We often let small doubts stop us from taking big leaps, especially when it comes to putting ourselves out there. My guest this week, Alan McLaren, has spent a lifetime mastering the art of feeling the fear and doing it anyway, from the grueling cold calls of the 1980s to serving as the International Chair of YPO Gold, and most recently, founding his latest company STRATA Originals.
In this episode, Alan reveals how building “trust at scale” has become the ultimate competitive advantage in an AI-driven world. We dive into the steps for owning your voice with authenticity, why your word matters more than any title, and how he rebuilt his entire business after losing 85% of his revenue overnight.
This conversation is a masterclass in resilience and leading from the heart.
“Integrity is how you behave when people are not around” – Alan McLaren
In This Episode, You Will Learn
- Why clarity is the number one requirement for building a confident personal brand
- How to move from being “terrified” of video to using it as a tool to build trust at scale
- The importance of making “deposits” in your family, fitness, and relationships to avoid a one-sided life
- How to lead through influence rather than authority, a lesson from Alan’s time as YPO International Chair
- Why your word matters and how a relentless follow-up system creates extraordinary opportunities
- The role of self-awareness in becoming a better partner, parent, and leader
- Plus much more…
What We Discuss:
- 0:00:00 – Introduction: Overcoming Fear
- 0:01:04 – Meet the Guest: Alan McLaren
- 0:02:15 – Understanding Fear and Authenticity
- 0:04:16 – Taking Action Despite Fear
- 0:06:54 – The Power of Video and Authenticity
- 0:16:03 – Personal Stories of Resilience
- 0:33:33 – The Importance of Responsibility and Self-Awareness
- 0:34:55 – Integrity and Self-Awareness in Personal Growth
- 0:37:18 – Character and Consistency in Life
- 0:39:50 – Lessons from Family and Upbringing
- 0:41:43 – The Value of Relationships and Trust
- 0:45:10 – Building an Extraordinary Relationship
- 0:50:31 – Parenting and Leading by Example
- 0:52:58 – Becoming a Grandparent
- 0:56:18 – Leadership Lessons from YPO
- 1:04:52 – Pivoting During COVID: From Marketing to Leadership Branding
- 1:09:02 – Client Success Stories
- 1:10:18 – Building Trust at Scale
- 1:10:34 – The Importance of Visibility
- 1:15:32 – Steps to Build Your Brand
- 1:22:49 – The Power of Storytelling
- 1:29:50 – Core Values and Beliefs
- 1:39:54 – Habits for Success
- 1:40:45 – Conclusion and Final Thoughts
About Alan
Grateful for my wife and family, my business partner, my experiences in YPO, and the incredible people who surround me.
My purpose in life is simple: to love and be loved. I aim to make every interaction positive and uplifting, whether by offering support, a connection, a new perspective, or a hug.
Serving as the YPO (GOLD) International Chair was a life-changing experience that took me around the world and redefined my understanding of true leadership. The insights I gained and the remarkable leaders I had the privilege to work with left an enduring impact. During my tenure, I chaired four key board committees—IT, Audit, Sponsorship and the Global Gold Board—each presenting unique challenges and invaluable lessons.
I’ve always been driven by a strong work ethic. From my early paper route to high school summer jobs and later retail roles during college, this dedication has been a constant throughout my career. From my time at Canon (sales, corporate training, and management) to executive roles at IKON (NYSE), JAWZ (NASDAQ), WhiteHat, infinitycomm, and now, my most impactful venture, STRATA Originals.
Entrepreneurship is not easy, don’t believe the hype. But we only have one trip around this rock, so why not experience life to the fullest? Building something from nothing is cool.
At STRATA Originals, we work with CEOs and Executive teams to build leadership brands that drive visibility, credibility and Trust at Scale.™
We’ve all seen enough polished personas. We encourage leaders to show up, sharing, educating, and speaking from their leadership voice to drive impact.
The first step: Clarity through our “Leadership Signal Framework” process
Custom built around who you are, not what you’ve been told. In this 90-minute strategy session, we decode your Leadership Brand and signal. We turn that into a roadmap you’ll actually want to follow.
After completing the session, there are two ways to engage:
1. We support you with our STRATA Signature 360 model (DFY)
You will experience: Signal and video mastery. Content strategy/distribution. Presence coaching. We’re in your corner as you launch, grow, and show up with confidence and clarity until your leadership brand feels less like effort and more like you
2. We can also train and coach your executive team for alignment and amplification.
Human connections matter. Make deposits, be a giver… love life… leave things better than you found them.
And the Chief Squirrel Tamer role? Well, when you’re working with creative folks and CEOs, need I say more…
Show Notes
Connect with Alan McLaren:
Resources Mentioned:
