Thought leadership isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a growth lever that separates brands from the noise. In this episode of the Business Superfans Podcast, Freddy D sits down with Kelly Schuknecht, founder of Two Mile High Marketing, to explore how entrepreneurs and executives can turn their expertise into influence. With a background in publishing and B2B marketing, Kelly has carved out a powerful niche: helping business leaders land speaking engagements, ghostwrite books, and grow their presence on LinkedIn. Freddy highlights the stakeholder-first mindset that underpins her work—showing how empowering leaders leads to a ripple effect of impact across their teams and clients. Whether you’re dreaming of the TEDx stage or just trying to build credibility in your industry, this episode is packed with practical strategies to amplify your voice.

Meet the Guest: Kelly Schuknecht, Founder of Two Mile High Marketing

After 20 years in publishing and corporate marketing, Kelly Schuknecht saw an opportunity to build something unique. When her company was acquired and her department dissolved, she launched Two Mile High Marketing—named after her mountain home in Colorado. But this isn’t your typical marketing agency. Kelly helps business owners become thought leaders by securing speaking gigs, ghostwriting books, and managing their executive LinkedIn presence. “Every client we have says, ‘I know I should be doing this, I just don’t have the time,’” Kelly explains. Now with a full-time team and contractors, she’s creating superfans out of clients who finally feel seen, heard, and empowered. Want to see where you stand as a thought leader? Take her free assessment at twomilehighmarketing.com.

Key Takeaways from This Episode

1. Find Your Niche and Build Fast

• Kelly built her business on 20 years of experience—and narrowed in quickly on a niche that few others were serving.

• Instead of doing “all the marketing things,” she focused on executive thought leadership: speaking, books, and LinkedIn.

• This clarity made it easier to explain her value and scale fast.

2. Book More Speaking Gigs Without the Overwhelm

• Two Mile High Marketing pitches clients to 10–15 events per month.

• They tailor each pitch with speaker profiles, bios, and presentation briefs.

• This takes the heavy lifting off the client’s plate and keeps the visibility pipeline full.

3. Ghostwriting as a Service (That Actually Sounds Like You)

• Clients meet weekly with a writer who interviews them based on an outline.

• This pulls ideas from the client’s head and transforms them into clear, compelling chapters.

• The result? A book that feels authentic and positions them as an expert.

4. Create a Thought Leadership Flywheel

• Speaking engagements lead to podcast invites.

• Podcast clips become content for LinkedIn.

• LinkedIn builds credibility that gets you more speaking gigs.

• It all feeds each other in a powerful growth loop.

5. Empower Your Team and Clients Alike

• Kelly built a team of former colleagues who believe in her mission.

• They celebrate wins together and genuinely care about client success.

• That positive energy turns clients into business superfans.

Freddy D’s Insight: Stakeholder-Driven Growth in Action

What struck me most about Kelly’s story is how intentionality and clarity can drive massive growth. She didn’t try to be everything to everyone. Instead, she listened to what her clients needed and built a focused service around it. That’s stakeholder-driven growth at its finest. Her Speaker Elevation Plan isn’t just a marketing package—it’s a business accelerator for leaders who want to expand their influence. And by building a culture of appreciation within her team, she ensures that energy flows directly to clients. It’s the S.U.P.E.R.F.A.N.S. Framework™ in motion: Serve with purpose, Understand your audience, Provide value, Elevate experience, Recognize contributions, Fuel engagement, Activate advocates, Nurture relationships, Sustain momentum.

Superfan Spark: 24-Hour Action Step

If you want to elevate your thought leadership, start by identifying the three topics you could confidently speak on. Then write a one-paragraph description of each—as if you were submitting it to an event organizer. This small step will help clarify your message and build assets you can use in pitches, on LinkedIn, or even in your next book. Want help crafting your speaker profile? Reach out to Kelly at Two Mile High Marketing.

Listen and Level Up

Ready to unlock the full conversation? Tune in to Episode 122 of the Business Superfans Podcast with Kelly Schuknecht. Subscribe, share with a fellow entrepreneur, and join the Superfans Growth Hub™ for more resources. And if you love what we’re doing, consider supporting the show on our donation page. Let’s grow together.