Happy Summer! We’re off enjoying some summer relaxation time! Enjoy one of our top shows from last season and be sure to take time to recharge!

In this episode, Jayzen shares his ideas on a critical element of your personal brand development: how you make people feel. That is, when people interact with you and experience your brand, what feeling are they left with and are you beginning to be intentional about what you want that to be? It is important to focus on your SuperSized brand words and make sure that they reflect the feeling that you want people to have - and you are delivering on that with every interaction.

Jayzen is excited to welcome Ed Soo Hoo to the show. Ed is a fascinating person who has had many careers over the years, from warehouseman to a union truck driver and now as CTO for one of the top global technology companies. His secret? As he says, “you have to ask for it, even if you’re not qualified.” Ed is a storyteller and brings volumes of career wisdom that everyone can learn from.

Guest Bio

Ed Soo Hoo

Worldwide CTO - Global Accounts

Lenovo

Ed Soo Hoo is an asymmetrical thinker, crossing the intellectual and practical boundaries of enterprise and technology. Ed is known for stretching-the-box strategic thinking allowing companies to expand from “Now, New and Next.” Ed connects the dots of technology and turns that capability into business-altering solutions for any organization. His Tetris-like talent for enabling, leveraging, and enhancing existing operational models and ecosystems is truly transformational.

An Industry Fellow at the Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology at UC Berkeley and executive coach, Ed brings unique insights coming from a diverse, eclectic set of rich experiences through a career that includes blue-collar teamster, global company leader, and eight-time startup exec (seed to IPO to buyout).

A sought-after executive and keynote speaker on business leadership, Ed presents his theories on entrepreneurial spirit, vision, and drive through a multidisciplinary perspective of the world.

“The way we work has forever changed, so it’s time that the way we lead follows suit. In order to meet the challenges of a post-pandemic world and workforce, we must explore the ways in which we can build, inspire, and lead a team.”

Links

To book Jayzen for a speaking engagement or workshop, visit Jayzenpatria.com

Follow Jayzen on his book journey at LeadWithYourBrand.com/book

On this special Pride on Brand edition of the Lead With Your Brand! podcast, Jayzen reflects on graduation season and the powerful lesson of showing up in service of others. Inspired by two deeply personal milestones and a standout commencement speech at UCLA, Jayzen breaks down how context and service are at the heart of building a breakthrough career and a super-premium brand.

You'll learn why your brand isn’t just about what you do—it’s about the value you create for others. Whether you're just starting out, pivoting into a new chapter, or leading from the top, this episode challenges you to ask: Who are you serving, and how are you showing up with purpose and presence?

Key Takeaways:

• Why context matters in how you express your brand
• How to adapt your style without changing your core
• Why the best brands serve others and solve problems
• How to use your personal brand to write your next career chapter

Jayzen is thrilled to welcome Jethro Rothe-Kushel, a visionary media executive, storyteller, and founder of Ritual Ads—a company revolutionizing TV commercials using AI. With a career spanning film, technology, and advocacy, Jethro shares how he built a future-focused career by blending creativity, impact, and innovation. From producing for the Oscars to representing over 8,700 top producers in the PGA, his story is a masterclass in brand leadership at the intersection of tech and storytelling.

Guest Bio

Jethro Rothe-Kushel

Founder & CEO

Ritual Ads

Jethro Rothe-Kushel is a visionary media executive, storyteller, and founder of Ritual Ads, a groundbreaking company using AI to transform the way television commercials are made. With a background that spans film, tech, and advocacy, Jethro’s work empowers brands, creators, and communities to tell unforgettable stories. He’s produced for the Oscars, advised Fortune 500 companies, and leads cutting-edge conversations at the intersection of technology and humanity. Jethro was the youngest Vice President ever elected to the Producers Guild of America, representing over 8,700 of the top film, television, and media producers. He was also a Presidential Research Scholar at Dartmouth for his pioneering work at the intersection of AI and image sciences.

Links

To book Jayzen for a speaking engagement or workshop, visit Jayzenpatria.com

Follow Jayzen on his book journey at LeadWithYourBrand.com/book

In this week’s episode of the Lead With Your Brand! podcast, Jayzen Patria kicks things off not in a boardroom, but in a theme park. Fresh from a behind-the-scenes visit to Universal’s new Epic Universe, Jayzen shares unexpected (and powerful) lessons about personal branding drawn from immersive rides, gothic taverns, and talking portraits.

Why? Because the experience Universal crafted is more than entertainment—it’s a masterclass in branding. And your career should be, too.

It’s time to stop thinking of your work as a collection of disconnected tasks. Instead, ask “What’s the full experience people have when they interact with you—on Zoom, over email, in meetings, or across teams?”

Key takeaways include:

• Brand is experience. It’s not just what you do—it’s how others feel when they work with you. Your brand should be intentional, immersive, and memorable.
• Use your own language. Just like Universal has “portals” instead of lands and Starbucks has “baristas” instead of employees, you can craft a vocabulary that reflects your unique value and personality.
• Surprise and delight. Think about how you can go the extra mile—offer help before it’s asked for, share insights, or simply create moments that make people smile.
• Create emotional resonance. The most successful brands—and careers—are about more than results. They’re about storytelling, connection, and leaving a lasting impression.
• Be consistent across touchpoints. Whether it’s a quick text, a project presentation, or a hallway conversation, everything you do should feel like it’s part of the same “epic universe.”

Then, stay tuned for this week’s guest Stephanie Luros-Gilbert, who shares their own story of leading with their brand and creating a professional journey that’s anything but ordinary. As the Chief Commercial Officer at BSI and Food Service Holdings, she leads with a focus on innovation and impact across the foodservice space. She’s passionate about opening up non-traditional career paths in hospitality and tackling issues like food insecurity. Stephanie also serves in leadership roles with NAFEM and IFMA, helping shape the future of the industry.

Guest Bio

Stephanie Luros-Gilbert

Chief Commercial Officer

BSI and Food Service Holdings

In her role, Stephanie leads all commercially facing initiatives with a focus on driving growth and positioning best-in-class solutions providers to effect meaningful change across the foodservice landscape. A strategic business development and operational executive, Stephanie brings over 20 years of experience in the commercial foodservice equipment and manufacturing sectors.

Throughout her career, Stephanie has built a reputation for fostering industry collaboration and innovation. She is a dedicated advocate for elevating non-traditional career pathways within hospitality and is especially passionate about cross-industry efforts to combat food insecurity. A committed leader beyond her corporate role, Stephanie currently serves on the NAFEM Board of Directors, the IFMA Food Away From Home Association Board of Directors, amongst a multitude of other volunteer leadership roles. Stephanie’s breadth of experience and her tireless commitment to advancing the industry make her a respected voice and influential leader in foodservice and hospitality.

Links

To book Jayzen for a speaking engagement or workshop visit Jayzenpatria.com

Follow Jayzen on his book journey at LeadWithYourBrand.com/book

To learn more about opportunities at BSI, click www.bsidesigns.com