Speaking Writing Research About Contact

#153: From Invisible to Influential: Building Your Leadership Brand (feat. Rachel Elsts Downey)

In this episode, Rachel Downey shares how leaders can move from being invisible to truly influential by owning and expressing their leadership brand. Drawing from her work across creative industries and executive teams, Rachel explains why brand is more than visuals, it’s about voice, values, and showing up with clarity.

She breaks down the internal blocks that keep leaders from sharing their story, how content can scale trust, and why authenticity starts with knowing what you believe. Whether you’re leading a team or a movement, this conversation offers a practical look at building influence from the inside out.

Key Takeaways:

  1. Your brand is how you show up whether you realize it or not.

  2. Clarity on values and voice is the foundation of influence.

  3. Leadership content isn’t about visibility, it’s about impact.

  4. Vulnerability and consistency build real trust with your audience.

  5. You can’t be influential if you’re afraid of being seen.

From Our Sponsor:

The Predictive Index (PI) is an award-winning talent optimization platform that aligns business strategy with people strategy for optimal business results. More than 60 years of proven science, software, and a curriculum of insightful management workshops make PI the solution for any company looking to design great teams and culture, make objective hiring decisions, foster engagement, and inspire greatness in their people anywhere in the world. More than 10,000 clients and 480+ partners use PI—including Nissan, Citizens Bank, Subway, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Omni Hotels—across 90+ countries. Learn more at predictiveindex.com.

Additional Resources:

Rachel Elsts Downey, Founder & CEO, Share Your Genius: linkedin.com/in/rachelelstsdowney

Follow Matt on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattpoepsel/ 

Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/peopleforward-network/posts/?feedView=all

Learn more about PeopleForward Network: http://www.peopleforwardnetwork.com/