In industries driven by speed and scalability, other ways of building often remain unseen.

In this episode No. 124 of the Brilliantly Branded Podcast, María Lucia Romero speaks with Ase Elvebakk, Cofounder of Natural Nuance, about building a circular luxury brand while working with time-intensive processes, artisans, and long-term thinking.

Ase shares her transition from tech and innovation into product creation, how motherhood influenced the questions she asks as an entrepreneur, and why clarity of direction matters before empowerment can take place.

The conversation touches on vision, responsibility, and the practical realities of creating inside the luxury industry without following the pace of fast fashion.

You don’t suddenly lose motivation at work.
It usually happens little by little.

You feel drained.
Less engaged.
Less recognised.

In this episode of The Brilliantly Branded Podcast, María Lucia Romero speaks with Raphael H Cohen, professor and leadership expert, about toxic behaviors in organisations and how abuse of power impacts people, teams, and performance.

Professor Cohen explains how these behaviors can be recognised by their impact. Feeling diminished, de-energised, unmotivated, and not recognised. He also explains why organisations often tolerate this behavior, how some people manage to shine upward while creating damage below, and why the real cost often stays invisible.

During the conversation, he shares a free tool that allows organisations to observe engagement levels and understand how managers influence people’s desire to give their best.

👉 Access the free Employee Appreciation Score (EAS) tool here:
https://www.eazymirror.com/EAS?c=BBfriend

This episode gives words to experiences many professionals already live.
And offers a concrete way to observe what is happening inside teams.

Networking is often misunderstood.
For many people, it feels uncomfortable, forced, or even exhausting.

In this episode of the Brilliantly Branded Podcast, I welcome Caroline Durand, entrepreneur and corporate trainer, for a conversation about what networking truly means.

We talk about why traditional networking approaches often fail, how mindset shapes the quality of our connections, and why building relationships based on service and shared values creates stronger, more sustainable opportunities.

Caroline shares practical reflections on:
• Why networking is not about selling
• How to approach conversations without pressure
• The importance of purpose, values, and follow-up
• How to build an ecosystem of trusted professionals over time
• Where AI can support networking without replacing authenticity

This episode is an invitation to rethink networking as a human experience rather than a transactional one.

If networking has ever felt heavy or unnatural for you, this conversation will help you see it from a new perspective.