Every entrepreneur has a personal brand, but they don’t all build those brands themselves. Those who neglect personal branding are inevitably branded by others.
Before the media or your competitors have a chance to paint your personal brand, be proactive. If you want to be seen as kind and thoughtful, for example, be generous with your team. Create content around what companies can do to treat their customers more empathetically. Make a point to share examples of other-focused businesses on social.
Need some inspiration? These speakers are full of insights on how to define and build your personal brand:
1. John Hall
Author of the bestselling branding book “Top of Mind,” John Hall is known for being one of the better guest speakers that can speak to sales and many other industries. As a speaker, Hall is known for his helpfulness, authenticity, and down-to-earth approach. He is now a Chief Advisor for Relevance.com that helps companies and people become the most relevant in their industries. Hall has also been labeled as one of the top virtual speakers in the world.
2. William Arruda
Having co-founded Reach Personal Branding back in 2001, William Arruda is a veteran of personal branding. His latest initiative is Career Blast, a New York-based company he co-founded that provides professional development via bite-sized video lessons. Arruda’s “Ditch. Dare. Do!” book digs into personal branding for professionals, providing 66 ways they can become more influential and happier at the office.
3. AJ Vaden
AJ Vaden, co-founder and CEO of Brand Builders Group, helps people reinvent and monetize their personal brands. Before she decided to start speaking about personal branding, Vaden served as a sales trainer for major financial organizations. She has also served as a mediation specialist and executive coach. Vaden’s speeches detail setbacks, strategies, and successes she’s had across 25 years of personal brand building.
4. Dorie Clark
An academic, author, and business communication consultant, Dorie Clark has done it all in the personal branding world. Published by Harvard Business Review Press, her “Entrepreneurial You” helps leaders think more entrepreneurially in order to succeed in the 21st-century economy. At Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, she teaches executive communication skills and personal branding. Having also worked as a journalist, Clark’s speeches are informative, engaging, and fact-based.
5. Patrick Ambron
To help leaders protect their online reputation, Patrick Ambron co-founded BrandYourself in 2009. Ambron takes two approaches to personal branding: The first is removing elements that might hurt one’s brand, such as negative Google search results. The other is adding what he calls “reinforcing factors,” or content that showcases one’s brand in the right places online. Expect Ambron to share stories of personal brand reclamation in his speeches, as well as tips for preventing reputation damage in the first place. BrandYourself was recently acquired by Array and Ambron is in the SVP of Business Development for Enterprise.
6. Phil Pallen
Phil Pallen is a brand strategist and celebrity brand expert who empowers public figures, corporate leaders, employees, and entrepreneurs. His insights on digital marketing, branding, and social media have been featured in media outlets around the world, including CNN, Access Hollywood, Entertainment Tonight, and The Daily Mail. Phil has worked with hundreds of brands across many industries, including a Shark on Shark Tank, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, politicians, and some of the most important names in entertainment. He frequently speaks at conferences in cities all over the globe.
7. Brittany Hodak
Brittany is one of the most natural speakers on the circuit right now. She simply owns the stage when she’s in front of a group. She’s been known for speaking about creating superfans and loyal followers. Although most of this content is geared towards companies, a professional can learn a lot from her to create a loyal following for your personal brand. Some of her examples in her speeches are amazing real world accounts on how you can be more engaging to an audience.
Whether you’re looking for a strict how-to speech or something more motivational, these personal branding speakers are sure to impress. Book one whose background aligns with your needs, and learn how to make your story shine.
This article was updated on July 9th, 2024.
