How to Stand Out Online with Global Brand Strategist Phil Pallen

Strategies to Build Your Brand Authentically from an Industry Expert

What does it really take to build a personal brand that stands out?

In this episode of the B Student podcast, Betsy Gardner sits down with Phil Pallen, brand strategist, Full Sail University graduate and Hall of Fame inductee. Phil has guided over 400 clients across 30+ countries and serves as a trusted advisor for Adobe.

This candid conversation covers:

- The true definition of personal branding in 2025
- How authenticity and imperfection strengthen credibility
- Actionable steps to audit and elevate your own brand
- How AI is shaping the future of branding strategy
- Why even small details, like a watch, can reinforce your identity

If you’re an entrepreneur, creator or leader navigating an AI-driven world, this episode is full of practical takeaways to help you show up online with confidence and consistency.

 

Watch the full episode by clicking here, and save these top 10 practical takeaways from this episode:

Consistency Builds Trust

Align your online presence with who you are in person to build authentic, trustworthy relationships.

 

Celebrate Imperfection Online

Show your real self, flaws and all, to create relatability and humanize your personal brand.

 

Courage to Show Up

Overcome the fear of vulnerability -- sharing your humanity makes you more relatable, even as a leader.

 

Small Steps, Big Growth

Treat building your brand like a marathon: take stepwise actions and focus on reaching each milestone.

 

Humanize Your Organization

People connect with people, not logos. Feature leadership, employees and customers to bring your company to life.

 

Failure Fuels Improvement

Embrace flop posts and failures -- they teach you more about what resonates and make your content more relatable.

 

Platforms Reflect Your Passion

Choose social media platforms you naturally frequent, making your content strategy sustainable and enjoyable.

 

Let Others Hold the Mirror

Ask colleagues or friends how they experience you to gain honest feedback and identify branding disconnects.

 

Brand is a Feeling

Objects like watches, stories or memories can serve as brand touchstones, evoking emotion and authenticity.

 

Test, Iterate, Enjoy

Experiment with content, iterate based on feedback, and don’t be afraid to fail and grow along the way.

 

To dive deeper into the stories of some of the most inspiring entrepreneurs and professionals in our network, catch the B Student podcast on YouTube, Apple or Spotify.