We recently connected with Christy Howard and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Christy, thanks for joining us today. Risking taking is a huge part of most people’s story but too often society overlooks those risks and only focuses on where you are today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – it could be a big risk or a small one – but walk us through the backstory.

I never imagined leaving the security of a high-paying corporate career to embark on an uncertain journey, guided only by faith and a calling I couldn’t ignore. For decades, I navigated the structured corporate world in different cities and industries, excelling in operations, strategy, and business development. But something was missing; I felt a persistent nudge—one that grew louder with time. It was a whisper from God, urging me to use my experiences, lessons, and skills in a different way—to help others who were struggling to see themselves as valuable solutions in the job market.

In 2022, I took a leap of faith and founded Authentic Brand, a business dedicated to empowering job seekers, career changers, and professionals seeking clarity and confidence. I wanted to help people understand their worth, refine their personal branding, and navigate the often-daunting job market with authenticity. The decision wasn’t easy. I had no guarantee that it would succeed, no roadmap, and no fallback plan.

The biggest challenge wasn’t just leaving a stable income—it was facing the uncertainty of entrepreneurship. Would anyone trust me to guide them? Could I truly make an impact? Would I even be known in a sea of career coaches and consultants? Despite the fear, I knew I had to move forward. This wasn’t just a business venture; it was a mission.

At first, I had no marketing strategy, advertising, or established client base. All I had was my belief in the work and my unwavering commitment to helping others. I focused on providing value, giving free resume and LinkedIn reviews, sharing strategic job search advice, and being the coach, mentor, and cheerleader many professionals desperately needed. One client led to another, and soon, word spread. Referrals became my lifeline; before I knew it, my business was thriving without ever having to market myself.

Today, I have over 200 LinkedIn recommendations, each a testament to the lives I’ve impacted. My clients come from referrals, proving that when you truly serve with heart, the right people find you. Authentic Brand has become more than just a business—it’s my movement. It stands for confidence, resilience, and authenticity in a world that often makes job seekers feel disposable.

The risk was the most terrifying yet rewarding decision I’ve ever made. It taught me that success isn’t about having all the answers upfront—it’s about trusting the process, leaning into your purpose, and allowing faith to guide the way.

For anyone facing a daunting decision, I urge you to listen to that inner nudge. Sometimes, the most significant risks lead to the most extraordinary rewards. If I had let fear dictate my path, Authentic Brand wouldn’t exist today, and I wouldn’t have the privilege of helping others transform their careers and lives.

God placed this mission on my heart, and I answered the call. Now, I help others do the same, showing them that they, too, are powerful solutions waiting to be discovered.

Christy, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

If you’ve never come across my work before, I’m the founder of Authentic Brand—a business rooted in faith, resilience, and the unwavering belief that everyone deserves to be seen, heard, and valued. My journey didn’t start in entrepreneurship; for over 40 years, I navigated the corporate world, working in diverse industries as a servant leader to C-suite executives. Yet, despite my professional success, I saw a deep gap in the workforce—people struggling to see their worth, job seekers feeling like just another resume in a pile, and businesses failing to recognize the value of human connection in hiring. That’s where my calling truly began.

Leaving the corporate world wasn’t just a career shift; it was a leap of faith. I didn’t have a business plan, a marketing strategy, or any guarantee of success. What I did have was a conviction—a deep, undeniable calling to help others recognize their value, build their confidence, and transform how they approach their careers. I started Authentic Brand not to sell a service but to serve people—to be the coach, mentor, and advocate that so many job seekers never had.

At Authentic Brand, I don’t just help clients find jobs—I help them find themselves. I specialize in:
✔ Career Coaching & Confidence Building – Helping job seekers, career changers, and professionals step into their full potential, own their worth, and position themselves as the solution businesses need.
✔ Resume & LinkedIn Optimization – Crafting powerful, ATS-optimized resumes and LinkedIn profiles that tell a story, not just list experiences—because every professional is more than a job title.
✔ Interview Preparation & Coaching – Guiding clients to walk into interviews with clarity, confidence, and the ability to articulate their value with authenticity.
✔ Mental Health & Workplace Advocacy – Advocating for kindness, mental well-being, and authenticity in the workplace because job searching isn’t just about skills—it’s about human connection and self-worth.

What sets me apart? I refuse to wear a mask, and I don’t expect my clients to, either. I don’t believe in cookie-cutter career advice or robotic LinkedIn profiles. I believe in showing up as you are—without pretense, without fear, without trying to fit into someone else’s mold. Authenticity isn’t about perfection; it’s about truth—and that’s the heart of everything I do.
Beyond career coaching, I’m deeply passionate about mental health advocacy—because I’ve lived it. I’ve battled depression, I’ve danced with my skeletons, and I know what it’s like to feel invisible. That’s why Authentic Brand is more than a business—it’s a mission. I share my own struggles openly because no one should suffer in silence. National Suicide Prevention Month isn’t just one month to me—it’s every day, every moment commitment to kindness, to reach out, to remind people that they matter.

I never expected Authentic Brand to grow the way it has. I haven’t marketed, yet I’ve received over 200 recommendations on LinkedIn and built a thriving business entirely through referrals—proof that when you lead with heart, purpose, and service, the right people find you.

What am I most proud of? The lives I’ve touched. It’s not about titles, salaries, or fancy job placements. It’s about the messages I get from clients saying, “You helped me see myself again.”

If there’s one thing I want people to know about me and Authentic Brand, it’s this:
✔ You don’t have to wear a mask.
✔ Kindness is free.
✔ You are worthy, even when the world makes you doubt it.
✔ Your career is not just about a job—it’s about stepping into your power.

If you’re struggling to see yourself as the solution, I see you—and I’m here to help you step into your confidence, your authenticity, and your next great chapter.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

Getting out of my own head and learning to F.L.Y. For most of my life, I was my own worst critic. The voice inside my head told me I wasn’t enough, that I had to prove my worth, that I had to earn my place. I spent years looking outside of myself—chasing affirmations, approval, and validation from others. I wore masks that I thought society wanted me to wear, molding myself into the version of ‘acceptable’ that I believed would make me worthy.

But here’s the truth: those were just stories—ones I had unknowingly written and rewrote in my own mind, convincing myself that I wasn’t enough as I was. The reality? I was already enough. I always had been.
The Backstory: Living for Affirmation, Hiding Behind Masks
Growing up, working in corporate, and navigating relationships, I learned to perform. To be what others needed me to be. To smile when I wanted to cry. To push through when I was breaking inside. I equated external approval with internal worth—believing that if I just worked harder, achieved more, or became ‘perfect’ in the eyes of others, then maybe, just maybe, I would feel good enough.

But no matter how much success I found, it never filled the void. Because the truth is, when you don’t believe in yourself, no amount of external validation can make up for it.

I spent decades wearing those masks—the strong one, the capable one, the one who had it all together. And beneath it all, I was exhausted, not because of the work itself but because of the energy it took to hide. I had spent so much time proving myself that I had lost sight of the one person who actually needed to believe in me—me.
The moment I learned to F.L.Y.: First Love Yourself. The shift didn’t happen overnight. It took time, pain, and a lot of unlearning. But the moment that changed everything was when I stopped waiting for others to affirm my worth and realized that I had the power to do it myself.
I dropped the masks and embraced authenticity—not the polished, perfectly packaged version but the real, raw, imperfect truth of who I am. And when I finally stood in my own truth, unapologetically, something incredible happened—I felt free.

That’s when I learned to F.L.Y.—First Love Yourself. Because until you love yourself—truly, deeply, without condition—nothing else will ever be enough.

The lesson I had to unlearn?
👉 That my worth was tied to what I did, instead of who I was.
👉 That I had to be someone else to be accepted instead of embracing who I already was.
👉 That I needed external validation when the only person who could truly affirm me was me.

Now, this is the foundation of Authentic Brand—helping others break free from those same stories, recognize their worth, and step into their power.

If I could go back and tell my younger self anything, it would be this:
🦋 You don’t need to wear a mask. The world needs the real you.
🦋 You are already enough, just as you are.
🦋 You don’t have to prove your worth. You already have it.
🦋 Learn to F.L.Y., because once you do, nothing can hold you back.

If you’re still struggling with that inner critic, know this—you are not alone. And you are already worthy of every good thing waiting for you. All you have to do is believe it.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

My reputation within my market wasn’t built overnight—it was built through years of experience, connections, and a deep commitment to helping others. I didn’t rely on traditional marketing tactics or cold outreach. Instead, I focused on showing up, adding value, and creating genuine relationships.

One of the biggest factors in growing Authentic Brand has been my strategic use of social media, particularly Facebook groups centered around administrative professionals, executive assistants, HR professionals, and job seekers.

These groups are filled with individuals navigating career challenges, whether it’s job searching, career transitions, or professional development. Instead of promoting myself, I focused on offering real advice, answering questions, and providing value. When people saw that my insights were rooted in experience, not theory, they began reaching out for guidance, and my reputation grew organically.

What truly sets me apart is my real-world experience. I don’t just understand industries from the outside—I’ve lived them. Having worked across diverse industries and roles, I know what businesses need and what job seekers are up against.
✅ I understand hiring from the employer’s perspective and the candidate’s struggles.
✅ I’ve experienced layoffs, career pivots, and leadership challenges firsthand.
✅ I know how to communicate value effectively because I’ve had to do it for myself.
I call it my “Master’s in the School of Hard Knocks and Drinking from the Firehose.” My expertise doesn’t come from textbooks—it comes from being in the trenches, making mistakes, learning, and growing. That kind of experience builds trust and credibility.

Another key factor in building my reputation has been LinkedIn. Over the years, I’ve cultivated an extensive network of professionals, recruiters, business owners, and thought leaders. But I don’t just collect connections—I actively engage.
✔ I share valuable, real-world insights that job seekers and professionals can apply immediately.
✔ I provide referrals, introductions, and connections to help others advance their careers.
✔ I advocate for job seekers, HR professionals, and businesses, creating win-win opportunities.
I’ve always been the person to facilitate introductions and offer assistance. Having lived all across the United States and worked in many industries, I have a unique ability to connect people in ways they never expected. This has positioned me as a go-to resource in multiple circles, further solidifying my reputation.

At the core of everything I do is authenticity. I don’t wear a mask, and I don’t expect others to, either. I believe in showing up as I am, being honest about the struggles I’ve faced, and using my knowledge to uplift others.
My reputation wasn’t built on self-promotion—it was built on:
✔ Helping without expectation.
✔ Providing value before asking for anything in return.
✔ Building relationships based on trust, not transactions.

That’s why Authentic Brand has grown entirely through referrals—because when you consistently show up for others, they remember.

At the end of the day, my reputation isn’t about what I say—it’s about what I do and how I make others feel. That’s what truly sets me apart.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.authenticbrandnow.com
• Instagram: heartfelt_confidence_coach
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthenticBrandNow
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christy-miller-howard

Image Credits

Christy Howard