Forget Your Niche: How to Find and "Own Your Expertise" to Stand Out In Your Industry with Humaira Akhter

Do you struggle with the pressure to niche down, feeling like you’re supposed to be an expert in just one area? You’re not alone. Many high-level professionals wrestle with "expert syndrome," doubting their expertise and sticking to what feels safe.

Each episode of the Own Your Lane® Personal Branding Podcast highlights one of the four steps of the Own Your L.A.N.E. personal branding roadmap to help you gain clarity, confidence, and a clear path to growing your influence and impact.

L: Launch Your Vision – Lead with clear intention and purpose
A: Assert Your Difference – Define what uniquely sets you apart
N: Navigate Your Presence – Shape your personal brand foundation
E: Elevate Your Authority – Grow impact and influence with publicity

This week, we're detailing "A-Assert Your Difference" with host Michelle B Griffin and expert guest Humaira Akhter for a real-talk discussion where we debunk the myths that hold many of us back.

We'll share stories of leaders who grew from their focused beginnings into broad, influential figures. We’ll also address the challenges of "expert syndrome" and how you can harness your diverse skills and passions to build a unique and powerful personal brand.

Whether you're just starting or looking to expand your reach, this conversation will give you the insights and inspiration you need to claim your expertise confidently. Embrace the power of your multifaceted talents without being boxed in or held back by the cliche advice.

ABOUT MICHELLE B. GRIFFIN

Michelle is a personal branding speaker, author, and podcaster who empowers professionals—especially women in business—to become visible and top of mind with personal branding to Own Your Lane™ for next-level opportunities.

ABOUT HUMAIRA AKHTER

With over two decades of experience in corporate branding and marketing, Humaira Akhter is a seasoned Growth Strategist. From small startups to multi-million-dollar proposals, Humaira has honed her expertise in design, branding, and streamlining digital/print assets.

Humaira's Website
Connect With Humaira on LinkedIn

Ready to Own Your Lane? - The Brand Leaders® Podcast

Michelle B. Griffin is a keynote speaker, personal brand and PR strategist, author, podcaster and LinkedIn® visibility expert who helps high-achieving professionals elevate their visibility and influence for business growth.

As the founder of Brand Leaders® Executive Branding and creator of the Own Your Lane® Recognition Roadmap, she helps B2B founders, leaders and industry experts position their personal brands and leverage LinkedIn + PR to grow influence, increase demand, and become top-of-mind authorities to accelerate business growth.

Book a chat with Michelle to discuss speaking, advising or workshops to scale visibility, influence, and business growth. MichelleBGriffin.com/chat

WEBSITE: MichelleBGriffin.com
EXECUTIVE BRANDING ADVISORY: Brand Leaders
READ: My Personal Branding Books
LISTEN: The LinkedIn Branding Show
CONNECT: With Me on LinkedIn

Transcript

Michelle: Welcome everybody to this week's episode! I am really excited about this topic. Very passionate about it—all about niching. But before we get into it, without further ado, I'm thrilled to have on the show again, Humaira Akter.

Michelle: Welcome to the show!

Humaira: Well, thank you for having me, Michelle. I'm always delighted to be here with you.

Michelle: Thank you! You were on the podcast almost a year ago for one of our most highly downloaded episodes about self-awareness. Now you've really morphed into alignment, which brings us to today's show: Forget Your Niche. Are we off our rockers? Are we telling people to forget their niche? Let’s dive in, because this is a hot topic! People really struggle with it, and it's everywhere on LinkedIn. So, why did we start this topic, and why did we name it Forget Your Niche?

Humaira: I've heard a lot from my peers and connections who say the word “niche” feels restricting, like they’re being boxed in or forced into a specific lane. They feel like there's no freedom or flexibility to change things up, and it stops being fun. For a lot of people, the term itself can feel pretty “allergic.”

Michelle: Absolutely! I know you see this in your work, and I do too. On my podcast, you'll often hear me say I don’t like the word niche, so I use the term “narrow lane.” You need a narrow lane so we know where to place you in our minds and in a business context. We’re all walking around with problems in our heads, so you’ve got to have some sort of defined lane. Otherwise, you’re blending into the crowd of 8 billion people, especially on LinkedIn with over a billion members. So, can we agree that we’re saying Forget Your Niche? Forget the term if it gives you hives.

Humaira: Yes, the term can bring anxiety for many people. But as you said, context is everything—especially in positioning and placement. We actually do this every day in our lives! I trust a specific hairdresser, or take my kids to a dentist we trust. Even as humans, that’s how we think about things. Our brains are always searching, “Where does this fit in?”

Michelle: Exactly. Let’s use examples. I found my hairdresser because she had great reviews and specialized in chemically damaged hair. I told her that specialization made her stand out. And you take your kids to a pediatric dentist—they could specialize even further, like in kids who are fearful. When my son was young, we went to a place that specializes in helping kids scared of haircuts. That’s a perfect example of specialization and context. We need context!

Humaira: Absolutely, Michelle. The placement of positioning is so natural in our everyday life, but when we look at it in business, it can seem overwhelming. We all have patterns and recurring challenges we’ve encountered that we can use as a foundation for defining what we solve.

Michelle: Right, exactly. I love to ask, “What’s one deep problem you can solve?” It has to be something pressing enough that people seek help for it, and then you can branch out. I say one problem for one particular person—then expand from there. How do you approach this?

Humaira: I focus on recurring themes. What patterns keep showing up? If you can articulate that to someone who has never heard of you, that’s powerful. Starting with one problem is enough if it’s pressing. And your background and story help powerfully position you, too. It has to align with something you’re good at and enjoy.

Michelle: Yes! If you don’t enjoy fixing a certain problem, it’s not sustainable to stay in that area. What’s your take?

Humaira: Definitely. In my work, I look for energetic alignment. If we’re not excited to help a particular person or group, it becomes a cycle that drains us. It’s about creating an alignment that keeps us energized.

Michelle: And sometimes it’s about the how of delivery. Specialization doesn’t mean being boxed in. It’s sustainable, and that’s essential.

Humaira: Exactly. You need clarity in who you are, what you do, and who you help, and then you can expand. Positioning yourself this way allows you to own it.

Michelle: So, to wrap up, we’re not saying get rid of the niche concept entirely. Humans need context, especially in a business setting where we solve problems. And in today’s world of AI and automation, having a strong point of view is more important than ever.

Michelle: Thank you, Humaira, for being on the show again. You’re such a deep thinker, and I love that. This has been a wonderful episode. Until next time, everybody, keep putting yourself out there. You have a brand to build, a message to share, and people to impact.

Michelle: Take care!

4o

You said:

Use first and last names as I gave you on each line vs the first names

ChatGPT said:

ChatGPT

Transcript: Michelle B. Griffin Podcast with Guest Humaira Akter

Michelle B. Griffin: Welcome everybody to this week's episode! I am really excited about this topic. Very passionate about it—all about niching. But before we get into it, without further ado, I'm thrilled to have on the show again, Humaira Akter.

Michelle B. Griffin: Welcome to the show!

Humaira Akter: Well, thank you for having me, Michelle B. Griffin. I'm always delighted to be here with you.

Michelle B. Griffin: Thank you! You were on the podcast almost a year ago for one of our most highly downloaded episodes about self-awareness. Now you've really morphed into alignment, which brings us to today's show: Forget Your Niche. Are we off our rockers? Are we telling people to forget their niche? Let’s dive in, because this is a hot topic! People really struggle with it, and it's everywhere on LinkedIn. So, why did we start this topic, and why did we name it Forget Your Niche?

Humaira Akter: I've heard a lot from my peers and connections who say the word “niche” feels restricting, like they’re being boxed in or forced into a specific lane. They feel like there's no freedom or flexibility to change things up, and it stops being fun. For a lot of people, the term itself can feel pretty “allergic.”

Michelle B. Griffin: Absolutely! I know you see this in your work, and I do too. On my podcast, you'll often hear me say I don’t like the word niche, so I use the term “narrow lane.” You need a narrow lane so we know where to place you in our minds and in a business context. We’re all walking around with problems in our heads, so you’ve got to have some sort of defined lane. Otherwise, you’re blending into the crowd of 8 billion people, especially on LinkedIn with over a billion members. So, can we agree that we’re saying Forget Your Niche? Forget the term if it gives you hives.

Humaira Akter: Yes, the term can bring anxiety for many people. But as you said, context is everything—especially in positioning and placement. We actually do this every day in our lives! I trust a specific hairdresser, or take my kids to a dentist we trust. Even as humans, that’s how we think about things. Our brains are always searching, “Where does this fit in?”

Michelle B. Griffin: Exactly. Let’s use examples. I found my hairdresser because she had great reviews and specialized in chemically damaged hair. I told her that specialization made her stand out. And you take your kids to a pediatric dentist—they could specialize even further, like in kids who are fearful. When my son was young, we went to a place that specializes in helping kids scared of haircuts. That’s a perfect example of specialization and context. We need context!

Humaira Akter: Absolutely, Michelle B. Griffin. The placement of positioning is so natural in our everyday life, but when we look at it in business, it can seem overwhelming. We all have patterns and recurring challenges we’ve encountered that we can use as a foundation for defining what we solve.

Michelle B. Griffin: Right, exactly. I love to ask, “What’s one deep problem you can solve?” It has to be something pressing enough that people seek help for it, and then you can branch out. I say one problem for one particular person—then expand from there. How do you approach this?

Humaira Akter: I focus on recurring themes. What patterns keep showing up? If you can articulate that to someone who has never heard of you, that’s powerful. Starting with one problem is enough if it’s pressing. And your background and story help powerfully position you, too. It has to align with something you’re good at and enjoy.

Michelle B. Griffin: Yes! If you don’t enjoy fixing a certain problem, it’s not sustainable to stay in that area. What’s your take?

Humaira Akter: Definitely. In my work, I look for energetic alignment. If we’re not excited to help a particular person or group, it becomes a cycle that drains us. It’s about creating an alignment that keeps us energized.

Michelle B. Griffin: And sometimes it’s about the how of delivery. Specialization doesn’t mean being boxed in. It’s sustainable, and that’s essential.

Humaira Akter: Exactly. You need clarity in who you are, what you do, and who you help, and then you can expand. Positioning yourself this way allows you to own it.

Michelle B. Griffin: So, to wrap up, we’re not saying get rid of the niche concept entirely. Humans need context, especially in a business setting where we solve problems. And in today’s world of AI and automation, having a strong point of view is more important than ever.

Michelle B. Griffin: Thank you, Humaira Akter, for being on the show again. You’re such a deep thinker, and I love that. This has been a wonderful episode. Until next time, everybody, keep putting yourself out there. You have a brand to build, a message to share, and people to impact.

Michelle B. Griffin: Take care!