Building a Personal Brand While Working Remotely

As creators, we walk a fascinating line: building & nurturing our personal brand while contributing to the growth of the companies we work for. It’s a balancing act, and when done thoughtfully, it can benefit both you and your employer. I've spent a lot of time thinking about this. Here are a few key principles to consider: Start with Alignment: Your personal brand should reflect your unique voice, passions, and expertise. At the same time, ensure your values align with your company’s mission. This synergy builds authenticity, helping you shine as a thought leader while amplifying your company’s vision. Add Value Both Ways: Your personal content isn’t just about self-promotion – it’s a chance to highlight industry trends, solve problems, and share knowledge. When your audience sees you as a trusted voice, it reflects positively on the organization you represent. The more value you provide, the stronger your brand and your company’s reputation become. Be Transparent About Your Dual Role: It’s okay to let your audience know that you’re a creator who’s also part of a larger mission. A simple acknowledgment, such as, “In my role at FinLocker, I’ve learned the value of engaging early journey first-time homebuyers", builds credibility and reinforces your connection to your employer without overshadowing your individuality. Prioritize Consistency: Whether you're sharing insights under your name or your company’s banner, make sure your message is consistent. Both brands should feel complementary – not competitive. Think of it as two interconnected streams feeding into the same river. Use Your Brand to Build Bridges: Your personal platform can help you connect with other professionals, clients, and opportunities that can ultimately benefit your company. And your company’s resources can enhance your ability to create impactful content. When both sides grow, it’s a win-win. Ultimately, this balance is about mutual growth. Your personal brand showcases the unique skills and perspectives you bring to the table, while your work for your company demonstrates your ability to drive results and collaborate with a larger team. The takeaway? Don’t think of it as “choosing” between your brand and your company. Think of it as a partnership where both grow stronger together. How do you balance your personal brand with your company’s goals?

The brand of the company you work for is not your personal brand. If all you talk about is the company you work for, you’re simply a mouthpiece for it, and it can stifle your individual voice. Here are three ways to develop your own personal brand while still championing your company: 1. Showcase Your Expertise: Share industry insights, trends, and thought leadership content. Demonstrate your skills and knowledge beyond the scope of your company. When people associate you with valuable expertise, they remember you. 2. Highlight Personal Achievements (these can include learnings): Share your professional milestones, successes or where you fumbled and how you recovered and grew from it. Whether it’s a project you led, a problem you solved a skill you honed, or how you fumbled, learned and recovered, your achievements and learnings contribute to your personal brand. 3. Engage Authentically: Interact with your network in a genuine way. Comment on posts, join discussions, and share personal stories that resonate with you. Authentic engagement builds trust and sets you apart. Often times, I see people talk about the company they work for constantly and they amass a following because people love the company — but they don’t know how to separate their own voice. Remember, you can have a strong personal brand and also complement and enhances your company’s brand, but the company’s brand voice is not your own. Let your unique voice be heard.

Are you worried that building your personal brand might ruffle feathers at work? It's a common concern. I was just speaking with someone who felt stuck – she wanted to establish herself as a thought leader, but she knew her employer wasn’t exactly enthusiastic about it. Understandably, companies can feel hesitant about personal branding if you’re not in a top-tier role. Questions may arise: Why is this person in the spotlight? Will they represent us well, or are they simply building their brand to move on? But here’s the thing: you can build your brand strategically without creating friction: ✳ Collaborate, don’t clash Find ways to align your goals with the company’s. For example, if your organization wants visibility in your field, you can propose speaking engagements or articles in industry publications – activities that highlight both you and the company positively. Team up with the communications team to ensure everyone feels supported. ✳ Leverage your company’s brand power Take full advantage of your employer’s credibility. Networking becomes easier when people are excited to meet you because of where you work. This brand association can help expand your connections without stepping on any toes. ✳ Know when to dial back Building a public-facing brand inside a company sometimes means a slower pace. Keep your activities relevant and aligned with the organization’s goals, and consider pacing things until you’re at a level where it feels more natural. Personal branding isn’t just about personal gain; it’s a way to create lasting impact and build confidence in your professional identity, all while contributing value to your current role. 

I filmed this sitting on the floor of a hotel gym at 11PM. There were people working out around me. My legs fell asleep halfway through. I had every excuse to wait until I got home next week. But I needed to share this message urgently because I see too many corporate professionals making the same costly mistake I did. The hidden cost of waiting to build your brand When I was at Goldman, Accenture Strategy, and later in tech, I was terrified of what my coworkers would think if I built a personal brand. I remember barely mentioning when I spoke at an event with Eric Thomas (yes, THE Eric Thomas) because I didn't want to seem "cringey" or like I was trying to be an "influencer." Now I realize that fear cost me millions in future opportunities. Here's why your personal brand isn't something to put off: → When you start at 35 versus 45, that's not just 10 years difference – it's 10 years of COMPOUND GROWTH → Your network, audience, and opportunities multiply exponentially over time → Would you wait 10 years to start your 401k? Then why wait to build your personal brand? The 3 hidden costs of waiting: 1. Table Seat Cost: Missing opportunities at tables you're not invited to 2. Leverage Vacuum: Having zero leverage in career negotiations 3. Post-Exit Void: Starting from zero after a job loss or when you decide to do your own thing     Even a small platform (I only had 5,000 followers when I left corporate) can give you the foundation to make bigger moves. I broke down my full framework for safely building a personal brand WHILE still crushing your corporate job in my latest YouTube video. In it, I explain: • What's actually safe to share when you're employed (and why your employer would love it) • How to use the "Two Levels Ago" content strategy • My 60-day signature series method that only takes 1 hour per day    Here's the link to check it out: https://lnkd.in/e--92Fj6 Let me know what you think of the video so I can keep getting signals if we are going in the right direction with the content! I want this to be helpful because there's enough out there for us to all win 🧡✌🏾