Me v We: Event Roundup

Thank you to everyone who joined us at our Me v We pro manchester event last week which took place at the Treehouse Hotel in Manchester. A special thanks to our panellists – Stuart Hurst, Orla McGrath, Michael Taylor and Nick Freeman who were so open in sharing their experiences and opinions. The sell-out event ended with a lively Q&A session, clearly striking a chord with the audience.

Stuart’s passion for his profession came across throughout with his approach to personal branding very much centring around seeking forgiveness rather than permission when it comes to posting on social channels. Michael, speaking from a journalistic point of view, stressed that he often has to peel back the layers of personal branding to get to the nub of a story.

Lawyer Nick gave an interesting take on the topic, explaining that the ‘Mr Loophole’ brand allowed him to keep his private life private when his professional profile was at an all-time high. Orla, from nationwide placemaker Muse, highlighted that it’s becoming increasingly challenging for brands to get their messages out on corporate social channels and therefore it has never been more important to have ambassadors who understand a brand’s values.

Whilst each panellist brought a different perspective, the underlying takeaway from the event was the importance of authenticity, in sharp contrast to a ‘fake it till you make it’ approach. If you really care and are passionate about your subject and demonstrate this consistently – knowing your subject better than anyone else – that’s the best way to build your brand, and this can live in harmony with a corporate brand.