Speaking at Princeton University
Exciting news! Off to the Big Apple today for some important meetings, followed by an incredible speaking engagement at none other than Princeton University! Feeling grateful for this amazing opportunity to share my insights and connect with new people. Stay tuned for updates and behind-the-scenes peeks! #NewYork #PrincetonUniversity #speakerlife #grateful #opportunities #networking
Leadership Talks: Women in Venture Capital – Insights from Leading Women Veterans
I’m excited to share with you all about the fantastic webinar event that I hosted on April 19th. As the moderator, I had the pleasure of leading a panel of four leading women veterans of the C-suite leadership ecosystem, where we discussed a range of governance topics with a focus on enhancing balance, expertise, and composition in the critical board environment of private and public companies.
During the webinar, we covered three insightful segments that focused on the historical perspective of women in the VC industry, building diverse teams, and nurturing the next generation of female founders and board members. One of the highlights of the event was hearing from the panelists about the people they admire in the VC industry and the valuable lessons they have learned from them.
A Short Preview of the Webinar: https://boardsi.com/short-preview-leadership-talks-women-in-venture-capital-webinar/
Full Webinar: https://boardsi.com/leadership-talks-women-in-venture-capital-webinar/
At Boardsi, we’re committed to promoting diversity and inclusion in the VC industry, and we believe that nurturing the next generation of female founders and board members is essential for driving real impact. We’re grateful to all our panelists and attendees who joined us for this fantastic event.
If you missed out on the webinar, you can catch a short preview of it on our website, and the full webinar is available for viewing as well. This webinar marks the beginning of an exciting journey for us at Boardsi as we enter the VC community and launch a new initiative to promote diversity within the board sector and beyond.
Stay tuned for more updates on our upcoming events, and thank you for your time!
8 Strategies for Developing a Strong Personal Brand
Creating a strong personal brand can help you stand out, establish credibility and advance your career.
As an entrepreneur, you can use your personal brand to your advantage in several ways. It’s an expression of your values, personality and unique selling proposition (USP) that can help you stand out from the competition. In the digital age we live in now, it’s important to have a strong personal brand if you want to be successful in business and stay relevant in a crowded market.
According to studies, a person’s personal brand can significantly impact both the reputation of their employer and their career success. For example:
- A study by LinkedIn found that professionals with a strong personal brand are more likely to be hired and promoted. The study found that “50% of professionals with a strong personal brand received interest from new employers compared to only 14% of those with a weak personal brand.”
- A survey conducted by CareerBuilder found that “57% of employers are less likely to interview a candidate they can’t find online.” This highlights the importance of having a strong online presence and personal brand.
- A study by Weber Shandwick found that “49% of executives believe a strong CEO personal brand is critical to their company’s overall reputation.” This highlights the importance of personal branding not only for individuals but also for the companies they represent.
- A study by HubSpot found that “companies with a strong CEO personal brand generate 11% more shareholder return than their competitors.”
These studies show how personal branding can affect professional success and a company’s reputation. By building a strong personal brand, entrepreneurs can set themselves apart from their competitors, gain credibility and help their businesses succeed.
Strategies for developing your personal brand
To build a strong personal brand, you should spend time and energy building your brand identity, establishing your online presence, creating compelling content, networking and collaborating, being genuine and consistent, developing your leadership skills, embracing your unique point of view and asking for feedback.
1. Define your brand identity
The basis of your personal brand is your brand identity. Your unique selling proposition (USP), personality and values are all included. Asking yourself questions like, “What do I stand for?” will help you define your brand identity. What values do I hold? What distinguishes me from my rivals?
2. Establish your online presence
In today’s digital age, building your brand online is crucial. Convey your expertise and add value to your readers’ lives by creating a website or blog. You can reach your target audience and spread your message by using social media like Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.
3. Create compelling content
With the help of content marketing, you can establish your brand and yourself as a leader in your field. Make blog posts, videos or podcasts that are interesting to your audience and showcase your expertise.
4. Network and collaborate
Networking and working with other people can help you build your reputation and connect with other leaders in your field. By attending conferences, joining professional groups, or participating in online communities, you can meet other business owners and grow your network.
5. Be authentic and consistent
Being honest and reliable is crucial to winning over your audience. Don’t stray too far from your brand’s identity and values in your content and messaging. Your listeners will value your sincerity and credibility highly.
6. Develop your leadership skills
Leadership skills are highly correlated with the reputation you’ve built for yourself as an entrepreneur. You can become an industry leader by inspiring and motivating your team, sharing your vision with them and making strategic decisions. Finding a mentor or coach, participating in a leadership development program, or reading material on the topic can all help you grow as a leader. Focus on improving your emotional intelligence, strategic thinking and communication skills to become a better leader and build your personal brand.
7. Embrace your unique perspective
Your original perspective sets you apart from other professionals in your field. Recognize the value of your unique perspective and employ it to set yourself apart. Communicate your point of view through your messages and articles.
8. Seek feedback
If you want to fix any flaws in your message, you need to hear what people think. Your target audience, coworkers and mentors can give you feedback that can help you build and keep your personal brand.
If they want to succeed in business, entrepreneurs must build a solid personal brand. The time and effort you put into developing your brand identity, online presence, content creation, networking and collaboration skills, authenticity and consistency, leadership skills, a unique perspective and feedback will pay off in the form of a strong personal brand that sets you apart in your industry.
Building a name for yourself in the business world can only help you in the long run. It’s not easy, but it’s worth it in the end. Building a solid personal brand can lead to increased professional credibility, trust and success. Using the aforementioned methods, you can establish a solid personal brand that will set you apart in your field and aid you in reaching your objectives.
Read on Entrepreneur: https://www.entrepreneur.com/starting-a-business/why-personal-branding-matters-for-entrepreneurs/449028
Don’t Let Your Organization Become Stagnant — Learn How to Innovate with These 5 Tips
Reinvent or risk stagnation — why leaders need to keep their people innovating, and how.
What do you think of when you hear the word “stagnation?” I always imagine stagnant water, not moving or flowing, but simply sitting there, rotting and attracting bacteria and flies. Stagnation is a dangerous state for water because water is meant to keep moving for life to flourish.
The same could be said for any individual or organization. What happens to a person when they stop moving, growing to their full potential and innovating for the betterment of themselves and society? The same thing happens when a company stops growing and innovating — they become vulnerable to being left behind while others keep moving. Competitors step in to do better, while stagnant companies struggle to remain relevant and successful. For a company to flourish, leaders need to keep their people innovating.
The dangers of stagnation
The business world is constantly evolving and growing increasingly competitive. In today’s business climate, stagnation has serious consequences for companies and the people responsible for keeping them running. Stop innovating, and we risk falling behind our competitors. In their search to gain more of the market, they are constantly trying to figure out how to offer better products or services or find more efficient or cost-effective ways of doing business. Constant innovation is how we stay ahead and remain a leader in the field. If our competitors provide what we do but better, we lose customer satisfaction and loyalty.
Stagnation can also lead to a lack of excitement and motivation among employees. Without new challenges or opportunities for growth, employees may become disengaged. Stop innovating, and they may look for opportunities elsewhere to develop their talents and advance their career.
Without innovation, we risk becoming obsolete. Our products or services no longer meet the needs of our customers, or new technologies render them outdated. Only by constantly innovating can we stay relevant and ensure our products or services continue to meet the needs of our customers.
How to inspire creativity in yourself and your team
Innovation is also how companies stay competitive, meet the needs and expectations of customers, engage and motivate employees, and remain relevant in an ever-changing world. Leaders can avoid the dangers of stagnation by encouraging creative thinking among themselves and their people. Here are five ways to start:
1. Set aside dedicated time for disruption. This can be a specific time of day or a set number of hours per week, but make sure to schedule this time specifically for coming up with new ideas
2. Encourage a growth mindset. When we believe our intelligence, abilities, talents and even interests to be learnable, and ourselves capable of learning through effort and improvement, we are more likely to succeed. With a growth mindset, we see every challenge as a learning opportunity. We become more adaptable, resilient and constantly looking for ways to improve. Embrace and encourage ongoing learning and growth to help stay open to new ideas and approaches.
3. Seek out new experiences and perspectives. Travel. Try new hobbies. Engage with people from different backgrounds and cultures. By exposing ourselves and our teams to new experiences and perspectives, we expand our ways of understanding the world, which will spark new ideas and approaches.
4. Set specific, achievable goals. Setting clear, achievable goals helps us stay focused and motivated, giving us a sense of purpose and accomplishment as we progress. We can also set goals to help meet targets for creativity and innovation efforts.
5. Surround yourself with like-minded individuals. Not to say everyone should be the same, and diversity plays a critical role in innovation, but we should aim to surround ourselves with people genuinely interested in creativity and innovation. Their inspiration and motivation will echo between us both and those around us. Join or start a creative group or look to network with like-minded individuals.
Diversity sustains innovation
A well-rounded, diverse team with a broad range of perspectives, experiences and backgrounds breaks up patterns of stagnation before they start, resulting in more innovative and creative solutions and sustaining a more innovative and dynamic team. Greater diversity of thought brings a greater variety of ideas and approaches to problem-solving. Teams of employees with a wide range of backgrounds and expertise have solved a wider range of problems, which translates to new approaches to tackle opportunities from multiple angles, identify new opportunities and craft more effective solutions.
Their range of life experiences, cultural backgrounds and personal interests can all contribute to a more creative and innovative team. Even their communication styles and approaches may be different, which can foster more open and inclusive communication. A 2021 study found that effectively learning to communicate and manage culturally diverse environments positively impacts an employee’s sustainable innovation behavior and performance. This higher cultural intelligence also fosters better collaboration and teamwork, helping to break down any barriers that might stand in the way of creative thought.
In today’s competitive world, the ability to stay adaptable is critical. Pivoting can save a business — especially when it’s stale. Leaders should strive to inspire themselves and others to remain creative and innovative, encouraging new ideas and approaches with a well-rounded team of diverse perspectives, expertise, communication styles, and life experiences for more creative and effective solutions. Eliminating stagnation and fostering sustained innovation keeps an organization stay dynamic, forward-thinking, and thriving.
Read on Entrepreneur: https://www.entrepreneur.com/leadership/5-ways-to-invigorate-innovation-in-a-stagnant-organization/447998
WEBINAR – Mastering Executive Branding: Building Your Professional Image
Join me on April 11th, 2023 at 10 AM PST for an exclusive webinar with Martin Rowinski: “Mastering Executive Branding: Building Your Professional Image”! Discover the power of personal branding to enhance your leadership presence and career growth. Limited space is available, so register today to secure your spot! 🔗 [REGISTER] #ExecutiveBranding #Leadership #CareerGrowth
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_j4pRoxrSSBaUa2inHhEGdQ
The Power of Co-Authoring: Boosting Your Image, Thought Leadership, and Executive Branding
How Becoming a Co-Author Can Elevate Your Professional Status and Expand Your Influence
When you’re asked to co-write a book, it’s a great chance to show off your skills, improve your professional image, and become known as a thought leader in your field. The fact that co-authoring is a group effort not only makes learning more interesting, but it could also have a big effect on your executive brand. In this article, we explore the benefits of being a co-author and how it can elevate your professional standing.
The Benefits of Co-Authoring a Book
Enhancing Your Professional Image
Co-authoring a book is a testament to your knowledge, experience, and capabilities. By having your name on the cover of a published work, you demonstrate your commitment to your field and your ability to contribute valuable insights. This can help you gain credibility, respect, and recognition from your peers and other industry professionals.
Establishing Thought Leadership
As a co-author, you have the opportunity to share your unique perspectives, ideas, and solutions with a broader audience. By showcasing your innovative thinking and subject-matter expertise, you position yourself as a thought leader in your industry. This can make you more known, get you asked to speak at conferences or other events, or give you the chance to write for other publications.
Expanding Your Network
Collaborating with a co-author allows you to tap into their professional network, which can lead to new connections, partnerships, and opportunities. Your published work can also get the attention of other leaders in your field, which can lead to future collaborations and help you grow professionally.
Strengthening Your Executive Branding
To move up in your career and become known as a leader in your field, you need a strong executive brand. Co-authoring a book can be a powerful addition to your executive branding toolkit because it shows off your expertise and solidifies your position as an expert in your field.
Developing New Skills and Knowledge
The process of co-authoring a book can be a transformative learning experience. Working closely with another expert allows you to gain new perspectives, hone your writing skills, and deepen your understanding of your subject matter. This personal and professional growth can have a lasting impact on your career.
How to Make the Most of Your Co-Authoring Opportunity
Choose the Right Co-Author and Topic
To get the most out of co-writing, it’s important to work with someone who shares your values, work ethic, and interest in the topic. Also, pick a topic that fits with your area of expertise and your professional goals to make sure the book is a good addition to your portfolio.
Create a Structured Plan
Develop a clear plan for the book, including an outline, deadlines, and division of responsibilities. This will help ensure smooth collaboration and the timely completion of the project.
Promote the Book
Use your professional networks and social media to promote the book and share the most important things you learned from working together. By interacting with your audience, you can show that you are a leader in your field and grow your influence.
Being asked to co-write a book is a unique chance that can help your professional image, thought leadership, and executive branding in a big way. By working with others and making the most of the experience, you can move up in your career and become a leader in your field.
If You Want to Be a Good Leader, Understand The Link Between Business Values and Leadership
Let’s look at two different lessons about leadership and corporate values:
In 1982, Johnson and Johnson (J&J) discovered that someone had contaminated their Tylenol Extra Strength capsules in at least half a dozen Chicago pharmacies and grocery stores. Because of their corporate values committed to public safety, J&J leadership responded immediately: warned customers to stop consuming it, halted advertising and removed all Tylenol from store shelves until they could determine the extent of the tampering.
In 2010, the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig platform exploded, and its owner, British Petroleum (BP), realized it had a leak. Company officials first reported the leak volume was low, but when the rig sunk days later and eleven workers died, investigations into BP’s practices found they took shortcuts, cut corners and ignored early warning signs. Its leadership was dishonest from the get-go, and to recover, the company had to revisit and update its corporate values.
Business values are the guiding principles that shape an organization’s culture and inform its decisions and actions. Good leadership, in turn, is essential for aligning an organization’s actions with its values and creating a positive and productive culture.
Read the full article, and click the logo below:
5 Ways to Start Your Week Off on the Right Foot: Tips for a Productive and Positive Monday Morning
The first day of the week may be challenging for many people, particularly if they are still exhausted from the previous weekend or are dreading the length of the week to come. Yet getting off to a good start at the beginning of the week can help set the tone for the rest of the days of the week, providing you with the energy and enthusiasm to attack your to-do list and accomplish your objectives. Here are five suggestions for making Monday mornings more fruitful and uplifting:
Spend some time in advance planning out your week, either before you leave the office on Friday or before the conclusion of your workweek on Sunday. Create a list of the things that are most important to you, set up any necessary appointments or deadlines, and clean up your inbox of any pressing messages. Having a strategy in place for the week will help you feel less overwhelmed and more in control of the situation.
It is quite difficult to feel inspired on a Monday morning if you are sleepy or sleep-deprived, so make sure you have a decent night’s sleep. Try to get between 7 and 9 hours of sleep every night, and create a routine that you follow every night before bed so that your body learns when it is time to start winding down.
Executive branding: LinkedIn Profile, how is yours?
LinkedIn is a great way for professionals to show potential employers, clients, and peers their skills, experience, and accomplishments.
When companies are looking to fill a Board of Directors or Board of Advisors position, they often turn to LinkedIn as a research tool to identify potential candidates. Because of this, it’s important for professionals to have a polished, up-to-date LinkedIn profile that shows off their skills and accomplishments.
One of the first things that companies may look for when researching a candidate is their profile picture. A professional headshot can help you make a good first impression and show that you are professional and pay attention to details. It’s also important to make sure that your profile is complete, with a detailed work history and a summary that shows off your skills and experience.
In addition to having a well-crafted profile, it’s important to use LinkedIn as a platform to brand yourself as an expert in your industry. This could include sharing thought leadership content, participating in industry discussions, and engaging with others in your network. By showing off your skills and knowledge, you can make yourself more visible and more credible as a possible candidate for a board position.
When companies are researching candidates for board positions, they may also look for evidence of a candidate’s ability to work collaboratively and constructively with others. This could involve looking at endorsements or recommendations from other people in the industry or looking at the candidate’s activity on the platform to see how they interact with people in their network.
Click the LEADAFI logo to read the article
Executive Branding
Executive branding is becoming increasingly important in today’s competitive business landscape. It’s no longer enough for executives to simply have impressive resumes and accomplishments – they also need to be able to communicate their personal brand and unique value proposition to their target audience.
Here are some key reasons why executive branding is so important:
Establishing credibility and trust
In today’s fast-paced business environment, credibility and trust are essential for success. By developing a strong personal brand, executives can establish themselves as experts in their field, which can increase their credibility and the trust that others have in them. This can lead to better relationships with stakeholders, improved partnerships, and increased sales.
Attracting top talent
The success of any organization depends on the talent of its employees. Strong executive branding can help attract top talent to the organization, as candidates are often drawn to companies with strong leaders. This can help the organization build a team of high-performing employees who are committed to achieving the company’s goals.
Improving company reputation
An executive’s personal brand can have a significant impact on the overall reputation of the company. When an executive has a strong personal brand, it can improve the perception of the company in the eyes of customers, investors, and other stakeholders. This can lead to increased sales, improved partnerships, and better relationships with stakeholders.
Increasing thought leadership
Executive branding can help position the executive as a thought leader in their industry. By sharing their insights and expertise through blogs, articles, and speaking engagements, executives can establish themselves as experts in their field. This can lead to increased media coverage, speaking engagements, and other opportunities to share their insights.
Differentiating from competitors
In today’s crowded marketplace, it’s important for companies to differentiate themselves from their competitors. A strong executive brand can help differentiate the executive and their company from competitors in the industry. This can help attract customers and investors who are looking for something unique.
In summary, executive branding is an essential tool for executives who want to establish their reputation, build trust, attract top talent, improve company reputation, increase thought leadership, and differentiate themselves from their competitors. By developing a strong personal brand, executives can position themselves and their company for success in today’s competitive business environment.
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