Leonard Kim is a personal branding expert, marketing consultant, and writer whose content has been read over 14 million times. Ryan Foland is a communication strategist, speaker, and personal branding expert.

Together, they operate InfluenceTree, a personal branding accelerator that teaches people how to build their brand, get featured in publications, and grow their social media following. Their clients include New York Times bestselling authors, venture capitalists, and Fortune 500 executives.

"Ditch the Act will change your perspective on why telling your story can open doors to unimaginable opportunities--that have always been right in front of you, you just weren't letting them in."
--Tiffani Bova, Keynote Speaker, Growth and Innovation Evangelist at Salesforce, and bestselling author of Growth IQ

"We think people only want to hear about our successes. We think that's where our credibility will come from. And in that false assumption we leave one of our greatest powers untapped. Ryan and Leonard have it just right in this book. You'll never think of your attempts to influence the same way again."
--Greg McKeown, New York Times bestselling author of Essentialism

"Whether you're building a new business, reinventing yourself, or trying to stand out at work . . . when you tap into the power of your authentic self, you become unstoppable at achieving your life's true potential."
--Dorie Clark, Duke University Fuqua Schol of Business adjunct professor, Harvard Business Review contributor and author of Stand Out, Reinventing You and Entrepreneurial You

"As much as we want to put on a brave and glorious image, not providing hardship makes us serve fewer people. Ditch the Act is one of the few books that makes me become a better leader, business owner, and person by knowing my true journey is the one that must be told. This is a must-read book for anyone that wants to connect more with their customers, loved ones, and themselves."
--Kim Orlesky, author of Sell More. Faster and President, KO Advantage Group

"Ditch the Act is an honest and engaging conversation built to challenge you, your perceptions, and your ability to value imperfection in a seemingly perfect world. It's time to rethink the roles of perception and failure, and Ditch the Act couldn't come at a better time."
--Matt Prince, Senior Manager Public Relations and Brand Experience, at Taco Bell

"Ditch the Act is the clear and compelling playbook I didn't know I needed--an easy read that models vulnerability at its finest, while offering practical guidance for how to accelerate personal brand-building."
--Tara Jaye Frank, Keynote Speaker, Leadership Consultant, and former VP Hallmark Cards

"Ditch the Act shows that the time is NOW to expose our own humanity to achieve not just success, but LONGSTANDING IMPACT. When I coach individuals to tap into that humanity, they gain a surefire foundation to achieve their full potential."
--Dr. Aviva Legatt, The Ivy League Executive Coach; Author of Get Real and Get In; Forbes Contributor; and Affiliated Faculty: University of Pennsylvania/The Wharton School.

"At Zoom, we know the power of human to human connection. In a world where there is more digital connection than ever before, a reminder to be more human when on digital platforms is highly valuable. In Ditch the Act, Foland and Kim dive deep into how to showcase your real and whole self, both online and offline, in a way that builds trust by being truthful."
--Eric Yuan, founder and CEO, Zoom

"As a chief marketing officer who specializes in inbound marketing, I see Ditch the Act as not only a practical guide, but quite tactical as well, to not only take an individual and turn them into the face of a brand, but to rally large teams at companies to do the same. I will be implementing these practices at my company with all our employees."
--Ryan Bonnici, chief marketing officer at G2, former Hubspot, Salesforce and Microsoft

"Being vulnerable is essential to innovation, but very few know how to actually do it in an authentic way. Ditch the Act is the most comprehensive guide I've seen that provides a step-by-step actionable plan on how to get started now."
--Josh Linkner, five-time tech entrepreneur, New York Times bestselling author, and founder/former CEO of Detroit Venture Partners

"In Ditch the Act, Leonard and Ryan teach readers how to turn their biggest weaknesses into their greatest strengths. They show you how transparency and vulnerability can make you stronger, not weaker, and how you can go from fearful to fearless. They provide an easy-to-implement guide that includes highly effective exercises that help you cut through the nonsense and noise and establish a bold and honest brand."
--Jonathan Alpert, Psychotherapist, performance coach and author of Be Fearless: Change Your Life in 28 Days

"Many people look great on paper, but few know how to translate that to real relatability. In fact, the more success you find, the more unrelatable you can become (without even realizing it). We live in a world where people crave authenticity. Ditch the Act shows you how to be more comfort- able with yourself, and shows the value in sharing the struggles that built your success. Doing so helps others see themselves in your story, and that is what creates real connection in an authentic way."
--David Meltzer, CEO and cofounder, Sports 1 Marketing