6 min read
Dec. 11, 2023
Three tips for building your personal brand at work
Two AWS leaders talk about increasing women’s visibility in tech, the importance of being your authentic self at work, and some useful insights on how women can establish and reinforce their expertise in a male-dominated industry.
Written by the Life at AWS team
Many women leaders in tech have experienced being the “only” in the room at some time in their career — the only woman engineer, the only Hispanic, or even the only woman, period. AWS Area Sales Leader Angie Thomas and Senior Solutions Architecture Manager Julie Lowery have seen this first-hand throughout their lives.
“First, I was the only woman in all of my computer science classes,” Lowery said. “Then at my first job, I was the only woman engineer for 12 years.“
Thomas had similar experiences as the only woman electrical engineer, and many times, the only Hispanic in the room.
Lowery and Thomas shared their career stories and advice in a recent AWS panel discussion about building a personal brand and navigating career development. Here are three of their essential tips that can help you increase your visibility and capabilities at work.
Julie Lowery
AWS Senior Solutions Architecture Manager
Find your voice
Finding your voice means more than just having the courage to speak up. It’s about bringing your true self to every conversation.
“I’m a very energetic person,” Thomas said. “I bring 150 percent to whatever I do. That’s my authentic self, and it’s not going anywhere. So I had to be intentional about figuring how to show my energy instead of trying to hide it.”
Thomas recognized early in her career that her communication style was likely undercutting her effectiveness as a leader.
“I had the common problem of making my statements rise at the end like a question. And I would share so many details before getting to the point, so I could sometimes lose people’s attention before the important part,” Thomas said. “I looked around the industry and saw that a lot of leaders I admired had loads of coaches, so I worked with a communications coach. I invested in myself, and it made a big difference. It’s a great way to expand your skills and strengths.”
Finding your voice also means understanding when different communication styles are required, from critical conversations to celebrating a milestone.
“I took extra training because it was important to me to earn technical credibility with my very senior, very technical leadership team,” Lowery said.
As your career progresses, Thomas said you’re going to be put in situations that require different communication styles. Her best advice: Be authentic to yourself because that’s truly who you are.
“You can grow and evolve and change, but be true to yourself,” she said.
"Your brand is what people say about you when you’re not in the room. ... Ask yourself, 'what is your brand today, what do you want it to be, and how can you be intentional about taking steps to get there.'"
Julie Lowery
AWS Senior Solutions Architecture Manager
Define your brand
Your brand is what people say about you when you’re not in the room, Lowery said. If you’re not sure what your brand is, she recommends doing a frank self-assessment and asking peers and colleagues what they see as your brand.
“Ask yourself, 'what is your brand today, what do you want it to be, and how can you be intentional about taking steps to get there,'” Lowery said.
A simple way to think about your brand is this: What do you want to be known for?
"My role relies on strong partnerships with our service teams, so I want to be known for being responsive and collaborative," she said.
"I bring 150 percent to whatever I do. That’s my authentic self, and it’s not going anywhere. So I had to be intentional about figuring how to show my energy instead of trying to hide it.”
Angie Thomas
AWS Area Sales Leader
Angie Thomas
AWS Area Sales Leader
Build your network
Thomas’ advice to every new AWS team member is to get to know your colleagues.
“There are so many smart people here. I’m always thinking, who do I want to reach out to? Who might I need an introduction to? I keep a list of people I want to meet or reconnect with regularly,” Thomas said.
Building a supportive network means identifying the people you want to learn from, not just focusing on growing a big network, she said.
“It’s about building a network of people you trust who can help you solve challenges,” Thomas said. “When I’m in a pickle, I am grateful that my network quickly responds with help, so I’m quick to react to their calls and make sure we’re unblocking each other.”
Lowery agrees and emphasizes being active in your network—and getting outside your comfort zone.
“I can’t overstate the value of a strong professional network. Simple tips for building yours include being present, being visible, and being available,” she said. “Explore mentorship programs. Join an affinity group or other work communities. Even consider joining a board. By doing so, you can gain access to other board members and their own networks.”
Whether you're early in your career or a seasoned leader, focusing on finding your authentic voice, defining your professional brand, and actively building your network can help increase your visibility and capabilities at work. Taking time for self-reflection, seeking feedback from colleagues, and identifying role models are all valuable steps towards developing an influential personal brand and supportive community that will fuel your career growth.
Interested in AWS?
We’re always glad to connect with talented people. Tell us a bit about what you want to do and we’ll keep you posted on relevant roles and what we’re building at AWS.
Stories we think you'll like
Article title orem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit
Curabitur congue et est vel scelerisque. Mauris efficitur non metus id maximus. Donec aliquet, libero ac semper imperdiet, tortor eros facilisis velit, sit amet egestas tellus orci non libero.
Read more »
Article title orem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit
Curabitur congue et est vel scelerisque. Mauris efficitur non metus id maximus. Donec aliquet, libero ac semper imperdiet, tortor eros facilisis velit, sit amet egestas tellus orci non libero.
Read more »
Article title orem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit
Curabitur congue et est vel scelerisque. Mauris efficitur non metus id maximus. Donec aliquet, libero ac semper imperdiet, tortor eros facilisis velit, sit amet egestas tellus orci non libero.
Read more »