“Most people are not stuck because they lack talent. They are stuck because they keep waiting to feel ready.”

In this episode, the host sits down with Giselle Ugarte, a coach and speaker who helps leaders and entrepreneurs find their voice and use it to create meaningful impact both online and offline. Giselle shares how her journey began with uncertainty and small experiments on YouTube, using makeup tutorials as a way to practice speaking on camera before she ever considered herself ready.

She explains why personal branding is often misunderstood and why it is not simply about social media visibility, followers, or polished content. Instead, she reframes it as the alignment between who someone is online and who they are in real life. Giselle discusses the difference between building a personal brand and creating a “business with a face,” and why storytelling, authenticity, and human connection are essential for long-term influence.

The conversation also explores the realities of self-doubt, the importance of taking action before feeling fully prepared, and the idea of “action forward” taking one step that moves a dream closer to reality.

Topics Covered:

00:00 – Introducing our guest, Giselle Ugarte

00:31 – Building relationships beyond social media

02:13 – Giselle’s journey from insecurity to coaching leaders

03:16 – What is your brand?

06:05 – Why early, imperfect content matters

09:02 – Contribution over popularity

10:44 – Self-doubt is common at every level

13:40 – The “action forward” approach to overcoming fear

15:49 – How overthinking creates “doubt stacking”

17:31 – The power of saying yes to opportunities

21:06 – What a personal brand actually means

25:47 – Personal brand vs. a business with a face

29:16 – Why storytelling builds trust with audiences

31:14 – Four guiding questions for strong content

33:56 – Faith, crisis, and staying grounded

36:23 – Influence comes from understanding people

38:14 – The importance of the human touch in business

39:41 – How people have become “socially out of practice”

42:06 – Rebuilding connection through in-person events

44:39 – Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

45:44 – Advice to her 20-year-old self

48:01 – Success through faith and purpose

50:21 – Connect with Giselle

Connect with Giselle Ugarte:

Web: https://www.giselleugarte.com/
InkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/giselleugarte/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@giselle.ugarte
IG: https://www.instagram.com/giselleugarte/

Connect with Erica:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ericalemarr
Email: ericalemarr@gmail.com