Stout asked some top-level execs to share a little #StoutTalk on what influences their voice and the key power word that get them charged up. Their food-for-thought answers offer some great ideas for building your own influence and voice.

Austin Mayor Steve Adler

Austin Mayor Steve Adler

Stout Magazine: How do you use your voice?
Mayor Adler: As Mayor, I’m always aware that I am not speaking only for myself. I represent everyone, so when I speak, I have to keep in mind that I am a voice for the entire community. If this encourages me to exercise caution and to choose my words carefully, that’s not a bad thing.

Stout Magazine: What’s your power word?
Mayor Adler: Magical

Joshua Bingaman, Founder & CEO Helm Boots

Stout Magazine: Whose voice do you listen to and why?
Joshua Bingaman: I try to listen to my own voice when I can hear it amongst the noise/chaos; some people call it your gut, but it’s not as much that feeling or in my head as it is from my heart. I try my best to follow that.
Also, my wife, Sarah. She’s always balanced, rational and objective. She can also stay calm and be a voice of reason when I need it most.
And at the Helm company, I specifically listen to three people: Brad (VP), Broc (GM) and Chad (executive board member). I trust these three, and they always put what’s best for the company first. Since they share similar family and life values, it’s always good to know they’re in it for what’s best for our customers, our product and our people.

Stout Magazine: What’s your power word?
Joshua Bingaman: You got this. Less talk more rock!

Joshua Bingaman, Founder and CEO of Helm Boots.

Mojdeh Gharbi, Certain Affinity VP of Marketing & Operations

Mojdeh Gharbi, Certain Affinity VP of Marketing & Operations

Stout Magazine: Why is it important to Find Your Voice and what does that mean to you?
Mojdeh Gharbi: It’s not easy to have a voice when there are a lot of other voices talking at once. So be selective on timing and make sure it is deliberate, to the point and impactful. Your voice can carry weight, and is the building block of your personal brand.

Stout Magazine: Is there a time you wish you would have spoken up and why? A time when you wish you had not?
Mojdeh Gharbi: I wish I had spoken up more earlier in my career when I was just starting. Back then, I was still trying to find myself, voice and my strengths. I was just observing different leaders and learning about different styles of communication and voices.

Stout Magazine:Whose voice do you listen to and why?
Mojdeh Gharbi: I trust my gut, and have a small group of advisers that I look to when I am making important business decisions. Everyone has an opinion, but truly trusted advisers are hard to come by. I am selective on who I go to and have built these relationships over time. This includes family members, friends, colleagues, employees and other business partners.

Stout Magazine: What’s your power word?
Mojdeh Gharbi: I don’t think there is one word to capture every situation. It is really about that person, that moment and that circumstance. That said, my recent saying around the office is it takes a village to raise Certain Affinity. We are a growing company and it takes everyone’s involvement to continue to make our business a success.