Personal Branding: Must Have, Not Nice to Have

The term 'Personal Brand' is being thrown around a lot right now, but from a PR perspective, the newsworthiness of founders and CEOs isn’t just a nice to have—it’s the future of business.

Just think about this: who are the founders and CEOs almost everyone knows? Yup, ask anyone, and you'll get Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, Warren Buffett, Kim Kardashian, etc.

At the heart of any newsworthy CEO or founder is a compelling personality. Elon Musk, for instance, isn’t just known for leading companies like Tesla and SpaceX; he’s a media personality in his own right.

His tweets, interviews, and public appearances often make headlines, creating a constant buzz around his ventures. Likewise, as are all the other names above.

They're not 'corpo speak' suits or talking heads (like many executives on LinkedIn). People are naturally drawn to storytellers, and a dynamic CEO can provide a narrative that resonates personally, turning customers into loyal advocates.

When a leader is regularly in the news, the brand is kept in the public eye, reinforcing its relevance and keeping it top of mind for consumers.

It also works both ways; a robust and charismatic leader can elevate a brand, while a brand making waves in its industry can bolster the newsworthiness of its CEO.

In my career, I've learned that being newsworthy isn’t just about seeking attention—it’s about leveraging personality and brand impact to create lasting value.

In practical terms, this can be achieved by simply a founder or CEO running their own socials, or 'going direct' to talk to the media, shareholders and customers.

If you wonder why some CEOs crave attention but barely get likes, while others are regularly interviewed by the New York Times or Joe Rogan, now you know.

Looking for inspiration? Check out this list of the most newsworthy founders and CEO’s here.