Women, Power & Personal Branding: The Real Work

Hello my dear readers,

As the world gears up for International Women’s Day, the usual conversations around empowerment, leadership, and visibility are making the rounds.

Brands will launch campaigns. Corporates will host panels, some will pay the women on the panel, some will not.

LinkedIn will be flooded with posts celebrating the achievements of women across industries.

Women are still fighting to be heard, seen, and taken seriously in boardrooms, leadership roles, and industries dominated by men. We are interrupted more in meetings, overlooked for promotions, and often have to work twice as hard to prove we belong.

And yet, despite all of this, we are often told that our work will speak for itself.

That if we put our heads down, work hard, and wait our turn, recognition will come.

But let’s be honest, it doesn’t always work that way.

The world doesn’t just reward hard work; it rewards those who confidently own their space, articulate their value, and make their presence known.

That’s why personal branding isn’t just a social media game, it’s a survival skill.

It’s about how we show up in the world, how we tell our story, and how we position ourselves as experts, leaders, and changemakers.

This International Women’s Day (week), I want to talk about personal branding, not the version sold by LinkedIn gurus, but the real, inward work that shapes how we move through the world.

Personal Branding - Not Just a Social Media Game

Everywhere you look, there’s advice on personal branding.

“Post consistently,” “Share your wins,” “Be your own PR machine”, "Post a selfie".

And yet we all know that while visibility matters, it means nothing if it’s built on shaky ground.

Before you put yourself out there, I would suggest you ask yourself:

• Do I fully know who I am?
• What do I stand for?
• What is the value I bring to the world?

Because if you don’t have those answers, no amount of engagement hacks or viral content strategies will help.

Personal branding is not just about what you show, it’s about what you know about yourself. It’s the confidence you carry into a meeting, the clarity with which you communicate your expertise, the integrity with which you operate.

I remember my early years in PR, sitting in boardrooms filled with senior executives, predominantly grey haired men, who had been in the industry far longer than I had.

I had two choices, either shrink myself into the background or own my space and my voice.

I chose the latter.

Not by being loud, not by overcompensating, but by being prepared, by understanding the nuances of my field better than anyone else in the room, and by learning when to listen and when to speak.

That was my personal brand.

And it had nothing to do with what I posted online.

Heck when I began my career, there was no social media to post on even.

The Work Is Inward, Not Just Outward....

I’ve worked with leaders, executives, and professionals at different stages of their careers.

The most powerful ones don’t need to shout to be heard.

Their presence, their work, and their self-awareness speak for them.

That’s what I tell my clients and mentees:

• Why should anyone hire you, employ you, partner with you, or even listen to you?
• Because of the work you do with yourself first.

Your brand isn’t something you manufacture, it’s something you refine over time.

Each of our stories is unique. They are powerful.

Years ago, when I moved to Germany, I was stripped of everything familiar, my language, my network, even the confidence that came with knowing my professional landscape.

I had to rebuild from scratch.

Learning a new language in my late twenties, navigating cultural differences, and integrating into an entirely different way of working, it forced me to dig deep into who I really was.

And what I learned was this: your personal brand is what remains when everything else is taken away.

Your adaptability, your resilience, your ability to bring something valuable to the table, no matter where you are, that’s what defines you.

Women, especially, have been conditioned to believe that their work will speak for itself.

It’s a lovely thought, but we know better.

Your work deserves a voice. Your story deserves to be told.

When I worked on the 100% Cricket Future Leaders Programme, for the International Cricket Council I had the privilege of working with and mentoring women in cricket who were ready to step into leadership roles but often held back because they weren’t sure if they “fit the mould.”

But leadership isn’t about fitting into a pre-existing structure, it’s about carving your own space and owning it.

The question is: How do we tap into our voices, our experiences, our unique wisdom, that irreplaceable and valuable insight that no one else has?

That is the work.

So this IWD, let’s not just talk about empowerment. Let’s own our stories. Let’s define our brands, not by what the world expects, but by who we truly are.

One of the biggest challenges I see, especially among women, is owning their story, their expertise, and their value. Many of us hesitate to put ourselves out there, to step into leadership roles, or to confidently communicate what we bring to the table.

This IWD, I want to help more women build their authentic personal brand, one that isn’t just about your online presence but about deep, strategic self-awareness.

So, I’m offering a limited number of discounted "Personal Branding Packages" exclusively for women in my network.

This will include:

? One-on-One Strategy Session – A deep dive into your unique strengths, values, and positioning.

? Personal Brand Audit – Review of your existing LinkedIn profile, public presence, and storytelling approach.

? Content & Communication Plan – Actionable strategies to articulate your expertise with clarity and confidence.

? Mentorship & Guidance – Insights on navigating visibility in your industry, handling PR, and building credibility.

Who will benefit from this?

?? Women professionals looking to step into leadership roles

?? Entrepreneurs & consultants wanting to establish authority in their space

?? Women returning to work or pivoting careers and seeking a strong professional presence

?? Anyone who feels stuck and wants to refine their personal brand with clarity and purpose

?? Interested? Drop me a DM or comment below, and I’ll send you the details.

Let’s make this about real, actionable empowerment.

Own your story. Step into your power. Your personal brand starts with you.

Until next time, keep Having a Good Day in PR !

Love,

Ketaki

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