23 Jan Building your Personal Brand
Kelli Schutrop, CEO and Founder of Thoughtful Resound, shares her expertise in building your personal brand, thought leadership and executive presence. Kelli, a dynamic revenue growth leader, offers actionable advice on how professionals can enhance their online presence and confidently position themselves as thought leaders in their industries.
Why Developing a Personal Brand Matters
According to Kelli, a strong personal brand opens doors to career opportunities, business growth and leadership roles. It builds credibility and ensures that you’re perceived as a resourceful and trustworthy expert.
Key Takeaways on Personal Branding:
- Start with Clarity: Define your goals—whether to secure a promotion, attract clients or gain industry recognition.
- Shift Your Mindset: Focus on how you can educate and help others rather than only self-promoting.
- Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile: Ensure your profile reflects your expertise and speaks to your target audience.
Steps to Develop a Personal Brand
Kelli broke down the process of building a personal brand into actionable steps:
- Identify Your Goals: Decide what you want to achieve with your personal brand.
- Understand Your Audience: Who do you want to influence or attract?
- Consistency is Key: Regularly share insights, experiences or lessons learned on LinkedIn or industry platforms.
- Leverage Mentors: Seek guidance from professionals who can help you navigate challenges.
- Balance Online and Offline Efforts: Attend networking events, volunteer for speaking opportunities, and engage with industry peers.
Differentiating Yourself
Kelli emphasized that differentiation doesn’t require being completely unique but being visible and consistent. Examples include:
- Posting about industry events or accomplishments on LinkedIn.
- Volunteering for committees or associations.
- Sharing knowledge or lessons learned to add value to your network.
How to Build Thought Leadership
Thought leadership isn’t limited to being an industry expert. Kelli outlined three approaches:
- Be the Expert: Share insights based on your experiences and help others learn.
- Be the Host: Facilitate discussions by organizing webinars or panels, even if you’re not the expert.
- Be the Aggregator: Curate and share valuable content from trusted sources.
Boosting Executive Presence
Executive presence, Kelli explained, revolves around confidence and authenticity. Here’s her advice:
- Own What You Know: Speak with confidence, even if you don’t have all the answers.
- Ask Thoughtful Questions: Shift your mindset to learn and provide value in every interaction.
- Practice Public Speaking: Gain comfort in sharing your ideas through practice and preparation.
- Adopt a Growth Mindset: View challenges as opportunities to learn and grow.
Conclusion
Kelli’s insights on building a personal brand, thought leadership, and executive presence provide a clear roadmap for professionals aiming to elevate their careers. By focusing on consistency, adding value, and fostering confidence, anyone can build a compelling personal brand and command attention as a leader.
About Kelli Schutrop
Kelli Schutrop is a dynamic revenue growth leader and the CEO and Founder of Thoughtful Resound, a fractional sales, marketing and leadership platform. With a proven track record of unlocking new revenue streams for growing B2B companies, Kelli specializes in innovative strategies that merge sales, marketing and thought leadership.
Her expertise spans digital and brand marketing, consultative selling, on-camera hosting and public speaking. Over her career, Kelli has successfully scaled startups, built marketing functions from the ground up and developed sales structures to drive growth. She’s also a four-time LinkedIn Learning instructor, sharing insights on personal branding and professional development with over 15,000 learners globally.
In addition to her professional endeavors, Kelli is actively involved in fostering industry connections. She organizes fireside chats, delivers speaking engagements, and contributes to various boards and committees. A graduate of the University of Northwestern–St. Paul with a degree in Public Relations and Marketing, Kelli balances her impactful career with the joy of raising her young, adventurous family.