

Branding Room Only with Paula T. Edgar
Paula T. Edgar
This is the Branding Room Only podcast with Paula T. Edgar where we share career stories, strategies, and lessons learned on how industry leaders and influencers have built their personal brands.
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Mentioned books

Feb 3, 2026 • 48min
The Personal Brand You Carry: Legacy, Leadership, and Letters with Walter Pryor
Think about the lessons that shaped you early, the voices that influenced how you see the world, and what it would mean to have those reflections preserved over time.Walter Pryor brings warmth, humor, and thoughtful vulnerability to every interaction. A public service leader, corporate executive, community advocate, and author of This Leaves Me Okay, his career reflects not just professional milestones, but a lineage shaped by nearly 30 years of handwritten letters from his grandmother, Mama Ceal, written with care, consistency, and intention.In this episode of Branding Room Only, Paula sits down with Walter to explore resilience, legacy, and the role personal relationships play in building a grounded, accessible personal brand. Along the way, the conversation surfaces lessons on leadership, parenting, partnership, and what it means to honor those who came before us while being intentional about what we leave behind. This episode is both a reflection on authenticity, mission, courage, and connection, and an invitation to consider how your past quietly shapes how you lead and show up for others today.1:12 – How Walter defines personal brand, how he’d describe himself, his chosen quotes that offer grounding and guidance, and the song that makes him move6:04 – How small-town Arkansas shaped Walter’s worldview and gave him both humility and ambition9:09 – A pivotal family loss that redirected Walter’s educational path 10:52 – The non-linear evolution from Biglaw to government, Capitol Hill, and corporate leadership14:44 – How Southern Bancorp’s mission felt like a full-circle homecoming that ties into Walter’s brand17:10 – How personal relationships can influence your leadership 20:54 – What parenting young adults teaches you about mentoring as a leader23:34 – The spark that led to Walter’s memoir (and the decades of handwritten letters at its heart)27:14 – Lessons about connection, influence, and resiliency from Mama Ceal’s letters32:27 – How Mama Ceal’s life reflects a broader civil rights narrative and why telling that story now is urgent35:21 – The importance and responsibility of being a custodian and guardian of family history36:16 – Walter’s vision of the legacy he wants to provide to any future grandchildren38:24 – Walter’s joy, the grounding trait he refuses to compromise, and the quality that fills a room when he fully shows upMentioned In The Personal Brand You Carry: Legacy, Leadership, and Letters with Walter PryorWalter Pryor This Leaves Me Okay by Walter Pryor Pyramid Art, Books & Custom FramingSign up for Paula’s Upcoming WebinarsSubscribe and leave a quick review.Want more branding insights? Join Paula’s newsletter for expert tips and exclusive content! Subscribe HereMy Engage Your Hustle™ Conference Playbook gives you the strategies to prepare, stand out, and follow up with impact. Get your copy today.Sponsor for this episodePGE Consulting Group LLC empowers individuals and organizations to lead with purpose, presence, and impact. Specializing in leadership development and personal branding, we offer keynotesWe're starting off 2026 with a bang with my New Year's Intention and Goal Setting session on January 3rd, and then my new three-part series, LinkedIn Strategy for Lawyers: Build a Brand that Works for You, running January through March. Reserve your seat at paulaedgar.com/events.

Jan 27, 2026 • 1h 4min
Your Face Is Part of Your Personal Brand: Why Makeup and Skincare Matter with Osha Hinds
Your face is part of your personal brand whether you acknowledge it or not. People experience you visually before you say a word. Some dismiss makeup and skincare as vanity or assume it has nothing to do with their work. Others do it themselves without realizing how small missteps can distract from the impression they want to make. Either way, an important part of your brand is being left to chance.Osha Hinds has spent over a decade helping people show up with intention. She works with everyone from corporate professionals to brides and understands that makeup isn’t about transformation for its own sake. It’s about being deliberate with your image. That mindset, and the trust it requires, is what her career is built on. Her journey from aspiring fashion designer to landing at MAC Cosmetics after ten interviews taught her what it takes to build credibility when your work is immediately visible.In this episode of Branding Room Only, Paula and Osha break down why image matters for your brand, the common mistakes people make when doing their own makeup, and how to look prepared in five minutes before a video call. They also explore what it means to be trusted with someone’s image, and why that principle extends beyond makeup into how you build a personal brand worth remembering.1:07 – Personal brand definition for Osha, three words that sum her up, the MLK Jr. quote she always references, and her go-to soca song4:23 – Osha’s unexpected path from fashion design to makeup artistry10:22 – The pivotal “fake it till you make it” moment that changed Osha’s career and confidence17:09 – How personal image communicates brand credibility before you ever speak20:39 – How makeup can empower you and why wearing it benefits you (even if you don’t think it’s necessary)25:25 – Biggest beauty mistakes people make and what they reveal about perception29:33 – Makeup prep recommendations for men and women (on and off-camera)36:04 – The misconception and truth about red lipstick39:30 – Basics that every professional and non-professional should have in their makeup toolkit46:35 – Quick makeup routine when you only have five minutes to get ready for a Zoom meeting48:50 – The four makeup items Osha and Paula would use for themselves in case of an emergency50:29 – How Osha helps those who struggle with their confidence and self-image52:51 – Spa days and 4DX movie theaters, a nasty truth about some water rides, and one of Paula’s favorite Osha stories56:40 – The importance of being a good client and partner for your makeup artist59:50 – Why trust is vital to Osha’s brand, the importance of communication, and how she does eyebrows differentlyMentioned In The Confidence Factor: How Makeup Impacts Your Personal Brand with Osha HindsConnect with Osha on InstagramSign up for Paula’s Upcoming WebinarsConferences are an investment—make sure you maximize yours. My Engage Your Hustle™ Conference Playbook gives you the strategies to prepare, stand out, and follow up with impact. Get your copy today.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 stWe're starting off 2026 with a bang with my New Year's Intention and Goal Setting session on January 3rd, and then my new three-part series, LinkedIn Strategy for Lawyers: Build a Brand that Works for You, running January through March. Reserve your seat at paulaedgar.com/events.

Jan 19, 2026 • 12min
8 Personal Branding Lessons to Learn From Martin Luther King Jr.'s Legacy
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. wasn’t just a leader—he was a master of personal branding.In honor of his birthday (January 15), we’re reflecting on his life and legacy and what they can teach us about building a meaningful and impactful personal brand.In this episode of Branding Room Only, I share eight powerful lessons inspired by Dr. King’s life and offer actionable tips to help you build your brand with purpose, authenticity, and a lasting impact.1:17 - The foundation of every strong brand and the most powerful element of Dr. King’s brand3:28 - How MLK Jr. solidified his credibility with integrity and used strategic visibility to amplify his message5:39 - Why visual consistency reinforces your brand, plus a powerful example of resilience in Dr. King’s legacy7:34 - How a strong personal brand is rooted in service to others and built with legacy in mind9:47 - Ways to honor Dr. King’s lessons and align your actions with your values year-roundMentioned In 8 Personal Branding Lessons to Learn From Martin Luther King Jr.'s LegacyThe King Center - Dr. King Jr. The Nobel Peace Prize, 1964 - Martin Luther King Jr. Curated Resources from PaulaSign up for Paula’s Upcoming WebinarsLearn More About Paula's Personal Branding Strategy Session OfferSubscribe to The Branding Room Only on YouTubeCall to ActionFollow & Review: Help others find the podcast. Subscribe and leave a quick review.Want more branding insights? Join Paula’s newsletter for expert tips and exclusive content! Subscribe HereConferences are an investment—make sure you maximize yours. My Engage Your Hustle™ Conference Playbook gives you the strategies to prepare, stand out, and follow up with impact. Get your copy today.Sponsor for this episodeThis episode is brought to you by PGE Consulting Group LLC.PGE Consulting Group LLC is dedicated to providing a practical hybrid of professional development training and diversity solutions. From speaking to consulting to programming and more, all services and resources are carefully tailored for each partner. Paula Edgar’s distinct expertise helps engage attendees and create lasting change for her clients.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.We're starting off 2026 with a bang with my New Year's Intention and Goal Setting session on January 3rd, and then my new three-part series, LinkedIn Strategy for Lawyers: Build a Brand that Works for You, running January through March. Reserve your seat at paulaedgar.com/events.

Jan 13, 2026 • 1h 2min
Why Choosing Yourself Is a Branding Decision with Tara Jaye Frank
What happens when the version of you that’s always holding it together finally can’t anymore?In You Are Before the World, Tara Jaye Frank writes with radical honesty about depletion, overgiving, and the moment she realized that putting everyone else first was costing her herself.In this episode of Branding Room Only, Paula sits down with Tara to talk about the internal reckoning that shaped the book and the deeper truth beneath it: that worth is not earned through sacrifice, helpfulness, or being “twice as good.” Drawing from her leadership journey, her decade-long partnership with Dr. Maya Angelou, and the personal losses that forced her to reexamine who she was without her roles, Tara reflects on what it really takes to choose yourself.This is a conversation about boundaries, grief, divorce, motherhood, and the courage to stop contorting yourself to fit spaces that were never designed to hold you fully. If you’ve ever believed your value lived in what you give, or felt the pressure to stay composed while quietly unraveling, this episode is an invitation to remember: you are before the world.1:22 – How Tara’s definition of personal branding has changed from a couple of years ago and the unique way she describes herself4:15 – The idea of getting ready for what’s ready for you and what plays for Tara when she’s having a bad day or needs to get hyped up7:17 – How her Cape Verdean community in MA and experiences outside of it shaped Tara and her bridge-building skill13:23 – Tara’s career, from greeting card writer to CEO of her own firm, and how she became a writer for Hallmark18:43 – Lessons learned from partnering with Dr. Maya Angelou for 10 years21:36 – How a single, unexpected moment can reframe an entire life’s work26:24 – Paula’s experience from reading You Are Before the World30:22 – The hidden emotional load behind being a helper34:13 – Why breaking the box is often more painful than staying inside it43:06 – Stories that Tara had to rewrite for herself to move forward49:38 – The quiet grief of losing roles you once built your identity around55:29 – What Tara does for fun, what she’ll never compromise on, and the differentiator that is her magicMentioned In Why Choosing Yourself Is a Branding Decision with Tara Jaye FrankTara Jaye Frank You Are Before the World and The Waymakers by Tara Jaye FrankThe 92 Project – IKONI CollectiveThe Waymakers Change Group (TWCHG)Sign up for Paula’s Upcoming WebinarsLearn More About Paula's Personal Branding Strategy Session OfferFollow & Review: Help others find the podcast. Subscribe and leave a quick review.Conferences are an investment—make sure you maximize yours. My Engage Your Hustle™ Conference Playbook gives you the strategies to prepare, stand out, and follow up with impact. Get your copy today.Sponsor for this episodeTo learn more about PaulaWe're starting off 2026 with a bang with my New Year's Intention and Goal Setting session on January 3rd, and then my new three-part series, LinkedIn Strategy for Lawyers: Build a Brand that Works for You, running January through March. Reserve your seat at paulaedgar.com/events.

Jan 6, 2026 • 19min
What Ten Years of Guiding Reflection and Goal-Setting With Others Has Taught Me
Reflection gets skipped over in a culture that rewards speed, productivity, and visible wins. Most people want to jump straight to the next goal list without pausing to tell the truth about what they actually lived through. But reflection isn't some soft year-end ritual. It's a leadership skill and a requirement for building a strong personal brand.We live in a culture that often rewards movement, not meaning. Speed, productivity, and visible wins are celebrated, while reflection is frequently skipped. But reflection isn’t a soft reset or a year-end ritual—it’s a leadership skill and a critical foundation for building a personal brand that lasts.In this solo episode of Branding Room Only, Paula reflects on more than a decade of guiding intention and goal-setting work. She explores why moving faster isn’t the same as moving intentionally, how clarity comes from honesty, and why alignment—not busyness—is what actually sustains growth. The episode surfaces the reflection questions that lead to real breakthroughs and the themes that show up year after year: rest as strategy, asking for help, letting go, and redefining success on your own terms.0:35 – Why reflection changes the quality of every decision that follows2:04 – Examples of how the power of intention quietly shapes alignment4:39 – How words of the year serve as a clarifying anchor6:31 – How vision boards are often misunderstood8:54 – What happens when rest is treated as a requirement, not a reward10:06 – Why doing everything alone isn’t a strength10:57 – The freedom of letting go of tolerations that no longer fit11:57 – How reflection dismantles comparison without diminishing ambition12:48 – Reflective questions asked in these yearly sessions14:31 – What results can look like after going through this reflection16:01 – Why naming what matters to you protects your brand from autopilotMentioned In What Ten Years of Guiding Reflection and Goal-Setting With Others Has Taught Me2026 Annual Intention and Goal Setting WebinarPersonal Branding Strategy SessionsIf you enjoyed this episode, leave a 5-star review on your favorite podcast platform! Want more ways to grow your personal brand? Make sure you’re signed up for my upcoming webinars and workshops.Conferences are an investment—make sure you maximize yours. My Engage Your Hustle™ Conference Playbook gives you the strategies to prepare, stand out, and follow up with impact. Get your copy today.Sponsor for this episodePGE 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.We're starting off 2026 with a bang with my New Year's Intention and Goal Setting session on January 3rd, and then my new three-part series, LinkedIn Strategy for Lawyers: Build a Brand that Works for You, running January through March. Reserve your seat at paulaedgar.com/events.

Dec 30, 2025 • 13min
Intentions vs. Goals and How to Combine Them for a Winning Strategy
Setting a big, exciting goal can feel amazing at the start—the motivation is high, and the journey feels full of possibility. But what happens when the excitement fades or the path gets bumpy? That’s when the power of intention can make all the difference.In this episode of Branding Room Only, I’m diving into the difference between intentions and goals and how combining the two can create a winning strategy. We’ll explore why intentions are key to building a personal brand that feels authentic and sustainable—and how they can keep you grounded and moving forward, even when you don’t hit the mark.1:38 - Why an intention is different from a goal3:19 - Why you must have intentions if you want to build a strong brand6:49 - How combining your intentions and goals leads to a winning strategy9:14 - Actionable steps to help you bring it all togetherMentioned In Intentions vs. Goals and How to Combine Them for a Winning StrategyPGE January Free Webinar - 2026 Annual Intention and Goal Setting WebinarCurated Resources from PaulaPersonal Branding Strategy SessionsSubscribe to The Branding Room Only on YouTubeCall to ActionFollow & Review: If you enjoyed this episode, leave a 5-star review on your favorite podcast platform! Want more ways to grow your personal brand? Make sure you’re signed up for my upcoming webinars and workshops.Conferences are an investment—make sure you maximize yours. My Engage Your Hustle™ Conference Playbook gives you the strategies to prepare, stand out, and follow up with impact. Get your copy today.Sponsor for this episodeThis 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.We're starting off 2026 with a bang with my New Year's Intention and Goal Setting session on January 3rd, and then my new three-part series, LinkedIn Strategy for Lawyers: Build a Brand that Works for You, running January through March. Reserve your seat at paulaedgar.com/events.

Dec 23, 2025 • 10min
Vision Boards for Personal Branding: How to Make Them Work
Vision boards can be so much more than just a collage of pretty pictures and inspirational words—they can be a game-changer for designing your life, if you use them intentionally. Every year, I kick off with an intention and goal-setting session, and vision boards are one of my favorite tools to turn big dreams into real plans.In this episode of The Branding Room Only podcast, I’m sharing how to make vision boards work for you. We’ll talk about why vision boards are worth your time, how to create one that helps you achieve your goals, and how this simple tool connects to your personal brand.1:01 - Why vision boards are so impactful and why intention is their secret sauce2:56 - Main options for creating your vision board and what you can include on it5:15 - How vision boarding connects with personal branding and the final puzzle piece to making it workMentioned In Vision Boards for Personal Branding: How to Make Them WorkVision Board ExamplesPGE January Free Webinar - 2026 Annual Intention and Goal Setting WebinarCurated Resources from PaulaPersonal Branding Strategy SessionsSubscribe to The Branding Room Only on YouTubeCall to ActionFollow & Review: If you enjoyed this episode, leave a 5-star review on your favorite podcast platform! Want more ways to grow your personal brand? Make sure you’re signed up for my upcoming webinars and workshops.Conferences are an investment—make sure you maximize yours. My Engage Your Hustle™ Conference Playbook gives you the strategies to prepare, stand out, and follow up with impact. Get your copy today.Sponsor for this episodeThis 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.We're starting off 2026 with a bang with my New Year's Intention and Goal Setting session on January 3rd, and then my new three-part series, LinkedIn Strategy for Lawyers: Build a Brand that Works for You, running January through March. Reserve your seat at paulaedgar.com/events.

Dec 16, 2025 • 9min
Before You Plan: How Reflecting on the Year You Lived Can Transform How You Show Up Next
Unexpected demands, curveballs, and complexity can show up in our year whether we plan for them or not. Life rarely follows neat outlines, even when we begin with vision boards and bold declarations about growth, visibility, or reset.In this episode of Branding Room Only, Paula Edgar explores the space between the year you thought you’d have and the year you actually lived—and why that gap matters to your personal brand. This episode introduces a personal branding reset grounded in alignment, clarity, and grace, guiding listeners to reflect on what to keep, what to cut, and what needs to evolve before planning what comes next.00:57 – What the difference between the year you planned vs. the year you lived tells you2:33 – Three keys to your personal brand reset3:20 – Reflective questions for what to keep4:17 – Reflective questions for what to cut out5:29 – Reflection on what needs to change6:15 – The impact of planning from a place of honesty instead of pressureMentioned In Before You Plan: How Reflecting on the Year You Lived Can Transform How You Show Up NextPGE January Free Webinar - 2026 Annual Intention and Goal Setting WebinarCurated Resources from PaulaPersonal Branding Strategy SessionsSubscribe to The Branding Room Only on YouTubeCall to ActionFollow & Review: If you enjoyed this episode, leave a 5-star review on your favorite podcast platform! Want more ways to grow your personal brand? Make sure you’re signed up for my upcoming webinars and workshops.Conferences are an investment—make sure you maximize yours. My Engage Your Hustle™ Conference Playbook gives you the strategies to prepare, stand out, and follow up with impact. Get your copy today.Sponsor for this episodeThis 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.We're starting off 2026 with a bang with my New Year's Intention and Goal Setting session on January 3rd, and then my new three-part series, LinkedIn Strategy for Lawyers: Build a Brand that Works for You, running January through March. Reserve your seat at paulaedgar.com/events.

Dec 9, 2025 • 52min
Pricing Is Personal: How Your Money Story Shapes Your Personal Brand with Jacquette Timmons
If you’ve ever pulled a price out of thin air, matched a competitor without context, or quietly dipped into your savings to sustain your business, you’re not alone. Many entrepreneurs struggle not with numbers, but with the stories and habits they’ve learned about money. Financial behaviorist, coach, and creator of Pricing Made Human®, Jacquette M. Timmons, understands this deeply—and built her work around helping people see the emotional and behavioral patterns tied to their financial choices.In this episode of Branding Room Only, Jacquette and I unpack the real drivers behind pricing, business development, and confidence. She shares how a blunt question from her CPA—“When are you going to stop mortgaging your life?”—forced her to confront her own money patterns, even with an MBA in finance and years managing high-net-worth portfolios. We explore how upbringing, identity, and the desire to be chosen show up in how you charge, negotiate, follow up, and build a sustainable business.If you’ve ever hesitated to raise your rates, struggled to explain your value, or felt vulnerable during a pitch, this conversation gives you language, context, and strategy to shift how you approach money. You’ll walk away with new insight into your relationship with pricing, the role your personal story plays in your financial decisions, and what it takes to protect your financial future while growing your brand.1:41 – What personal brand means to Jacquette, how she (and I) would describe her, her favorite quote, and the musical genre (and DJs) that gets her hyped4:46 – How Jacquette’s childhood experiences and environments shaped and influenced her8:35 – Jacquette’s surprising early career path and how curiosity about human behavior fueled her focus on money psychology15:16 - How Jacquette helps her clients navigate their relationship with money17:24 – The pivotal question that inspired Pricing Made Human® and how one moment of truth redefined Jacquette’s business philosophy24:23 – Two mistakes people make when it comes to pricing or knowing their value26:53 – How business development triggers our insecurities 29:55 – The “five and five” exercise and how relationships influence money and business decisions32:26 – Examples of Jacquette’s impact on clients’ relationship with money in business development36:49 – The connection between confidence, money, and how you show up professionally38:48 – How Jacquette approaches business development for herself and what she wishes she’d done differently43:12 – What I learned about money and business development from working with Jacquette45:52 – How Jacquette refuses to let the world steal her joy47:19 – Jacquette’s commitment to focusing on money’s human side and warmth as her magical assetMentioned In Pricing Is Personal: How Your Money Story Shapes Your Personal Brand with Jacquette TimmonsJacquette TimmonsPricing Made Human®More Than Money with Jacquette TimmonsSponsor for this episodePGE 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 wWe're starting off 2026 with a bang with my New Year's Intention and Goal Setting session on January 3rd, and then my new three-part series, LinkedIn Strategy for Lawyers: Build a Brand that Works for You, running January through March. Reserve your seat at paulaedgar.com/events.

Dec 2, 2025 • 55min
Self-Care Isn't Separate: Why Your Well-Being Shapes Your Personal Brand with Jessie Spressart
Your personal brand isn’t just about what you deliver. It’s how you show up. If you’re exhausted, stressed to the point of breaking, or gripping your way through the week, that comes through too. No amount of polish can hide what’s happening underneath when you’re not actually taking care of yourself.Jessie Spressart gets this. As founder and managing director of Optia Consulting, she helps law firms build cultures where people can do excellent work and be well at the same time. Her core belief is simple: doing your job well and taking care of yourself aren’t two separate conversations. They’re two sides of the same coin.In this episode of Branding Room Only, Paula and Jessie unpack what really stops professionals from prioritizing their well-being and how stress quietly builds long before it becomes a crisis. Jessie shares practical resets you can use in five minutes or less, and explains why chasing perfection undermines the consistency your brand actually needs. They also dig into what it takes for leaders to get more comfortable talking about mental health, and why your brand suffers when what you think, feel, and do are out of alignment. 1:19 — Jessie on personal brand, her three words, and her favorite quotes5:44 — How moving from New Jersey to Louisville shaped her7:48 — Jessie’s path from music historian to medieval history to law11:14 — How a temp job as a legal secretary became 13 years at a firm12:28 — The move from legal secretary to professional development13:56 — Starting Optia Consulting in 2019 before the pandemic15:44 — The shift from management training to well-being and mental health19:42 — Why personal branding (and well-being) is about consistency, not perfection22:09 — The biggest obstacles lawyers face around prioritizing well-being26:22 — Shifting well-being from a program to part of the culture28:39 — Mental Health Essentials for Leaders and why leaders must get conversant33:23 — Stress and energy tools that take minutes, not hours41:39 — Building a scaffolding of practices before you hit crisis43:29 — Brain, body, behavior — and how all three show up in your brand45:00 — Congruency and why misalignment kills your personal brand50:02 — The part of her brand Jessie will never compromiseMentioned In Self-Care Isn't Separate: Why Your Well-Being Shapes Your Brand with Jessie SpressartOptia Consulting LinkedInSign up for Upcoming WebinarsLearn More About Paula's Personal Branding Strategy Session OfferFollow & Review: Help others find the podcast. Subscribe and leave a quick review.Conferences are an investment—make sure you maximize yours. My Engage Your Hustle™ Conference Playbook gives you the strategies to prepare, stand out, and follow up with impact. Get your copy today.Sponsor for this episodePGE 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, ourWe're starting off 2026 with a bang with my New Year's Intention and Goal Setting session on January 3rd, and then my new three-part series, LinkedIn Strategy for Lawyers: Build a Brand that Works for You, running January through March. Reserve your seat at paulaedgar.com/events.


