We asked industry experts to share how they maintain authenticity while cultivating a strong personal brand, along with one practice they follow to ensure they’re staying true to themselves. Their strategies will guide you in creating a genuine online presence. Learn how to effectively communicate your unique story while maintaining alignment with your core values and experiences.
- Self-Auditing Keeps Brand Messaging Authentic
- Embrace Human Story Behind Professional Expertise
- Ground Brand in Personal Experience
- Anchor Brand to Core Principles
- Stay Connected to Platform Users
- Check Alignment with Personal Values
- Share Lived Experiences, Not Polished Personas
- Gut-Check Messages for Meaningful Impact
- Maintain a Dynamic Brand Journal
- Filter Decisions Through Core Values
- Let Real Experiences Shape Your Voice
- Document Authentically, Not Perfectly
- Align Online Presence with Offline Self
- Tell Your Unique Story Daily
- Practice Daily Self-Reflection for Authenticity
- Use Core Values as Brand Compass
- Review Positioning with Sharp Filter
- Balance Self-Awareness with Audience Perception
How to Stay True to Yourself
Self-Auditing Keeps Brand Messaging Authentic
Maintaining authenticity as I build my personal brand is non-negotiable — I know that long-term credibility depends on staying true to my values, even when the market wants something flashier or more curated. One practice I follow is regular, honest self-auditing: I revisit my brand messaging, review my recent content, and ask myself if what I’m sharing actually reflects my current beliefs, voice, and priorities, not just what will get the most clicks or applause. When something starts to feel disconnected from my own experience, I pause and refocus on my story and the people I’m here to serve. This discipline not only protects my reputation but keeps my work meaningful, both for myself and my audience.
Kristin Marquet
Founder & Creative Director, Marquet Media
Embrace Human Story Behind Professional Expertise
A brand strategist recently called me out on something I’d been missing for two years. I’d been so focused on showcasing my strategic AI expertise that I’d buried the actual human story behind why I do what I do. She pointed out that while everyone’s talking about AI innovation, what clients really connect with is understanding the person behind the strategy: why you care, what drives you, what failures shaped your approach.
The practice I now follow is simple but uncomfortable: I regularly ask myself where I’m hiding behind expertise instead of connecting as a person. Am I defaulting to industry jargon? Am I presenting polished outcomes without the messy middle? This means sharing not just what I know, but why I learned it, and usually through getting something spectacularly wrong first.
Authenticity isn’t about having a perfectly crafted personal brand. It’s about being willing to admit when you’ve been looking at things backwards. My biggest realization came when my brand strategist rightly pointed out that the human element I’d been downplaying is actually my competitive edge. People work with people, not with walking case studies. Keep the rough edges, share the pivots, and remember that your learning curve is more valuable than your highlight reel.
Jeremy Rodgers
Founder, Contentifai
Ground Brand in Personal Experience
As a founder of wellness and lifestyle brands rooted in intentional living and elegance, authenticity isn’t just part of my personal brand — it is the brand. One practice I follow consistently is grounding every product, post, or partnership in personal experience. Whether I’m designing a self-care gift box inspired by my own postpartum journey or curating vintage-inspired accessories that reflect my love for timeless style, I always ask: Does this reflect my real values and story?
I also carve out regular time to disconnect from trends and reflect — journaling or spending quiet moments reviewing why I started in the first place. That space helps me create from a place of purpose rather than pressure, which keeps my brand aligned and my messaging heartfelt.
Authenticity isn’t a marketing tactic — it’s a relationship. And like any strong relationship, it’s built on truth, intention, and consistency.
Grace Olayiwola
Founder, BitsStyleJourney
Anchor Brand to Core Principles
As a founder, it’s easy to fall into the trap of shaping your personal brand around what performs well or what people expect. However, this creates friction when your messaging evolves faster than your business.
I’ve found that the most authentic brand is one that doesn’t shift every quarter. I anchor mine to a few core principles (clarity, ownership, and strategic growth), and every story I share has to reflect at least one of these. If it doesn’t, I don’t share it. This is how I stay aligned without feeling like I’m managing my voice.
To practice this, I review my own decisions through the lens of how I’d explain them publicly. If I wouldn’t be proud to walk someone through the rationale behind a business move, it tells me something’s off with my judgment. This reflection keeps my brand honest because it keeps me honest first. In the long run, I believe consistency outperforms cleverness every time.
Jeff Mains
Founder and CEO, Champion Leadership Group
Stay Connected to Platform Users
Authenticity starts with remembering why I started.
When I created idietera.gr, it wasn’t just a platform — it was a personal response to how impersonal and transactional the world of private lessons had become. There were too many middlemen, hidden commissions, and platforms more focused on growth than on people. I wanted to change that. I wanted to build something that put trust, fairness, and human connection at the center. A place where tutors could present themselves honestly, and where students and families could find real guidance without friction.
That original intention still shapes everything I do. I’ve made it a rule to stay close to the ground — to stay connected to the people who use the platform. I read every message, every complaint, every piece of feedback myself. It’s not always easy, but it’s the best way to stay real. Behind every click is a person trying to learn, to teach, or to improve their life. That’s not something I ever want to lose sight of.
As the business grows, it’s tempting to automate more, to delegate more, to polish the brand into something shinier. But I’ve learned that scale without soul isn’t success. So I keep asking hard questions. I still push back on anything that makes the experience feel too “corporate” or too detached. Every feature, every change, every marketing message goes through the same filter: Does this help someone? Does it reflect who we are?
One personal habit I follow is something I call the “mirror test.” Once a week, I take a moment to reflect and ask myself: Would the version of me I admire — my ideal self — respect the decisions I made this week? If the answer is no, I listen to that discomfort and adjust.
A personal brand, like a business, can grow and evolve. But it should never outgrow your values.
Konstantinos Ordoulidis
Founder & CEO, idietera.gr
Check Alignment with Personal Values
I see personal brand and authenticity as two sides of the same coin, but one always leads. For me, it’s authenticity first.
The world doesn’t need another polished persona. What resonates is realness, especially in an industry like beauty, where filters, perfection, and performance can drown out truth.
One practice I follow consistently: I check in with my “why” before I say yes.
Before speaking, posting, or making a big brand move, I pause and ask:
Does this reflect what I truly care about? Does it align with how I want to show up as a mother, founder, and woman of Indian heritage?
That inner filter helps me stay rooted. I don’t post to chase trends; I share when something moves me: like how we collaborate with farmers, or how rituals passed down by my Indian grandmother still guide our formulations today.
Authenticity isn’t about oversharing. It’s about intentionality. When you lead with that, your personal brand takes shape naturally and with integrity.
ANJU RUPAL
CEO & Founder, ABHATI Suisse
Share Lived Experiences, Not Polished Personas
Let’s be honest — building a personal brand is the easy part. You can hire a designer, polish your LinkedIn, and pump out “thought-leadership” posts. The real challenge is building a personal brand that actually feels like you. Because if it doesn’t, people will sniff out the performance in seconds.
Authenticity is the backbone of a strong personal brand. Without it, you’re just another carefully packaged profile that people scroll past. So the question isn’t, “How do I look impressive?” It’s, “How do I stay real while putting my best self forward?”
For me, the practice that keeps me anchored is this: I only share what I’ve lived, not what looks good online. If I post about a growth strategy, it’s because I tested it, failed a few times, then figured out what worked. If I share an achievement, I’ll also talk about the struggles, doubts, or rejections behind it. People don’t connect with highlight reels — they connect with the human being behind them.
Here’s why that matters:
Trust beats polish every time. Audiences today are sharper than ever. They’ll scroll right past another “5 hacks for success” post, but they’ll pause when you say, “Here’s the mistake I made last week and what I learned.”
Consistency builds credibility. If your online persona is wildly different from how you show up in real life, you create confusion. And confusion kills trust. The strongest personal brands are the ones where people say, “You’re exactly how I imagined you’d be.”
Vulnerability is power, not weakness. Sharing your challenges doesn’t make you look less professional. It makes you relatable. And relatability is what keeps people coming back — not perfectly polished content.
One simple habit I follow is doing a quick gut check before I share anything: Does this sound like me when I’m talking to a friend? If the answer is no, I rewrite it. Because if your brand only works when it’s scripted, it’s not your brand — it’s a costume.
Here’s the blunt truth: you don’t have to show everything, but whatever you do show needs to be real. Pretending to be someone you’re not might win you short-term attention, but it will cost you long-term trust. And in personal branding, trust is the whole game.
So, to anyone building a brand: stop worrying about looking perfect. Start worrying about looking like yourself. That’s not just authentic — it’s unforgettable.
Riddhi Shanishchara
Founder, Content Marketer, LinkedIn Personal Branding Expert
Gut-Check Messages for Meaningful Impact
We live in a society where people’s insecurities and vulnerabilities are exploited for profit. As a 20-year Army veteran turned luxury boudoir photographer, I’ve built my personal brand on one truth: confidence isn’t a look, it’s a decision. I don’t just photograph women; I help them reclaim power, sensuality, and ownership of their bodies. To stay grounded, I follow one practice: I gut-check everything I put out by asking, “Would this message still matter if no one liked it?” That keeps me honest. I’m not here to impress; I’m here to impact. In a world full of filters and polished personas, authenticity is my brand’s backbone, and it’s what keeps the right women coming through my door.
Marie Malvoisin
Owner/Founder, Bohemian Visions
Maintain a Dynamic Brand Journal
As a digital marketer rooted in the U.S. and a lifelong lover of books, authenticity is more than a personal value for me; it’s the foundation of every word I craft, every campaign I develop, and every relationship I foster online. In today’s meticulously crafted environment, where branding can often blur into performance, I’ve discovered that upholding authenticity requires intentional effort, not merely good intentions.
Here’s a practice I’ve integrated into my daily routine that helps me stay centered: I keep a “Brand Journal.”
This is not your typical diary or content planner. This document serves as a dynamic blend of reflection and strategy, allowing me to continually assess my core values, personal voice, and long-term purpose. Each week, I dedicate 30 minutes to tackling some important questions:
- Is the content I’m producing still aligned with who I am?
- Did I produce something this week that seemed overly conventional or influenced by trends, instead of being authentic?
- Which aspects of my journey, enthusiasm, and expertise did I convey this week, and what was the reaction from my audience?
This practice serves as a guiding tool, particularly when digital trends or algorithms attempt to steer me in various directions. It allows me to distinguish between “what works” and “what matters,” enabling me to enhance my brand while maintaining my unique identity.
In my role of developing content strategies for clients, I frequently pose the question: “Would you still take pride in this post if it received no likes?” That’s my benchmark as well. Preferences diminish. Trends come and go quickly. The genuine impact of authenticity, expressing your true thoughts, upholding your principles, or acknowledging setbacks, creates a level of trust that no algorithm can measure.
Language is crucial to authenticity. Language precision fascinates me. I treat brand voice as a dynamic, distinctive tale. Popularity doesn’t influence my tone. I’ve built a personal content style guide based on my favorite writers, mentors, and campaigns to ensure my blog, LinkedIn, and website taglines represent my voice.
Ultimately, I engage with content in the same way I produce it. When something sparks my inspiration or pushes my boundaries, I make a note of it, not just in my mind but right in that journal, so I can trace my influences and understand how they mold my voice.
Sanjit Sarker
SEO Head, SEO Agency Boston
Filter Decisions Through Core Values
To maintain authenticity, you must establish what authenticity means to you and how you demonstrate it. For the past six years, I’ve hosted a radio show called “Authenticity Matters” and asked every guest what authenticity means to them. Many guests, and I strongly agree with this personally, say that you have to start by solidifying your Core Values.
In developing a strong personal brand, you should base the foundation of that brand on your core values. When making decisions about how to promote yourself, it should always be filtered through the lens of your core values: does it align with your values or compromise them? Ultimately, if you compromise your values too often, you will lose clarity and consistency with your brand, and people will see through the facade of a so-called brand identity.
Jen Coyne
CEO, The PEAK Fleet
Let Real Experiences Shape Your Voice
For me, authenticity in personal branding starts with being guided by values rather than appearances. As an employment lawyer, I’ve found that clients and peers quickly spot inauthenticity, especially in a field built on trust and advocacy. I never try to project an image that doesn’t align with the way I actually operate: direct, principled, and people-first. Whether I’m posting online, speaking at a legal event, or mentoring junior attorneys, I let real experiences, especially the messy, imperfect ones, shape my voice. It builds deeper credibility than polished jargon ever could.
One habit I’ve stuck with is asking myself before sharing anything publicly, “Would I say this to a client’s face, in a high-stakes moment?” If the answer is no, if it feels too performative or generic, I don’t post it. This simple filter keeps me honest and ensures that what I put out into the world reflects how I truly think and work. In a landscape flooded with self-promotion, staying grounded in your lived experience is what helps a personal brand actually resonate.
Ed Hones
Attorney at Law, Hones Law Employment Lawyers PLLC
Document Authentically, Not Perfectly
You can’t question your authenticity; it’s not a one-time thing; it’s a constant practice. So, before I publish anything, I ask myself one question: Would I still say this if nobody was watching? That helps me stay mindful of myself.
One practice I follow consistently is documenting. Instead of trying to sound perfect, I keep it real. Whether I’m talking about success, a mistake, or a new thought, I ensure my personal branding feels like the real me, not a curated version of who I think I should be.
Bhavik Sarkhedi
Founder & CEO, Ohh My Brand
Align Online Presence with Offline Self
If you want to maintain authenticity online, stop treating personal branding as a performance.
It’s not a script you must follow daily. It’s your own vision board. The moment you stop trying to “look” authentic and understand what it’s truly about, that’s when things click.
To be honest, I express my thoughts through writing. This is how I figure things out. I try to write like a brand, but not to fake anything. It actually helps me see things clearly. It gives me direction when my thoughts are scattered.
At the end of the day, authenticity isn’t about being raw for the sake of it. It’s about alignment between how you present yourself online and who you are when the laptop’s shut. When those two start to drift apart, that’s when people can sense it. And so can you.
Sahil Gandhi
CEO & Co-Founder, Blushush Agency
Tell Your Unique Story Daily
It’s a two-pronged strategy: cultivate a strong personal brand by posting every day on one or more platforms, and maintain authenticity by being yourself and never trying to act like the person you think other people are attracted to. There are hundreds of millions of people posting online. The audience craves unique personalities, quirks, and authenticity more than anything. Tell your story from your perspective, tell it every day, and watch your personal brand grow year over year to heights you never thought possible.
Nick O’Brien
CEO, Templi
Practice Daily Self-Reflection for Authenticity
Authenticity is the bedrock of a powerful personal brand, wherein you do not waver from your best self by incorporating consistent actions and communications guided by your values and interests. I practice mantra-like self-reflection every day to be a better version of myself. It gives me time to reflect and consider if my professional life or my public persona is a true reflection of who I am, what I stand for, etc.
And that means asking, “Is this in line with my values?” or, “Am I putting out content that is really close to my heart and means a lot to me?” In doing so, I make sure my personal brand is not based on what I think others want to see but who I really am. Being transparent with your audience goes a long way as they will start to relate to you, and then trust is established, which builds the relationship — people gravitate towards realness.
Jason Cotton
Director, Deluxe Open Booths
Use Core Values as Brand Compass
Cultivating a strong personal brand is about more than just a polished online presence; it’s about being your authentic self with intention. The key is to define your core values and use them as a compass for every piece of content you create and every interaction you have. This practice helps ensure your brand remains a genuine reflection of who you are and what you stand for, rather than a curated version of what you think people want to see.
Cindy Cavoto
Founder, CindyCavoto.com
Review Positioning with Sharp Filter
Authenticity is maintained when your filter remains sharp.
Strong personal brands grow from clarity. I review my positioning every quarter. I skip surface-level edits. Instead, I examine the core lens, focusing on what I stand for, who it serves, and why it deserves attention. Then I conduct a quick audit. If the content or action feels misaligned, I pause it.
One practical habit? Keep a filter document. It includes five checkpoints: what I solve, how I solve it, who I support, what I skip, and what I scale. This keeps the message clear. If a decision feels forced, it stays on the shelf.
The goal isn’t mass appeal. The goal is precision.
Sahil Gandhi
CEO & Co-Founder, Blushush Agency
Balance Self-Awareness with Audience Perception
To be real and build a strong personal brand, make sure your words and actions match your core values. Of course, being open and consistent on social media and in person is quite important. A great personal brand is more than just promoting yourself.It is sticking to your values despite trends that may change you.
I exercise self-reflection to stay genuine to myself. I check my actions and words to make sure they reflect my goals. It’s essential to me what others in the community say, so I pay close attention. Being honest with myself and being aware of how other people see me. This balance between knowing who I am and talking to my audience helps me build a brand that will stay.
I value authenticity beyond a catchphrase. I pledge transparency, constancy, and uncompromising authenticity.
Gianluca Ferruggia
General Manager, DesignRush
