How Personal Branding is the Ultimate Hack for Standing Out in 2025.

Below is my article, which was featured in Cosmopolitan Netherlands! The article was printed in Dutch, so for those who want to get the 411 on how to build a personal brand in 2025 and what to know, here is the breakdown! 

A personal brand is no longer just a trend or a buzzword—it's a necessity in today's digital world. First impressions rarely happen face-to-face anymore; clients, employers, potential partners, and even strangers often encounter you online before you’ve exchanged a single word. This makes your online presence more critical than ever. While how you present yourself in person is still important, it must seamlessly align with your digital presence to maximize your impact and success. In a world where we research everything online before making decisions—including people—it's surprising how little effort is invested in creating an exceptional digital personal brand.

In a digital world where brands relentlessly strive to stand out, we often fail to hold ourselves to the same standard. Personal branding in 2025 and beyond is not just a trend—it's the key to carving out your unique identity online. Wherever life takes you, your digital footprint will define how others perceive and categorize you. The real question is, are you ready to put in the effort to showcase your true potential and present yourself in the best possible light?

Stop and think—how do people perceive you online right now? Does your current approach to social media capture your authentic personal brand? Is the way that you are portrayed online strategic? Is it helping or hurting you in telling your story and connecting with those you want to be connected with? Authenticity is the core word here. We all see those online flexing with brands they’ve rented or showing a curated version of themselves. That approach can work if that's in line with your personal goals, but the core question to ask yourself is, what do you want out of life and is your online presence now supporting that vision?

We live in a world where everyone’s competing for attention. Whether it's for a job, your business, etc., digital profiles can begin to morph into each other when there's a lack of strategy and focus on wanting to stand out. It doesn’t matter how cool you are in person; if you are not showcasing your uniqueness online, that coolness may never be realized because you have blended into thousands of other applications that all look the same online. The way to win in 2025 and beyond is to understand that your personal brand is the secret weapon that sets you apart. Whether you’re fresh out of school, exploring career options, or just trying to carve out your own corner of the internet, your personal brand is your ticket to standing out in a sea of sameness. 

The reality is personal branding isn’t just for influencers or entrepreneurs—it’s for everyone, including you. If you want to be noticed and stay relevant, it’s time to start investing in your personal brand.

What Is a Personal Brand, Anyway?

Your personal brand is how you present yourself to the world. It’s the combination of what you say, what you do, and how you make people feel—both online and offline. Think of your personal brand as your digital and real-world reputation rolled into one. You already have a personal brand, and the work captures what makes you unique and showcases it online so that the online world clearly understands what you represent. 

Why do personal brands matter? We live in a world where first impressions are often made through a screen; whether we like it or not, we are now often searched digitally before meeting IRL or on a digital call. The reality is that your personal brand is the first thing people notice. Whether it's your Instagram feed, LinkedIn profile, TikTok account or even just how you carry yourself in everyday life, your brand is shaping how others perceive you. And if you’re not intentional about it, you’re leaving that perception up to chance.

Find Your Authentic Personal Brand

Before posting inspirational quotes and perfectly filtered selfies, let’s get one thing straight: Your personal brand must be authentic. Personal branding isn’t about pretending to be someone you’re not—it’s about showcasing the best version of who you really are. 

Start with some self-reflection: What are your core values? What are you passionate about? What are your strengths? These are the building blocks of your personal brand. The goal is to align your brand with who you are and where you want to go in life. It's important to note that your personal brand is not just about who you are right now. Your personal brand should also reflect your aspirations. Who do you want to become? How do you want to be seen? Finding that balance between authenticity and ambition is key.

Crafting Your Personal Brand 

Now that you’ve done the soul-searching, it’s time to get practical. 

Step one: Create a personal brand statement. This is a clear, concise description of who you are, what you do, and what you stand for. Think of it as your elevator pitch—something you can easily communicate to anyone, anywhere.

For example, maybe your personal brand statement is: “Passionate digital illustrator with a Nomad Lifestyle” or “Coder fashionista with a passion for home-made vegan cuisine.” Whatever it is, make sure it feels true to who you are and what you love to spend your time doing.

Next, focus on consistency. Your personal brand should be cohesive across all platforms—whether that’s social media, your resume, or even your wardrobe. Consistency is what makes your brand recognizable and memorable. If you’re known for being positive, driven, and forward-thinking, that should come through in everything you do, from your Instagram posts to your daily interactions.

And let’s not forget about your online presence. In today’s digital world, your social media profiles are often the first impression people get of you. Make sure they’re saying what you want them to say. This doesn’t mean you need to be posting every day, but it does mean being intentional about what you share and how you engage with others online.

Keep Growing Your Brand

Your personal brand isn’t a “set it and forget it” kind of thing. It’s a living, breathing reflection of who you are—and it should grow as you do. As you gain new experiences and insights, don’t be afraid to refine your brand. Remember, it’s okay to evolve.

Networking is a big part of personal branding, too. But we’re not talking about the awkward, business-card-swapping kind of networking. Real networking is about building relationships that align with your personal brand. Connect with people who share your values, inspire you, and can help you grow. Whether it’s online or in person, these connections are invaluable. I have connected with many like-minded women online who have become good friends. Leveraging your digital network is a great way to connect with people you are truly aligned with who may not live in your local jurisdiction. The internet allows you to have the best connections for your values and ethos without needing to have met them in your first year of university by chance because they were in your dorm. Digital connections are not less than IRL connections–in fact, it makes for a great excuse to extend trips to see digital friends and benefit from different perspectives that come with culture and a range of life experiences.

Imposter Syndrome & Personal Branding. 

Personal branding isn’t easy because imposter syndrome is real. In fact, many of you reading this will think personal branding isn’t for you because you may feel like you have nothing special to say and struggle to put yourself online for fear of judgement or concern about losing your privacy. These are all fair concerns, and I will address them all.

Imposter syndrome was a massive hurdle that I personally had to overcome. It took eight months for my first video to go viral, and every day leading up to my first successful video, I considered quitting and walking away from putting myself out there online. In the beginning, the only people who see your content are those you know, and that fear of judgement and ridicule from your community is enough never to get started. You feel like you need to be perfect to start, but the problem is you cannot be perfect at creating content; it's like any skill; it takes time to master and improve. I also didn’t feel qualified to provide expertise when I started out. I owned a successful agency and had many clients, but publicly sharing my expertise didn’t feel like I had earned the right. Imposter syndrome is a massive issue that holds women back from putting themselves out there and connecting with others. We wait until we are ready to be perfect at something, but the problem with this mindset is that perfect never comes, or it comes too late, and you lose steam. I am championing the personal branding message and pushing women to become uncomfortable because of how greatly my personal brand changed my life. Heck, im writing write now in Cosmo on this topic, which would have never been possible without working through the fear and anxiety of being judged online. When I started out, I didn’t have the huge brands under my belt or the crystal ball of the opportunities I would receive by creating content. There were so many moments where I wanted to quit. 

I still struggle with imposter syndrome and the ick of putting out content when I don’t look my best, struggle with a word, or misquote a statement. However, I overcame my feelings of resistance by realizing that the things I am the most proud of achieving in my career came from creating content online.

The reality is we all struggle with imposter syndrome, but working through the pain of starting to put yourself out there online is the best scar tissue to build up because this shift to investing in yourself is the key to unlocking your best future. Learning to put yourself out there is a solid skill to overcome early. The best part of the digital world is that you can now be offered opportunities outside of your city, country or local jurisdiction. I create content that connects with people who connect with me because they can watch hundreds of videos and decide whether or not I am the best person for the job. The best part about creating content is that my videos do job interviews for me while I work, sleep, travel, and enjoy my life. My content connects with millions of people daily while I go on with my life. There is so much work to go around that the droves of experts getting into branding and creating content excite me. My personal brand captures what makes me unique and provides options for my clients to choose from when deciding to hire an expert. Theres are thousands to choose from, and when someone chooses me, I know that we will most likely be a great fit.

Regarding privacy concerns, personal branding is what you make of it. I don’t choose to share too much of my personal life. In fact, the majority of my content is focused on branding. I see personal branding as an extension of my professional identity; that's how I like to use social media. The thing with social media is that it's what you make of it. Theres are tons of successful creators who post nothing personal; theres are also tons who share every detail of your life. In the end, there isn’t one way to be successful online, and you can craft and execute your personal brand in an authentic way. You also can change strategies! You don’t have to pick one approach and stick to it–you can grow, evolve and change online; in fact, you should! Digital personal brands are an extension of you– we are all amalgamating and growing daily, and so should our personal brands.  

Overall, it's essential that you stay true to your authentic self and craft a brand that is the best representation of you. It's important to push through the resistance you are going to experience and position yourself online in a way that captures your IRL personality. Personal brands should evolve. You can start small and become more open, and you can also begin to share different aspects of yourself as you become more comfortable. I am constantly growing, trying new things online, and deciding how I want to be portrayed. After all, your personal brand is a reflection of your journey, not a final destination.

For the Aspiring Entrepreneurs

If you’re thinking about starting your own business, listen up: Your personal brand can be a powerful asset. It builds credibility and helps you connect with potential customers. People don’t just buy products—they buy people. And when your personal brand aligns with your business vision, you’re already ahead of the game.

A strong personal brand makes you stand out in a crowded market. It’s not just about what you’re selling—it’s about who you are and why people should trust you. So, if entrepreneurship is on your horizon, start building that brand now.

The Bottom Line

Your personal brand is for you—whether you’re just starting out, climbing the corporate ladder, or dreaming of running your own show. It’s your story, your reputation, and your ticket to standing out in a crowded world.

Don’t wait to start building it. Take control, define who you are, and show the world what you’ve got. Because when you invest in your personal brand, you’re investing in your future.

And remember: Personal branding is not about being perfect—it’s about being you.