In a webinar delivered as part of the TransformHER series, Jasmine Foley, Owner of Empress Media Agency, explored how personal branding can help aspiring entrepreneurs create opportunities, build credibility, and gain greater independence.
Drawing on her experience as an entrepreneur, educator, and international pageant titleholder, Jasmine demonstrated that a strong personal brand is not about self-promotion.
“Entrepreneurial independence is achieved when people trust you, remember who you are, and seek out your expertise.”
Top tips from Jasmine:
- Consumers increasingly buy from people they trust rather than simply choosing products or services. Credibility, authenticity, and visibility are essential.
- It is important to identify the experiences, challenges, and perspectives that make you unique.
- When people are clear about their values, expertise, and mission, they become more comfortable speaking about themselves and their work.
“You’re an expert in your own story. You’re an expert in your own experience.”
How to build your personal brand:
- Define your values.
- Identify your niche.
- Understand your audience.
- Develop a consistent message.
- Share your story authentically.
- Build visibility online and offline.
- Capture and showcase achievements.
- Stay consistent across platforms.
The webinar concluded with a reminder that personal branding is not about becoming someone else. It is about communicating who you already are with confidence, consistency, and purpose so that the right opportunities can find you.
The TransformHER webinar series is designed under the Student Women Economic Empowerment Programme (SWEEP), implemented in collaboration with the British Council, and hosted by the Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education (EDHE) programme under Universities South Africa (USAf).