Donna Beford Speaks on Branding Yourself

On Thursday March 19, marketing maven Donna Bedford spoke to a group of 25 members and guests in the Walnut Creek offices of Burr Pilger Mayer. Members enjoyed networking and libations before Donna began her talk entitled “Brand Yourself! How to Differentiate Yourself and Stand Out in a Crowd.” Donna shared the importance of being aware of one’s personal brand and consciously making choices to project the brand that represents us best.

While many people think first of packaging or advertising as the place that brand starts, Donna challenges her audience to look inside first. She recommends that each individual think carefully about her core values and true passions and then identify what motivates us. She encourages us to think about personal goals and whether we have the support team that we need to reach those goals. Once we have a clear picture of our goals, then we can think about how we package or present ourselves. Donna suggests individuals who cultivate the mindset of a winner and play to their strengths will build the strongest personal brands. She highlights the importance of overcoming self-imposed barriers such as fear and self-doubt. By building self-confidence, Donna believes each of us can present a polished personal brand.