Albany-based Alana Sparrow, Brand Strategist, Visual Storyteller, Founder of The VIB, and Chief Brand Officer & Co-Founder of The Foundry for Art, Design + Culture, joins Jeff Abracen to dig into why storytelling is the ultimate tool for branding success, the rapid rise of personal brands in corporate spaces, how confidence is built through action, scaling a business without sacrificing freedom, the impact of authenticity on trust and growth, embracing Ikigai to align work and life, why entrepreneurs need to stop sprinting and start sustaining, shining a light on your strengths to unlock your full potential, how personal brands will shape the future of business in 2025…and so much more!

Chapters

00:00 – Intro
00:32 – Alana's Path to Brand Strategy
03:15 – Leaving Higher Ed for Entrepreneurship
05:21 – COVID’s Impact and Business Pivot
07:23 – Personal Branding for High Earners
09:21 – Authenticity in Branding and Marketing
11:15 – Early Influences on Entrepreneurial Mindset
15:26 – From Fine Art to Brand Strategy
17:21 – Time Freedom vs. Hustle Culture
18:30 – Slazy™ – A Smarter Work Approach
22:31 – Finding Purpose and Profit with Ikigai
28:23 – How Personal Branding Drives Growth
32:26 – Confidence, Mindset, and Taking Up Space
36:59 – Client Breakthroughs and Business Shifts
38:45 – The Future of Personal Branding in 2025
43:09 – LinkedIn vs. Instagram for Brand Growth
45:00 – Quality vs. Quantity in Social Media
46:56 – Connect with Alana Sparrow

Connect with Jeff Abracen on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffabracen/]

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Cover art by Daniel Devoy
Music by Stephen Voyce

©2024 The Disruptive Influence Podcast - Jeff Abracen

How to Live, Laugh, Brand with Alana Sparrow