07/18/2025
The Power of Brand (and why Iām not really a āFashion Guyā)
As some of you may know, Iām a former finance guy (shout out to my Bank of America, NTT, and Sia days). Which means... my path to starting and leading a clothing brand is a bit odd. Most people donāt go from finance to fashion, I assure you.
But hereās the thing... Iām not actually a āfashion guyā (thatās really more Filipe Ho). I wonāt pretend I was a snazzy dresser all my life... I definitely wasnāt.
And that alternate path to get where I am today has turned into a huge advantage... because Iāve lived the other side.
When I started my finance career, I was just like many other young professionals entering the workforce, I wore what everyone else was wearing. Safe. Easy. Blend in.
I was more concerned with fitting in than realizing there was a simple, effective way to stand out and differentiate myself.
That changed thanks to my first manager at BofA, Jim Vilsack. Jim was the quintessential mentor... loved his job, everyone loved him, and he made it all look easy. I wanted to be Jim (still do!).
Iāll never forget grabbing coffee one day. I commented that he always dressed well, even though our office was more business casual than buttoned up.
What he said next never left me:
"I always want to be ready in case one of my leaders calls on me to present or attend a meeting, because you never know when the opportunity might come."
So simple.
By being ready, you make it easy for leadership to call on you because you visually represent the standard at all times.
Looking back, I think about the compliments, opportunities, and doors that opened because of that mindset:
- Meetings with senior leaders
- Promotions
- Consulting opportunities
- Speaking engagements
That experience showed me firsthand the power of branding and what it can do for a personās confidence and career trajectory.
Thatās what ultimately pushed me to start a clothing brand dedicated to doing that very thing for others... helping people take control of their personal brand and be ready when opportunity calls.
If youāre ready to take your personal brand up a level, the team at OMJ Clothing love to help... just reach out!