Not Nice. Clever. | Personal Branding, Marketing & Business Growth For Introverted Entrepreneurs

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Your brain on AI? Turns out, it might be shrinking. No, really. We brought on marketing legend Ann Handley to talk about what AI is doing to creativity—and how to stop sounding like every other ChatGPT-generated caption out there. 

In this episode, we dive into the relationship between creativity and AI with the extraordinary Ann Handley. 

Discover how AI can impact your brand and business growth, and learn how to retain your authenticity in a world filled with automated creativity. 

Ann shares essential strategies for effective personal branding, discussing why powerful storytelling should be at the heart of your marketing strategies. 

We also explore the importance of email marketing as Ann's go-to tool for cultivating a dedicated audience. If you're looking to navigate the challenges of branding in the digital age while maintaining your unique identity, this episode is for you!

Show Notes: 

• Visit Ann's Website
• Connect With Ann On Instagram
• Connect with Ann on LinkedIn
• Sign up for Ann's Newsletter
• Check out the MIT study on AI: Your Brain On ChatGPT

Want Even More Personal Branding and Marketing Strategies?

📣 Amplify by Not Nice. Clever. is an entrepreneur's shortcut to standing out online.  This hands-on, workshop-style program gives helps you and your team grow your business, strengthen your personal brand, and finally make social media work for you.

Find out more www.notniceclever.com

🏁 Connect With Us On Instagram!

• Not Nice Clever
• Candice Carcioppolo
• Kat Torre

 🎙 Book Kat and Candice to speak at your next event, summit or workshop HERE

Want Some "Not Nice Advice" Send Us A Text!

Today, we’re calling out the habits that are killing your confidence… because you can be brilliant at what you do—booked, busy, and bringing in results—and still feel like you're constantly questioning yourself.

Our guest today is the incredible Shadé Zahrai, a “leadership alchemist”, peak performance researcher, and the person top execs call when they want to stop getting in their own way.

We are breaking down what neuroscience actually says about confidence, performance, and the sneaky ways we self-sabotage without even knowing it.

If you’ve ever left a meeting thinking, “Why did I say it like that?” or you catch yourself shrinking in situations where you should be leading—this episode is your permission to stop playing small. 

Show Notes:

• Follow Shadé
• Download Shade's Confidence Scripts 
• Check out Shadé's TedX talk on Habits That Kill Your Confidence

Want Even More Personal Branding and Marketing Strategies?

📣 Amplify by Not Nice. Clever. is an entrepreneur's shortcut to standing out online.  This hands-on, workshop-style program gives helps you and your team grow your business, strengthen your personal brand, and finally make social media work for you.

Find out more www.notniceclever.com

🏁 Connect With Us On Instagram!

• Not Nice Clever
• Candice Carcioppolo
• Kat Torre

 🎙 Book Kat and Candice to speak at your next event, summit or workshop HERE

Want Some "Not Nice Advice" Send Us A Text!

Is being an introverted entrepreneur and feeling 'too much' really a problem… or an empowering move in personal branding?  

In this episode, we’re sitting down with Shivani Peterson—loan officer, speaker, coach, and expert in embracing authenticity as an 'introverted entrepreneur'.

Shivani is known for saying the quiet part out loud on sensitive topics like money, motherhood, hormones, politics, and mental health. 

She shares how her refreshingly direct approach has helped her grow her personal brand and achieve remarkable business growth based on trust and meaningful connections.  

Tune in if you’re an entrepreneur tired of performing and ready to foster genuine connections. 

Shivani’s journey is proof: when you stop trying to conform to professional norms and embrace your true self, the right people will take notice and want to collaborate with you.

Connect with Shivani:

• Follow Shivani on Instagram
• Shivani’s Circle community
• Mind Over Markets coaching program

Want Even More Personal Branding and Marketing Strategies?

📣 Amplify by Not Nice. Clever. is an entrepreneur's shortcut to standing out online.  This hands-on, workshop-style program gives helps you and your team grow your business, strengthen your personal brand, and finally make social media work for you.

Find out more www.notniceclever.com

🏁 Connect With Us On Instagram!

• Not Nice Clever
• Candice Carcioppolo
• Kat Torre

 🎙 Book Kat and Candice to speak at your next event, summit or workshop HERE

Want Some "Not Nice Advice" Send Us A Text!

If you’ve built the business, hit the milestones, and checked all the boxes—but deep down you’re wondering is this it?—this conversation will hit home.

In this episode, we dive into the core question: What do you really want as an introverted entrepreneur? 

Max, a personal development coach and author of 'What the F*ck Do You Really Want?', is known for his candid approach to personal branding and helping entrepreneurs with a growth mindset to pursue what truly matters to them.

We discuss the cost of chasing external validation in your personal brand, how it affects your business growth and the myth of 'doing it all', and how to rewrite the rules for genuine business growth. Tune in to explore ways to reclaim your desires and ensure that your life and brand reflect your true self.

• Visit Max's Website
• Get Max's Book "What the f*ck do you really want?"

Want Even More Personal Branding and Marketing Strategies?

📣 Amplify by Not Nice. Clever. is an entrepreneur's shortcut to standing out online.  This hands-on, workshop-style program gives helps you and your team grow your business, strengthen your personal brand, and finally make social media work for you.

Find out more www.notniceclever.com

🏁 Connect With Us On Instagram!

• Not Nice Clever
• Candice Carcioppolo
• Kat Torre

 🎙 Book Kat and Candice to speak at your next event, summit or workshop HERE

Want Some "Not Nice Advice" Send Us A Text!

Feeling burned out but afraid to take a break from your business? You’re not alone.

 In this episode we are getting real about behind-the-scenes life pauses that had nothing to do with tropical vacations—and everything to do with real life.

We are also answering DMs and Not Nice Advice submissions about what it really looks like to take time off as a business owner, specifically for those prioritizing brand growth without feeling like they’re falling behind. We're sharing honest reflections on business burnout, and refreshing reminders that rest is productive.

If you've ever felt pressure to be "on" 24/7, this is your permission slip to step back, breathe, and redefine what success looks like for you.

Want Even More Personal Branding and Marketing Strategies?

📣 Amplify by Not Nice. Clever. is an entrepreneur's shortcut to standing out online.  This hands-on, workshop-style program gives helps you and your team grow your business, strengthen your personal brand, and finally make social media work for you.

Find out more www.notniceclever.com

🏁 Connect With Us On Instagram!

• Not Nice Clever
• Candice Carcioppolo
• Kat Torre

 🎙 Book Kat and Candice to speak at your next event, summit or workshop HERE

Want Some "Not Nice Advice" Send Us A Text!

Let’s be real, building a personal brand in today’s world can feel like performing on a stage while juggling flaming swords. 

But Theoni Rapo? She makes it look effortless and she’s here to tell you exactly how she does it. In this high-energy, no-fluff conversation, Theoni— viral TikTok creator, mortgage lending expert, and full-time mompreneur, pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to grow online without selling your soul to the algorithm. 

We’re talking storytelling that sticks, content creation that converts, and how to actually use TikTok and Instagram to grow your brand in 2025 and we’re not skipping the messy parts!

Whether you’re knee-deep in diapers or dreaming up your next launch, this episode is packed with personal branding tips, social media strategies, and the kind of mindset shifts that make real magic happen. 

If you’re ready to disrupt the norm, create with purpose, and conquer your corner of the internet—hit play now.

Want Even More Personal Branding and Marketing Strategies?

📣 Amplify by Not Nice. Clever. is an entrepreneur's shortcut to standing out online.  This hands-on, workshop-style program gives helps you and your team grow your business, strengthen your personal brand, and finally make social media work for you.

Find out more www.notniceclever.com

🏁 Connect With Us On Instagram!

• Not Nice Clever
• Candice Carcioppolo
• Kat Torre

 🎙 Book Kat and Candice to speak at your next event, summit or workshop HERE

Want Some "Not Nice Advice" Send Us A Text!

Ever freeze up mid-convo or replay awkward moments on a loop in your head?
You’re not alone (especially if you're an introverted entrepreneur), and today is the day we're going to fix that!

This week, we're revisiting our incredible conversation with viral Communication coach Cole Jennette! With over 478K Instagram followers, Cole is on a mission to help you feel more confident in conversations (even the cringey ones).

We’re talking:

• What to say (and what not to say) to sound more confident in conversation
• How to end a conversation with grace and without ghosting
• Turning social slip-ups into genuine connection

Plus, Cole gets real about his own story—from struggling with leadership and feeling misunderstood, to becoming the go-to coach for mastering social skills that can help you become a better communicator for business growth.

If you’ve ever Googled “how to talk to people” or struggle with networking events, this one’s for you.

Follow Cole On IG: https://www.instagram.com/colejennette
Checkout Cole's Website: https://www.leadovert.com/

Episode Highlights

00:00 The Art of Connection and Curiosity
02:32 Cole's Journey To Creating Social Cues Content On Instagram
06:41 The Role of Experts vs. Coaches
10:23 Understanding Introversion and Extroversion
13:41 Practical Skills for Better Conversations
19:17 Empathy in Conversations
24:06 The Courage to Be Curious
26:58 How To Politely Exit Conversations
34:05 Finding Your Voice in Conversations
38:59 Reflections on Personal Growth

Want Even More Personal Branding and Marketing Strategies?

📣 Amplify by Not Nice. Clever. is an entrepreneur's shortcut to standing out online.  This hands-on, workshop-style program gives helps you and your team grow your business, strengthen your personal brand, and finally make social media work for you.

Find out more www.notniceclever.com

🏁 Connect With Us On Instagram!

• Not Nice Clever
• Candice Carcioppolo
• Kat Torre

 🎙 Book Kat and Candice to speak at your next event, summit or workshop HERE

Want Some "Not Nice Advice" Send Us A Text!

If you’ve ever waited to hit “post” until things felt perfect, this one’s for you.

In this episode, Candice sits down with Neel Dhingra—founder of Forward Academy and the powerhouse behind the Forward Conference—to talk about building your personal brand in public (cringey content, awkward phases and all). 

From his early metal band days (yes, seriously) to hosting industry-shifting events that have included powerhouses like Ed Mylett and Chris Do, Neel shares why playing small to avoid embarrassment is costing you big.

We’re unpacking:
 → Why your “cringe” moments are actually your credibility builders
 → The secret sauce behind high-impact events that don’t feel like snooze-fests
→ How to stop asking “what if it flops?” and start betting on yourself like a boss

This convo is your permission slip to create before you feel ready, lean into what actually lights you up, and build something that’s so you it couldn’t possibly be anyone else’s.

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Get Your ticket To The Forward Conference here: https://www.forwardevent.com/

Follow Neel on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neelhome

Checkout Neel's Forward Academy: https://www.forwardacademy.com/

Check out Neel's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/neeldhingra

Want Even More Personal Branding and Marketing Strategies?

📣 Amplify by Not Nice. Clever. is an entrepreneur's shortcut to standing out online.  This hands-on, workshop-style program gives helps you and your team grow your business, strengthen your personal brand, and finally make social media work for you.

Find out more www.notniceclever.com

🏁 Connect With Us On Instagram!

• Not Nice Clever
• Candice Carcioppolo
• Kat Torre

 🎙 Book Kat and Candice to speak at your next event, summit or workshop HERE

Want Some "Not Nice Advice" Send Us A Text!

Ever feel like you’re doing all the right things in your biz, but something still feels off? What if we told you that it might not be your mindset or your strategy—it could be your workspace!

In this episode, Candice sits down with Feng Shui master and founder of the School of Spiritual Design, Danijela Saponjic, to explore how your physical environment could be the silent saboteur (or supercharger) of your success.

Danijela breaks down Feng Shui in the most relatable way (think acupuncture, but for your home) and shares simple, doable tips to get your space flowing with energy that supports your goals. 

Whether you’re a cluttered creative, a paper-piled entrepreneur, or just feeling energetically “meh,” this episode will help you see your space through a whole new lens.

If you’ve ever wondered why your energy feels stuck—or how to make the energy of your workspace work FOR you, you do not want to miss this one.

Work with Danijela: https://unfolding-space.com/

Follow Danijela On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unfolding_space/

Listen To The Unfolding Space Podcast: https://unfolding-space.com/podcast/

Want Even More Personal Branding and Marketing Strategies?

📣 Amplify by Not Nice. Clever. is an entrepreneur's shortcut to standing out online.  This hands-on, workshop-style program gives helps you and your team grow your business, strengthen your personal brand, and finally make social media work for you.

Find out more www.notniceclever.com

🏁 Connect With Us On Instagram!

• Not Nice Clever
• Candice Carcioppolo
• Kat Torre

 🎙 Book Kat and Candice to speak at your next event, summit or workshop HERE

Want Some "Not Nice Advice" Send Us A Text!

Let’s be real: working with other humans is one part strategy, two parts vibes, and sometimes just a teeny tiny dash of emotional rollercoaster.

That is why in this episode we're digging into the magic of the Enneagram! 

We’re joined by Sarah Wallace, founder of Enneagram MBA and host of The Enneagram at Work podcast. She’s breaking down how understanding your type (and your teammates’) can transform your leadership style, fix messy communication, and make your meetings way less awkward.

We cover:
 👉 The real reason your Type 6 teammate isn’t trying to kill the vibe
👉 How Enneagram types show up at work (and where they totally clash)
👉 The compatibility tricks you didn’t know you needed
👉 How to use your instinctual subtype for smarter branding + marketing

Whether you’re a team of two, twenty, or just trying to vibe with your VA, this episode is a masterclass in working better together.

Work With Sarah: https://www.enneagrammba.com/

Follow Sarah on IG: https://www.instagram.com/enneagrammba/

Checkout the Enneagram At Work Podcast :  https://www.enneagramatworkpodcast.com/

Want Even More Personal Branding and Marketing Strategies?

📣 Amplify by Not Nice. Clever. is an entrepreneur's shortcut to standing out online.  This hands-on, workshop-style program gives helps you and your team grow your business, strengthen your personal brand, and finally make social media work for you.

Find out more www.notniceclever.com

🏁 Connect With Us On Instagram!

• Not Nice Clever
• Candice Carcioppolo
• Kat Torre

 🎙 Book Kat and Candice to speak at your next event, summit or workshop HERE