This archive report was first published on 31 July 2020.
With the rise of the gig economy and increasing job insecurity, having a personal brand has become more crucial than ever. As Wale Akinyemi, chief transformation officer at PowerTalks, notes, 'your brand is not who you say you are. It is who people say you are.'
Published on July 31, 2020, Akinyemi's article highlights the importance of developing a personal brand beyond one's professional identity. He shares a personal anecdote about being profiled as a Muslim at an airport, illustrating how people form perceptions about us based on the signals we convey.
According to Akinyemi, the first step in creating a personal brand is to identify what you bring to the table – your skills, networks, or other strengths. He suggests paying attention to what you get complimented for the most, as this can be a good indicator of how people perceive you.
Once you've identified your strengths, the next step is to project them to the world. With the rise of social media, it's easier than ever to share your skills and expertise with a wider audience. As Akinyemi notes, 'if you are truly good at what you claim, if what you bring to the table is real and not perceived and if it adds value then you are marketable.'
By developing a personal brand, you can increase your marketability and open up new opportunities, even in a shifting job market. As Akinyemi concludes, 'the great news is that there is no one whose situation is so bad that it can’t be revived.'
