People Power Over Position Power with Leanne Hobson

This week on the YES, BRAND Podcast, Hersh Rephun sits down with Leahanne Hobson, and let’s just say…this one covers ground.

Leahanne has led strategy for heavyweights like IBM, Avaya, and Lucent, and went on to found Alinea Partners, now a top global channel consultancy helping companies navigate AI, security, and constant market change.

But this isn’t just about big logos and big tech.

It’s about what actually builds a brand that lasts.

Leahanne breaks down the difference between “position power” and “people power” and why the latter is what really moves the needle. Translation: your title might open a door, but your relationships keep it open.

They also get into:

• Why networking is not a phase, it is a practice

• The moment your corporate identity disappears and your real brand shows up

• Turning expertise into scalable, productized services

• What AI actually means in the real world, not the hype version

• Rethinking success from “world domination” to a life you actually want

And maybe the simplest truth in the episode:

If you want in, you have to participate.

Not someday. Not when it’s convenient. Now.

Because brand, like life, does not pick you. You show up and build it.

🎧 Smart, grounded, and refreshingly honest, this one’s for anyone navigating growth without losing themselves in the process.

https://alinea-partners.com/

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Hersh's new book, SELLING THE TRUTH: A ‘Semoir’ with Insights for Life & Business is a semi memoir drawing on his adventures as an Authority Advisor and Standup Comedian. It is part business book, part happiness formula for life, and an amuseful read, whether you’re building a business or burnishing your self-image.

You can kickstart your own messaging evolution with a one-on-one 5-Minute Fix.

Take the 60-second Get Off Your Assets Quiz, and find other resources here: https://www.hershrephun.com/selling-the-truth/