The Secrets of Influence – Dominique Busso

Influence According to Forbes: much more than Followers

Dominique immediately reminds us that influence in business has nothing to do with the number of followers on Instagram. It’s more about the ability to make an impact in a sector, to push boundaries, to innovate, and to stand out in an increasingly complex competitive landscape.

The criteria evolve over time, but the Forbes jury always looks for personalities capable of promoting France internationally. These leaders have different management styles, original communication approaches, and above all, they succeed in transforming their professional environment.

Forbes Rankings: a Rigorous Methodology

Forbes France publishes several iconic rankings. The major annual staple remains the ranking of French billionaires, with Bernard Arnault at the top, the third wealthiest person globally. But other lists reveal emerging talents:

• The 30 Under 30: 30 young people under 30 who make France shine

• The 40 Most Influential Women: entrepreneurs, leaders, and influential personalities

• French Luxury Brands: celebrating the excellence of French savoir-faire

Each ranking involves a jury of 5 to 7 people from diverse backgrounds (industry, business, fashion, media) who evaluate the influence, impact, and innovation of the candidates.

The Evolution of Leader Profiles

Dominique observes a notable transformation among young entrepreneurs. The new generation has a real ecological and social conscience. Unlike previous generations sometimes perceived as having a “tougher skin,” these young leaders combine performance with benevolence.

This evolution is reflected in a particular focus on environmental impact, benevolent management, and social responsibility. Benevolence becomes a common denominator for all these aspiring entrepreneurs.

Building your Influence: Practical Advice

To develop one’s influence, Dominique recommends a balanced approach between the physical and digital worlds:

In the physical world: Participate in events, dinners, conferences, travel, create your own ecosystem by organizing mini-conferences, business lunches, or breakfasts.

In the digital world: Stay informed via webinars, social networks (YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter), but also create content and share your expertise.

The important thing is to gradually build a base of people who trust you and become opinion leaders. You shouldn’t try to rush things but rather develop your influence organically.

The Forbes France Adventure: from Audacity to Success

The story of Forbes France perfectly illustrates audacious entrepreneurship. Dominique recounts how he convinced the president of Forbes in the United States to launch the French edition, alone, without a local partner. A unique approach that was appealing due to its singularity.

Today, Forbes France means 100,000 copies per month, 2 million monthly visitors to the website, and a dynamic event ecosystem. Success is based on a differentiating editorial curation and highlighting personalities not found elsewhere.

The Winning Media Mix

The recipe for Forbes France’s success combines several elements:

• Quality editorial content: investigations, value-added reports, exclusive portraits

• Impactful covers: prominent personalities and new faces

• Unifying events: Villa Forbes in Cannes, thematic events

• Community ecosystem: entrepreneurs, billionaires who become opinion leaders

This approach generates a virtuous circle: when Forbes organizes an event, all featured personalities share and amplify, creating millions of organic impressions.

The Extension with Onirik: Celebrating French Excellence

Building on Forbes’ success, Dominique launches Onirik, a magazine dedicated to French luxury and craftsmanship. This natural extension highlights French excellence and savoir-faire across all luxury trades.

This diversification illustrates the capacity for adaptation and innovation, essential qualities for maintaining influence in a constantly evolving sector.

The Three Pillars of Influential Leadership

Dominique concludes with three essential pieces of advice for any leader aspiring to influence:

Agility: Knowing how to adapt quickly to changes, as companies that prospered during the COVID crisis did by transforming constraints into opportunities.

Pragmatism: Staying grounded in reality, making concrete and measurable decisions.

Leading by example: An influential leader must be hands-on, inspire through their actions, visit their teams, partners, and clients to create a true human connection.

In a nutshell…

Here are the key takeaways from this Masterclass with Dominique Busso:

• Influence is built over time: No shortcuts, you need to gradually create an ecosystem of trust.

• Combining performance and benevolence: The new generation of leaders proves that success can be achieved while being responsible.

• Mastering the physical-digital mix: Modern influence requires a balanced presence in both worlds.

• Cultivating agility and pragmatism: Knowing how to adapt while staying grounded.

As Dominique reminds us: “You have to fail, fail, fail; one day you will succeed.” True influence comes from perseverance and authenticity, not from artifice.

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