Helen Downes, chief executive, Shannon Chamber pictured at the personal branding event in GECAS Shannon with (from left: Denise Mangan-Fahy, GECAS; Anne Sheehan, enterprise director, Vodafone Ireland; and Gillian Horan, the Pudding Brand Company. Photo: Eamon Ward.
With so many communication channels now available to individuals, particularly at an online level, developing a personal brand and differentiating oneself from the crowd has never been as important as it is today. That was the theme running through an evening presentation on personal branding, organised by Shannon Chamber in association with GECAS Shannon and held at GECAS’ facilities in Westpark. Presenters on the evening included Gillian Horan from the Pudding Brand Company and Anne Sheehan, Enterprise Director with Vodafone Ireland.
“If you’re not branding yourself, somebody else is,” said Ms Horan advising attendees to be clear about their goals, consistent in how they present themselves both off and online, and authentic in the ways they present themselves.
Personal branding is equally as important in the corporate world as it in for the self- employed or SME. The proof of this was demonstrated in a very frank and open presentation given by Vodafone’s Anne Sheehan whose energy permeated the room as she spoke about her career and how being very clear about who she was as a person, her personal ambitions and being authentic have propelled her to where she is today.
“Personal branding is hard work,” she said.
“It’s a journey that never finishes.”
She advised anyone moving through their career to be authentic and know what they stand for in life.
“Use your values to make the right decisions and treat people with respect,” she added.
Commenting on the learnings from an event of this nature, Shannon Chamber’s chief executive Helen Downes said: “We are all inclined to forget that we each have a personal brand. No two people are the same; they may have the same acquired skill sets but it’s their personality and personal drive that sets each person aside. This presentation on personal branding was a great reminder to each attendee to bring their own brand to work, to develop their distinct reputation, to seek mentors and new role models at the different stages of their careers.
“Having the event in a member company’s premises was very pertinent and it demonstrated that branding is not just a corporate undertaking but that each person within a company, while working for a brand, should also be focused on their own brand identity.”
Ailbe Bourke (back left), Limerick Institute of Technology lecturer brought a group of students to the personal branding event in GECAS. Also included: (from left): Gillian Horan, the Pudding Brand Company; Helen Downes, chief executive, Shannon Chamber; Denise Mangan-Fahy, GECAS; Madeline Hayes and Anne Sheehan, Vodafone Ireland. Photo: Eamon Ward.
