What creates influence in a world overflowing with information?

In this episode of Chief Influencer®, Anthony Shop sits down with Josh Resnik to discuss how leaders can build trust, navigate complexity, and make better decisions in an increasingly volatile political and regulatory environment. Josh spent nearly a decade at FiscalNote in multiple executive roles, including General Counsel, COO, and ultimately CEO and President, before stepping down in June 2026. Drawing on a career that spans law, media, technology, business development, and executive leadership, Josh shares lessons on communication, stakeholder management, and why influence is often the result of listening rather than persuading.

The conversation explores the future of public affairs, the growing role of AI in decision-making, and why trusted information has become a competitive advantage. Josh also explains why the most effective leaders focus on solving problems, helping others succeed, and building credibility over time. Whether you're leading a company, shaping policy, or managing change, this episode offers valuable insights on trust, technology, and influence in today's rapidly evolving world.

Takeaways:

Influence is built on trust, and trust starts with listening. The strongest leaders spend more time understanding others' perspectives than trying to persuade them.
Effective communication requires consistency and audience awareness. While the core message should remain the same, leaders must tailor how they communicate based on the needs and priorities of different stakeholders.
Public affairs leaders create the most value when they connect policy developments directly to business outcomes. Understanding how external issues impact organizational goals helps elevate public affairs from a support function to a strategic driver.
AI can dramatically improve productivity and decision-making, but it cannot replace human judgment. Leaders must combine technology with experience, context, and critical thinking.
Trusted information is becoming more valuable as content becomes easier to create. Organizations that can provide authoritative, reliable insights will have a significant advantage in an AI-driven world.
Influence often grows as a byproduct of helping others solve problems. Leaders who focus on supporting colleagues, building relationships, and creating value naturally expand their impact over time.
The future belongs to organizations that can combine technology, data, and human expertise. Success will come from using AI to enhance decision-making while preserving the relationships and judgment that drive meaningful outcomes.

Quote of the Show:

"Make it your mission to solve interesting problems and help other people. The influence will just be a byproduct of those behaviors, of the listening, the building trust, and really with those things as the foundation."

Links:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshresnik/
Website: https://fiscalnote.com/