Alex Mari, a personal branding expert, digital marketing strategist, and university lecturer, joins me to explore how professionals can build and reshape their personal brand—especially later in their careers. With a background spanning academia, startups, and corporate leadership, Alex now helps individuals and organisations understand the growing importance of visibility, consistency, and authenticity in today’s professional world.

Expect to learn what personal branding really means, why it’s more relevant than ever—even for those in traditional jobs—and how to build a reputation that reflects more than just your job title. We discuss how to reposition yourself after a decade or more in one field, how to manage a brand that covers multiple interests (like side projects or podcasts), and whether social media is a necessary part of the process. Alex also shares his thoughts on how culture and geography shape branding expectations and why many people hesitate to start at all.

This is part 1 of a 2-part conversation.

CONTACT ALEX

linkedin.com/in/alexmari

CONTACT MIKE

https://howitticks.ch/contact-page/

TIMESTAMPS

02:00 What is a personal brand and why does it matter today?05:30 The power of visibility and why self-promotion isn’t always bad08:30 Do corporate employees need a personal brand?12:00 Common fears about sharing content—and how to overcome them15:30 Why consistency and persistence are key to personal branding18:30 Cultural barriers: Why self-promotion feels “un-Swiss” and how to approach it

Naked Academics, Crimethinc Anarchism, and the Resurrection of Christ