Lightning Talk | What a Spicy Campaign Can Teach Us About Executive Buy-In

A lot of executive buy-in looks the same: a leader forwards the memo, says it matters, and expects the team to follow through. That may drive compliance, but it doesn't always create real influence. In this lightning talk, I’ll share what one 'spicy' campaign taught me about a more visible, human version of executive buy-in. Using a hot-wings-style leadership interview as the example, I’ll show how a high-visibility ask turned into a meaningful leadership moment; not because it was easy, but because it was thoughtfully positioned. This isn't a talk about copying one campaign. It's a talk about rethinking what buy-in can look like when leaders do more than sign off from a distance. Attendees will leave with three practical takeaways they can apply right away: how to choose the right leader to start with, how to position a bigger ask so it feels worth saying yes to, and how to design leadership moments that create momentum beyond a single video or event.