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Forbes
2 hours ago
- Business
- Forbes
Why Personal Branding Is The New Business Branding
Nitin Gupta, founder of QRCodeChimp. He's a technology leader with over two decades of technology development and management experience. getty I met a young Punjabi entrepreneur at a networking event in San Francisco a few years ago. Let's say his name was Manjit. As startup founders, we bonded quickly. Manjit was looking for investments for his tech firm. He met every angel investor possible to hand over his visiting cards and deliver a well-rehearsed elevator pitch about his product. He was confident that his energetic pitch would land him the opportunity he sought. He ended the event with high hopes. The following year, I met Manjit again at the same event. He revealed that he was still looking for an investor. But this year, he approached them with a different plan. Instead of a pitch, Manjit had a story to tell—the problem he identified as an expat living in a foreign land, how his product would address it and how millions of expats would benefit from it, promising great ROI. Manjit's story worked—he secured seed funding, and I learned a valuable lesson: Personal branding is no longer optional; it has become the foundation of business branding. The modern customer craves authenticity. Many people want to know the stories and faces behind a company. According to Edelman's 2023 Trust Barometer, 63% of people trust their neighbors, while 48% trust CEOs. Often customers want to know what an individual says about a brand more than what the brand says about itself. Some entrepreneurs have even become household names because of their voice and presence, making them more relatable to the common person than their companies. Traditional branding, such as logos, colors and taglines, still matters. However, I've noticed that what attracts customers and builds trust with them is the human behind the brand. The short answer is: Emotion wins over noise. Most people don't want to hear sales pitches. However, people are constantly bombarded by social media ads, marketing emails and website pop-ups, almost exasperating them. Here, personal branding works like a fresh breath of air. When someone speaks, shares a personal anecdote, tells a story or admits to a mistake, people listen, relate and often connect emotionally. Personal branding allows people to see the human behind the brand. • The power of word-of-mouth marketing: Back in 2012, a Nielsen study found that 92% of consumers trusted earned media, including individual recommendations, over brand messaging. Fast-forward to today, and much of that trust has shifted to social media influencers and vocal business leaders who shape opinions and drive purchasing decisions. • Relatability: The efficacy of a human connection is undeniable. When someone hears an entrepreneur talk about dreams, aspirations or failures, they can often instantly relate to the situations—a feat an inanimate object like a corporate brand can't achieve easily. • Engagement: Personal stories on LinkedIn and other social media platforms often see higher engagement than brand posts. Why? They feel real and build trust, encouraging people to buy from you, recommend you and invest in you. • Relevance: Personal branding keeps you visible. When you consistently express your opinion on various trending topics in addition to your business, you stay relevant (so does your brand). • Legacy: Your personal brand stays with you. Unlike businesses, which can grow, evolve or fail, your words, reputation and presence remain. I think Elon Musk is a good example of personal branding. Many people associate his personality, unfiltered views and futuristic vision directly with his companies like Tesla and SpaceX. Meanwhile Richard Branson's adventurous, bold personality makes Virgin come across as approachable and daring to many people. In India, I think Anand Mahindra's personal brand as someone who's thoughtful, witty and socially conscious has enhanced Mahindra Group's global corporate image. And Ankur Warikoo built a massive audience by sharing personal stories, career lessons and failures. First things first, you don't need an avant-garde media team or to spend tons of money to build your personal brand. Here's how to do it instead: • Pick a platform: Identify your customer demographics and where they spend most of their time. It could be LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter/X or YouTube—or all of these. Start with one platform, be consistent, and scale as your audience grows. • Share your story: Talk about your journey—why did you start your business, and how are you addressing an issue? Talk about the challenges and the solutions. Trust me, people are more interested in listening to a story than reading product features. • Offer value: Teach and inspire people. Share lessons, mistakes, wins and insights. • Be real: Dare to be imperfect. Don't overthink. People typically connect more to real human personas rather than the sanitized versions. • Engage: Build a community. Start conversations and respond often. Reply to comments, and show support to people and causes. You might be wondering: "Is all this effort worth it?" Absolutely. It can shorten sales cycles because people already trust you. It can attract talent because people want to work "with" you, not just your company. It can open doors to speaking gigs, media coverage and partnerships. And it can make your business more resilient because your presence keeps your brand alive. Personal branding is not about ego. It's about connection. People want to know who you are, not just what you sell. As an entrepreneur, showing up as yourself can be your biggest differentiator. The world doesn't just need more products—it needs more people who are real, relatable and driven by purpose. So the next time you think of investing in your business brand, ask yourself—what am I doing to build my brand? Your face, your voice, your story—it's the brand people trust. Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders. Do I qualify?
Russia Today
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Russia Today
‘Small group' of Khalistanis in Canada fund violence in India
A small number of Khalistani separatists in Canada continue to use the country as a base to fund political violence in India, the Canadian Security and Intelligence Service (CSIS) has said in a report. Khalistanis, or Sikh separatists, seek to carve out an ethno-religious country from the Indian state of Punjab. The movement for a nation of Khalistan reached its peak in India in the 1980s and has few backers in the country now. However, members of the Sikh diaspora have been trying to revive the movement in Canada. India and Canada disagree on the degree of the threat posed by Khalistani activists. 'Some Canadians participate in legitimate and peaceful campaigning to support the Khalistan movement,' the CSIS said in its report. 'Non-violent advocacy for an independent state of Khalistan is not considered extremism.' The Canadian intelligence report added: 'Only a small group of individuals are considered Khalistani extremists because they continue to use Canada as a base for the promotion, fundraising or planning of violence primarily in India.' The report reaffirmed allegations of an Indian government connection in the killing of prominent Khalistan figure Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The agency claimed that India, along with Russia, China, Pakistan and Iran, are the 'main perpetrators of foreign interference and espionage' against Canada. The report, which was presented in the Canadian Parliament last week, nearly coincided with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's talks with his Canadian counterpart, Mark Carney, at the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, where they agreed to improve diplomatic ties. Canada-India relations began to deteriorate after the 2023 G20 summit in New Delhi, where then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Modi only held informal talks, exchanging concerns over 'anti-India activities' in the North American nation. Ties between the countries reached a low in October 2024 when Canadian officials accused Indian diplomats of targeting Sikh activists in Canada, leading to the mutual expulsion of diplomats. The CSIS report noted that in October 2024, Canadian investigators found evidence that linked agents of the Indian government and criminal networks to sow violent activity in South Asian communities in Canada. 'Further, links between the Indian government and the Nijjar murder signals a significant escalation in India's repression efforts against the Khalistan movement and a clear intent to target individuals in North America,' the report added.
Telegraph
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Telegraph
Shubman Gill wants India to dominate – Ben Stokes will have other ideas
Shubman Gill can never be accused of lacking confidence. Gill, the new India captain, has his nickname 'Prince' stamped on his cricket bat and he is going to need that self-assurance when he comes face to face with Ben Stokes over the next six weeks. Under Stokes and Brendon McCullum, England have carved out a new style and, for all its ups and downs, Bazball achieves one thing; it rattles opposing captains. Pat Cummins, Rohit Sharma and Tom Latham have all spoken in the past about how they have had to reconsider their tactics and respond to the way England, and Stokes, challenge their thinking. Holding your nerve and staying calm is easier said than done when face to face with England on the charge. Cummins's eyes were spinning like a fruit machine at Old Trafford two years ago as England went on the rampage, and that image will remain with England as they prepare for the Ashes this winter. Gill will require a stiff backbone in his first series as captain, leading one of the world's most scrutinised sports teams, as they embark on the challenge of winning a series in England for the first time since 2007. Gill has inherited the No 4 position too, which in itself would be enough responsibility for a 25-year-old to handle without the burden of leadership. The role has been held by Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli since the early 1990s, before Gill was born, let alone picked up a cricket bat for the first time on his father's farm in the Punjab. Gill comes to the job with a Test average of 35 and much to prove away from home. He averages 29 outside of India and 31 against pace, which will be what England will throw at him in Brydon Carse and Josh Tongue. But it is the ultimate challenge, and Gill is relishing it. He has the world at his feet. Whether he can seize the moment will become clearer over the next five Tests. 'Hopefully we find ourselves in a position where he might scramble his own mind but we will not go out there purposely to put pressure on a new captain,' said Stokes, but he knows from his time playing in India the pressure Gill is under. On the For the Love of Cricket podcast this week, England's Jos Buttler said: 'I don't think we can quite understand the level of interest and the stardom that these guys have. You see it around the IPL [Indian Premier League], you're aware of it, but actually living that yourself… I think they say the Indian Test captain is like the third or fourth most influential person in India, behind the prime minister etc – so you really are put up on that pedestal. It's going to be a huge job for him.' 'I want to be the best batsman in the series' The first question of Gill's initial captain's press conference was about his 'coronation moment' and whether he had grasped the 'enormity' of the responsibility thrust upon him. If the job can be likened to the prime minister's office then Gill has a politician inside him. He straight-batted every question while saying all the right things. Sitting back in his chair and exuding calmness, he acknowledged the 'biggest honour' a player can have by captaining India in Test cricket and identified winning a five-Test series in England as a bigger achievement than lifting the IPL title. He shrugged off any thoughts he will walk to the crease with a target on his back now he is captain. 'I want to play as a batsman and dominate opposition and be the best batsman in the series. That is what I am trying to look at.' Buttler played under Gill for Gujarat Titans in the IPL and believes his captaincy will be a mix of Kohli's hot-headedness and Rohit's level-headedness. Kohli was never a tactical genius, but he gave an edge to India that has permeated through to the next generation; Gill sledged Jonny Bairstow and James Anderson in the last series against England and has been known to upset umpires in the IPL. Gautam Gambhir, the coach, is a 'prickly character' to quote Ricky Ponting, and he will expect his young captain to be punchy and reflect the self-confidence of Indian cricket. Gill has consulted both Kohli and Rohit about captaining in England and will lean on Gambhir for advice. Together they want to build a team where players 'feel secure and valued', giving them a longer rope, which will involve shutting out the noise and resisting the pressure to change tack when things inevitably go wrong at some stage. A captain is only as good as his bowling attack and in Jasprit Bumrah, Gill possesses the ace. To average 19 in Test cricket in the modern era of bigger bats, aggressive batsmen and flat pitches makes Bumrah a true great of the game; a bowler who can take wickets on any surface at any stage of an innings. Bumrah captained India in Australia when Rohit was unavailable, but the job went to Gill on a full-time basis because of workload fears. Bumrah will play at least three Tests against England, and how Gill uses him will determine whether he has the puff left for a fourth. 'He is young and energetic, he has his own thought process, and that is how it should be. If he needs anything from me, I will always be there for him,' Bumrah said about Gill this week. The pitch at Headingley is green but dry underneath, and, with sunny weather forecast, the groundsman is leaving the grass on it to try to prevent it breaking up for as long as possible. It is not going to be the seaming paradise on which Anderson and Ollie Robinson rolled India for 78 in the first innings four years ago. That series ended with India going home due to a Covid scare while 2-1 up. When they came back a year later to finish off the series, England had been rejuvenated by Bazball and romped to victory at Edgbaston. This time it is India and Gill's chance to show they are the team setting the agenda, and trying to spark new life into their Test team. 'Our side is not experienced but doesn't have any baggage coming to England, because not all have been here before. That could make a difference,' Gill said.
Arab News
11 hours ago
- Climate
- Arab News
Pakistan issues pre-monsoon rain alert from today, warns of urban flooding and damage risks
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast pre-monsoon rains across various parts of the country from today, Friday, warning of possible urban flooding and infrastructure damage in several regions. The alert comes as Pakistan braces for another season of extreme weather, following deadly heatwaves and catastrophic floods in recent years. Ranked among the ten most climate-vulnerable countries in the world, Pakistan is ramping up preparedness efforts, especially in Punjab, where authorities expect significantly above-average rainfall this monsoon. 'Pre-monsoon rains are predicted in the country from June 20-23 with occasional gaps,' the PMD said in its advisory issued on Thursday. 'Moist currents from Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea are penetrating upper and central parts of the country and a westerly wave is also likely to approach upper parts on June 20.' The department said dust storms, rain with wind and thundershowers, including isolated heavy rainfall and hailstorms, were expected in parts of Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan and numerous districts of Punjab and northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Affected areas include Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Faisalabad, Peshawar, Mardan, Swat, Chitral, Abbottabad and Waziristan among others. Similar conditions were also forecast for Sukkur, Larkana, Dadu, and Jacobabad in Sindh province from June 22 to 24. PMD cautioned that such weather could damage loose infrastructure such as electric poles, trees, vehicles and solar panels, particularly in upper and central regions including Islamabad. It added that intense heat was expected to ease gradually over the forecast period, advising farmers to plan agricultural activities accordingly. PMD also warned urban flooding could occur in Lahore, Gujranwala and the Islamabad-Rawalpindi region. Authorities have urged the public, travelers and tourists to exercise caution. ABOVE-NORMAL RAINFALL Meanwhile, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) of Punjab said on Thursday the province was likely to experience 25 percent more rainfall this monsoon season, with northeastern districts expected to receive 40 percent to 60 percent above-normal rainfall. 'This projection necessitates proactive and coordinated efforts to mitigate risks associated with urban and riverine flooding,' the authority said, adding that all necessary arrangements had been completed to respond to any emergencies. The provincial government has begun distributing pamphlets to raise public awareness about the dangers of floods, heavy rains and strong winds. Pakistan experienced devastating floods in 2022 that left more than 1,700 people dead and displaced over 33 million across the country. Experts described the disaster as a consequence of climate change, after floodwaters destroyed homes, farmland, and public infrastructure, causing financial losses exceeding $35 billion.
SBS Australia
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- SBS Australia
‘Fitness, faith and fulfilment': 90-year-old yoga instructor shares his journey of service and strength
Find all our podcasts and stories that matter here at For news, information, and interviews in Punjabi from Australia and the homeland, tune into SBS Punjabi live, Monday to Friday at 4 pm, on SBS South Asian , digital radio (channel 305 on your television) or via the SBS Audio app . You can also stream directly from our website .
