Calling a spade, a spade.

On a recent LinkedIn thread, my very talented ex-colleague (and friend) Andjela Kusmuk brought up the topic of interpersonal communication in the workplace. In the context of giving feedback to others, she talked about the imposition often placed on women, describing her experience of being labelled “irritable”, “difficult” or even “aggressive” when being direct, refusing…

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Under the influence of role models

I’ve spoken a lot about personal branding in my posts. But one of the areas I haven’t really explored is the connection between the brand you build and how this lends itself to being a role model for others. There’s been plenty of talk this week regarding Serena Williams’s post-pregnancy comeback. And so there should…

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A Lesson in Personal Branding

Arranged by a headhunter, I was having my first ‘getting to know you’ session with the CEO of a tech start-up. He was looking to appoint a marketing leader, and all the omens signaled them as the next big thing in the world of pre-IPO startups. To say I was interested would be an understatement….

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In Pursuit of an ‘Ideal’ Self

As marketers, we relentlessly focus on putting forward the best public image of the brands we represent. We attempt to attract consumers by pitching the virtues of an ideal, must-have solution that taps in to vulnerabilities. We pitch these products as the be-all, end-all answer to our needs i.e. the ideal home, or the ideal…

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