At the May 2025 Business Women’s Forum, attendees were encouraged to look inward and align their personal brand with who they truly are. The inspiring session was centered on the idea that building a brand starts from within — not from a title or a to-do list, but from clarity, purpose and authenticity.
Presenter Paige Garrity shared how her own definition of success has evolved. Early in her career, she became the youngest general store manager in a company of over 400 locations and believed that working harder was the key to achieving her goals. But over time, she discovered a different truth.
“The solution isn’t about working harder or pushing through,” she said. “It’s asking yourself: What is my vision of success?” She reminded the group, “You don’t have to sacrifice your well-being to be successful.”
Throughout the session, attendees were invited to reflect on where they might be forcing themselves into a mold. “In business, you are the package,” Garrity explained. “If what you’re doing doesn’t align with what’s inside, it creates misalignment.”
She encouraged women to trust what’s already within them. “Everything you need to build your brand is already inside you. Build off the rhythm that fuels your life — not just your to-do list. You must align your inner truth with your outer brand.”
Garrity emphasized that people connect with authenticity, “People buy the package as much as they buy the product. If your external presence — your energy, voice, style or strategy — doesn’t match the value of what’s inside, people won’t be drawn to it.”
She also introduced her SOUL framework — Story, Offer, Uniqueness and Longevity — as a way to help women build a brand that’s rooted in who they are. “Reconnect to the why behind your work,” she said. “Let go of what no longer serves you. When you show up with clarity and consistency, in ways that reflect your real values and voice, people trust you. They feel you — and they choose you.”
Learn more about the Business Women’s Forum (BWF) and register for the upcoming BWF on July 29, 2025.
