Branding Room Only with Paula T. Edgar

Paula T. Edgar is an attorney, speaker, and CEO of PGE Consulting Group LLC, a strategy firm specializing in professional development and diversity, equity, and inclusion solutions for organizations. She is an expert in personal branding, leadership, networking, leveraging social media, and business development. In the last year, Paula delivered keynote speeches and facilitated workshops for over 10,000 attendees. Paula has written for and been featured in publications such as the New York Times, Bloomberg Law, Business Insider, and US News.  For show notes and more information, visit paulaedgar.com/podcast. In this episode… Self-promotion is one of the most challenging parts of impactful personal branding. Although proficiency and accomplishments are crucial, lacking effective self-promotion may hinder you from realizing your full potential. It can be tricky as the process deals with emotions, manners, cultures, and social politics.  In this episode of Branding Room Only, Paula T. Edgar answers questions about the topic of self-promotion on her new segment: Ask Paula.

Michele Coleman Mayes is Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary at The New York Public Library. She previously held the position of General Counsel for Allstate Insurance Company and Pitney Bowes Inc. Ms. Mayes has held a long and prestigious career, having served on several commissions, including the Presidential Commission on Election Administration. She is a sought-after speaker on the topic of diversity and inclusion and is co-author of the book Courageous Counsel: Conversations with Women General Counsel in the Fortune 500. For show notes and more information, visit paulaedgar.com/podcast. In this episode… The beauty of building your brand lies in the opportunities. Once a baseline of success and momentum is established, the continued development of your brand is up to you and your vision. Many people feel hemmed in or indebted to a specific portrayal of themselves, but this does not have to be the case…possibilities lie in reimagining.  Michele Coleman Mayes is an accomplished lawyer and leader with a rich history of working on boards and commissions for a better community. She offers her advice to both young professionals and those looking toward retirement. In both circumstances, there is an opportunity to reimagine the possibilities ahead. In this episode of Branding Room Only, Paula T. Edgar sits down with Michele Coleman Mayes, General Counsel and Secretary for The New York Public Library, to discuss her views on branding and professional development. They discuss giving back to communities, the difference between branding and reputation, and key strategies.

Conway Ekpo is a former Wall Street lawyer who now thrives in the fintech industry as the Director and Associate General Counsel of Product for fintech startup Brex. He is also an advisor and investor in several minority-owned fintech startups. Conway is the founder of the Black Big Law Pipeline and several other initiatives focused on empowering Black lawyers in the legal profession. His professional experience includes Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, and other firms. For show notes and more information, visit paulaedgar.com/podcast. In this episode… Many professionals are solely focused on achieving greater and greater levels of success. Their accomplishments and pride are staked on status, wealth, and influence. These things are all valuable, but established leaders can strive for them. Giving back to the community and helping those in need are privileges of those in leadership. With more resources and connections, established figures are in a prime position to give back. Leaders can be defined and celebrated for their work outside of the office. We can learn from the example of professionals how they fold these concepts into their brands. In this episode of Branding Room Only, Paula T. Edgar sits down with Conway Ekpo, the Director and Associate General Counsel of Product at Brex, to discuss how he elevates and champions others. They discuss the dangers of ego, defining yourself by selflessness, and the underrated tenets of leadership. They also discuss Conway’s career, highlighting some of his distinctive qualities and the elements that contribute to his brand.

Peter Griffith was born in Barbados, and in junior high school, he emigrated to Brooklyn, New York. He was married to Joan Donna Griffith for 20 years before the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center on 9/11 stole her life. Together, they raised two children, Paula and Joann. He is an avid photographer, bird enthusiast, and enjoys science fiction. He also likes to draw, journal, and occasionally smoke a cigar. In this episode… Leaders and successful professionals are molded by their mentors and those who support them along the way. For many, no figures are as essential and as beloved as parents. They shape us, and we often follow in their footsteps. As we progress in our careers, we look back and pay our respects to those who influenced us the most. Paula Edgar’s mother was a foundational part of her life. Joan Donna Griffith helped Paula develop as a person and a motivated professional. In her own right, Joan was an accomplished assistant VP and office manager and an admired figure in her community. Unfortunately, she was a victim of the 9/11 attacks, which left her family grieving but also to keep in their memories. Paula’s father, Peter Griffith, is here to share Joan’s legacy and how she impacted many people’s lives. In this special episode of Branding Room Only, Paula Edgar is joined by her father, Peter Griffith, to celebrate and remember Paula’s mother, Joan Donna Griffith. They talk about how Peter and Joan met, their introduction to the United States, and how they started a family. They dive deep into Joan’s legacy, who she was, and how she is missed.

Lonita K. Baker serves as President of the National Bar Association and as the Corporate Counsel for Waystar, a technology platform that simplifies healthcare payments throughout the revenue cycle. She is an experienced attorney with proficiency in drafting, interpreting laws and regulations, negotiating case settlements, and presenting cases through all stages of litigation. In the past, Lonita has worked as an Adjunct Professor of Law at the University of Louisville, an attorney at Aguiar Injury Lawyers, and as the Chief of Communications at the National Bar Association, among many other positions. She received her bachelor’s, master’s, and Doctor of Law at the University of Louisville, including an MBA in business administration. In this episode… Presenting a strong brand as a leader is paramount. For people to follow you, they need to be able to trust and respect you. A personal brand goes beyond perception and informs how you operate. Working on this one aspect of your career can make all the difference. Lonita K. Baker is intimately aware of this connection. Her incredible career has spanned several sectors, leading to her current position as President of the National Bar Association. She has reached her influential role by focusing on her brand and serving others. So how can you apply some of her insights to your career? In this episode of Branding Room Only, Paula Edgar takes the time to interview Lonita K. Baker, Corporate Counsel at Waystar, to discuss leadership, personal branding, and being yourself. They touch on her work with the National Bar Association, her dedication to justice, breaking preconceptions, and advocating for your value.

Precious L. Williams, aka the Pitch Queen, is a respected coach, speaker, and best-selling author. As the Founder and CEO of Perfect Pitches by Precious, LLC, she teaches professionals how to sell with storytelling and develop the proper mindset for communication. Precious is a 13-time national elevator pitch champion who has appeared on ABC's Shark Tank, CNN, Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and Black Enterprise Magazine. In addition to helping women entrepreneurs and business leaders, Precious also works with sales trainers, where she helps sales teams develop killer communication skills, craft messaging, and build effective sales programs. Her impressive list of clients includes top-tier brands such as BMW, Microsoft, LinkedIn, Google, NBC, and Harvard University, among others. In this episode… The ability to pitch effectively is a crucial skill for any executive, as it allows them to synthesize information and present it engagingly and attractively. While it is often associated with official business pitches, personal pitches are equally important. Effectively conveying your brand is a factor that separates successful individuals from those who are struggling to get started. So what do you need to know to pitch your brand effectively? In this episode of Branding Room Only, Paula Edgar speaks with Precious L. Williams about pitching and developing a personal brand. They discuss Precious’ personal story and how she defines herself. The two also dive into supporting other women, taking feedback, expressing gratitude, overcoming obstacles, and more.

Megan Belcher is an accomplished business function and law department leader with expertise in compliance, regulation, litigation, and communications. Currently serving as Chief Legal & External Affairs Officer and Corporate Secretary at Scoular, Megan leads Legal, Brand Marketing & Corporate Communications, and sustainability and ESG functions. Before Scoular, she was a partner at Husch Blackwell and Vice President & Chief Counsel - Employment Law and Compliance at Conagra Brands for nine years. Megan is a dedicated leader who brings together diverse teams to make a positive impact on organizations and communities, embodying a "make it happen" approach to all aspects of her life. She is passionate about facilitating pathways for women in the legal profession and serves as a coach to aspiring female leaders. In this episode… Reliability and results are among the most valuable attributes of a personal brand. Being a known figure with proven success enables others to trust you, and investing in yourself by building a personal brand pays untold dividends in the long term. However, simply being dependable and a hard worker is not sufficient. Your branding also plays an integral role in building a strong personal brand. Megan Belcher is an established legal professional, a proven leader, and a mentor for many young attorneys. She has developed her brand centered around reliability and helps younger professionals do the same. Want to know how to establish yourself as a trustworthy professional? Take a cue from Megan's branding strategy. Paula Edgar invites Megan Belcher, Chief Legal & External Affairs Officer at Scoular, on this episode of Branding Room Only to talk about building personal brands and mentoring others. The two discuss how to be a culture creator by being reliable, making things happen, and building relationships. They also touch on common mistakes that young professionals make and how Megan is helping women in agriculture and the legal space.

Stefanie Marrone is a legal marketer who has served law firms of all sizes and various B2C and B2B companies. With nearly 20 years of experience in legal marketing, she has worked for renowned firms such as Sullivan & Cromwell and Morrison & Foerster. Stefanie not only runs a successful blog, The Social Media Butterfly, where she discusses current issues affecting lawyers and legal marketers, but she is also a frequent conference and webinar speaker on social media and marketing-related topics. In this episode… LinkedIn is far more than a necessary evil. Many professionals will set up a LinkedIn profile and fail to cultivate connections or promote themselves. However, the platform can be a powerful tool, especially for personal branding. Even small changes can make massive improvements. Stefanie Marrone knows this better than most. She was an early adopter of LinkedIn and has used it as a powerful vehicle to establish her brand. This has led to a fruitful career as a consultant and now as a Director of Business Development at a successful law firm. She is dedicated to sharing her experience with others and now wants to share her thoughts with you. In this episode of Branding Room Only, Paul Edgar speaks with Stefanie Marrone, to talk about using LinkedIn for personal branding. They touch on the biggest mistakes and tips of branding, how Stefanie uses LinkedIn, and how to utilize your time.

Damien Atkins is an accomplished business and legal executive who works in mergers and acquisitions, securities regulation, government investigations, and privacy matters. He is the Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel of Aura, an identity protection company dedicated to creating a safer internet. Before joining Aura, Damien served as the Senior Vice President and General Counsel at The Hershey Company and as General Counsel at Panasonic USA. With a distinguished career spanning nearly 25 years, Damien has successfully guided clients through complex and sensitive matters. His outstanding legal acumen and strategic thinking have earned him a reputation as a trusted advisor in his field. In this episode… Your brand is the foundation of your leadership. The way people perceive you will ultimately dictate how they follow you. However, most leaders become so caught up in their work that they lose sight of what makes them unique. So how do you put forth the right image as a leader? Damien Atkins is an accomplished legal executive, having worked with respected brands like Hershey and Panasonic. His approach to branding has developed over more than two decades, helping him hone in on his best attributes. Now he shares some of his best advice with us. In this episode of Branding Room Only, Paula Edgar speaks with Damien Atkins, Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel at Aura, to break down his branding and how it applies to leaders. They go through his career, what he has learned from others and the importance of context. The two also dive into the best and worst practices for personal branding. By the end of this episode, you will learn how branding and leadership intersect to create a compelling personal brand that resonates with your audience.

Sonya Olds Som is the Global Managing Partner at Diversified Search Group, a leading executive search firm. As the leader of the group's Legal, Risk, Compliance & Government Affairs practice, she leads searches for C-Suite and board members with compliance expertise across industries. Sonya is a member of several significant organizations, including the American Bar Association, National Bar Association, Hispanic National Bar Association, Metropolitan Black Bar Association, and the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association. She is a visionary leader committed to creating a more inclusive and equitable future for organizations across industries. In this episode… The legal profession often fills with people who are laser-focused on their practice at the cost of personal branding. It is not until much later that they realize their mistake, missing out on valuable time they could have spent building their brand. The other common mistake is a lack of authenticity. This combination can lead to underdeveloped, uniform legal professionals that fail to stand out. Sonya Olds Som is an experienced attorney who works with multiple organizations and search firms. Her work brings her into contact with budding legal professionals and established veterans. It gave her a unique personal brand and a keen perspective on how to develop others as well. Let's dive into Sonya's valuable insights on personal branding and the legal industry. In this episode of Branding Room Only, Paula Edgar sits down with Sonya Olds Som, a Global Managing Partner at Diversified Search Group, to discuss personal branding and the legal profession. They touch on common mistakes many people make and why business development is important for servicing attorneys. Sonya also talked about the crucial dos and don’ts of networking and brand development, emphasizing the importance of authenticity and one element that should never be compromised.