University of Hartford’s Wilde Auditorium was filled for Tuesday’s third annual Corine E. Norgaard Women in Leadership Lecture Series, and the audience was not just students required to attend for their business classes.
Amy Quigley, a marketing executive from the Boston area, spoke about building a personal brand and making connections, explaining that one’s expectations, memories, stories, and relationships with a brand drives the decision to support it.
Brands are not static, she said. One memorable example she gave was of Angelina Jolie, who used to be known as “kooky,” but who has essentially relaunched herself as a “humanitarian” in recent years.
Quigley, a 1993 graduate of the University of Hartford, provided a nine-point outline for personal branding ranging from the obvious (look at what you are passionate about and define what’s “not in your wheelhouse”) to actions that might be overlooked (conducting a focus group). She advised people to “be selfish with your brand,” to not overextend oneself for everyone. Simply put, be careful with whom your associate and give time.
Her urging to network in real life in addition to online might have sounded like duh advice, but those immersed in Internet culture may forget that social networking is actually not the beginning and ending of forming relationships. When asked about mentorship, she agreed it is useful and that speaking with “who you aspire to be” is a smart move. This can be as informal as arranging lunch with a colleague once each month.
The lecture was presented by the Barney School of Business, Entrepreneurial Center, Office of Institutional Advancement, Presidents’ College, and Women’s Education and Leadership Fund; this was free to attend and open to the general public.
