In competitive workplaces like pharma and tech, doing a great job is no longer enough to get noticed, promoted, or remembered. If you want to build real momentum in your career, you need something more: a personal brand.
Most people associate personal branding with influencers and entrepreneurs. But nowadays, a strong personal brand isn’t just for those outside the corporate world – it’s a vital tool for anyone navigating complex organisations, influencing without authority, or positioning themselves for leadership. When done well, it enhances your leadership presence, builds trust, and ensures you’re not overlooked when opportunities arise.
“Having a personality, becoming known in your company, or being renowned for doing something excellently will often hold the key to many a new door.”
– Emma Maslen, European CEO¹
This article explores how to build your brand authentically – and use it to drive internal influence and career growth.
So, What Is a Personal Brand?
According to Professor Helen Edwards at London Business School², a brand is a combination of product/service + values + associations. It creates meaning that’s distinctive, motivating, and ownable.
Even though you’re not a product, you can build a compelling professional identity using this formula.
Personal brand = your expertise + your values + your impact
Think of how trusted brands like Lego or Apple communicate a clear mission, stay relevant, and stand out. You can do the same by defining and growing your internal brand over time – starting with the following five proven principles.
Five Core Principles for Building Your Personal Brand
What do you want to be known for?
When you have a clear point of view, your leadership presence becomes more consistent and powerful.
Example: Lego’s mission is “to inspire and develop the builders of tomorrow.” What’s yours?
What you can do:
- What kind of work lights you up?
- What do people always come to you for?
- What value do you add that’s hard to replicate?
Evolve to stay relevant
Lifelong learning is the key to longevity – in branding and in business. This adaptability is what keeps your brand future-fit.
Example: Red Bull hasn’t changed its mission in 25+ years but constantly evolves how it communicates. Likewise, your personal brand needs a strong core and fresh edges.
What you can do:
- Stay up to date in your sector
- Share your perspective on industry change
- Learn, adapt, and position yourself as a thinking practitioner – not a static expert
Create Brand Codes (yes, really)
These patterns become memorable assets – associations that stick. Your brand is not just what you do, but how you consistently do it.
Example: Steve Jobs’ black turtleneck and jeans, Anna Wintour’s sharp bob and sunglasses, and Mark Zuckerberg’s grey hoodie are all examples of personal brand codes – distinctive, consistent style choices that visually reinforce their leadership identity and make them instantly recognisable.
What you can do: It may feel trivial, but what Professor Edwards calls “brand codes” matter.
- Always the first to arrive at meetings?
- Known for sharp data insights?
- Dress in a distinctive way?
- Always follow up with thoughtful summaries?
Communicate like a brand would
Great brands use communication to drive engagement. You should too.
Example: “Everything communicates – even your coffee order,” says Edwards. The way you treat people, how you collaborate, even whether you turn your camera on – it’s all part of your brand.
What you can do: Start small:
- Share relevant articles on LinkedIn, with your thoughts added
- Reflect on a project win and credit your team
- Speak up in meetings with clarity and confidence
Measure Progress and course-correct
Your personal branding journey isn’t linear. It’s a process of growth, correction, and refinement.
Example: Nike, Apple and Lego all have missteps – but they track their performance and adjust. You can too.
What you can do:
- Ask for feedback from trusted peers or mentors
- Reflect on how people introduce you to others
- Notice which projects or conversations energise you – and which don’t
Just like individuals, every team already has a brand – it’s how others perceive your performance, reliability, and reputation across the organisation. In virtual workplaces, where spontaneous visibility is limited, being intentional about your team brand is just as important as managing your personal brand. A strong team brand can open doors to strategic projects, attract high-level support, and elevate every team member’s influence and visibility. You can find out more about this in our Team Brand Building article, which explores how to consciously shape your collective identity and ensure your team stands out for the right reasons – even when working remotely.
How to Define Your Personal Brand
According to the Harvard Business Review³ you need to identify three things:
- Your uniqueness – your intersectional identity, background, culture, life experience
- Your values – the causes or challenges that matter to you
- Your contributions – your core skills, strengths or specialist knowledge
For Example: “I’m a woman in tech, passionate about inclusion, with a global background. I mentor others and lead with empathy. That’s my brand foundation.”
Don’t worry if you’re not an expert yet. That’s absolutely fine. Building a professional personal brand is about growth, not perfection. You already have something valuable to contribute – the key is to identify what that is, offer what you can today, and commit to developing your expertise over time. And remember, your focus can evolve as you do. If you are unsure where to start, our coaching and mentoring services will help you develop your personal brand and build organisational influence.
Here are some practical ways to start building your personal brand. Remember – you’re never “too busy” for this. Once it becomes part of your daily work rhythm, it starts to feel natural, and your brand will grow steadily from there.
Aligning Your Brand with Strategic Work
To truly embed your personal brand within your organisation, align it with meaningful, high-impact work. This isn’t about adding more to your plate – it’s about being intentional with where and how you contribute.
Start by looking for projects, initiatives, or priorities that reflect your values, strengths, and purpose. These are the opportunities where your contribution will feel most authentic and where your brand will naturally shine.
For example: You could volunteer to launch a working group focused on digital inclusion – a cause that not only aligns with your values but also reinforces your identity as someone who champions equity and innovation.
In larger organisations, explore cross-functional projects, DEI initiatives, ESG reporting, or learning and development programmes. Many of these align with corporate priorities and need passionate contributors.
When your brand is linked to strategic work, you gain visibility beyond your immediate team, build a reputation for initiative and alignment with business goals, and position yourself as someone who adds value where it matters most.
Building a Network Around Your Brand
Your personal brand doesn’t grow in isolation – it’s strengthened through relationships, collaboration, and shared purpose. When you connect with others who care about the same things, you gain fresh perspectives, build credibility, and open the door to new opportunities. These connections not only reinforce your brand but help it spread organically across your organisation.
Here’s how to start:
- Join ERGs or working groups aligned with your values and interests
- Set up a virtual coffee with someone whose work you admire
- Share internal content that reflects your brand and sparks conversation
- Host a ‘lunch and learn’ to bring together like-minded colleagues
A strong network amplifies your voice, supports your growth, and positions you as a visible contributor – not just within your team, but across the business.
Sharing Your Voice Consistently
You don’t need to go viral – just be visible. Set aside an hour at the end of your day or week (or whenever suits you best) to focus on content creation. Start simple: share articles or news that align with your personal brand on platforms like LinkedIn or X. Don’t just reshare – add your own perspective. With practice, you’ll grow more confident expressing your ideas and may even be inspired to create original posts, thought pieces, or videos.
- Start with comments and reposts
- Share updates on your work or learnings
- Build toward writing blogs, speaking at events or mentoring others
And remember: every meeting, email, or message is part of your brand story. If you’re looking to strengthen your influence at work, you might enjoy our related article on the 10 qualities of a good influencer.
Making It a Habit
Building a strong personal brand doesn’t require a massive overhaul – it requires consistency. The key is to integrate brand-building into your regular rhythm, just like you would any other high-value professional habit.
Block a small window of time each week (even just 30 minutes) to focus on your personal brand. This focused time ensures that your brand evolves intentionally and doesn’t get lost in the noise of your day-to-day work.
Use that time to:
Reflect on your brand evolution – What have you learned about yourself this week? What feedback did you receive? Have you acted in ways that support what you want to be known for?
Share a resource or insight – Post a relevant article, write a short LinkedIn comment, or share a useful piece of knowledge with your team. It keeps your voice active and aligned with your brand.
Review your goals – Are you still on track? Is your current work reinforcing your brand? Are there new opportunities to stretch and grow?
Your personal brand isn’t just what you say it is – it’s what others remember about you. And what they remember is shaped by small, repeated actions over time.
When you embed these brand-building moments into your week, it becomes second nature – not another task on your to-do list, but part of how you lead, show up, and grow every day.
Your leadership presence depends on visibility, credibility, and consistency – and personal branding unlocks all three.
Frequently Asked Questions About Personal Branding for Internal Influence
Own your Brand, Shape your Future
In today’s complex and competitive workplaces, your personal brand is your most powerful professional asset. It’s what helps you cut through the noise, influence without authority, and be remembered for the right reasons. Whether you’re in pharma, tech, or any fast-paced industry, building your brand intentionally – through your values, communication, and contribution – positions you for greater visibility, opportunity, and long-term success.
Remember: your brand isn’t a one-time project. It’s an evolving reflection of who you are, how you show up, and the impact you make. By aligning it with meaningful work, sharing your voice consistently, and connecting with others who value what you stand for, you not only grow your influence – you create a career narrative that’s authentic, strategic, and uniquely yours.