This week's episode of Chief Influencer features a truly inspiring leader, Michael Manganiello, the President and CEO at Pyxis Partners. 

After living for 40+ years as an HIV survivor and dedicated advocate, Michael’s journey has transformed medical research and patient care. After participating in groundbreaking clinical trials led by Dr. Anthony Fauci, he has been a beacon of hope for those living with HIV/AIDS.

As the first Senior VP of Government Relations for the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, he played a key role in passing the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act and raising over $150 million for resources supporting the mobility impaired.

Takeaways:

• Build Diverse Coalitions: Assemble coalition members who bring different strengths to the table. Including scientists, researchers, and passionate advocates ensures a well-rounded and influential group.
• Leverage Non-Traditional Partnerships: Work with trusted community organizations to reach your target audience more effectively. People are more likely to listen to messengers they trust and encounter in their daily lives.
• Understand the Importance of Incremental Victories: Celebrate small wins along the way. These victories help maintain momentum and morale when working toward long-term goals.
• Educational and Strategic Insights: Acquire in-depth knowledge about your field. Being well-prepared and informed makes it easier to gain credibility and persuade influential stakeholders.
• Humanize the Issues: To reduce stigma, put a face to the cause and show people real-life examples. This will make the issue relatable and less abstract.
• Persistent Leadership: Lead by example and be persistent. Understand that effecting change is a long-term game that requires resilience and continuous effort.

Quote of the Show:

• “You have to celebrate the incremental victories even if they’re small because that’s what keeps you going.” 

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-manganiello-606743b/ 
• Website: https://www.pyxispartners.co/ 

Shout Outs:

• Dr. Anthony Fauci
  • Documentary: https://films.nationalgeographic.com/fauci 
• Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation: https://www.christopherreeve.org/ 
• Leslie Lohman Museum of Gay and Lesbian Art: https://leslielohman.org/ 
• Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gX-B3HMlMfY 
• National Institute of Health - All of Us Research Program: https://allofus.nih.gov/ 
• Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act: https://www.congress.gov/bill/109th-congress/house-bill/810 
• Back to Basics Report from Pyxis Partners: https://www.pyxispartners.co/post/back-to-basics-hiv-aids-advocacy-as-a-model-for-catalyzing-change