We recently had the chance to connect with Christy Miller Howard and have shared our conversation below.
Good morning Christy, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What’s more important to you—intelligence, energy, or integrity?
That’s an excellent question, and I can say it all boils down to integrity.
While intelligence and energy are valuable, integrity is the bedrock that supports everything else. It’s not something I switch on and off depending on the situation; it’s a fundamental part of who I am. It defines how I show up for myself, for others, and for my work.
For me, integrity is the perfect blend of emotional intelligence and intentional energy. It’s about making clear, principled decisions, doing what’s right even when it’s inconvenient, and supporting others without losing my own sense of self. This is how I live and lead.
Authentic Brand exists because I stand firmly behind this belief. I’ve navigated enough challenges to understand that showing up with honesty and heart creates a real impact. It builds trust, drives transformation, and leaves a lasting legacy.
Integrity may not always be the easiest path, but it is undeniably the most rewarding. I wouldn’t choose to live—or do business—any other way.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
As the founder of Authentic Brand, I’ve created a space where job seekers, professionals, and aspiring entrepreneurs can rediscover their confidence, own their worth, and take the next step in their lives with clarity and purpose. With over 40 years of experience in corporate leadership, I’ve seen firsthand how people can get lost in their job titles, toxic work environments, or self-doubt. That’s why I started Authentic Brand: to provide genuine support, not empty promises, for those navigating career changes, personal growth, or the transition into entrepreneurship.
What sets Authentic Brand apart? It’s a deeply personal journey. I’ve been through the ups and downs of resume rewrites, second chances, and big career pivots—and now I help others navigate those same challenges. Whether it’s crafting a strong LinkedIn presence, preparing for interviews, or working one-on-one to uncover your unique value, my goal is to help people see themselves not just as someone who fits in—but as the solution.
I also collaborate with individuals prepared to assume the role of their own employer, assisting them in transitioning from an employee mindset to that of a business owner. I facilitate the recognition that their skills, experiences, and personal narratives are commercially valuable—and that they possess the necessary attributes to establish something meaningful on their own terms.
Currently, I am extending the scope of Authentic Brand into a comprehensive platform that integrates confidence coaching, career development services, and personal brand alignment. Because when you match who you are on the inside with how you show up in the world, that’s when things truly change.
My mission is simple: help people drop the mask, embrace their story, and own the power of becoming exactly who they were always meant to be.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
One of the most defining moments of my life came at the age of 40, when I experienced something no one ever should—I was raped. As devastating as it was, that moment became an unexpected turning point in how I view the world and my place in it. At first, I felt the weight of unworthiness, fear, and shame, but I knew I couldn’t let that moment define the rest of my life. I didn’t want to live as a victim, and I refused to let depression consume me.
Instead, I turned inward—and upward. I leaned deeply into my faith. That was the beginning of what I now call the “positives.” It didn’t mean ignoring the darkness, but learning how to carry it without letting it carry me. I realized life isn’t about perfection. We’re born, we die, and everything in between is the messy middle—full of highs, lows, heartbreak, and beauty.
That experience cracked me open. It expanded my empathy and compassion in ways I hadn’t known possible. I began to live more from my heart, not in spite of what happened, but because I chose to find purpose beyond it. I learned to forgive, to see beauty in a world that can sometimes be cruel, and to show up not hardened, but human.
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
It happened the moment my illusion shattered. I had spent 21 years loving someone I thought I knew. We lived together for a decade, married for just under four years, and then—everything unraveled. I discovered he was a functioning alcoholic and that much of what he’d told me about his past, his life, and who he was… wasn’t real. I had unknowingly fallen in love with an image, not the man himself.
For ten years, I lived in a bubble—protecting him, protecting myself, too ashamed to admit the truth. I clung to the fairytale, not because I was naïve, but because I didn’t want to admit I’d been wrong. I was embarrassed, afraid, and unsure how to leave a life I had built around someone who didn’t truly exist.
But when the truth hit, something inside me cracked open. For the first time, I let myself feel it all—I cried, I grieved, and I allowed the pain to move through me. I talked to God. I reconnected with friends I had pushed away for years. I stopped hiding behind “I’m fine.” And in that raw, vulnerable place, I found my truth.
I forgave—not just him, but myself. We are all broken in some way, and it’s not about being perfect. It’s about being real. I stopped hiding because I realized my experience wasn’t shameful—it was powerful. And by being open, by standing in my truth, I started helping others feel brave enough to do the same. I let go of judgment—of them, of myself—and leaned into compassion.
Today, I’m no longer living in that bubble. I’ve become the woman I have coached others to be—grounded, self-loving, and unshakably honest. And I’m proud. Because that pain was the fire that forged the version of me that stands here now—in my power, no longer afraid to be seen.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Is the public version of you the real you?
It is now.
For most of my life, I wore masks—layer upon layer. I was the people-pleaser, the fixer, the one who always had it together. I looked outside myself for validation, trying to be what I thought others needed me to be. I lived for approval, for acceptance, for some kind of confirmation that I was enough.
But behind closed doors, I was exhausted. The disconnect between who I was in public and who I was in private left me confused, depleted, and questioning everything. I was a walking contradiction—polished on the outside, unraveling on the inside.
That version of me couldn’t last. Over the last few decades, life gave me plenty of opportunities to strip it all away. And I did the work. I started listening to myself more than others. I chose truth over performance. I let go of perfection and started living from a place of compassion, honesty, and empathy—not just for others, but for myself.
So yes, the public version of me is now the real me. There are no more masks. What you see is what you get. Because if I’m going to ask others to be authentic, I have to be that first. I lead with heart, speak with integrity, and show up as I am—flaws, strength, softness, and all.
And let me tell you, it’s lighter here.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What do you understand deeply that most people don’t?
I understand that the real battlefield is in our minds. Most people don’t realize just how often they’re fighting ghosts—conversations that haven’t happened, assumptions that aren’t true, fears that haven’t come to life. We go up in our heads, get swept into the swirl of doubt, insecurity, and made-up scenarios, and we treat them like facts.
But I’ve learned—personally and through the people I coach—that what lives up there isn’t the truth. It’s not your reality, and it’s definitely not your future. It’s just noise.
I understand deeply that our inner critic is often the loudest voice in the room, and if we don’t learn to challenge it, it will shape how we see ourselves and the world. That’s why I teach people to stop assuming, to stop writing the script before the conversation even starts. Because when you expect negativity, you invite it into your energy.
Instead, I guide others—just as I’ve guided myself—to drop from their head into their heart. That’s where clarity lives. That’s where truth exists. Positive energy doesn’t mean ignoring what’s hard—it means choosing to stand in your power instead of your fear.
And once you learn to do that? You stop living on defense and start living on purpose.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://authenticbrandnow.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heartfelt_confidence_coach/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christy-miller-howard/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthenticBrandNow
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@DroptheMaskwithChristy
