I never meant to build a personal brand.
it happened by accident.
I know that sounds fake - but it’s true.
The first time I introduced myself as a founder, I was in a meeting with senior female leaders.
I’d been invited because I was a CEO, and they thought I’d be a good fit for media training (which teaches you how to confidently handle things like press interviews)
I was so excited to be recognised in this way and gladly accepted the invitation.
But as the introductions began, I realised I was in way over my head.
I’d only technically been a ‘CEO’ for about a month, while everyone else in the room had double-digit years of experience under their belts.
“Hi, I’m Beth, founder of Orchid Marketing,” I said, trying to sound more confident than I felt.
As I spoke, I noticed the woman to my left, who had been writing down everyone’s name and title, didn’t even pick up her pen. My heart sank.
Who did I think I was, taking up space in a room like this?
I couldn’t wait for the meeting to be over.
The worst part is that, honestly, I couldn’t blame her. I wasn’t confident in what I was doing, so why would I expect anyone else to be?
That day, I realised something important: if people don’t know who you are or what you do, they’ll assume you’re not worth paying attention to.
It was clear to me that I couldn’t just sit back and hope people would see my value - I had to do something.
I had to put myself out there and take control of how I was being perceived.
So, I started posting about thoughts on marketing and running a business on social media. Things that I genuinely loved and could talk about for ages.
I wanted to show people that I did know what I was talking about and that I could help them.
at first it was soo rough…
My posts felt forced, and I struggled to stay consistent.
I wanted to share my passion for marketing with people who felt overwhelmed by marketing and needed someone to break it down in a way that wasn’t just simple, but that actually worked.
After a few failed attempts, I took a step back to redefine how I wanted to show up. I stopped trying to do what I thought I “should” do and leaned into what felt authentic to me: making marketing fun, engaging, and approachable.
Here’s what I’ve learned
Your personal brand is being built whether you realise it or not.
Every interaction, post, and conversation shapes how people see you.
If you don’t take control of it, someone else will - and their version might not reflect who you truly are.