Professionals Offer Branding Tips at Mississippi College

Professionals discussed personal branding during a lecture series at the Mississippi School of Business.Professor Michelle Beauchamp, the program moderator, is pictured on November 8 with speakers Don Roy, Candie Simmons and Andy Wimberly at the Self Hall auditorium.

Developing a personal brand takes time and effort. In a few words or sentences, people sum up their unique strengths and skills to make them stand out on the job.

A marketing strategist for Regions Financial Corporation in Jackson, Candie Simmons keeps her brief branding statement on her cell phone. A marketing professor at Middle Tennessee State University, Don Roy has narrowed his personal brand to seven words.

Simmons, Roy and Jackson-based financial advisor Andy Wimberly provided valuable tips on the subject of branding to hundreds of Mississippi College students on Thursday.

The guests appeared on the Clinton campus on November 8 as part of the MC School of Business Speaker Series.

A native of Ocean Springs, Simmons calls herself a “results-driven professional” as part of her personal brand. She effectively sums up her life in a couple of short sentences.

Personal brand statements must show a person’s strengths, and unique skills. Wimberly, an experienced executive business coach, said it’s key for applicants to reach decision-makers with their unique brands. “Don’t blend in.”

When dozens of recent college graduates interview for the same job, a well-written and creative personal brand can make a big difference, speakers emphasized.

President Blake Thompson joined School of Business Dean Marcelo Eduardo, faculty and other special guests in attendance at the one-hour program.

Packing Self Hall Auditorium, students were advised to make every correspondence count with potential employers.

All email responses sent to employers must contain complete sentences, Simmons noted. Misspelled words on emails or texts can often result in immediate rejections.

Roy, whose marketing career spans more than 30 years, believes branding oneself is a way to bridge the gap between image and identity.

Listening to their words of advice, Mississippi College kinesiology major Elijah Rogers of Jackson said the lecturers taught him about the importance of branding and personal networking to succeed in today’s competitive marketplace.

MC’s Chapter of the American Marketing Association presented the Fall lecture. Renasant Bank served as the sponsor of the program titled “Branding Yourself.”

All three speakers brought considerable expertise to the table.

Professor Roy’s two professional passions are branding and mentoring. The recipient of a doctorate in marketing from the University of Memphis, he’s penned two books on personal branding.

A senior vice president at Regions, Simmons provides marketing support for the bank’s operations throughout Alabama, South Mississippi, Texas and Louisiana.

Wimberly and his team created “The Discovery Process” that helps people focus on what’s important in their businesses.

During the discussions, speakers talked about branding for major American companies, including Starbucks and Chick-fil-A.