Heidi Friedman has built a powerful career over the past 30 years as a partner at Thompson Hine, where she leads in environmental law and co-chairs the firm’s ESG practice. But behind the legal accolades and leadership success was a different kind of ambition—finding real, lasting love.
In this episode of Branding Room Only, Paula sits down with Heidi to talk about her most personal project yet: her debut book, Love Lessons: 104 Dates and the Stories That Led Me to True Love. What started as a self-exploration turned into a decade-long journey filled with dating apps, therapist couches, personal growth, and one eventual "yes" that made it all worth it.
Together, Paula and Heidi explore how building a personal brand applies to both professional success and finding a life partner. They get real about dating after divorce, setting boundaries, therapy, vulnerability, and how authenticity and timing matter just as much in love as they do in leadership. Plus—yes—they dive into dating profile branding tips (because, of course!).
1:12 – Heidi defines personal branding, describes herself, offers two favorite quotes, and reveals the song that energizes her
5:31 – Heidi’s upbringing, educational background, and career at Thompson Hine
9:00 – How Heidi built the ESG practice at Thompson Hine and established a consistent brand around an ever-changing topic
12:35 – How Love Lessons came about and why Heidi wanted to share her personal story so openly
16:07 – The significance of therapy in Heidi’s journey to finding love again
18:58 – Key lessons Heidi learned about love (and relationships overall) from her research
26:55 – What Heidi learned about herself in the process of going on 104 dates over 9+ years
29:30 – The importance of authenticity in dating profiles (and the weird date that Heidi remembers most vividly)
32:55 – Paula’s best practices and rules for dating and online profiles
37:59 – How Heidi knew that her husband Will was “the one” and how fortuitous opportunities can come even amid bad circumstances
46:39 – Advice for single/divorced people in or approaching midlife who are looking for love
52:19 – What Heidi likes to do for fun, won’t compromise on, and provides for others as part of her magic
Mentioned In The Art of Finding Love: A Lawyer's Path to Lasting Love with Heidi Friedman
Love Lessons: 104 Dates and the Stories that Led Me to True Love by Heidi B. Friedman: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Learn More About Paula's Personal Branding Strategy Session
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.
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.
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