What's in Your Briefcase? A Different Approach.

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: Get the Clarity Compass Mini Program 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/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.