The event started off strong as our phenomenal Moderator Jessica Hendrix introduced both of our speakers, Megan Timberlake and Jane Ewing. She opened each introduction by asking our speakers how they each defined their own personal brand. Our speakers expanded on this point by telling our participants that knowing and developing your personal brand starts with every interaction. They went on to elaborate that your personal brand is in everything you do and that is why it is critical that it is authentic to who you are. When you build your personal brand off of something not authentic to yourself, it is not sustainable and will cause burnout. 

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As the conversation picked up, our panelists began to speak about how to be confident in your brand and believe that it will get you where you need to go. Megan specifically stated how important it is to know who you are and what you bring to the table. 

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She continued her point by saying there will be opportunities you may only have 50% of the skills needed, but do not let that stop you. Step up to the plate and show how capable you are of learning the other 50%. Jane built off of this point by also expressing that even if you find yourself in a situation where you did not get the opportunity you wanted, always remember your career is a lattice, not a ladder. Each job we have builds transferable skills that will come in useful at the right time.

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To round out the conversation, our panelists and moderator answered questions from our participants. When asked how to balance feedback with your personal brand and make sure not to dwell too much on the negative, they had several insights. 

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They began by calling out after you receive feedback, it is important to lean into what is authentically you. You should never change who you are just to please others. However, it is important to notice patterns in feedback and be self-aware. If it is the same feedback you are receiving over and over, there may be merit to it. They also called out it is always important to remember most feedback is given with positive intent.

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Again we cannot thank our incredible speakers enough for the time and effort they put into making this event a success. Another huge thank you to our team members and LatinXNA partners for making this possible. Excited for the next one!