On Cue with Kafui DEY: From expert to influencer: The new corporate currency

There was a time when having “Dr.”, “Ing.”, or “Prof.” before your name was enough to command respect in the boardroom, the church hall, and even at family gatherings. Auntie Ama would hush the entire family when “our professor” began to speak.

But in today’s world of hashtags, podcasts, and LinkedIn “thought pieces,” being an expert is just the ticket to enter the game. To win, you need to become an influencer.

And no, not the kind that poses with sunglasses in Dubai while selling teeth whitening kits. We’re talking about the new corporate influencer: the professional who can shape opinions, set the agenda, and mobilize people—online and offline—with authority and charisma.

Why expertise alone isn’t enough

Africa is full of experts. You can’t swing a stick in Accra, Lagos, or Nairobi without hitting someone with a master’s degree in something obscure like “Applied Banana Leaf Studies.” Yet, many of these experts remain invisible because they can’t translate their knowledge into influence.

In a world where attention is the scarcest resource, knowledge locked in your head is as useful as Wi-Fi in a power cut. The corporate marketplace rewards those who can package their expertise in a way that captures imaginations, sparks conversations, and positions them as go-to voices in their industry.

The rise of the corporate influencer

So, what makes a corporate influencer different from a regular expert? Simple: visibility and impact. The influencer doesn’t just know the stuff—they show the stuff. They share it on LinkedIn with engaging posts. They give TEDx talks that make you nod furiously. They join TV panels and somehow manage to squeeze wisdom into a three-minute soundbite (without sounding like a politician dodging a question).

The influencer understands that in today’s economy, visibility is credibility. If you’re not showing up, you’re not being considered.

How to make the shift

Build a digital presence that works while you sleep
Gone are the days when your CV was your only marketing tool. Today, your LinkedIn profile, your Twitter/X threads, and even your Instagram Stories are part of your professional currency. Share insights, comment on industry trends, and post short videos that show you’re not only smart but also relatable. If you can explain blockchain to your grandmother in under two minutes, you’re ready.

Turn meetings into stages
Many executives treat boardroom presentations like courtroom testimonies: long, dry, and full of jargon. Influencers do the opposite. They tell stories. They drop stats like mic drops. They keep it tight, memorable, and—if they’re really good—entertaining. Suddenly, colleagues are quoting you at other meetings. That’s influence.

Collaborate to elevate
You don’t have to be a solo act. Join podcasts, co-author articles, or moderate industry panels. When your name keeps popping up in different circles, people begin to see you as a thought leader. And in Africa, where relationships fuel business, this visibility often opens doors faster than a well-crafted proposal.

Stay human
Being an influencer isn’t about creating a persona that’s larger than life. It’s about being authentically you, but amplified. Share lessons from your failures, not just your triumphs. Talk about the time your PowerPoint froze at a big pitch and how you turned it into a joke. People trust humans, not robots.

The new corporate currency

Expertise will always matter. But influence—the ability to make people listen, trust, and act—is the multiplier. It’s the new corporate currency, one that pays dividends in career advancement, client trust, and regional recognition.

So, the next time you’re tempted to hide behind titles and jargon, remember this: in today’s Africa, the expert whispers while the influencer commands the room. Choose wisely.

>>>Kafui Dey is a TV presenter, Corporate MC and public speaking trainer. Contact him on 233 240 299 122 or  [email protected]

The post On Cue with Kafui DEY: From expert to influencer: The new corporate currency appeared first on The Business & Financial Times.

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