thoughts to feed your mind

Contributed by Chase Fitzgerald; updated by Marina Byezhanova

LinkedIn: one of the most powerful yet still misunderstood social media platforms out there.
As a CEO of your business, you likely relate: LinkedIn seems like a “natural” and interesting platform for your message, so...

By Alanna Fairey

The day has come: our podcast “The Voice of a Leader” has launched, and our first episode is now live!

Hosted by media personality, actress and singer-songwriter Lanisa Farnsworth, the Voice of a Leader podcast was born out of a desire for connection and deep...

By Alanna Fairey

If you’ve ever had a conversation with me (no matter how brief our exchange), there is almost a 99.99% chance that I have talked your ear off about my dog, Rudy. 

Anyone who is a dog parent will tell you that there is just something so safe and comforting about coming...

By Alanna Fairey

When I was doing my masters at Nottingham Trent University, I had a meeting with my course leader and mentor to start thinking about what my life would look like after my program was complete. At the time, I only thought about a career in public relations within the fashion...

By Alanna Fairey

For as long as I can remember, I have always been an avid reader. 

My bookshelf has more options than your local bookstore, with authors ranging from F. Scott Fitzgerald, to Jacqueline Susann, to Gillian Flynn, to Kazuo Ishiguro, and Marcel Proust. If you’re ever lucky...

By Alanna Fairey

Rachel Zoe once said, “Fashion is about saying who you are without having to speak.”  

As someone who has worked in the fashion industry for over 10 years, I couldn’t agree with this statement more. 

In what feels like another lifetime ago, I was...

By Alanna Fairey

When it comes to sharing insights into how to build a strong personal brand, Marina Byezhanova has earned her place as an expert in this area. Speaking on the “Becoming PowHERHouse” podcast with Nicholle Overkamp, Marina shared her personal branding tips, and why...

By Alanna Fairey

I am writing this blog post hours after speaking for the United Nation. Yes, THAT United Nations.

How did this come to be? 

Last year, I worked on a project through a fashion organization that I consult for, which connected two schools I previously attended: Nottingham Trent...

It all starts with understanding your core values and purpose. A personal exercise can help.

Marina Byezhanova, an Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO) member in Canada, is a global speaker, university instructor, and co-founder of Brand of a Leader, a personal branding agency for...

By Alanna Fairey

I was 11 when I heard Bob Dylan’s “Time Out of Mind” album for the first time. To say that it changed the trajectory of my life might sound melodramatic to some, but it always made sense to me. I’ve always felt a connection to his songs, considered him to...

By Alanna Fairey

When I was 22, I was working as a freelance stylist in Toronto. By that point, I had already worked at Toronto Fashion Week and had done work for Global News. But I was about to walk into what I hoped would be my big break: I would be styling a well-known Toronto media...

By Alanna Fairey

Starting a business in 2020 during COVID would be seen as a risky move to some, but for Brand of a Leader co-founders Marina Byezhanova and Stefano Faustini, it opened the door for the next phase of their entrepreneurial journey. 

Marina’s first company was a boutique...