What If I Could Build my Personal Brand?
From Anita Borg Institute Wiki
Pre-Conference Notes
Panelists: Julia Lam, Jane Prey (Microsoft), Connie Smallwood (CA Technologies), and Molly Wendell (Executives Network)
Abstract: Working in industry versus going to school involves a change in the way you perceive yourself and a consideration of how you are perceived by others. This session will show graduates and those returning to the workforce how to create an image that is savvy and professional, how to build networks to learn about new opportunities, and the best way to use social media to promote your ideas and talents.
Session Notes
What is personal brand?
Julia - how people see you, the interactions and collaborations you have with other people
Jane - your brand depends on who you are in my life, professional or personal. Do your beliefs match how others perceive you? When, where and how to stand for what you believe? There is no separation between professional and personal brand although you may have characteristics that stay on one side. Don't try to pretend to be something you're not. Amplify the things you love. You should care about what others think but don't let it drive you. Ask "why do you care?" (this can be your brand). Stand up for yourself and make cogent arguments. This is part of your brand, how you show your whole person.
Molly - building truly authentic relationships. Dig your well before you need the water. She was out of work for 2 years and 3 days: she learned a lot about her brand. She turned her luck around, wrote a book "the New Job Search". Angelina Jolie is an example of someone who changed her brand. Always think of what you can do to personify your brand. How do you begin? What do you want to be known for? You need to be in a place where people accept the positioning you offer. She's had the opportunity to do some things but they went against her brand so she didn't do them.
Julia: - How do you begin? What are you passionate about? What are the 3 bullet points people should know about you?
Jane - It's about the passion, not the job. She had a lot of great jobs but she never looked for any of them... they all came to her because she was passionate about teaching and people knew it. Be passionate and people will say "I know someone who..."
Tips for building brand when looking for job
Molly - think about your brand before you need to find job. She knew a guy who had a semiconductor background but wanted to be in solar energy so at conferences he put on all his name tags: "Solar Mike" and became known as that and it led to the career he wanted.
Julia - have people understand what you're good about.
Jane - have knowledge behind your brand - don't just build a storefront.
How to leverage social media to build brand or change it?
Julia - do a guest blog post, show that you're excited about something.
Molly - "To be specific is terrific, to be vague is the plague." When you post don't post all over the board and clutter up your brand. Be authentic in your connections. If you connect with everyone, what's the difference between you and the phone book? - nothing. So be authentic. Post 80% around your brand and 20% other.
Julia - feels personal and professional brand is the same. The world is going to a place where you're just you. Think less about separating those worlds and more who you are.
Jane - develop your brand inside your company first, not on Facebook. They don't need Facebook to know you're of value. Social media will not save your life, you earn your public character and social media just helps you share that - her credibility has been built through actual work.
Connie - every single communication is reflective of who you are - be authentic because when people meet you, don't want them to feel you were fake.
How do you keep your personal brand on track?
Jane - be honest, speak up and then thank people for listening when they give you work something in line with your brand - this helps them understand how to empower you.
Molly - sometimes your brand gets too cluttered if you have a lot of interests and want to talk about all them. Pick a major interest and a couple of minor interests to talk about. Having a lot of interests does make you interesting to others though and well-rounded so don't lose all your interests, just don't need to talk about them all.
Julia - have one place where you live, a web page or something where you talk about your different interests.
How do you assess how you're appearing to other people?
Connie - ask for feedback. Start with some trusted friends who will be honest, ask them to describe you, then keep probing. Ask them, "why do you say that? What have I said or done or helped with that makes you say that?"
Molly - your brand is always evolving - when she first started at IBM she was late to everything and people called it "Molly time" so when she went to new a company she didn't want anyone to know about "Molly time" so was early to everything. (which was waste of time)
How do you reflect your brand?
Molly - be interesting by being interested - people want to hire people they like.
Julia - be memorable - how many people in a day do recruiters meet?
Jane - use your other networks. Figure out where the relationships are.
Connie - be prepared, firm handshake - ask the right questions.
Molly - world is a face-to-face place.
How do you start?
Jane - start with what you want to be known for.
Julia - build brand about what you're passionate about, it's what we're drawn to anyway.
Jane - never heard of brand until she was asked to be on the panel. You've got to build it and that will become your brand.
Molly - be fun, interesting, exciting. Embrace your brand, you'll attract the right people, opps, jobs.
Connie - you all have a brand whether you like it or not. Own it, work on it, ask people to help you.
Notes taken by Keita Del Valle, GHC 2011 Live Notetaker.
