Workfluencer: Personal Branding & Content Creation

Hosted by Rhona Pierce

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102

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Aug 2026

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About the show

Redefining how we talk about work. Hosted by Rhona Pierce, Workfluencer spotlights professionals using content to grow careers, build personal brands, and shape industries. From employee creators reshaping corporate culture to entrepreneurs turning side-hustles into businesses, we explore the real stories and strategies behind blending work, creativity, and influence in today’s world.

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September 14, 202648 min

#101: Building a Personal Brand While Working Full-Time ft. Roxy Couse

Being great at your job doesn’t guarantee a promotion. Roxy Couse learned that after nearly 15 years in corporate, several lateral moves, and a leader who admitted there was nothing left for her to prove. While working as a senior director, Roxy started creating content before work, after work, and on weekends. What began as a TikTok hobby grew into an audience of more than 650,000 followers, 100 million views, and brand partnerships with companies including LinkedIn and IBM. In this episode, Roxy shares what it really takes to build a personal brand while working full-time. She explains how she balanced two demanding careers, followed her employer’s social media policies, and turned years of corporate experience into paid opportunities. She also shares why brand deals weren’t enough and how that realization led her to build Sloefy, a platform helping corporate professionals become more visible. This conversation is about building enough visibility, income, and career leverage to choose what comes next on your own terms. What You’ll Learn Why strong performance alone may not lead to a promotion How Roxy found her content niche by talking honestly about work What it takes to create consistently while working full-time How to build a personal brand without creating problems at work How she went from a $100 brand deal to six-figure creator income How a personal brand can create confidence and career leverage Why Roxy built Sloefy for corporate professionals Resources Mentioned: Learn about Sloefy: https://sloefy.com/ Rhona's Newsletter: ⁠https://link.rhonapierce.com/newsletter2 Connect with Us: Connect with Roxy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roxanna-couse/ Connect with Rhona: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhonabarnettpierce Want to turn your team into creators? Visit ⁠⁠⁠workfluencermedia.com⁠⁠⁠ to learn how we help companies turn employee expertise into content that gets noticed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

September 1, 202635 min

#100: How Creators Can Help Brands Win AI Search

AI search citations are the newest piece of real estate on the internet, and creators may be one of the fastest ways for brands to claim it. Most brand deals are still measured through reach, clicks, and conversions. Meanwhile, answer engines are shaping which companies get mentioned when buyers ask ChatGPT, Perplexity, or Google who to trust. Almost nobody is pricing creator partnerships around that value yet. This conversation was never supposed to become an episode. Rhona Pierce invited Jeffrey Fermin, a 15-year marketing veteran, to privately pressure test an offer she is building around AI search citations. What follows is a behind-the-scenes look at two media and marketing operators working through the opportunity in real time. They break down how attribution actually works inside companies, why UTMs and discount codes miss so much of a creator’s influence, and how podcast transcripts and other written assets can support visibility in AI-generated answers. At its core, this is a conversation about proof. Creators need ways to demonstrate value when tracking fails. Brands need to understand what a mention from a trusted outside voice can do that content published on their own website cannot. You’ll hear why tying creator pay to closed sales is a bad deal, how multi-touch attribution better reflects the B2B buying journey, and why Rhona will never agree to perpetual usage rights when creator content could continue generating value for years. This behind-the-scenes conversation marks the 100th episode of the Workfluencer Podcast. What You'll Learn: Why AI search citations are becoming a line item creators can price and sell Where a creator’s responsibility ends in the sales funnel How multi-touch attribution works in B2B marketing How creator content can support visibility in AI search Why transcripts and structured written content matter What AI citations could mean for creator usage rights Why brands and creators need new ways to measure long-term value Resources Mentioned: Rhona's Newsletter: ⁠https://link.rhonapierce.com/newsletter2 Connect with Us: Connect with Jeffrey: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jfermin/ Connect with Rhona: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhonabarnettpierce Want to turn your team into creators? Visit ⁠⁠⁠workfluencermedia.com⁠⁠⁠ to learn how we help companies turn employee expertise into content that gets noticed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

August 24, 202654 min

#99: How to Create LinkedIn Content That Sells

Most people post about getting laid off and ask for sympathy. Deidre “Dee” Henry posted about getting laid off and asked for clients. Dee had been a top-performing salesperson at Zillow when she suddenly lost her job. Instead of publishing the expected gratitude post, she shared what she was actually feeling and made it clear what she could do for potential clients. That story became the foundation for The Sales Loft, Microsoft partnerships, a CNBC feature, and an appearance on the same stage as Kerry Washington. In this episode, Dee joins Rhona Pierce to break down how personal stories become content that sells. They discuss why feelings drive decisions, how to be vulnerable without becoming a hot mess online, and what separates a post that earns sympathy from one that creates opportunities. Dee also shares her PTO framework: Profile, Trust, and Opportunities. You’ll learn how to turn your LinkedIn profile into a sales page, create content that gives people a reason to hire you, and stay consistent when your posts are not producing immediate revenue. What You'll Learn: Why feelings make content more persuasive How to turn a personal story into a business opportunity The difference between authentic content and oversharing What separates posts that sell from posts that earn sympathy How to make your LinkedIn profile function like a sales page Why every post should communicate what is in it for the reader Why you do not need a large audience or website to attract clients What to do when your content is not converting yet Resources Mentioned: Visit The Sales Loft: https://thesalesloft.com/ Rhona's Newsletter: https://link.rhonapierce.com/newsletter2 Connect with Us: ⁠Connect with Deidre: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deidremhenry/ Connect with Rhona: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhonabarnettpierce Want to turn your team into creators? Visit ⁠⁠workfluencermedia.com⁠⁠ to learn how we help companies turn employee expertise into content that gets noticed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

August 17, 202640 min

#98: Why Creators Are Going Back to Corporate Jobs ft. Lissette Calveiro

Creators were supposed to leave corporate behind. Now some of them are going back — and companies are creating roles specifically for people with creator experience. Lissette Calveiro has spent nearly 15 years in the creator and influencer marketing industry and managed more than $10 million in brand partnerships. Today, she’s watching the creator economy evolve in an unexpected direction: creators are bringing their skills back into companies, while companies are realizing they need creators at the table. In this episode, Lissette explains why creators are moving into corporate roles, what these new creator-focused jobs actually look like, and why going back to a corporate job doesn’t mean the creator economy failed. We also talk about why authority and expertise are becoming more valuable than follower count, how creators should think about pricing brand deals, why sponsorships shouldn't be the only way to monetize your audience, and how to build a creator career that can evolve as your goals change. Plus, Lissette shares the most she's ever made from a sponsored post, the $45,000 deal that went sideways, and why she believes creators have more negotiating power than they think. What You'll Learn: Why creators are going back to corporate Why returning to a corporate role doesn't mean the creator economy failed What creator evangelist, creator advocate, and creator relations roles actually do Why companies need creators involved in their creator strategies How creator experience translates into valuable corporate skills Why authority and expertise are becoming more important than follower count How to build a creator business that doesn't rely entirely on brand deals Resources Mentioned: Influence With Impact: https://influencewithimpact.co/ Rhona's Newsletter: ⁠https://link.rhonapierce.com/newsletter2 Connect with Us: Connect with Lissette: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lissettecalveiro/ Connect with Rhona: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhonabarnettpierce Want to turn your team into creators? Visit ⁠workfluencermedia.com⁠ to learn how we help companies turn employee expertise into content that gets noticed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

August 10, 202646 min

#97: How he gets brand deals with a small following ft. Lloyd George

Most creators assume they need a huge following to land brand deals. They don't. Lloyd George has been on both sides of the creator economy. He's worked inside major agencies running campaigns for brands like Coca-Cola, Kevin Hart, and The Rock, while building his own creator business on the side. Now he's gone full-time as a creator and freelancer. In this episode of Workfluencer, Lloyd pulls back the curtain on what actually happens when brands decide which creators to hire—and why follower count is often much less important than creators think. We talk about how small creators can land brand deals, why creators disqualify themselves before ever pitching, the role relationships play in getting opportunities, and how Lloyd thinks about pricing and negotiating brand partnerships. We also get into the much bigger question of when a creator is actually ready to leave their day job, why having a steady paycheck can protect your creative business, and how surrounding yourself with other creators can change what you believe is possible. Plus, Lloyd shares the biggest sponsored post he's landed, why he blocks people on social media, and the creator analytics he'd love to peek at. What You'll Learn: Why creators disqualify themselves from brand deals, and how to stop How to meet the decision makers who hire creators, even outside major cities Why relationships can matter more than follower count How creators can increase the value of a brand deal What Lloyd learned from seeing six-figure creator campaigns How to know when you're ready to go full-time How to build confidence around charging what you're worth Resources Mentioned: The Creator Ledger Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@TheCreatorLedger1 Sponsor Magnet by Justin Moore: https://www.sponsormagnet.com Rhona's Newsletter: https://link.rhonapierce.com/newsletter2 Connect With Us Connect with Lloyd: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lloyd-george-634a7793/ Connect with Rhona: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhonabarnettpierce Want to turn your team into creators? Visit workfluencermedia.com to learn how we help companies turn employee expertise into content that gets noticed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

July 27, 202637 min

#96: How to Land Brand Deals Outside Your Niche

Brand deals rarely come from playing it safe inside your niche. Kristi Kennebrew built Get Me Hired Kristi into a thriving creator brand while working full-time, but some of her most successful partnerships have come from brands nobody would expect—including a FIFA World Cup campaign. In this episode, host Rhona Pierce sits down with Kristi to discuss how she lands brand deals outside the career and HR space without losing the trust of her audience. They explore why creators shouldn't limit themselves to sponsors in their own industry, how Kristi pitches mainstream brands by connecting products to her audience's everyday lives, and what it takes to balance content creation with a full-time job. Kristi also shares why she treats content creation as a career safety net rather than a path to becoming a full-time creator, how her newsletter helped her transition into recruitment marketing, and why being open about rejection has become one of the most valuable parts of her brand. If you've ever wondered whether your niche is limiting your sponsorship opportunities, this episode will change how you think about creator partnerships. Key Takeaways: Why your niche doesn't have to limit your sponsorships How to pitch brands outside your industry Making lifestyle partnerships feel authentic Balancing a full-time job with content creation Using content as career insurance Navigating employer social media policies Why rejection is part of every creator's journey Resources Mentioned: Visit Kristi's website: https://getmehiredkristi.com/ Get Rhona's Newsletter: https://link.rhonapierce.com/join-newsletter Connect with Us: Connect with Kristi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristi-kennebrew/ Connect with Rhona: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhonabarnettpierce Want to turn your team into creators? Visit workfluencermedia.com to learn how we help companies build video-first content systems that attract, engage, and retain talent. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

July 20, 202641 min

REPLAY: Building Building HR's Most Subscribed Newsletter with Hebba Youssef

How do you come up with newsletter ideas every week? If you write anything on a schedule, you've felt this pain. Hebba Youssef writes I Hate It Here, one of the biggest newsletters in HR, and she used to do what most of us do: wake up on Sunday and pick a random thought. It worked until it didn't. "It's really stressful when you're trying to be creative in the chaos." Her fix: pick one theme per quarter, then break it into 12 newsletters that build on each other. Readers get a continuous story instead of scattered takes, and she never faces a blank page. The themes come from pop culture, because of course they do. Steal this system. It works! This is one of my favorite episodes. If you currently have a newsletter or if you're thinking of starting one, this is a must listen! RESOURCES MENTIONED: Subscribe to I Hate It Here: ⁠https://join.hateithere.co/e13d9d5b/13⁠ Join the Safe Space community: ⁠https://hateithere.co/community/safe-space/ CONNECT WITH US: Connect with Hebba: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hebba-youssef/ Connect with Rhona: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhonabarnettpierce Want to turn your team into creators? Visit ⁠workfluencermedia.com⁠ to learn how we help companies build video-first content systems that attract, engage, and retain talent. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

June 29, 202634 min

#95: How In-Person Events Build Community

Hosting an event is easy. Building a community that people return to month after month is much harder. In this episode of Workfluencer, Rhona sits down with Chaselle Gazelle, founder of Jacksonville Bestie, to explore what separates unforgettable in-person events from forgettable networking mixers. Chaselle shares how she turned casual brunches with friends into one of Jacksonville's most recognizable community brands, why relationships matter more than transactions, and how businesses can use recurring in-person events to strengthen their brand, grow loyal audiences, and create genuine human connection. Whether you're in Talent Acquisition, HR, Marketing, Employer Branding, or you're building a business around community, this episode is packed with practical ideas you can apply immediately. What You'll Learn: How to use in-person community events as a long-term brand and business growth strategy Why recurring, scheduled events build real culture faster than one-off activations The professional harasser method for maximizing attendance without annoying your audience How to negotiate revenue splits with bars and venues to earn beyond ticket sales Why word of mouth still drives more growth than paid advertising What separates events that build community from ones that just fill a room How remembering names and personal details creates the belonging that keeps people coming back Resources Mentioned: Chaselle's Website: https://www.chasellegazelle.com Connect with Us: Connect with Chaselle: https://www.instagram.com/chasellegazelle/ Connect with Rhona: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhonabarnettpierce Want to turn your team into creators? Visit workfluencermedia.com to learn how we help companies build video-first content systems that attract, engage, and retain talent. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

June 22, 202642 min

#94: What Makes a Great DisruptHR Talk

Most people spend months preparing for a single DisruptHR presentation. Ashlynne Valdez delivered two different talks in 30 days, won Best Speaker at one event, and helps select speakers for DisruptHR Las Vegas. In this episode, we go behind the scenes of DisruptHR to explore what separates a good talk from a great one. Ashlynne shares how she develops topics, finds a disruptive angle, prepares for the fast-paced five-minute format, and what organizers are really looking for when reviewing speaker applications. Whether you're thinking about applying to DisruptHR or simply want to become a more impactful speaker, this conversation offers a rare look inside one of the most unique speaking formats in the workplace community. What You'll Learn: Why a five-minute talk is harder than an hour-long presentation and how to prepare for it The three things Disrupt HR selection committees look for in speaker applications How to find the disruptive angle in any topic, even one that seems overdone Why "less is more" is the most critical principle when the slides are beyond your control How to use LinkedIn content to test and validate your talk ideas before you even submit How to take a narrow, specific topic and make it land for every person in the room Resources Mentioned: SoundHR Website: https://www.soundhr.com/ Connect With Us: Connect with Ashlynne: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashlynne-valdez-phr-295706219/⁠ Connect with Rhona: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhonabarnettpierce Want to turn your team into creators? Visit ⁠⁠workfluencermedia.com⁠⁠ to learn how we help companies build video-first content systems that attract, engage, and retain talent. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

June 15, 202651 min

#93: How to Stand Out on LinkedIn

Most LinkedIn advice teaches you how to fit in. Jillian Richardson believes the opposite. In this episode of Workfluencer, Rhona sits down with one of LinkedIn's most recognizable ghostwriters to discuss why being a little weird might be your biggest advantage online. Jillian shares the story behind her viral "Be Weird on LinkedIn" movement, what founders get wrong about personal branding, and why authenticity is becoming the best defense against AI-generated content. They also discuss employee-generated content, ghostwriting, creator monetization, brand partnerships, and the realities of putting yourself out there online. If you've been playing it safe on LinkedIn, this episode will challenge you to rethink what professional content should look like. In this episode: Why blending in is becoming riskier than standing out The real meaning of "being weird" on LinkedIn How founders and executives can create more engaging content Why employee-generated content builds more trust than corporate messaging How ghostwriting actually works behind the scenes The relationship between authenticity and AI-generated content What creators should know about negotiating brand partnerships How to find your unique voice on LinkedIn Resources Mentioned: Jillian's Website: https://www.makelinkedinweird.com Connect With Us: Connect with Jillian: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/thatjillian/ Connect with Rhona: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhonabarnettpierce⁠ Want to turn your team into creators? Visit ⁠workfluencermedia.com⁠ to learn how we help companies build video-first content systems that attract, engage, and retain talent. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices