Elevating Brands, Belonging & Personal Impact: DisrupTV Episode 295 with Teresa Barreira, Brian K. Reaves & Cindy McGovern

In Episode 295 of DisrupTV, hosts R “Ray” Wang and Vala Afshar sit down with three visionaries:

  • Teresa Barreira, CMO of Publicis Sapient
  • Brian K. Reaves, EVP & Chief Belonging, Diversity & Equity Officer at UKG
  • Cindy McGovern, Author of Sell Yourself and founder of Orange Leaf Consulting

Together, they unpack how brand identity, inclusive leadership, and authentic self-promotion shape organizational and personal success in today’s business landscape.

Key Takeaways

1. Building Brand with Fearless Authenticity

Teresa Barreira underscores how being true to your team and brand—not just conventional marketing messages—fuels powerful storytelling and real transformation. Authentic leadership inspires original thinking and creates genuine connections.

Takeaway: Authenticity ignites brand value and resonance—especially when leaders lead by example.

2. Scaling Inclusion Through Belonging

Brian K. Reaves explains the critical role of belonging, diversity, and equity in fostering cultures where every voice elevates the whole. True inclusion goes beyond policies—it starts with building trust and enabling safety for all identities to thrive. 

Takeaway: Investing in belonging cultivates resilience and unlocks organizational potential.

3. Empowering Through Personal Branding

Cindy McGovern, “The First Lady of Sales™”, encourages everyone to embrace their inner salesperson—recognizing that personal branding starts with owning your unique story and confidently sharing it.

Takeaway: When you sell yourself—your ideas, values, and strengths—you create opportunities to lead and inspire.

Standout Quotes

“By being their authentic selves, women will have a greater impact on their teams, companies … and themselves.” — Teresa Barreira
“A culture built on trust, fairness and equality helps every person thrive.” — Brian K. Reaves 
“You’ve been selling your entire life. Embrace it, and sell yourself authentically.” — Cindy McGovern 

Final Thoughts

DisrupTV Episode 295 brings together three distinct yet connected perspectives on leadership and impact. Teresa Barreira highlights how authenticity is the cornerstone of powerful brand transformation, while Brian K. Reaves emphasizes that cultures rooted in belonging, equity, and trust enable organizations to thrive. Cindy McGovern reminds us that personal branding and storytelling are not optional skills but essential tools for influence and opportunity. Together, their insights reveal that lasting success comes from aligning brand truth, inclusive leadership, and the courage to share your unique value with the world.

Related Episodes