To realign your professional identity with a conflicting brand image, identify shared values and focus on common goals. Adapt your communication style while staying authentic, and seek opportunities to influence the brand positively. Engage in open dialogue with leadership to express your perspective and foster alignment.

When your personal values clash with your company's brand image, it's essential to take a proactive approach to realign your professional identity. Start by identifying the core values that are most important to you and assess how they can coexist with the company’s mission. Engage in open dialogue with leadership to express your concerns and explore ways to bridge the gap. Seek opportunities to showcase your values through your work, aligning projects with your principles. Be authentic and advocate for alignment.

Here's a wake-up call: If your personal values clash with your company’s brand, you’re not in the wrong place—you’re in the right moment. It’s the perfect time to reassess, realign, and redefine who you are as a professional. Ask yourself: Is this a temporary disconnect, or a sign to pivot? Your values aren’t negotiable—they’re your compass. And if the company’s image doesn’t match that, it’s time to choose: blend in or break through? Real alignment starts when you’re bold enough to live your truth.

Too often try to conform and ‘realign’ to corporations’ values. To continually show up as a version of yourself that conflicts with your authentic self to ‘fit in’ can become tiring. Do some deep introspection and decide if you feel in alignment with the environment. If yes, great! But if you determine that it goes against the essence of who you are, it may be time to plan your exit strategy. Keep in mind, this doesn’t come as a simple process for many. The work to identify your core values, passions, goals, personal mission, etc, must be done FIRST. Then, evaluate the organization to determine if it shares these attributes. That is the only way you will be able to clearly determine if you will thrive at that company.