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I keep coming back to this idea: brand is inseparable from impact. We tend to think brand is external—how we dress, how we speak, how polished the slides are. But what I’m seeing more and more in my work with leaders is this: your brand actually starts with intention. Who you are. What you stand for. How you want to move through the world. When those internal pieces are clear, the external expression becomes coherent. People feel it. They trust it. They can predict you—and th

Let’s talk about lighting—because this one is a $30 fix that changes everything. Natural light is everyone’s friend. It looks good on almost everyone. But when that light shifts—or disappears—you need a backup. That’s why I use a ring light every single day. Most people don't realize this: A ring light fixes brightness. It also fixes color temperature! When the light is too cold, you start to look tired. Sallow. Washed out. When it’s warmer, suddenly you look more vibrant, mo

I want to start with something a little provocative. People are making judgments about us within the first 100 milliseconds of seeing our face. That’s not me being dramatic—that’s research. And even knowing that, even as a brand coach , I still feel it happening in my own body when someone shows up on screen and I can barely see them, or their face is completely dark, or they look like they just rolled off the couch. Whether we like it or not, our brains are scanning. What m

Filling the Frame on a Recent Podcast One of the biggest things I notice on video calls is how many people don’t fill the frame. They’re sitting far back. There’s a lot of space above their head. They’re not doing anything wrong . But the signal it sends is, “I’m not fully here.” When we were all in conference rooms, we learned to 'lean in' at the table to show engagement and signal our full presence. Also, that we had something to contribute. Now that so much of business i

Most leaders don’t have a branding problem. They have a heart gap. They know what they care about. They know what matters. They know the impact they want to make. But they don’t express it. Somewhere along the way, they were told to “be professional,” and in the process, they stripped the heart out of their communication — the very thing that makes people trust, remember, and follow them. People don’t follow polished. They follow felt. And when your communication lo

When we talk about “personal branding,” it can spark mixed feelings—especially among women leaders. Many see it as surface-level marketing, something that distracts from the real work. And honestly, that perception isn’t unfounded. The narrative around branding has often been louder for women than men, creating pressure to “become a brand” just to be taken seriously. But I want to shift the conversation. Your brand isn’t for the world—it’s for you. It’s not creating a shi

A lot of people worry they’re “too old” for the opportunities they want. But in my work, age isn’t the barrier I see holding leaders back. The real barrier is vibrancy — or more specifically, the loss of it. Not energy. Not youth. Not personality. I’m talking about the vibrancy that comes from conviction, clarity, vision, and heart . These are the qualities that make people lean in because they can feel you. I’ve coached leaders who run multi‑billion‑dollar businesses. I’v

Hi everyone, This year, I’ve had the privilege of coaching leaders across industries—tech innovators, retail disruptors, travel visionaries—and here’s the truth that keeps surfacing: confidence isn’t a personality trait; it’s a byproduct of clarity. When you understand your personal brand—your values, your voice, your vision—you stop second-guessing and start leading with conviction. It’s not magic. It’s narrative. And narrative is what transforms uncertainty into influence.

I'd like to tell you a little bit about Joan. Joan is one of those rare professionals whose career reads like a tapestry — rich, varied, and full of accomplishment. She’s curious, capable, and deeply engaged with the world. Like many high performers, Joan’s interests span industries, disciplines, and causes. Her online presence reflected that: she reposted articles on everything from leadership to wellness to tech innovation. She was generous with her attention and support.

When I joined Corey Koehler on the Redefining Retirement podcast, we explored a topic that’s deeply personal to me—and increasingly relevant to the leaders I coach: how to navigate midlife reinvention with purpose, clarity, and courage. For many of us in our 40s and 50s, the traditional notion of retirement feels outdated. We’re not winding down—we’re waking up. We’re asking deeper questions: What do I want my time, energy, and talent to serve? What kind of impact do I wan

We think we know the stories behind tech’s biggest breakthroughs—who led, how it happened, and what it took. But most of what we know is...

Have you ever caught your reflection and thought, “Wait… I look like that?” Not in a critical way—just surprised. As if the image in the...

In my August 2025 episode of my Leader Brand Yourself Podcast - Unapologetically You , I had the joy of speaking with Alice Quan, a...

I've often talked about brand in terms of being like an API or a handshake. Sometimes when we put our brand out there strongly, the...

Aligned Leader Brand is Key I've often talked about brand in terms of being like an API or a handshake. Sometimes when we put our brand...

In today's rapidly changing world, leadership is evolving. Organizations are flattening, creating both opportunities and challenges. As...

In Episode 4 of the LeaderBrand vodcast, I sat down with Vera J , a gifted artist and founder of Vera’s Iron and Vine. She shared how...

In the latest episode of LeaderBrand ChalkTalk, we had the pleasure of hosting Ann-Marie Archer from Archer and Associates. Ann-Marie, a...

In the whirlwind of our careers, it's all too easy to neglect our personal brand. We get so busy with our current roles, serving others,...

I am excited to share with you my first mini-coaching session, titled "Brand Is a Concrete Expression of Your Intention" . This session...