I’d heard a lot about Kate before I met her. Petite, charming, ladylike, were words used to describe this woman with a passion for personal branding. But what popped into my mind within moments of our first greeting were: warm, articulate, astute and generous.
Giving up more than an hour of her time – for a complete stranger with a vested interest in personal branding – was just the start. Kate shared her knowledge and tips on how I personally could take my career forward. Wow. A real gem.
As a franchise owner for Discovery, Kate’s take on personal branding is simple: present yourself well, be unique and back it up with competence.
Kate uses Lady Gaga as an example. This multi award-winning performer is unique and outrageous, but she’s also brilliant, giving her a super-powerful personal brand. And while Kate doesn’t encourage her team to wear meat, she does insist on them being well dressed (ladies, heels please) with a respectable notepad and good pen. “You simply can’t sell a great brand without looking the part.”
More of Kate’s tips:
- Be authentic. It’s who you are as a person that makes you marketable.
- Raise your profile and find others you can help.
- Don’t knock the competition. Recognise another brand’s strength, and be confident of your own.
- Lead by example. Don’t expect your team to be at the office early, or late, if you’re not.
- Plan your career. Be clear on your career objectives and what’s going to get you to where you want to go.
We ended our meeting with a promise to connect when we’re next in the same city. I’m looking forward to it. And in the meanwhile, I’m going to invest in a respectable notepad. And a good pen.