Your personal brand isn’t optional anymore, even if you wish it were. In this episode, I dig into why your personal brand matters more than ever, especially in a world overflowing with content (and now AI-generated content, too), and how it connects to your thought leadership and your business

I talk about a common hesitation I see with many women: the feeling that cultivating a personal brand is self-indulgent, unnecessary, or something “other people” do.

But here’s the truth: you already have a personal brand. It’s how others describe you, what they associate with you, and whether they know what truly matters to you.

I share a personal story about how a podcast listener (and later Thought Leader Academy client) connected deeply with my background in history, feminism, and women’s leadership and how that connection happened not by accident, but through intentional thought leadership woven into my brand.

In this episode, I break down:

• The difference between your business, your thought leadership, and your personal brand - and why they’re not the same thing
• Why thought leadership is the why behind your work, not a sales message
• How your personal brand is the embodiment of that thought leadership: you are the messenger
• What to do if your career path feels messy or disconnected (hint: there is a thread)
• Why authenticity, real stories, and lived experience matter even more in the age of AI
• How your signature talk brings your business, thought leadership, and personal brand together in one cohesive message

I also share some early advice I received to downplay parts of my background and why ignoring that advice was one of the best decisions I made.

If you’ve ever wondered whether certain parts of your story “belong” in your brand, this episode will give you a new way to think about it.

If you’re feeling stuck in the expert trap—teaching, informing, and explaining, but not fully connecting, this episode will help you see how your ideas, experiences, and point of view are exactly what make your message memorable and trusted.

Listen in and reflect: What do people know you for right now—and what do you want them to know you for?

Ready to Go Deeper? This is the kind of work we do inside Thought Leader Academy, helping you connect your thought leadership, personal brand, stories, and message into a clear, confident signature talk you can use everywhere.

Learn more and schedule a consultation at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/contact/

This episode originally aired as episode 349 on October 2, 2023.

Hey there, it's Carol, popping in for a minute! I want to make sure you know about our 1-Day Master Your Message & the Stage workshop coming up on February 19th in Downtown Orlando, Florida.

You’ll go from having a rough idea (or no idea at all!) to building your talk using our Signature Talk Canvas® framework - and then practice delivering it with real-time feedback from us.

And here’s the thing = you’ll create a talk that goes beyond tips and facts. I know you know how to create a slide presentation, but to achieve your goals, you need something much more than that. You need to shape a message that persuades, gets buy-in, and leaves a lasting impression.

Your audience doesn’t want to be lectured. They want to feel seen, inspired, and invited into a bigger vision of what’s possible.

That’s exactly what you’ll do at our 1-Day Speaking Accelerator.

We’ll show you how to use storytelling for resonance, how to paint a vision your audience wants to be part of, and how to step into the speaker and leader you’re ready to be.

Can it really be done in a day? We guarantee it! Listen to episode 435 to hear my conversation with 3 of the women who attended our last workshop.

Like them, you'll get:

✅ Your signature talk and framework mapped out—blending thought leadership, storytelling, and lead generation
✅ Personalized coaching to take your delivery from good to captivating
✅ Strategies to reduce nerves and boost your stage presence
✅ A curated speaker kit and workbook
✅ New connections with incredible women
✅ And professional photos of you speaking—perfect for your website and social media

This isn’t just one talk. It’s a message you can use everywhere: On stage, in webinars, interviews, your emails, social posts—even your book or course.

Whether it’s been stuck in your head or sitting in a slide deck, your talk deserves to make the impact it was meant to - and achieve your goals.

If you're ready to make the shift from information to transformation, join us in Orlando on February 19th.

Use the coupon code “Podcast200” to save $200 on your registration, as a thank you for being a podcast listener.

Spots are limited to 12 attendees, so go to speakingyourbrand.com/orlando to register. I’d love to have you there!

Have you ever heard a speaker share a story and have one of these reactions:

#1: Wow, I really feel connected to what this person is saying. I have a new perspective on my own situation.

-OR-

#2: Why is this person telling this story? I don't get how this relates to the rest of their content or why I should care or this feels icky.

You don't want to end up being the speaker where the people in the audience are having the second reaction.

You want your stories to have purpose and meaning and be of service to your audience.

This conversation came directly from questions we hear all the time from women in our Thought Leader Academy:

• Is sharing my personal story self-indulgent?
• How vulnerable is too vulnerable?
• Can storytelling cross the line into manipulation?

The short answer? Yes, it can. And that’s exactly why how you tell your story matters just as much as what you share.

In this episode, Diane Diaz and I dig into:

• What makes a story feel authentic vs. forced or manipulative
• Why stories should always be in service of the audience, not the speaker
• Common storytelling mistakes (TMI, rags-to-riches formulas, shaming language, and oversmoothing the edges)
• How vulnerability builds trust - when it’s grounded in reflection and purpose
• Why imperfect stories often create the strongest audience connection

We also share real examples—from our own speaking experiences and from Thought Leader Academy clients—of how telling the truth (even when it doesn’t make you look perfect) can be incredibly powerful, freeing, and impactful.

If you want your stories to:

• Deepen audience connection
• Build credibility instead of skepticism
• Support your message instead of distracting from it

…this episode will help you rethink how you use storytelling in your talks, podcasts, and brand messaging.

(This episode originally aired as episode 350 on October 9, 2023.

Links:

Show notes at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/mistake/

Discover your Speaker Archetype by taking our free quiz at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/quiz/

Enroll in our Thought Leader Academy: https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/academy/

Connect on LinkedIn:

• Carol Cox = https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolcox
• Diane Diaz = https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianediaz

Related Podcast Episodes:

• Episode 337: Sharing Your Story as a Catalyst for Transformation with Karen Keene
• Episode 341: Unearthing Your Unique Message: Discovering What Makes You Stand Out with Judy Carlson
• Episode 92: Deconstructing My TEDx Talk: Why We’re Uncomfortable with Women in Power

Today’s episode it’s all about finding and developing your Big Idea for your thought leadership and public speaking.

Ideas are incredibly powerful; they can live on for years, centuries, even millennia. Ideas spark movements for political and social change. Ideas help us as humans understand ourselves, each other, and the world around us.

Your idea doesn’t have to be something people have never heard of before; that’s unlikely as most things have been talked about before - and that’s ok!

As a speaker, you want to have something interesting and unique to talk about, you want to make a positive impact on your audience, and you want to develop your thought leadership.

Perhaps you’re not sure what makes a good idea or which of your ideas is the best one. It all feels a bit messy and muddy.

That’s what I’m going to help you with in this episode! Think of me as your idea whisperer.

You’ll learn:

• What a Big Idea is
• Why too many speakers get stuck with superficial content
• How to identify your I.D.E.A. using this handy acronym I came up with
• Examples of Big Ideas from myself, from some of our clients, and from thought leaders you’ll recognize
• Specific questions you can ask yourself to get started developing your Big Idea

(This episode originally aired as episode 354 on November 6, 2023.)

Get these questions and a lot more in our 24-page FREE guide and workbook on Developing Your Thought Leadership at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/guide/.

Links:

Show notes at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/thought-leadership-idea-framework/

Get our free Thought Leadership guide and workbook: https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/guide/

Discover your Speaker Archetype by taking our free quiz at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/quiz/

Enroll in our Thought Leader Academy: https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/academy/

Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolcox

Related Podcast Episodes:

• Episode 352: 7 Things the Best Speakers Do: My Takeaways from TEDWomen
• Episode 343: Why YOU are the Messenger for Your Idea and Audience
• Episode 339: Using Public Speaking to Influence Social Change with Tanya Golash-Boza, PhD
• Episode 338: Escaping the Expert Trap: From Academic Presenter to Sought-After Speaker with Teri DeLucca
• Episode 319: The 3 Stages We Go Through as Women When We Use Our Voice

If you’re giving talks but not seeing leads or clients come from them, this episode will change how you think about speaking.

I’m joined by our lead speaking coach, Diane Diaz, for part two of our series on integrating speaking into your marketing strategy. We’re talking about how to approach your talks as a marketer — without turning them into sales pitches (because no one wants that).

We break down:

• Why “teaching everything” actually hurts your results
• How skipping the first part of your talk kills audience buy-in
• What audiences really want instead of more tips and tactics
• How to plant sales seeds naturally (without feeling salesy)
• Why emotional connection and storytelling are what drive conversions

I also walk you through our Signature Talk Canvas® framework and why the 3-act structure (Issue → Idea → Inspiration) works so well for lead generation talks and keynotes.

Diane shares a real example of a recent speaking engagement where she signed three clients on the spot, plus practical tactics like using client stories, urgency, and even paper feedback forms to increase follow-up.

If you want your talks to do more than just “go well” — and actually grow your business — this episode is for you.

Listen to Part 1 of this series ("The Missing Piece of Your Marketing Strategy is a Signature Talk") if you haven’t yet — they pair perfectly together.

And if you’re ready to work with us on creating or refining your signature talk, head to speakingyourbrand.com/contact/ to schedule a consultation and explore the best way for us to work together.

Links:

Show notes at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/457/

Discover your Speaker Archetype by taking our free quiz at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/quiz/

Enroll in our Thought Leader Academy: https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/academy/

Attend our 1-day Speaking Accelerator Workshop in Orlando: https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/orlando/

Connect on LinkedIn:

• Carol Cox = https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolcox
• Diane Diaz = https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianediaz/

Related Podcast Episodes:

• Episode 456: The Missing Piece of Your Marketing Strategy is a Signature Talk
• Episode 449: Small Shifts That Make a Huge Difference in Your Presentation Impact & Results
• Episode 362: Integrating Thought Leadership and Lead Generation in Your Signature Talk with Danielle Hayden

If your marketing feels like it’s working harder… but not necessarily working better, you’re not imagining it.

In this episode, I’m joined by our lead speaking coach, Diane Diaz, for part one of a two-part series all about why your signature talk isn’t just “nice to have” - it’s actually the foundation of an effective marketing strategy.

We’re seeing it everywhere: more content, more noise, more competition for attention. And yet, many women entrepreneurs and professionals are still treating their talks as an afterthought — something they dust off when a speaking opportunity pops up.

That’s a missed opportunity. Your signature talk is your marketing.

In our conversation, Diane and I break down why public speaking accelerates the know-like-trust factor faster than almost any other marketing channel — and how a well-designed signature talk can do the heavy lifting for you.

We talk about:

• Why speaking creates deeper trust than social media posts, emails, or even podcasts alone
• How a single lead-generation talk brought in multiple new clients the same day — without being salesy
• The difference between passive marketing (scrolling, consuming) and active engagement (participating, resonating, deciding)
• Why audiences are more likely to trust you when they see other people responding to your message (hello, mirror neurons)
• What a signature talk really is (hint: it’s not just one rigid presentation you give forever

As you listen, I want you to start thinking about:

• What problem do you really solve for your clients?
• What does your audience think is holding them back — and what do you see that they don’t yet?
• Where might you be sharing information… when what your audience needs is leadership, perspective, and clarity?

If that feels fuzzy (and for most people, it does), you’re not doing it wrong. This is exactly why an outside perspective — and a proven framework — makes such a difference.

In the next episode, we’re diving into how to design and deliver presentations that actually convert — without awkward pitches or forced CTAs.

If you’ve ever thought, “I’m speaking, but it’s not leading to clients,” part two is for you.

And if you’re ready to build a signature talk that becomes the backbone of your marketing, visibility, and thought leadership, you can learn more about working with us inside the Thought Leader Academy, through a VIP Day, or at one of our in-person Orlando speaking workshops.

Links:

Show notes at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/456/

Discover your Speaker Archetype by taking our free quiz at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/quiz/

Enroll in our Thought Leader Academy: https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/academy/

Attend our 1-day Speaking Accelerator Workshop in Orlando: https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/orlando/

Connect on LinkedIn:

• Carol Cox = https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolcox
• Diane Diaz = https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianediaz/

Related Podcast Episodes:

• Episode 453: Why Your Best Talk is the One You Give Again (and Again)
• Episode 396: Creating a Signature Talk that Attracts Paid Speaking Opportunities

What does it really take to create a keynote that inspires, connects, and builds your speaking career?

In this Back Stage with Speaking Your Brand, I’m joined by three incredible women who attended our recent Master Your Message & the Stage Workshop in Orlando: Kait Richardson, Alfarena (Alfie) McGinty, and Niki Ramirez.

You’ll hear:

• Why they decided to work on a keynote talk
• How they used our Signature Talk Canvas® framework to build a clear and compelling structure for their keynote
• The challenges they faced with getting out of the expert trap and into transformational messaging
• What they learned about shifting their approach from teaching tactics to instead identifying 3 key pillars, lessons, or stages to guide their audience
• What it was like to practice on stage with real-time coaching and support

If you’ve been dreaming of giving a powerful keynote that grows your brand and thought leadership, join us for this behind-the-scenes conversation.

Our next 1-day Speaking Workshop is on February 19, 2026, in Downtown Orlando, Florida! If you’re ready to accelerate your growth as a speaker, gain hands-on feedback, and have a lot of fun, this is your chance. Learn more and grab your spot at https://www.SpeakingYourBrand.com/orlando/.

Links:

Show notes at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/455/

Video from the live show: https://youtube.com/live/jT5z9EqUjgM

Discover your Speaker Archetype by taking our free quiz at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/quiz/

Attend our 1-day speaking workshop in Orlando: https://www.SpeakingYourBrand.com/orlando/

Enroll in our Thought Leader Academy: https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/academy/

Connect on LinkedIn:

• Carol Cox = https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolcox
• Kait Richardson = https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaitrichardson497/
• Alfarena McGinty = https://www.linkedin.com/in/alfarena-mcginty-324619180/
• Niki Ramirez = https://www.linkedin.com/in/niki-ramirez-mba-thrp-sphr-65b93710/

Related Podcast Episodes:

• Episode 435: From Blank Page to On Stage: What It's Like to Create and Practice a Talk in One Day
• Episode 439: From Engineer to Inspiring Speaker: Finding Your Authentic Speaking Style