Personal branding for startup and business leaders

Building a personal brand as a startup and business leader can help you stand out from your competitors, grow your business and make more money.

Join us live on LinkedIn Aug 23rd with Shanee Moret , Founder & CEO, business growth coach, Yougrow.club, for an in-depth discussion of personal branding for business leaders.

Before we get to personal branding, check these two high-value LinkedIn lives I am doing this week:

1. Building high-performing teams on Aug 24th, 12:00 PM (EST) with guest Joseph Gonzalez CBO, LSSGB . (Click Here)
2. Top 5 questions for healthcare tech startup founders on Aug 26th, 3:00 PM (EST) with guest Dr. Marquicia Pierce Henderson (Click here)

Submit your questions about personal Branding, Team building & startups to our guests here & join us live for answers!

Why Personal Brand?

Personal branding is creating a unique personal image that differentiates you from others. You are building a personal brand, an extension of your business, and a reflection of who you are as a leader and individual. Individuals can use their own personal brand to stand out in the crowd and attract clients to their businesses or careers.

An effective personal brand connects with people emotionally, so they feel something positive (like trust or admiration) when they think about it. Personal branding helps endear yourself to others by communicating what makes you unique; it gives people an insight into who you are so that they can better relate to you as one person among many other potential customers/employees/partners etc.

"Your personal brand is what others say about you when you are not around them."

Branding is not the same as Marketing.

The terms "branding" and "marketing" are often used interchangeably, but they're not the same. Marketing is about selling a product or service, while branding involves being genuine and building trust. In its simplest form, your brand is what people think of when they hear your name.

Startup leaders need to understand that their company's brand isn't just something that gets printed on products or used in advertising campaigns; instead, it's how people perceive them personally as individuals.

Build your personal brand with your thought leadership.

Thought leadership is a vital part of your personal brand. It's what gives you credibility and can help you stand out in your industry. Thought leaders are often considered experts in their fields but don't have to be experts. Their job is to share knowledge with others and help make them better at their jobs.

For Example, Elon Musk (SpaceX, Tesla Motors) in the technology industry, Adam Grant and Simon Sinek in leadership. They all share their knowledge through blog posts or interviews with other media outlets. They became authoritative voices on those topics because they have first-hand knowledge about them based on their experiences.

Another way startup leaders can build their personal brand through thought leadership is by sharing insights into what makes successful startups tick - how should entrepreneurs think about marketing strategies? What mistakes should they avoid when building apps? How do they approach hiring decisions?

Social Media will help you build a digital presence.

You can use social media to build your personal brand. Social media is a great way to connect with people, build relationships, and increase thought leadership.

Social media is a powerful tool for building a digital presence for yourself or your company that will help you attract new clients and make connections in the industry that matter most to you.

"Remember that the more engaged you are online, the more opportunities will be presented to you."

Collaborate with other thought leaders in your industry.

To be a valuable collaborator, you must do more than just share your knowledge. It would help if you also were receptive and willing to learn from others. Sharing is essential in the collaborative process, but so is asking questions, listening closely, and asking for help when you need it (and being willing to return the favor).

Be a part of industry events as a speaker or an attendee.

Speaking at events can be a great way to build your personal brand. People will hear what you say and remember when you talk at an event. You'll also get good exposure if the event is well attended and well-publicized, which could lead to more speaking opportunities.

Speaking on stage is not just about delivering content but also building relationships with other people in the industry. Two main types of relationships can come out of public speaking: 1) those who attend your talk (i.e., audience members), and 2) those who are involved with producing or sponsoring events where you speak (i.e., organizers).

Building a personal brand for startup leaders is helpful.

Personal branding for startup and business leaders focuses on building an image that represents who you are and what you stand for in people's minds. This takes time but, once established, can last through good times and bad (or even better if things go well). When done right, personal branding helps establish trust between stakeholders like employees/contractors/partners/customers, etc., allowing them to want to work with YOU rather than any similar product or service provider!

"To be in business today, our most important job is to be head marketers for the brand called you." Tom Peters

Conclusion

Ultimately, the message regarding personal branding for startup leaders is simple: You're in charge. Brand yourself the way you want, and don't be afraid of making mistakes or trying new things! The more authentic your brand is, the easier it will be for others to follow you and trust your vision.

I’d love to hear from you! If you enjoyed this article and want more resources like it, please:

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I appreciate your readership!

About me: Dr. Nadia Boutaoui, Ph.D., MBA (Healthcare)

I am a scientist, innovator, and entrepreneur. I have a Ph.D. in Genetics, an Executive MBA in healthcare, and I am certified in Tech Innovation and Entrepreneurship (Tie). I am the founder and CEO of NanoNares, a startup developing tools to improve drug development for respiratory diseases. As a primary caregiver & entrepreneur, I am all about clarity & efficiency.

I did research at Harvard Medical School and Directed a research laboratory in the genetics of respiratory diseases at the University of Pittsburgh. I managed multi-million NIH-funded grants, co-authored over 34 peer-reviewed research papers, and trained many clinicians & researchers.

I am a mother, entrepreneur, and business coach to healthcare tech startups. I know firsthand what women entrepreneurs face, and I experienced the transformation after joining link-minded business communities, and I am building a community to support women entrepreneurs.

Be the first to know when our “women entrepreneurs in healthcare tech” membership open. Register here & grow your business by being part of a community of like-minded women entrepreneurs.