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Welcome to Jon Michail’s Personal Branding Masterclass. Jon is the founder and CEO of Image Group International, an award-winning image consulting and personal branding pioneer established in 1989. This podcast will bring you old-school wisdom, inspiring ideas, strategies, and hacks for the new tech world. Here, you will learn everything about personal branding: the system, the techniques, and the right mindset to have a successful personal brand, image, and reputation.

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Hi everybody, and welcome back to the show. I'm John Michael, and as always, I'm thrilled to have you with me here today. Now let's get real for a moment. If you're in the tech industry, you know, it's fiercely competitive. New talent is pouring in daily, fresh faces, new ideas, and, of course, hungry professionals ready to make their mark. And of course, that's not going to stop anytime soon, with AI and the constant media attention on tech, tech, tech. So how do you stand out in a crowd, moving at the speed of light? Well, the answer might not be simple, but it's definitely powerful build a personal brand that's distinct, memorable and authentic to you, and today I'm going to take this opportunity to break down exactly how to do that. So whether you're an experienced leader, a coder, a rising UX designer, or just stepping into the world of AI, this episode is for you. So let's discuss some action, actionable strategies that will not only help you survive, but thrive by building a personal brand that demands attention for the right reasons. Okay, let's keep this off by getting crystal clear on something fundamental, identifying your unique value proposition that, at times, is so cliche, but the reality is, that's what's going to make you different from the perspective of how you're going to stand out. So the question is, so what makes you different in a sea of tech professionals, you need to ask yourself, What's my unique selling proposition or value proposition? Whichever one works better for you, what do I bring to the table that's not just valuable, but uniquely mine? Some originality really helps here, for instance, let's look at some data. A 2021 study by McKinsey found that 58% of professionals who are known for a specialized skill set within tech were able to leverage that into high pay and better job opportunities, compared to their peers who marketed themselves as generalists. However, there is also this option to consider, why not? Aim to be a specialist, generalist, whatever your superpower is, use it. So let's say you're a cyber security expert and you're already have a passion for educating others about staying safe online. That could be your edge. You're not just a techie, then you're also a teacher, communicator. And guess what? There are companies and clients out there who need exactly that combination of skills. The takeaway in this is this, once you identify what sets you apart, make sure it's everywhere. Don't be shy. Update your LinkedIn bio, your personal website, your Twitter handle, and, of course, your resume let people know what makes you distinct. And remember, don't be afraid to promote it, because how else will people find out about your uniqueness? 

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The second step is building your personal brand by showcasing your expertise in tech, quality content within context, by the way, is king. Creating your own content not only establishes you as a thought leader, but positions you as somebody who contributes the industry conversation, not just follows it. And of course, I would say that's a sign of leadership, whether it's writing quality blogs, sharing technical insights on LinkedIn, or doing at your training as tutorials, putting your voice out there matters. According to HubSpot, marketers who prioritize blogging and content creation, see 13 times more positive return on investment the same time. It's also true for personal branding, the more value you provide by solving issues, problems, challenges that your clients specifically have got, the more relevance and authority you build. And a few easy ways to do this is, for instance, write a medium article about the future of cloud computing, AI, so you can set that up, obviously, and create an audience around that. And of course, if you become really good at it, you could monetize it. Start A Podcast just like this one, create a series of LinkedIn posts showcasing case studies and best practices from your project. Is, you know, results driven is the intention here? And here's my pro reminder, don't be afraid to share your learning process, even your failures. And remember vulnerability has power when it's used strategically, I would say, as opposed to just sharing your dirty laundry on a Facebook page. That's not what we mean by vulnerability. So people resonate with authenticity. We've spoken about this many, many times, and of course, that's not going to go away, because authenticity is such an important concept in today's world, because then we've, as we've mentioned before, for context, you've got all sorts of misinformation, disinformation, and of course, Mal information going on that's created serious trust issues, not only on the online world, but of course, that's starting to be reflected in the offline world. But remember this, no one's perfect, and in the tech world, everyone's learning at breakneck speed, so showcasing your growth makes you relatable and human.

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Alright, next up, engage also on selected social media and speak at events. You can't be, you know, too shy about this. The reality is, even if you are you gotta step out and basically step up to a platform that will hear your voice. And here's the reality, being a ghost online, one, do you any favors? And this is common in the tech industry, where you get a lot of techies that hide behind the scenes, and it's okay. They get very comfortable in their job, and I've had a lot of clients like that. I can promise you this, that's not how to excel. Mastery is not about hiding under a rock at times. Yes, you got to put yourself out there. What that means is, at times, you might get criticized. Who cares? Big deal. The reality is, you're giving it your best shot out there. You're growing, you're evolving, and at times you might make a mistake. No big deal at all. I mean that from the perspective of growth, making mistakes part of the territory. So tech is an industry that, of course, thrives on community and platforms like LinkedIn, X and even, of course, GitHub and a lot of others as well, offer immense value for expanding your personal brand. What that means is you want to hang out, also where you want to hang out, but also potentially where your industry colleagues might hang out. When you engage on social media, you're also contributing to ongoing conversations, of course, when it's done smartly so comment on posts, share insights and connect with industry peers. That's a great way to build your community. But it also goes further than that. Get involved in tech events, whether as a speaker or a panelist. Conferences like Web Summit or TechCrunch Disrupt offer fantastic opportunities to network, share knowledge and get your name out there. Remember your name is your brand, and your brand also, of course, is a part of your reputation. So quick stat for you, 88% and this is 88% of professionals believe attending in person events directly translated to better business relationships. This is essential to really understand that you cannot build, you know, super hot relationships just on Zoom, contrary to the nonsense we've been told people specifically trust real people. So if whatever happens in the future, even if you're dealing with a robot, that's just a process in getting the job done, as opposed to building authentic relationships. So do what you can to go out there and meet people face to face. Of course, conferences, events and so on, is very good for that. And if you're a little bit shy about that, remember, it's not a big deal. I've been there as well. So of course, if you can land the speaking gig, though, it elevates your status as an expert in your niche, and possibly also over a period of time, your bank account. So now let's talk also about the power of strategic networking that we've spoken about numerous times in other episodes, but I'm just going to remind you this is for the tech industry. In tech, you know people, but this is what really matters, who you know and who knows you can be just as important at what you know. Okay, so really understand that having connections matters more so than your skills. I can't stress that enough, and this is not only for tech, but it's for any industry. Your skills will only take you to some sort of level. It's the rest that's going to make the difference, and that's connections, and that's the same right around the world, right across every culture. It's just the way it is. Of course, we at times that's under play or mentioned as a side issue, no, for me.

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It's the most important there is give me somebody that's highly connected above skills, and I'm sure we'll get some interesting deals done, and that's the key here. So networks matter now, don't get me wrong, though, having the skills and knowledge is essential, so I take that for granted. You gotta have that. But relationships can open doors you didn't even know it existed. It might sound a bit like contradiction, but the reality is, of course, if you've got both, or you've got the whole package, then I would say you're cooking with gas. So think about it this way, who are the key players in your industry that you'd like to connect with? What steps can you take to build those relationships, it could be as simple as sending a thoughtful message on LinkedIn, or as complex as attending, of course, the same industry events that I've already noted to strike up a conversation. Now, for a quick reminder from a LinkedIn study, 85% of all jobs are filled through networking, not job postings, so start making those connections count. It sort of backs up what I said a little bit earlier. Now, the tech world doesn't stay still, as we know. It's constant revolution. It's changing by the moment. That's why it's hilarious when I get university students visit me with the latest tech skills that were out of fashion 12 months ago. So it's you're really going to be connected here with industry players and, of course, hopefully some mentors along the way that I'll talk about in a second. So today, AI, of course, is making waves. You know that, but tomorrow might be quantum computing. The point is, you have to stay ahead of the curve. So how do you do that well through continuous learning. And when I talk about continuous learning, and I'm just going to say it once here, sometimes continuous learning means continuous also unlearning. Okay, because sometimes the things we have learned along the way are not supporting us anymore. But I'll hold that off for another episode. So here are a few ways to make sure your skills stay sharp. Platforms like Udemy Coursera and LinkedIn learning offer everything from cloud architecture to machine learning. Now these are basic courses of course. There's more specialized courses, and that's something for you to look for in your specific field. But consider also, again, basic certifications in demand areas like AWS or Azula or Google Cloud, for example. I mentioned before about finding a mentor. Well, definitely find a mentor who's further along the path you want to take. And the study, again by LinkedIn, shows that 62% of tech professionals who invested in continuous learning, reported higher job satisfaction and career advancement. The key takeaway is this, never stop learning. It's a joyful lifelong activity. If you love it and you're practicing mastery, so if you're practicing mastery, you would love learning, then it's not a burden. In my experience, a lot of people that hate to learn something is because, generally, they're in potentially a position that I love, and need to do it just so they can sort of upgrade their skills. But if there's no love in it, obviously you're not it could come across as a burden. So I prefer to learn things that I love at the same time. Sometimes you gotta be challenged by learning some things you don't love so much because it's an important part of your career direction. 

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So let me share a quick story about one of my clients, Jenny, who works in AI and data science. When Jenny came to me, she had exceptional technical skills, but her personal brand was non existent. She was a ghost. She was an introvert and in the constantly her head, and that's fairly common, Jenny was getting overlooked for the top projects because she wasn't visible. We worked through it together to craft a personal brand around her core value and making AI more ethical and transparent. So that was part of the conversation and her positioning, we re defined, really, actually, re invented her LinkedIn profile. Started a blog where she shared insights on AI ethics and positioned her as a go to speaker at Tech panels. Within six months, Jenny was invited to speak a major AI conferences, including one in Dubai, and she secured a leadership role in that at a top AI firm. It's not the video, but it's very close. So what changed, visibility, consistency and an ability to market herself and with her help position herself as a leader with a unique perspective, by the way, she also earned more money. And this is important here, because, of course, your company is not going to teach you how to go out there and ask for more money from the company. They're just not going to do that. So you've got to take this on as part of your personal development and your career growth. How you're going to. Do that if that's important to you, and money is important from the perspective that, of course, you needed to pay your bills, right? So you can't disrespect it from that perspective. But here's the bottom line, if you want to stand out as a tech professional, you need to combine self awareness, this is number one, continuous learning and strategic networking with a well crafted personal brand. It's not enough, like I mentioned previously, to be good at your job, you've got to be known for what you do best, obviously, and what you do differently. So remember, identify your unique value, showcase your expertise and engage in meaningful relationship building to stay ahead of the curve, and of course, do that by constantly learning. So my experience that's a healthy recipe for Long Term Life and career balance, and of course, success in the tech industry. If you enjoyed today's episode, please subscribe and leave a review. I love hearing your feedback, including questions you might have from today, that of course, I can cover in my next episode. And let's keep the conversation going. Connect with me on Twitter, or X, as Jon_Michail, my LinkedIn is Jon Michail, and you can find me as Image Group International on Facebook. Or visit our website, imagegroup.com.au, for more resources, if you need our help to build and elevate your personal brand, please email patricia@image group.com.au until next time, keep on pushing the boundaries of your career and make your unique brand shine. I wish you all the best. And of course, till next time.

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Jon Michail’s Personal Branding Masterclass Podcast is sponsored by Image Group International, a global team of practical, digitally savvy personal brand and image strategists based in Australia, committed to maximizing your impact, influence, and authority in the business world. To learn more and apply for personal coaching, seminars, and group workshops, please visit imagegroup.com.au or call 1800 631 311.