Leading With Style

"Clothes, hats are tools to look good on the physical plane but also tools for work being done on the mental, spiritual and emotional plane as well," says Willee Roberts the creator of Hampui Hats, a different kind of millinery experience that brings new depth and meaning to the world of hats.  What that what we wear has the power to heal us, inspire us, it's a matter of imbuing the clothing with meaning and intention. For Leading with Style's season finale, this episode encapsulates the original vision of the series, to explore, refine how image and clothing has the ability to support us in being a true leader in our own lives and in service to a greater vision.  "Rise into your hat, set the bar high," says Willee with a grin, "Why not? It's the highest point of your body."  

  "Branding yourself is like looking in a fun house mirror. You don't ever really know how people see you," says brand consultant Kaye Putnam who uses Archetypes to help clients gain clarity in their message.  Kaye became fascinated with Archetypes over four years ago, and found them to be particularly effective in helping her clients define their visual brands. After years of experimentation, Kaye has found that there are 12 main Archetypes and that we only need know our top 2 in order to find clarity and direction in our message.  Tune into today's podcast to learn more on how Branding through Archetypes could make a huge difference in your life and business.

"You're never going to have a brand that encompasses the entirety of who you are," says co-founder of Prim'd Marketing Jenni Heffernan Brown, but she goes on to say, "But being multi-talented doesn't have to be a problem either." Jenni is a marketing and branding specialist based who also considers herself an artist. She knows first hand the challenge of having multiple passions can pose when it comes to branding ourselves. In today's podcast, listen in as Jenni offers fantastic advice to Joui (the queen of multiplicity) on how she and YOU, can manage all of your distinct projects successfully.  

Today's episode we get a lesson in what it means to have a radical personal brand from Verona Blue a classically trained actor with a mohawk. "If I'm good at what I do, what does it matter what I look like?" says Verona with her blue mohawk, multiple face piercings and tattoos covering all of her arms. "You'll never appeal to everyone. So why try?" Join Joui and Verona as they discuss the pros and cons of having a truly bold image as actor living in L.A. as well as advice about how to overcome your fears of adding edge to your style if you feel the yearning. 

"What does that say about our world when the clothing that used to set apart adults from children is now disfavored?" says Richard Thompson Ford in part II of our interview with the Stanford University Law Professor and author of the forthcoming book, "Dress Codes."  We continue the conversation by discussing how the majority of religious clothing requirements focus primarily on women. From there we explore the question of feminism and what a "liberated woman" looks like in a multi-cultural landscape. From there we jump straight into the cauldron of fashion frustration by addressing what it's like living in Silicone Bay and how the tech industry has influenced style including how to navigate the challenging world of anti-dress code, dress codes. 

How does race and inequality play into personal image? Turns out A LOT. Especially when it comes to dress codes at work. Listen in to Part I of Joui geeking out with Richard T. Ford about the politics of clothing and who gets the privilege to wear what they want, and more importantly who doesn't...plus we go down a lot of different socio-political rabbit holes including discussing how Trump wears his tie is a direct reflection of his leadership style. 

Imagine how powerful it would feel to stand in front of people and celebrate both your positive qualities AND your so-called flaws? In my inspiring interview with burlesque star Cat LaCohie aka Vixen DeVille, we pull back the curtain on confidence and the real leadership possibilities that come with self acceptance.  "I bring attention to the things I used to call flaws all the time, that's my celebration on stage," says LaCohie. "Yes I have an ass…look I'm going to shake it and own it!" Learn how to develop confidence internally by looking differently at the traits you have not allowed yourself to love. We dissect confidence and encourage you to look closer at your beliefs about body, beauty, and perfection to find positive in what was once negative. "Whatever you think your flaw is, there is someone in this room that wants it," LoCohie says.  

Is there a difference between finding yourself and branding yourself? According to actor and film maker Nick Maccarone your search for your "self" will inevitably lead to your most successful brand. "My brand was a by-product of me trusting that I was enough and having the courage to pursue what I wanted to do." In our inspiring interview Maccarrone opens up about his journey to find and love all of himself in an entertainment industry hell bent on saying that he literally was not enough. "I just got tired of my self worth being tied to my success." Learn how self trust and the courage to take risks in the face of judgment can help you find the solidity to support a brand that expresses the real you. 

What does it mean to have voice in the world? In my interview with executive voice coach Hillary Wicht we pull back the curtain on vocal communication and examine the incongruence between how you want to show up and how you sound. "Words only account for 7% of influential communication," says Wicht. "What really counts for the psychology behind influential communication is how it's being said and the embodiment of it." We discuss the different ways that men and women undermine their credibility and stay small simply based on easy-to-remedy speaking patterns.  Learn how can you use resonance, tonality, volume, diction, and inflection to sound starkly confident and knowledgeable at work and in your life.  "It's about giving you more crayons to color with, so to speak. We want to be able to choose strategically from our authentic self expression to create the impact we want." 

What does it take to be successful as an actor or creative?  Should your brand and image show range or more specificity? In my informative interview with Bonnie Gillespie, columnist, producer and the author of Self Management for Actors, we talk about the biggest mistake creatives make in marketing themselves. "We get focused on trying to fit in everywhere instead of finding who we are and looking for the role we are meant to play – so we miss the slam dunks," says Gillespie. She spent years demystifying the casting process and now coaches clients on the business side of creative careers. Listen as we talk specifics and give you insider information on styling head shots that get work, finding the range of types that align with your brand and deciding which opportunities to lean into. "It's not so much what you're wearing," says Gillespie. "It's more thinking inside of yourself. What is the thing that gets you into the characters you are meant to play?"

Join Erik and Joui as they dive deep into the intersection between identity, spirituality and image. "Style is a signal of your fitness for society, " Says Erik Newton the founder and host of the popular podcast and online magazine: Together.  Once a family law attorney, Newton used to wear only fancy suits. But when he suddenly lost his practice and found his well tailored life falling apart, everything dissolved--including his image. "When I was a lawyer I used style to prove my value," he says. Listen as we discuss his transition into a life and style that reflects his character and the distinction between "outside-in" and "inside-out" perception.   

What is the true cost of conformity? How does fashion influence political change? Learn how to know yourself through aesthetics in my fascinating interview with Cintra Wilson, performer, cultural critic and influential fashion author and contributor for the New York Times and Salon.com. "Be the costume change you want to see," says Wilson. In this powerful interview we discuss cultural norms, capitalism, political movements and personal introspection as seen through the lens of fashion and aesthetics. Understand what it means to avoid surrendering your agency to trends. Cultivate pride by making decisions about your presentation to the world. 

"Are you just going to sit back and let Google define you?" says Ryan Rhoten a digital brand expert and the recent author of CareerKred: 4 Simple Steps to Build Your Digital Brand and boost Credibility in your Career. In today's episode we take a slightly different approach to image and leadership through the lens of our digital footprint. Join Joui and Ryan as they discuss how curating your online brand has the power to propel you forward towards achieving your dreams, or can hold you back. Rhoten says, "You can either let Google define you, or you can let YOU define you."

What is beauty and how can you access its power? "Beauty is truth. Beauty is clarity. Beauty is always an option," says St.Claire. In my incredibly moving interview with life strategist Stephanie St.Claire we discuss the pursuit of beauty and how it can impact both your brand and your overall happiness. "A lot of entrepreneurs struggle with depression and losing yourself. And part of that is you just stop seeing yourself," says St.Claire. Learn the importance of creating and living your brand values and establishing a positive relationship with your business. We also discuss the power of using beauty as a catalyst for fulfillment. "I made a promise to myself that I would know myself as beautiful. Even if it's just for my eyes. Style and clothes can wake yourself up to yourself. It's both self love and self care."   

How can you stand out effortlessly in a crowd of standouts? How can you use your style to draw people in and generate rapport? I talk about how style intersects with leadership, perception, power and influence with Design Engineer Stock Stockhausen. "It's in the balance of form and function…" says Stockhausen when asked about why his stylistic presence is so magnetic. "Function on its own is boring, and form on its own is useless, but the intersection of the two is really true beauty."   Learn how Stockhausen uses his eye-catching fashion to build a personal brand in the world while maintaining comfort within himself.  Feel inspired to find traits you want to express in a bigger way to create a new stylistic character that boosts your confidence to approach anyone. "It makes people drawn into you, they will assume you are comfortable in yourself, even when you're not." says Stockhausen. 

How do you distinguish yourself in a cluttered world while maintaining substance and honesty? In my fascinating discussion with film studies professor and media producer Ken Burke we examine the interplay between uniqueness and authenticity. "If you are trying to make an impact, what you need is something that really speaks to deep inner emotions," says Burke. We talk about using any craft, from film to style, to make an impression while staying connected to sincerity. What does it take to find authenticity? Which qualities of your persona do you change to make an impression and which do you maintain?   "It's increasingly hard to sell individual vision," Burke explains "when the culture is willing to be overwhelmed by pure spectacle of technological abundance." 

How does fashion trend through the ages? How did men's sexuality and masculinity get tied with style choices? Why are men told to blend in while and women are told to stand out? Listen as I discuss these and other fascinating questions with prominent fashion historian Chloe Chapin. "My fashion is an advertisement for my personality", Chapin says. We get historical with untold stories of fashion influences across centuries and learn how societal pressures created the common ideals that stills shape our clothing today. We also discuss how to buck the trends and create a style that is uniquely you. "Fashion allows you to perform the YOU that you want to be".   

How can you use style as your voice in leadership? Listen as I talk with wine business specialist Len White about using style to expand your influence. "When you have a style, you can feel empowered...your voice increases in volume," says White. Think differently about style after listening to us discuss the various ways that clothing can project everything from emotion to philosophy. Learn how to find and discover your own style through personal introspection. "Your style is what you maintain as you grow and evolve," says White, who went from "different" to "taste maker" in his own life when he learned to use his style to lead and project. 

Ever feel tired of fitting your style into career norms? In this interview I talk with Marrianne Graham, founder of TMI Colonics, about how she brought unique to a normally clinical career. Marianne literally made poop sound sheik when she started a very successful colonic business that she calls her "studio" in San Francisco while still maintaining individuality. Learn the mechanics of creating your style and then designing a career around YOU. We discuss where to start, how to listen to your instincts, and how bucking the trends in your industry can attract the clients you most enjoy.   

How do you find your unique style when the creative world is telling you who to be? Listen as I talk with creative producer Cameron Mark Lewis about personal image evolution and creating a real sense of confidence and self through style. "The moment we put on clothing we can start making ourselves feel bad...it's all about finding something that makes us feel good about ourselves," says Lewis. As an actor and the founder of San Francisco actor support group Coffee & Catchup, Lewis has learned to use image to impact the way he feels while also growing his career. We dive into the intricacies of style for career creatives and discuss the difference between finding your uniqueness and pigeonholing yourself. We also tackle social media and popularity and creating a real sense of self inside a world of false social media facades.