97% Effective
Ep 112 - Alvaro Fernandez, CEO at SharpBrains - Growing SharpBrains: How to Amplify Your Influence and Impact
12 Mar 2025
Learn more about Michael Wenderoth, Executive Coach: www.changwenderoth.comIn this episode of 97% Effective, host Michael Wenderoth continues his conversation with Alvaro Fernandez, CEO of SharpBrains. They dive deeper into the specific actions that transformed SharpBrains from a blog into the “go to” platform on Brainfitness – creating a profitable business that has enabled Alvaro to stay at the forefront of a field he is deeply passionate about. They discuss the power of physical proximity in building relationships, harnessing industry controversy to gain media attention, and becoming a hub to detect signals and latent needs. You’ll gain insights into sharp ways to amplify your influence – and smile listening to Alvaro’s personal encounters with the late greats Larry King, the CNN legend, and Dr. Marian Diamond, the brain science pioneer. SHOW NOTES:Getting started: How Alvaro first connected, as an outsider, with leaders in neuroscience“At the very beginning, nothing really replaces physical proximity”The power of visibility: How to be featured in the popular press and get invited to the World Economic ForumThe importance of having a good online presence so people can find youNavigating hiccups: What SharpBrains stopped doing when people started trusting them less“Controversies are not bad”: How 3 media uproars brought SharpBrains massive media attentionThe power of “connecting the dots” for journalists“You are Dr. Fernandez for the day!”: When Alvaro was interviewed by the Larry King on CNNHow being the hub of the network brings people and opportunities to to youWhen Dr. Marian Diamond reached out: joy, a keynote, and lifelong respectHow conferences can be powerful mechanisms that provide interesting signalsWhy you need to quiet your mind and listenGet bored easily? The importance of creating a business that is consistent with your values and priorities - but demands that you grow and adaptNavigating tradeoffsBig Idea #1: The top way to start developing your neuroplasticity (from a lunch chat with the late Dr. Marian Diamond)Big Idea #2: What companies most want to address employee mental health – but what SharpBrains believes they most need (feel free to copy and spread their idea!)Got an idea about how to harness the human brain? How to reach Alvaro. BIO AND LINKS:Álvaro Fernández Ibáñez is CEO of SharpBrains, the leading brain fitness and neuroscience think tank and advisory. Named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum, Alvaro has been quoted by The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, BBC, AP, CNN, and more. He co-authored the book The SharpBrains Guide to Brain Fitness: How to Optimize Brain Health and Performance at Any Age, and is the Editor-In-Chief for seminal market reports on neurotechnology and digital brain health. Alvaro enjoys serving in the World Economic Forum’s Council on the Future of Human Enhancement, and in the Global Teacher Prize Academy run by the Varkey Foundation. He holds an MBA and MA in Education from Stanford University and a BA in Economics from Universidad de Deusto, in his native Spain.The previous episode on 97% Effective: <insert link here>Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alvarofernandez/SharpBrains Advisors: https://sharpbrains.comHis book, SharpBrains Guide to Brain Fitness: https://a.co/d/gRrA0qCPublic speaking: Alvaro featured on CNN’s Larry King Live and other recent talks: https://sharpbrains.com/about-us/speaking/Becoming the hub of the network: HBR article “Find networking stressful? Try becoming a connector instead” https://changwenderoth.com/articles/Understanding the brain, with the #2 most popular college professor in the world: Dr. Marian Diamond, “My Love Affair with the Brain”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIB1v0pLhNMAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
No persons identified in this episode.
This episode hasn't been transcribed yet
Help us prioritize this episode for transcription by upvoting it.
Popular episodes get transcribed faster
Other recent transcribed episodes
Transcribed and ready to explore now
Before the Crisis: How You and Your Relatives Can Prepare for Financial Caregiving
06 Dec 2025
Motley Fool Money
Anthropic Finds AI Answers with Interviewer
05 Dec 2025
The Daily AI Show
#2423 - John Cena
05 Dec 2025
The Joe Rogan Experience
Warehouse to wellness: Bob Mauch on modern pharmaceutical distribution
05 Dec 2025
McKinsey on Healthcare
The method of invention, AI's new clock speed and why capital markets are confused
05 Dec 2025
Azeem Azhar's Exponential View
Meta Stock Surges on Plans for Metaverse Cuts
05 Dec 2025
Bloomberg Tech