Today's episode of Sell With Authority is another special in our series on trust and distrust in the agency sales process. You've been hearing from agency leaders who are leaning into this issue with real candor, real context, and real stakes.

When trust is present — your pipeline flows.

But when trust is absent? There's hesitation. Uncertainty. Second-guessing. Deals that should move forward stall instead.

Our special guest expert today is Ari Galper, Founder of Unlock The Sales Game and one of today's leading authorities on trust-based selling.

For more than two decades, Ari has helped business leaders replace outdated sales tactics with authentic, trust-first conversations. His perspective is a powerful addition to what we're building in this series.

Ari helps us see what it looks like to communicate and lead in ways that help people feel safe saying yes.

He believes trust doesn't take time — it takes truth.

And he teaches that trust isn't built through persuasion — it's built through presence.

When we listen deeply, speak honestly, and align with what's true for the other person, we create connection instead of resistance.

That's the kind of trust that doesn't just win a deal. It turns conversations into partnerships.

• Why "trust" isn't something you build with time but with truth and presence
• Mindset shifts to break out of the commodity trap agencies face every day
• The real danger of the "trust recession" — and why it's changing the rules of the agency sales process
• Trust-based questions to get to the truth
• How agencies can stop the cycle of free consulting and start commanding premium conversations from the get-go
• Why you should act more like a doctor than a vendor
• How to differentiate your agency simply through your sales approach — not just your services

• Website: https://www.arigalper.com/
• LinkedIn Personal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arigalper/
• LinkedIn Business: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ariai/

Today's episode of Sell With Authority is part of our special series on trust and distrust inside the agency sales process. Over the last several weeks, you've heard from agency leaders who are willing to lean into this issue — honestly, transparently, and without shortcuts.

When trust is present, the pipeline flows. Right-fit prospects show up prepared. Momentum builds.

But when trust is missing, everything slows down. Friction increases. Growth stalls.

Which makes today's conversation a perfect fit for this series.

Our guest is Greg Star, Founder of Driven Authentic Branding Solutions and co-founder of Carvertise — a company that skyrocketed from zero to $19 million in revenue and earned a spot on the Inc. 5000 list.

Greg's story is about transformation, and facing real challenges. It's about what happens when authenticity is expressed with purpose and perspective.

In this conversation he breaks down why trust is both the architecture and the obstacle — and why LinkedIn is one of the most underutilized opportunities for agency leaders to build real authority and reputation. His insights are grounded in research, data, and practical how-to's you can apply immediately.

• How authenticity directly impacts your sales pipeline
• The key difference between company content and personal posts
• The secret behind 8x more engagement on your personal LinkedIn profile
• A rock solid recipe for LinkedIn posts to double your audience — and start conversations with right-fit prospects
• How vulnerability and sharing your origin story fuels connection and keeps your agency top of mind
• The confidence gap: why leaders hesitate to show up and steps to overcome "self-aggrandizing" anxiety
• Posting cadence recommendations (HINT: consistency is a non-negotiable)

• Website: www.drivenbranding.ai
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-star-5911b562/

This episode of Sell With Authority is about being more human — not as a tagline, not as a brand promise — but as the way forward.

Right now, I'm hearing the same thing from agency leaders, marketers, and business owners everywhere:

"Our marketing doesn't work like it used to."

We're in the middle of a fundamental shift. A power shift. Our guest today calls it The Third Rebellion — a moment where customers, not companies, control the conversation.

We can no longer buy our way into attention — we must be invited. And that changes everything about how we market, how we sell, and how we lead.

Today's guest expert has spent his career helping leaders and brands rise above the noise by doing one thing most companies have forgotten how to do: Be human.

Mark Schaefer is one of the most trusted voices in marketing today — a bestselling author, educator, and keynote speaker who's worked with brands like Adidas, Pfizer, and Coca-Cola, delivering insights on five continents.

His latest book is How AI Changes Your Customers: The Marketing Guide to Humanity's Next Chapter.

Mark is a guide for leaders who are tired of blending in.

He reminds us that the world doesn't need more content — it needs more connection. AI can replicate words, it can't replicate humanity.

In the end, the most human company wins.

• Why "the third rebellion" has shifted control from brands to customers — and what that means for your agency
• The real reason traditional marketing and advertising are less effective than ever — and what to do instead
• How to earn an invitation into your ideal client's world (you can't buy your way in anymore)
• Why trust is the new currency and the surprising role brand communities play in creating it
• How to create transcendent content that can't be replicated by AI
• Why being vulnerable and removing layers of control will make your agency an easy yes

• Website: https://businessesgrow.com/
• LinkedIn Personal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markwschaefer/
• LinkedIn Business: https://www.linkedin.com/company/schaefer-marketing-solutions/
• How AI Changes Your Customers: The Marketing Guide to Humanity's Next Chapter