You did it! You girl bossed your way into that important meeting for the pitch you’ve been dying to make, or maybe the recruiter finally called and scheduled that interview for your dream job. It’s an incredible opportunity that could be the big break you’ve been working toward. While you’re practicing your messaging, choosing the perfect outfit and getting ready to walk in and wow them, they’re Googling you. Will your personal brand reinforce that you’re the right person for the business – or make them have second thoughts about your qualifications?

Personal branding is an essential tool for establishing a strong reputation, building your network and achieving your career goals. In today’s digital age, it’s easier than ever to quickly learn about a person, including the good (professional LinkedIn profile), the bad (Instagram account devoted to your five cats) and the ugly (political rants on TikTok).

But when you develop and consistently convey a professional image that’s unique to you and specific to your goals, it can make a significant difference in your success. Personal branding is becoming increasingly important in today’s business world and is one of the most powerful ways to:

• Stand out from the crowd
• Differentiate yourself from your peers or competition
• Establish yourself as an industry thought leader
• Increase your visibility and credibility
• Attract more clients or job opportunities
• Create a positive impression among potential employers, clients or business partners
• Build trust in your capabilities and experience level

Personal branding is the process of defining your unique qualities, skills, values and experiences to create a compelling and memorable image in the minds of others. Steps including creating a distinctive identity, establishing a clear value proposition, and consistently communicating that value to others through channels like social media, your online presence and networking events. By leveraging a strong personal brand, you deliver clear and consistent messaging that aligns with your career goals and aspirations, and use it to build your network, gain new insights and explore new opportunities.

The good news is, your personal brand can be anything that is authentic to you.

The Ultimate Girl Boss

Consider Oprah Winfrey, who was doing personal branding back before it was even a thing. This media mogul, actress and philanthropist built a personal brand that’s known globally by focusing on her unique personality, values and experiences. Her distinctive brand is built on:

• Authenticity – Oprah is known for her authenticity and vulnerability, which has helped her connect with her audience on a deeper level. She shares her personal struggles and triumphs and uses her platform to inspire and empower others.
• Consistency – Her messaging and branding has been consistently conveyed throughout her career. She has always been an advocate for personal growth, spirituality and self-improvement and has remained true to her values and mission.
• Visibility – Oprah has been visible across multiple media channels, including television, radio, print and digital media. She has leveraged these platforms to reach a wide audience and establish herself as a very high profile thought leader.
• Innovation – She launched her own TV network, OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network) and has also created successful partnerships with brands like Weight Watchers and Apple TV+.
• Philanthropy – Oprah is also known for her philanthropic work, which has helped enhance her personal brand and reputation. She has donated millions of dollars to charitable causes and established the Oprah Winfrey Foundation to support education and other initiatives.

Of course, there’s only one Oprah. You don’t have to aspire to greatness at that level to need a personal brand. Consider Christina Galbato, who began her career in PR and social content creation and started Instagramming and travel blogging on the side. She grew that presence in just four years to having a revenue stream of $1M+ and then turned around and doubled it one year later. Today, she teaches women how to build their own successful blogging business and develop their own distinct personal brand.

Another great example is Duree Ross, a PR maven in Miami whose personal brand is unapologetically pink. Duree is the epitome of a girl boss – she’s built a very successful public relations and marketing agency around her own personal brand, with clients that range from tourism and real estate to non-profits and cannabis testing labs. Her ubiquitous pink can be found throughout her office and splashed across her website and social media.

There’s so much to say about personal branding and it’s a topic that fascinates me, so I’ll be exploring it in the coming weeks and offering tips on how you can build a personal brand that stands out and helps you reach your goals. To learn more, please click the blue button below to follow this blog or connect with me on LinkedIn. I look forward to sharing more to come!