The Visibility Shift with Ellie Steinbrink

Ellie Steinbrink
  • 5.0 (19)
  • FASHION & BEAUTY

Welcome to The Visibility Shift, the podcast where style becomes your most powerful strategy for being seen, standing out, and leading boldly. I'm Ellie Steinbrink, stylist and personal brand coach, and if you've ever thought, "My style just isn't working anymore," take this as your sign. You're ready for your next level.  Instead of launching into a panicked shopping spree, what you really need is a strategy. A style strategy that reflects where you're headed, not who you used to be or who you think you need to be to fit in.  I'm here for the ambitious woman who's evolving. Maybe you're a founder, a speaker, a leader, or someone who's becoming more visible in your role. The opportunities are getting more exciting, the stages are getting bigger, but when you walk into your closet, you suddenly feel off, like you've outgrown it, like it represents a past version of you.  We go beyond outfits and dive into the real strategies that elevate your presence, so your outer image reflects your inner power. Style from the inside out. Self-leadership through style. What it takes to create a strategy that's unique to you without losing yourself along the way.  When your style aligns with your brand and your vision, everything shifts. You lead with more presence, you attract the right opportunities and clients, and you fully step into the woman you're becoming. Showing up as yourself is the most strategic thing you can do.  New episodes drop twice weekly. Ready to stop second-guessing and start showing up as the leader you are? Let's get visible.

  1. Why It's Time to Wear the Outfit That Scares You

    5D AGO

    Why It's Time to Wear the Outfit That Scares You

    Something in your closet is waiting for you. It isn't the sensible blazer you wear on autopilot, or the safe dress that earns polite nods. It's the piece that spoke to you deeply. The one that felt electric in the fitting room. The one that whispered, "This is you." Then, once you got it home, it went quiet. Or rather, you did. In this episode of The Visibility Shift, I'm talking about the courage that shows up in small, ordinary moments, where you choose the clothing item you love and dare to be seen in before you feel fully ready. I'll tell you why the hesitation you feel when you reach for what you really want to wear isn't about fabric or color, but the stories you tell yourself. This is a challenge, not to overhaul your wardrobe, but to run a small experiment in self-trust. To wear the thing, notice what happens, and discover whether the fear you have been protecting is actually guarding a door that leads somewhere freer. 3:02 – Why you resist or talk yourself out of wearing that one item you really want to wear 6:17 – How Jessie (the previous podcast guest) described her fear of standing out 9:10 – What the fears and excuses are really about 12:07 – What might be waiting for you on the other side of your fear 13:38 – Challenge: how to wear that item this week Mentioned In Why It's Time to Wear the Outfit That Scares You How Jessie Spressart Went From Blending In to Being Herself  The Style Mindset Reset Free Download Work With Ellie Follow Ellie on Instagram and LinkedIn Leave a rating and review

    18 min
  2. How Jessie Spressart Went From Blending In to Being Herself

    FEB 9

    How Jessie Spressart Went From Blending In to Being Herself

    You're showing up, doing the work, leveling up in your business. But when you open your closet, nothing feels right. You know how you want to look but you can't seem to pull it off. And that gap between where you are and how you're showing up is taking up way more mental energy than it should. Jessie Spressart was in that exact spot. She was already a highly visible leader, speaking and traveling and building Optia Consulting. But her style was stuck somewhere around 2018 and she kept thinking she should be able to figure this out herself. When she finally let go of that and asked for help, everything shifted. In this episode of The Visibility Shift, Jessie shares what that dissonance actually felt like, why blending in felt safer than standing out, and what changed when she stopped trying to DIY her style. She also gets honest about body changes in midlife and why she decided she deserved to feel good in her clothes no matter what. 3:41 – The subtle exhaustion of feeling “almost there” every time Jessie got dressed 8:58 – How body changes became an invitation for Jessie to honor herself 12:13 – Why high-achieving women struggle to ask for help with something that feels vulnerable 15:37 – How Jessie knew we were on the right track (despite her nerves) 19:42 – The importance of doing the background work before the shopping begins 22:47 – The inherited rule Jessie carried regarding attracting attention  26:47 – How Jessie felt when she incorporated a bit more of herself into her style 29:35 – Why buying the “right” outfit is not the same as doing the internal work 33:24 – The energy cost of blending in and the unexpected ease that comes with congruence 35:04 – How “fake it till you make it” influences your energy when your style is authentic 39:45 – How Jessie caught herself slipping back into old thought patterns at a recent event 42:36 – Jessie’s final words if you’re feeling stuck or worried about making a change Mentioned In How Jessie Spressart Went From Blending In to Being Herself Optia Consulting | Instagram | LinkedIn Work With Ellie Follow Ellie on Instagram and LinkedIn Leave a rating and review

    48 min
  3. Why Small Steps Are Not Insignificant When You're Ready to Change

    FEB 2

    Why Small Steps Are Not Insignificant When You're Ready to Change

    You know something needs to change, but you don’t yet know what. It’s not dramatic. It doesn’t arrive with clarity, confidence, or a five-step plan. It arrives as restlessness, as friction, as the creeping sense that what used to work no longer does.  So you sit in that uncomfortable middle. Not at the beginning of a bold makeover and not at the triumphant reveal, but in the quieter moment where you’re resisting the urge to force momentum just to feel productive. And in a culture obsessed with reinvention narratives and overnight transformations, that in-between space can feel like failure. In this episode of The Visibility Shift, I'm challenging the idea that change has to be fast, visible, or impressive to count. I make a case for something far less marketable and far more effective: small, intentional actions taken before clarity arrives. You’ll discover what it means to trust yourself when the vision hasn’t fully formed yet, why rushing to “figure it out” often leads you further from alignment, and how slowing down, asking better questions, and making subtle shifts can create more lasting transformation than any dramatic overhaul ever could. 2:04 – Why the pressure to have a “big plan” may be the very thing blocking your next move 4:57 – How trust is the real requirement for meaningful change 7:57 – The overlooked reason style change feels so overwhelming (and how to soften it) 13:27 – The first step you can take to start walking down a new path 17:15 – Subtle ways your closet reveals who you’re trying to be for others 19:51 – Small changes you can make today to start to course-correct Mentioned In Why Small Steps Are Not Insignificant When You're Ready to Change The Style Mindset Reset Free Download Work With Ellie Follow Ellie on Instagram and LinkedIn Leave a rating and review

    25 min
  4. When Your Style Is Changing But You Still Have to Be Visible

    JAN 26

    When Your Style Is Changing But You Still Have to Be Visible

    As a speaker, leader, or entrepreneur, your evolution doesn't happen behind the curtain. You don't get days off from showing up while you figure things out. But there's a phase of growth we don't talk about enough—when you know something is changing, when an old version of you has been left behind, but the new version hasn't fully taken shape yet. The temptation during this time is to hide until everything is perfect. To wait until you have all the answers before you show up for that speaking gig, that client call, that public moment. But that waiting actually delays your progress and keeps you stuck. In this episode of The Visibility Shift, I'm talking about the messy middle. Why it feels so uncomfortable when you're visible. And why showing up imperfectly through the transition is actually what gives you clarity. 1:51 – Quiet fears that surface when clarity is delayed and what they’re trying to protect 4:03 – The temptation to retreat into a style or persona that once worked but no longer fits 4:44 – The unfortunate truth about the transitional waiting period 6:22 – How I’m living in this in-between season and the biggest lesson learned from it 7:46 – Why your next-level self won’t arrive in a single leap 8:43 – The mindset shift to turn the messy middle from something you dread into something you value 10:33 – The role of style in supporting a deeper internal transition that goes beyond the visuals Mentioned In When Your Style Is Changing But You Still Have to Be Visible The Visibility Edit Standout Style Kick-Starter Work With Ellie Follow Ellie on Instagram and LinkedIn Leave a rating and review

    13 min
  5. Why Your Changing Body Requires New Skills, Not New Shame

    JAN 19

    Why Your Changing Body Requires New Skills, Not New Shame

    Getting dressed shouldn't be this hard. But when your body changes, whether through perimenopause, postpartum, or just time, clothes that used to work suddenly don't. And that frustration doesn't stay in your closet. It follows you into meetings, onto stages, and into every moment where you need to show up as a leader. In this episode of The Visibility Shift, I'm getting honest about how body image can quietly dictate whether you show up bold or play small. I share why understanding your body structure matters more than loving what you see in the mirror, and why the skills you need most are the ones that keep you visible even on days you'd rather hide. This isn't a pep talk about learning to love your body. It's about refusing to let your confidence rise and fall with the number on a tag, and learning to dress the body you have right now so you stop abandoning yourself when you need to show up most. 3:45 - Why body changes often trigger more than frustration and how that quietly affects visibility 9:08 – A reframe that separates your body structure from your body size 10:25 - How understanding body types and silhouettes can restore your confidence  11:50 - An example of why discomfort in getting dressed doesn’t automatically mean you’re doing it wrong 15:27 – Two self-sabotaging patterns when you allow emotions to run the show 18:32 – The importance of giving yourself grace instead of criticism or punishment when it comes to your body 20:47 – How the smallest choices in your closet can influence energy, presence, and results 22:22 – Practical tips for “off” days when you feel like hiding or quitting  25:52 – The benefits of practicing this new mindset daily Mentioned In Why Your Changing Body Requires New Skills, Not New Shame The Visibility Edit Standout Style Kick-Starter Work With Ellie Follow Ellie on Instagram and LinkedIn Leave a rating and review

    29 min
  6. When Executive Presence Stops You From Showing Up Authentically

    JAN 12

    When Executive Presence Stops You From Showing Up Authentically

    For many women, getting dressed used to be simple. Not because it was easy, but because the rules were clear. There was a template, a uniform, a version of “professional” that promised safety, credibility, and belonging if you followed it closely enough. But somewhere between leaving corporate roles, starting businesses, working from home, and stepping into leadership on our own terms, those rules quietly disappeared. And in their place came this vague, unsettling directive to “just be authentic.”  In this episode of The Visibility Shift, I explore why that instruction feels so confusing (and sometimes downright unsafe), especially for women who were trained early in their careers to prioritize executive presence over individuality. I unpack the tension between performative style and authentic style, ask where you might still be dressing to appease, fit in, or avoid risk, and define what it would mean to choose alignment instead. 2:25 - The unspoken rules many women are still following long after the workplace that created them is gone 4:06 - Why authenticity feels liberating in theory but terrifying in practice 6:53 – The meaning of executive presence in today’s work environment 8:08 - The hidden comfort of templates (and the quiet cost of relying on them) 10:48 – What makes authentic style so hard to nail down and what it takes to find yours 14:44 - How to bridge the gap between performative, dress-for-success style and authentic style 16:41 - Why being seen clearly matters more than being universally approved 18:57 - A reminder you may want to return to the next time playing it safe feels tempting Mentioned In When Executive Presence Stops You From Showing Up Authentically Stop Dressing to Fit In and Start Showing Up Authentically Are You Dressing Like the Face of Your Brand or Who You Used to Be? Why Playing It Safe With Style Keeps You Invisible as a Personal Brand The Hidden Style Rules Holding You Back (and How to Break Them) The Compliment Trap and How to Reclaim Your Personal Style The Visibility Edit Standout Style Kick-Starter Work With Ellie Follow Ellie on Instagram and LinkedIn Leave a rating and review

    23 min
  7. When Your Signature Style Doesn't Feel Like You Anymore

    JAN 5

    When Your Signature Style Doesn't Feel Like You Anymore

    You've worked hard to craft a personal brand that makes you recognizable. Often, a piece of your style (whether it's bold glasses, a signature color, or a stack of bracelets) becomes your thing. It's your personal shorthand, the visual cue people instantly associate with you.  But then, when you consider evolving your look, fear starts to surface: “Will people notice? Will they still recognize me? Will they still value me without my ‘thing’?” What happens when that once-loved signature piece starts to feel less like a strategic asset and more like a comfort blanket?  In this episode of The Visibility Shift, I confront the universal struggle of letting go of the style element you’re known for, even when something tells you it no longer feels authentic. You’ll hear my personal story about a style element that kept me stuck for years and how I wrestled with the fear of losing value and followers. I’ll also give you the three crucial questions to ask to determine if your signature style is still an asset or the very thing keeping you from the next version of yourself. This isn't about ditching your favorite accessories overnight. It’s about questioning the stories we attach to these objects and realizing your impact and presence rest on far more than just one visual cue.  2:47 - How your signature style element became a shorthand for other people 4:13 - How a daily creative practice became a massive source of resentment 8:46 - How my brain tried to talk me out of letting it go (and what happened when I did) 11:57 - Practical questions to decide if your “thing” is in alignment with you moving forward 17:17 - How a client discovered she could be more than just her crazy earrings 19:23 - Your overall brand is the sum of many things, not just one visual component Mentioned In When Your Signature Style Doesn't Feel Like You Anymore Why Sticking to One Signature Color Can Hold Your Personal Brand Back The Visibility Edit Standout Style Kick-Starter Work With Ellie Follow Ellie on Instagram and LinkedIn Leave a rating and review

    23 min
  8. Why You Keep Waiting Until the Last Minute to Shop

    12/29/2025

    Why You Keep Waiting Until the Last Minute to Shop

    You know the feeling of that panic cycle spiral that hits the moment a high-stakes event looms on your calendar? Your stomach drops, and suddenly nothing in your closet feels right. Before you know it, you’re speed-scrolling, overnight-shipping, and hoping that one of 10 random packages will magically feel like “you.” It’s exhausting, and more importantly, it’s disconnecting. But there’s a deeper truth: your style hasn’t kept pace with your evolution. And when your identity shifts but your wardrobe doesn’t, those high-visibility moments shine a spotlight on the gap. In this episode of The Visibility Shift, I break down why this cycle feels so inevitable, why it fails to work, and why it has nothing to do with not being “good at style.” I discuss the emotional triggers behind last-minute shopping, reveal the real cost of following hidden rules and letting your clothes be an afterthought, and offer an empowering alternative rooted in clarity and confidence. 2:29 - How the panic shopping cycle unfolds 5:06 - Three reasons why this pattern keeps happening  10:54 - Why last-minute shopping almost never works 12:46 - How a style strategy becomes your roadmap to break the cycle (and makes the styling process easier) 16:22 - A peek into what it means to have a style strategy 20:22 -  Why you should prepare your strategy now (not put it off until later)  Mentioned In Why You Keep Waiting Until the Last Minute to Shop How to Create a Style Strategy That Aligns With Your Personal Brand Why Sticking to One Signature Color Can Hold Your Personal Brand Back How Natalee Shimerdla Broke Free From the Style Rules The Visibility Edit Standout Style Kick-Starter Work With Ellie Follow Ellie on Instagram and LinkedIn Leave a rating and review

    24 min
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5
out of 5
19 Ratings

About

Welcome to The Visibility Shift, the podcast where style becomes your most powerful strategy for being seen, standing out, and leading boldly. I'm Ellie Steinbrink, stylist and personal brand coach, and if you've ever thought, "My style just isn't working anymore," take this as your sign. You're ready for your next level.  Instead of launching into a panicked shopping spree, what you really need is a strategy. A style strategy that reflects where you're headed, not who you used to be or who you think you need to be to fit in.  I'm here for the ambitious woman who's evolving. Maybe you're a founder, a speaker, a leader, or someone who's becoming more visible in your role. The opportunities are getting more exciting, the stages are getting bigger, but when you walk into your closet, you suddenly feel off, like you've outgrown it, like it represents a past version of you.  We go beyond outfits and dive into the real strategies that elevate your presence, so your outer image reflects your inner power. Style from the inside out. Self-leadership through style. What it takes to create a strategy that's unique to you without losing yourself along the way.  When your style aligns with your brand and your vision, everything shifts. You lead with more presence, you attract the right opportunities and clients, and you fully step into the woman you're becoming. Showing up as yourself is the most strategic thing you can do.  New episodes drop twice weekly. Ready to stop second-guessing and start showing up as the leader you are? Let's get visible.

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