What is a Personal Brand?

Personal branding is more than a trend in a world where everything is connected—it’s essential for any modern-day leader, whether we like it or not. 

This article will explore what personal branding is, its importance, and how it can be effectively managed to serve your business and its growth.

What is a Personal Brand?

Think of your personal brand as your entrepreneurial fingerprint—it’s what sets you apart in the business world. It involves all the ways you present yourself, from your online profiles to how you interact in meetings. It's your story, showcasing your values, achievements, and goals. And, most importantly - your personal brand represents who you are and not what you do. In turn, this makes your brand so much bigger than turning you into a spokesperson of your business, it gives you portability, and it allows for the business to remain exitable with or without you at the helm. 

Why Personal Branding is Important for Entrepreneurs and CEOs

For Gen X leaders, who often merge old-school business tactics with new digital strategies, creating a personal brand identity is crucial. You might not have grown up with digital media, but in today’s business environment, showing who an organization’s leaders are online is expected by prospective employees, existing team members, and essentially all stakeholders. It's about being relevant, standing out as a thought leader, and making an impact beyond the businesses we own.

Defining your personal brand builds trust and establishes your reputation as an authority in your field. This is a key aspect of the importance of personal branding—it allows you to differentiate your business as a thought leader in the industry

A strong personal brand image also opens doors to new opportunities—it can lead to board seats, investment prospects, and speaking engagements. We often have clients express disdain about people who get invited to be on industry panels or are offered coveted Board seats. “Why them when I am clearly a lot more experienced and have many more credentials in this field?” Well, usually it’s them because they have a stronger visibility. Good news is that you can also enhance yours. This is where personal brand building becomes an invaluable tool..

Let’s unpack it further. 

How to Build A Personal Brand

Building a personal brand is like tailoring a custom suit. It needs to fit you just right and show off your best qualities. Here are some key steps to get started:

• Find Your Unique Angle: When you find  your unique angle, you automatically differentiate yourself from the rest. And it gives you purpose when putting yourself out there. Helping with unique angle creation is part of our secret sauce at Brand of a Leader and its impact is undeniable. Imagine 10X’ing your personal brand building efforts just by defining it.  
• Be Consistent: Keep your communication style and online look the same across all platforms. This consistency helps people recognize and trust you. We typically recommend that Founders use the visual identity of their businesses to connect the two and enhance the recognizability. 
• Stay Active: Today’s digital world requires active engagement. Share your insights, respond to feedback, and participate in conversations that matter to your audience. Your online presence is not a one-way street. If people take the time to comment on something you share, please make time for a reply.

Learning from the Best: Three Exemplary Personal Brands

Example 1: Tim Cook, CEO of Apple

Who He Is: Tim Cook stands out for his focus on privacy, caring for the environment, and ethical business practices.

Lesson: Tim Cook's approach to personal brand marketing illustrates the importance of aligning personal values with a company's goals. His strong stance on privacy and environmental issues resonates with consumers and employees who share these values.

Example 2: Indra Nooyi, Former CEO of PepsiCo

Who She Is: Known for her charismatic leadership and sharp focus on healthy lifestyles, Indra Nooyi redefined PepsiCo’s branding to align with health-conscious trends.

Lesson: Nooyi’s style underscores the value of thinking ahead and adapting to societal changes. Her personal brand is an inspiring example of visionary and empathetic leadership.

Example 3: Howard Schultz, Former CEO of Starbucks

Who He Is: Howard Schultz helped grow Starbucks into a global leader, focusing on unique customer experiences and ethical product sourcing.

Lesson: His personal brand and image showcase his commitment to social responsibility and caring for employees, proving that individual values can be deeply integrated into business operations to create a lasting and beloved brand. If you haven’t already read his book Onward, we highly recommend it. 

Why Partner with Brand of a Leader?

When building a personal brand, you’ll save a lot of time by working with experts who understand the personal branding definition, are process oriented, but will offer a personalized experience. At Brand of a Leader, creating and growing personal brands is not on the menu of the things we do - it’s the only thing we do. This means that we are experts in this particular niche, working specifically with GenX business owners and CEOs

We've helped leaders worldwide, from Canada to Australia, to develop personal brands that capture their true essence and are deeply aligned with their business goals. Beyond strategy, we also help with implementation. Our dedication to creating and sharing content that speaks to your audience makes us a perfect partner in your personal branding journey.

Conclusion

Personal branding is more than just a marketing tool—it's a part of your professional legacy. It offers you the chance to leave a distinct mark in your field.

For Gen X leaders, mastering personal branding is not just about adapting to the new rules—it’s about leveraging your experience to shape the future of your industry. Let’s leverage your personal brand not just to stand out but to lead effectively and with purpose.

Ready to start building your personal brand? Book a discovery call with us today, and let’s create something incredible together.