Personal Branding// A tool for emancipation

Would you see personal branding as as an opportunity for emancipation?

I asked you this question this week on Instagram, and you all said it is so. I’ve personally thought about this question a lot and I agree with you, it is definitely a chance for it. Let me illustrate my thoughts on this.

Society puts women in many boxes and, as far as we have come, still celebrates engagement, marriage and pregnancy as the ultimate goal of every women. A women must still be pretty, quiet and pleasant to be around . There are certain jobs that are meant for women and others are meant for men. Articles about women often begin with a description of their appearance, while men are described by their actions.

That’s where personal branding comes in:

Let's redefine these boxes and chose ourselves how people see us. A strong personal brand can open the door to new business and career opportunities.

In the long-term this is also a strategy to change the perception of our society. You don’t want to have children, but want to travel the world? Do it and talk about it. Are you a women in a field that is usually dominated by men? Stand up for yourself and talk about it . Are you a women with a certain background, but you don’t want to put into that particular box? Define the box for yourself. Are you rocking your career while having kids? Amazing, talk about it. People see who you are and how you interact, and they will put you in a certain box, if you want it or not. Make sure you can have your say when they do so.

While personal branding is an opportunity for emancipation, social media can be a tool for implementation. Social media not only gives us the opportunity to define ourselves, but also to address new topics or create a new approach to an established discussion. If you’re not ready yet to put yourself out there, start liking and commenting on other people’s content and slowly increase your visibility. Join a LinkedIn group and start engaging in this safe space. Are you following someone or do you know someone who is doing the same thing as you or who is an inspiration to you? Send them a good old email and ask for advice or a simple connection. Recently, after attending a big event on Zoom, I reached out to the organizer and just thanked her for hosting this event. She got back to me within a day and thanked me for the connection.

Why do I always come back to the topic of Social Media? According to a 2018 CareerBuilder survey, 70% of employers use social media to screen candidates during the hiring process (Source: Why Personal Branding Is More Important Than Ever). However, it is important to see personal branding as a combination of different factors: articles and posts online, the offline impression you leave behind, the relationships you build and your response to certain situations.

Feel free to share your thoughts on the topic and the discussion in the comment section below. I would love to hear your opinion on this!