Building a strong personal brand is essential.

The professional landscape is so competitive and building a strong personal brand can really set one apart.

The cornerstone of this effort is perception.

Tony Otoa insightfully reminds us that ‘if you know who you are, you know what you’re not.’ This self-awareness is crucial in shaping a perception that aligns with your true self.

LinkedIn, for instance, often feels like a highlight reel where everyone showcases their achievements. But Betty Kakyo points out, ‘LinkedIn is a place where everything feels fake because people talk about all the achievements, but we all know that in any career you have challenges.’

Being genuine and transparent about these challenges can enhance your authenticity and trustworthiness.

Anthea Turwomwe Mascot emphasizes the need to choose platforms wisely and to show up consistently, ‘One can choose a platform on which they’re going to show up and when you show up there, show up strong.

This will first of all create trust with your audience and the people who are trying to relate with you.’ Perception is built through consistent and high-quality engagement.

Victoria Nyanzi advises, ‘As a person that wants to build a strong personal brand, you have to optimize your online presence to align with how you want to be known.’ The digital footprint you create across social media should reflect your true self.

Storytelling is a powerful tool in personal branding.

Tony notes that ‘we can always leverage on storytelling as you define your brand. You share real-life examples. Look at where you’ve been and where you want to go.’ There’s an authenticity in sharing both successes and challenges that can make your brand relatable.

Victoria points out that ‘when you were born and you were given a name, your family was calling you, Jen, Jimmy; that is like your brand. That’s why we call Coca Cola, Coca Cola. That’s their brand name.’ A strong personal brand acts like a magnet, naturally attracting opportunities and people.

Understanding what resonates with you and using that to carve out your brand narrative is vital. Victoria adds, ‘It’s very important to identify what speaks to you. Is it technology that speaks to you? Is it finance that speaks to you? And then you start to carve out a narrative around yourself with that particular topic.’

This process of self-discovery and narrative building is central to how you are perceived.

The role of authenticity cannot be overstated. Tony explains, ‘It’s all about self-awareness, knowing that you’re good at this, you’re not good at this, but whatever you’re not good at, you are confident about not being good at it and trying to become better at it.’

Authenticity builds resilience and trust, which are core to a strong personal brand.

Betty underscores this by noting, ‘People should get to know who you are on the first scroll and they shouldn’t have to try to figure you out.’

The clarity and consistency of your message are key.

The ability to tell your story in a way that feels real and engaging is what differentiates successful personal brands.

Victoria adds a final poignant reminder, ‘Right now people are buying into people. There has to be a face and a voice behind that business.’ Personal branding is a necessity in the digital age.

As Tony aptly sums up, ‘You can start now. Your #2025 can actually start today.

#OQP being only quality people. The right people around you, the right connections, the right networks, the right environment. The moment you have that sorted out, I can guarantee you so many things will happen to you.’

Harnessing the power of perception through personal branding is indispensable for professionals aiming to achieve their goals meaningfully.

As reiterated by Aggie Patricia Turwomwe, ‘personal branding is a powerful tool for professionals to be able to achieve their goals meaningfully.’ The key lies in self-awareness, authenticity, and a strategic approach to storytelling and engagement.

Go out there, make yourself/brand proud!