Practical lessons on visibility, storytelling, and strategic positioning from my recent PRSA features.

If you’ve built a career around elevating other people’s voices, whether in communications, leadership, or any role where you make others shine, you know what it means to be the invisible force behind the success story. You craft strategies, open doors, and help others step into the spotlight.

Eventually, every leader reaches a point where the narrative turns inward, and it’s your voice that needs to be heard. That’s why the past few weeks have been such a powerful reminder for me and, I believe, for anyone who’s ever been “behind the scenes” in their own career story.

*Featured in Strategies & Tactics, August 2025 issue*

This summer, I had the privilege of sharing my perspective on career storytelling through three PRSA platforms, the professional home for 30,000+ public relations and communications leaders nationwide:

Strategies & Tactics, PRSA’s award-winning publication, with a full feature on career storytelling for PR pros
PRSA’s Strategies & Tactics Live on LinkedIn discussing leadership and storytelling in real time with a national audience
PRSay Blog capturing the conversation and insights from that LinkedIn Live session

Each one was both an honor and an opportunity to contribute to conversations shaping our profession, as well as a reminder of the power of owning your story.

Three Lessons You Can Apply to Your Own Leadership Journey

They’ve also reinforced some key truths about storytelling and strategic positioning that I want to share with you:

Lesson 1: Leadership Visibility is a Choice
For years, I treated my own visibility as optional, pouring all my energy into clients, campaigns, and causes. Leadership today requires that we embody the message.
This week, I coached a professional who was in the midst of a career shift, who isn’t waiting until she feels “ready” to be visible. She’s already laying the groundwork for thought leadership in her new space, building the kind of presence that will position her as a recognized expert before the opportunities even arrive. I’m so inspired by her drive and vision.
Takeaway: Don’t wait for permission to take the next step. Create the moments where your perspective can be seen and heard, even before you think you’re ready.
Lesson 2: Your Story is a Leadership Asset
In each PRSA feature, I shared a perspective that went deeper than tips or strategies, shaped by my lived experience over two decades as a practitioner and years spent coaching leaders and teams to own their voices.
That’s the difference between expertise and wisdom: experience distilled into insights others can act on. When leaders tell their stories, they connect the dots between their experiences, values, and vision, building trust and credibility that position them for greater influence.
Takeaway: Your story isn’t a side note. It’s the context that makes your expertise relatable, memorable, and influential.
Lesson 3: Your Story Creates the Path Forward
When you step into visibility and own your story as a leadership asset, you strengthen your brand and expand what’s possible. In today’s market, that can mean new roles, speaking invitations, media features, publishing opportunities, or strategic collaborations.
One of my clients recently landed a national conference speaking spot after sharing her leadership journey online for the first time. Another translated a refreshed leadership narrative into a C-suite role after months of stalled interviews, proof that clarity and visibility create momentum.
Takeaway: A well-told story describes your past, signals your future, and attracts the right opportunities.

Why This Matters for You

If you’ve been leading teams, delivering results, and making an impact without stepping out, it’s easy to assume your results will speak for themselves. Silence leaves too much room for others to define your narrative.

Your story is one of the most powerful leadership tools you have. It signals readiness for bigger opportunities, shapes how others perceive your value, and creates the conditions for the future of your career or business. When you own your story, you’re telling people where you’ve been, where you’re going, and why they should want to be part of it.

If you’re ready to step forward with clarity, visibility, and authenticity, the Career Story Intensive™ is the ideal place to begin. In this 75‑minute private session, we’ll uncover the throughline of your career, refine your leadership brand, and position you for your next bold opportunity, whether that’s a high‑visibility role, a speaking stage, or a strategic collaboration.

Explore the Career Story Intensive™ at KanikaWatson.com/Story.