Ep 13 - N. Chloé Nwangwu: Building a Brand & Ecosystem of Influence
May 9, 2024
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N. Chloé Nwangwu, a brand scientist and director of NobiWorks, specializes in helping under-recognized individuals gain influence through visibility engineering. She shares her journey from international mediation to branding, emphasizing the importance of visibility for marginalized voices. Chloé discusses the difference between being seen and being noticed, and introduces concepts like 'visibility tipping point' and 'invisibility tax'. She also highlights the need for self-care in the pursuit of ambition and the power of authentic personal branding.
Chloé Nwangwu emphasizes the importance of applying behavioral science to brand strategies to ensure they resonate with underrepresented audiences.
The distinction between being seen and being noticed is crucial for driving social change and achieving long-term recognition in a saturated information landscape.
Deep dives
The Importance of Behavioral Change in Social Impact
Shifting hearts and minds to facilitate social impact hinges on understanding complex behavior changes that often challenge the status quo. Successful initiatives must address the underlying power dynamics and biases present in society, recognizing that those working toward social good are frequently at a disadvantage. Chloe Nguangwu emphasizes that brands and visibility strategies require a foundation built on behavioral science to ensure they resonate with their intended audience. By engaging with the right players and sufficiently representing their interests, initiatives can achieve meaningful recognition and effectuate change.
The Visibility Tipping Point: From Noticed to Notable
In an information-saturated landscape, creating the distinction between being seen and being noticed is crucial. Ideas must be designed to penetrate cognitive filters and progress to long-term memory, enabling them to spread organically within the right networks. The concept of a visibility tipping point is integral here; when ideas are successfully planted among interconnected individuals, they can trigger sustainable behavior change. Understanding how to navigate this environment, while aligning ideas with audiences who already relate to them, can magnify impact and facilitate collective action.
Overcoming Under-Recognition and Visibility Biases
Under-recognition often stems from cognitive biases that systematically minimize the contributions of marginalized individuals. This under-recognition manifests as an 'invisibility tax,' demanding additional resources—including time, energy, and cognitive effort—from those affected to gain visibility. By drawing attention to visibility biases, Chloe highlights the disparities present in various societal structures, emphasizing that the obstacles faced are not due to personal inadequacy but are rooted in systemic inequalities. Recognizing these biases is the first step in strategizing for effective visibility and fostering inclusivity among often overlooked voices.
Building a Supportive Ecosystem of Influence
Chloe suggests that creating a successful brand relies on understanding the phases of visibility and establishing a network of advocates who can amplify one's voice. As the visibility ecosystem builds, it's important to connect with gatekeepers—those individuals who facilitate access to opportunities. Additionally, fostering a community around shared ideas enables the formation of a supportive environment that amplifies each participant's potential for success. Strategies such as intentional networking and visibility clinics serve as practical steps to help individuals navigate their journeys toward sustained influence and recognition.
In a world inundated with information and brands vying for our attention, how do you not only get seen and heard but also inspire others to take action?
Brand scientist and director of NobiWorks, N. Chloé Nwangwu believes brands and visibility strategies must be built with power dynamics and biases in mind to break through cognitive biases, especially for underrecognized people.
Chloé’s Visibility Engineering process, a transformative approach that draws on her experience as an international conflict mediator and social and behavioral science, empowers social impact leaders to navigate past their stakeholders’ brain filters and ensure their ideas are retained and spread long term, thereby shaping social change.
Today, Chloé underscores the urgency and importance of mastering the science of being noticed. This skill is not just a tool for personal branding, but a crucial element in shaping social change.
Listen to the full episode to hear:
How Chloé’s experience in international mediation led her to create brands that help underrecognized players get a seat at the table
The critical difference between being seen and being noticed amid the never-ending bids for our attention
Why it’s essential to shape messaging advocating for social change in a way that facilitates behavior change
How Chloé developed her Visibility Engineering process to get past the cognitive hurdles of getting ideas seen, remembered, and proliferated
And why it’s essential to have an understanding of the stakeholders and gatekeepers in your sphere