418 - A Day in My Life as a CEO & Thought Leader
A CEO’s personal brand isn’t separate from their business—it’s a growth engine. In this episode, learn how to balance running a company while building influence, directing attention to key opportunities, and driving real business results through thought leadership.
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A Day in My Life as a CEO & Thought Leader
As a CEO, how do you balance leading a company while also building a personal brand?
Many business leaders struggle with this question, believing that personal branding is a distraction from their core responsibilities. But in reality, your personal brand is one of the most powerful assets your company has.
The best CEOs understand this and use their brand strategically to direct attention, build trust, and drive business growth—not in a forced way, but by integrating their influence into their leadership.
1. Your Personal Brand as a Business Asset
Your brand isn’t separate from your company—it’s a tool that helps amplify your mission, attract opportunities, and build connections that might not happen otherwise.
For example, imagine walking for 24 hours to support a cause you care about. You share your journey, engage with people beyond your usual business circles, and through this seemingly unrelated action, you create valuable conversations that ultimately drive business back to your company.
This isn’t hypothetical—it’s exactly what happened when I used my personal brand to support a global cause while indirectly strengthening my business network.
2. Thought Leadership Creates Unexpected Business Opportunities
Being visible isn’t just about posting content—it’s about being actively engaged in real-world conversations that align with your values.
When you show up for causes, participate in industry events, or simply share valuable insights, you create an ecosystem where:
✅ People recognize your expertise
✅ Decision-makers trust your voice
✅ Your network expands organically
And when the time comes to make business decisions, people remember you.
3. CEOs Must Actively Direct Attention
One of the biggest advantages of a strong personal brand is that you control the narrative. Instead of waiting for attention, you actively guide it toward what matters most—whether that’s your company’s mission, an important initiative, or a new business opportunity.
Great leaders don’t just rely on PR teams to shape their image. They step up and use their voice to engage their audience authentically.
A CEO’s job isn’t just to run a company—it’s to lead conversations, build trust, and create meaningful relationships. The best way to do that? A strong personal brand that works in tandem with your business.
If you’re a business leader who hasn’t fully leveraged your personal brand yet, now is the time to start.
Highlights:
00:00 Balancing Company Leadership and Personal Branding
00:04 Leveraging Personal Brand for Company Causes
00:16 Innovative Fundraising Initiatives
00:26 Connecting Through Unique Experiences
00:35 Driving Business Through Personal Engagement
00:43 Integrating Personal Brand with Business Goals
Links:
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Transcript:
Here is how I balance running a company and building my personal brand. I first and foremost see my personal brand asset to the company because I can direct the attention to wherever I want to help it. Like I did last year and we'll be doing this year too. I was walking 24 hours for a good cause where we raised donations so that we regreen the planet.
So I was talking about 24 the planet quite a bit, walking and doing the work. And through that had the possibility to connect with other people in a completely different way. And as a result of that, I was driving business into my company. That sounds super counterintuitive when you're a CEO of a big corporation, but I bet it's 100 percent working in the same way.
Step up and use your personal brand and then work with the business hand in hand. So you direct the attention to where you want to have it.