Corporate Speaking Coach for Introverted Leaders | Communicate More Effectively With Your Team | Excel at Impromptu Speaking | Deliver Impactful Presentations | Book Free Consultation ⬇️

Maria Malik is an Executive Speaking Coach who helps introverted leaders speak with clarity, authority, and confidence in high-stakes meetings, presentations, interviews, and leadership conversations.

She works with directors, senior managers, and executives who are highly capable—but often overlooked in high-stakes environments because their communication style doesn’t reflect the level they operate at.

Maria’s work focuses on executive presence, assertive communication, and structured thinking under pressure so leaders can earn respect, command attention, and influence decisions without becoming louder or more aggressive.

Earlier in her career, Maria struggled significantly in the corporate world. Despite being capable and driven, she often stayed quiet in meetings, avoided high-visibility speaking moments, and felt underestimated because she didn’t communicate the way louder personalities did.

Determined to change this, she spent years studying and training in public speaking, executive communication, and leadership presence turning what was once her greatest pain point into her greatest strength. That journey eventually became the foundation for a thriving coaching practice.

Today, Maria is the founder of The Introverted Speaker, where she helps introverted professionals do what she once struggled to do: speak up with confidence, lead with clarity, and be taken seriously without changing who they are.

Maria regularly shares insights on executive communication and leadership presence with a global audience.

To work with Maria or attend an upcoming training, connect with her here or visit theintrovertedspeaker.com.

Maria Malik

10 things I will not compromise on in 2026. 

As an introverted leader.

1️⃣ I will stand firm on my boundaries without explaining or apologizing.

2️⃣ I will speak up when it matters, even if my voice isn’t the loudest in the room.

3️⃣ I will not tolerate disrespect  masked as “feedback,” “banter,” or “tone advice.”

4️⃣ I will stop over-explaining to earn understanding or approval.

5️⃣ I will choose clarity over being liked.

6️⃣ I will no longer shrink my presence to make others comfortable.

7️⃣ I will walk away the first time my competence is questioned without cause.

8️⃣ I will protect my energy like a strategic asset, not an afterthought.

9️⃣ I will trust my instincts faster and stop second-guessing myself.

🔟 I will stay only where my contribution is valued, not merely tolerated.

What’s one thing you will not compromise on in 2026?

#leaders #proessionaldevelopment #personaldevelopment

Executive Speaking Coach for Introverted Leaders | Executive Presence, Assertive Communication & High-Stakes Speaking

I quit my job at Stanford 6 years ago 🎓

And went all in on Linkedin.

On paper, it made no sense at all.

I was walking away from a: 

➡️ Prestigious job.
➡️ A stable paycheck.
➡️ A secure path

But inside, I felt something was off and I had a higher calling 🚀

Even though I am an introvert, I knew I had more to offer than staying quiet, comfortable, and invisible.

But fear kept me there longer than it should have.

1️⃣ Fear of disappointing my family.
2️⃣ Fear of failing publicly.
3️⃣ Fear of giving up something “certain.”

So I just tried to just be grateful...

I told myself this was as good as it gets ✋🏻

Until I couldn’t ignore the voice inside my head anymore 😔

So I made the bold decision and just left.

The crazy thing is, I had no backup plan.

Just a quiet certainty that betting on myself was the only way forward.

Honestly, the early days were brutal 😣

➡️ I had so much doubt.
➡️ I felt extremely lonely.
➡️ And lack of money was always on my mind. 

And of course, imposter syndrome was on full volume 💥

Regardless like an insane person, I just kept going.

✨ I learned what I was best at..
✨ I learned how to run an online business..
✨ I found people who needed my help..

That’s when I saw a real gap in the market.

No one was teaching introverts how to become confident speakers 🎤

5 years later, I’ve built a business and a life on my terms.

Looking back my biggest regret isn’t that I should have started earlier. 

It’s that I didn’t believe in myself sooner 💪🏼

If you also feel that quiet pull inside your head... listen to it. 🧠

Because your life doesn’t change when you stay silent.

✨ It changes the moment you finally let your voice out. ✨

#motivation #careers #personaldevelopment #introverts

For a long time, I wasn’t taken seriously at work.

I was just too soft spoken. 

I had all the skills.

I knew how to do my job perfectly. 

But I just did not sound like a leader. 

I actually believed that: 

“If I do good work, people will notice.”
“If I speak less, I’ll come across as thoughtful.”
“If I wait until I’m confident, I’ll say it better.”

I was so wrong!

What was happening was: 

• My ideas were acknowledged… then ignored
• Louder voices took credit for things I initiated
• I was seen as capable, but not leadership material

And I could feel it the moment I spoke. People just didn't acknowledge me. 

This was extremely frustrating and I knew change had to be made. 

And that took me on my long journey of learning how to speak like the 1%. 

Specifically:

• Leading with the point instead of the explanation
• Speaking in conclusions, not thought-process
• Ending statements cleanly instead of trailing off

Once I learned how to do this:

I was pulled into higher-level conversations.
I was trusted to lead meetings.
Leadership roles followed without me chasing them.

That ability to speak with calm authority is what changed how I was perceived and what opened the door to leadership positions.

It took me nearly 10 years to learn this through trial, error, and uncomfortable feedback.

Which is why tomorrow, I’m teaching that entire process in a live masterclass for introverted leaders.

If this resonates and you’re ready to be taken seriously at the level you operate at...

This training is very high level and I’m keeping it small and intentional.

DM me ASSERTIVE and I’ll send you the invite.

You go blank under pressure because you rely on confidence.

And confidence disappears the moment stakes rise.

Most introverted leaders speak well when they’re prepared.

But under pressure:
 
 • A sudden question
 • A challenge from a senior leader
 • A tense meeting moment

Your mind goes quiet.

Not because you don’t know what to say.

But because pressure shuts down unstructured thinking.

When confidence drops, most people panic, ramble, or freeze.

What actually holds under pressure isn’t confidence.

It’s structure.

Structure tells your brain what to say next even when adrenaline kicks in.

This is why senior leaders sound calm and decisive in difficult moments.

They’re not thinking faster.

They’re speaking in patterns.

This Thursday, January 29, I’m hosting a live, 1-hour masterclass:

Speak Assertively in 2026

This is the first time I’m opening a session like this to the public.

It’s designed for introverted leaders who want to:
 
 • Respond clearly when put on the spot
 • Speak assertively without sounding aggressive
 • Stop freezing, rambling, or over-explaining
 • Handle pressure moments with composure

You will learn practical breakdowns of how assertive communication works under pressure.

Only 38 spots remaining.

Once doors close, that’s it.

If you want an invite, DM me “ASSERTIVE” and I’ll send you the details.

If you’re an introverted leader and not taken seriously..

This isn’t “just your personality.”

It means something in how you’re speaking is costing you authority.

Most quiet leaders assume:

“If my work is good, it’ll speak for itself”
“I don’t want to sound aggressive”
“I’ll speak up when I’m more confident”

That mindset is what keeps you overlooked.

At senior levels, clarity is confidence.

Hesitation gets read as uncertainty whether you mean it or not.

If you’ve ever:

Been talked over in meetings
Had your ideas ignored until someone else repeated them
Felt respected for your work, but not your voice

Doing “more prep” won’t fix this.

You have to solve the root problem: how you speak under pressure.

This Thursday, January 29, I’m hosting a live masterclass:

Speak Assertively in 2026 

Designed specifically for introverted leaders who are tired of being underestimated.

You’ll learn:

1. How to speak with authority without sounding aggressive
2. What assertive communication actually looks like at senior levels
3. How to hold your ground when challenged or interrupted
4. Why being “polite” is often killing your credibility

This is not a motivational talk.

It’s a practical, high-level training you can apply right away. 

I’m limiting this to 50 people only so it stays intimate and advanced.

If you want a seat, DM me “ASSERTIVE” I’ll send you the details.

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.

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?

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

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

taplio

The Battle

Maria Malik

Melanie Borden

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance ScoreMaria Malik's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreMelanie Borden's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

taplio

The Battle

Maria Malik

Melanie Borden

Followers

Posts

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);}Maria Malik's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreMelanie Borden's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Performance ScoreMaria Malik's LinkedIn Performance