How to Build Your Dream Career in 2026 With High Agency & Personal Branding ft. LinkedIn's Julia Cabral
Wed Feb 04 2026
Hiiii angels, surprise! I'm back with a bonus episode with the one and only Julia Cabral, Senior Director of Product Marketing at LinkedIn.
We chat about her career pivot from finance to marketing, why today's job market requires you to take agency over your own career path, and how building your personal brand on LinkedIn isn't optional anymore whether you're a creator, corporate girly, or entrepreneur. Julia breaks down the exact LinkedIn profile upgrades you need to make, how to start creating content even if you're not a "content person," and why the question "what energizes you vs what drains you" changed her entire career trajectory.
If you want to build your dream career and launch your personal brand in 2026, this episode is your guide for getting started and how to leverage LinkedIn to your advantage.
What You'll Learn:
Why reflecting on what energizes vs drains you can change your careerHow Julia pivoted from finance to marketing and understanding transferable skills Why the job market has shifted to skills-based hiring instead of title-basedThe importance of building your personal brand online even if you're not a creatorEasy LinkedIn profile upgrades:3 low-pressure post ideas to get started on LinkedIn todayWhy "personality over personal" is the rule for LinkedIn content
ABOUT THE GUEST
Julia Cabral is the Senior Director of Product Marketing at LinkedIn, where she leads marketing strategy for LinkedIn's feed and video products. She's also a content creator herself, sharing career advice and marketing insights on LinkedIn. Before pivoting to marketing, Julia spent years in finance at LinkedIn, and she's been a spin instructor on the side for nearly a decade. She's all about multifaceted careers, owning your narrative, and helping people put themselves out there authentically.
Follow Julia on LinkedIn: Julia Cabral Flavin
WHERE TO FIND ALEXIS & TOO COLLECTIVE
Follow along with Alexis:
Instagram:
@alexisbarber: https://www.instagram.com/alexisbarber/?hl=en
@toocollective: https://www.instagram.com/toocollective/?hl=en
Substack:
Too Smart For This Newsletter: https://toocollective.substack.com/
TikTok:
@alexisbarber_: https://www.tiktok.com/@alexisbarber_
YouTube:
Subscribe here: http://www.youtube.com/@alexis_barber
Shop the Episode: https://shopmy.us/shop?Curator_id=250549
Book Office Hours: Work with Alexis Here:
https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=22112790&appointmentType=79833937
Get the Journal: Too Smart For This: A Guided Journal Here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/761193/too-smart-for-this-by-alexis-barber/
Questions, thoughts, or want to collaborate with Alexis or Too Collective? Email Alexis at alexis@alexisbarber.com
ABOUT TOO SMART FOR THIS
You're ambitious. You're overwhelmed. And you're definitely too smart to keep sacrificing your well-being for someone else's definition of success.
Too Smart For This is the show for ambitious material girls just like you who are learning how to channel their chaotic energy into a more intentional and fun life.
Join your host, Alexis Barber (author, Wharton MBA, former Google/YouTube strategist, and certified ambitious material girl), every Monday for the frameworks, authentic conversations, and tangible tools you need to build a life that's both driven and deeply enjoyable. Because self-care is part of the business plan—and you're too smart to settle for anything less.
Subscribe now and follow @alexisbarber and @toocollective for more.
ABOUT YOUR HOST
Hello, love!
I'm an ambitious material girl obsessed with wellness, business, consumer culture, and the creator economy. I write from New York City, where I'm busy enjoying being young, gifted, and Black, oversharing online, and remembering that self-care is part of the business plan.
This show is supported by Other Kind Media — otherkindmedia.com
More
Hiiii angels, surprise! I'm back with a bonus episode with the one and only Julia Cabral, Senior Director of Product Marketing at LinkedIn. We chat about her career pivot from finance to marketing, why today's job market requires you to take agency over your own career path, and how building your personal brand on LinkedIn isn't optional anymore whether you're a creator, corporate girly, or entrepreneur. Julia breaks down the exact LinkedIn profile upgrades you need to make, how to start creating content even if you're not a "content person," and why the question "what energizes you vs what drains you" changed her entire career trajectory. If you want to build your dream career and launch your personal brand in 2026, this episode is your guide for getting started and how to leverage LinkedIn to your advantage. What You'll Learn: Why reflecting on what energizes vs drains you can change your careerHow Julia pivoted from finance to marketing and understanding transferable skills Why the job market has shifted to skills-based hiring instead of title-basedThe importance of building your personal brand online even if you're not a creatorEasy LinkedIn profile upgrades:3 low-pressure post ideas to get started on LinkedIn todayWhy "personality over personal" is the rule for LinkedIn content ABOUT THE GUEST Julia Cabral is the Senior Director of Product Marketing at LinkedIn, where she leads marketing strategy for LinkedIn's feed and video products. She's also a content creator herself, sharing career advice and marketing insights on LinkedIn. Before pivoting to marketing, Julia spent years in finance at LinkedIn, and she's been a spin instructor on the side for nearly a decade. She's all about multifaceted careers, owning your narrative, and helping people put themselves out there authentically. Follow Julia on LinkedIn: Julia Cabral Flavin WHERE TO FIND ALEXIS & TOO COLLECTIVE Follow along with Alexis: Instagram: @alexisbarber: https://www.instagram.com/alexisbarber/?hl=en @toocollective: https://www.instagram.com/toocollective/?hl=en Substack: Too Smart For This Newsletter: https://toocollective.substack.com/ TikTok: @alexisbarber_: https://www.tiktok.com/@alexisbarber_ YouTube: Subscribe here: http://www.youtube.com/@alexis_barber Shop the Episode: https://shopmy.us/shop?Curator_id=250549 Book Office Hours: Work with Alexis Here: https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=22112790&appointmentType=79833937 Get the Journal: Too Smart For This: A Guided Journal Here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/761193/too-smart-for-this-by-alexis-barber/ Questions, thoughts, or want to collaborate with Alexis or Too Collective? Email Alexis at alexis@alexisbarber.com ABOUT TOO SMART FOR THIS You're ambitious. You're overwhelmed. And you're definitely too smart to keep sacrificing your well-being for someone else's definition of success. Too Smart For This is the show for ambitious material girls just like you who are learning how to channel their chaotic energy into a more intentional and fun life. Join your host, Alexis Barber (author, Wharton MBA, former Google/YouTube strategist, and certified ambitious material girl), every Monday for the frameworks, authentic conversations, and tangible tools you need to build a life that's both driven and deeply enjoyable. Because self-care is part of the business plan—and you're too smart to settle for anything less. Subscribe now and follow @alexisbarber and @toocollective for more. ABOUT YOUR HOST Hello, love! I'm an ambitious material girl obsessed with wellness, business, consumer culture, and the creator economy. I write from New York City, where I'm busy enjoying being young, gifted, and Black, oversharing online, and remembering that self-care is part of the business plan. This show is supported by Other Kind Media — otherkindmedia.com