Building a Strong Personal Brand as a Founder

By Sharon Lee

Your personal brand matters.

Your personal brand as a founder can be just as important as the company you’re building.

Executives estimate that 44% of their company's market value is directly linked to the CEO's reputation, according to Weber Sandwick and 82% of people are more likely to trust a company when its senior executives are active on social media, per Entrepreneur.

It doesn’t matter if you are seeking investors, attracting talent, or landing customers, people want to know who you are.

A strong personal brand establishes credibility, communicates your values, and creates trust long before a sales pitch or investor deck ever comes into play.

Why Personal Branding Matters

When you're a founder, you are the face of the company.

That means your words, presence, and even your online activity sends signals about your leadership and your vision. Consider the likes of Whitney Wolfe Herd, Michael Dell, Oprah Winfrey – their personal brands complement and amplify the businesses they've built.

Investors back people, not just ideas. Customers often buy into the why before the what. And top-tier talent wants to work for leaders they believe in.

Start with Your Story

Your journey is your brand foundation.

What led you to build this company? What problem are you solving—and why do you care?

This is more than just your "About" section on LinkedIn – it’s a consistent narrative that should show up across your website, interviews, social content, and conversations.

Your authenticity is your superpower. A compelling story makes your mission relatable and memorable.

Share What You Know

Positioning yourself as a thought leader doesn’t mean pretending to have all the answers…

It means being generous with your expertise, honest about your lessons, and clear in your point of view.

Blog posts, podcasts, panels, LinkedIn posts, and tweets are all tools in your arsenal.

Choose platforms where your audience spends time and where you can consistently show up.

Talk about the challenges of startup life, the insights you’ve gained, or the future of your industry. Value-driven content builds authority.

Be Consistent Across Channels

A powerful personal brand is recognizable and consistent.

This doesn’t mean being robotic or rehearsed, it means being intentional.

Use the same headshot and bio across your public profiles. Align your tone of voice and messaging with the values of your company. Make sure your Twitter, LinkedIn, and website reflect who you are today, not who you were five years ago.

This consistency makes it easier for people to trust and remember you.

Engage With Intention

Brand-building isn’t just about broadcasting, it’s about conversation.

Engage with others in your space, celebrate peers, respond to comments, and participate in relevant discussions.

This helps grow your network organically and shows that you're approachable and thoughtful. People follow leaders who listen, not just those who talk.

Final Thought

Building a personal brand isn’t a vanity project, it’s a strategic asset.

A strong positive brand can open doors, humanize your business, and create long-term impact beyond your current venture.

Start building it early, invest in it consistently, and let it reflect the kind of leader, and company, you aspire to be.

Thanks for reading.

Need help defining or refining your personal brand? Let’s connect: shamikodesign@gmail.com.