Roar with Lakecia Gunter Brand Like You Mean It: How To Turn Storytelling Into Career Currency with Monique Hayward
In this episode of ROAR, Lakecia Gunter sits down with branding powerhouse, entrepreneur, and corporate executive Monique Hayward for an unforgettable conversation on personal brand, purpose, and power. Monique, who's been Lakecia's go-to brand strategist for over 15 years, shares the pivotal life and career moments that shaped her success—and how she uses storytelling to move people to action.
From growing up between New York and South Carolina to thriving in tech and launching multiple businesses, Monique reveals how owning your story is the most powerful leadership move you can make. She breaks down elite frameworks for crafting a compelling brand, explains how to build a reputation inside and outside of work, and shows why your personal brand isn't vanity—it's visibility. Get ready to rethink how you show up, share your story, and lead with authenticity.
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
(06:50) How Monique's early life shaped her voice and career ambition
(09:00) The leap of faith that took her from the East Coast to Oregon with one job offer
(10:30) Why saying yes to uncertainty created career breakthroughs
(13:40) How her grandmother and stepfather influenced her gift for storytelling
(15:20) The hidden reasons people struggle to own their story—and how to overcome them
(17:30) Why your brand is currency—and storytelling is how you spend it
(22:50) The brand assessment exercise that changed Lakecia's career
(29:00) Why your lived experience is enough—and how to turn it into a narrative
(36:10) Monique's Four P's of powerful storytelling: Purpose, Personal, Practice, Promote
(41:50) How building an external brand elevated her career inside Microsoft
(45:20) Her top tips for networking with purpose and making connections that stick
Let's Connect:
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