Issue 37. Class is officially back in session.

 

Hi First name / fellow admin. Liz, here. 👋🏾 If you’re still basking in long weekend bliss, I love that for you. Otherwise, consider me part of your September welcome committee where all things pumpkin spice reign supreme.

 

There is something nostalgic about a new school year. Even though I’m over a decade out of college, the thrill of a fresh start by way of a haircut, new outfit or even new job gives me the same feeling I had when walking onto campus after a summer filled with teenage mischief. 

 

The opportunity for reinvention. 

 

Which makes today’s topic on the importance of creating a personal brand identity all the more appropriate. 

 

But, before you dive in, two quick things:

 

See you all next Monday!

 

The age of personal branding is upon us. And no, I don’t mean monogramming your L.L. Bean tote (though, to be clear, that’s always a good idea).

 

For those unfamiliar with the concept, personal branding is a way of establishing and consistently reinforcing who you are and what you stand for in your career and life. And there are a few key ways to get your voice out there, regardless of where you are in your career.

 

 

There are three elements that make up your personal brand: your unique perspective, your values and your experience/contributions.

 

When thinking about this consider the vastness of your intersectional identity (race, religion, gender, culture, etc.) and how it affects how you understand the world combined with what you care about + what contributions you’ve made in your career to date.

 

 

Forbes contributer, Joseph Liu, suggests that one way to reshape your professional reputation is to engage in projects, roles, or initiatives that strengthen your desired identity. 

 

Ex: is there a conference panel or podcast you can join that speaks to your work/the work your team is doing? Or is there a fellowship you can apply for to further your professional development?
 

 

Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) are one of the easiest way to find commonalities with colleagues outside of your department. Another option is to utilize a “Lunch and Learn” to bring colleagues together who might care about what you care about.

 

 

 

LinkedIn is fast becoming the number one tool to engage with like-minded professionals. And you’ll notice that many with the largest followings are not always CEOs. 

 

If you’re wanting to support your employer, speaking to your work is a great way to build up the employer brand. Melanie Naranjo, VP of People @ Ethena Health does a remarkable job with this. Boasting nearly 30K followers, she’s become a go-to expert on all things People while promoting her company's product. 

 

But focusing on your personal brand, outside of your work, is a solid strategy as well. Bonnie Dilber utilizes LinkedIn to speak on best practices in recruiting, growing her audience to over 340K (!!) subscribers and has parlayed that into additional income streams.

 

And if writing on social media isn’t your thing, there are still plenty of ways to amplify your voice:

 

TL;DR: Building a personal brand is a choice. It requires you to define your brand, find initiatives that align with your brand, connect with people that share your interests and create/share content. And while it does requires time & energy, not defining it puts you at risk of others defining it for you.

♥️ Liz's bookmarks

Til next time, stay modern.

 

-Your fellow admin

 

 

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