Today I talk with my friend and coauthor, Mike Kim, personal branding expert, Wall Street Journal bestselling author, and co-author of the brand new book Own Your Brand, Own Your Career. In this special episode, we discuss how we wrote our book, the importance of trust and the importance of personal branding for corporate professionals.

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This episode is sponsored by LearnIt, which is offering a FREE trial of their TeamPass membership for you and up to 20 team members of your team. Check it out here.

And by Mento which offers a unique 80/20 coaching style utilizing coaches with real world experience to help your people drastically improve performance. Learn more at Mento.co

Connect with Andy here: Website | LinkedIn

Connect with Mike Kim here: LinkedIn

Key highlights from this episode include:

• Andy shares the story behind the new book, “Own Your Brand, Own Your Career,” co-authored with Mike Kim, and why they teamed up to bring personal branding strategies to professionals beyond just the entrepreneur world.
• Mike describes the value of collaboration over competition and lessons learned from co-writing a book, emphasizing trust, humility, and clarity in working relationships.
• Discover practical frameworks for personal branding, including Mike’s signature “Personal Brand 3 (PB3)” questions to help you clarify your purpose and stand out.
• Andy and Mike offer fresh, actionable exercises for defining your identity, leveraging your career experiences, and determining what you want to be known for within your organization or industry.
• Get a preview of the book’s key chapters, including up-to-date strategies for building your brand in an era shaped by technology and AI, and the seven essential human traits that will matter most in the workplace of the future.
• Learn the secrets to developing trust, influence, and relationships at work and why these human skills will only increase in value as automation and AI advance.
• Uncover the shift happening in organizations as more companies recognize the value of personal brands, not just for individuals, but for their teams and enterprise success.
• Mike and Andy discuss how to approach your career with an entrepreneurial mindset, lead without a title, and build your legacy through intentional action.
• The episode also features expert-backed job search and interview tips, curated specifically for professionals seeking to leverage their personal brand for career growth.
• Don’t miss the discussion about LinkedIn, storytelling, and strategies to cultivate an authentic, respected brand both online and...

Today, Andy Storch goes solo on the Talent Development Hot Seat to break down the misunderstood, high-impact topic of personal brand and what it really means, why it matters, and how anyone can start building theirs for career and organizational success.

Subscribe to our weekly updates and monthly talent development newsletter here.

Order Own Your Career Own Your Life on Amazon

Apply to Join us in the Talent Development Think Tank Community!

This episode is sponsored by LearnIt, which is offering a FREE trial of their TeamPass membership for you and up to 20 team members of your team. Check it out here.

Connect with Andy here: Website | LinkedIn

Andy takes listeners beyond the buzzwords, drawing on his experience as a coach, author, and talent development leader to explain why crafting an intentional, authentic personal brand is quickly becoming a must for professionals at every level, not just executives or influencers.

In this episode, Andy explores:

• What are you known for? Key questions to help you define and evolve your own brand and reputation at work and beyond.
• The hidden elements: Why your personal brand is shaped by everything from your work style to your hobbies, and how it impacts internal and external opportunities.
• Real-life exercises: Simple ways to assess your current brand and identify strengths, gaps, and actionable next steps.
• Lessons from coaching: Stories of professionals who’ve grown their brand both inside and outside the office, including actionable tips anyone can apply.
• Reputation in action: How micro-judgments in meetings or emails quietly shape how colleagues see you and what to do about it.
• Opportunities for teams: Why HR, talent, and L&D departments can (and should) build their own reputations to drive greater organizational impact.
• Humanizing your brand: The value of sharing personal interests, family, or resilience journeys and how this helps people connect and remember you.
• LinkedIn as a tool: The difference between internal and external personal brands, and why even small steps on social can pay off big.
• Organizational ripple effects: How developing employee brands can elevate the entire company’s reputation, culture, and recruiting potential.
• Practical resources: Sneak peek into Andy’s new book, “Own Your Brand, Own Your Career,” with activities and frameworks for teams and individuals.

Whether you’re an individual contributor, HR leader, or senior exec, Andy’s practical strategies will help you harness your personal brand as a lever for career growth, visibility, and positive workplace change.

Inspired to get started? Find more resources, book info, and connect with Andy directly at ownyourbrandbook.com or andystorch.com, and don’t forget to pre-order or check out his new book for the full playbook.

Stay ambitious, stay grateful, and join us next week for a conversation with Andy’s co-author Mike Kim on the art of building a brand and career you’re proud of!

Today on the Talent Development Hot Seat Podcast, host Andy Storch welcomes back Dr. Keith Keating, Chief Learning Officer, author, and L&D thought leader, to discuss his new book, "Hidden Value: How to Reveal the Impact of Organizational Learning."

Subscribe to our weekly updates and monthly talent development newsletter here.

Order Own Your Career Own Your Life on Amazon

Apply to Join us in the Talent Development Think Tank Community!

This episode is sponsored by LearnIt, which is offering a FREE trial of their TeamPass membership for you and up to 20 team members of your team. Check it out here.

Connect with Andy here: Website | LinkedIn

Connect with Dr. Keith Keating here: LinkedIn

Key highlights from this episode include:

• Dr. Keating explains the shift from a “knowledge economy” to a “value economy” and what it means for talent professionals.
• He uses the “mycelium network” analogy to describe how L&D is a hidden but vital driver of organizational success.
• Learn about the three dimensions of L&D impact: economic, personal, and societal.
• Dr. Keating introduces the “Value Architect” and the Value Creation Compass for aligning L&D with business priorities.
• The episode explores common challenges facing L&D, including being undervalued and labeled as order-takers.
• Insights on leveraging AI and technology to uncover and demonstrate hidden value.
• Dr. Keating shares leadership lessons from BDO Canada and ways to build both personal and organizational brands through thought leadership.
• Hear practical measurement tips and the importance of tailoring L&D to your organization’s unique context.

Tune in for actionable insights on maximizing the impact and visibility of talent development. Connect with Dr. Keith Keating on LinkedIn and check out "Hidden Value" for more strategies.