Brands aren’t just for big corporations. Whether you realize it or not, just like a business, you have a personal brand.
“(Personal branding) is how you outwardly present yourself to be reflected more or less successfully by other people,” said Tim Scott, assistant professor of instruction at the Moody College of Communication. “It is the kind of story that you tell about yourself and the work that you do. This is the kind of student I am, or the kind of employee that I am, or the kind of business owner that I am. … We’re always managing our presence and how it is being perceived by others, pretty much day in and day out.”
The way you dress, talk and use your body language all contribute to how others perceive you. It’s important to be mindful of your personal brand and ensure that it’s appropriate for the setting you find yourself in.
Finance sophomore and TikTok content creator Elizabeth Do discussed the importance of personal branding.
“Personal branding is honestly just establishing a vibe for yourself that resonates with you and your values and your interests,” said Do. “It’s important because that’s how you stand out and differentiate yourself in any market, whether that’s TikTok, Instagram or just anything you do. And I feel like when you’re authentic with your personal brand, people can really see that.”
The people around you form judgments and make assumptions based on how you present yourself to them. Although it’s daunting to think about ourselves from a third-person point of view, it’s empowering to know that we can control how we are perceived.
For example, being perceived as a serious student is important to me so I have put in the effort to build a personal brand that successfully reflects that. I often wear business casual clothes to class, am punctual, ask questions, sit in the front row and approach my professors and teaching assistants with respect and professionalism. That’s the personal brand I have developed as a student, and I work to maintain it daily.
Scott discussed the significance of shaping your personal brand based on your goals.
“Having a very established personal brand and way in which you hold yourself, depending on the situations that you’re in, can really help set you apart from individuals that don’t do that, and maybe it doesn’t come quite as naturally,” Scott said. “It’s a skill. … You can learn to have better personal branding to present the authentic version of yourself in the best way possible to help achieve whatever goals you have set forth.”
While there is leeway in developing your personal brand, it’s essential to remember authenticity. Like business brands, personal brands can be a fraud if you present an insincere version of yourself.
“I think it’s (about) being authentic and consistent in who you are and how you represent yourself in different situations,” said Joy Phillips, the senior vice president of publicity at AMC Networks “It’s very hard for someone who’s disingenuine or inauthentic to truly create a personal brand and keep it up. You can’t keep up a facade 24/7 … I think those who lead with their true selves make a bigger impression.”
Your personal brand is a valuable asset — cultivate it and present yourself in the best possible light while remaining true to yourself.
Mendoza is a philosophy junior from El Paso, Texas.
