The founders-led content approach has become one of the most effective ways to build awareness and credibility as an entrepreneur today. I don’t have a fancy stat to support this, but it’s evident all over the internet with founders posting about their businesses and products on LinkedIn, X, and even Instagram. It’s not just about saying, “I’m building the next generation of skincare,” but about showcasing a personality that supports your brand and product’s mission and vision.

In our previous issue, we discussed how startups can get started with branding. To conclude the discussion, we will explore branding for founders with our second guest, Amaka Agbo, a brand identity strategist and consultant specializing in helping people build personal and business brands.

You’ll learn:

1. The importance of branding for founders
2. Steps to start personal branding
3. Impact of personal branding on business growth

Kindly suggest a topic and a guest to us by simply replying to this email with the details.

TL;DR:

1. Branding is key to driving business growth. It helps create a strong perception of your business and gives people a reason to choose you over competitors.
2. Branding allows you to connect with people on a personal level, moving beyond just selling commodities to building relationships.
3. The early brand definition sets you apart: start branding as soon as possible to craft how you want to be perceived and build a loyal audience.
4. Vulnerability strengthens your brand: Sharing both successes and failures makes your journey relatable and inspires others by showing that success is possible despite challenges.
5. Your brand should focus on others: Personal branding isn’t about self-promotion but about sharing your uniqueness in a way that resonates with and serves your audience.
6. Share your unique perspective through storytelling: Having a clear point of view and telling stories that express it helps build deep emotional connections with your audience.
7. Successful founders leverage personal brands for growth: Influential figures like Tony Elumelu and Elon Musk use their personal brands to build trust, likeability, and loyalty, which directly impact their business success.

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Now here’s what Amaka has to say in her own slightly edited words.
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Notes For A Fellow Founder

1. The importance of branding for founders:

The entirety of branding is to create a perception of what they are selling to get people to buy. We live in a world where you can't just tell, but show. Business is no longer about people to commodities, but people and people. We live in a world where we need to connect with people on a personal level.

If you want your business to grow, branding is the way to go. When you define your brand, you're showing people why they should do business with you. You're giving them a reason to choose you over everyone else. You're building an audience, a tribe of fans who will promote your brand and defend you against your competitors.
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2. Branding is important for everyone, especially young entrepreneurs:

I think branding is something everyone should prioritize. Beyond the influence it has on your business, it also positively impacts your self-awareness. Branding is a continuous journey of discovering what makes you unique and powerful as a person. It’s incredible how the little things you do, which you might not even consider a big deal, can positively influence someone else.

Branding also helps you embrace your curiosity and feel at home with whom you are. You'll begin to see that the things you once thought were weird are actually the things that make you wonderful. That's your uniqueness shining through.

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3. Three simple steps to take to start branding as a founder:

It's best to start taking action rather than just contemplating it. I admire people who dive in and find clarity along the way. While getting a strategist to help with brand strategy and planning is advisable on a professional level, many use this as an excuse not to begin. Regardless of whether you’re new or established, how you present yourself and your actions creates a perception. It’s important to craft how you want to be seen and be intentional about your branding. Start as early as possible, even without a strategist.

• First, decide how you want to present yourself and your solution, build your audience, and connect with people. These steps will give you a solid foundation. If needed, you can always bring in a strategist later.
• Second, don’t be afraid to be vulnerable. You are on a journey, and it doesn't have to be rosy. I mean, it's never rosy. Sharing both your wins and failures makes you more relatable and shows others that achieving the end goal is possible despite setbacks.
• Lastly, remember that your brand isn’t just about you—it’s for others. People don’t care how much you know until they see how much you care. Your branding should be about sharing your uniqueness with the world, not just self-promotion.

Besides these, have a point of view. Think of the most influential people in the world; they all stood for something—Martin Luther King and Mahatma Gandhi. They formed deep emotional connections with people because of their strong opinions. If you need to position yourself as a founder, you should tell stories that express your point of view.

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4. Impacting business growth with a founder’s personal brand:

We can start by looking at a few personal brands that have successfully impacted their business growth: Tony Elumelu, Elon Musk, and Ife of Dang. One thing these individuals have in common is, that they used their personalities to influence their business growth. Some reasons we buy from people are because we know them, like them, and trust them, and the fastest way to achieve this is to create that connection. The future of branding is personal, which is why many big business brands adopt characters that are personalized so people can relate to them. This also explains why brands use characters we love, like celebrities, to influence us to buy their products.
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The Other Spicy Things...

Weeks ago, I listened to a powerful episode where Alex, the co-founder of Morning Brew, shared an honest reflection. He realized that as CEO; he wasn't contributing as much compared to his co-founder, who was the COO and managed critical responsibilities. Recognizing this, Alex made the tough decision to step down, allowing his partner to take the lead and giving the business more room to grow. This is a strong move—setting aside personal sentiments and emotions for the greater good of the company.

I highly recommend this episode because Alex offers insightful advice on how founders can rediscover fulfillment by making necessary sacrifices. He discusses stepping back from certain roles, titles, responsibilities, and even setting aside ego to prioritize the business’s growth. This includes knowing when to outsource or delegate tasks, so you can focus on what truly matters to achieve better results.

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Until the next issue,

Gigii.

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