Episode
Borrowing Trust and Building Influence with Dr. Loretta Doan of AAI
- Podcast
- Chief Influencer®
- Published
- Jun 24, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 2740
- Processing state
not_requested- Canonical source
- https://share.transistor.fm/s/39953cdc
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Summary
What does it take to influence people in an era where trust is harder to earn, and attention is harder to capture? In this episode of Chief Influencer, Anthony Shop sits down with Dr. Loretta Doan, CEO of the American Association of Immunologists (AAI), to explore how leaders can turn expertise into influence, build trust across diverse audiences, and create alignment that drives meaningful impact. Drawing on a career that spans science, communications, policy, and association leadership, Loretta shares how she helped transform AAI into a more outward-facing organization and talks about the launch of the Immunology Explained initiative. Along the way, she reveals why influence is not about being the loudest voice in the room, but about earning credibility, empowering others, and creating opportunities for trusted messengers to connect with the audiences they serve. The conversation explores the power of "borrowing trust," building internal alignment before pursuing external visibility, and why authentic leadership is more important than polished messaging in today's environment. Whether you're leading a nonprofit, association, company, or movement, this episode offers practical lessons on how influence is built, sustained, and scaled. Takeaways: Influence Starts With Listening: Before leaders can communicate effectively, they must understand their audience. Loretta explains that meaningful influence begins with listening, learning where people are coming from, and meeting them where they are. Trust Is Built Through People: Institutions may struggle to earn trust, but people still trust other people. Leaders can extend their reach by empowering ambassadors, advocates, and trusted voices who can connect authentically with their own communities. Internal Alignment Creates…