BrandTheChange.org

We received the very sad news that BTC alumna Veronica Fossa passed away. She had been sick for some time but we all remained hopeful that she would recover. Sadly, we have to say our goodbyes to this beautiful soul way too soon. Veronica was part of the BTC community for years, as a facilitator, a student, and a friend. She was warm, clever, curious, and gracious. She took a deep interest in other people and had an uncanny knack for bringing them together. Her illness was not her first dance with misfortune. During COVID, Veronica had to close her company WE factory. Sadly, a service that was built on gathering people in the workplace around food could not survive the pandemic. She wasn't bitter, she grieved and moved on. She rebuilt her practice, still strongly rooted in her deep sense of purpose of gathering, and relaunched it in 2021. A beautiful new personal brand that reflected her unique spirit, and a gorgeous website, built in collaboration with her brother, was launched. Shortly after, she discovered she was ill. She was resilient and optimistic throughout. Even after undergoing a first round of incredibly invasive surgery and treatment, she hosted a session to prototype her new workshop with the Brand The Change community online. She later confided in us that she felt a little rusty, but that it was good to get back to work. We were so impressed. Sadly, that was the last time she was able to host for us. Losing Veronica made us once again realize how precious life is and how we can never ever take it for granted. Veronica made us see how we are all connected, and that we are better together. We will keep that with us always. We will be sharing some memories of Veronica with her family. If you have a memory of Veronica that you would like us to share, feel free to comment here or send it to hello@brandthechange.org PS: We interviewed Veronica two years ago - find the interview here: https://lnkd.in/ge7a8xsH

People of substance don't need personal brands. Their work will speak for them 🤔 Right? ❌  Wrong! Research has shown that our accomplishments do not speak for themselves. If you want to make a difference in the world through your work: …you have to be able to articulate what you do and why it matters, …you have to understand your audience, …and you have to find a way to get in front of them. Take a look at some of the amazing community members who took our Personal Brand Challenge in the past 👨🏽🚒🤵👩🏽✈️ 👩🏻🎨 1️⃣ At fifty, Dr Carlos Saba wears multiple hats: co-founder of the Happy Startup School, facilitator of their Vision 20/20 program, host of retreats like Alptitude and the Happy Startup School Summer Camp, and the Happy Pricing podcast. He joined the Personal Brand Challenge to spread the word about his new journey.   2️⃣ How do you build a personal brand as a brand professional? It's tricky. Carole Haine faced this struggle too. Having a peer group can support you to gain that clarity and confidence. She joined the personal brand challenge for that support. Now, she describes herself as a brand Architect, helping companies develop a strong digital identity. 3️⃣ Think knitters are just sweet old ladies sipping tea and petting cats? Think again. Saskia is building Ja Wol, a community that supports conscious crafters and small businesses in the textile craft industry. They loved the conversation about the line "Fuck Fast Fashion."  She joined the Personal Brand challenge to get clarity on her fashion revolution. 4️⃣ There is a Dutch saying: "het meervoud van kennis is kennissen" - the plural of knowledge is acquaintances. Peter Mandeno understands this well. He helps organizations harness the power of human connections using behavioural science and practical tools. He joined the personal brand challenge for support to spread the word about his work. THE NEXT PERSONAL BRAND CHALLENGE KICKS OFF THIS SEPTEMBER Application deadline: September 13, 2024. Will you invest a few hours a week to build a profile that will take your career to the next level? JOIN THE CHALLENGE 👉🏽 https://lnkd.in/dYTK58Xa

Do you need some support to get your professional profile in shape? Maja Grcic and Wanjiru Gathanga will run a third edition of our 6-week program this September. It's designed for busy professionals who want the support and accountability to get it right. Is this you? 🧠 You believe in substance over style 😐 Your current professional profile and presence don't do you justice 😨 You break out in a cold sweat every time you open LinkedIn 😱 "What do you do?" is a question you dread. You need to do a lot of explaining to get a foot in the door. ⏰ You want to make time for your personal brand but it always sinks to the bottom of your to-do list 👩🚀 You want a process, feedback, and friendly support to get it done without breaking the bank Then you're one of us! Sign up for our Personal Brand Challenge this September: https://lnkd.in/dYTK58Xa

🌈 Maybe you are proud of who you are... But are you comfortable telling people about your professional achievements? Research shows that... • people's perception of your professional competency is influenced by bias • your culture plays a huge part in how you think about self-promotion • accomplishments do not speak for themselves Don't stop at being proud - make sure you get the professional opportunities you've earned with your expertise and experience! Join our free #IAmRemarkable workshop this Friday. Learn from Wanjiru Gathanga... • how cultural bias and culture influence our relationship with self-promotion • how to get more comfortable with talking about your achievements • and give it a go in a kind supportive group of people Sign up: https://lnkd.in/gZP_NxAi This is a special pride edition where we will talk about the challenges of perception and self-promotion for LGBTQ+ folks, but the theory applies to anyone. Feel welcome to join now matter how you identify. #pride

Many changemakers and professionals working in the impact space struggle to clearly articulate what they do. This was no different in this third edition of the Personal Branding Challenge. This is where superstar guides like Maja Grcic & Wanjiru Gathanga and the power of peer support and feedback help participants clarify how they show up through their professional profiles. Our resounding message during the challenge is to be clear, specific and strategic about the following seemingly simple (yet not so simple, as our participants always discover) three questions succinctly: 🧑🏽🏭 What do you do? 👩🏻🦰 Who do you do it for? 💡 Why does it matter? If like them, you’re working to make a difference in the world, your personal brand is calling if you tick any (or all) of these boxes: ✅ your current professional profile doesn’t do you the justice you deserve ✅ you dread answering the question, “What do you do?” ✅ you break out in a cold sweat whenever you open your LinkedIn (you’ve been meaning to work on it, but you never really make the time to get to it) ✅ you would benefit from a structured process, feedback, and friendly support to get it done without breaking the bank ✅ you believe in substance over style This is the sign that it’s time to ditch the dread and make a mark through your personal brand! If you'd love to join us for the next challenge in Q4 of 2024, RSVPs are now open. Claim your spot today using the link in the comments. Congratulations to each of the 16 participants from this edition, for their courage and commitment to the challenge. And for supporting each other every step of the way as peers. We’ve seen great collaboration amongst the participants and we are proud to see them carry it on beyond the challenge! To brand yourself well is an act of courage 💪🏽 Join us to take the next Personal Branding Challenge. 🌐 Link to RSVP in the comments #PersonalBranding #BrandDevelopment #BrandTheChange #ImpactProfessionals

It took Yvon Chouinard, founder of Patagonia, 40+ years to get to "We're in business to save our home planet." So why are we expecting to get it done in a day? There is no one 5-word formula that works for all. It requires practice, testing, playing around, experimentation, and persistence. Could you use some help writing a better Purpose Statement? Next week Thursday the 25th of April, Anne Miltenburg is hosting a 90-minute workshop. She will guide you through three different creative exercises to help you write a better purpose statement. Come join us to have some fun, and ask Anne anything you've always wanted to know (about purpose, of course 😁 ). It's free for members. If you're not a member yet, this is the perfect time to join! https://lnkd.in/gRwCACkB

If you have not read anything by Anand Giridharadas, do it today. His work should be required reading for anyone working at the intersection of brand and social change. In an age of division, Giridharadas tells us how we can still come together in solidarity. His 2018 book, Winners Take All, (with the not-so-subtle subtitle 'the elite charade of changing the world'), explores the dynamics between philanthropy, capitalism, and social change. His latest, the Persuaders, is an insider account of activists, politicians, educators, and everyday citizens who are on the ground working to change minds, bridge divisions, and fight for democracy. Giridharadas is that rare person who can make sense of the times we live in, and challenge everything you believe in. You will love him for it. 🎁 🧠 Check out what he taught us on the blog. https://lnkd.in/gqngQxy7

"Culture eats strategy for breakfast" You can set a fantastic brand strategy, but if you don't have the right team to execute, you are not going to get anywhere. And it's not just about the skill set, or the mindset. It's about the values too. It's a complicated mix. Next week, Ángel Figueroa Mayordomo is teaching a masterclass on Team Culture for the Brand The Change community. Angel works with the founders of purpose driven companies like Meet Jack and MOYU | B Corp™ to get the brand and marketing strategy in place and design teams that can scale the business. 🎁 The session is free for members. *Not a member yet?* This is a great month to sign up! April features Angel's session plus a workshop on purpose by Anne Miltenburg. https://lnkd.in/g_mmgMw5

It's always amazing to see the faces of a new cohort light up the screen. Maja Grcic and Wanjiru Gathanga just kicked off the third cohort of our Personal Brand Challenge. Welcome Michelle, Florentine, Karen, Sarah, Haile, Adrienne, Julian, Rym, Marloes, Alvaro, Yitian, Cate, Natalie, Lauren, Dorothy, Victoire and Nadja! It takes courage to put yourself out there, so hats off to you 👏 We hope that we'll help you discover it's not as scary as it looks, and you CAN build your own brand on your own terms. We will be working hard to answer some seemingly simple questions together over the next few weeks: 🧑🏽🏭 What do you do? 👩🏻🦰 Who do you do it for? 💡 Why does it matter? Can't wait to find the answers with you. If you want to work on your personal brand on your terms, but you missed the cutoff, send us an email at hello@brandthechange.org and we will let you know when we launch a next cohort.

Do you want to... 🧔♀️ move with the times 🤸♂️ be flexible and inclusive while staying true to your values 🕺 make a cause fun and attractive 💏 build allyship at scale ❌ prevent pink/green/woke washing? You could learn a thing or two from Pride Amsterdam! New in our case study library: the history and analysis of the Pride Amsterdam brand. 32 pages full of behind-the-scenes information and ideas to fuel your imagination. What started as a small community event in Amsterdam has grown into a globally recognized multi-day festival that is embraced by people from all walks of life. It's not just a case study for queer brand builders. There is so much to learn here for ALL brand builders. Developed by Wanjiru Gathanga with a big thanks to Lucien Spee de Castillo Ruiz of Stichting Pride Amsterdam for the input and support. "We're proud of the community, and we're proud of this case too." Get your copy here: https://lnkd.in/gekS5wga