In this episode, host Brooke Skinner Ricketts reconnects with her longtime friend and trailblazing marketing and branding expert, Henrietta Pepper. Tune in for a dynamic and inspiring conversation as Henrietta shares her remarkable journey from her education and early career in advertising to leading her own brand communications firm for 14 years and eventually founding GCJ Consultants, where she serves as Chief Strategist.
Discover how Henrietta, a true pioneer in the industry, navigated the challenges of her career, embraced lifelong learning, and developed a revolutionary approach to personal branding that emphasizes authenticity and self-discovery. Brooke and Henrietta delve into essential themes such as giving oneself grace, overcoming imposter syndrome, and harnessing the power of continuous curiosity.
Henrietta also discusses the inspiration behind her two published books, including her latest, "Unbranded: Emerge a Brand New You." She shares invaluable insights into the significance of asking for help, fostering strong relationships, and maintaining a balance between professional and personal life. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain practical advice on building a resilient and genuine personal brand from a true industry trailblazer.
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Highlights
The key moments in this episode are:
[00:00] Introduction to Beyond Barriers
[00:30] The Journey of Personal Branding
[01:34] Meet Henrietta Pepper
[02:34] Henrietta's Career Path
[06:27] Starting Her Own Firm
[08:07] Writing and Teaching
[17:20] Personal Branding Insights
[21:29] Balancing Pressures in Business
[22:35] Overcoming Fears and Limiting Beliefs
[24:37] Taking Big Risks and Making Decisions
[27:59] Staying Grounded and Self-Care
[30:44] Building Relationships and Asking for Help
[36:16] Lightning Round: Personal Insights -
Lightning Round
Q: What book has greatly influenced you?
A: Blue Ocean Strategy and Matthew McConaughey's Greenlights.Q: What is your favorite inspiring quote or saying?
A: What gets measured gets done.Q: What is one word or moniker you would use to describe yourself?
A: Curious.Q: What is one change you've implemented that made your life better?
A: Concentrating on the things where I can make a difference and quit worrying about the stuff that I can't. I've learned to channel that into productive worrying. In other words, worry about something that you can do something about. You put the other stuff aside.Q: What power song would you want playing as you walk out onto a stage?
A: I am every woman, the orignal version! -
Quotes
Keep being curious and keep learning. It’s through this drive forward that we make things happen.
Henrietta Pepper
What gets measured gets done.
Henrietta Pepper
Keep being curious and keep learning. It’s through this drive forward that we make things happen.
Henrietta Pepper
I discovered a whole lot about myself that was kind of unearthed during the process of personal branding. So I think it starts with defining and understanding and being that true self
Henrietta Pepper
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About
Henrietta Pepper has built a successful career in marketing and advertising spanning more than three decades, including owning and operating a successful brand communications firm for 14 years. After selling that firm in 2018, she founded GCJ Consultants, LLC, and serves as Chief Strategist. Clients include organizations in the B2B, B2C, and Non-profit sectors.
In 2020, Henrietta realized her long-time goal of publishing a book inspired by her own life experiences. Out of the Gate: What Inspires Us Drives Us Forward is a compilation of real stories rooted in a blend of faith, family, and friends with the backdrop of Kentucky. Her second book, released Fall 2023, is called Unbranded: Emerge a Brand New You, which takes readers on an immersive journey of self-discovery and exploration to recalibrate their personal brand. An advocate of further education, Henrietta’s own educational background includes dual Bachelor's degrees from the University of Kentucky and a master's degree from the University of Kentucky/University of Louisville Executive MBA program. A lifelong learner, she has earned accreditation from several leadership training and management programs, including Harvard University. She currently teaches graduate and undergraduate courses at the University of Louisville College of Business.
Born in Nashville, Tennessee, and raised in western Kentucky, Henrietta and her husband of over 30 years reside in Louisville, Kentucky. She is the proud mother of three children, step-parent to four children, and grandmother to an expanding group of grandchildren.