Episode Summary

In Episode 98 of The Own Your Brand Show, Victoria Odekomaya opens with a provocative observation: the woman receiving the most attention and opportunities is not always the most skilled woman in her industry. Sometimes she is simply the woman people know. Victoria uses that idea to explore the difference between having expertise and making that expertise visible to prospective clients and collaborators.

The conversation begins with an experience from Boss Ladies Magazine. After Victoria invited women to consider being featured, more than 20 expressed interest. Some were ready to move forward, while others hesitated despite having compelling experiences to share. She had heard similar objections throughout her years of working on the magazine. It made her wonder how many exceptional women remain their industry’s best-kept secret because they are reluctant to step into greater visibility.

The first reason Victoria discusses is the fear of sounding boastful. Many women are accustomed to doing excellent work quietly and expecting their results to speak for themselves. Victoria understands that hesitation, but she makes an important distinction: sharing your story is not the same as asking people to admire you. A well-told story helps others understand who you are, what you have experienced, and why your work matters.

She illustrates this with an encounter at a networking event. While waiting for coffee, two women approached her separately. One asked about an accident she had mentioned in her newsletter. Another remembered reading that Victoria came to the United States at age 17. Neither conversation began with a question about her services. Instead, the women recalled personal stories that made Victoria familiar and approachable. For her, the moment demonstrated how storytelling creates a connection that a promotional message often cannot.

Victoria then reflects on what authentic storytelling means in a world increasingly filled with AI-generated content. While working on advertising copy for Boss Ladies Magazine, she asked an AI tool to help polish her writing. It repeatedly removed a sentence that she believed would make a particular woman feel recognized. To the tool, the sentence could be shortened. To Victoria, it carried the emotional meaning of being seen after years of feeling overlooked. She argues that technology can help refine language, but the depth of a person’s experience must still come from the person who lived it.

The second barrier is the belief that telling your story is not directly useful to your business, sometimes expressed as a concern about the budget. Victoria encourages listeners to think of storytelling as a marketing investment rather than simply an attractive feature. When potential clients identify with your background or values, they gain another reason to remember and trust you. Services can be compared with competitors’ offerings, but a personal journey is uniquely yours.

She explains how a Boss Ladies Magazine feature is designed to create useful content beyond the original publication. The experience can include a written profile, a documentary-style interview, professional photography, print and digital features, and promotional assets that a business owner can continue using in other marketing channels. Victoria encourages women to evaluate the opportunity in relation to their visibility goals, while also acknowledging that the timing of any investment matters.

Victoria also speaks directly to women in leadership positions who do not own a business. She has seen accomplished professionals leave respected roles and discover that people outside their former organizations do not know the extent of their work. A title can change, but a well-developed personal brand gives others a way to recognize your expertise independently of a single employer. Victoria says she encourages members of her own LiMStudios team to build professional visibility around the work they do.

The third barrier is waiting for the perfect time. Women sometimes tell Victoria that they want to share their stories after their business reaches another milestone or their journey feels complete. She challenges that idea through a memory from 2021, when she was still working as a drug research scientist and had transformed her garage into a photography studio. Hearing a client discuss the challenges of building a business helped Victoria recognize her own hesitation. The fear did not disappear on its own. What changed was her decision to move forward.

That decision eventually helped lead to Boss Ladies Magazine, which Victoria says has featured more than 100 women across different formats. She frames storytelling as an act of legacy building. A story does not need a perfect ending before it deserves to be documented. A printed feature, video conversation, or other lasting record can help future clients, family members, and other women learn from a journey that is still unfolding.

Before closing, Victoria addresses two practical worries she often hears: not knowing what to say and not feeling ready for the camera. She explains that the LiMStudios process includes interviews, story development, and guidance for the visual experience. She returns to the central message of the episode: being capable is important, but people cannot choose the expert they have never had a chance to know. Sharing your story can help bridge that gap.