The Truth About Personal Branding No One Tells Women

In this episode of Girls Make Bank, Jac sits down with the brilliant Julia Lynch — career strategist, personal brand architect, and creator behind Smarter in a Sec. Julia’s path is anything but traditional, and that’s exactly why it works. She built her business through service, storytelling, and a fiercely human approach to visibility.

Together, they unpack how Julia went from a teenage intern at HarperCollins → to consulting across Asia → to becoming one of the most trusted career and personal brand strategists for Gen Z, executives, and founders.

Julia shares the truth about building a portfolio career, why she refuses to “pitch slap” anyone, how she thinks about authentic networking, and why her most expensive clients aren’t who you think they are.

This conversation is generous, candid, and packed with practical insight — especially if you’re building a business, crafting a personal brand, or redefining your career path.

Topics Discussed:

• The unexpected start of Julia’s storytelling career (including an editor who accidentally roasted her in the newspaper)
• What a “portfolio career” actually looks like in practice
• Why vulnerability sells (and where to draw the line)
• The difference between authentic networking and pitch-slapping
• How Julia structures her revenue streams — from coaching to retainers to content partnerships
• The importance of “power referrers” and why 60% of Julia’s business still comes from offline connections
• What service-based entrepreneurs get wrong about social media
  
  
  

Connect with Julia Lynch:

• Instagram: @smarterinasec
• Substack: smarterinasec.substack.com
• Website: smarterinasec.com
• Email: smarterinasec@gmail.com

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