Every brand has a story. Mine began 30,000 feet above the ground.
When I recently joined Roy Coughlan on his “Speaking Podcast”, we explored in “From Flight Attendant to Brand Visionary – Building Authentic Brands & Empowering Women,” how my journey, spanning from international skies to executive boardrooms, became the foundation of my life’s mission: helping others uncover their brilliance and build brands that radiate authenticity and impact.
Watch the full interview here: From Flight Attendant to Brand Visionary
Lessons from the Sky: Humanity, Adaptability, and Presence
My story began in the airline industry, where I spent years as a flight attendant. It was more than a job, it was a masterclass in human behavior, adaptability, and presence.
Every flight brought together people from different cultures, backgrounds, and expectations. Some travelers were filled with joy and curiosity. Others, stress or fear. And between first class and economy, I learned one of life’s most profound branding lessons:
Perception is shaped by experience.
The same applies to brands. Whether you’re leading a multinational corporation or building your personal brand, what people feel when they interact with you defines who you are in their eyes.
As I shared in the interview, those early years taught me the essence of empathy, composure under pressure, and how to truly see people: a skill that became the cornerstone of my later work in brand identity strategy.
Living Out of a Suitcase: The Beauty of Letting Go
Living out of a suitcase taught me freedom and flexibility. It also taught me how to find “home” within myself—something many leaders and entrepreneurs overlook in their pursuit of success.
When you’re constantly in motion, you learn to detach from external validation and reconnect with your own values. You start to understand that:
Your true brand is not what you wear or where you go—it’s who you are when no one is watching.
That sense of groundedness, of internal alignment, is what later shaped the foundation of my strategic branding approach and in specific the 3-Step Entrepreneurial Branding Blueprint, where we begin not with logos or marketing, but with identity. Because:
A brand without clarity of self is like flying without navigation—it’s directionless.
Fear of Failure: The Catalyst for Courage
One of the pivotal themes we explored was fear—especially the fear of failure.
In aviation, fear keeps you alert and prepared. In life, fear can either anchor you or propel you. I chose the latter.
When the 2008 financial crisis hit and I lost my corporate position, it was devastating—but it was also the turning point that awakened my calling. That experience taught me that:
Failure isn’t final—it’s formative.
Every entrepreneur, leader, and visionary faces turbulence. The question isn’t if you’ll encounter it, but how you’ll navigate it. My advice? Learn to trust the process.
Growth and discomfort often share the same runway.
From Professor to Founder: The Power of Reinvention
After earning multiple degrees and working in academia, I found myself in a paradox: I had achieved everything I was supposed to and yet, I felt invisible.
As a professor, I taught branding, marketing, and strategy to ambitious students around the world. I loved connecting with them, guiding them to discover their voices. But eventually, I realized I wasn’t living my own message. I was helping others build their dreams while dimming my own light.
Leaving academia required courage. It meant stepping into uncertainty, but also into authenticity. I often tell my clients:
You will regret what you didn’t do more than what you tried and failed.
That mindset shift—moving from fear to freedom—was the bridge between being a professor and becoming an entrepreneur.
Personal vs. Business Branding: The Alignment Factor
One of the most common questions I get asked (and one we explored deeply in the interview) is whether someone should brand themselves as a business or as a person.
My answer: you are both.
Today, people don’t buy products or services; they buy alignment. They buy into who you are, what you stand for, and how you make them feel.
Your business brand amplifies your mission. Your personal brand embodies your truth. And when both are in harmony, you create what I call a brilliant brand presence, one that’s not only seen, but felt.
Education, Experience, and the Entrepreneurial Mindset
Education shaped me—but not in the way most people think.
Having multiple degrees gave me depth. But it was only after real-world experience that I truly appreciated learning. The greatest lessons came not from textbooks, but from people, failures, and the courage to begin again.
That’s why I believe:
Lifelong learning isn’t optional; it’s essential for leadership. When we stop growing, we stop leading.
And when I finally left the university world, it wasn’t because I lost passion; it was because I outgrew the walls that contained it.
Branding is Self-Care
At the 33-minute mark, we touched on a concept close to my heart: self-care as part of branding.
You cannot lead others if you’re disconnected from yourself. You cannot inspire authenticity if you’re running on empty.
Your brand is an energetic expression of you. The way you treat yourself—the boundaries you set, the habits you nurture, the stillness you allow—reflects directly in your professional presence.
That’s why in every coaching session, workshop, or retreat, I emphasize:
Your brand’s brilliance begins with your well-being.
BrandsTalk: Amplifying Authentic Voices
My podcast, BrandsTalk, was born from a desire to amplify stories of authenticity, courage, and transformation.
I’ve always believed that storytelling is the heartbeat of branding. On the podcast, I feature global thought leaders, entrepreneurs, and changemakers who share not just their successes but their humanity.
Sometimes, I even share my own reflections or other interviews I’ve done—like this one—because I believe in the power of cross-pollinating insights. Each conversation adds another layer to the global dialogue on what it means to build with purpose.
I AM BECOMING: Retreats for Women in Transition
We ended the conversation by exploring something very close to my heart: my retreat, I AM BECOMING.
Held in breathtaking locations surrounded by nature’s beauty, these retreats are not just getaways; they’re coming-home experiences. They invite high-achieving women in transition to pause, reflect, and reconnect with who they truly are.
There’s something transformative about being in an environment where the view itself invites creativity and healing. Mountains, lakes, and sunlight become mirrors, reflecting back the parts of ourselves we’ve neglected while chasing achievement.
It’s in these serene spaces that women rediscover their voice, their vision, and their vitality.
As I often say:
When you realign with your essence, your brand follows. Because branding isn’t about becoming someone—it’s about becoming yourself, fully.
A Closing Thought
From serving passengers on flights to serving leaders on their personal growth journeys, my mission has always been the same: to help people feel seen, valued, and empowered.
Branding, at its core, isn’t about visibility—it’s about authenticity.
It’s about transforming who you are into something the world can recognize, relate to, and remember.
So, whether you’re an entrepreneur, executive, or someone standing at the edge of change—remember:
Your story matters. Your voice matters. And your brand is the bridge between the life you have and the impact you’re here to make.
Time Markers:
00:30 Who is Brigitte Bojkowszky
01:45 Lessons learnt as a Flight Attendant
05:30 What was it like living out of a Suitcase
08:15 Learning Not to have Fear fro failure
09:20 The different Flight experiences depending on Price
13:34 How do you want to Present yourself as a Brand
15:05 Should you brand as a Business or Personal Brand
19:18 The qualifications during her Career
25:05 Appreciating Further Education after you have work experience
26:53 The Mindset to leave a Job
29:15 You will Regret what you did not do
29:35 How did she connect with Students as a Professor
32:54 Self Care is Part of Branding
34:00 Her Podcast Brand Talks
38:05 Sometimes using other Interviews on her Podcast
39:55 The beautiful locations in her Retreats
41:55 Her Retreats ‘I AM BECOMMING”
45:00 The beautiful Views get you into your Creative Zone
🔸🔸🔸