Personal branding is a crucial aspect of professional development these days — but it can have an impact on more than just your brand. We asked industry experts to share how building a strong personal brand influenced their personal growth and development. Here is what they learned about themselves while navigating their personal brand journeys.
- Authenticity Shapes Personal Brand Journey
- Vulnerability Builds Trust in Branding
- Personal Branding Reveals True Self
- Consistency and Vulnerability Foster Connection
- Authenticity Attracts Aligned Opportunities
- Clarity and Conviction Drive Brand Impact
- Balancing Experimentation with Consistent Values
- Personal Branding Clarifies Purpose and Perspective
- Expanding Horizons Through Brand Building
- Confidence Grows Through Sharing Knowledge
- Creating Inclusive Fitness Space Transforms Self
- Embracing Roots Empowers Personal Brand
- Authenticity Fuels Aligned Work and Relationships
- Clarity Builds Confidence in Brand Development
- Genuine Connections Trump Follower Count
- Personal Branding Demands Intentional Leadership
- Alignment and Evolution Define Personal Branding
Authenticity Shapes Personal Brand Journey
Building a strong personal brand has been an incredibly eye-opening experience for my own personal growth and development. It’s not just about what you present to the world; it’s a deeply introspective process that forces you to truly define who you are, what you stand for, and what unique value you bring. I’ve found that the act of articulating my message and consistently putting it out there has given me a much clearer sense of my own voice and purpose. It’s a continuous journey of self-discovery, where each piece of content and every interaction helps refine that understanding.
What I’ve really learned about myself through this process is the immense power of authenticity. You know, you can try to craft a brand that you think others want to see, but it quickly becomes exhausting and feels inauthentic. I realized that my most impactful and resonant work comes when I’m being truly myself, sharing my genuine insights and experiences. This focus on authenticity has not only made my work more enjoyable, but it’s also attracted the right people and opportunities into my orbit. It’s about letting your true self shine through and seeing how that resonates with the world.
Michael Gargiulo
Founder, CEO, VPN.com
Vulnerability Builds Trust in Branding
Building a strong personal brand has pushed me to confront who I really am, not just how I want to be perceived. Early on, I thought being a “consultant” meant presenting myself in a certain way — polished, distant, and always on. However, the more I leaned into authenticity, the more people responded, and that response taught me something surprising: people connect with people, not personas. When I started openly sharing the gritty realities of
startup fundraising or the mistakes we’ve made scaling, it built more trust than any perfect pitch ever could.
One moment that sticks with me was when a founder told me he reached out not because of our services, but because “you seemed like someone who gets it.” That hit hard — in a good way. It made me realize that being open, human, and sometimes even a bit vulnerable was not just okay, it was powerful. I’ve also learned that I have a tendency to overthink how I’m perceived, and building my brand has forced me to let go of that. It’s like putting a mirror up daily — you learn your strengths, your blind spots, and the tone you’re actually projecting, not the one you think you are.
Niclas Schlopsna
Managing Consultant and CEO, spectup
Personal Branding Reveals True Self
At first, I thought personal branding was about being seen. But over time, I learned it’s more about being clear — clear about what you stand for, what you’ll never fake, and what problems you were built to solve. The process forced me to face parts of myself I used to hide: my obsession with details, my dislike for shallow trends, and my deep respect for overlooked voices. And when I leaned into those things, I stopped attracting attention — and started attracting alignment. The biggest lesson? A personal brand isn’t a mask; it’s a mirror. The clearer you are on the outside, the more grounded and honest you become on the inside.
Andrew Juma
Owner, Digital Worldwide News
Consistency and Vulnerability Foster Connection
Building a strong personal brand didn’t just change how others saw me — it completely reshaped how I saw myself. At first, I thought branding was about curating perception: the right bio, polished headshots, a LinkedIn presence that sounded “credible.” But what I discovered along the way is that the real power of personal branding lies in clarity and accountability. It forces you to answer the hard questions: What do I really stand for? Who am I here to help? And am I showing up every day as that person, even when nobody’s watching?
As I invested in building a brand that felt deeply authentic, I noticed something unexpected — my decisions got sharper. I stopped chasing “shiny object” opportunities and started leaning into roles and collaborations that aligned with my values. I also became more intentional about the stories I tell, both in public and in my own head. That shift wasn’t just good for visibility — it was transformational for my confidence.
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that consistency builds trust, but vulnerability builds connection. The more I shared not just my wins, but the messy in-between moments — pivoting, failing, re-learning — the more people reached out saying, “I see myself in that.” And that’s when the brand becomes more than a platform. It becomes a mirror for others.
Personal branding, at its best, is not about ego — it’s about impact. It’s about having the courage to stand for something before you’re widely recognized for it. For me, it’s been a tool for personal growth, a compass during tough decisions, and a magnet for aligned relationships. And the process of refining it? That’s the best self-development journey I never knew I signed up for.
John Mac
Serial Entrepreneur, UNIBATT
Authenticity Attracts Aligned Opportunities
Building a strong personal brand transformed my personal growth. I started intentionally shaping my
brand using LinkedIn while still in my 9-to-5 job, and initially, sharing my story and opinions publicly felt awkward. However, I quickly learned that authenticity attracts authenticity.
Opening up and genuinely interacting with my audience built a supportive community and boosted my confidence. I realized that vulnerability creates the deepest connections — an insight that greatly influenced my entrepreneurial journey. Being comfortable as the face of our craft chocolate business allowed me to authentically connect with
customers who value our mission.
My takeaway? Be unapologetically yourself. Authenticity is more sustainable, and it’s deeply rewarding both personally and financially.
Matt Cross
Co-Founder, Harvest Chocolate – Bean to Bar Chocolate & Chocolate Tea
Clarity and Conviction Drive Brand Impact
Building a strong personal brand didn’t just change my business — it changed me. When I first stepped into the spotlight as a founder, I thought visibility was about polish, credentials, and perfectly crafted messaging. And while those things matter, what I’ve learned is that real resonance — real impact — comes from clarity, conviction, and vulnerability.
Through the process of refining my personal brand, I had to get radically honest about what I stand for, what I value, and what I’m willing to let go of. It has taught me how to trust my instincts, release outdated notions of success, and stop hiding behind my work. I’ve become more confident, more discerning, and — ironically — more private in some ways, even as my public presence grew.
The biggest shift? I no longer feel the need to prove myself. Instead, I show up to serve, to lead, and to be seen for who I actually am — not just the business I’ve built. And that has been the most transformative part of the journey.
Kristin Marquet
Founder & Creative Director, Marquet Media
Balancing Experimentation with Consistent Values
Building a strong personal brand has shown me that success comes from a balance of experimentation and consistency. Translating who you are into a clear, authentic message is far more challenging than it appears, making the process valuable.
It’s pushed me to reflect deeply on my purpose and values and how to articulate them clearly in every space I show up — both online and in person. Ultimately, I’ve learned that a personal brand isn’t just what you share; it’s how you show up, lead, and live your values daily.
Bernice Chao
Author, The Visibility Mindset
Personal Branding Clarifies Purpose and Perspective
To be completely honest, building a strong personal brand has compelled me to gain clarity on my actual beliefs, both professionally and personally. When you consistently create content, you cannot fake it. You must repeatedly articulate your values, approach, and perspective.
One significant lesson I learned is that I am most energized when helping others cut through noise, whether it’s with content strategy, growth tactics, or team systems. I didn’t realize this until I observed what people consistently responded to in my posts and conversations.
The true value of personal branding isn’t visibility; it’s clarity. When you show up regularly with intention, you discover what matters most to you and whom you’re really here to serve. That self-awareness shapes everything else: how you lead, what you agree to, and how you grow.
Vaibhav Kishnani
Founder & CEO, Content-Whale
Expanding Horizons Through Brand Building
I always had the impression that building a personal
brand was all about writing articles on LinkedIn. The more likes I had, the more I thought I was being recognized. My understanding of building a personal brand was like a frog inside a box — knowing only what was inside the box.
In 2024, I decided to do some research on YouTube. Even though that resource existed, I hadn’t used it before. Crazy me! So I spent many hours going through videos of GaryVee and others. That’s when I realized that my myopic view was limited to what I knew. That was something I needed to change.
Within a month, I created a website using my name. Since I work on ERP and AI solutions, I started writing articles about different topics based on my experience. As you can tell, I’m not the best at writing, but I gave it my best shot. Within two months, I noticed that the traffic to my site started increasing, which gave me hope.
I started researching Search Engine Optimization (SEO). I taught myself about implementing SEO, and within the next three months, I started getting four times the traffic. Today my website draws around 6,000 page views per month, and considering that my website is now seven months old, I feel proud of my achievement.
The next task was to update my
LinkedIn profile. So I revamped it with a proper banner, updated my keywords, and started posting (although not regularly). My website was linked to my LinkedIn profile, and then the calls and emails started coming in. I received queries about me, my profession, and concerns people had about their ERPs and AI. But I still felt I needed to do more.
I registered a company in the US and in the UAE to be compliant, and it opened more opportunities. The process of registration taught me how to be a non-resident in the US but still have a legal setup established.
While I was online, I knew that I needed to be visible on YouTube. I was (and am) camera shy. Moreover, I didn’t
know what I needed to do to create the right YouTube video. There are a lot of things to consider — the studio, the lights, the script, recording, editing, B-rolls, etc. Overwhelming stuff. Long story short, I will publish my first series in the first
week of July 2025.
The whole journey taught me to be open to what’s out there. Don’t be content with the status quo. Building a brand is more than building oneself — it’s about building others too.
Sharing your story will boost someone else’s confidence. Your
research and frustration can benefit others.
Noel DCosta
Managing Partner – Enterprise Solutions, DXC Technology
Confidence Grows Through Sharing Knowledge
Building a strong personal brand through sharing hiring tips on LinkedIn and speaking at HR events pushed me to grow more confident and clear in my ideas. It forced me to learn new skills, like writing posts or speaking publicly, which made me better at explaining complex things simply. It also taught me to stay true to my values, such as honesty and helping recruiters, which deepened my sense of purpose. I discovered that I love teaching others and that I’m more patient than I thought when responding to feedback or questions online.
I’ve learned that I’m good at connecting with
people but need to set boundaries to avoid burnout from constant engagement. Saying no to some opportunities, like extra webinars, helped me focus on what matters: building Testlify and supporting HR professionals. My biggest takeaway is that a personal brand grows you as much as you grow it, but you have to balance authenticity with self-care. My advice is to share what you know, but carve out time to reflect so you keep learning about yourself.
Abhishek Shah
Founder, Testlify
Creating Inclusive Fitness Space Transforms Self
When I started my company, it wasn’t about going viral or building a business. It was about not seeing anyone like me in the fitness space and deciding to become the person I needed.
I’m autistic. I have ADHD. I’ve been plus-size most of my life. And I used to think the gym wasn’t made for people like me. The fitness industry often sells this “one-size-fits-all,” high-energy, neurotypical version of success, and I never fit into that. But that didn’t mean I didn’t deserve to feel strong, capable, and confident.
So I started showing up as myself. No filters. No pretending. Just me: messy, passionate, a little awkward, and incredibly driven to make fitness more accessible for people who feel like outsiders. That honesty became my brand.
Building a personal brand taught me how to be seen — and how to be okay with it. Going viral on TikTok gave me thicker skin. Not everyone is kind when you show up as your full self, especially when you don’t look like the “before and after” stories they expect. But for every rude comment, there were messages from people saying, “I’ve never seen someone like me talk about fitness like this. Thank you.”
That’s my why.
It’s not about aesthetics or performance. It’s about creating space; mental and physical; for people who’ve felt excluded. Every qualification I’ve earned, every blog I’ve written, every class I’ve delivered has been grounded in that. I trained as a PT because I knew how important it was to help people on their own terms, in bodies like mine, with brains like mine.
In building this brand, I found clarity. I stopped trying to shrink myself to fit into the industry and started expanding what the industry could be.
The biggest thing I’ve learned about myself is that I’m not here to be impressive.
I’m here to be useful.
To be real.
To be someone other people can see and think, “If she can do it, maybe I can too.”
That’s what my business stands for. And it’s what I stand for too.
Rhiannon Cooper
Neurodivergent Personal Trainer, Not So Typical Fitness
Embracing Roots Empowers Personal Brand
Building a personal brand taught me to stop hiding. At first, I thought I had to be polished and buttoned up. But the more I showed up as myself, the more my brand came to life. My
company isn’t just a business. It’s my lineage, my faith, my healing, and my voice.
This journey helped me realize that my power is in my roots. I don’t have to water anything down to be taken seriously. I’ve learned to trust my instincts, speak with clarity, and lead from a place of purpose. My brand helped me grow into a version of myself I actually like, not the one I thought I had to be.
Monique Diaz
Founder & CEO, Geechee Mama Candles
Authenticity Fuels Aligned Work and Relationships
Building a strong personal brand has pushed me to get clear on who I am, what I stand for, and how I want to show up in the world — both personally and professionally. It’s forced me to define my values, trust my instincts, and lean into my strengths, even when it feels uncomfortable. I’ve learned that authenticity isn’t just a buzzword — it’s the backbone of connection. People respond to realness, and the more I’ve embraced that, the more aligned my work and relationships have become.
Through the process, I’ve discovered that I’m not just passionate about storytelling — I’m driven by creating space for others to be seen and heard. Building a brand taught me to stop waiting for permission and start creating opportunities, not just for myself but for the people I believe in. It’s made me more confident, more intentional, and more self-aware.
Trevor Perkins
Founder, PERK PR & Creative Agency
Clarity Builds Confidence in Brand Development
Building a personal brand forced me to become radically clear about what I believe and what I actually want to say, not just what sounds impressive. Early on, I thought I had to present myself as the polished
“startup founder,” but the more honest I became, the more resonance I found. That’s when real connections started forming.
One of the biggest lessons? Clarity builds confidence. When I consistently show up and share what I’ve learned, whether it’s product strategy,
mental health, or mistakes I’ve made, it reinforces my own voice and sharpens my thinking.
It has also taught me that I don’t need to be everywhere, just consistent where it matters. For me, that has meant being useful in public and authentic in private, especially as I
grow my business and advise other founders. The brand you build externally should strengthen your internal compass, not blur it.
Ali Yilmaz
Co-Founder&CEO, Aitherapy
Genuine Connections Trump Follower Count
Building a strong personal brand teaches you much more than any self-help book ever could. My theories related to branding have changed drastically over time. The most effective thing I’ve learned is that branding is not about standing out but about standing true, aligning who I am with how I show up.
When I started sharing my thoughts, I believed in sharing victories, hard times, and special moments, rather than the failures, struggles, and pieces of content that acted as mirrors. The thing I missed was asking myself if I believed what I was posting. Since then, the
way I share things has changed. Being vulnerable while creating your personal brand isn’t risky. Instead, it is relatable.
For anyone who is building a personal brand, stop chasing followers and start building connections, genuine ones. Be honest, be clear, and take a stand for things that you strongly believe in.
Ansh Arora
CEO, Inspiringlads
Personal Branding Demands Intentional Leadership
Building a personal brand didn’t just grow my business — it held up a mirror to who I really am.
The process forced me to clarify what I stand for, what I won’t compromise on, and how I want to present myself — both publicly and privately. It’s made me more consistent, more confident, and more accountable. When your name becomes your message, you start living with more intention.
Building my personal brand taught me that growth isn’t just external
— it’s about becoming the kind of leader your story says you are.
David Quintero
CEO and Founder, NewswireJet
Alignment and Evolution Define Personal Branding
Building a strong personal brand forced me to become clear about who I am, what I stand for, and how I want to show up in the world. At first, I thought branding was just about logos, colors, and consistent messaging. But once I put myself out there as both an entrepreneur and artist, I realized that personal branding is really about alignment. It exposed every gap between what I said and how I acted.
Sharing my work publicly, especially with my transition into art, challenged me to become more vulnerable and intentional. It taught me to stop hiding behind business titles or polished marketing. People were not just responding to the finished pieces. They were responding to my story, my values, and how I made them feel. That level of connection pushed me to take myself more seriously, to dig deeper, and to lead with authenticity.
I also learned that a personal brand is not something you create once. It evolves with you. The more I shared, the more I learned what resonates, what feels true, and what I want to let go of. That process helped me become more confident, focused, and honest. It made me comfortable saying no to things that do not
fit and yes to opportunities that align with who I am becoming.
Most importantly, building a personal brand taught me that growth is not about how loud you are. It is about how clear you are. When you know what you stand for and communicate it consistently, the right people find you. That clarity has shaped both my business and my personal life in ways I never expected.
Facundo Yebne
Creative Mind, FLY Miami Art
