Do you ever feel like you’re holding back your voice to fit in, get along, or simply navigate your day? Silence can be an invisible barrier—one that affects us personally, professionally, and generationally, especially for those from marginalized communities. 

Elaine Lin Hering understands this deeply. As an immigrant, she’s navigated the unspoken expectations of silence and has learned to reclaim her voice. Now, as a USA Today best-selling author and expert on communication and conflict management, Elaine is helping others unlearn the silence that holds them back.

In this episode of Branding Room Only, Elaine and I explore the costs of silence and how it shows up in marginalized communities, at work, and even in our closest relationships. She shares insights from her book Unlearning Silence, breaking down how silence can stifle not only our voices but also our personal brands. Together, we’ll discuss how to recognize and unlearn silence, embrace your inherent worth, and use your voice authentically to show up fully as yourself.

1:01 - Elaine’s personal brand definition, how she’d describe herself, the mantra she currently holds onto, and her hype song

4:11 - How Elaine’s upbringing and career path served as the inspiration behind Unlearning Silence

8:50 - How silence shows up in women of color and other marginalized identities and what that might mean for their brands

14:15 - The unintentional silencing of others that occurs and the difference between strategic versus oppressive silence

19:42 - How to start owning your voice in spaces where you want to be heard and the importance of unlearning generational silence

27:28 - The one question Elaine asks her clients that she wishes she didn’t have to and the issue with “imposter syndrome” framing

32:16 - Self-silencing as a learned condition and trauma response

35:14 - How silence can be very detrimental to your brand-building and personal relationships

44:34 - Elaine’s message and advice for those with marginalized identities trying to be resilient in spaces contributing to their continued silence

49:09 - What Elaine does for fun, the part of her brand she’ll always stand by, and the Branding Room Only experience she provides

Mentioned In How Unlearning Silence Saves Your Brand from Sabotage with Elaine Lin Hering

Elaine Lin Hering | LinkedIn | Instagram

Unlearning Silence: How to Speak Your Mind, Unleash Talent, and Live More Fully by Elaine Lin Hering

“Stop Telling Women They Have Imposter Syndrome” by Ruchika Tulshyan and Jodi-Ann Burey | Harvard Business Review

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