Branding Room Only with Paula T. Edgar

One hundred episodes. That’s a lot of strategy, stories, laughter, pet peeves—and a whole lot of love.

When I started Branding Room Only, I wanted a platform to share personal branding strategies and amplify voices. What I didn’t expect was how much this show would give back: opening doors, deepening relationships, and connecting me with people far beyond my usual circles.

In this milestone episode, I reflect on how this podcast grew...

Real leadership isn’t about doing more. It’s about doing what matters with consistency and care. Staying grounded in your purpose, your values, and your humanity is what separates longevity from burnout. The best leaders aren’t performing strength. They are practicing steadiness, empathy, and self-awareness.

That’s what drives Daisy Auger-Domínguez. As President of Auger-Domínguez Ventures and author of Inclusion Revolution and Burn...

If you’ve ever worried that ADHD—or any difference—might hurt your credibility, this episode is for you. I’ve learned that the traits that make me different are the very ones that make my brand magnetic.

Yes, there are days when it feels like I have 15 tabs open in my brain and someone keeps hitting refresh. But over time, I’ve realized that while ADHD can sometimes show up as scattered, distracted, or inconsistent, it also comes wi...

Every time you minimize your accomplishments, you’re not just being humble—you’re making your personal brand smaller. And when you do that, you leave opportunities on the table.

In this episode of Branding Room Only, I break down why showcasing your wins isn’t bragging—it’s leadership. I share stories of clients who downplayed major achievements and what shifted when they finally spoke up. I also share practical strategies to help y...

Too often, the role of a panel moderator is perceived as logistics—keeping time and reading questions from a list. But the best moderators know it’s much more than that. Great moderating is strategy. It’s a chance to showcase presence, leadership, and personal brand. Done well, moderation shapes the audience’s experience, amplifies the panelists, and demonstrates your leadership in real time.

With conference season underway, it’s th...

When people talk about you in the rooms you’re not in, are they saying what you want them to say? You can be excellent, meet every deadline, and deliver results—but if others don’t know how to describe you, or your name isn’t the one raised when opportunities come up, you’re leaving opportunities on the table.

That’s exactly why I’m doing something different with this episode. I want to take you behind the curtain and show you what ...

September 11, 2001, is a date that lives in infamy. But the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center that day were an intensely personal experience for my family. For my father, Peter Griffith, the loss of his wife and my mother, Joan Donna Griffith, in that tragedy had an immediate and long-lasting effect that has reshaped our lives.

In the second half of our conversation on the Branding Room Only podcast, you’ll hear our candid...

We’re molded by those who support us along the way. These people come in the form of mentors, teachers, friends, and family. And for many of us, no figures are more essential than our parents.

My father, Peter Griffith, was born in Barbados and immigrated to Brooklyn, NY at 14 years old. For 20 years, he was married to Joan Donna Griffith (a.k.a. Mommy) and raised two kids. Then, the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center on Se...

Conferences offer incredible opportunities to network, learn, and strengthen your personal brand—but only if you’re prepared to make the most of them. With the right approach, you can expand your mindset, build valuable connections, and uncover new insights. To help you get there, I’ve put together a step-by-step guide using one of my favorite tools: an acronym!

In this episode of the Branding Room Only podcast, you’ll discover how ...

Rest isn't a bonus. It's a necessity for clarity, creativity, and longevity. In a world that praises busyness and normalizes burnout, stepping back is often the most powerful way to propel yourself forward. And it doesn’t mean you have to disappear completely, either. During my recent break, I intentionally balanced meaningful, soul-filling engagements with genuine rest and joy.

So in this episode of Branding Room Only, I ...

Too many professionals—especially in the legal field—spend so much time focused on delivering excellent work that they forget to build a personal brand that reflects it. That oversight becomes clearer with each career transition, leadership aspiration, or missed opportunity to stand out.

That’s why I had to bring this episode back.

Sonya Olds Som is an experienced executive recruiter, former practicing attorney, and someone who has w...

Even the most brilliant professionals I know still ask me this question. Whether you're brand new to personal branding, rebuilding after a transition, or just realizing your reputation deserves more attention, this episode is your starting point.

You already have a personal brand. The question is, are you actively shaping it or is it being shaped for you by default? As my mother used to say, "You can be the wind or you can...

Presenting a strong personal brand as a leader is paramount, but it's about more than just perception. It's about how you operate and the value you bring. Lonita K. Baker understands this connection intimately. Her impactful career has spanned multiple sectors and roles, from public defender to prosecutor to representing Breonna Taylor's family, and now serving as Professor of Practice at the University of Louisville...

Your network often sees your magic before you do. J. Kelly Hoey, author of Build Your Dream Network, proved this when her colleagues had to convince her that networking was actually her superpower. As my very first podcast guest, Kelly set the tone for what Branding Room Only is all about: clarity, candor, and community-centered insight.

Kelly's brand is grounded in helping others succeed through meaningful connections. Her app...

Taking a sabbatical isn't about disappearing from your business or your personal brand—it's about giving yourself the chance to make both better than ever. I've been taking what I call a summer sabbatical for the past five years, and it's become one of the most important things I do all year to strengthen my brand.

I know not everyone can take two months off, which is why I also believe in what I call the "s...

You know how some birthdays feel bigger than others?

My son just turned 13, and it hit me hard—in the best way.

In this deeply personal episode of Branding Room Only, I reflect on seven powerful lessons my son has taught me. These lessons have shaped not only how I parent, but how I lead, communicate, and show up in the world. From courage and joy to boundaries and the boldness to ask for what you want, his influence, even at this yo...

Independence Day is on the horizon, and what better way to celebrate the spirit of freedom and new beginnings than revisiting a conversation with a true pioneer! 

Michele Coleman Mays redefined leadership and advocacy during her distinguished career. She has served as the Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary for The New York Public Library and had key roles at Allstate Insurance Company and Pitney Bowes Inc. During our con...

Nina Blackshear has turned career pivots into an art form. As the owner and principal of Nina Blackshear Coaching and Consulting, she's a certified executive coach and in-house corporate attorney. Her unconventional path, from law school to real estate, to fundraising, to employee relations, to marketing communications, and back to law, has become her greatest professional asset. Her specialty is helping others overcome impost...

We don’t know the faces or names of many enslaved Black people in American history. Some left a small mark of their existence in the very bricks of the buildings their hands built, yet they remain voiceless because their story has been hidden away.

Historians like Annette Gordon-Reed know that through sharing the stories of enslaved people, we remember their humanity and preserve historical truth in the process. She’s a Harvard Univ...