How to Use Storytelling to Build a Powerful Personal Brand

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Episode Summary

Being the most qualified isn’t always enough. The biggest opportunities don’t just go to the best—they go to the bold. Those who know how to show up authentically and tell their story in a way that makes people stop, listen, and remember them are the ones who stand out.

In today’s episode, we break down the power of storytelling in personal branding and why it’s the most valuable tool for building credibility, visibility, and authority. You’ll also learn three essential stories every leader needs and how to start using them today.

If you’ve ever felt overlooked or hesitant to share your story, this episode will help you step into a Powerful Presence that gets you noticed and respected.

Timestamps & Key Topics

00:00 – Welcome to Living the Whole Picture – helping ambitious women build confidence, elevate their visibility, and own their voice.

00:40 – Why storytelling is the most powerful branding tool
✔ Being the most qualified isn’t enough—your story makes people listen.
✔ The biggest opportunities go to those who show up and position themselves as leaders.

01:59 – How storytelling builds credibility and trust
✔ Facts tell, but stories sell—people remember emotion, not just expertise.
✔ Great leaders use storytelling to stand out and connect.

02:55 – The Three Stories Every Leader Needs
1️⃣ The “I’ve Been There” Story – Creates relatability
✔ What struggles have you faced that your audience also experiences?
✔ Example: Jama shares how she hid behind her camera before stepping into her own power.

2️⃣ The Transformation Story – Builds credibility
✔ How did you go from struggling to thriving?
✔ Example: Jama shares how she stopped waiting for opportunities and started owning her space.

3️⃣ The Authority Story – Positions you as an expert
✔ What makes you the go-to person in your field?
✔ Example: Jama helps high-achieving women step into confidence and leadership.

04:30 – How to use storytelling to build visibility
✔ Use storytelling in introductions, social media, videos, and emails.
✔ Action Step: Write out your "I've Been There" story and share it this week.

05:17 – The impact of powerful storytelling
✔ When you tell your story well, people start paying attention.
✔ If storytelling feels overwhelming, you don’t have to figure it out alone.

05:57 – Jama’s upcoming roadmap to visibility and authority
✔ A complete roadmap is coming to help you go from hesitant to confident and in demand.
✔ Be the first to know—subscribe at jamapantel.com.

Key Takeaways:

✅ Being the most qualified doesn’t guarantee success—your story is what makes people remember you.
✅ Great leaders use storytelling to position themselves as experts.
✅ The 3 essential stories—Relatability, Transformation, and Authority—help build trust and credibility.
✅ Action Step: Start by sharing your “I’ve Been There” story this week.

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Episode Transcript

Jama Pantel (00:00):
Hey y'all, welcome back to Living the Whole Picture
, the podcast for ambitiouswomen ready to elevate their
visibility, build authenticconfidence and become the face
of their brand.
I'm your host, Jama Pantel, aluxury portrait photographer,
author, educator, influencer anddream chaser, here to help you
master your brand presence andshow up authentically, with

(00:20):
confidence.
Each week, we'll dive intotopics to help you shine in
business and in life, so you canstop hesitating and start
showing up like the leader youwere meant to be.
If you've ever struggled withconfidence on camera or
hesitated to put yourself outthere, this podcast is for you.
Let's get started on living thewhole picture together.
Today we're talking about one ofthe most powerful and

(00:43):
overlooked tools you can use tocommand attention, build
authority and position yourselfas a leader.
Your story.
Let's be real being the mostqualified isn't always enough
anymore.
The biggest opportunities don'tjust go to the best.
They go to the bold.
They go to the people who knowhow to show up authentically and

(01:04):
tell their story in a way thatmakes people stop, listen and
remember them.
If you've ever watched someonewith less experience rise faster
, not because they're better,but because they know how to
make themselves seen and heard,this episode is for you.
I'm going to walk you throughhow to use storytelling as your
secret weapon, so you're nolonger sitting on the sidelines

(01:28):
while others take the stage.
By the end of this episode,you'll have actionable steps to
craft your own story and use itto build credibility, visibility
and authority.
And before we dive in, I wantto let you in on something big
I've been working on.
It's a complete roadmapdesigned to help you go from
feeling invisible to owning apowerful presence that gets you

(01:50):
noticed and respected.
If you know you need to step up, but struggle with confidence
or clarity, keep listening.
I'll share more details at theend.
All right, let's get started.
First, I want to talk about whystorytelling is the key to
authority.
Think about the most powerfulleaders, speakers and
entrepreneurs.
You know what makes themmemorable.

(02:12):
It's not just their expertise.
It's their ability to tell acompelling story.
When you tell your story well,people will pay attention to
what you say, trust you fasterand remember you when
opportunities arise.
Your story is the most valuablepositioning tool you have,
especially if you've ever feltunseen or overlooked.

(02:33):
And here's why Facts tell, butstories sell.
You can have all thequalifications in the world, but
if you don't communicate themin a way that connects
emotionally, people will forgetyou.
Now I want to share the threestories every leader needs.
To build your personal brandand authority, you need three

(02:54):
key stories.
Number one your I've been therestory that shows relatability.
People need to see that youunderstand their struggles
firsthand.
What challenges have you facedthat your audience has also
experienced?
How did you navigate them?
What did you learn?
For example, me, I spent yearsbehind the camera helping others

(03:18):
step into their power until Irealized that I needed to do the
same for myself.
The moment I started showing upconfidently, everything changed
.
Number two your transformationstory.
This shows credibility.
This is where you show how yougot from struggling to thriving
and why you're the mentor theyneed.
What moment shifted everythingfor you?

(03:39):
How did you build yourconfidence and presence?
What's possible for others whofollow your lead?
Build your confidence andpresence.
What's possible for others whofollow your lead, for example,
me.
When I stopped waiting to bechosen and started owning my
space, opportunities came to me.
I didn't change who I was.
I finally just owned who I was.
Number three your authoritystory or your positioning.

(03:59):
This story sets you apart as anexpert.
What unique perspective do youbring?
Why should people listen to you?
How have you helped othersachieve similar results?
For example, I'm no longer justa photographer.
I now help high achieving womenstop shrinking themselves and
start showing up with confidence, whether that's on camera,

(04:23):
online or in moments they needto own the room, because
confidence isn't somethingyou're born with.
It's something you build.
Now I to talk about how to usestorytelling to build visibility
.
Once you've crafted yourstories, here's how to use them
In your introductions, whetheronline or social media, or in

(04:43):
person.
Lead with your story instead ofjust listing out your
credentials On video stories.
Create connection If youstruggle with showing up, start
with storytelling-based contentand also in your written content
.
Frame your social media postsand emails around storytelling
to build a deeper audiencerelationship.

(05:03):
So your action steps for thisthis week write out your I've
been there story and share it ina post or a video.
Watch how people responddifferently when they see
themselves in your journey.
Now I want to bring this alltogether.
When you learn to tell yourstory powerfully, you stop
hoping people will notice youand you start making them pay

(05:26):
attention.
You become a powerful presence,the person who owns the room,
the stage or the conversation,but if telling your story feels
overwhelming, you don't have tofigure it out alone.
That's why I'm building a fullroadmap to help you go from
hesitant and overlooked toconfident in demand.
I'll be sharing more about thissoon, but if you want to be the

(05:48):
first to know when it launches,be sure to subscribe on my
website, jamapantel.
com, and I'll send you exclusivedetails before anyone else.
Thank you so much for tuning into Living the Whole Picture.
If this episode resonated withyou, I'd love for you to
subscribe.
Leave me a review and share itwith another high-achieving
woman who needs to hear thismessage.
Or, better yet, share it andtag me on social media.

(06:11):
Visit my website, jamapantel.
com, for more resources, updatesand ways we can work together.
Be sure to subscribe whileyou're on the website so you
never miss anything.
You've worked hard to get whereyou are.
Now it's time to show upconfidently and own your
presence.
Until next time, keep showingup and living the whole picture.