Ever feel like the more professional you become, the less you feel like yourself?
If you’ve been watering yourself down to fit into professional boxes, hiding your personality to seem more “acceptable,” or wondering how to stand out without breaking unwritten workplace rules… this episode will give you permission to break professional norms to build your personal brand.
In this episode of Being Relatable, host Erica Castner chats with Janda Concepcion, a photographer and AI consultant who’s mastered the art of blending luxury with authenticity, and explains why being colorful beats being neutral every time.
MEET OUR GUEST:
- Janda Concepcion – Photographer & AI Consultant, Visual Branding House (helping business owners integrate AI into their visual strategy while maintaining authentic brand presence)
WHAT YOU’LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE:
- Why the tension you feel in networking might be coming from your own doubts
- How to position complexity as comprehensive expertise rather than confusion
- When to give professional advice even if it contradicts what clients want
- The power of refusing to sand down your edges for acceptability
KEY TIMESTAMPS:
- 4:08 – Janda shares how she realized she was projecting her own insecurity onto networking situations
- 8:47 – The moment she understood that “being professional” was code for erasing parts of herself
- 12:38 – Standing up to a client’s brand direction and why that changed everything
- 17:23 – Why she refuses to hide being multi-talented and how it improved her positioning
- 19:42 – The worst advice she followed: “be neutral” and why colorful beats beige
- 23:13 – Her advice for women who’ve lost themselves trying to fit professional molds
- 27:03 – HYPE SESSION: Celebrating the woman in the mirror who keeps showing up
QUOTABLE MOMENTS:
- “I’m not here to sell bullshit to people just to look good for one week. I’m here to protect outcomes, and I’m here for results.”
- “When you’re neutral, you attract neutral clients. They negotiate, they hesitate, they don’t fully trust bold direction.”
- “Authenticity isn’t reckless, it’s anchored, and becoming yourself again, that’s not a one-time glow-up. It’s a lifelong practice.”
ACTION STEPS TO TAKE AFTER LISTENING:
- Identify one way you’ve been “staying in your lane” when you could offer more comprehensive value
- Choose one area where you’ll be more colorful instead of neutral in your professional presence
WOMAN WE’RE HYPING UP:
Every Woman Looking in the Mirror – The one questioning herself, wondering if she’s behind or too much, but still showing up and doing the uncomfortable work of staying authentic
CONNECT WITH JANDA:
RATE + REVIEW
If this episode gave you permission to stop hiding your personality in professional settings, leave a review wherever you listen to Being Relatable. Your review helps other women find the courage to show up authentically.
STAY CONNECTED
Follow host Erica Castner on LinkedIn for behind-the-scenes content and more conversations about building authentic relationships in work, life, and leadership.
Ready to break professional norms and build an authentic personal brand? Remember: when you’re neutral, you attract neutral clients. Be colorful, be authentic, be unforgettable. Get Erica’s Weekly “Pep Talks” directly to your inbox HERE!
