Whether they’re creating airlines or lingerie, today’s top business leaders all have one thing in common: they have mastered the art of self-marketing and personal branding. Your personal brand is what makes you unique and can be summed up with the words and phrases your customers and colleagues would use to describe you and what you stand for. To help you figure out what your personal brand is and whether it could do with sharpening up, we’re going to take a look at some famous entrepreneurs and their personal brands…
Victoria Beckham
What’s so great about Victoria Beckham’s personal brand is how it has evolved to match the different phases of her career. Initially her brand was all about girl power and female empowerment as part of the Spice Girls. She then cultivated an aloof brand with her trademark ‘no smile’ poses and ‘posh’ moniker. Now when we think of the former Posh Spice we think of her as a fashionista, with a strong family unit. You only have to say three words and 99% of the population would know who you mean and those are ‘girl power’, ‘posh’. (And all this is before we’ve even mentioned ‘brand Beckham’). Think about how you can adapt or evolve your personal brand as your career develops or as you move onto new projects. Keep it fresh and up to date.
Words to describe Victoria’s personal brand:
- Posh
- Aloof
- Family
- Fashion
- Girl power
Kelly Hoppen
Interior designer and former ‘dragon’ on BBC show Dragons’ Den, entrepreneur Kelly Hoppen demonstrates the power of storytelling for a successful personal brand. She has a recognisable and memorable image with her blond, curly hair and she has an air of sophistication and elegance. Professionally, she has a signature design look which has come to be known as the ‘Kelly Hoppen look’ (neutral palettes, beautiful textures and an East meets West aesthetic in case you were wondering) – surely to have your very own ‘look’ is the holy grail for any creative. People need to get an idea of what it’s like to work with you by looking at you so think about what story you can tell about yourself and how to tell it. Remember it’s not just you; your creations and the brands you use are an extension of your image and personal style (for example your designs, your watch, pen, car etc.)
Words to describe Kelly’s personal brand:
- Feisty
- Empowerment
- Femininity
- Creative
- Signature design
Michelle Obama
Michelle Obama’s personal brand is about authenticity – her personal and professional lives are in perfect alignment, meaning there is no pretence and her brand is a ‘holistic’ one. For example, she works on many charitable causes; one of which is as an advocate for working mothers who struggle to balance their career and family. A big part of her own personal brand is her ability to juggle these two things. People warm to her and see her as a role model because she strikes a balance between the personal and the professional. People take her seriously as an ambassador and speaker, but they also like her on a personal level. For example, taking part in a Carpool Karaoke sketch with James Corden allowed people to see her fun side, but did not in any way diminish her professional achievements.
Words to describe Michelle’s personal brand:
- Strong
- Fun
- Caring
- Ambitious
- Authentic
How to nail your own personal brand like a top entrepreneur
What can we learn from these three mega personal brands? How can you take elements of what these three women have done and use it to sharpen up your own brand and make it top notch? Here are four key things to take away:
- Adapt your personal brand for different elements or phases of your career
- Create a strong and memorable image
- Use storytelling to show what you stand for
- Be authentic
Here at Hey Tuesday we can help you nail all of these four things. A photoshoot with us will help you create a strong image and tell your story in an authentic way. Book a shoot with us now.