How to Influence Investors, Teams & Customers. 22 sep. 2025
Runway East Bloomsbury | Office Space
24-28 Bloomsbury Way, London WC1A 2SN, UK
Work Smarter, Lead Better 🧩
Earlier this week we hosted another masterclass with Faris Aranki on how to influence people, investors, team members, customers. But before we got into the tools of influence, we started with the one challenge almost every company faces, from scrappy startups to global corporates: focus and prioritisation.
For small businesses, resources are limited and the pressure to deliver fast is constant. Without even noticing, you end up doing a million things at once, chasing every shiny opportunity, and stretching yourself too thin. For corporates, there may be plenty of resources, but too many opinions at the top often push teams in different directions, leading to inefficiencies and slowing growth. As Steve Jobs said: “We are as proud of the things we say no to as we are of the things we do.”
From there, we moved into the real theme of the day: influence and communication. And this is where Faris introduced us to his Shiageto Equation™ for success:
Success = IQ × EQ × FQ
• IQ (Intelligence Quotient): your ability to find the best solution.
• EQ (Emotional Quotient): your ability to bring others with you.
• FQ (Focus Quotient): your ability to focus and be efficient.
What makes this formula powerful is that it’s multiplicative, not additive. If you’re missing one element say you’ve got great ideas and charisma (IQ + EQ) but no focus your success drops dramatically.
We practiced how to read the room and adapt communication styles to truly connect with different stakeholders. We also dug into the everyday mistakes founders make when engaging with investors, customers, or their own teams and how to avoid them. And in the advanced session, we even role-played different influence styles. It was not only fun but also super educational, showing how much small changes in approach can shift outcomes.
I know firsthand how tough all of this is. That’s why I’m grateful we had Faris in the room. He doesn’t usually work with startups, but he joined us to share his expertise with our community. Personally, it landed at just the right time for me I’ve been wrestling with focus recently and what he shared really helped me reset. Many other attendees said the same: it made them rethink how they run their business and how they communicate.
We’ll definitely bring this masterclass back soon. Until then, if you’re ready to take your business to the next level, I’d highly recommend connecting with Faris.
