Episode 68: The brand you build when you stop performing with Nicola Noél

In this week’s episode, I got to sit down with the absolute powerhouse that is Nicola Noél. Nicola is a multi-award-winning mental health consultant and founder of Brainworks Therapy. She is also an equality, diversity and inclusion champion. We focussed on a version of branding that looks polished on the outside but underneath, it feels exhausting to maintain.

What does it actually take to build a brand that feels like you, not just one that looks good on social media, when there’s so much pressure to look and behave in a certain way?

We go deep on our identity, not just visibility.The not so glamorous side that’s shaped by real experiences, real challenges, and the parts of your story you don’t always know how to share.

Nicola shares her journey with mental health, and how storytelling became a tool for something much bigger than content.

Not for attention.Not to tick a box.But as a way to empower, both herself and the people listening.

Because when you learn how to tell your story properly, it changes how people see you.And more importantly… how you see yourself.

We also explore what it really looks like to navigate professional spaces when you’re carrying personal challenges in the background.

How do you show up?What do you share?Where’s the line between honesty and oversharing?

And just how do you build a brand that holds all of that, without it feeling heavy or performative?

This is where most of us get stuck.

We either say nothing…Or say everything…And neither quite lands the way we want it to.

Can your story become something intentional?Something that actually supports your brand, your confidence, and your growth?