The Importance of Vulnerability in Business Success with Leading LinkedIN Influencer Ranukka Singham
“I think the most common mistake I see women make is not being true to oneself when they embark in this personal branding journey. Today’s woman dreamer, Ranukka Singham, based in Kuala Lampur, is one of the 100 most inspirational Linkedin Icons in Malaysia year 2020, and her work has has helped develop over 8,000 professionals around the world. In this topical and relatable interview, she shares her advice to women on personal brand building, and how embracing vulnerability and authenticity are essential to success. Enjoy her story!
1) Tell us your story. You are based in Kuala Lumpur, and are MIA's 100 Most Inspirational Icons in LinkedIn Malaysia 2020. What inspired your journey?
Being in corporate for 10 years before coming out on my own, I did notice that having substance and being good at what you do is already an expectation. This would not guarantee a career advancement if you are not able to stand out from the sea of talents. Thus I set out to understand how best to help individuals brand themselves right in the most effective manner both online on LinkedIn and offline in person.
2) You are passionate about brand building, i.e. your slogan 'revamp with Ranukka'. What are your top 3 tips to women for establishing their personal brand?
3 tips I have for women are:
Decide what is the ultimate perception you wish to have. List down adjectives and be specific about it. If it is hard for you to visualise this, then imagine if you were to walk into a meeting with new people, what sort of first impression/perception you want them to immediately have in their minds when they interact with you for the first 5 minutes.
Emulate don't imitate. Once you have determined your perception, start observing some personalities or celebrities that you feel emulates the same values you want for yourself too. This gives you a good reference point when you start branding yourself right.
Be consistent. Do not just have this persona only online, but in person, do not continue the brand identity you have carved out. Consistency is important because if it isn't, it can be even more detrimental to your brand. Which means, when people see you on LinkedIn for example, they need to have the same feel and vibe of you when they see you in person.
3) What are some common mistakes women make when creating a brand for themselves?
I think the most common mistake I see women make is not being true to oneself when they embark in this personal branding journey. Many have the misconception that they need to look and feel like the industry leaders in their respective field in order to be just as successful and that is not true at all. I think it is important to be authentic and yourself when you brand yourself. It helps in being consistent at the end of the day.
4) In a Linkedin post, you highlighted the importance of vulnerability, and how being vulnerable enhances your "brand vulnerability". Expand on this more, why is it important and what are your top tips for women struggling with being vulnerable/more open?
In a professional platform like LinkedIn, many think the persona and content you put on the platform has to always be all sunshine and great things. I beg to differ on that stand. I think that when you are willing to share your challenges and struggles in your content, it helps you become more relatable to your connections. And being relatable translates to increase in likability. Which is what you want to achieve in your personal brand
5) As the platform for women dreamers, what is your next big dream?
I aspire to help even more women understand their true worth and subsequently learn how to showcase that their brand story. I have been able to help many globally in the past 4 years and I hope this can reach greater heights in years to come.