Brand of a Leader Co-Founder Marina Byezhanova Featured in The Northern Voices

We’re proud to share that our Co-Founder, Marina Byezhanova, was recently profiled by The Northern Voices in an in-depth feature that explores her entrepreneurial path, the evolution of Brand of a Leader, and the philosophy driving our work.

Marina’s story didn’t begin with a desire to be an entrepreneur. She envisioned a long corporate career — until a conversation during her first pregnancy sparked the idea of starting her own business. What began as a way to create flexibility as a new mother evolved into a passion for building something deeply aligned with her values.

In the interview, Marina discusses:

• Scaling globally without outbound sales — growing entirely through referrals, organic search, and now AI-driven discovery.

• Navigating cultural nuances in personal branding across 12 countries.

• Embracing AI intentionally to enhance efficiency without replacing human creativity or empathy.

• Designing a business around energy, not time — prioritizing work that fuels rather than drains.

• Maintaining boundaries and weaving family life into the entrepreneurial journey.

She also opens up about pivotal moments, such as overcoming early resistance to AI, and highlights systems — like Brand of a Leader’s proprietary brand strategy framework — that have been key to client success.

“Our goal is never to automate authenticity. We use AI to free up our team so they can focus on the work only humans can do.” — Marina Byezhanova

The piece is both a personal reflection and a masterclass in intentional entrepreneurship, proving that visibility, thought leadership, and a strong “why” are the real drivers of influence.

You can read the full interview on The Northern Voices here. 

Marina Byezhanova is Co-Founder of Brand of a Leader, where she transforms Gen X CEOs and founders into the first name their industry thinks of. As a global speaker, entrepreneur, and university instructor, Marina has delivered keynotes to executive audiences across North America, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. Her mission is to inspire leaders to own their narrative and leverage their reputation as a strategic business asset, positioning seasoned executives not as opinion leaders but as industry-defining thought leaders whose names carry weight in boardrooms and drive business results.