We launched our Women in Digital series with a compelling online presentation from the WeAreTheCity founder, Vanessa Vallely OBE. Here, Zone marketing executive Martha Green reveals what she learned about The Power of Profile…
I’d never really thought about raising my profile. Being 24 and at the start of my working life, I assumed it just happened as your career progressed — you raise your profile by working hard, getting a promotion, repeat. I also associated profile-raising with having a high profile, which makes me think of public speaking — something I actively avoid. As a marketing executive, my job is to raise the profile of Zone, which I enjoy doing. So it turns out I am happy to raise the profile of anyone but myself.
This made me the perfect candidate to receive Vanessa Vallely’s wisdom and knowledge, gained over her 25-year career in the male-dominated tech and finance industries. Vanessa is the founder of WeAreTheCity, a 120,000-member society that provides resources, conferences, awards and more to women across the UK.
Vanessa has given her Power of Profile presentation all over the world and, as an entrepreneur, she knows that personal profile is one of the most powerful elements in your business armory. Vanessa said the tipping point for her was being the only woman sat around her leadership table during a time when “gender wasn’t on the agenda and diversity wasn’t even a term”. So she decided to do something about it. Ten years later, Vanessa was awarded an OBE for her services to women and the economy. So, quite a raised profile then.
Here are the four things I took away from Vanessa’s presentation:
1. Build relationships
No one’s going to tap you on the shoulder and say: “You’re amazing, here is a promotion and a big pay rise!” Vanessa explained when she was young she thought if she got her head down and put in the hours, she would get the rewards. At the same time a colleague of hers was going out building a network and relationships/sponsorships. The colleague got promoted; she didn’t.
Building relationships with those outside and inside your network is important: societies like WeAreTheCity can help you. The next connection you make might end up being a future sponsor, mentor or mentee.
Vanessa’s tip: the follow-up is as important as the meeting (max 48 hours later)
2. Imposter syndrome is real and common for both genders
How does imposter syndrome surface? You think you’re going to be ‘found out’, you don’t take credit for your work, a lack of confidence, downplaying your achievements, you don’t take risks.
That’s me, I thought. Being the youngest in my family, among my friends and at work, I’ve always fought against an inferiority complex. I’ve also had the perception that I’ve been winging my way through most of my life, with things happening by chance. When, actually, I’ve worked really hard.
Vanessa’s top tips for imposter syndrome:
- No one is coming to find you out!
- Believe in your capabilities
- No comparing
- Own your success
- Be 100% you, stand up and be proud
3. Your digital footprint is your brand
When we want to know more about someone, we google them — which means people google you. So your digital footprint is essentially your brand, and more important than ever in the current climate.
Your brand consists of four components:
1. What people see
2. What people hear
3. What people say
4. What people read
Get to know yourself and be sure of who you are. Own what you stand for and your success. Then promote yourself! Vanessa noted that opportunities presented themselves to her when she enhanced her online profile.
Raising your LinkedIn profile:
1. Ensure you have a strong summary and headline by using keywords
2. A decent headshot
3. Meet & connect with people
4. Treat LinkedIn like your front door
5. Constantly update your details
6. Use the update facility, raising your profile and others
7. Thought leadership: share your blogs/videos/documents
8. Join groups that add value
9. Endorsements — get colleagues to endorse you and vice versa
Consistency builds trust: apply your brand across your social networking platforms and remember the job is never done — your brand is an ongoing project.
4. We are all human
Lastly, Vanessa shared some valuable life lessons, Including one that stood out to me: don’t miss out on the time you can never get back. Your life shouldn’t be 100% work and it is important to look after your mental health. For me this is paramount and something we should all be reminded of, particularly as for many of us our work life has been brought into our homes for the past seven months.
I left Vanessa’s talk feeling equipped. The knowledge Vanessa shared was universal even though the whole world feels remote. It felt like the reminder we all needed that there is potential in your career at all stages and you have the power to elevate yourself. If anyone needs me, I’ll be updating my LinkedIn profile.
Join us at our next Women in Digital: Change the Dialogue. An online panel discussion with Ali Hanan, founder and CEO of Creative Equals, Resh Sidhu, Executive Creative Director at Barbarian and more.
Hosted by our very own delivery lead and TechWomen100 winner, Zara Powell, we’ll be quizzing our esteemed panel on how to change the dialogue — discussing a range of topics from creative leadership and the best ways to inspire ambitious women, to getting back into the swing of things after a career break.
