Content Creation While Employed: Jessica Winder on Brand + Boundaries
When HR executive Jessica Winder decided to share her sobriety journey on LinkedIn, her family warned it would destroy her career. Instead, it became her most powerful content and helped hundreds of professionals struggling in silence. In this episode of Workfluencer, Jessica reveals how she built authentic influence while navigating executive roles, why she finally embraced video content after years of resistance, and the real cost of speaking truth to power in corporate America.
Whether you're an individual contributor afraid to post or a leader wanting to enable your team's voices, Jessica's journey from "timid" content creator to LinkedIn powerhouse offers a masterclass in building influence without losing your job.
In this episode we cover:
- Why Jessica calls herself a “troublemaker”, and how that became her brand
- Her evolution from timid LinkedIn posts to bold public leadership
- The post that nearly got her fired (and what saved her)
- Why she finally made the leap to TikTok and YouTube
- How she batch-creates content with a full-time SVP role and four kids under two
- Her best advice for professionals afraid to post online
Jessica D. Winder is the SVP of People at CoLab Software and Founder of Hidden Gem Career Coaching. Known for creating "good trouble" in traditional HR spaces, Jessica has built a following of nearly 80,000 on LinkedIn by sharing honest insights about workplace culture, leadership, and personal growth. She's the author of The Hidden Gem Within and recently expanded into video content on TikTok and YouTube. Jessica is five years sober and openly advocates for addiction awareness in professional spaces.
RESOURCES MENTIONED:
- Subscribe to Jessica’s Newsletter: The Corporate Cheat Code
- Buy Jessica’s Book
- Takeover The Workfluencer Podcast
- Repurpose Content Easier with CreatorHQ: https://creatorhq.co?aff=9qejn
- Perceptible Studios – Video content that builds trust
RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODE→ Building HR's Most Subscribed Newsletter: Authentic Content Strategy with Hebba Youssef
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🌟 CONNECT WITH JESSICA
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicadwinder/
🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddengemcoach
🌐 Website: https://www.hiddengemcareercoaching.com/
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hiddengemcoach
📹 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@hiddengemcoach
🌟 CONNECT WITH ME
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhonabarnettpierce/
🦋 Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/rhonab.bsky.social
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rhonabpierce/
🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rhonabpierce
🌐 Website: https://www.rhonapierce.com/
📹 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RhonaBPierce/
HR executive content creation, workplace personal branding, employee advocacy programs, LinkedIn content strategy, corporate content creation, sobriety in workplace, HR thought leadership, video content for professionals, workplace authenticity, content creation while employed, HR leader personal brand, corporate social media guidelines, workplace vulnerability, professional content boundaries, executive personal branding
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