The debate around Personal Branding vs. Organisational Branding continues to gain momentum, and I believe all of the noise makes it hard to decipher where to best focus your efforts… so here’s another opinion piece for you to take (or leave). We are now living in an attention economy, a relentless scramble for eyeballs. Yes, personal branding is a vital tool, adding more strings to your bow. But without a crystal-clear message, you’re just another voice in the echo chamber. In a world of constant content, a muddled brand message can be easily lost.
Are you a thought leader, a consultant, a student, or a consumer?
Without clarity, you’re none of the above.
Let’s begin to cut through the fog…
Put simply, I believe a personal brand should be no more than an amplification of your core beliefs, style, and communication. Think of it as your “authentic self”, turned up a notch. Keep it simple: focus on a few of your genuine values, develop a consistent visual and verbal style, and articulate your message concisely. Don’t try to be someone you’re not; being you is your superpower!
On the flip side, an organisational brand acts as a “goal” for a group to strive towards, a guiding star if you will. It’s about collective action in service of a shared mission. Again, simplicity is key. Define a singular, unifying purpose, create a consistent brand identity that everyone understands, and simplify the customer experience.
A company's employees, when empowered to build their own personal brands, can become powerful brand ambassadors, so long as their values are aligned with the company's. The personal brand acts as a human face for the organisational brand.
Here’s the thing: branding, at its core, is perception management. Whether you’re building a personal or organisational brand, simplicity is non-negotiable. In a world of information overload, a clear, concise, and consistent brand is a beacon of trust. Think of it like a well-designed app. You don't want a cluttered interface, you want something intuitive. The same applies to a brand.
So, in 2025, where do we go from here? We focus on clarity, consistency, and authentic representation. We cut through the noise by being undeniably ourselves, or undeniably true to our core mission. And we remember that in a world of ever increasing complexity, the simplest message, is often the loudest.
KR, Jared
GM @ Rivyl
