thoughts to feed your mind

By Alanna Fairey

When it comes to sharing insights into how to build a strong personal brand, Marina Byezhanova has earned her place as an expert in this area. Speaking on the “Becoming PowHERHouse” podcast with Nicholle Overkamp, Marina shared her personal branding tips, and why building a strong ...

By Alanna Fairey

I am writing this blog post hours after speaking for the United Nation. Yes, THAT United Nations.

How did this come to be? 

Last year, I worked on a project through a fashion organization that I consult for, which connected two schools I previously attended: Nottingham Trent Univ...

It all starts with understanding your core values and purpose. A personal exercise can help.

Marina Byezhanova, an Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO) member in Canada, is a global speaker, university instructor, and co-founder of Brand of a Leader, a personal branding agency for entrepreneurs.

She h...

By Alanna Fairey

I was 11 when I heard Bob Dylan’s “Time Out of Mind” album for the first time. To say that it changed the trajectory of my life might sound melodramatic to some, but it always made sense to me. I’ve always felt a connection to his songs, considered him to be one of my style inspira...

By Alanna Fairey

When I was 22, I was working as a freelance stylist in Toronto. By that point, I had already worked at Toronto Fashion Week and had done work for Global News. But I was about to walk into what I hoped would be my big break: I would be styling a well-known Toronto media personality ...

By Alanna Fairey

Starting a business in 2020 during COVID would be seen as a risky move to some, but for Brand of a Leader co-founders Marina Byezhanova and Stefano Faustini, it opened the door for the next phase of their entrepreneurial journey. 

Marina’s first company was a boutique consulting f...

By Alanna Fairey

A few weeks ago, I attended an event called “Bags 2 Riches.” It was a celebration of first-generation Canadian success stories, highlighting their contributions to their communities. Hosted by Sangita Patel of ET Canada, Chris Boucher of the Raptors and Allan Lau, the CEO of Wattpa...

As a mother of two and a Co-Founder of a global personal branding agency, I often talk about my life under the endearing term of “struggle of the juggle.” I am sure you can relate. As I travel across the world to deliver keynotes and to host workshops, I often feel guilty that I am not around for br...

The age-old question: Are entrepreneurs born or made?

At Brand of a Leader, we work with GenX entrepreneurs, those in their 40s and 50s, and have had the privilege of witnessing both types of founders.

On one hand, we have many clients who:

• Are the natural-born entrepreneurs who were running ...

Ready to take control of your personal brand, refine your message, and scale the reach of your voice?

If you are looking to partner with a personal branding agency, it is important to find the right fit. With so many options available, the search can be overwhelming, but the reward is immeasurable....

You are reading this article, which means that personal branding is on your mind. No surprise there: we have seen a surge in search numbers of the term, as well as an exponential increase in the number of academic research conducted on the topic. Personal branding is likely on your mind for one of t...

As personal branding continues to gain popularity, so are the misconceptions surrounding it. Here are some of them:

Misconception #1: Personal branding is tied to social media

Many of our clients come to us after searching for a firm that understands the difference between branding and marketing. ...