Branding Room Only with Paula T. Edgar

Paula T. Edgar
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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.

  1. When Comfort Becomes Complacency: Protecting Your Personal Brand Before You Need It

    1H AGO

    When Comfort Becomes Complacency: Protecting Your Personal Brand Before You Need It

    After years of hard work, many professionals finally reach a point where things feel stable. The role fits. The team works. The urgency slows down. But that sense of comfort can quietly turn into complacency if you stop investing in your personal brand simply because things feel “fine.” In this episode of Branding Room Only, Paula T. Edgar explores the difference between comfort and complacency and why personal branding requires ongoing maintenance—even in seasons of stability. Through real examples from her work with clients, Paula explains why visibility, relationships, and clarity about your value should be built before disruption forces you to. In this episode: Why comfort and complacency are not the sameHow stability can quietly weaken your personal brandSimple ways to maintain your brand even when your career feels settled00:35 – The subtle line between comfort and complacency 2:02 – What happens when your reputation only lives inside your organization 4:19 – Personal branding as an often-overlooked discipline 5:20 – How comfort can sometimes become an identity you get wrapped up in 6:07 – Two examples of how disruption exposes branding gaps 8:45 – The power of intentional discomfort to facilitate growth 10:08 – Simple branding gut check and how to create a little intentional discomfort this week Mentioned In March Into Confidence: When Comfort Becomes Complacency How Sharing Your Wins Strengthens Your Personal Brand Curated Resources from Paula Personal Branding Strategy Sessions Subscribe to The Branding Room Only on YouTube Call to Action Follow & 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 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.

    12 min
  2. How to Reframe Your Brand for Board Service with Sonya Olds Som

    MAR 3

    How to Reframe Your Brand for Board Service with Sonya Olds Som

    Wanting to be on a board and being ready for board service are not the same thing. Some people spend years building relationships, understanding governance, and positioning themselves as trusted advisors. Others rush the process and undermine their credibility before a real conversation even begins. Sonya Olds Som, Global Managing Partner and leader of the Legal, Risk, and Compliance Practice at DSG Global, conducts executive and board searches across industries. In this episode of Branding Room Only, Paula T. Edgar and Sonya break down what truly signals board readiness, why mindset matters as much as experience, and how your personal brand either builds trust or raises red flags in the boardroom. 1:10 – The best piece of professional advice Sonya has received, habits that keep her focused, and one surprising fact about her 5:29 – How the boardroom impression “nose in, fingers out” changes the way you talk about your expertise and value 12:20 – The kinds of people boards are always looking for and how opportunities have opened up in the last few years 15:14 – How to pivot to make yourself attractive to boards with less directly-connected experience than what they typically look for 17:56 – How to answer tough experience questions in an interview without selling yourself short or pretending to be something you’re not 21:24 –  One of the best ways to prepare yourself to be a board member (and why treating it as “easy money” is a bad move) 34:10 – Ways to maximize your visibility and presence without oversharing or feeling like you're self-promoting too aggressively 41:39 – How nonprofit boards, school communities, and passion projects can quietly position you for paid board opportunities  48:11 – General mistakes you should avoid when positioning yourself to be a board member  52:41 – How to approach your first board seat so it strengthens, rather than strains, your personal brand and your life Diversified Search Group Sonya Olds Som on LinkedIn The Strategic Power of Intentional Connection with Sonya Olds Soms Girls Inc. of Chicago The American Writers Museum Dressed in Joy Sign up for Paula’s Upcoming Webinars Follow & 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. 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.

    59 min
  3. Rewrite Your Story, Rewire Your Personal Brand with Amber Lee Forrester

    FEB 24

    Rewrite Your Story, Rewire Your Personal Brand with Amber Lee Forrester

    Your inner voice can either talk you into your greatness or talk you out of it. That little voice shows up when you're about to take a risk, ask for something you want, or step into a room where you're not sure you belong. Most people either ignore it completely or let it run the show. Neither works. The real question is whether you know how to catch it, redirect it, and make it work for you instead of against you. Amber Lee Forrester built Quartz Wellness Collective on the idea that your inner voice shapes everything about your brand. She works with executives and incarcerated youth, bringing positive psychology and strengths-based coaching into spaces that need psychological safety and honest reflection. Her approach is direct: if you can identify the thought patterns that derail you, you can redirect them toward what you actually want. In this episode, Paula T. Edgar and Amber dig into imposter syndrome, why it shows up even for high-performers, and what to do when that voice tries to take over. Amber breaks down her framework for catching thoughts before they derail you, why reflection matters more than just pushing through, and how to lean on your strengths when your weaknesses try to speak louder. They also talk about why community and psychological safety matter for doing your best work, and what it actually looks like to build a brand that feels like you on purpose. If that voice has ever made you second-guess yourself or shrink back from something you wanted, this conversation gives you tools to shift it. 1:33 – Amber’s personal brand definition, three ways she describes herself, a Friedrich Nietzsche she often uses, and her Beyoncé hype song  4:27 – The childhood contrast that explains Amber’s comfort in very different rooms 5:37 – Amber’s post-private school pivot from her original plan to her purpose 11:25 – Amber’s definition of imposter syndrome and an example of how it showed up for her  16:10 – How imposter syndrome affects your brand and the way you show up as a leader 19:54 – How positive psychology helps you challenge narratives that undermine your confidence and branding 22:40 – The framework Amber uses to move people from self-doubt to self-belief 28:14 – Misconception about imposter syndrome, the importance of reflection, and how your answer to a simple question impacts your brand 32:27 – Amber’s high priority around creating safe community spaces, paving the way for brave spaces 36:56 – Strengths-based anchor that helps you stay steady when your mind tries to hold you back 42:46 – What Amber does for fun (and how even that ties back into her brand)  Mentioned In Rewrite Your Story, Rewire Your Personal Brand with Amber Lee Forrester Amber Lee Forrester  Quartz Wellness Collective POISED to Prosper Mentorship Program My Engage Your Hustle™ Conference Playbook gives you the strategies to prepare, stand out, and follow up with impact. Get your copy today. 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.

    51 min
  4. From Becoming to Leading: Living Your Personal Brand with Rhonda Joy McLean

    FEB 17

    From Becoming to Leading: Living Your Personal Brand with Rhonda Joy McLean

    In Part Two of this conversation on Branding Room Only, Paula T. Edgar and Rhonda Joy McLean move from formation to practice, exploring what it means to live your personal brand once leadership responsibilities deepen and visibility increases. Rhonda Joy reflects on how her leadership style evolved over time, particularly as she navigated being “the only,” managing teams, and carrying significant responsibility for others. She shares why listening is a critical leadership discipline, how relationships and sisterhood can sustain leaders, and what she learned the hard way about burnout, boundaries, and self-care. Paula and Rhonda also discuss the evolution of The Little Black Book of Success and Rhonda and her co-authors’ new book, The Next Little Black Book of Success, and why this moment called for a renewed leadership roadmap rooted in clarity, care, and people-centered values. 1:08 – How personal relationships impacted Rhonda’s ability to manage and build her brand 5:47 – How Rhonda’s brand has changed who she is and how she shows up over the course of her career 7:47 – The role of leadership and volunteerism in building Rhonda’s brand 14:48 – The cost of saying yes to everything, the importance of learning to rest, and Rhonda’s self-care strategy 18:12 – The Little Black Book of Success: how it came about, what it’s about, and the newest iteration 23:36 - Why Rhonda and her co-authors wrote another book, and inclusivity as a requirement (not an option) for the future of leadership 28:01 – What Rhonda does for fun, people-centered leadership, and the snippet that defines her Branding Room Only magic  Mentioned In From Becoming to Leading: Living Your Personal Brand with Rhonda Joy McLean RJM Leads  The Little Black Book of Success series by Elaine Meryl Brown, Marsha Haygood, and Rhonda Joy McLean Storehouse Voices (The NEXT Little Black Book of Success) Sign up for Paula’s Upcoming Webinars Learn More About Paula's Personal Branding Strategy Session Offer Call to Action Follow & 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 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.

    32 min
  5. Becoming Before Leading with Rhonda Joy McLean

    FEB 10

    Becoming Before Leading with Rhonda Joy McLean

    In this episode of Branding Room Only, Paula T. Edgar is joined by Rhonda Joy McLean for a thoughtful and deeply personal conversation about where leadership and personal brand truly begin. Long before titles, platforms, or visibility, Rhonda Joy reflects on the experiences, values, and identity work that shaped how she shows up as a leader. Rhonda Joy shares stories from her upbringing in the Jim Crow South, integrating schools as a teenager, and learning early lessons about resilience, collaboration, and self-trust. She explores how faith, culture, and intergenerational legacy informed not only her career path, but the way she leads people and navigates systems. Together, Paula and Rhonda Joy unpack personal branding as presence rather than performance, and leadership as something practiced long before it is named. This episode centers the idea that a durable personal brand is not built through optics alone, but through lived experience, integrity, and clarity about who you are. It is a conversation about formation, grounding, and becoming before leading. 2:36 – What personal branding means to Rhonda Joy, how she describes herself, a quote she thinks about often, and her hype music 6:46 – How school integration was a daily test of courage, discipline, and collaboration 12:39 – Rhonda Joy’s reflection on what’s happening now, decades after being a part of racial justice history 16:19 – The foundation for Rhonda Joy’s fearless leadership, from childhood to law career 21:31 – How being rejected opened doors to excellence for Rhonda Joy, instead of shrinking her ambition 25:42 – Rhonda Joy’s impact on others and her values-led, continuously evolving brand Mentioned In Becoming Before Leading with Rhonda Joy McLean RJM Leads  The Little Black Book of Success series by Elaine Meryl Brown, Marsha Haygood, and Rhonda Joy McLean Rhonda Joy McLean on Instagram and LinkedIn NAACP Legal Defense Fund Curated Resources from Paula Sign up for Paula’s Upcoming Webinars Learn More About Paula's Personal Branding Strategy Session Offer Call to Action Follow & 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 Here 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 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.

    30 min
  6. The Personal Brand You Carry: Legacy, Leadership, and Letters with Walter Pryor

    FEB 3

    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 move 6:04 – How small-town Arkansas shaped Walter’s worldview and gave him both humility and ambition 9:09 – A pivotal family loss that redirected Walter’s educational path  10:52 – The non-linear evolution from Biglaw to government, Capitol Hill, and corporate leadership 14:44 – How Southern Bancorp’s mission felt like a full-circle homecoming that ties into Walter’s brand 17:10 – How personal relationships can influence your leadership  20:54 – What parenting young adults teaches you about mentoring as a leader 23:34 – 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 letters 32:27 – How Mama Ceal’s life reflects a broader civil rights narrative and why telling that story now is urgent 35:21 – The importance and responsibility of being a custodian and guardian of family history 36:16 – Walter’s vision of the legacy he wants to provide to any future grandchildren 38:24 – Walter’s joy, the grounding trait he refuses to compromise, and the quality that fills a room when he fully shows up Mentioned In The Personal Brand You Carry: Legacy, Leadership, and Letters with Walter Pryor Walter Pryor  This Leaves Me Okay by Walter Pryor  Pyramid Art, Books & Custom Framing Sign up for Paula’s Upcoming Webinars Subscribe and leave a quick review. Want more branding insights? Join Paula’s newsletter for expert tips and exclusive content! Subscribe Here 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 episode 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. 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.

    47 min
  7. Your Face Is Part of Your Personal Brand: Why Makeup and Skincare Matter with Osha Hinds

    JAN 27

    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 song 4:23 – Osha’s unexpected path from fashion design to makeup artistry 10:22 – The pivotal “fake it till you make it” moment that changed Osha’s career and confidence 17:09 – How personal image communicates brand credibility before you ever speak 20:39 – 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 perception 29:33 – Makeup prep recommendations for men and women (on and off-camera) 36:04 – The misconception and truth about red lipstick 39:30 – Basics that every professional and non-professional should have in their makeup toolkit 46:35 – Quick makeup routine when you only have five minutes to get ready for a Zoom meeting 48:50 – The four makeup items Osha and Paula would use for themselves in case of an emergency 50:29 – How Osha helps those who struggle with their confidence and self-image 52:51 – Spa days and 4DX movie theaters, a nasty truth about some water rides, and one of Paula’s favorite Osha stories 56:40 – The importance of being a good client and partner for your makeup artist 59:50 – Why trust is vital to Osha’s brand, the importance of communication, and how she does eyebrows differently Mentioned In The Confidence Factor: How Makeup Impacts Your Personal Brand with Osha Hinds Connect with Osha on Instagram Sign up for Paula’s Upcoming Webinars 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. 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. 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.

    1h 4m
  8. 8 Personal Branding Lessons to Learn From Martin Luther King Jr.'s Legacy

    JAN 19

    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 brand 3:28 - How MLK Jr. solidified his credibility with integrity and used strategic visibility to amplify his message 5:39 - Why visual consistency reinforces your brand, plus a powerful example of resilience in Dr. King’s legacy 7:34 - How a strong personal brand is rooted in service to others and built with legacy in mind 9:47 - Ways to honor Dr. King’s lessons and align your actions with your values year-round Mentioned In 8 Personal Branding Lessons to Learn From Martin Luther King Jr.'s Legacy The King Center - Dr. King Jr.  The Nobel Peace Prize, 1964 - Martin Luther King Jr.  Curated Resources from Paula Sign up for Paula’s Upcoming Webinars Learn More About Paula's Personal Branding Strategy Session Offer Subscribe to The Branding Room Only on YouTube Call to Action Follow & 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 Here 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 episode This 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.

    12 min
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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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