In Part Two of this conversation on Branding Room Only, Paula T. Edgar and Rhonda Joy McLean move from formation to practice, exploring what it means to live your personal brand once leadership responsibilities deepen and visibility increases.

Rhonda Joy reflects on how her leadership style evolved over time, particularly as she navigated being “the only,” managing teams, and carrying significant responsibility for others. She shares why listening is a critical leadership discipline, how relationships and sisterhood can sustain leaders, and what she learned the hard way about burnout, boundaries, and self-care.

Paula and Rhonda also discuss the evolution of The Little Black Book of Success and Rhonda and her co-authors’ new book, The Next Little Black Book of Success, and why this moment called for a renewed leadership roadmap rooted in clarity, care, and people-centered values.

1:08 – How personal relationships impacted Rhonda’s ability to manage and build her brand

5:47 – How Rhonda’s brand has changed who she is and how she shows up over the course of her career

7:47 – The role of leadership and volunteerism in building Rhonda’s brand

14:48 – The cost of saying yes to everything, the importance of learning to rest, and Rhonda’s self-care strategy

18:12 – The Little Black Book of Success: how it came about, what it’s about, and the newest iteration

23:36 - Why Rhonda and her co-authors wrote another book, and inclusivity as a requirement (not an option) for the future of leadership

28:01 – What Rhonda does for fun, people-centered leadership, and the snippet that defines her Branding Room Only magic

Mentioned In From Becoming to Leading: Living Your Personal Brand with Rhonda Joy McLean

RJM Leads

The Little Black Book of Success series by Elaine Meryl Brown, Marsha Haygood, and Rhonda Joy McLean

Storehouse Voices (The NEXT Little Black Book of Success)

Learn More About Paula's Personal Branding Strategy Session Offer

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Sponsor for this episode

This episode is brought to you by PGE Consulting Group LLC.

PGE Consulting Group LLC empowers individuals and organizations to lead with purpose, presence, and impact. Specializing in leadership development and personal branding, we offer keynotes, custom programming, consulting, and strategic advising—all designed to elevate influence and performance at every level.

Founded and led by Paula Edgar, our work centers on practical strategies that enhance professional development, strengthen workplace culture, and drive meaningful, measurable change.

To learn more about Paula and her services, go to www.paulaedgar.com or contact her at info@paulaedgar.com, and follow Paula Edgar and the PGE Consulting Group LLC on LinkedIn.