Kim Rosas: 5 Things You Should Do To Become a Thought Leader In Your Industry
By: Authority Magazine
Tags: Business

Thank you so much for doing this with us! Our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you share your “backstory” with us?

I’ve always had an interest in website building, making my first in high school and teaching myself html. I’m also an intense researcher when it comes to online purchases. Combining those two interests I started my first website about cloth diapers to help other parents with their decision. As my kids got older I took that experience and authority and segued into a new website about reusable menstrual cups. This year I did it again and expanded my work into online retail as well.

Can you briefly share with our readers why you are an authority about the topic of thought leadership?

In my time building communities and content around a topic, in this case reusable menstrual cups, I’ve made it a point to push this particular topic into a more flushed out field, helping to establish some standardized terminology and approaches in how we discuss this product.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career?

The Internet is a pretty amazing place. I can share a recent story that I find really interesting. I received a DM to my @PeriodNirvana account from someone who works in the world of resin and mold making. Somehow this person found my account and realized I had been creating molds and casting resin pieces to make parts of an anatomical uterus model I use in my work. I’ve been failing at making a good left ovary. This kind person offered to connect me with an expert in that field who I facetimed with to try and solve my mold issue. They also offered to create a new successful mold for me. I’ve never been so blown away by a random chance encounter and the kindness of others who just want to help another human succeed at something. It was really amazing.

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

I can’t say this mistake is funny or laughable, but my biggest mistake made during my start-up phase was thinking I could get everything done in a short amount of time. I certainly laugh at my own expectations of what is possible in a human’s day. Add to that the life of a working mom balancing the new virtual school schedule and my initial projections of when I would launch my new business was completely hysterical. The lesson there was that I have unrealistic expectations for myself and need to be kind to myself in an already stressful time that I added “start a business” to.

Ok, thank you for that. Let’s now jump to the main focus of our interview. In a nutshell, how would you define what a ‘Thought Leader’ is. How is a thought leader different than a typical leader? How is a thought leader different than an influencer?

Someone who is establishing trends in an industry and influencing other industry leaders in how they approach their work would qualify as a thought leader. It’s not about managing people and their work, it’s about pushing the entire industry forward and bringing everyone with them. A bigger influencer, depending on their field, could cross over into “thought leader” territory, especially when it comes to issues and initiatives. But at a base level an influence is more or less guiding purchase decisions and trends on an individual level.

Can you talk to our readers a bit about the benefits of becoming a thought leader. Why do you think it is worthwhile to invest resources and energy into this?

I believe there are certain personalities that just “are” thought leaders in whatever they choose to do in life. I wouldn’t say you can’t push yourself into that role, but if your natural inclination is to innovate and influence being a thought leader will simply happen. Find the niche you want to lead in and make that your goal; in my case it comes in the form of creating a lot of content and educational materials in the reusable menstrual products industry.

Let’s talk about business opportunities specifically. Can you share a few examples of how thought leadership can help a business grow or create lucrative opportunities?

Knowledge is opportunity in my industry. I’ve been able to take my role as an expert on reusable menstrual products and pivot into a consulting position on many occasions. In some cases, I’ve been able to influence the direction of the industry at large in these roles behind the scenes and advocate for more inclusivity in materials and marketing. I’ve done some product development work as well, which I find really fun and exciting. I like to influence the design without the pressure of owning and running a brand. It’s the best of both worlds. If you’re known as an expert in your field the opportunities will usually find you.

Ok. Now that we have that behind us, we’d love to hear your thoughts about how to eventually become a thought leader. Can you share 5 strategies that a person should implement to become known as a thought leader in their industry. Please tell us a story or example (ideally from your own experience) for each.

Know your subject inside and out. No one should know more about that subject that YOU.

Establish your expertise however you can (write articles on the topic, create and run your own channel or website on the topic, get interviewed on podcasts, be a guest on other social media accounts, host workshops or teach classes locally, etc)

Don’t be complacent. There will always be others looking to achieve what you’ve achieved. There is room for everyone but if you slack off your place can quickly drop and you’ll be lower on the list, so to speak.

Keep learning and growing. Everything you learn can be used to push yourself and your industry forward.

Collaborate and network.

In your opinion, who is an example of someone who has done a fantastic job as a thought leader? Which specific things have impressed you about that person? What lessons can we learn from this person’s approach.

Madeleine Shaw is someone in the reusable products industry who I admire and look to as an inspiration. She was promoting reusable menstrual products and creating them long before they were trendy. She had to blaze that path and educate people, she has been on the forefront of inclusivity in this industry, and has done so much to move the needle forward for all menstruators. I find her approach to be even keeled and matter of fact without regard for trends. She just does what she thinks is right and makes the trends.

I have seen some discussion that the term “thought leader” is trite, overused, and should be avoided. What is your feeling about this?

I would never have called myself a “thought leader” or given myself that title, but I think there is a use for the term and being able to categorize and reference this type of person and what they’ve done for their industry. I can also see that some people might categorize me in this way and that is a huge compliment. Just as most people don’t like to call themselves “influencer” or even “Oscar winner” these designations are going to be used and people understand what they mean.

What advice would you give to other leaders to thrive and avoid burnout?

I have found myself in an industry that I’m still excited about nearly 10 years later. It’s just my nature to take a topic I’m passionate about and make that my work. If you go about it the other way around and take a subject and try to make it your life’s work burnout is far more likely. You have to find what gets you excited about your work and hone in on that. I don’t like the analytics and financial side of my work, I prefer the creative aspects. If I didn’t outsource some of those aspects I’d likely be burnt out as a whole.

You are a person of enormous influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that

be? You never know what your idea can trigger. :-)

I’m just here to influence more people to switch to reusable menstrual cups and I’ve been pretty successful at that so far. I plan to keep finding ways to introduce this concept to more people, so that “movement” is slow growing but growing!

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?

To quote my favorite band Smashing Pumpkins and lyric, “destroy the mind, destroy the body, but you can not destroy the heart.” I’ve endured a lot to get to where I am (addict parents, insecure housing in my youth, dysfunctional family) but I always knew I would do something later in life that would be successful. I knew something was waiting for me. Most recently that was challenged in a big way and I was emotionally destroyed, I almost gave up, but my passions were worth fighting for. I believe it was my heart and passion that got me through it. Passion always wins over greed. I kept fighting and I came out on the other side victorious and having learned a lot of hard lessons.

We are blessed that very prominent leaders in business and entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world with whom you would like to have a lunch or breakfast with? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. :-)

Covid and geography notwithstanding I really admire what Danielle Nagel (founder of Dazey LA) has done with her brand. I think we are similar in that we have a lot of passions and attempt to excel at a lot of disciplines. We chatted briefly at a conference but I’m sure it would be a fun time to speak more.

How can our readers follow you online?

I’m @PeriodNirvana for my work accounts and

@Kim_Rosas on my personal IG where I share some of my side projects and passions.

Thank you so much for your insights. This was very insightful and meaningful.