Building a Personal Brand as a Consultant

I constantly get recruiter reachouts from big tech companies and top AI startups- even when I’m not actively job hunting or listed as “Open to Work.” That’s because over the years, I’ve consciously put in the effort to build a clear and consistent presence on LinkedIn- one that reflects what I do, what I care about, and the kind of work I want to be known for. And the best part? It’s something anyone can do- with the right strategy and a bit of consistency. If you’re tired of applying to dozens of jobs with no reply, here are 5 powerful LinkedIn upgrades that will make recruiters come to you: 1. Quietly activate “Open to Work” Even if you’re not searching, turning this on boosts your visibility in recruiter filters. → Turn it on under your profile → “Open to” → “Finding a new job” → Choose “Recruiters only” visibility → Specify target titles and locations clearly (e.g., “Machine Learning Engineer – Computer Vision, Remote”) Why it works: Recruiters rely on this filter to find passive yet qualified candidates. 2. Treat your headline like SEO + your elevator pitch Your headline is key real estate- use it to clearly communicate role, expertise, and value. Weak example: “Software Developer at XYZ Company” → Generic and not searchable. Strong example: “ML Engineer | Computer Vision for Autonomous Systems | PyTorch, TensorRT Specialist” → Role: ML Engineer → Niche: computer vision in autonomous systems → Tools: PyTorch, TensorRT This structure reflects best practices from experts who recommend combining role, specialization, technical skills, and context to stand out. 3. Upgrade your visuals to build trust → Use a crisp headshot: natural light, simple background, friendly expression → Add a banner that reinforces your brand: you working, speaking, or a tagline with tools/logos Why it works: Clean visuals increase profile views and instantly project credibility. 4. Rewrite your “About” section as a human story Skip the bullet list, tell a narrative in three parts: → Intro: “I’m an ML engineer specializing in computer vision models for autonomous systems.” → Expertise: “I build end‑to‑end pipelines using PyTorch and TensorRT, optimizing real‑time inference for edge deployment.” → Motivation: “I’m passionate about enabling safer autonomy through efficient vision AI, let’s connect if you’re building in that space.” Why it works: Authentic storytelling creates memorability and emotional resonance . 5. Be the advocate for your work Make your profile act like a portfolio, not just a resume. → Under each role, add 2–4 bullet points with measurable outcomes and tools (e.g., “Reduced inference latency by 35% using INT8 quantization in TensorRT”) → In the Featured section, highlight demos, whitepapers, GitHub repos, or tech talks Give yourself five intentional profile upgrades this week. Then sit back and watch recruiters start reaching you, even in today’s competitive market.

Your LinkedIn profile is a 24/7 inbound job magnet if you set it up right! It's an opportunity to have the hottest companies and hiring managers chasing you rather than you running after them. Impossible? Hell no. It’s how I got my senior product position at Affirm and the same story for VP of product at Apollo. Here’s the complete guide to converting your LinkedIn profile into a job-attracting asset: — 𝟭. 𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗗𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗘 Don't use generic headline templates mentioning your job title and company name. ↳ Highlight your expertise or niche. ↳ Mention companies for credibility. ↳ Add a secondary offer; are you a coach, speaker, or consultant? ↳ Example: "Senior Product Manager @ TechCo | Driving B2B SaaS Growth 🚀 | Ex-Google, Ex-Amazon | Product Leadership Coach" — 𝟮. 𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗠𝗘 Think of your "About" section as your personal story. ↳ Experience summary showcasing your value. ↳ Use storytelling to highlight your key achievements (don’t forget to mention numbers/results) with a personal touch. ↳ Wrap up by stating what kind of roles or challenges you’re interested in next. — 𝟯. 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗙𝗜𝗟𝗘 𝗣𝗜𝗖𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗘 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗖𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥 𝗜𝗠𝗔𝗚𝗘 How people perceive you depends a lot on how you visually present yourself. Here’s how to do it right: ↳ High-quality and professional headshot. Use AI if you don’t have a good photo. ↳ Don’t use cover photos for vague quotes; use it to highlight your achievements, awards, reviews, your products, etc. — 𝟰. 𝗘𝗫𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗘 Your experience section is where the real depth comes in. ↳ Go beyond job duties and focus on the specific results and outcomes you achieved. ↳ Use the Situation, Action, Result (SAR) framework to highlight what you did and how it made an impact. (e.g., “Increased customer retention by 25% in 6 months”). ↳ Use industry-specific keywords so recruiters can easily find you in searches. — 𝟱. 𝗔𝗗𝗩𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗘𝗗 𝗦𝗘𝗧𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗦 ↳ Simplify your LinkedIn URL (e.g., linkedin.com/in/YourName) with a custom URL. ↳ Make sure to add a link to your portfolio, website, or a side project directly in your profile. ↳ Regularly review your contact info and make it easy for recruiters to reach out to you. — 𝟲. 𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦 Think of recommendations as built-in references that add credibility to your profile. ↳ Reach out to people who can specifically highlight your key skills and achievements. ↳ Aim for a variety of recommendations—managers, colleagues, and clients. ↳ Pin your top 2-3 recommendations. — 𝟳. 𝗦𝗞𝗜𝗟𝗟𝗦 The "Skills" section helps you appear in searches and validates your expertise: ↳ Choose skills that define your professional strengths, and pin your top 3. ↳ Take LinkedIn skill assessments to add credibility with “verified” badges. — If you want to dive deeper into how to do it all with real-time examples and breakdowns, check out the guide below in comments.

People Google everything. Including you. Before meetings, interviews, or even dates, your online presence is scrutinized. It's not just about looking good online, it's about strategically positioning yourself as an authority in your field. Here's how to make your PERSONAL BRAND stand out: 1. Create content that showcases your expertise • Write articles or blog posts on industry trends • Share insights from your professional experiences • Showcase unique stories from your personal client experiences. 2. Use SEO to ensure your content ranks • Research relevant keywords in your industry • Optimize your LinkedIn profile with these keywords • Include them naturally in your content titles and descriptions 3. Build a network that amplifies your voice • Engage meaningfully with others' content • Collaborate on projects or co-create content • Participate in relevant LinkedIn groups and discussions 4. Consistency is key • Maintain a regular posting schedule • Ensure your messaging aligns across all platforms • Keep your visual branding cohesive (profile picture, banner, etc.) 5. Showcase your achievements • Update your profile with recent accomplishments • Share case studies or success stories • Request and display recommendations from colleagues These strategies can transform your digital footprint from a mere online presence into a powerful personal brand. It opens doors to new opportunities, builds credibility, and creates a lasting impression in the minds of potential employers, clients, or partners. What steps are you taking to enhance your online presence? P.S. Need help with your personal brand? Send me a DM. #PersonalBranding #ProfessionalDevelopment #OnlinePresence #LinkedInTips

If your website isn’t driving engagement, attracting clients, or positioning you as a trusted authority, chances are it’s missing one thing: valuable content. A static website is just an online brochure - it sits there, waiting to be found. But when you add useful, well-researched content, it transforms into a powerful business development tool. Here’s how to do it right: 1. Build a Strategy That Works: Great content doesn’t happen by accident. Your plan should align with your audience’s needs, your expertise, and your resources (time, people, and budget). A content calendar keeps you consistent, so you’re always top of mind. 2. Prioritize Research-Driven Content: Opinion pieces can be interesting, but data-backed insights and original research build credibility. If you want your content to get shared, bookmarked, and cited, focus on providing real value such as new information, deep expertise, and actionable takeaways. 3. Use Multiple Formats to Reach More People: Not everyone consumes content the same way. Some people prefer in-depth articles, while others engage with videos, podcasts, or infographics. Repurpose your best ideas across different formats to maximize reach and impact. 4. Curate, But Add Your Expertise: Sharing industry news, expert interviews, and event takeaways is a smart way to add value—but don’t just repost. Layer in your own insights to make it meaningful for your audience. Thoughtful curation strengthens your brand as a go-to resource. 5. Never Publish Without Editing: Typos and unclear messaging can hurt your credibility. Take the extra step to review your work (or have someone else do it) before publishing. Professionalism matters. 6. Publish With Purpose: A great piece of content means nothing if no one sees it. Optimize your posts with search-friendly URLs, embed videos strategically, and make sure everything is easy to find. Then, share it where your audience is - on LinkedIn, in email newsletters, and beyond. Content builds trust, and trust leads to business. If your website isn’t actively helping you attract opportunities, it’s time to rethink your content approach. Done right, it can position you as the go-to expert in your industry. Let me know what you think of these tips in the comments below! #contentmarketing #personalbranding #legalmarketing #bestadvice

“What if you didn’t use slides at all?” I asked my client this, and it freaked them out. I meant it as more of a thought experiment. You know, to see if I could start to break them from their PowerPoint addiction. But they took the question literally, and so I went with it. “What would we say!? How will we keep our place in the client conversation?” They were panicking just a bit. Yes, that was my point. A lot of smart technology leaders I work with use slides as a crutch. It can get a little ridiculous, with decks of 70+ slides. Crammed with data that will never stick in the audience’s brain. Worse, I see them looking at their slides as a cue for what to say next. They should be looking at the client. The cues for what to say next should come from the dialogue. This is where the skill of strategic narrative comes in. Instead of creating a PowerPoint “script”, what if you prepared a few strategic stories in advance? And so we worked on the value-holding "narrative assets". These included: ⭐️ “Why I’m Here” stories — to make a personal connection and “humanize” the consultant team ⭐️ “Imagine a World” stories to invite a dialogue on what could be possible.  ⭐️ “I Helped Someone Like You” stories, to establish a point of comparison, and to begin revealing the nuances that were unique to this client. It turns out: ⚡️ The conversation had more energy. 💪🏼 The consultants felt more confident. 😲 They didn’t need slides after all. ❤️ The client loved it. 💰They got the gig. Are your teams suffering from slide addiction? What if you staged a story intervention? #storytelling #engagement #humanizedleadership

If your entire job search strategy is filling out applications, uploading your resume, and then waiting… you’re missing the bigger picture. I can only speak for the software job market, which is an absolute mess for job seekers. Qualified candidates are everywhere, and you must take extra steps to stand out. Marketing yourself to a hiring manager is not a sin. Yes, some companies should change their hiring practices. Yes, I've made a ton of mistakes when hiring people. Just this last week, I accidentally ghosted someone when I had a last-minute family event jump on the calendar. AND YES, this is off the back of my post last week, where I shared why I no longer read resumes and gave tips on how to stand out in the interview process. Most of you loved it (thank you!), but a few strongly disagreed... STRONGLY disagreed. Who knew people would be so passionate about resumes? I get it. People have different perspectives. However, a resume and job application alone aren’t enough to stand out from the crowd. I promised a few in the comments that I would follow up with tips on making your LinkedIn profile stand out. So let's do it. Start with the Headline: Avoid default titles like “Marketing Manager at XYZ.” Instead, showcase your value: “Driving Revenue Growth through Data-Driven Marketing” or “Empowering Teams to Create Scalable Strategies.” Spend Time on the About Section: This is your elevator pitch. Highlight your skills, achievements, and passions in 3-5 paragraphs. Make it you, not just a resume dump. Add Key Achievements to Your Experience Section: This is one of the most effective and least used. Use bullet points that emphasize results and impact. Quantify whenever possible (e.g., “Increased MQLs by 50% through revamped campaigns”). Keep it concise, but USE NUMBERS. Don't Ignore the Featured Section: Add links to your portfolio, blogs, presentations, or standout projects. This is the place to shine a spotlight if you’ve published articles or spoken at events. Keep Your Profile Active & Current: Update your profile with every new role, project, or milestone. Stale profiles give the impression of inattention. Set a calendar block or invite every other month to update your profile. Start there. Your LinkedIn profile is more than a digital resume because who wants to read a resume? It’s your chance to tell your story, highlight your skills, and make someone want to talk to you. Go forth and conquer.

Have you ever felt that immediate internal bristle when someone gives you #feedback? That visceral "but, but, but..." response that bubbles up before you've even fully processed what they've said? I had one of those moments just last week. A client mentioned that my explanation of a leadership framework "went a bit into the weeds". My first thought? "But I was just being thorough!" (Complete with an internal eye roll that would make any teenager proud.) #Defensiveness is such a natural human response. Our brains are literally wired to protect our self-image — it's not a character flaw, it's neurobiology! (Thanks, brain.) But here's what I've learned from years of both giving and receiving difficult feedback: how we handle those defensive moments often determines whether we grow from feedback or just barely survive it. Here's my toolkit for when those defensive walls go up (and they will): 1. Notice the feeling without jumping to action. When your chest tightens or your thoughts race toward justification, just label it: "This is defensiveness showing up." That tiny pause creates space between feeling and reacting. 2. Remember that impact beats intent every time. My intentions for that workshop were excellent (thoroughness!), but if the impact was confusion, that's what matters. My good intentions don't erase someone else's experience. 3. Reframe feedback as a catalyst for improvement and growth. The people who tell us uncomfortable truths are offering us something valuable. Sometimes the feedback that stings most contains the exact insight we need. (I have found that the truer the feedback is, the more it hurts.) 4. Focus on specific behaviors rather than your identity. There's a world of difference between "that explanation was confusing" and "you're a confusing person." Separate the action from your sense of self. 5. Give yourself permission to be imperfect. You're allowed to be a work in progress. (I know that I sure am.) Developing this #mindset transforms defensiveness from a threat to your worth into a normal part of your growth journey. What are your go-to strategies when defensiveness strikes? I'd love to hear what works for you. And yes, I'll shorten my explanation for the next time. Sometimes, the feedback that makes us squirm today often becomes the #wisdom we're grateful for tomorrow. #Professionaldevelopment #leadership #emotionalIntelligence #Feedbackculture

Since the beginning of my biz in 2014, I knew what I wanted... • To be paid well to teach people about personal branding • Create lucrative content that inspired my community and felt cathartic to share • And be compensated as a reliable thought leader in the space. The problem with this that too few personal branding experts will share is this... 𝗡𝗼 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗴𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗮𝘆 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗼𝗳𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀: • Getting paid to teach people about a subject -> Event Organizers want to see a proven track record • Create lucrative content -> You need to have a bought-in community • Become compensated as a reliable thought leader/"personality" -> You need a lot of brand awareness So, I did what many subject matter experts did to begin... I went for the "low-hanging fruit" that would pay my bills (a girl's gotta eat): • Contracts • Charging per hour • Retainer services Don't get me wrong, a portion of my business is still that (~25% these days), but now that vision I had of paid thought leadership generates ~75% of my income and brings me a ton of joy. But it took me entirely too long to get to that point while balancing 2 business models. Here's what I tell people to speed that transition along: 𝟭/ 𝗡𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿, 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 If it means saying "no" to a supplemental contract, you don't need to pay the bills, then say no. The long-term impact of content creation will ultimately pay you more 𝟮/ 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀, 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲/𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝗮𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗯𝗶𝘁 𝗯𝘆 𝗯𝗶𝘁. Consulting is too custom to scale. But if, little by little, you find the common exercises/teaching, document it, and slowly build a course/curriculum, you'll have something to sell. 𝟯/ 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴. 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗹𝘆. There was a "class" of emerging creators/thought leaders I aligned myself with in 2015/16. No one knew who we were. Flash forward to today; each of us has a robust following and has made the transition with our business. These people will help fuel your community, refer business to you, and become a sounding board as you go through this process. Remember... ↪️ 𝘉𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘧𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬. #personalbrand #personalbranding #linkedin #entrepreneurship ____________________________ 👋🏻 Hi, I'm Kait, a personal branding expert, workshop facilitator, and coach. 💰 I help consultants and coaches build personal brands so they can monetize their wisdom & personality. 💡Want dedicated time with me to create content to build YOUR brand? DM me "LABS"

In my conversations with the top C-suite leaders, one thing often comes up: the hesitation and fear to step into personal branding. I hear things like: “What if I look self-promotional?” “I’m too busy running the company.” “My work should speak for itself.” But here’s the truth I share with my clients: You’re not just competing for market share, you’re competing for attention. And in a world where 82% of people trust leaders who have a visible presence online (LinkedIn, Edelman Trust Barometer), staying invisible is no longer an option. Here’s why personal branding is non-negotiable for high-authority leaders: 1️⃣ People trust leaders, not logos. Your corporate brand can only go so far. Studies show that 76% of executives are more likely to trust a company led by a CEO they recognize and respect (Harvard Business Review). By building your personal brand, you humanize your business and earn the trust of stakeholders, employees, and even investors. 2️⃣ Your influence can attract top talent. Nearly 50% of employees say they research a company leader’s social presence before deciding to join (Glassdoor). Personal branding doesn’t just help you attract customers—it’s a magnet for the best and brightest talent. 3️⃣ A strong personal brand is crisis insurance. Think about it: When a crisis hits, would you rather be an anonymous figure scrambling to explain yourself or a respected thought leader people already trust? Leaders with strong personal brands have an edge in controlling the narrative. 4️⃣ You’re already being Googled: control what they see. Like it or not, 71% of professionals Google their leaders (Forbes). If your online presence is nonexistent or outdated, you’re missing a huge opportunity to tell your story your way. I tell them: Personal branding isn’t about self-promotion, it’s about leadership. Here’s how you can start: 1. Share your expertise. Write LinkedIn posts or articles about the challenges your industry is facing and how you’re solving them. Thought leadership builds authority. 2. Show your values. Highlight causes or initiatives you care about. Employees and customers want to align with leaders who stand for something bigger than profits. 3. Be visible but authentic. It’s not about perfection—it’s about being relatable. Share stories from your leadership journey, lessons learned, and even failures. If you’re afraid of personal branding, here’s the truth: Your reputation isn’t optional, it’s already being built, with or without you. The question is, will you own it or let others decide it for you? The leaders dominating their industries today aren’t just experts in their fields- they’re visible, trusted, and human. And when you build your personal brand, you’re not just investing in yourself. You’re building credibility, trust, and opportunities for your company. Are you ready to take control of your narrative? #Leadership #PersonalBranding #Headhunting #ExecutiveHiring #Growth

The ‘perfect’ client doesn’t exist... but that’s not the problem. What if defining your ideal client isn’t a one-time exercise? What if it’s supposed to evolve with you? Let me show you how to embrace the messiness and refine as you grow. When you’re building your business, one of the first things you’re told is to define your ideal client. But here’s the part no one talks about: That “ideal” client will change... and that’s exactly how it should be. The clients you think you want at the start might not be the ones who light you up or fuel your best work. And that’s okay. Here’s why: Defining your ideal client is not a one-and-done exercise. It’s iterative. It’s messy. And it evolves as you do. The Challenge: You might start with a clear picture of who you think your perfect client is. Like one client I spoke with recently who set out to a specific demographic curious about AI but lacking the time to sift through the noise. And they succeeded. But here’s what they didn’t expect: A different group showed up too... clients just outside their targeted age range, people deeply curious, willing to ask questions, experiment, and dive in. Over time, this group became more valuable... and more aligned with what this business owner loves to do. It was a powerful realization: the “ideal client” from the start wasn’t the one who added the most value... or got the most from the work. That’s the messy beauty of business. Your client profile is a living, breathing thing. Actionable Advice: If your ideal client isn’t bringing you energy, alignment, or joy, here’s what to do: 1️⃣ Reflect on Experience: Look at the clients you’ve worked with. Who did you love working with? Who felt like a drain? What do those clients have in common? 2️⃣ Focus on Values, Not Just Demographics: Ask yourself: What qualities matter most to you? Is it curiosity, commitment, creativity, or something else? Refine your criteria to focus on how your clients show up, not just who they are on paper. 3️⃣ Iterate with Clarity: Your ideal client will change over time. Stay curious. Revisit and revise your profile regularly. Don’t be afraid to shift gears as you grow. Here’s the thing: The “perfect” client isn’t discovered... they are developed. Your track record proves that you can deliver results. So why not get more intentional about working with the people who truly fuel your passion? Your business. Your rules. Your ideal client, defined by you. What’s one quality you look for in your ideal client? Drop it in the comments—I’d love to hear!