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Cut The Tie Podcast with Anika Jackson
What happens when you realize you don’t fit into a box—and you’re not supposed to? In this episode of Cut The Tie, Thomas Helfrich sits down with Anika Jackson, founder of Your Brand Amplified®, professor at USC Annenberg, single mom, podcaster, and executive director at the ICL Foundation. From PR to AI, curriculum development to podcast consulting, Anika has cut ties with traditional definitions of success and leaned fully into her multi-passionate path. The result? A thriving business, a top 1.5% global podcast, and a mission to merge technology with humanity.

About Anika Jackson

Anika Jackson is the founder of Your Brand Amplified®, a branding, marketing, PR, AI for business, and podcast consulting agency that helps entrepreneurs and organizations find their authentic voice. Her podcast of the same name ranks in the top 1.5% globally. In addition, Anika teaches graduate courses at USC Annenberg in digital media management and social media, where she has pioneered AI-first curriculum. She also serves as Executive Director of the ICL Foundation and ICL Academy, developing innovative curriculum and weaving AI into education and business practices. As a single mom and MBA candidate at Villanova specializing in AI/ML, Anika lives at the intersection of technology, education, and philanthropy—unapologetically multi-passionate.

In this episode, Thomas and Anika discuss:

• Cutting ties with “traditional” career paths
  Why Anika walked away from agencies and roles that didn’t align with her values or purpose.
• Living unapologetically multi-passionate
  How embracing her wide range of passions led to synergy across teaching, PR, AI, podcasting, and philanthropy.
• Building a business through faith and persistence
  The moment she “gave it up to the universe” and landed a PR contract that grew into a 20-person firm during the pandemic.
• Using AI without losing humanity
  Why she’s passionate about creating AI tools that enhance authenticity, efficiency, and connection rather than replace it.

Key Takeaways:

• Success is passion + purpose
  Don’t chase other people’s definitions—design your own.
• It’s okay to be multi-passionate
  Your unique intersections may be your biggest advantage.
• Volunteering builds real leadership
  Free training in EQ, delegation, and public speaking pays lifelong dividends.
• AI is a tool, not a replacement
  Use technology to amplify your humanity—not erase it.

Connect with Anika Jackson:

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anikajackson/
🌐 Website: https://yourbrandamplified.com/

Connect with Thomas Helfrich:

📣 Twitter: https://twitter.com/thelfrich
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/cutthetie/
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomashelfrich/
🌐 Website: http://www.cutthetie.com
📧 Email: [email protected]
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