As PR and communications professionals, we spend a lot of time helping our clients build visibility. But how often do we stop to ask: is there actually something behind it?
That's the question at the center of my latest conversation on the Brandinc PR Podcast — and it's one I think every communicator needs to sit with.
I recently sat down with Chanel Rae Pettaway — Co-Founder of The Legion Media Group, EVP of Executive Brand & Visibility, and one of the most sharp and culturally grounded brand strategists working today. With over a decade of experience advising C-suite leaders, founders, media owners, and public figures across organizations including WWE, SiriusXM/Pandora, Hot 97, Revolt, Jimmy Jazz, and the NBA — and most recently leading strategic PR for Newark, NJ Mayor Ras J. Baraka's gubernatorial campaign — Chanel brings a perspective that is both expansive and deeply practical.
Her message is direct: influence without infrastructure is just noise.
In a profession that celebrates placements, impressions, and moments, that's a meaningful reframe. Because a viral moment that lands on a brand with no ecosystem behind it doesn't convert. It dissipates. And as communications professionals, we have a responsibility to help our clients build for what comes after the moment — not just the moment itself.
In this episode, we go deep on:
- How executives and founders can build influence strategically — before they ever have a viral moment
- Why cultural intelligence is no longer a soft skill — it's a business strategy
- The real difference between being recognizable and being an authority
- How reputational risk management works at the executive level before a crisis develops
- What PR professionals need to understand to evolve into executive brand strategists
This is one of those conversations that stayed with me long after we stopped recording. Whether you're a seasoned communications professional, an agency owner, or someone advising leaders through visibility and brand strategy — I think you'll find something in here that shifts how you think about the work.
🎧 Listen to the full episode here: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube
Dr. Brandi Sims is the Founder & CEO of Brandinc PR, a Forbes contributor, and host of the Brandinc PR Podcast — a weekly show for PR professionals, founders, and marketers building strategic, visible brands.