Polaris: The Introvert’s Guide to Influence
- Chris McNulty
- Jun 30
- 6 min read
If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing great work but not enough people know about it, this episode of Polaris is for you. In our latest podcast, I sat down with Crissy Conner, known as The Visible CEO, to talk about why visibility is the new currency for business and technology leaders. Crissy is a visibility strategist and coach who helps entrepreneurs and executives amplify their voice, and during our conversation she shared powerful lessons on how to step out of the shadows and into the spotlight – in a way that feels authentic and purposeful.
Crissy’s Journey – from Introvert to Influencer: One thing that immediately resonated was Crissy’s personal story. She admitted that years ago she was “the quietest person in the room.” Despite being an expert in her field, she hesitated to put herself out there.
Crissy realized that staying invisible was holding not only her back, but also limiting the number of people she could help. Over time, she deliberately pushed past her comfort zone – going live on Facebook, speaking at events, engaging with her community – and discovered that confidence is built by action, not by waiting. Her transformation into the “Visible CEO” wasn’t instant, but it was life-changing. Now, she channels that journey into helping others find their voice.
Why Visibility Matters: A big theme we explored is why leaders need to be visible in today’s world. It’s not about ego or getting likes for vanity’s sake. It’s about building trust and connection. Crissy shared a striking insight: “Being the best-kept secret helps no one.” If you have knowledge or a solution that could benefit others, staying silent means those who need you might never find you.
On the flip side, when you put a face and personality to your business, you humanize your brand. Listeners learned that modern audiences – whether customers, partners, or employees – crave authenticity – especially in a world of AI-created content.
Crafting an Irresistible Message: A practical takeaway from our chat is the importance of honing your message. Crissy works with clients on creating “irresistible offers,” which means crystallizing what you’re offering and why it matters into something truly compelling. In the podcast she gave an example (one that many business leaders will appreciate): instead of saying “I provide marketing consulting”, you might reframe your message to “I help local businesses double their revenue through hands-on marketing strategies.” See the difference?
Authenticity Over Perfection: Crissy and I also touched on a trap many leaders fall into: chasing perfection. It’s natural to want your public-facing efforts to be polished. However, striving for perfection can become a roadblock to ever sharing anything at all. Crissy’s take – and I wholeheartedly agree – is that audiences value authenticity more than perfection. A minor stumble in your speech or a less-than-studio-quality video can actually make you more relatable. People respond to real stories and genuine enthusiasm, not scripted infomercials.
So, I encourage you to listen to the full episode to hear all of Crissy’s insights and examples. By the end of it, I hope you’ll be thinking about your next bold step toward being more visible. As we like to say at Synozur, it’s time to find your North Star – and sometimes that means letting it shine a bit brighter.
Polaris is available on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, YouTube or wherever you get your favorite podcasts. Thanks.
Show Notes
Notable Quotes (Crissy Conner)
“Being the best-kept secret in your industry helps no one. Visibility is about service, not ego.”
“I used to be the quietest person in the room. Now I teach others: if you have a solution, you have a responsibility to let the world know.”
“Visibility isn’t about shouting louder, it’s about aligning your message with your audience’s heart.”
“Confidence isn’t an innate trait – it’s a skill you build by consistently showing up, even when it’s uncomfortable.”
References
Nearly 90% of people hold biases against women; half believe men make better leaders, reflecting stagnation in women's leadership roles over the past decade.
Explores an internal Hewlett-Packard finding that men apply when they meet ~60% of job requirements, whereas women tend to apply only when they meet all the qualifications.
Crissy references Rob Dial’s challenge to spend 365 days doing something uncomfortable every day as a catalyst for personal and professional growth.
Crissy Conner’s official site and program hub for “The Visible CEO,” where she offers resources and coaching to help entrepreneurs and leaders increase their visibility.
A book/concept by Mel Robbins emphasizing that you should allow others to act as they will (“let them”) and not let fear of others’ opinions hold you back from showing up.
82% of respondents trust a company more if the CEO and leadership engage on social media (emphasizing the trust gained through leader visibility).
70% of people experience impostor feelings in their lives (context for our discussion on overcoming self-doubt). https://time.com/5312483/how-to-deal-with-impostor-syndrome/
Events
FY26 Forward - Microsoft Partner Success Strategies - July 29. I’ll be sitting down with our CEO Michelle Caldwell for a fireside chat about Microsoft's plans for its new fiscal year and how Microsoft partners can align for success.TechCon 365 Atlanta | August 11-15 at the Georgia World Congress Center.
TechCon 365 Dallas - | November 3-7, 2025 (Dallas, TX). Irving Convention Center
Microsoft Ignite 2025 – Nov 17-21, 2025 (San Francisco, CA)
ESPC25 (European SharePoint Conference 2025) | Dec 1-4, 2025 (Convention Centre Dublin (CCD) Dublin, Ireland)
Takeaways
Visibility is Vital: Being visible and authentic as a leader isn’t vanity – it’s a business strategy. A strong personal brand builds trust and opens opportunities. In fact, 82% of people trust a company more when its leaders are active on social media, underscoring the value of showing up.
Overcoming Imposter Syndrome: Many leaders (nearly 70% of people) experience imposter feelings at some point. Crissy emphasizes that you’re not alone – recognizing these doubts is the first step to overcoming them. She shares how to move past the “I’m not ready” mindset and step into the spotlight with confidence.
From Introvert to Influencer: Crissy’s own journey from being shy to becoming The Visible CEO illustrates that introversion is not a barrier to leadership or influence. Confidence comes from consistency – by regularly using your voice (in speaking, writing, or video), you can grow more comfortable and impactful.
“Get Heard, Get Seen, Get Paid”: Your expertise can’t help anyone if no one knows about it. Crissy’s mantra – get heard, get seen, get paid – reminds us that visibility directly contributes to business growth. She explains how showing up authentically attracts your “raving fans” and ideal clients, leading to increased influence and income.
Irresistible Offers & Authentic Messaging: One key to visibility is having an offer and message that truly resonates. Crissy advises crafting “irresistible offers” – solutions so aligned with your audience’s needs that they feel drawn to you. Clarity in your message (knowing exactly how you help and whom) makes it far easier to show up and speak out, because you know the value you provide.
Multi-Channel Presence: Don’t hide – engage on platforms where your audience spends time. Crissy encourages leveraging formats like live video, community groups, and consistent content to amplify your reach. By building a presence across channels (from LinkedIn to Instagram), you create more touchpoints to connect and establish trust.
Empowering Women Leaders: They discuss the unique visibility challenges women often face in leadership. Crissy stresses that embracing your achievements and expertise is not bragging – it’s owning your worth. By building a personal brand, women leaders can challenge stereotypes, inspire others, and gain the recognition they deserve.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Female Leadership and Visibility
01:35 News and Data Points
03:02 Introducing Crissy Conner
05:43 The Power of Uncomfortable Actions
08:37 Building the Visible CEO Movement
11:21 Challenges for Female Leaders
13:48 Transforming Visibility into Authenticity
17:04 Refining Personal Branding Strategies
19:56 Overcoming Fear and Building Confidence
22:48 Creating Impactful Content
25:33 The Role of Personality in Visibility
28:47 Final Thoughts and Resources
31:55 Upcoming Events
33:26 Closing
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