And what it means for your consulting business.
There’s something about walking into a room and knowing you don’t quite match the energy. Maybe it’s the towering egos. Maybe it’s the heavy silence that masks insecurity. Or maybe—like Sharon Bauer—it’s realizing that the sharpest voice in the room isn’t always the loudest.
On a recent episode of The Luxe Leap podcast, Sharon, founder of Bamboo Data Consulting, shared a story that felt like a collective exhale for every woman who’s ever tried to contort herself into someone else’s version of “professional.” Trained as a lawyer, she entered a world of commanding men, rigid norms, and unspoken expectations.
“The partner at my firm was this ginormous man who commanded the room,” she said.
“I’m five feet tall. I was 24. And for a while, I tried to be him. But it was exhausting—and fake.”
Sound familiar?
The Mask That Doesn’t Fit
If you’ve ever downplayed your warmth to appear “strategic,” softened your voice to avoid being “too much,” or held back your sparkle in the name of “professionalism,” Sharon’s story isn’t just relatable—it’s revolutionary.
Because here’s what changed everything for her:
She stopped trying to be the polished corporate archetype.
She started building her extraordinary brand around herself.
That’s the leap—the Luxe Leap, if you will.
Real Brands Don’t Hide
Once Sharon gave herself permission to lead with her natural energy—bubbly, bold, and joyfully intelligent—her brand didn’t just shift. It soared.
She transitioned from law into privacy consulting, built a company culture that celebrates differentiation, and turned an “unsexy” topic like compliance into something magnetic. But it started with a choice: to be unapologetically herself.
That choice?
It’s available to you, too.
As women consultants, we’ve been conditioned to believe that success comes from assimilating. Following the template. Playing it safe. But templates don’t attract Champagne Clientele—they repel them.
Champagne Clientele aren’t looking for more of the same.
They’re looking for you, in full expression.
From Authenticity to Uncommon Wealth
When you build a brand rooted in truth—not trends—you don’t just stand out. You rise above. Because authenticity isn’t a buzzword. It’s the key to commanding higher fees, attracting premium clients, and building a business that not only supports your lifestyle but amplifies your legacy.
That’s how we shatter glass ceilings—not by imitating the men in the room, but by redesigning the room entirely.
At Gray Digital, we call that a BrandExtraordinary™ moment.
It’s the pivot from blending in to breaking through.
It’s the moment your personality becomes your power, and your brand becomes the wealth-building asset it was meant to be.
And yes, it’s absolutely delicious to watch.
🔥 3 Ways to Apply This Today
- Audit your brand voice.
Does your website, social media, or email copy sound like you or the consultant you were told to be?
- Own your differentiator.
What do clients really love about you? Make sure your brand reflects that, not the default in your industry.
- Reframe what “professional” looks like.
Polished doesn’t mean personality-free. Excellence and joy are not mutually exclusive. Your sparkle is strategic.
👑 The Luxe Leap Is Waiting
If this story stirred something in you—if you’re ready to ditch the mask and build a brand as bold, brilliant, and breathtaking as you are—you need to hear Sharon’s full interview on The Luxe Leap podcast.
🎧 Listen to Sharon Bauer’s episode now to hear how she turned authenticity into authority—and built a brand that redefined the rules.
👉 Click here to listen and sip the full story.
It’s time to stop shape-shifting and start champagne-popping.
Your extraordinary brand starts here.
And we’re toasting to every glass ceiling you’re about to shatter. 🥂
