Why is executive branding important?

Building and maintaining trust with customers is increasingly challenging, with 75% of executives finding it tougher than ever in today’s landscape. On top of that, 60% of Gen Z thinks most people can’t be trusted—and that generation’s members say they’re more likely to trust individuals than big organizations or brands. So, if you're a brand trying to grow your audience, it's clear: personal branding for executives has never been more important!

What is executive branding?

Executive branding, also known as thought leadership or personal branding, describes actions by company leaders to intentionally create public and professional online personas via social media and other online platforms.

When executives share their insights, expertise, and authentic views, they’re building trust with key stakeholders like customers, partners, and other target audiences. And guess what? That trust helps boost the company’s brand and can lead to some serious long-term success!

Is executive branding effective?

At Delightful, we've witnessed the success of executive branding firsthand while collaborating with Fortune 500 technology companies. For example, in 2024, we helped a group of 15 executives within the same business unit develop their thought leadership through personalized social media strategies. The results? A 21 percent increase in LinkedIn followers, over 100,000 likes, comments, and reposts, and an average of 400,000 social media impressions per executive in just the first four months of the year.

This success highlights how investing in executive branding can have a ripple effect on a company’s overall visibility and impact.

What is involved in creating a brand?

We take our clients through an in-depth discovery process. Through interviews and strategic brainstorming sessions, we dive into each leader’s unique strengths, communication style, and business priorities to craft an executive brand that feels authentic and aligned with the company's values.

• Developing a distinct voice and tone is crucial in making a brand resonate authentically with an audience. The voice conveys personality and values. It ensures consistency across all communications, creating a recognizable and trusted image. If it is well-crafted, it sets the leader apart from everyone else in a crowded space.
• Executives need to understand their audiences. Connecting with an industry-specific target group, customers, partners, or other thought leaders is a vital step in telling your story. You can’t do this if you don’t know who they are, what they care about, and where they get information. An

• can lead to more engaging and valuable conversations with the target audience.
• Because executives have multiple platforms—industry events, customer interactions, media responsibilities—we help them consider establishing the right tone for different contexts. Industry events may require a professional tone while a more casual, friendly tone is better for customer interactions. The tone may differ, but the core messages and values remain constant.

How do I build my own executive brand?

Nine in ten executives agree that thought leadership is key to establishing authority, yet only 20 percent are truly effective at it. That’s where we come in.

Sharing thought-provoking insights, celebrating big wins, or engaging with your audience—we’ll make sure your brand shines in all the right ways.