By Dylan Davey – a leading Talent and Brand Strategist and founder of The Social Inc and The Social Elite.
In today’s saturated digital world, a personal brand is no longer a nice-to-have; it is essential to thrive. For many, it is the passport to influence, opportunity and even legacy. But with so much noise and pressure to try and keep up, it can be easy to feel and appear inauthentic.
If you are looking for a reset, refresh or just thinking about the importance of your own personal brand, as a global talent and brand strategist, here are my top five steps to grow your personal brand in 2026.
1. Lead with Authenticity
Over the past decade we have seen influencers rule the waves but consumers today are more skeptical about what their favourite online creator or celebrity is promoting. What I am saying is, don’t just try and fit the mould — stay true to your personal brand in the first place.
2. Back to Basics
Now that you’re thinking authentically, intentionally strip it all back. Who do you want to talk to or influence? Go back to basics – from more raw videos on social media, jargon-free phrases, dropping the fancy over-hyped titles, and start to rebuild with a noise-free and easy-to-understand brand. Let’s say you are speaking at an event or being interviewed by the press – you should be able to say what you do and who you are in one short sentence. If not, you’re overcomplicating it, and you’ll lose your audience before you have built one.
3. Think of Yourself as the Super Connector
Think of yourself as the bridge to two worlds, communities, ideas, or industries. If you align your vision with the right partners or brands, for example, you will become indispensable and valued by those who appreciate your input and output. When people start to see you as the link between ideas and opportunities, your personal brand becomes much bigger than yourself!
4. Less is More
It is not about doing everything and anything – think of your strategy as ‘less is more’—focusing on doing the right things. Be strategic about where you show up and invest your energy in the opportunities that matter. Ultimately, the discipline of showing up with intention will make your presence feel more powerful and memorable to the right audience.
5. Build Trust
Look at the whole package – do you have a website, social media, and written and visual assets that people can absorb and learn all about you? Also, use avenues that hold credibility such as being in the media for your personal brand. Third-party recommendations are crucial for building trust in a world now heavy with AI — people are seeking human influence more than ever and it will become more important as time goes on.
About the expert
Dylan Davey is a talent and brand strategist, as well as the visionary entrepreneur behind The Social Inc., a global brand and talent agency known for pioneering high-profile partnerships. As CEO and Founder, Davey has reshaped the industry by engineering some of the most influential celebrity-brand collaborations and partnerships, including deals with Balenciaga, Katy Perry for Dubai’s Tourism Board, orchestrating Kourtney Kardashian’s transformative campaign with Boohoo, as well as Gwyneth Paltrow’s debut meditation app. The agency also made history by becoming the first to sign underrepresented talent for major UK TV shows such as Strictly Come Dancing, further establishing the agency’s position at the forefront of the entertainment and media scene.
