Your personal brand isn’t what you post — it’s what you carry.

In this episode of Leading You, I’m joined by Vinisha Rathod, founder of P3 Studio and author of The Briefcase Effect, for a powerful and refreshing conversation about personal brand as a form of self-leadership — not performance.

Vinisha introduces her signature framework: Unpack → Carry → Amplify, guiding us to take stock of the habits, relationships, and mindset we bring into every room. Instead of building a brand for others, she shows us how to curate what supports you, so you become a magnet for aligned opportunities — and a gentle deterrent to what no longer fits.

We explore the role of boundaries, friendship audits, and even your internal “hormone squad” — dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, and endorphins — as part of the energy and presence you carry. From how you introduce yourself, to how you show up online, this episode is a call to rethink the signals you send — and take back ownership of how you lead.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why personal brand is really about self-leadership, not polish
• The Briefcase Effect framework: Unpack, Carry, Amplify
• How to audit your habits, friendships, and support systems
• The science of the “hormone squad” and how it affects your energy
• A powerful reframe for answering the question: “What do you do?”
• Why consistency, relatability, and intention matter more than perfection
• How to attract aligned opportunities by being who you already are

Actions & Reflection Prompts:

• What are you currently carrying in your “briefcase”?
• Which habits, people, or beliefs are supporting you — and which are draining you?
• How are you showing up online, and does it reflect who you really are?
• Try this intro: What I’m good at → What I do → Why it matters

Episode Timestamps:

00:00 – Welcome and the idea of “what’s in your briefcase?”
02:10 – Meet Vinisha Rathod and her book The Briefcase Effect
04:00 – Becoming a magnet for aligned opportunities
06:30 – The framework: Unpack → Carry → Amplify
09:10 – Friendship audits and curating support systems
12:05 – Why relatability beats polish in modern leadership
15:00 – Your online presence as your 24/7 résumé
17:30 – Habits that help vs habits that hinder
20:40 – The hormone squad and your leadership energy
24:10 – Connection, loneliness and memory-making
27:00 – The empty house problem: success without relationships
29:15 – Reframing how we answer “What do you do?”
33:30 – Hiring A-players and building inclusive cultures
37:10 – Becoming the person who adds to the room
40:00 – Closing reflections and invitations

Links:
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Connect with Julie:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-hyde/
Instagram: @juliehydeleads
Website: https://juliehyde.com.au

Connect with Vinisha:
Book: The Briefcase Effect 
Website: https://thebriefcaseeffect.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vinii_shar/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vinisharathod/