Podcast Summary
From Political Science to Marketing: Embracing Unexpected Opportunities: Staying adaptable and taking advantage of opportunities can lead to success in marketing, even without a traditional background in the field.
Having a clear plan and being open to new opportunities can lead to unexpected success in marketing, even if you don't have a traditional background in the field. Isobel Cowell, the head of social at Koroga, shared her journey from studying political science and history in university to finding her passion in marketing through internships and hands-on experience. She initially planned to pursue a career in fashion, but soon discovered her talents in journalism and social media. Despite facing challenges in breaking into the industry, Isobel persisted and eventually landed a job in marketing five months after graduation. Her story highlights the importance of staying adaptable and taking advantage of opportunities, even if they don't initially align with your plans. Additionally, the Girls in Marketing podcast offers valuable resources and a supportive community for women looking to succeed in marketing.
Reach out directly to industry professionals for opportunities: Show genuine interest and make personal connections to build a network in the fashion industry, even without prior experience or connections.
Persistence and passion can lead to opportunities in the industry, even without prior work experience or connections. The speaker shared her experience of reaching out to editors of fashion magazines directly and getting responses, leading to paid internships at Vogue and Glamour. She emphasized the importance of showing genuine interest and connection to the specific company in communications, and encouraged listeners to not be discouraged by the competition for internships or jobs. Instead, she encouraged taking initiative and making personal connections with people in the industry to build a network.
Leveraging LinkedIn for Opportunities: Reach out to professionals, ask about roles or internships, and don't be discouraged by rejection. Personal branding can also lead to opportunities, but approach it as a learning journey.
Building connections and leveraging LinkedIn can open doors to opportunities, even without prior connections or experience in a desired industry. The speaker shares how reaching out to professionals from dream companies, asking about their roles or inquiring about internships, can lead to valuable connections and potential job opportunities. Rejection is not a failure, as it's just a step towards the next opportunity. Additionally, personal branding can be a powerful tool for growth, as the speaker shares her experience of transitioning from social media marketing to personal brand management through a combination of necessity and curiosity. The key is to approach personal branding as a learning journey rather than a quest for instant success or viral content.
Start small and share content related to your industry or interests: Building a personal brand doesn't require groundbreaking content or expertise. Share what you're passionate about and stay consistent to build a following.
Building a personal brand doesn't have to be intimidating or require groundbreaking content. According to the speaker, starting small and gradually sharing content related to your industry or interests can help you build a following. They suggest starting with a few facts about yourself or posting about a campaign or tip that resonates with you. Remember, you don't need to be an expert or break every rule to get started. The key is to have a reason for posting and to stay consistent. Imposter syndrome can be a barrier, but focusing on your goals and reminding yourself of your reasons for posting can help you overcome it. Remember, you don't have to be the world's expert or say something new every time you post. Just share what you're passionate about and why it matters to you.
Being authentic in personal branding: Authentic personal branding showcases who you truly are, not every detail of your life. It can help you stand out in the job market and is essential for professional growth.
Having a personal brand is important for professional growth, but it doesn't have to be overly personal or authentic in a contrived way. Being authentic means showcasing who you truly are, not sharing every detail of your life or pretending to be something you're not. Personal branding can help you stand out in the job market and even land jobs without traditional interviews. However, there's no need to start building your personal brand in college or university if you don't want to. It's essential to remember that personal branding requires effort but doesn't have to be an all-consuming task. You can make a strong impact by sharing your skills, experiences, and personality with your network occasionally. Ultimately, the key is to be genuine and consistent in your online presence.
Recognized as a LinkedIn Top Voice boosts confidence and opens opportunities: Building a strong personal brand online can lead to increased confidence, opportunities, and the ability to inspire and help others.
Building a personal brand, especially online, has become increasingly important in today's digital landscape. This was highlighted during the discussion when a young professional shared her experience of being recognized as a LinkedIn Top Voice, despite feeling like an imposter due to her relatively short experience in the industry. She expressed that receiving this recognition gave her a significant confidence boost and allowed her to make a positive impact on others through her online presence. The importance of personal branding extends beyond LinkedIn, as she plans to expand her reach through other platforms like TikTok and build a mailing list. Overall, the power of a strong personal brand should not be underestimated, as it can lead to increased confidence, opportunities, and the ability to inspire and help others.
Continuous growth and evolution in personal brand and niche: Through hard work and determination, expand your mission and overcome imposter syndrome by reflecting, seeking guidance, and focusing on team needs.
Personal brand and niche are not set in stone, and growth and evolution are essential. The speaker started her career as a young professional with a small community on LinkedIn, but through hard work and determination, she has since grown into a manager with a large following. She emphasizes the importance of showing people they can do more than they expect and expanding her mission beyond LinkedIn. Becoming a young leader came with its own challenges, including imposter syndrome and learning as you go. The speaker's experience highlights the importance of self-reflection, seeking guidance, and focusing on the needs of her team to overcome imposter syndrome and succeed in her role. Overall, the discussion emphasizes the importance of continuous growth, learning, and adaptation in both personal and professional development.
Recognition and support from others can help combat imposter syndrome: Recognition and support from others can boost confidence and combat imposter syndrome, fostering open and productive work environments. Managers should utilize team members' strengths, build relationships, and provide communication opportunities to ensure comfort and productivity.
Recognition and support from others can help combat imposter syndrome and boost confidence, even if it doesn't completely eliminate the feeling. Imposter syndrome can also drive us to improve and grow, as we're always striving to be better. As a manager, having the ability to recognize and utilize the strengths of team members, while also providing support and building relationships, is crucial for creating an open and productive work environment. Meetings and communication are essential components of a remote manager's role, and making an effort to foster connections with team members can help ensure they feel comfortable coming to you with any questions or concerns. Additionally, taking on various responsibilities, such as managing a team and running social media pages, can be challenging but rewarding, requiring a balance of leadership, communication, and adaptability.
Being present and supportive for your team: Effective young leaders prioritize team support, even during busy times, and foster positive work environments through relatability and openness.
Effective leadership involves being present and supportive for your team, even if it means dropping everything to help out during busy times or unexpected issues. This approach, often referred to as "firefighting," can be demanding and may require adjusting your priorities. However, it's essential for creating a strong support system, especially for younger team members who are new to the industry. As a young leader, being relatable and open about your own challenges can also foster a positive work environment. It's important to remember that all work, including meetings and social media engagement, should be accounted for in your schedule, and setting boundaries is crucial for maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Overall, being a young leader means bringing a unique perspective and energy to your company, and embracing the challenges that come with the role can lead to significant growth for both you and your team.
Young professionals' openness to change can lead to innovative ideas: Young professionals' recent experiences and openness to change can bring valuable insights and innovative ideas to their teams. Transparent communication and a collaborative work environment can help alleviate imposter syndrome and empower employees to share their ideas, regardless of experience level.
Young professionals, especially those in managerial roles, can provide valuable insights and connect with their team members more effectively due to their recent experiences and openness to change. This openness can lead to innovative ideas and a willingness to try new things, which can benefit the entire team. However, it's important for young professionals to remember that imposter syndrome can still affect them, as well as more experienced colleagues. Transparency and open communication between team members and managers can help alleviate feelings of imposter syndrome and create a collaborative work environment where everyone feels valued for their unique perspectives. Additionally, employees should feel empowered to share their ideas and concerns with their managers, regardless of their level of experience, as they can bring fresh ideas and insights to the table.
Recognizing and quieting the inner critic: To overcome imposter syndrome, focus on strengths, talk to others, and break down tasks into manageable steps while addressing underlying knowledge gaps and seeking advice.
Overcoming imposter syndrome involves both quieting the inner critical voice and taking action to address the root cause. When the little voice of self-doubt becomes loud, it's essential to recognize that everyone experiences imposter syndrome and that it's okay. To quiet the voice, focus on strengths, talk to others, and learn that it's a normal part of the experience. However, it's also crucial to address the underlying cause of the feelings. Breaking down big tasks into manageable steps, identifying knowledge gaps, and seeking advice from mentors or industry peers can help build confidence and provide a clear path forward. By focusing on actionable steps and addressing the root cause, the voice of self-doubt can be quieted, allowing individuals to thrive in their roles and reach their goals.
Focus on small actions each day to build a personal brand: Start small, comment on others' posts, create content, don't limit yourself to one platform or role, consistently improve, showcase unique voice and expertise, overcome imposter syndrome
Building a personal brand is not as daunting as it may seem. Start by focusing on small actions each day, such as commenting on others' posts or creating content on a platform you're comfortable with. Don't limit yourself to just one platform or role. Building a digital presence can open doors and create opportunities, even if you're not a founder. Remember, the goal is to consistently improve and showcase your unique voice and expertise. By taking small steps and focusing on growth, you can overcome imposter syndrome and build a strong personal brand.
