What if your brand looked like the real you—not the polished, people-pleasing version you think you “should” be?

In this episode of Communication Queen, host Kimberly Spencer sits down with branding badass Rachel Lee, the designer who “speaks fluently in pixels, fonts, and colors,” to unpack what it actually takes to create a visual brand that feels like your soul in 4K.

Together, they dive into why so many entrepreneurs feel a 25–50% disconnect between who they are on Zoom and who they appear to be online, and how that gap quietly erodes trust, magnetism, and money. Rachel breaks down her process for translating a client’s quirks, stories, and “weird friend-only facts” into bold, intentional visuals that build instant connection—especially in an era where AI-generated everything is flooding the feed.

You’ll hear Rachel share vulnerably about navigating business with debt, declaring bankruptcy, and realizing that the very things she was most insecure about—her baby face, her big joy, her “too much” energy—were actually her most powerful brand assets.

If you’ve ever looked at your website or socials and thought, “This is… fine, but it’s not really me,” this episode will give you the permission and strategy to change that.

Tune in to learn how to humanize your brand, build real relationships through your content, and show up online like the queen you actually are.

📚Grab the “Top Books of 2024 to Change Your Life,” the bestseller, multi-gold-medal award-winner, “Make Every Podcast Want You” by Kimberly Spencer. Available now on Amazon: https://amzn.to/42kllur 

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Enjoy, sovereigns!

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, or your other favorite podcast listening platform. You can also watch the episode on Youtube.

What You’ll Learn in this Episode:

In this spicy, soul-baring conversation with branding powerhouse Rachel Lee, you’ll discover:

✨ 1. Why Your Online Brand Only Shows 50–75% of Who You Really Are

And how that missing 25–50% is actually your most profitable, trust-building, client-attracting magic.

🎨 2. How to Translate Your Personality Into Visuals (Without Feeling Fake)

Rachel breaks down her signature “I speak in pixels, fonts, and colors” method to help you turn your quirks, stories, and real-life energy into a cohesive brand identity.

🤝 3. How to Build a Human-First Brand in an AI-Saturated World

Why authenticity is no longer optional—and why your humanity is the competitive advantage robots will never touch.

🧠 4. The Psychology of Miscommunication in Branding

How your representational system (visual, auditory, kinesthetic) shapes how you think your brand comes across versus how it actually lands.

💥 5. The Power of Sharing Your “Messy Middle”

Why your insecurities, imperfect moments, and lived experiences build more trust than perfectly polished content ever will.

🚀 6. How to Reframe Networking So It Doesn’t Feel Sleazy

Rachel’s “I want to like you—give me a reason to” mindset that transforms networking from awkward prospecting into organic relationship-building.

🔥 7. Why Bravery Is a Branding Strategy

From bankruptcy to baby-face stereotypes, Rachel reveals how owning your truth can become the foundation of your most magnetic brand.

🌈 8. How to Use Storytelling to Elevate Your Brand

Real examples of how random “best friend only” quirks (like selling glitter water as a kid!) become powerful brand hooks that make people remember—and choose—you.

Quotes:

“Oftentimes the thing we’re most insecure about is the best asset for our marketing.” – Rachel Lee

“I get to say I speak fluently in pixels, fonts and colors.” - Rachel Lee

“I’m just a translator at the end of the day—you’re the one with the message.” - Rachel Lee

Links & Additional Resources:

Connect with Rachel Lee.

Website: https://www.racheltylee.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/racheltylee/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/racheltylee/

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@racheltylee

Moments of Note:

00:00 — Welcome to Communication Queen: The Real You vs. The Online You

Kimberly opens the episode and introduces branding expert Rachel Lee, setting the stage for a deep dive into authenticity, identity, and visual storytelling.

02:20 — How Rachel “Speaks in Pixels”: The Art of Translating Personality Into Visuals

Rachel shares her lifelong journey from art-kid to brand translator, explaining her process of turning client quirks, fears, and desires into fonts, colors, and cohesive identity.

05:48 — Why Your Brand Only Shows 50–75% of Who You Really Are

A raw conversation on the disconnect between how entrepreneurs show up online versus in real life—and why that missing 25–50% is where the magic actually lives.

07:40 — The Psychology Behind Miscommunication: When “Fun” Means 10 Different Things

Kimberly and Rachel unpack the gap between auditory, visual, and kinesthetic thinkers—and how this impacts brand design.

10:32 — Real Client Story: The Motorcycle-Riding Corporate Culture Consultant

Rachel reveals how she turned a client’s unexpected quirks and adventures into a vibrant, meaningful brand identity.

14:05 — Why Your Weirdest Traits Are Your Most Profitable Brand Assets

From glitter-water childhood stories to “I’d risk life and limb to pet a dog,” the duo explores how personal quirks create connection and trust.

15:55 — Rachel’s Branding Insecurity: Turning Baby-Face Doubts Into Brand Power

Rachel opens up about looking “too young,” masking her personality early in business, and how embracing her energy became her competitive edge.

19:00 — The Perfection Paradigm: Why “Polished” Is Killing Your Brand Trust

A powerful discussion on authenticity vs. perfectionism, featuring the Jennifer Lawrence vs. Anne Hathaway media example.

21:40 — Branding in the Age of AI: Why Humanity Is Your Superpower

Why AI makes personal branding MORE important, not less—and how to humanize your brand in a world of synthetic content and robot-written posts.

23:56 — Personal Branding ≠ Looking Good: It’s About Controlling Your Narrative

Rachel reframes personal branding as intentional storytelling, not curated perfection or superficial aesthetics.

26:30 — The Weight of Responsibility: What Branding Really Is Behind the Scenes

Rachel shares how deeply she honors client vulnerability when designing brands that represent their truth.

29:28 — Honesty as Your Market