Your Personal Brand: Why It Matters Even When you work for someone else

From the age of 14, my career path has been a mosaic of work experience, volunteering, and corporate placements. While the job titles shifted, one lesson remained constant: Never put yourself in a box.

Early on, I realised how easy it is to adopt labels like "just the volunteer" or "only a student." But those labels are cages. If you treat yourself like a temporary fixture, others will too. You have to start taking up space long before you think you are "qualified" to do so.

The Corridor vs. The Staff Room

I learnt this lesson the hard way during high school. On Wednesday afternoons, my school allowed us to finish early if we volunteered. I chose to go back to my old primary school. During lunch, the other girls and I were told to sit in the corridor with our packed lunches because we weren't allowed in the staff room.

Even then, that didn't feel right to me. It was a physical manifestation of staying small. As I grew older, I made a conscious choice never to sit in that metaphorical corridor again. I didn't wait for permission to belong. I showed up with a level of curiosity that forced people to see me as a teammate rather than just an assistant.

Pushing Into the "Right Rooms"

Despite being naturally anxious, I developed a hunger for connecting with people at every level. I refused to see a divide between junior staff and leadership. Instead, I pushed myself into the rooms where the CEOs and founders were.

I approached them as real human beings. What I discovered was transformative: most leaders were once in my shoes. By being eager to learn and suggesting ideas, I became memorable. When you connect with leadership, you aren't just a name on a payroll. You are a face and a voice they remember when opportunities arise.

Branding as a Subconscious Strategy

Looking back, I didn't realise I was building a brand at the time. But in reality, I was strategically managing how I was perceived. Your personal brand is the reputation that precedes you. You don't have to own the company to own your presence within it. By refusing to stay small, you ensure that when the right rooms open up, you are already invited in.

Ready to stop sitting in the corridor and finally take your seat at the table? If you are tired of playing small and you’re ready to build a brand that is as bold and unapologetic as you are, let’s talk. My "YOU Method" is designed to close the gap between your inner expertise and your outer expression so you can become truly magnetic to your ideal clients. Click the link below to book a discovery call and let’s start taking up more space together.