How can you build a personal brand as an ESG expert in Sustainability?

In the vast realm of ESG, carving out a niche is akin to laying the foundation for a skyscraper of thought leadership. Adopt the DIY approach. You're not just selecting a topic; you're committing to becoming its beacon. Start by immersing yourself in your chosen area, climate change, human rights, or corporate governance. Dive deep into research, attend seminars, and engage in discussions. As you gather knowledge, share it. Write articles, host webinars, and create content that resonates with your audience. Remember, thought leadership isn't just about expertise; it's about passion, dedication, and the drive to make a difference. Over time, you’ll not only establish yourself as an authority but also inspire others to join you in.

Defining your Niche is crucial in the overall scheme of things. As one who have carved a niche in leading young people towards tech and sustainability efforts, I have seen this work like fire?? . Now, I am reaping the rewards of these efforts.

Find your specific zone, this is where you excel the most and can offer the freshest most innovative insights. You need to also be aware of the trends and what's coming so that you can keep up with what your audience wants to listen to. I have carved my niche from young professionals of different fields looking to see how to apply sustainability in different sectors. I offer data about the trends, mot used terminology, projects and different perspectives, with a bigger focus on environmental scope.

Sounds simple, but honestly defining a niche for me has been through trial and error. It's a never-ending process when you learn something new every day, your interests may change drastically. I would suggest to start reading and following other experts, start posting your genuine thoughts, and don't concentrate on reactions and likes, just keep expressing your opinion and your audience will find you.

1- Choose a topic and go deep. Even under the "E" of ESG there are many topics to cover 2- Choose your style of writings and presenting (polite, fun, challenging) 3- Use real customer stories 4- Use real data and facts 5- Contribute and support other thought leaders 6- Create the daily discipline to repeat step 1-5

3 ways I've approached building a personal brand as an ESG expert: 1) Identify an ESG niche - mine is climate change from an investor's perspective. 2) Share the challenges in my ESG integration journey - this brings to life the application aspect of ESG, which many are still learning to do. 3) Convey ESG concepts in my personal voice -- this mean using analogies, metaphors or simple layperson language to make ESG more accessible.

With over 25k followers here on Linkedin, I am confident that I have a varied experience on how much creating an online presence is sacrosanct and beneficial. One of the strategies that have worked for me is the utilization of design thinking in setting up my online presence. This way, I am tapping into the mind of my audience, reintegrating and designing their thinking process so I can optimize my presence here on this platform. Meanwhile, this same method can be transferred in creating an ESG personal brand for any one who cares about it?

Not to forget LinkedIn. A place where professional networks and connections are established. Your network is your net worth. So don’t be afraid to put yourself out there, ask questions, learn and re-learn, always thinking about how you can add value to others.

I'm just about to launch the Communications + Sustainability Intelligence Report 2023. I've been working with AI-research specialists and ESG consultants as well as providing my own perspective on brands in the asset management industry. The CSI Report studies the messages asset managers are putting out and what investors are saying in response. Had lots of interest and will set up a webinar in a few weeks. Let me know if you're interested.

Building a strong online presence is essential for establishing credibility as an ESG expert. It's your digital business card, showcasing your knowledge and passion. Consistency and quality in your online content can help you connect with a broader audience and demonstrate your expertise effectively.

Engaging with your audience cannot be overemphasized as this is the perfect way to make them develop shared feeling and empathy which expedite the message your are sharing to them. So, In the journey to creating a personal brand as an ESG expert, community is everything?

Sometimes I get ahead of myself... I answered this question earlier... However, what I would say is that your online presence is defined by the company you keep and the contributions you make!

Engaging with your ESG community is vital for growth and learning. Building meaningful relationships, sharing ideas, and seeking guidance from peers and mentors can enhance your journey as an ESG expert. It's a two-way street where you both give and receive, creating a supportive ecosystem for your professional development.

Engaging with the ESG community involves actively participating and contributing to discussions, events, and initiatives related to environmental, social, and governance issues. Start by joining relevant online forums, social media groups, and industry-specific communities where professionals and enthusiasts gather. Share your insights, ask questions, and offer constructive input to foster meaningful conversations. Attend conferences, webinars, and workshops to network and collaborate with others in the field. By consistently showing your dedication, expertise, and willingness to collaborate, you'll build valuable relationships within the ESG community while staying informed about the latest developments and opportunities in the field.

My advice would be say something interesting. Challenge the status quo and standard practice. It's the only way to keep the debate moving forward.

It might be quite an herculean task to showcase your work CONSISTENTLY. However, I believe a lot of people aren’t doing this because they haven’t taken it as a priority and that’s why they are slow to making it an habit. In my view, this is one of the ways to show credibility and magnetize diverse opportunities.

Showcasing your impact as an ESG expert is not about bragging, but about inspiring and educating others. Sharing your journey, including challenges and successes, can motivate and guide aspiring experts. It's a way to demonstrate the real-world relevance and effectiveness of ESG expertise.

If you feel you are making a difference or have learned something that has helped you, share it! Others are looking for how to improve and progress so sharing your wins and learnings will help others. Also identify your own blind spots and ask for others to help.

Transfer your work offline to online. It might be hectic, but that's the only way people can see what you actually do. Make it personal. Talk about your challenges, achievements, people you mentor and so on.

LinkedIn is the ideal platform to showcase your ESG expertise. Its professional nature allows you to easily share your successes, experiences, and insights. Adding your unique personality to your posts can make your content stand out and truly sparkle. By using metrics, stories, and personal anecdotes, you can connect with a broader audience, inspire others, and establish yourself as a recognized ESG authority, ultimately attracting new opportunities and collaborations.

I agree to the fact that it is important to keep the learning steady through mentorship, receiving feedbacks, coaching, reading books and anything related. It can be easy to feel complacent about one’s ability, albeit, I advise people to go out of their community and challenge themselves with the outstanding works of others if they are local champions in their environment. This way, they can stay motivated to keep developing themselves.

Sustainability is a dynamic field, everyday there is a new framework, a new tech, and an innovation that you need to keep up with. Always stay flexible to learn more and spread the knowledge. Become the go-to reference when people want to know about the industry. This way you stay on top of your game all while sharing it with your niche.

Keep learning absolutely but in a wide variety of topics: you cannot possibly become an ESG expert without understanding the fundamental concepts that drive human beings. Study philosophy and culture and keep your mind open

Earn industry-recognized certifications to add credibility to your expertise. If you are interested in ESG Investing, consider the CFA Institute in ESG Investing and CESGA from EFFAS. For a more niche focus on Climate Investing, consider the CFA UK's Certificate in Climate & Investing. If you specialize in climate risk, consider the Sustainability & Climate Risk (SCR) certificate from GARP, as well as the Certificate in Climate Risk jointly offered by CISI, CBI, and CII. If your focus is on sustainability accounting/reporting, look into the Fundamentals of Sustainability Accounting (FSA) credential from the IFRS Foundation (previously offered under SASB) and the GRI's Certified Sustainability Professional.

Accept that you can never know everything, work collaboratively. Ask people to comment on your work (as many as you can afford, they will all add a different perspective). Be prepared to be wrong! We all make mistakes, and that's how we grow.

In a world where sustainability and ESG are becoming increasingly important, each of us can play a part in driving positive change. By combining individual efforts with collective action, we can create a more sustainable and equitable future for all. Let's seize this opportunity to make a meaningful impact.

In the realm of personal branding in sustainability, it's crucial to avoid extremes. While there's a temptation to rage against inaction, and another to present oneself as perfect, a balanced approach of critical empathy and humility is key. This means understanding the challenges people face in adopting sustainable practices, while also acknowledging our own journey and learning from mistakes. It fosters a more constructive and relatable path towards positive change.

If it's in your capacity, consider hiring professional help that knows how to most efficiently get your message across. Personal branding does not come easy to a lot of leaders. If you're already an ESG expert, chances are you are mostly focused on ESG, and not watching closely to digital platform algorithm changes, nor are you likely privy to the best practices for SEO or visual branding. Having a professional digital marketer and brand strategist on your team can mean the difference between you throwing spaghetti at the wall and you calmly watching leads come your way.

Building a personal brand as an expert in Sustainability involves several strategic steps: - Be updated with the latest ESG/sustainability knowledge and practices, - Identify specific ESG areas you are specialist in, - Share your sustainability insights or articles through an online platform and make a professional network, - Increase your sustainability professionalism by collaboration with other experts and authorities for experience exchange. - Enhance your qualification with a certification through well known educational authority, and - Receive feedbacks about your sustainability efforts for outlining the positive and improving the negative.