S 01 | Ep 36 Authenticity Unleashed: Building Trust and Connection in Personal Branding | Show notes

Victoria Pelletier is a C-Suite Transformational Leader, speaker, and author. By the time Victoria was 24 years old, she was a COO of a multinational corporation. Now with 20+ years in corporate leadership, Victoria has held senior roles in companies such as Accenture, IBM, and American Express. Victoria was named one of the 50 most influential business leaders in technology by Insight Success. She is the author of the book “Influence Unleashed” which is about harnessing the power of your unique story to create a brand that stands the test of time.

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How to turn obstacles into opportunities

I think if we're not leaning into things that make us uncomfortable, growth and development are not going to come. That's how I've chosen to apply it in the corporate world that I lived in for the last 30 years to fuel my success and my team's success. I try to get them to lean much more into themselves. (Victoria Pelletier)

(00:00-06:49)
Victoria talks about her upbringing and the pivotal moment when her adoptive mother urged her to strive for more. Drawing from her own experiences, Victoria shares insights on how to turn obstacles into opportunities, emphasizing the importance of leaning into discomfort for personal and professional growth.

Forget the fancy pedigrees – Victoria believes that anyone can be unstoppable by learning from life's challenges and using them as fuel to propel forward. She encourages listeners to embrace their emotions, practice self-reflection, and give themselves permission to fail along the way.

Finding Balance in a Whole Human World

I go back to self-awareness and reflection, coupled with the integration and recognizing that it's okay that we are whole humans. We should be comfortable and safe showing authentically our whole selves, the lived experience we bring to the workplace and vice versa. (Victoria Pelletier)

(06:49-14:38)
Alex reflects on the parallel between reactions at home and in the workplace, highlighting that it can be important to pause and understand others' perspectives. Victoria echoes this sentiment, emphasizing the need to recognize ourselves as whole humans who bring our lived experiences to every aspect of our lives.

Victoria challenges the notion of achieving perfect balance at all times, suggesting instead that we can have it all, just not simultaneously. She shares personal stories of navigating career demands while being a dedicated parent, acknowledging the inevitable trade-offs and giving oneself permission to prioritize based on the situation.

The discussion culminates in a powerful message of empowerment, as Victoria encourages listeners to embrace conviction over excuses and make intentional choices in pursuit of their goals. With a blend of self-awareness, reflection, and a willingness to accept trade-offs, people can navigate life's challenges with resilience and grace.

The intersection of ambition and fulfillment

It's way more complicated, and you need to plan strategically intentionally around how you're going to build that brand and how you're going to show up. (Victoria Pelletier)

(14:38-22:17)
Alex references Bruce Lee's iconic quote and Victoria's journey of absorbing what's useful, rejecting what's useless and adding her unique essence to the mix. Victoria shares her insights on the evolution of her personal brand over two decades, emphasizing the importance of authenticity and continuous refinement.

Victoria unpacks the components of personal branding, from defining what you do to connecting to your legacy and impact. She challenges the stigma associated with personal branding, highlighting its deeper purpose in aligning one's professional endeavors with their intrinsic values and life purpose.

Drawing from her own experiences, Victoria encourages listeners to transcend the surface-level achievements captured on a resume and delve into the profound essence of eulogy values – what people will remember and celebrate about you long after you're gone. She navigates the delicate balance between professional ambition and personal fulfillment, urging achievers to pause, reflect and align their actions with their deepest aspirations.

Alex and Victoria explore the intersection of ambition and fulfillment, acknowledging the discomfort that arises when achievers confront the underlying meaning behind their pursuits. They challenge listeners to embrace vulnerability, authenticity and intentional reflection as essential elements of crafting a meaningful and purpose-driven life.

The Heart of Effective Leadership

I think that effective personal branding requires courage, vulnerability and authenticity. And that scares the hell out of many people. (Victoria Pelletier)

(22:17-29:17)
Victoria encourages listeners to embrace their unique stories, whether it's a journey from rags to riches or the culmination of diverse lived experiences. She underscores the importance of self-reflection in recognizing what makes each person unique and encourages embracing these aspects fully.

As the dialogue progresses, Victoria offers three practical tips for infusing authenticity into interactions and relationships. Firstly, she advocates for intentional engagement by creating space for genuine connection, even in professional settings. Secondly, Victoria highlights the value of finding common ground and leveraging personal experiences, such as parenthood or shared identities, to build rapport.

Finally, Victoria delves into the power of vulnerability as a catalyst for trust-building. By sharing more vulnerable aspects of oneself and operating with radical candor, people can foster deeper connections and meaningful relationships.

The need for intentionality and strategic storytelling

Start to figure out those stories that are really innate into who you are as a human now and how you would want to be known. (Victoria Pelletier)

(29:17-37:51)
The discussion begins with Alex raising concerns about the risks associated with disclosing personal aspects such as one's sexuality or cultural background. Victoria acknowledges these concerns, emphasizing the importance of considering one's desired identity and taking gradual steps toward authenticity.

Victoria shares her own journey of gradually incorporating personal aspects into her professional identity, highlighting the need for intentionality and strategic storytelling. She suggests starting with small disclosures and gradually building confidence in sharing more vulnerable aspects of oneself.

The conversation also explores the evolution of personal identity over time and the challenges of maintaining consistency in a rapidly changing world. Victoria encourages listeners to embrace personal growth and acknowledge past mistakes, emphasizing the value of authenticity and self-reflection.

Visit Victoria Pelletier's website HERE.

Find her “Influence Unleashed” book HERE.

Check the the episode's Transcript (AI-generated) HERE.

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