This episode of The Vision with Execution Show is a milestone for me as I welcome my first female guest, Michelle B. Griffin, a best-selling author, branding expert, and passionate advocate for visibility and empowerment. We dive deep into AI’s role in content creation, the importance of personal branding, and strategies for execution.

Michelle introduces her favorite AI tools—Fathom, Otter, and Fireflies—that act as her “trusted executive assistants” for note-taking and repurposing content. For her, talking is a form of content creation, allowing her to articulate thoughts quickly and efficiently. I share my own experience with AI-powered note-taking, emphasizing how it helps streamline podcasting.

Michelle and I discuss the gender imbalance in professional visibility. I acknowledge that most of my guests have been male simply because of my professional circles. However, I recognize the importance of female voices and want to create a platform that encourages more women to share their expertise. Michelle highlights the “visibility gap” many women face, explaining that societal pressures often make them hesitant to step into the spotlight. Her mission is to help more women “own their lane” and share their brilliance with confidence.

We explore the concept of “owning your lane” and how it differs for men and women. I share my perspective as a man, where I focus solely on my own path without much concern for external perceptions. In contrast, Michelle explains that many women consider how they are perceived by others, often battling self-doubt and imposter syndrome. She emphasizes that personal branding isn’t about self-promotion—it’s about sharing one’s gifts with the world.

Michelle’s vision is to expand her Own Your Lane framework internationally through speaking engagements, books, and training programs. To execute this, she simplifies her strategy by focusing on three key goals: publishing another book, securing more speaking opportunities, and growing her podcast reach. She also uses a vision board and specific goal-setting methods to stay on track. I resonate with this approach, as I believe specificity drives execution.

We delve into the significance of human connection, both in business and personal life. I open up about my background in addiction recovery and how I’ve learned that connection is the opposite of addiction. Michelle builds on this, explaining how human interaction fuels her energy and creativity. We also discuss perfectionism as a barrier to execution—Michelle admits she has struggled with overthinking but has worked on simplifying her approach.

Our conversation shifts to earned media, the role of PR agencies, and the decline of traditional journalism. Michelle and I discuss how paid media is increasingly becoming the norm and how consultants and branding experts can leverage third-party platforms for credibility. I explain my work in media publishing and how I help experts gain visibility.

The episode ends with a mutual appreciation for connection, execution, and visibility. Michelle reinforces the importance of getting out of one’s comfort zone, while I reflect on the value of learning from each guest. As the show evolves, I look forward to featuring more diverse voices and continuing to explore the intersection of vision and execution.

This conversation with Michelle has been a powerful reminder of the impact of sharing our voices. The cost of staying hidden is too great—it's time to own our lanes and step into visibility.