Leadership Lounge: How to develop your personal leadership brand

It’s never been more important to get your personal leadership brand right as a leader. But, it isn’t easy to concisely articulate what you want to be known for and what your unique value proposition is.  

So, what is a personal leadership brand and how can you begin crafting it? How can you activate your leadership brand in the market? And, what are some of the common mistakes leaders make when cultivating their personal leadership brand?  

In this episode of Leadership Lounge, we talk to some of our trusted advisors—Jenna Fisher, Rafael Martinez Gallardo, Shoon Lim, and Chief Marketing and Communications Officer and Executive Producer of Redefiners Amy Scissons—who share their perspectives on:   

• The three key elements that make up a strong personal leadership brand. 
• How leaders can effectively activate their brand in the market. 
• The benefits when leaders get it right—for themselves and their organization.  
• The advice they have for emerging leaders who are starting to craft their brand. 

“I think earlier in one's career, there’s a tendency to want to be well-rounded and to try to hone things that perhaps you're not as naturally good with, and that's great. But I also think what's really important is to do the self-reflection, to figure out what is it that I am uniquely good at? What can I opine on to others? What can I be an expert at?” 

Jenna Fisher, Leadership Advisor, Russell Reynolds Associates.  

Listen now on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.   

Four things you’ll learn from this episode  

1. Your leadership brand exists whether you shape it or not. Take control of your narrative by clearly defining your values, passions, and the legacy you wish to leave behind.  
2. Authenticity is key to a powerful leadership brand. Align your public persona with your true self to build trust and credibility. Don’t try to imitate anyone else. 
3. Don't just broadcast; interact. Your brand thrives on meaningful engagement with your community. Curate, create, and contribute to discussions to establish a dynamic presence.  
4. Your brand is a journey, not a destination. Continuously refine it through self-reflection, feedback, and intentional content creation. Remember, depth and consistency over time yield a robust presence. 

In this 16-minute episode, we will cover:  

(3.00) How a well-crafted personal leadership brand can differentiate you in a crowded marketplace. 

(3.47) The importance of clarity, congruence, and consistency when building your brand. 

(7.51) How much of what a leader shares should be personal. 

(8.12) How to identify what topics you should speak on. 

(11.17) One common mistake leaders make when creating their personal leadership brand. 

(14.04) Why there are no quick fixes to establishing your brand. 

A closer look at the research from this episode:  

Global Leadership Monitor 2022, Russell Reynolds Associates 

The New Leadership Portrait, Russell Reynolds Associates 

Listen now on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.