“We are living in a new age of influence where, for the first time in history, attention belongs to human beings rather than brands...The Future belongs to those who drive the conversation”

inVOYAGE: The countdown to inVOYAGE Mykonos is officially on and today we’re delighted to be joined with our keynote speaker Julie Masters, Founder and CEO of Influence Nation to find out just what’s in store for our inVOYAGERS as she gets ready to lead our discussion on leadership and decoding the generation of Influence.

Julie, it’s a pleasure to meet you and welcome you to the inVOYAGE community! Before we begin, could you take us through your journey into thought leadership and what inspired you to focus on a career in influence?

Julie Masters: Pleasure to meet you and I’m so excited to be with the whole inVOYAGE community heading to Mykonos later this year. My journey in influence really began 25 years ago when I Co-Founded a speaker management company called ODE Management. Our role was to manage, launch, and advise some of the top thought leaders and speakers at events around the world. That experience really sparked my curiosity—what makes one person, or a group of people, so compelling that they stand out above the noise? What is it about a particular idea and the person delivering it, that not only grabs attention, but also converts that attention into engagement and long-term action? It was this curiosity that has driven my journey for the past 20 years - whether I’m speaking, researching, or writing about the power of influence – and the impact that it can have.

inVOYAGE: Was there a particular moment or experience that sparked your passion for helping others become influential leaders?

Julie Masters: Great question. I remember a large client asking me to take everything my team and I had learned about creating trusted authorities in the speaking world, and teach it to their top executives. That experience really highlighted for me just how much the landscape of influence has changed for leaders over the past decade. We’ve transitioned from a world where very few people had a platform, to one where almost everyone has multiple platforms at their disposal. Including the power to influence millions of people globally in an incredibly short periods of time. At the same time, attention spans have shrunk dramatically, making it even more challenging to cut through the noise. This realization led me to write "The Influencer Code," an e-book that breaks down the journey to becoming a trusted authority into seven actionable steps. That work then inspired my podcast, Inside Influence, where I now have the privilege of speaking with some of the most amazing leaders across the globe about what it truly takes to own your voice and stand out as a leader in your field.

inVOYAGE: We’re all very excited you’ll be joining us at inVOYAGE Mykonos. Without giving too much away, can you give us a teaser of what attendees can expect from your keynote address at the event?

Julie Masters: Absolutely! We’re going to explore how to stand out in this new digital age of influence. One key aspect is making the shift from being a Macro Authority—where you try to own a huge space in the marketplace and try to speak to everyone—to becoming a Micro Authority. A micro authority owns a deeply specialized space in the minds of their clients, standing out as the recognised ‘go-to’ expert in their field.

We’ll also delve into becoming the Primary Translator for your clients—the person that simplifies complex trends and information into ideas that are simple to apply.

Beyond that, we’ll discuss the art of Epic Storytelling, both online and in the experiences we create for our clients. And we’ll also uncover the mindsets that often keep us small—those that hold us back from having the impact we’re truly capable of achieving.

inVOYAGE: Now, as I’m sure you’re aware, our event brings together professionals from all over the world across a number of different industries. To what extent do you think the leadership challenges our audience face differs and how would you tailor your message accordingly?   

Julie Masters: Every culture and industry has its own unique opportunities and challenges, but at its core, I believe the questions we need to address in this new age of influence are universal. How do we ensure our voices are heard in a world that’s noisier and more distracted than ever? How do we turn the attention we capture into genuine engagement, where people are truly interested in what we have to say and follow through on the information we provide? How do we inspire action? How do we move people to make decisions and take meaningful steps based on the insights we share? And ultimately - how do we stand out as leaders in our field so we can attract next level opportunities as industry experts.

inVOYAGE: And what do you believe are the most crucial skills for leaders to develop in today’s world?

Julie Masters: In today’s landscape, there are two critical skills that leaders need to cultivate. The first is showing up—stepping off the side-lines and into the arena, making sure your voice is heard. This means owning your expertise, overcoming the fear of critics, and facing down imposter syndrome, so you can have the impact you’re capable of creating. The second skill is standing out. It’s about designing messages that cut through the noise and communicate your expertise in a way that makes people sit up and take notice—and then, most importantly, take action on your ideas. These are the skills that will set leaders apart and enable them to make a real difference in the future.

inVOYAGE: Finally, any last words for our inVOYAGERS? What message would you like to share with our attendees ahead of the event?

Julie Masters: I truly believe the events industry sits at the forefront of transformational storytelling. We look to this industry to set the agenda, to translate complex trends, and to create experiences that literally wire a new generations of industry leaders.

Now, more than ever, it’s vital that those in the events industry own their expertise, amplify their voices, and step up to create the impact that this industry is capable of delivering.

 Brought to you by our event partner, Speakers Corner, Julie Masters is a globally recognised authority on influence, thought leadership, and the art of standing out as a trusted authority. As the Founder and CEO of Influence Nation, she collaborates with business leaders to solidify their status as leading voices in their industries. Co-founder of ODE Management, the world's largest speaker management agency, Julie has played a pivotal role in launching the careers of renowned thought leaders.

You can read more about Julie at www.juliemasters.com