Branding in the Age of AI: How to Look Like You Online with Rachel Lee
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
😎Discover how to get booked on the TOP 5% of podcasts to leverage podcast interviews for lead generation for your business owners, founders, podcasters, and authors. Book your $100K Profit from Guest Podcasting Planning Call here: https://www.communicationqueens.com/get-booked-on-the-top-podcasts
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 Marketing Strategy (Especially When You’re Still Becoming)
Kimberly and Rachel explore sharing in real time—your growth, your messy middle, your becoming—and how it builds audience connection.
31:55 — Content as a Relationship, Not a Broadcast
A heart-centered unpacking of why relationship-driven content builds trust better than polished social media calendars.
35:20 — Living Life Out Loud: Creating Heart Space in Your Social Strategy
Why success online isn’t about planning every post—it’s about creating emotional space to share real stories as they happen.
37:55 — The Power of Being Human in a Robotic World
Kimberly and Rachel discuss using tools (like AI) without losing your humanity, depth, or relational intuition.
38:52 — Networking Reframed: How to Make New Friends, Not Prospects
Rachel’s refreshing reframe: approach networking with curiosity, connection, and humanity—not sales pressure.
42:20 — “I Declared Bankruptcy… and Posted About It”: Radical Transparency in Business
Rachel shares her most vulnerable public post ever—and how honesty built deeper trust and transformed her audience relationships.
43:45 — Why People Want to See You in Your Becoming
A beautiful reflection on growth, identity, and showing up imperfectly—but truthfully.
45:20 — Where to Find Rachel + Final Mic-Drop Takeaway
Rachel shares her favorite platforms and leaves listeners with a powerful reminder: the more human you are, the more future-proof your brand becomes.
Transcript:
For a full episode transcript, you can find it here: https://www.communicationqueens.com/blog
Sharables:
For shareable images, quotes, and other social media posts to add some royal sparkle to your socials (with proper tagging and credit, of course), they can be found here.
💕 Say “hi” on social:
Communication Queen Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/communicationqueens
Communication Queen Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/communicationqueensagency
Communication QueenTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@communicationqueens
Communication Queen Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/communicationqueens/
Communication Queen Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@communicationqueens
🎙Subscribe + Listen to the Communication Queens Podcast here:
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/communication-queen-entrepreneurship-marketing-storytelling/id1718540459
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2ROeliYZG9thhNSMEo8SDx?si=abc7b72eb6274d3b&nd=1&dlsi=fb6df192dfbb4505
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@communicationqueens
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kimberlyspencer.crownyourself/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/realkimspencer
Instagram: https://instagram.com/kimberly.spencer
Linked In: https://linkedin.com/in/kimberlyspencer-crownyourself
AFFILIATE DISCLAIMER: This description contains affiliate links that allow you to find the items mentioned in this video and support the channel at no cost to you. While this channel may earn minimal sums when the viewer uses the links, the viewer is in NO WAY obligated to use these links. Thanks for your support!
🥰 Loved learning about how to improve your communication skills and get booked on podcast interviews? Listen to this podcast again: https://youtu.be/XxyzC-uagjE
