Finding your ‘why’ is at the heart of authentic personal branding. When we launched the Dapper 9 in 2021, something fascinating emerged from our conversations with leaders at every level. Whether we were working with CEOs, entrepreneurs, or emerging leaders, they all shared similar challenges: overcoming imposter syndrome and connecting authentically with their own story. The two are intricately linked, but to keep the main thing the main thing, we’re going to focus on the authentic connection piece in this post.
The Story Behind Brand YourselfÂ
One client shared a reflection that stayed with us: “I kept trying to be what I thought a leader should be, instead of the leader I actually am.”
This insight sparked something. We’d spent countless hours with brilliant professionals who knew their craft inside out, yet sometimes struggled to bring their whole selves to their work lives. Their LinkedIn posts didn’t quite reflect their personality. Their presentations missed the natural warmth they showed in casual conversations. Their leadership style felt slightly out of alignment with who they really were.
We realised that the most powerful shifts happened when we moved away from traditional ‘personal branding’ approaches and started by asking a simpler question: what matters most to you?
Take Phemelo Sello, a recent graduate of Brand Yourself. He joined us hoping to enhance his professional presence. But his real journey began when we asked him about joy. This opened up a conversation which went far beyond updating his LinkedIn profile. As he reconnected with what truly mattered to him, showing up authentically in all aspects of his life became natural.
What we discovered was simple: authenticity feels fulfilling, but it’s also remarkably effective in a world where genuine connections matter more than ever.
Yet we noticed a gap. While Dapper 9’s coaching was creating wonderful transformations, we wanted to make these tools and learnings more widely available. Early-career professionals, entrepreneurs building their first ventures, young leaders in growing companies – they all deserved access to these insights.
And this is how Brand Yourself was born. Over an intensive six-months, Team Dapper created an online, DIY version of our flagship Dapper 9 product. Since then, we’ve fine tuned the content, added to the library of videos from relevant experts, and received incredible feedback from users which makes all the hard work even more worthwhile!
How Brand Yourself Works
Building a professional brand can feel a bit overwhelming at first. Where do you start? What really matters? How do you stay true to yourself whilst growing professionally?
Like anything in life, if something’s worth doing, it’s worth doing well. Real change comes through a healthy sense of curiosity, commitment, and an open heart. Brand Yourself is not the drive-thru of personal brand-building; it’s a cross-country road trip that requires packing the essentials: time to explore the backroads of your experience, courage to venture off the highway and commitment when you feel a little lost. It’s about being curious, a little bit vulnerable and committed!
That said, the programme fits seamlessly into your daily life (because we all have quite enough on our plates already). Unfolding in three parts, each one builds naturally on the last. Each chapter brings its own small revelations, moving from self-discovery towards practical application. Along the way, you’ll explore how your unique perspective can shape content that connects, develop a visual brand that feels natural to you, and build quiet confidence in your professional voice.
“I discovered my unique voice, learned to express it authentically, and unearthed a wellspring of self-worth I never knew existed,” shares Francois Viljoen, Founder of Fukumu. “Each chapter and exercise felt like a personal pep talk, unlocking the confidence and clarity I needed to navigate my path confidently.”
What makes Brand Yourself special pushes past the theory, giving you practical tools you can use straight away. Our LinkedIn guide helps you refresh your profile while maintaining your authentic voice. The Perfect Average Day exercise kick starts your journey to align your brand with your true aspirations. And our content framework makes sharing your story feel natural and uncontrived.
“The ‘What Brings You Joy’ exercise and getting clarity around the things that really inspire me in life have planted the seed for me,” reflects Tamryn Moir, Occupational Health Nurse. “I’ve really loved this experience, and the fact that anyone can do it and benefit from it.”
Your Journey Starts Here
Whether you’re considering Brand Yourself for yourself, your team, or your organisation, there’s a lovely flexibility to how you can engage. Some people dive straight in and complete the programme in six weeks. Others prefer to take their time, savouring each chapter over three months. Both approaches work beautifully, provided you have accountability built in to complete it in the timeline you commit to.
For organisations, universities and MBA programmes, we offer dedicated cohorts where teams can support each other through the journey. It’s a wonderful way to strengthen alignment in terms of brand and culture, whilst developing individual voices.
In a nutshell, here’s what Brand Yourself stands for:
- Start with what brings you joy – authentic branding flows from there
- Your unique perspective is your greatest professional asset
- Personal branding works best when it reflects your true self
- Small, consistent steps create lasting professional presence
Are You the Right Fit?
Take a moment to consider whether you want to explore and articulate your values and identity in a meaningful way. Some prompts to get you thinking:
- Your ‘Why’: What is your purpose? How do you want to be in the world?
- Your ‘What’: Do you understand your human essence? What drives your vision, values, and identity?
- Your ‘How’: How do you articulate your vision, values, and identity? Does it align with your core beliefs? Does it resonate with others?
The most important thing? Simply starting. Because your story is already out there – why not make it one that truly reflects you?
Welcome to Brand Yourself.
