The Jedburgh Podcast #005: Twice Social Founder & CEO – Emily Sandberg Gold
Your personal brand means everything in digital marketing, especially on social media. But, do you know who your audience is? From her years as a top fashion model, Emily Sandberg Gold knows that building a personal brand takes understanding first yourself, then your audience. Emily combines this balance with the need to listen before speaking, an attribute that has led her to success in both her modeling career and as the founder of her digital marketing agency, Twice Social. Emily attributes success to her never-ending drive and her ability to form meaningful relationships.
She joins Fran Racioppi on the podcast to share her whole journey – from the glitz of the runway to the shadows of depression and anxiety – and how she took what she learned from modeling and entrepreneurship to help others build their brands and leverage social media to achieve growth.
Read the full episode transcription here and learn more on The Jedburgh Podcast Website.
Highlights:
-Emily explains her transition from a small Minnesota town to the New York City modeling scene and the importance attitude plays in developing confidence in yourself and your abilities.
-When entering any new environment we must first listen to understand what is asked of us. Once we are clear, it is time to render an opinion (if an opinion is even sought).
-Emily describes her definition of work ethic and drive as the reasons behind her rise to the covers of Vogue and Elle, and becoming the face of Fendi, Versace, DKNY, Clinique and Gap.
-All careers have a shelf life, modeling was no different and required Emily to continuously assess the next steps of her career and her relevancy in the modeling industry.
-Emily candidly shares her battle with anxiety and depression, the factors behind it including burnout and constant workload, and how rehab in Los Angeles helped move past these setbacks and get back to modeling.
-After a short stint selling shoes and handbags at Nordstrom, Emily leverages her experience building her own personal brand to start Twice Social, her digital marketing agency.
-Emily explains the opportunities and challenges in starting a social media business, the value proposition of small teams and a boutique experience.
-Defining an audience that resonates with us is the most important aspect of building a brand that requires continuous engagement, community building and partnerships.
Quotes:
-”Don’t walk into a room thinking that you know what’s up.”
-”Listen and pay attention. Do what’s in front of you and educate yourself as much as possible on what it is that you need to learn.”
-”The first relationship you build is with yourself.”
-”I will pay these contractors twice as much as anyone is paying them and charge clients half as much. That is where I can compete. I can compete on people and I can compete on price.”
-”As long as I kept my mouth shut, people would project themselves onto me and they would do the talking for me. I didn't have to sell myself, they sold me to whoever.”
Emily’s Three Daily Foundations of Success:
-Wake up in the morning and make your bed
-Call or text three people every morning to create connections with others
-Ask yourself each day; “do I want to give today, or do I want to get today.”