Voices Unite in our Voices of the Week series, host Nikki Estes (CEO & Founder of Market Me More & Top Voices Unite) and Erick LaGroux (founder of NextGenMed Staffing & Vitality Solutions LLC) discussed how tech is transforming the industry, not by replacing people, but by making them more effective.
Erick explained how his team moved to predictive staffing with AI-driven tools:
"Leverage AI-driven predictive analytics to match clinicians to opportunities before the request even reaches peak earnings urgency.”
But he also stressed the importance of human intuition.
“AI gives us data, but intuition tells us what to do with it.”
The real benefit is allowing recruiters to focus on what matters most: understanding personality, values, and cultural fit.
The conversation covered exciting innovations like virtual nursing, liquid biopsies with 99% accuracy for brain tumors, and real-time staffing data. This shift isn't just about efficiency—it's about a better, more human-centric healthcare system.
“We’re not replacing recruiters or clinicians. We’re using tech... to upgrade them. The future of healthcare staffing isn’t AI versus people. It’s AI with people.”
Nikki concluded with a powerful reminder for leaders:
“Leadership today requires fluency in both innovation and empathy.”
Key Takeaways:
- AI is an upgrade, not a replacement: Technology should empower human professionals, not replace them.
- Data + intuition is the winning combo: Use data for efficiency and human insight for connection and fit.
- Lead with empathy: In a world of accelerating technology, empathetic leadership is more important than ever.
Replay + Resources
📺 Catch the full Live with Top Voices Unite episode here: Redefining Work in a Tech-Driven Care Economy
🔎 Explore more from our Voices of the Week host and guest speaker in this episode!
🔹Erick LaGroux
→ Company Website: NextGenMed Staffing
🔹 Nikki Estes
→ Company Websites:
→ Subscribe to Nikki’s newsletters!
Reflection
After reviewing all of this week's key takeaways, it's clear that the future of work and business lies at the intersection of technology and humanity.
How will you apply these insights to better connect with your audience and lead your team this week?
Let us know in the comments!
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