I had an absolute blast at the 360 Woman Africa Conference last Saturday in Lagos. It was one of those events that leave you so inspired, you start rethinking your life choices halfway through the keynote.
Now, if you didn’t attend the event, don’t worry, I’m bringing the gist straight to you. Not the dance, items, or awards though; some things are better experienced than narrated.
The convener, Dr. Yvonne Chioma Ofodile, beautifully explained that the “360” in 360 Woman represents wholeness: a woman getting everything she desires in different areas of life; spiritually, professionally, in motherhood, marriage, and beyond.
As a personal brand strategist, I couldn’t help but notice that while many of the speakers never mentioned the words personal branding, every lesson they shared pointed directly to it.
Here are seven powerful lessons I took away; each one deeply tied to your personal branding journey.
1. Alignment: The Foundation of Your Brand
Pearl Uzokwe spoke passionately about the power of alignment—being in tune with your vision, values, and goals. She shared how, over the years, she’s learned to choose what feels right over what looks right to others.
Everyone has an opinion about what you should do, but only you know what truly drives you.
In personal branding, alignment is your compass. Without it, you’ll end up building a brand that pleases people but drains your soul.
Before you choose a niche, a logo, or even a tagline, choose alignment—alignment with your calling, your purpose, and your long-term goals.
2. Becoming: The Lifelong Process
Mrs. Bunmi Lawson shared a powerful insight about “becoming.” She said, “The ‘ing’ in becoming means I need God, I nurture growth, I need greatness.”
That struck a chord.
Personal branding isn’t a one-time project—it’s a lifelong journey of becoming. You’re constantly evolving, learning, and redefining how you show up for others.
There’s no “arrival point” in personal branding. You don’t just build it once and move on. You keep refining, improving, and aligning as you grow.
In short, you’re always becoming—until the day you die.
3. Be Audacious: Choose the Path Less Travelled
One of the recurring themes at the event was boldness.
Your vision shouldn’t be limited by your current abilities or circumstances. As one of the speakers put it, “Let your vision be beyond your ambition—but never beyond your belief.”
Personal branding requires audacity. You have to stand for something—even when it’s unpopular. You have to be willing to show up differently, think differently, and sometimes walk alone.
Go ahead and take that unconventional path. The crowd may not understand it now, but they’ll applaud later.
4. Resilience, Change, and Growth
When Fela Durotoye took the stage, the energy in the room changed. If you’ve ever heard him speak, you know what I mean.
He shared stories of hosting conferences where only a fraction of the expected crowd showed up—or worse, where he ran into debt afterwards. Yet, he didn’t stop.
He reminded us that the 360 Woman Africa Conference is now in its 7th edition—proof that consistency eventually compounds into greatness.
In personal branding, your “7th edition” might be years away—but you have to start with your first. Every brand you admire today was once invisible. Stay the course, even when results seem slow.
Resilience is the bridge between your vision and your visibility.
5. Networking: Build Connections that Elevate You
If there’s one thing every successful woman at that event emphasized, it’s this: you cannot grow in isolation.
Networking isn’t just about exchanging business cards or following people on LinkedIn—it’s about building authentic relationships that stretch you.
Want to elevate your personal brand? Surround yourself with mentors, accountability partners, and people who challenge your excuses. Your network shapes your narrative.
6. Real Change Starts from Within
One of the speakers introduced the concept of “In-vironment”—the change that begins inside before it manifests outside.
She said something profound:
“Moving forward and moving upward are not the same thing. Moving forward means doing more of the same; moving upward requires transformation from within.”
That’s the secret to an authentic personal brand. Your external growth will only rise as high as your internal transformation.
If you want to elevate your personal brand, start by elevating your mindset, your habits, and your self-awareness.
7. Excellence is the Real Brand Strategy
Another unforgettable lesson came from a speaker who said,
“Doing a good job shouldn’t get you promoted. That’s what you’re paid for. Doing a great job is what gets you promoted.”
That line deserves to be framed in every office.
In the world of personal branding, excellence is your loudest advertisement. People may forget your title, but they’ll never forget how excellent your work was.
Good work keeps you employed; great work makes you unforgettable.
Final Thoughts
Every session at the 360 Woman Africa Conference reminded me that personal branding is not just about social media aesthetics or visibility—it’s about becoming the kind of person whose values, voice, and vision align perfectly.
Each speaker—Pearl Uzokwe, Bunmi Lawson, Fela Durotoye, and others—has built a brand not by saying “Look at me,” but by living in alignment with purpose, resilience, and service.
And when Fela Durotoye spoke about vision… let’s just say there were many “Oh my God” moments. I’ll be sharing those insights in another post soon, so stay tuned.
So tell me:
Which of these lessons resonated with you the most?
And which one do you think you need to apply right now in your personal branding journey?
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