Breaking Barriers, Pioneering Career Paths, and Making a Positive Impact with Paula Boggs

May 26, 2025

Paula Boggs, founder of Boggs Media LLC, Army veteran, and former Starbucks chief legal officer, shares her inspiring journey from military service to the music industry. She discusses the importance of personal branding, resilience, and mentorship. Paula emphasizes the role of authenticity in leadership and the power of embracing one's identity. She reflects on her transition from corporate law to songwriting, highlighting how life's challenges reignited her passion for music. Listeners will find her insights on servant leadership and making a positive impact deeply motivating.

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INSIGHT

Personal Branding as Authentic Identity

Personal branding is the harmony between one's public image and true identity.
It represents how one shows up authentically in the world.

ANECDOTE

Growing Up Between Cultures and Faiths

Paula grew up on HBCU campuses with highly educated Black people, shaping her Black identity.
She attended both Roman Catholic and AME churches, influencing her music style.

ANECDOTE

Teen Years Immersed in New Cultures

At 13, Paula moved with her family to Europe, experiencing integrated, multicultural environments for the first time.
She adapted by learning to fit in and navigate different cultures across multiple schools in different countries.

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From the military to the music world, Paula Boggs has made her mark by bravely navigating new spaces and pioneering career paths for herself. After serving at the Pentagon and in the White House as an army officer, she spent a decade at Starbucks as its Chief Legal Officer before leaving to write and perform music with the Paula Boggs Band.

As you listen to our conversation, you’ll be inspired and in awe. Her story is one of resilience, adaptability, and breaking barriers. And she inspires others to embrace their authenticity, find joy in their work, and make a positive impact in their respective fields.

In this episode of the Branding Room Only podcast, you’ll learn about how Paula’s background influenced her leadership style and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Paula will also reveal the importance that mentorship and sponsorship can have in shaping careers, the value of servant leadership and the lasting impact it can have on an organization’s culture, and more!

2:24 - What personal branding means to Paula and her three-word self-description, favorite Maya Angelou quote, and Jill Scott hype song

4:32 - Why asking where Paula grew up has a more complicated answer than it does for most people

14:22 - The role of law school as a delay strategy for Paula and how she used failure to open doors of opportunity

24:08 - A textbook lesson in mentorship and sponsorship (and the difference between the two)

32:28 - A need to be fulfilled in a job and how Paula continued to break ground in her career journey

37:11 - How Paula got exposed to music at an early age and returned to writing and performing music after a 15-year hiatus

42:51 - Why Paula stayed on as Starbucks General Counsel for a few years even as she felt called to do something different

46:42 - Servant leadership as an essential attribute for good leaders and the legacy Paula left behind at Starbucks

56:20 - Sources of joy for Paula, the one thing she’ll always stand by, and her Branding Room Only magic

Mentioned In Breaking Barriers, Pioneering Career Paths, and Making a Positive Impact with Paula Boggs

Boggs Media, LLC | LinkedIn | Twitter/X

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Sponsor for this episode

This episode is brought to you by PGE Consulting Group LLC.

PGE Consulting Group LLC empowers individuals and organizations to lead with purpose, presence, and impact. Specializing in leadership development and personal branding, we offer keynotes, custom programming, consulting, and strategic advising—all designed to elevate influence and performance at every level.

Founded and led by Paula Edgar, our work centers on practical strategies that enhance professional development, strengthen workplace culture, and drive meaningful, measurable change.

To learn more about Paula and her services, go to www.paulaedgar.com or contact her at info@paulaedgar.com, and follow Paula Edgar and the PGE Consulting Group LLC on LinkedIn.