Embracing Authenticity: Building a Career on Your Own. In this conversation Judith Germain speaks to Peter Murphy Lewis about leadership, innovation, and thought leadership. Peter shares his background, including that he is a documentarian, TV host, and fractional CMO who helps CEOs with their marketing. Peter lives with his family inside a zoo in Wichita, Kansas.
You can listen to Episode 461 on any of the popular podcast platforms or apps (including Spotify, and Audible). If you prefer to listen to your browser you can do that below. Enjoy!
Key Takeaways
- Peter emphasises trust, autonomy, and transparency as key pillars for fostering innovation in leadership
- Podcasting is highlighted as an effective tool for building thought leadership, especially when tailored to the target audience’s demographics
- Peter’s unique approach as a fractional CMO involves intense short-term engagements followed by ongoing strategic support
Topics
Peter’s Background and Current Roles
- Lives inside a zoo in Wichita, Kansas with his family
- Wears multiple professional hats: documentarian, TV host, and fractional CMO
- Founded a successful travel company in Chile at age 27, leveraging digital marketing and word-of-mouth strategies
Leadership Skills for Innovation
- Emphasises three pillars: trust, autonomy, and transparency
- Attributes his approach to his upbringing and early business experiences
- Stresses the importance of open communication and vulnerability in leadership
Building Thought Leadership Through Podcasting
- Views podcasting as an effective way to connect with audiences and share ideas
- Recommends tailoring content format (audio vs. video) to target audience demographics
- Emphasises authenticity, vulnerability, and comfort with silence as key elements for podcast hosts and guests
Fractional CMO Role
- Evolved from pro bono consulting and mentoring on platforms like GrowthMentor.com
- Typically involves 2-4 months of intense work (20 hours/week) followed by ongoing strategic support
- Offers flexibility in engagement and payment models, often tying compensation to performance
Personal Insights
- Regularly attends couples therapy with his wife as a proactive measure for relationship maintenance
- Advocates for mental health awareness and likens therapy to “going to the gym for your mind”
In this conversation Peter discusses his insights on developing leadership skills that can foster innovation, and the role of podcasting in building thought leadership. Peter shares his and his wife’s approach to regular couples therapy, describing it as a “cruise” to maintain a healthy relationship. He emphasises the importance of open communication and seeking outside help when needed.
Peter Lewis is a fractional CMO.
Peter Murphy Lewis can be found on LinkedIn here.
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