HARMONY MUKOLWE – LEAD MARKETPLACE COHORT 2

Going through the Lead Marketplace pillar has been a life-changing experience for me. I particularly enjoyed the sessions on personal branding during which we were practically taken through three steps to defining one’s personal brand— define your aspirations, determine your unique value proposition and finally, communicate your brand. Through the guidance of the coaches, we were able to create personal brand statements containing our respective visions, unique value propositions, work experiences and our desired opportunities.

The other aspects of this pillar that appealed to me were the Growth Mindset modules. With a view to enhancing market-readiness among participants, the Lead Marketplace pillar focuses on preparing them for careers in a VUCA world (a volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous world), just like it is at the moment. In a VUCA world, grit is key. It calls for looking at life as a marathon and not a sprint. Talent doesn’t make one gritty; perseverance and sticking longer with problems does. Hard work beats talent. Start, stick with things, and stay hungry!

After going through the pillar, I have been able to communicate my brand more effectively, differentiating my message from the competition. This I do using the brand statement I created during the pillar, with a few tweaks to fit various circumstances. I have settled on the platforms through which I communicate my brand in a clearer and more concise manner, the most conspicuous one being LinkedIn. Additionally, my executive presence has improved to near superb, with my communication following suit. I learnt that communication isn’t about what you say but what others hear, and that time is the most precious thing when it comes to communication. I have also focused on learning extra skills that are relevant in a VUCA world.

I would recommend Lead Marketplace to anyone, especially fresh graduates, who would like to practically learn how to create a great brand story and how to package themselves and effectively ‘market’ themselves to potential employers, clients, investors, etc. If you would like to learn how to maneuver the marketplace like a pro, this is the place to be.