The Importance of Elevating Your Profile

9 years ago I left Towry to start Magenta. At that time, I was little known. Julie Lord, my mentor and business partner, was known to EVERYONE in the profession, press and beyond.

She’d talked on UK and International stages, she’d been the IFP Chairman for 4 years (prior to CISI taking it over), had won numerous awards, was regularly quoted in the press and was a Fellow of Manchester Metropolitan University having provided Financial Planning course development assistance.

We agreed that developing my profile in the modern financial planning world was vital. So, whilst building Magenta, I also worked on elevating my profile. At the time it felt like a tall order. Thankfully, without blowing my own trumpet too much, I think I’ve achieved what I set out to do.

I’ve learnt that, to build your brand, elevate your profile, and enhance your business, you must embrace opportunities to push your boundaries and put yourself out there. It’s not always easy and I also don’t fit the typical mould either, which itself, has its own challenges.

So, in this blog, I thought I’d share some of the things I’ve actively done and some things that really helped me.

Embrace the Challenge

We all know stepping out of your comfort zone is about embracing challenges and seeking growth and it’s really key when trying to elevate your profile. It’s easy to become complacent when you’re in a role that feels safe and familiar, but true growth happens when you venture into the unknown. As my mum says – ‘dump the slippers and put on the stilettos’ – metaphorically speaking.

This probably will mean taking on new projects, pursuing advanced certifications, or volunteering for leadership roles within your organisation or professional groups. By doing so, you demonstrate your willingness to grow and adapt, which are highly valued traits.

How I did it:

• I used Julie to introduce me to key people!

• I volunteered to join the CISI Wales branch and after a few years stepped into the role of president of the branch.

• I organised events for the branch, CPD and socials and got to know lots of people. I attended conferences and got to know more people.

• I put myself forward to press as a specialist in the field and was available to comment – think Professional Adviser, the FT adviser, New Model Adviser.

• I joined and was actively involved in answering questions on the NextGen Planners community.

• I was interviewed about setting up the business on various podcasts.

Build Your Personal Brand

Building your personal brand is another crucial aspect. Your brand is not just about your qualifications or the services you offer, your company logo or your office and what coffee you serve; it’s about how you present yourself to the world.

To develop a strong personal brand, you need to be visible and vocal about your expertise. This involves networking, speaking at conferences, writing articles, setting up groups, being on podcasts, and engaging with your peers on social media platforms like LinkedIn.

Putting yourself out there can be intimidating, especially in the male-dominated profession we live in. However, remember that visibility leads to credibility.

When you share your insights and experiences, you position yourself as a thought leader and a go-to expert in your niche.

Also please try and be your authentic self! Think about what that is. For me that involves being comfortable that everyone knows I love cats, I enjoy anything arty, I love Asian food and I prefer being in my studio than running for serotonin and managing my stress.  I’ve found, if you share some of you – the real you – you often reap real rewards.

How I did it:

• Started to be true to myself and my own personal style

• Tweeted as Basil, my cat, as well as Gretchen the financial planner

• Developed a strong company brand that could merge into my own

• Started to talk a lot about women in finance

• Sat on local award panels

• Shared best practice with many people – I’ve always been willing to spare 30 mins to help someone else out

• Started a podcast

• I’m honest when things don’t go to plan or I’m having a tough time

Leverage Technology and Social Media

In today’s digital age, social media is a powerful platform for elevating your profile. Use it to share your accomplishments, articles, and insights. Think about your platform to use. If you are trying to raise your profile in the profession, this may be different to profile for potential clients.

Don’t be afraid to showcase your personality and unique perspective. Share professional and personal if possible.

Authenticity resonates with people and can help you stand out in a crowded market.

How I did it:

• From 2015-2022 I used my @planning_angel account on Twitter. Since then I haven’t used this account but it did help significantly at the time. Twitter – or X – isn’t the same now, so I only use it for the cats (@fluffybasil) which is a lot more popular!

• Facebook – I keep facebook strictly personal and private I haven’t used this to enhance my personal brand, although Magenta has a corporate page.

• Linked In. To be honest, until about 2 years ago I hardly used it. Now it’s the place to be.

• Instagram – I’ve just launched a new professional profile on Instagram. Before this I didn’t use it much for business. Its great for a certain clientele and for my podcast. I also have a personal profile separate and one for my pottery … and one for the cats and the business. JUGGLING Insta profiles!!

• NextGen Planners Community – I try and log in and check this / comment / help people a few times a week.

Continuous Learning and Adaptability

Continuous learning and adaptability are also key to stepping out of your comfort zone.

The finance industry is constantly evolving with new regulations, technologies, and market trends. Stay ahead of the curve by regularly updating your skills and knowledge.

To be honest getting your Diploma and then Chartered or Certified is just the beginning. The rate they change pension rules is enough to keep anyone’s CPD and learning full!

Attend workshops, enrol in online courses, and participate in professional seminars. The more you learn, the more confident you will become in taking on new challenges.

If you go to a conference, try and find out via social who is going too beforehand and do try and stay over before or after if you can. This gives time to socialise that bit more and really enhance your relationships you make at events. Honestly – sharing dinner and chat about your life are the things people remember not the ‘so how’s business’ conversations!

How I did it:

• Attend at least 3-4 conferences or events a year, build them into your plan at the start of the year.

• Try and take a specific course each year over and above the necessary for your job. I’ve done extra coaching, LGBT training and lately the Ethical AI course. Widen the areas you can talk about with general knowledge.

• Shout out on socials to get to know who will be at events (I still do this) and seek them out when you are there to say hello face to face.

·       Make yourself socially available after an event, if possible, rather than rushing off.

Overcome Impostor Syndrome

This is the tricky one. Even the most confident of us suffer from Imposter syndrome.

Everyone always says this is that nagging feeling that you’re not as competent as others perceive you to be – ie to be the expert writer, speaker, adviser.

I find this to be a lot more complicated than this, as I think there a so many ways imposter syndrome shows up.  

According to researcher Dr. Valerie Young, there are five impostor types:

1.      The Perfectionist. This type of imposter syndrome involves believing that, unless you were absolutely perfect, you could have done better. This is the one I probably relate to the most.

2.      The Expert. The expert feels like an imposter because they don't know everything there is to know about a particular subject or topic, or they haven't mastered every step in a process. They have more to learn and therefore can't be an expert.

3.      The Natural Genius. If things come natural to you and you are academically gifted, you may feel like a fraud if you don't get something right the first time around or it takes you longer to master a skill.

4.      The Soloist. It's also possible to feel like an imposter if you had to ask for help to reach a certain level or status. Since you couldn't get there on your own, you question your competence or abilities.

5.      The Superperson. This involves believing that you must be the hardest worker or reach the highest levels of achievement possible and, if you don't, you are a fraud.

I’m pretty sure everyone would fall into on of these categories at some point and it can be a barrier to growth.

How I did it (or continue to try to do it):

• Remind myself of my achievements and the hard work that got me here.

• Accept compliments – and don’t deflect with a put down on myself – I now let them sink in.

• Seek feedback from people about how I’m doing. Finding the balance of needing to be a strong, independent business women whilst still being vulnerable is a hard balance to do well. I try to just be aware of that.
  

• Clock that imposter syndrome is real and raises its head at the oddest of times!

• Try to provide a platform for other voices to be heard – which bolsters my confidence as well as theirs.

I hope this helps someone!

By putting yourself out there, you can build your brand to what you want, elevate your profile, and create new opportunities for yourself.

It’s time to step up, stand out, and shine.

Remember "Where there is a woman, there is magic." - Ntozake Shange