Personal branding is a crucial yet often misunderstood aspect of career development. Many professionals mistake personal brand for self-promotion or social media showmanship.

This episode debunks these myths and reveals the true power of strategic personal branding. Featuring insights from two tech executives, Annie Pearl of Microsoft and Iska Saric of Meta, we pull back the curtain on how industry leaders craft and wield their personal brands to open doors, land dream roles, and shape their legacies.

The episode provides actionable strategies to build an authentic and compelling brand that catapults your career forward.

We also discuss:

• The critical distinction between reputation and brand
• Why you don’t need to become an influencer
• The power of ‘peak roles’ in accelerating your career
• Tailoring your brand story to specific audiences
• Strategies for expanding your professional network
• Navigating gender dynamics in personal branding
• The 30-minute per week method to brand-building

Referenced:

• Annie Pearl, CVP at Microsoft: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anniepearl/
• Iska Saric, VP of Communications at Meta: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iska-saric-97210212/
• Crafting a compelling career story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Reh9wTUIYc&t=1078s

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Timestamps

(00:00) Episode format

(02:14) Why brand matters

(04:47) Building a brand ≠ becoming an influence

(08:14) Reputation versus brand

(10:28) How to establish a reputation

(13:55) Leveraging professional connections

(18:08) The role that will transform your career

(24:12) Crafting and communicating your brand

(30:09) The "30-minute per week" method

(30:49) Navigating

(35:36) Key takeaways from this episode

(35:56) How to get in touch