There’s something magical about anyone who not only understands their magic but taps into it, risks and all. Janinah Burnett has always been led to stand in her power with the gift God gave her, regardless of anyone else’s reservations.

She’s an internationally renowned Broadway and Metropolitan opera soprano who has played the role of Carlotta Giudicelli in Phantom of the Opera and Mimi in Baz Luhrmann’s La Bohème. Recently, she released an album featuring collaborative arrangements that fuse classical and jazz while showcasing her ability to create boundary-pushing music.

In this episode of the Branding Room Only podcast, you’ll learn about Janinah’s commitment to innovative, uninhibited singing and passion for honoring the legacy of past musicians through her own art. She also discusses how she focuses on helping new musicians produce sound in a healthy, uninhibited manner.

1:38 - How Janinah describes personal brand, herself in three words, the quote that’s been the driving force of her career, and her hype song

5:56 - The influence of growing up in an artistic community and attending Spelman University as an aspiring musician

15:06 - How Janinah started performing on Broadway at age 23 and fiercely leads with her talent, no matter what

23:59 - How Janinah and I met and what it was like for her to perform at The Met in New York and learn to speak Italian

29:38 - The opera song Janinah loves singing the most and the Broadway character who had a huge impact on her development

34:15 - The magic that went into creating Janinah’s album and the power of the language of music

42:05 - How the album’s title reflects Janinah’s brand, how she supports new musicians, and why the body itself is an instrument

46:55 - Janinah sings a few inspirational lines and reveals what she does for fun, her uncompromisable brand aspect, and her Branding Room Only skill

Connect With Janinah Burnett

Janinah Burnett | Instagram | Facebook

Listen to Love the Color of Your Butterfly 

Mentioned In Innovation and Honoring Legacy Through the Magic of Music with Janinah Burnett

Branding Room Only podcast interview with Sonya Olds Som

Malcolm J. Merriweather

Sponsor for this episode

This episode is brought to you by PGE Consulting Group LLC.

PGE Consulting Group LLC is dedicated to providing a practical hybrid of professional development training and diversity solutions. From speaking to consulting to programming and more, all services and resources are carefully tailored for each partner. Paula Edgar’s distinct expertise helps engage attendees and create lasting change for her clients.

To learn more about Paula and her services, go to www.paulaedgar.com or contact her at [email protected], and follow Paula Edgar and the PGE Consulting Group LLC on LinkedIn.

We're starting off 2026 with a bang with my New Year's Intention and Goal Setting session on January 3rd, and then my new three-part series, LinkedIn Strategy for Lawyers: Build a Brand that Works for You, running January through March. 

Reserve your seat at paulaedgar.com/events.