Building an Authentic Executive Brand Through Thought Leadership with Marina Byezhanova

Uncharted Entrepreneurship

Summary

In this episode of Uncharted Entrepreneurship, Brent Peterson interviews Marina Byezhanova, CEO of Brand of a Leader. Marina shares her journey from being an immigrant in Canada to establishing a successful personal branding agency for Gen X CEOs. The conversation delves into the importance of personal branding, thought leadership, and the unique challenges faced by different generations in the business landscape. Marina emphasizes the need for authenticity in branding and the value of vulnerability in leadership. The episode concludes with insights on how to effectively promote oneself while remaining true to one's values.

Takeaways

• Marina Byezhanova is the CEO of Brand of a Leader.
• She emphasizes the importance of personal branding for CEOs.
• Thought leadership can significantly impact business visibility.
• Many CEOs underestimate their own value and voice.
• Personal branding should reflect who you are, not just what you do.
• The process of branding often involves deep introspection.
• Gen X entrepreneurs struggle with self-promotion due to generational differences.
• Vulnerability in leadership can create human connections.
• Marina's agency has worked with clients in 12 countries.
• Building a personal brand is essential for business growth.

Chapters

00:00
Introduction to Marina Bejanova

03:20
The Founding Story of Brand of a Leader

06:05
The Importance of Thought Leadership

09:31
Discovering Personal Branding

11:27
The Role of Failure in Personal Branding

14:15
Engaging with EO Members

16:30
Vulnerability in Leadership

18:09
Generational Differences in Sharing

20:38
Coaching Gen X on Self-Promotion

22:47
Closing Thoughts and Shameless Plug