When I was 28, I was hired for my first "big" job - to open and lead the DC office for a publically traded healthcare company. As a result, a DC publication (Congressional Quarterly) asked to profile me, which included a photo shoot. To prepare, I spent 100% of the time focused on what I would wear and my hair/makeup. When the day came for my interview and photoshoot, I arrived at the office and was told the interview would be first. I sat down with the writer, and he said, so you have this new and exciting job--tell me more about your role and what you will be doing. I was stumped! I had not prepared. I didn't have a personal brand statement to pull from or an elevator pitch about myself; I didn't speak to my strengths and values. Instead, I talked about how I needed first to get the printer set up for the office. It was a personal branding FAIL as a leader. And one of the reasons why I spend so much time now helping leaders develop their brands proactively. Brand or Be Branded!

After 15 of working in corporate strategic roles and informally coaching friends and family members on the side to develop their leadership skills, I realized I could merge my professional strengths (strategic thinking and planning) with my passion (developing leaders), and that's where my business--Piercing Strategies was born!