In this episode of Codeswitch Rebellion, personal branding pro Melanie L. Danny (aka Melly D) has a clear message for Black women breaking out of the corporate grind.

She breaks down how all that corporate mess has us playing small and faking it just to fit into a mold that was never meant for us. She clearly defines authenticity, and encourages us to stop dimming our light, start showing up in the full essence of who we are.

Melanie’s not here for watered-down brands or fake professionalism. She’s all about keeping it 100, because who’s got time to keep frontin’?

Links:

Follow the rebellion on Substack: https://mellynated.substack.com/

Subscribe to the rebellion on YouTube: youtube.com/@melanieldenny

Book a digital brand audit: mellynated.com/digitalbrandaudit

Timestamps:

Challenging "Just Be Yourself" (00:00:00)

Personal Struggles with Authenticity (00:01:13)

The Cost of Inauthenticity (00:02:05)

Corporate Conditioning in Entrepreneurship (00:03:08)

Defining Authenticity: Alignment and Integrity (00:04:18)

Corporate Conditioning as the Root Cause (00:05:48)

Corporate Standards and Loss of Self (00:07:02)

Autopilot Professionalism and Content Example (00:08:12)

Watered-Down Messaging and Acting (00:09:09)

Corporate Rules and Fitting In (00:10:20)

Family, Hair, and Professionalism (00:11:19)

Professionalism’s True Meaning (00:12:26)

Safe Branding and Muted Self-Expression (00:13:28)

Authenticity in Outer Presentation (00:14:31)

Rebranding with True Self (00:15:42)

Alignment Over Professionalism (00:16:45)

Brand Audit Invitation and Episode Wrap-Up (00:18:16)