The Brand Bar

Want to know what separates people who get promoted, land opportunities, build powerful brands, and stay relevant for decades?In this episode, Katrina Jo sits down with Jakiya Brown Thiaw to unpack the five biggest career lessons she learned while working at one of the most influential beauty and marketing companies in the world. From boardrooms and billion-dollar brands to relationship building and storytelling, these are the lessons that continue to shape how she leads, markets, and builds today and how you can too.We go Behind the Bar on:• Why knowing your numbers is a career superpower• The lost art of relationship building in the social media era• What luxury brands understand about storytelling and experience• How to balance creativity with strategy• The difference between building a brand and building a legacy• Why some people are pivoting too soon—and what to do instead• Personal branding lessons that apply whether you're in corporate or entrepreneurshipWhether you're climbing the corporate ladder, building your own business, navigating a career transition, or trying to create your next big opportunity, these lessons can help you think bigger, move smarter, and build something that lasts.Because big brand energy isn't reserved for billion-dollar companies, it's a mindset.Share this episode with a friend, coworker, or fellow brand bestie who's building something meaningful.And don't forget to rate + review—it helps us keep raising the bar.

Pull up a seat at The Brand Bar!This week, Katrina Jo and Jakiya Brown Thiaw unpack the conversation that’s been taking over social media after their viral clip on introducing your friends, and what it really means to be “that girl.”Because sometimes the biggest difference between staying overlooked and stepping into your next level… is self-belief. In episode 008, we go Behind the Bar on:• Why confidence changes how rooms respond to you • The importance of keeping your “receipts” in career and business • Radical self-confidence vs. people pleasing • Why women are often conditioned to stay humble • Building affirmations rooted in facts, not feelings • Protecting your energy and surrounding yourself with aligned people • How successful women train themselves to think biggerFrom corporate girlies navigating leadership to entrepreneurs building their next chapter, this episode is a reminder that your next level starts with how you see yourself first.Because believing you’re that girl and knowing you’re that girl… are two different things.If this episode resonates, share it with a friend who needs the reminder.And don’t forget to rate + review — it helps us keep raising the bar.

Pull up a seat at The Brand Bar. 🥂In this episode, Katrina Jo and Jakiya Brown Thiaw go Behind the Bar for a rapid-fire conversation on the marketing lessons, brand details, and career insights they’ve learned from building campaigns for some of the biggest brands in the world.From experiential activations with global artists like Kendrick Lamar & Meek Mill to brand partnerships across the culture, they break down the moments that shaped their approach to marketing — and the small details that separate unforgettable brands from the ones that fall flat.In this episode, we get into:• Our favorite campaigns and brand activations we’ve worked on• Marketing “icks” that immediately turn us off as brand strategists• Why details matter more than most brands realize• The biggest lesson marketing teaches you about leadership and reputation• How your personal brand shows up in every room you walk intoPlus, a conversation about building with ease, trusting your instincts as a founder, and why the way you approach ideas can change the trajectory of your business.Whether you’re a marketer, founder, creative, or corporate girlie navigating your next move, this episode is full of insights you can apply to your own brand and career.If this episode gave you a new perspective, share it with a friend or a fellow brand bestie.And don’t forget to rate and review — keep raising the bar. 🥂

Pull up a seat, we have our first guest at The Brand Bar!This week, we’re joined by Atlanta radio personality, community curator, and cultural connector Su Solo for a real conversation about success, alignment, and knowing when it’s time to evolve — even when you’re “at the top.”From growing up on Section 8 in Atlanta to hosting the #1 midday radio show, Su did what many dream of. But what happens when external success no longer matches internal peace?In this episode, we go Behind the Bar on:• Redefining success beyond titles and visibility• Why “pushing through” isn’t always the flex• Letting go of struggle as a badge of honor• The power of solitude as a strategic reset• Building a brand rooted in culture, service, and accessibility• Making room for your next season — in career, business, and lifeWhether you’re a corporate girlie climbing the ladder, an entrepreneur recalibrating your vision, or a high-achieving woman realizing you want something different — this conversation will meet you where you are.Because sometimes growth isn’t about adding more.It’s about making room.If this episode resonates, share it with a friend who’s in her “next season” era.Text it to the one rethinking her career.Send it to the founder feeling the shift.And don’t forget to rate + review — it helps us keep raising the bar. 🥂

As your brand grows, your circle shifts.In this episode of The Brand Bar, we go Behind the Bar on something every founder experiences but few talk about — what happens to your friendships when your business evolves.From being “the Hennessy girl” in one city to crickets in another…
From moving across continents to watching who really supports your brand…
From lifers to proximity connections…We unpack the real strategy behind relationships in entrepreneurship.Because building a brand isn’t just marketing — it’s managing proximity, power, perception, and partnerships.We cover: • Why success can shift dynamics in your friend circle • How to audit relationships the same way you audit your brand • The difference between lifers and convenience connections • Why real friends invest in your business (and pay full price) • Mixing friendship + business — and why contracts matter • Collaborating with your circle to build real equityGrowth changes rooms.
And sometimes it changes who’s in them.Because growth isn’t just about revenue.It’s about alignment.If this episode resonated, share it with a friend who’s evolving too — and don’t forget to rate & review to keep the bar high. 🥂

We’re diving into kicking off 2026 with intention — from redefining daily habits to shifting money mindsets and building sustainable success as entrepreneurs. Katrina Jo and Jakiya break down what it really looks like to grow without burnout, ditch unrealistic hustle culture, and create routines that actually work for your lifestyle.This episode is all about new energy, new perspectives, and building a business that supports the life you want — not the other way around. If you’ve ever felt pressure to follow someone else’s blueprint, questioned your money habits, or wanted to scale with more ease, this one’s for you.You’ll learn:    •    How to create habits that support sustainability (not burnout)    •    How to shift from scarcity to abundance thinking with money    •    Why entrepreneurship doesn’t have to follow a “5AM club” formula    •    How to manage unpredictable income and build financial confidence    •    How tracking, systems, and mindset fuel long-term growthIf this helped you, please rate and review! It helps more founders, creatives, and brand builders find the show. 🍸✨

We’re diving into KJ’s not-so-linear career journey — from ballet academy kid, to NFL & NBA dancer, to entrepreneur, to building a career across Reebok then over to LVMH. It’s a journey full of intuition, community, and a few bold pivots that shaped everything. If you’ve ever wanted to switch lanes, reinvent yourself, or follow a feeling you can’t shake, this episode is your sign. Listen to the episode + tap into this journey!You’ll learn• How to identify your "nucleus" - the core purpose that connects all your creative lanes.• How to leverage your unique background• How mind mapping, community-building, and creating memorable experiences can help you in your career• Navigating pivots and the power of trusting your internal “pull”If this helped you, please rate and review — it helps more founders find the show 🥂

What does it really look like to leave corporate and build a global brand on your own terms? In this candid episode, Jakiya shares the unfiltered path from L’Oréal boardrooms and burnout to a one-way ticket, a $30K course launch from an empty apartment, and building Hustle to Ease—an accelerator that’s graduated 150+ women and driven $8M+ in collective revenue. We dig into microaggressions, knowing when to walk, faith over fear, and why you must be a brand (not “just a content creator”). Receipts > hype.You’ll learn:    •    How to spot the moment it’s time to leave (and what to line up first)    •    The exact pivot that turned $500 into a $30K launch    •    Brand vs. “content creator” — and why language matters    •    Systems that let your business make money while you’re offline    •    Building with ease: community, funnels, and an AI-powered futureIf this helped you, please rate and review—it helps more founders find the show. 🥂

Pull up a seat. In our first pour, Katrina Jo and Jakiya Brown Thiaw share how they met working with Hennessy, why this show exists (no gatekeeping), and what really separates a brand from “just posting content.” We talk white space, pricing power, and the insider realities of brand budgets (yes—$100K for a 60-second video happens), plus how to design 5-senses experiences even on small budgets. If you’re ready to build with clarity, culture, and strategy—this one sets the tone.You’ll learn:Why “content creator” isn’t your brand—and what to say insteadHow to spot and own white space in your marketThe corporate POV on budgets, partnerships, and what brands look forHow to use 5 senses to elevate your brand experience on any budgetPricing mindset for women founders (stop undercharging)Hosted by: @katrinajo × @jakiyabrownthiawSubscribe, comment, and share with your brand bestie.