Hala Taha

Young and Profiting Podcast 🚀 CEO & Founder 💁🏻‍♀️ YAP Media Network - #1 Business Podcast Network 🚀 The Podcast Princess 👸🏻 YAP Media - #1 Linkedin Marketing Agency 💁🏻‍♀️ LISTEN. LEARN. PROFIT 🤓💕🔥🚀

Hala Taha, known as “The Podcast Princess,” is the host of Young and Profiting (YAP) Podcast, a #1 Entrepreneurship podcast with over 30 million downloads. A Top 100 podcast globally, YAP features star-studded guests like Matthew McConaughey, Gary Vee, Alex Hormozi, Deepak Chopra, Daymond John, Mel Robbins, and countless others. The show was recognized as a 2022 Webby Honoree, and Hala graced the cover of Podcast Magazine in January 2021.

Hala is also the Founder and CEO of YAP Media, an award-winning, premier white-glove social media and podcast production agency for CEOs, celebrities, and top podcasters. With nearly 60 employees and a dozen high-profile clients, YAP Media was named the #1 LinkedIn Marketing Agency and voted Best Podcast Agency of 2022.

In 2022, Hala launched the YAP Media Network, a podcast network that helps top podcasts land sponsorship deals with major brands like LinkedIn, Airbnb, and Shopify. YAP Media is pacing to hit 8-figures in 2025, and represents some of the most popular business podcasters in the world including Jenna Kutcher, Russell Brunson, Neil Patel, and John Lee Dumas. 

Hala is well-known for her engaged following and influence on Linkedin, leading to the creation of YAP Academy. Her first two-day LinkedIn Secret Masterclass has had 9 cohorts with hundreds of new influencers following Hala’s expertise to achieve successful LinkedIn growth and monetization. The next YAP Academy Masterclass is currently in the works with a focus on podcast creation, growth and monetization.

Hala is a 2025 Real Leaders Top 50 Keynote Speaker, sharing her expertise in podcasting, LinkedIn, social media, personal branding, sales and entrepreneurship through in-person keynotes and panels such as Funnel Hacking Live 10 and IAB Upfronts.

Hala has had a knack for inventing successful products and motivating teams since a young age. She began her career in radio production while in college, working at HOT97 on The Angie Martinez Show. In her senior year of college she founded The Sorority of Hip Hop, building a community of 50 female bloggers who hosted a popular blog, events, concerts, and radio shows. When the blog boom slowed down, she got her MBA, graduating #1 in her class with a 4.0 gpa, and spent the next 6 years in various corporate marketing roles at Hewlett Packard and Disney Streaming Services.

Host of Young and Profiting Podcast

Host and Producer of #1 Education Podcast, Young and Profiting.

I'm 5'1" and I run an 8-figure business.

I wear 5 inch heels to every in-person meeting.

Not because I need them to be taken seriously…

But because I like looking people in the eye when I prove them wrong. 😂

My whole life, people have looked down at me.

Literally.

They see a small woman and make assumptions.

Too young.
Too tiny.
Not intimidating enough to be the one in charge.

And honestly? I love it. 💯

Because while they're busy underestimating me…

I'm busy building.

100M+ podcast downloads.
50+ employees.
The # 1 Business & Self-Improvement Podcast Network.

Turns out you don't need to be tall to build something big. 🚀

So if you've ever been counted out because of how you look, your age, your size, your background…

Use it.

Let them underestimate you.

Then make them watch.

And yes, my sweater today says "Though she be but little, she is fierce." 

Because sometimes you just gotta wear the truth. 💁🏻‍♀️

Year 1 (2019): $0
Year 2 (2020): $0
Year 3 (2021): $22,000
Year 4 (2022): $158,000
Year 5 (2023): $250,000
Year 6 (2024): $623,000
Year 7 (2025): $1,230,000

☝🏼 That's my revenue on podcast sponsorships, year by year. 

Two years of making NOTHING.

And now? Over a million dollars in sponsorship revenue alone. ( And that’s not including the leads I get for my agency and podcast network)  💰

On January 21st at 12PM ET, I'm hosting a FREE webinar breaking down exactly how I did it 
👉🏼 https://lnkd.in/gR3ZTQby

But I already know what you're thinking…

❌ "I don't have a big audience yet."
Neither did I. I focused on building my audience first.

❌ "The podcast space is too saturated."
Most podcasters quit before episode 10 🤷🏼‍♀️. There's more room than you think.

❌ "I don't know how to monetize."
That's exactly what I'm teaching. Sponsorships, lead gen, cross-platform revenue - the full playbook.

❌ "It takes too long to see results."
It took me years to figure this out on my own. With what I'm sharing, you could do it way FASTER.

Podcasting is one of the most profitable content businesses you can build. 🎙️

I went from recording in my mom's basement to running the #1 Self-Improvement Podcast Network.

So if you want to grow and monetize your podcast…

Or finally make 2026 the year you change your life…

This webinar is your shortcut.

Spots are limited. Save yours now ☝🏼

This is the ONLY post you need to read today…

If you want to scale your podcast to 7 figures (just like I did) 👇🏼

Most podcasters think downloads = dollars.

WRONG ❌

Downloads don't pay your bills. Monetization does.

Here's the playbook I used to make $1.5 million in sponsorships last year alone: 

💰 Sponsorships (done right)
👉🏼 You can secure sponsorships independently or by joining a network. Host-read ads, programmatic commercials. CPMs range from $20-$40 depending on your niche. But here's the real secret: I position my show so brands come to ME. Not the other way around.

💰 Interview your ideal CLIENTS
👉🏼 Every podcast guest of mine is a potential client. Throughout the booking and recording process, my team and I hint at YAP Media’s services. Our conversations build trust and by the end of it, THEY end up asking how we can work together. 

💰 Cross-channel monetization
👉🏼 52% of listeners follow their favorite hosts on social media - so why would you only monetize audio? I monetize across YouTube, LinkedIn, email, everywhere. Same content. Multiple revenue streams. 

💰 Drive leads, not just listens
👉🏼 On-demand courses. Live events. Services. Every single episode funnels elsewhere. If your content isn't driving leads, you're leaving serious money on the table.

This is how I built the # 1 Self-Improvement Podcast Network. 🧠

But this is still the tip of the iceberg…

I’ll be spilling EVERYTHING on 🗓️ January 21st at 12PM ET, in a FREE webinar: https://lnkd.in/gpBrDHiX

The exact playbook that took me from recording in my mom's basement to making MILLIONS of dollars from my podcast ALONE.

I've tested these strategies on dozens of podcasters in our network.

And the results are INSANE. 📈

So if you're done playing small, grab your spot before it fills up ☝🏼 

See you there. 🎙️

You are not your job ‼️

I just had Cognitive scientist, Dr. Maya Shankar on Young and Profiting and she said something that hit HARD:

(Watch the full episode on Youtube - https://lnkd.in/dDkz47xX)

So many entrepreneurs tie 100% of who they are to their business.

When the company wins, they feel like winners.

When the company struggles, they feel like failures.

And that's a dangerous game. 💯

Maya explained that role-based identities have benefits: they give us purpose, and instant comradery with other founders.

BUT… they shouldn't be your ONLY identity.

Build a more robust, expansive identity that's resilient when life throws curveballs.

So one setback doesn’t feel like losing your entire self.

I learned this the hard way.
 
I dropped out of college to work at Hot97 for free for THREE years.

I was "Hala from Hot 97." It was my whole identity – my social handles, my intro, everything.

Then I finally asked to get paid… and they fired me. 

It felt like a part of me had died.

But that failure taught me everything:
🔥 Own what you do
🔥 Start your own thing
🔥 Never let anyone dictate your career

Now, YAP Media is an eight figure company 💰

That would have NEVER happened if I didn't get fired.

Your "what" will change. Life will throw curveballs.

But your "why" can carry you through anything.

Entrepreneurs, what's YOUR why? Drop it below 👇🏼

I’ve officially cracked the code to podcast growth and monetization.

Not just for myself, or the world’s top podcasters like Amy Porterfield and Neil Patel…

I’m ready to share my exact playbook with YOU on Wednesday 1/21 at 12PM ET: https://lnkd.in/gzR27XvS

I started podcasting in 2018.

I've been known as the industry’s "Podcast Princess" since 2021.

By 2022, I was signing the biggest names in the space to my podcast network, like Jenna Kutcher, Amy Porterfield, Neil Patel, and SO many more… 

And on average I DOUBLED and in some cases TRIPLED their monthly revenues.

Just this past year alone my podcast generated over a MILLION dollars in sponsorships.

I was recently ranked # 2 best performing podcaster for advertisers in the Self-Improvement category.

I've been grinding in the industry for nearly 8 years innovating, setting trends and shaping the podcast advertising industry as a whole.

NONE of this happened because I'm the best podcast host in the world.

It was because I’ve dominated all aspects of podcasting with my company, YAP Media: from production to growth to monetization.

I have ALWAYS been obsessed with the BUSINESS of podcasting – not just being a podcaster.

The real key to making millions as a podcaster? 

Getting RENEWALS and long-term annual sponsorships.

But there’s a specific formula to this process that most people don’t know about.

And I’m ready to give it away to you for 100% FREE. 

If you want in, secure your spot for next week’s webinar NOW ☝🏼

Dr. Maya Shankar:The Mindset Shift You Need When Life Doesn’t Go as Planned

Life doesn’t ALWAYS go according to plan… and that’s okay! 🍃

This week on YAP, I’m joined by cognitive scientist and behavioral economist, Dr. Maya Shankar, where she reveals how small mindset shifts can help us make smarter and better decisions. 🧠

Dr. Maya used to have a violin career… not until she had a hand injury at 15. And that incident ended her career and shook her sense of identity.

But ever since that moment she turned to behavioral and cognitive science to better understand how people can navigate through sudden changes… which not only helped her but this made her want to help others too! 🤝

If you want to learn more about navigating through sudden changes…

Watch the full episode whenever you want on Youtube: https://lnkd.in/gMQE6j6E

Shawn French: Conquer Fear and Self-Doubt to Build an Unstoppable Mindset

The thing that’s holding you back ISN’T your talent… so take it easy! 
​
This week on YAP, I’m joined by a high-performance coach and keynote speaker, Shawn French, where he reveals how to break through the invisible limits that are holding you back! ⛓️
​
What I love about Shawn’s story is how simple yet profound his turnaround really was. He didn’t find success through luck or magic…
​
He found it through clarity, preparation, and discipline.
​
When he realized he was failing because he wasn’t prepared, he didn’t make excuses.
​
He started planning his days down to the zip code, logging every action, and executing with intention.
​
If you’re looking for a sign to confront your old mindset patterns…
​
Watch the full episode whenever you want on Youtube: https://yap.show/sfonyt

Dr Michael Gervais: Perform Under Pressure Without Destroying Mental Health

Be honest: How badly do you perform under pressure? 🤔
​
This week on YAP, I sat down with high-performance psychologist and bestselling author, Dr. Michael Gervais, where he explains how mastering the mind is for everyone who wants to fully show up in life!
​
We had such a transformative conversation and the truth that landed hardest for me was: mastery isn’t some distant goal reserved for the elite.
​
Another thing that stuck with me is Dr. Michael’s ridiculously simple 8 minute daily practice that can activate our rest and digest systems and expand our ability to handle stress!
​
If you want to listen to the full episode… stay tuned!
​
Or watch the full episode whenever you want – on Youtube: https://yap.show/drmgonyt

Transforming executive expertise into synchronized, searchable presence | Brand & AI Visibility Strategy Leader | GTM Advisor | Speaker | Author, Theatre of the Mind | Founder @ The Borden Group

Visibility isn’t luck — it’s strategy.
I build visible leaders and trusted brands that drive credibility, opportunity, and growth.

Hi, I’m Melanie. Not too long ago, everyone around me was losing their job, and I didn’t know where I’d turn if I lost mine.  So, I turned online. 

I've been recognized on Favikon’s Top 200 LinkedIn Creator List and Sales Intel’s Top 300 Women Making an Impact in B2B SaaS. Seen in places like Entrepreneur, LA Weekly, New York City Biz List, New York Weekly, and The Wall Street Journal. 

I’d spent years in sales and marketing building for tech companies, retail brands, and high-growth startups, so I leveraged those same frameworks to build my own. It worked. 

I grew my visibility, reach, and revenue — and discovered that building an executive brand isn’t about vanity. 

I help founders and executives turn real expertise into searchable, trusted authority by structuring their thinking so it’s understood by both people and AI.

I partner with executives, founders, nonprofits, and leadership teams across industries — from emerging tech to investor-backed enterprises — to build executive visibility systems that generate measurable business outcomes. 

What we do at The Borden Group goes beyond ghostwriting or positioning. It’s a full-scale visibility and go-to-market strategy — grounded in lived experience — that combines strategy, creative, and execution.

Today, visibility is decided by both people and machines. I integrate an AI-first layer into every engagement so your expertise is findable wherever decisions start. We partner best with teams ready to move fast, stay consistent, and translate brand presence into pipeline results. 

Our work helps leaders and organizations:

-Generate new pipelines & accelerate go-to-market traction
-Amplify executive visibility across tech & business media
-Create credibility that supports board seats & advisory roles
-Launch books that open doors to authority & revenue
-Scale internal marketing & content systems
-Unlock new revenue streams tied to business growth

If you’re a founder, operator, or investor ready to grow your company and your credibility, let's connect. 

My book, Theatre of the Mind, is a playbook for leaders navigating mindset, visibility, and influence.→  Link to order in featured section. 

Connect with me here or at www.humantobrand.com
Subscribe to my weekly newsletter: humantobrand.com/newsletter

Gain actionable insights to elevate your personal brand, amplify influence, and future-proof your leadership impact.

Melanie Borden

Right now, you are publishing smart content but leaving out one signal AI needs:


A named, accountable human. 

Stay with me for a second. 

Online credibility is getting fragmented, and AI fills in the gaps with whatever it can find.

Here is what’s happening: your content is floating. Well-written, well-intentioned but effectively ownerless. And AI can’t tell who owns the expertise. To AI systems, that’s a red flag and a big problem.

If an AI model can’t verify who created the thinking, it can’t confidently recommend it. And if AI can’t recommend it, it won’t cite it. Or you. 

This applies to both individuals and brands. 

When a buyer asks, “Who’s credible in this space?” AI isn’t just scanning your LinkedIn posts. It’s hunting for accountable experts it can verify across content, context, and history.

So imagine investing in leadership brand content (which many of you are already doing), or a team thought leadership push, or synchronized messaging across the company for a specific event like an upcoming product release, only to have your human attribution missing. 

Explicit attribution looks like this:
1. Clear authorship (named leaders)
2. Visible expertise (clear roles)
3. Consistency over time (a recognizable human footprint)

This is why “thought leadership” can be everywhere… and trust still feels like it starts at zero. 

So do this: 
Ask ChatGPT or Perplexity who the credible leaders are in your space… Does it name you/your team? What does it say about each? What is missing about you? 

Then look at your last 10 pieces of leadership content. Could a buyer immediately tell which executive/leader in your org stands behind each idea? 

Is your expertise visible and trusted...or just published?

Portrait-oriented photo of a professional woman, Melanie Borden, seated alone in the rear passenger area of a luxury sedan with white leather interior. She sits sideways with legs crossed, relaxed posture, looking directly at the camera with a composed, confident expression. She wears a monochrome white outfit (long-sleeve top and tailored pants) with nude high-heel pumps. She holds a smartphone in both hands at lap level. A large light-gray quilted designer handbag rests on the seat beside her. Through the left and right windows, a city street and modern glass office buildings appear slightly blurred, suggesting motion and an urban business setting. Lighting is soft and even; no on-image text is visible. This image visually signals executive presence, leadership identity, and “named, accountable human” authority—reinforcing themes of personal branding, thought leadership attribution, AI trust signals, and credible expertise that can be verified across LinkedIn.

I learned this lesson years ago and realized I had to reapply it in 2026:

No one can find you, see you, or hire you if you do not fully promote yourself in various ways. 

I'm not sure when, but I started editing myself.

This year, I am no longer downplaying my work; I am speaking openly about it—in my book, on stages, in conversations, across podcast appearances, and, yes, of course, here on LinkedIn. 

These are things I’ve started before, but often held back, worried about being seen as “too much.” 

I have been battling for the last year over how to differentiate myself in this online ocean, which I documented in my book.   

If you want anything to change your income, your employer, your relationships... You have to do something new you haven’t done before.

Here are simple rules to follow that I'm following:

Choice: make one.
-Choice: chose to take your work seriously enough to talk about it.

Chance: take it.
-Chance: commit to visibility: speaking, sharing, and showing up on podcasts.

Change: that’s how anything in life shifts.
-Change: The way you lead, launch, and let yourself be seen.

Different results require new decisions. And new decisions require discomfort.

Fear and discomfort are always the entry fee to big shifts. 

Who else is making changes in 2026? 

P.S. Thank you for all of the positive support for Theatre of the Mind. Made it to the Top 10 list of PR books on Amazon! 

P.P.S. Back when I first started stepping into visibility.

I help leaders turn expertise into a synchronized, searchable presence that attracts opportunity at scale. | Brand & AI Visibility Strategy Leader | GTM Advisor | Author, Theatre of the Mind | Founder @ The Borden Group

Melanie Borden stands confidently in a leadership workshop setting, smiling with hands on hips, wearing a black blazer, light top, and dark pencil skirt. Behind her, flip-chart pages cover the wall with handwritten leadership and mindset frameworks, including “The 3 C’s: Choice, Chance, Change,” “Does your pain make you bitter or better,” and “3 Keys to Leadership.” The scene signals executive leadership development, coaching, communication skills, and personal growth through decision-making and discomfort. This image supports topics like personal brand strategy, leadership visibility, career reinvention, mindset training, change management, and AI visibility—building clear authority signals and searchable thought leadership that helps people and machines (ChatGPT/LLMs and modern search engines) understand, trust, and recommend your expertise.

Confession: I was a VP of Marketing who avoided building my own online presence. 

The fear wasn’t posting... it was the aftermath of the posts.

I call this the 'Visibility Ceiling'

The fear of what comes after you’re seen from people around you. 

-If I post this, will competitors use it against us, or will it give away too much?
-If I post this, will our customers read it as confidence, or as instability?
-If I post this, will Legal flag it, or will it create an internal compliance headache?
-If I post this, will my team feel supported, or will it sound like I’m taking credit for their work?
-If I post this, will the CEO be upset and think I am stepping on his toes?

The list goes on and on. 

There will be critics. Someone will judge. Someone will talk. Someone will disagree. Anytime you step into public visibility, people will have opinions. 

Here’s my tried-and-experienced advice on the types of people you will encounter if you’ve ever felt this type of fear before.

You will meet 4 types of people who show up when you become active online:

→ People from the past. Curious how you’re doing. 
The Past Knows You.

→ People who stir the pot. Watching and commenting. 
The Crowd Tests You.

→ People who support you. Looking for ways to help. 
The Circle Holds You.

→ People from the future. Paying attention because they may want to work with you. 
The Future Finds You.

You CANNOT change how anyone interprets you or your content. And obsessing over it will drive you crazy. 

But for every one of those, you’ll have far more of this:
Someone who values your work.
Someone who feels seen by what you said.
Someone who opens a door for you.
Someone who asks for your help.
Someone who hires or invests in you.

Don’t do what I did and let fear decide your visibility.
And don’t ask for permission. It rarely comes.

If you want to change anything in your career, company, or life:
Champion yourself 🖤

Melanie Borden, executive visibility strategist, founder of The Borden Group, and author of Theatre of the Mind, stands outdoors in a snowy winter setting beside a black vehicle, holding a bouquet of red roses. She wears a white coat over a black dress with black gloves, creating strong visual contrast that signals leadership presence, confidence, and intentional visibility. Snow-covered trees form the background, emphasizing exposure, clarity, and forward movement. This image represents executive personal branding, LinkedIn visibility, and the concept of the Visibility Ceiling—the fear leaders face not in posting content, but in what happens after they are seen. The photo aligns with themes of C-suite leadership, founder visibility, AI trust signals, LLM-readable authority, searchable leadership, and building credibility in the modern visibility economy.

I was told I was “essential" in 2020. The layoffs around me told a different story.

My brain — and my body — went straight into survival mode.

I doomscrolled. I catastrophized.
I rehearsed worst-case scenarios as if I were auditioning for a Broadway show called 'What If It All Falls Apart?' 

Yes, a bit dramatic, but I knew SOMETHING had to change.

At the time, my fear of being “center stage” was greater than my desire to change anything until it wasn't.

That’s the part we don’t talk about enough when it comes to personal brands.
FEAR of being seen. 

Fear doesn’t just make us anxious...

It keeps us small, disconnected, and stuck in rehearsal mode instead of stepping into the role we were put on earth for.

The first step to conquering fear isn’t confidence.
It’s deciding it no longer gets to dictate what you do.

A year or so later, after I leaped, I began working with others on their personal brands. I noticed something familiar on discovery calls.

Different titles. Different industries.
Same underlying fear: "What if I’m not ready?"

“I’ve already built a career, why would anyone want to hear from me now?”
“I’m not a content creator. I lead companies, not social platforms.”
“I’m not at the same stage as other leaders who seem to have it all figured out.”

It’s time to rewrite the story. That is exactly what I did when I decided to become visible online.

Here are a few mindset shifts that change everything:

1. From: “I’ve already built a career, why would anyone want to hear from me now?”
To: "Now is exactly when they need to hear from me. My lived experience offers clarity others can’t Google, and that’s what makes it valuable.”

2. From: “I’m not a content creator. I lead companies, not social platforms.”
To: “I don’t need to be a content creator, I need to be a visible leader. Sharing my perspective isn’t performance; it’s positioning.”

3. From: “I’m not at the same stage as other leaders who seem to have it all figured out.”
To: “I’m building from a different starting line, and that’s my edge. What I’ve learned through this season will resonate with the exact people I’m meant to reach.”

And yes, of course, judgment will always exist. 
That is your entry ticket.

But playing small to avoid criticism only gives it power over you (and btw, no one is thinking about you as much as you are thinking about yourself).

Once you accept that, you stop rehearsing and finally step into the role you’ve been ready for all along. 😊 

What’s one visible step you’ve been avoiding that you know would change everything?

Portrait of Melanie Borden standing indoors beside a white sofa and large window with soft natural light. She wears a structured white blazer over a white top, paired with blue jeans and a brown belt with a gold buckle. Her dark brown, shoulder-length hair is styled in loose waves, and she wears subtle, polished makeup. Melanie stands confidently with relaxed posture, one hand resting near her pocket and the other lightly touching the sofa, conveying calm authority and grounded confidence. The background features neutral tones and blurred greenery outside, creating a clean, professional, and modern setting. The image reflects leadership, visibility, and personal brand presence—capturing a poised executive energy that aligns with themes of reinvention, personal brand, online visibility, courage, and stepping into public leadership after fear or uncertainty.

I could cry right now!

(but I already did that about 100 times while writing) 

After 6 months of writing Theatre of the Mind, I didn't think I would ever finish.

The manuscript was written and then rewritten 3 times. It took me a year and a half to finish the writing part.

It was by far the most challenging project I have ever worked on. 

There were so many times I wanted to quit and give up. 

So glad I didn't. The process that felt like torture became one that I loved. 

18 months after starting the book, here we are. 

#1 top new release in public relations books on Amazon
#1 top new release in digital marketing on kindle/Amazon

Thank you for supporting me. 

This book will help you and your business in so many ways🖤

Order your copy here:
https://amzn.to/4jpiK9r

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I set a goal of 30 podcast appearances in 2026. 

5 on the calendar so far, 3 down.

If your audience wants practical, tactical ways to build visibility that genuinely stand out in a crowded market, I’m your girl.

Just had a great conversation (and laugh) with one of my favorites Nausheen I. Chen on her podcast. 

And also. 
New year, new hair.

What are some of your goals this year? More of mine in the comments.

Melanie Borden with dark hair and bangs wearing a bright pink sweater, photographed indoors with a chandelier and softly lit room in the background. The image accompanies a post about setting a goal of 30 podcast appearances in 2026, with five booked and three completed so far, a recent podcast conversation with Nausheen I. Chen, a lighthearted note about new hair for the new year, and a prompt inviting others to share their goals. description for this image

When your career evolution outpaces your public presence and internal narrative, visibility in public starts to feel... uncomfortable.

I started noticing this pattern early on in my work with clients: their internal voice no longer matched their career voice or online presence.
 
What began as an abstract idea inspired by Shakespeare’s "As You Like It,"... I evolved into a core framework I later formalized.

There’s a moment where Shakespeare says, ‘All the world’s a stage,’ and then describes the seven ages of man. 

He obviously, at the time, wasn’t talking about careers, but he was talking about identity: about how we grow, perform, and evolve through different roles over time. And that idea stuck with me.

Your presence tends to evolve alongside your career, but often out of sync. (Speaking from personal experience on this one, too)

The Seven Ages of a Personal Brand is about recognizing which ‘act’ you’re in so you can stop performing an outdated role and start showing up as who you actually are now in all aspects. 

Here are 3 things you can do to realign the two:

1. Audit the role you’re still performing publicly
Look at your bio, website, LinkedIn, or how you introduce yourself.
Ask: Does this reflect who I’m becoming or who I had to be to get here?
Most misalignment stems from outdated language and stories, not from a lack of skill.

2. Shift from proof to perspective
Earlier stages require evidence. Later stages require a point of view.
If you’ve built results but still feel invisible, it’s often because you’re oversharing execution instead of sharing how you think, decide, and lead.

3. Let go of the version that got you here
This is the hardest one. 
That means other people might view you the way they once knew you, and you have to let that go.
Growth often means releasing an identity that once protected you so you can step fully into authority.

When your internal evolution and external presence finally match, your confidence replaces everything else. ...and the right people recognize you without needing convincing.

Is your business growing faster than the role you’re publicly "performing"?
What would change if you stopped performing and started showing up as who you are now?
-
Me with all 7 Ages of a Personal Brand: Innocence (on my lap), Apprentice, Believer, Builder, Leader, Guide, and Legacy.

Melanie Borden sits centered on stone steps in front of tall black double doors with brass details, framed like a stage backdrop. She wears a crisp white suit, neutral heels, and dark sunglasses, projecting calm confidence and control. In her arms she holds a small Dalmatian puppy close to her chest while holding a takeaway coffee cup; a structured black handbag rests beside her. Surrounding her in a deliberate semicircle are seven adult Dalmatians, seated and attentive, their spotted coats creating a striking black-and-white pattern against the elegant doorway. The composition feels symbolic: the central figure anchored in poise, with “seven” distinct presences around her—like acts in a story. The puppy suggests beginnings and Innocence; the adult dogs imply experience and progression. The scene visually echoes the idea that identity evolves in stages, and real authority comes from alignment—when your inner voice catches up to the role you’re living now.

Here’s the secret to turning attention into trust during a launch.

Execs and their company have separate, but related audiences and networks.  

So, when there’s a product launch, event, or fundraise planned, the brands combined amplify the message in different ways to slightly different audiences and it creates a wave of visibility.

This is called synchronized messaging — from different voices, same company, to similar networks, in the same industry with one aligned CTA.  

The delivery is authentic to each personal brand, but the message and call to action are aligned.

Even casual scrollers notice this. 
It seems like “everyone” is talking about the same thing, and they want to find out more.  

When they share: 

Why they support an initiative + why now
→ “We’re doing this because the old way was costing customers time, money, and sanity. I couldn’t keep calling that ‘normal.’ And the timing is right because ___.”

What they’ve learned + how it changed their thinking
→ “The hardest part wasn’t building it. It was deciding what we wouldn’t build. That one decision changed our product, our positioning, and our speed to market.”

What surprised them
→ “I didn’t expect our clearest signal to come from the smallest beta users. But their feedback made the roadmap obvious: ___.”

Why they still believe
→ “This is personal. Not as a backstory, but as proof. I’ve seen the cost of this problem up close. That’s why we’re still here building it.”

People read the story, and the message comes along for the ride. 

And yes: using company colors/graphics inside exec posts builds recognition fast as long as the voice stays human. 

But a warning, these tactics will fail if you are disconnected from lived experience.
Or if everything is group edited into the same voice.
Or if the company posts but the leadership team is silent.
Or if exec posts are approval heavy and insight light.
Or if there’s no agreement on what success actually looks like.

If you’re launching anything in 2026, this is one of the cleanest ROI plays your company can run.

Have you tried this approach?
How did it work for you?

Melanie Borden stands in a bright, modern photo studio taking a mirror selfie. She wears a pink textured jacket over a blush top, wide-leg light denim jeans, and neutral pointed-toe heels, projecting a confident yet approachable executive presence. Her posture is relaxed, with one hand in her pocket, reflecting ease and authenticity rather than a staged corporate pose. The studio environment includes soft natural light, sheer white curtains, a photography light with diffuser, white backdrop paper on the floor, and minimal furnishings, signaling professional content creation and brand storytelling in progress. The space blends polish with humanity, representing modern executive visibility, personal branding, and leadership in motion. The image reinforces themes of authentic leadership, aligned executive and company messaging, strategic storytelling, and building trust through presence rather than scripted talking points. It visually supports the ideas too.

ICYMI: My book was finally published! 🎉 

There was a season where I looked confident on the outside… and felt completely hijacked on the inside. Then it happened again while writing the book.

Theatre of the Mind is about what happens before visibility, confidence, or action and how to work through it. 

Each chapter tackles one moment many quietly struggle with:

• Ch. 1 – Taming the Theatre of the Mind
 You’ll learn why fear feels physical — and how to stop letting it run the show.

• Ch. 2 – The Visibility Ceiling
 You’ll recognize the exact moment success creates hesitation instead of confidence.

• Ch. 3 – Build in Public
 You’ll see why waiting for permission is costing you momentum and opportunity.

• Ch. 4 – Make Waves
 You’ll understand why leadership without friction rarely creates change.

• Ch. 5 – Impact at Scale
 You’ll learn how visibility becomes leverage — not a sea of noise.

• Ch. 6 – Pivot Afraid
 You’ll realize fear isn’t a stop sign — it’s evidence you’re evolving.

• Ch. 7 – Mental Crossroads
 You’ll identify the internal fork in the road most leaders avoid naming.

• Ch. 8 – Future-Proofing Your Career Insurance OS
 You’ll see why your reputation needs to outlive your role.

• Ch. 9 – New Rules in Storytelling
 You’ll learn how alignment builds trust faster than polish ever could.

• Ch. 10 – Searchable Leadership
 You’ll understand how authority is recognized — by people and systems.

• Ch. 11 – Success Metrics
You’ll stop measuring success by noise—and start measuring what actually proves growth: trust, traction, and outcomes. 

All chapters accompanied with my work examples, examples from other leaders in the space, frameworks, and strategies that you can implement while you are reading. 

The feedback has been very positive so far. Thank you so much for supporting my author journey! https://lnkd.in/gdVTj5gT

Stop avoiding visibility and the voices get clearer.

(One of them is Accounts Receivable.)

No alternative teQuote-style image featuring the text: “Stop avoiding visibility and the voices get clearer. (One of them is Accounts Receivable.)” The message reflects Melanie Borden’s work on executive visibility, personal branding, and thought leadership in the modern business landscape. It highlights how avoiding public presence often limits credibility, opportunity, and revenue, while intentional visibility helps leaders become discoverable, trusted, and sought after. The quote connects visibility to tangible business outcomes such as inbound opportunities, speaking invitations, advisory roles, and revenue generation. Aligned with Melanie Borden’s frameworks around executive presence, searchable leadership, AI-era discoverability, and the Visibility Ceiling, the image emphasizes that consistent, strategic visibility allows leaders to control their narrative, build authority, and convert expertise into measurable business growth across LinkedIn, modern xt description for this image

Still riding my high from releasing Theatre of the Mind.

In week one, seeing the photos, texts, stories, and messages saying, “it felt like we were talking,” has been way more than I expected.

Cracking Amazon’s top 10 New Release and Best Seller Lists for PR books has felt pretty good, too. 

Thank you for showing up for this book, for sharing it, and reading it! And for supporting me through this exhilarating part of putting my work in the world.

Perfect for execs, senior leaders, founders, professionals in transition, and thought leaders who don't want to be content creators. 

Who's ready for the documentary next? 😉
(It’s on my vision board, why not put this into the ether?)

🖤 #theatreofthemind available in both paperback and Kindle.

More feedback continued in the comments

Promotional visual for Theatre of the Mind by Melanie Borden, a leadership and personal brand book focused on how executives, founders, and senior leaders manage internal narratives before showing up publicly. The image supports a post tagging executives who are currently reading the book and reflects themes of visibility, decision-making, confidence, self-trust, and leadership presence. Theatre of the Mind explores how fear, overthinking, and internal scripts shape external behavior, communication, and authority—especially for high-performing leaders navigating growth, change, and public perception. The post emphasizes executive leadership, strategic thinking, mindset awareness, and building credible, trusted authority without performative branding. Designed for professionals in C-suite, founder, and advisory roles.

Promotional visuals of executives holding the book theatre of the mind.  for Theatre of the Mind by Melanie Borden, a leadership and personal brand book focused on how executives, founders, and senior leaders manage internal narratives before showing up publicly. The image supports a post tagging executives who are currently reading the book and reflects themes of visibility, decision-making, confidence, self-trust, and leadership presence. Theatre of the Mind explores how fear, overthinking, and internal scripts shape external behavior, communication, and authority—especially for high-performing leaders navigating growth, change, and public perception. The post emphasizes executive leadership, strategic thinking, mindset awareness, and building credible, trusted authority without performative branding. Designed for professionals in C-suite, founder, and advisory roles.

I’m not sure whether to cry, laugh, or scream... maybe all 3. 

The response to My book, Theatre of the Mind, in the last 48 hours has been overwhelmingly positive. 

Thank you so much for your support 

Before we ever post, speak, or pitch… we perform in our heads.

It’s the mental stage where fear, overthinking, and self-censorship sneak in and quietly rewrite what we really want to say.

This is the part of personal branding no one warns you about:
-the pressure to say it perfectly 
-the voice that asks, “What if they don’t get it?”
-the instinct to shrink your message so it feels safer

Theatre of the Mind is a handbook for taking the lead role in your own brand without the mental chaos, the constant rewrites, or abandoning the truth of who you are.

47,000 words later… I can’t fully describe how it feels to have this done. I’m just so happy it’s here. 

If you’ve ever felt stuck right before visibility — this is for you.
https://lnkd.in/gdVTj5gT  

Thank you for your support! It is all happening!! 🎉

What do you think of the concept and do you know someone who could use this book?

Promotional image supporting the launch of Theatre of the Mind by Melanie Borden, a book about personal branding, leadership visibility, mindset, and reinvention. The visual represents the internal “mental stage” leaders experience before posting, speaking, pitching, or showing up publicly. The concept centers on fear, overthinking, self-censorship, and the pressure to perform perfectly, which often limits visibility and authentic leadership presence. The book explores how executives, founders, and professionals navigate internal dialogue, confidence gaps, and visibility resistance in the digital and AI era. Themes include personal brand strategy, executive presence, thought leadership, career reinvention, confidence, self-trust, and showing up authentically without shrinking your message. Theatre of the Mind helps readers take the lead role in their personal brand, reduce mental chaos, stop constant rewrites, and align internal clarity with external visibility across platforms like Li

LinkedIn isn’t just where we show up anymore. It’s where AI learns who we are.

In the last few weeks of this new year, data has been piling up that LinkedIn is becoming a primary “source of truth” for AI answers—not just another social feed.

Here’s what that really means for you: every LinkedIn post, every podcast transcript you link… it’s all teaching these systems how to describe you, your work, and your leadership. 

Your content isn’t just “getting views” it’s training the models that future clients, hiring managers, and investors will ask about you.
​
This week’s issue of my newsletter breaks that shift down in plain language:

-Why LinkedIn is suddenly one of AI’s favorite places to “fact-check” you
-What’s breaking in classic search (and why your website can’t carry you alone anymore)
-How to make your authority machine-readable so you’re the one getting cited, not your louder competitor

If you’ve been posting on LinkedIn but still feel strangely invisible, this one is for you! 

What’s one simple shift you’re ready to make so your LinkedIn presence stops being “just content” and starts acting like real proof for the next opportunity that comes your way?

View newsletter: Executive Visibility Brief

Every issue: one headline, one lesson, one tool you can use now to strengthen your visibility. LinkedIn isn’t just social anymore. It’s now part of se

Open article: Authority in Public | How LinkedIn Trains the Machines That Introduce You by Melanie Borden • 6 min read

Authority in Public | How LinkedIn Trains the Machines That Introduce You

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The Battle

Hala Taha

Melanie Borden

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Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Hala Taha's LinkedIn Performance

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