In this episode of Leave Your Mark, I sit down with Stacey Ross Cohen, CEO and founder of Co-Communications, bestselling author of the Brand Up series, TEDx speaker, and marketing professor, to discuss personal branding and career advancement for early professionals. The conversation dives into the essentials of beginner personal branding, highlighting a three-step framework from Stacey's book, Brand Up 2.0: Propel Your Early Career Success. It features invaluable career-building best practices and helps young adults tell unique stories highlighting their best selves and answering the million-dollar question: Why Choose You?

Stacey shares insights on leveraging LinkedIn, networking, and the balance between content creation and genuine engagement. She also offers practical advice for young professionals on effective job application strategies and how to make a lasting impression during interviews. Additionally, the episode touches on the crucial role of follow-up skills and the nuanced use of LinkedIn's 'open to work' feature. No matter your career path or goals, Stacey's insights will teach you how to craft your professional digital presence and set you up for success.

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

01:30 Target Audience for the Book

02:35 Understanding Personal Branding

04:39 Personal Branding in 3D Framework

06:24 Delivering Your Value

10:32 Navigating Social Media and Algorithms

13:58 Graduation Tips and Job Market Insights

18:31 Networking and Interviewing Skills

21:40 Brand Up Book Overview

28:39 Open to Work on LinkedIn

32:32 Conclusion and Final Thoughts