INTHEBLACK December 2025 / January 2026 - Magazine - Page 32
“In a world where hard skills are being automated,
as a human you need to showcase the timeless
ones that won’t be as easily replaced.”
F E AT U R E
VINISHA RATHOD, P3 STUDIO
People are looking anyway — data from WifiTalents
shows 70 per cent of employers research candidates
online before hiring and 85 per cent of hiring
managers say a personal brand helps candidates
stand out. The reality is that if professionals are not
actively shaping their online persona, people will
make their own deductions from what is available,
and that may alter perception.
It makes a financial difference as well. The WifiTalents
data shows that personal branding can increase earning
potential by up to 20 per cent, and professionals with
active personal brands are 3.5 times more likely to get
new clients.
In an evolving job market where relying solely
on technical expertise is no longer sufficient,
building a personal brand is becoming more
and more important.
SKILLS AND STRENGTHS
It is best to start by defining your particular skills
and strengths, advises brand expert Vinisha Rathod,
managing director at p3 Studio and author of
The Briefcase Effect.
“This isn’t about superficial popularity but authentic
self-understanding and clear communication around
your unique skills and purpose. I reframe it as the
‘pursuit of mastery’,” she says.
Rathod suggests starting by clearly identifying
three core elements: what you are naturally good at,
how that translates to the work you do and what your
personal drivers are. “If you can clarify these three
things, it will help you answer the question ‘What do
you do?’ in a far more creative and memorable way,”
Rathod says.
Showcasing skills rather than a role and being
driven by something bigger than oneself is a powerful
tool, she explains. It shows care, builds trust and, with
technology and artificial intelligence (AI) increasingly
automating technical tasks, there is value in being
32 INTHEBLACK Dec 2025/Jan 2026 SPECIAL EDITION
able to highlight timeless human traits.
“Problem-solving, communication, stakeholder
management, strong initiative, leadership and the
ability to take on feedback are not traits you will find
in a CV. They will be in your reputation, your networks
and how you show up day-to-day,” Rathod says.
“In a world where hard skills are being automated,
as a human you need to showcase the timeless ones
that won’t easily be replaced.”
FEAR OF SELF-PROMOTION
It is common to fear self-promotion or have concerns
about being perceived as boastful. Individuals
often have an aversion to drawing attention to
themselves, and due to this, in some cultures,
highlighting achievements might only take place
in one-on-one meetings.
Edwin Ang FCPA, a career mentor and executive
coach based in Singapore, notes that while different
cultures approach personal branding and selfpromotion with distinct nuances, many people
working in accounting are reluctant to promote
themselves publicly.
“Accountants are not generally comfortable
with selling themselves,” he says. “They can be
humble and may not understand that there is a
difference between bragging and putting yourself
out there to show your value.”
“People from Australia or the UK tend to be more
comfortable with speaking up in group meetings,”
he continues. “I’ve seen Australian colleagues speak
for around five minutes to share their insights, and
then when it gets to someone from Asia, they will do
a 30-second update and quickly go back to listening.”
Selecting a method of promotion can also be
difficult. While some people might be more at ease
with writing articles, blog posts or social media
content, actively speaking or appearing in videos
can be daunting.
