I’ll never forget the day I met a young professional named Marcus* (not his real name) at a leadership conference.
Polished suit, Ivy League degree, impressive title, he introduced himself with the kind of resume that makes people nod approvingly.
But over coffee, when I asked, “So, tell me about yourself. Beyond all the job title and accolades, who are you?”, there was a long pause.
He blinked. Fidgeted. Smiled nervously. Then he admitted, “I’ve never really thought about that. I’ve always just… led with what I do and where I work.”
Marcus is just one example.
We’ve been conditioned to believe that our personal brand is the label on our business card, the logo on our email signature, or the school name we drop in LinkedIn bios, or the job roles we currently occupy.
I too suffered the same affliction.
But here’s the rub: Your personal brand is not your job title or role. It’s not the company you work for or the university you attended, no matter how elite.
Those are affiliations, not identity.
And while affiliations might open doors, they do not define you.
Because when the title disappears—when you resign, retire, get laid off, or simply outgrow the space—you don’t take the brand name with you.
What you do take is your reputation.
Your presence, skills and the emotional imprint you leave behind. That is your true personal brand, something no employer or institution can assign.
When I left my job as a professor in Australia, our department secretary exclaimed “now, who is going to be the fashionista around here?”.
Another colleague said: “I'm about to lose all my Jamaican words” (she was busy trying to learn how to speak Jamaican patois)
Your brand lives in how people experience you:
Your values
Your personality
Your credibility
The problems you solve
The impact you create
So if you’ve been anchoring your worth in borrowed credibility, in some title or role, it’s time to shift.
Start here:
✔️ Define who you are.
✔️ Articulate the unique value you bring.
✔️ Lead with the brand that’s already yours.
Because job titles come and go.
Institutions change.
But you, especially when grounded in who you are, and your unique value, are unforgettable.
Did you jibe with this in any way?
I’d love to hear from you.
Thinking about your own personal brand.
Not sure where to begin?
Explore coaching with us. No pressure. Begin with a FREE 20 min consultation
Let's help at least begin the conversation to uncover, clarify, and elevate your personal brand, one that outlasts the titles.
Visit www.humejohnson.com
Share this post