In this episode, Jayzen Patria continues his five-step Lead With Your Brand framework, focusing on Step #2: Knowing What You Stand For — the foundation of every strong, trusted personal brand.
In a workplace defined by constant disruption, visibility without clarity is noise. If you don’t define what you stand for, others will define it for you — and not always in your favor.
Your personal brand isn’t what you say about yourself. It’s how you operate. It’s what people see you do. It’s what people hear you say — consistently, over time.
In this episode, Jayzen breaks down why brand clarity is the key to being in demand, rather than being overlooked. When thinking about your brand, Jayzen highlights:
• Why trying to copy other leaders is the fastest way to dilute your brand
• Why degrees, titles, and credentials are no longer differentiators
• How your daily behaviors define your reputation more than your résumé
• Why “authenticity” isn’t a personality trait — it’s disciplined consistency
Key takeaways include:
There is only one you — and that’s your advantage. You don’t need to be Oprah, your CEO, or a famous leader. Your power comes from being unmistakably you.
Your brand is defined by how you operate. What you deliver, how you respond under pressure, and how people experience working with you is your brand.
Brand DNA drives everything. Just like Nike doesn’t sell shoes — it sells performance and belief — your brand DNA should guide every decision, interaction, and opportunity.
Tailwinds accelerate careers. When people consistently describe you with the same strengths, your career gains momentum. Clarity creates shortcuts.
Headwinds create drag. Unmanaged behaviors under stress can erase your strongest brand equity. Awareness is non-negotiable.
Words aren’t enough — behaviors matter. If someone followed you with a camera for two weeks, what would they actually see? Your brand lives in observable actions.
In celebration of the Oscars, Jayzen is joined by Dave Karger, award-winning television host, entertainment commentator, and one of the most trusted voices in film and awards-season coverage.
Dave is a longtime host on Turner Classic Movies (TCM) and has appeared on The Today Show more than 215 times over the past 25 years. He is also the author of 50 Oscar Nights and the upcoming 50 Movie Nights. Dave’s career is a masterclass in brand clarity, consistency, and credibility.
Dave’s career is a clear example of brand clarity in action. He didn’t wait to be promoted — he consistently operated at the next level until advancement became the obvious next step. Over time, his reputation was built on three behaviors: being respectful, reliable, and prepared. Not as buzzwords, but as lived habits.
Dave also made career decisions with a long-term mindset, understanding that every choice either raised or lowered his reputational “credit score.” That trust compounded, creating leverage and opportunity.
By becoming deeply known for the Oscars and classic film, Dave built lasting demand. His journey proves Jayzen’s core belief: strong personal brands don’t need to be loud — they’re trusted.
Guest Bio
Dave Karger
TCM Host & Author
Dave Karger is an award-winning television host, interviewer, and entertainment commentator. Since 2018 he’s been a host on Turner Classic Movies, where he introduces classic films and conducts interviews with stars and filmmakers of the past and present. He has also made over 200 live appearances on NBC’s Today show over the past 25 years. He has been called “this generation’s mass-media cinematic ambassador” by The Wrap and a “beloved entertainment guru” by The Hollywood Reporter. His first book, “50 Oscar Nights,” from TCM and Running Press, was published in 2024. His second book, “50 Movie Nights: Your Favorite Stars’ Favorite Classic Films,” will be released in 2026.
In 2015 Dave received the Publicists Guild Press Award honoring the year’s outstanding entertainment journalist. In 2014 he was named one of OUT Magazine’s “OUT 100,” acknowledging the most influential people in the LGBTQ+ community.
From 2012 to 2016 Dave served as Chief Correspondent at Fandango, where he created and hosted the original video series “The Frontrunners,” which received a Webby Award nomination for Best Variety Series. Before that, Dave spent 17 years at Entertainment Weekly, working his way up from intern to senior writer and eventually writing over 50 cover stories for the magazine, on subjects including George Clooney, Angelina Jolie, Elton John, Taylor Swift, Denzel Washington, Julianne Moore, Paul Rudd, and Kelly Clarkson.
In 2018 Dave co-hosted ABC’s Live from the Red Carpet on Oscar night. In 2012 he was named the Academy’s official red-carpet greeter, only the third person ever to hold that post. He also co-hosted the 2011 Oscars Digital Experience (produced by The Academy and ABC), which won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Creative Achievement in Interactive Entertainment.
Dave has served on the juries of the TriBeCa, South by Southwest, Florida, Napa Valley, and Los Angeles film festivals. He is a graduate of Duke University.
