Finding Your Spark: The Professional Power of Empathy and Authenticity
In a world crowded with optimized content and AI-generated noise, genuine human connection stands out more than ever. For marketers, freelancers, and entrepreneurs, authenticity is a competitive advantage.
Join us for an inspiring conversation with Traci Shannon, actress, writer, and community strategist, as she shares her S.T.A.R. Journey framework. Drawing from her own professional evolution, Traci will explore how to turn your lived experience into a meaningful brand story that connects with people and grows with you.
Whether you are leading a brand, building a business, or stepping into a new chapter of your career, this session will help you uncover what makes your voice memorable and your message matter.
What you’ll learn at this Breakfast:
- How to turn your story into your brand: Learn to identify the defining moments in your journey and shape them into a clear, consistent brand narrative.
- How to build authenticity into any brand: Explore how to create a human-centered brand presence, even if there isn’t one “face” of the business.
- Why empathy is a future-ready skill: Understand why empathy, trust, and human connection continue to matter as technology and platforms evolve.
- How to navigate your “second act”: Discover how to pivot professionally, draw from past experiences, and build something new with purpose.
- When everyone is competing for attention, story is what creates connection. Join us to learn how authenticity and empathy can help you build a brand and a career that lasts.
REGISTRATION
Registration on Eventbrite is required to attend in person. Save your seat now!
SPEAKER
Traci Shannon
Traci Shannon, MFA, MA, is a certified storyteller and advocate for authentic living. For more than 15 years, she has shared her “perfectly imperfect” journey through her blog, A Star in My Universe, and her podcast, The Pebble. From the theater stage to the digital stage, Traci helps professionals redefine success, reconnect with their purpose, and step confidently into their second act.
DETAILS
📅 Date & Time: Friday, May 8, 2026, 8:30 AM – 10:30 AM (9:00 AM online)
📍 Location: The Ion, 4201 Main Street, Houston, TX 77002
🚗 Parking: Red Lot- Enter 4203 Fannin Street for direct access. Complimentary up to 3 hours. Ion District Parking Garage- Enter 4111 Fannin Street. Complimentary up to 2 hours.
🥐 Breakfast: Enjoy a complimentary continental breakfast and coffee.
LIVESTREAM LINKS
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
A special thank you to our sponsors: Missing Pieces Support Group, Impact HUB Houston, The Ion, Zoetica Media, Mighty Strategic Consulting, and SmartSocialMastery.
SMBHOU NEEDS YOU
The Social Media Breakfast of Houston connects a community of over 1,600 PR, Marketing, and Small Business professionals who meet monthly to learn, connect, and collaborate. We’re looking for breakfast sponsors to help fuel the conversation for just $100 per month. Want to be an exclusive sponsor in your category? 📧 kami@zoeticamedia.com