IHi there —

I’m writing this with a half-zipped suitcase, sunscreen already MIA, and Sampson trying to convince me he belongs in my carry-on because this newsletter is one of the last to-dos standing between me and vacation.

Sampson trying to convince me he can come on vacation, too.

(Along with three virtual programs and two leadership coaching sessions between now and tomorrow night… but who's counting...)

There won’t be a newsletter next week because I'll be soaking up some sunshine in Key West and practicing something I’m not always great at...being present & fulling unplugging from work.

But first, I want to talk about rebranding.

Not the logo kind. The you kind. The kind you have to do when people at work still see a version of you that no longer fits.

Why you might need a rebrand

Sometimes, the hardest thing isn’t the actual growth you’ve done, it’s getting OTHER people to see it.

Maybe you made a bad call that stuck with you longer than it should’ve...
Maybe someone formed an opinion of you early on… and now they’re in a position of influence...
Maybe you’ve changed, but your reputation didn’t get the memo...

That gap between who you are and how you’re seen is where burnout, frustration, and stalled promotions love to live.

So, how do you reintroduce yourself, without losing who you actually are?

After navigating a few of my own rebrands (and helping a lot of leaders through theirs), here’s the process I’ve found actually works ⤵️

3 steps to shift perception

1. The Mirror Start with self-awareness. You can’t shift how people see you until you understand how they see you now. This is your listening tour. Ask people you trust how they’d describe you to someone new. Look for patterns in how you're introduced, what projects you're included in, and what you’re known for, whether you like it or not. This stage is about curiosity, not criticism.

Ask yourself:

How do people describe my strengths?
What kind of work do they associate me with?
Are there perceptions I’ve outgrown that are still following me?

2. The Shift Once you’ve got clarity on your current perception, it’s time to define what you want to shift. This is your From-This-To-That moment. Instead of vague goals like “be more confident,” get specific about what you want to be known for. Align it to the impact you want to have and make sure it’s rooted in what’s already true about you.

Define:

What do I want people to say about me when I’m not in the room?
What strengths or qualities do I want to be recognized for now?
What’s no longer serving me in how I’m perceived?

3. The Proof A rebrand only sticks when your actions match your message. This is where you start backing it up consistently and intentionally. The meetings you contribute to, the work you take on (or step away from), the stories you tell, and the way you show up in everyday interactions, these are all cues that reinforce the version of you you’re trying to bring forward.

Put it into action:

Speak to the kind of work you want to lead
Show up in rooms where your new strengths can shine
Practice small moments of visibility that reinforce the shift

When your actions match the version of you you’re ready to be known for, rebranding stops feeling like a performance and starts feeling like alignment.

leadership lessons from two of the best rebrands in pop culture history

Lindsay Lohan and Demi Lovato didn’t just make comebacks, they rebuilt how the world saw them. And whether or not you’ve ever been followed by paparazzi, you probably know what it feels like to be misjudged, underestimated, or stuck in someone else's version of you.

Let’s start with Lindsay.

She was the teen star of the early 2000s. The Parent Trap, Freaky Friday, Mean Girls.

But the second half of her story got overshadowed fast. DUI arrests. Rehab. Paparazzi-fueled chaos. She DEFINITELY became the punchline instead of the headline, and not because she stopped being talented, but because the narrative shifted and no one let her grow out of it (including herself).

So she did something rare when she decided to walk away. She moved to Dubai. Stopped feeding the press. Took herself out of the story so she could rewrite it.

And when she came back?

It wasn’t some big apology tour. She just worked. Netflix deals. A viral holiday film. A clean, consistent track record.

The industry that once called her “uninsurable” started calling her again. And that's EXACTLY what a rebrand looks like when you stop asking for approval and start living like the version of yourself you want people to see.

Now let’s talk about Demi.

Demi’s rebrand didn’t happen behind the scenes. It happened under a spotlight. She’s been famous since childhood, and for years, the narrative was a polished pop star with powerhouse vocals.

But behind the scenes, she was struggling. With addiction. With mental health. With the pressure to be palatable. Then came the overdose in 2018, and everything changed.

She could’ve faded away, but instead she stepped up and told the story herself. Documentaries. Albums. Interviews where she didn’t hold back.

The version of Demi we see now isn’t just an artist, it’s a leader. Someone who owns her experience and lets it fuel something bigger.

Rebranding isn’t about putting on a show, it’s about helping people catch up to the version of you that actually exists now.