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
You have a personal brand 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.