In the age of social media and digital presence, the concept of a “personal brand” has become ubiquitous. As someone who has spent three decades navigating the ever-evolving media and communications landscape, I’ve witnessed firsthand the rise of personal branding and its impact on careers and businesses.

Today, I want to share my story of grappling with the decision to build a personal brand, the challenges I faced, and the valuable lessons I learned.

The allure of personal branding

Early in my career, personal branding was less prevalent than it is today. We focused on building our skills, networking in person, and letting our work speak for itself. However, as social media platforms gained prominence and the line between personal and professional lives blurred, I was at a crossroads.

I remember sitting in my office, scrolling through LinkedIn, and seeing colleagues and industry leaders amassing followers, sharing insights, and seemingly catapulting their careers to new heights through their online presence. The allure was undeniable. I thought, “Am I missing out on opportunities by not putting myself out there more?”

The turning point

My perspective on personal branding shifted dramatically after attending a conference where I heard Everette Taylor, CEO of Kickstarter, speak about the subject. His words struck a chord with me: “Before you build a personal brand, you have to be mindful of the impact of your words. Just be careful about that decision because you cannot put the genie back in the bottle.”

This statement made me pause and reflect. I had been so caught up in the potential benefits of personal branding that I hadn’t fully considered the responsibilities and possible drawbacks. Taylor’s warning about the permanence of our digital footprint resonated deeply with me.

Weighing the pros and cons

In the weeks following the conference, I found myself in a state of introspection. I thought about figures like Kevin O’Leary from Shark Tank, who seemed to thrive in the spotlight of personal branding. O’Leary had mentioned building his brand to “be part of the narrative.”

Also Read: How mental health startup Intellect’s founder catalysed his personal battle with anxiety

However, as Taylor pointed out, only some are built for that level of public scrutiny.

I asked myself some hard questions:

• Am I prepared to handle potential criticism and negative feedback?
• Do I have a clear purpose for building a personal brand beyond gaining followers or attention?
• How will this impact my relationships with colleagues and clients?
• Am I ready for the time commitment required to maintain a consistent online presence?

The decision and the journey

After much contemplation, I decided to dip my toes into the waters of personal branding, but with a carefully considered approach. I followed Taylor’s advice:

• Determine your why: I defined my purpose for building a personal brand. It wasn’t about becoming a social media influencer but rather about sharing my experiences and insights to help others in the industry navigate their careers.
• Stay true to your purpose: I committed to sharing only content that aligned with my values and expertise. This meant sometimes passing on trending topics that didn’t fit my narrative.
• Be mindful of the impact of your words. Before every post or comment, I carefully considered how my words might be interpreted and what effect they could have on others.

The challenges and lessons

Building a personal brand wasn’t without its challenges. There were days when I felt overwhelmed by the pressure to constantly produce content. I experienced moments of self-doubt when a post didn’t receive the engagement I had hoped for. And yes, I faced criticism and differing opinions that tested my resolve.

However, these challenges also brought valuable lessons:

• Authenticity is key: The posts that resonated most with my audience were those where I shared genuine experiences and vulnerabilities.
• Consistency trumps perfection: Regular, thoughtful engagement was more effective than sporadic, polished content.
• It’s okay to set boundaries: I learned to balance my online presence with my offline life, understanding that it’s perfectly fine to step back when needed.
• The power of community: Building a personal brand wasn’t just about self-promotion; it was about fostering meaningful connections and contributing to industry discussions.

Also Read: The business of social responsibility: Why brands are redefining their social conscience

While I approached personal branding with caution, I was pleasantly surprised by some unexpected benefits. My online presence opened doors to speaking opportunities, collaborations with respected peers, and even consulting gigs. More importantly, it allowed me to mentor young professionals who reached out after resonating with my content.

Reflecting on the journey

Looking back on my journey with personal branding, I realise that Taylor’s advice was spot-on. Building a personal brand is not a decision to be taken lightly, nor is it a one-size-fits-all solution for career advancement. It requires careful consideration, a clear purpose, and a commitment to authenticity and responsibility.

For those contemplating whether to build a personal brand, I offer this advice: Take the time to reflect on your motivations and readiness for public exposure. Be prepared for both the rewards and the challenges. And above all, stay true to your values and purpose.

In my case, while I may not have the massive following of a O’Leary, I’ve found a balance that works for me—one that allows me to contribute to my industry, connect with like-minded professionals, and continue growing both personally and professionally.

Remember, your personal brand is more than just your online presence; it’s the sum of your actions, words, and impact on others. Whether you choose to actively cultivate it or not, make sure it’s a reflection of your authentic self.

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Singapore-based mixed reality and AI company BuzzAR has secured US$1.16 million in funding from the HSBC New Economy Fund.

The firm is using the money raised to expand its presence in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, particularly Saudi Arabia, where it has partnered with the tourism department.

Also Read: 100 million inbound travelers in Saudi Arabia to access ChatGPT in Arabic via BuzzAR

Founded in 2018 by Bell Beh and Ken Lim, BuzzAR specialises in experiential engagements that bridge the gap between offline and online spaces for its clients. In April of this year, the startup launched the AI travel companion BAE (Buzz AI Experience), which is trained to relate to each user’s emotions to be a digital tour guide. Beyond offering storytelling and personalised content discovery for travellers, it has built-in booking and payment functionalities to handle transactions for travellers on the go seamlessly.

BuzzAR saw the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) as potential prime tourist destinations and began expanding into the region in 2022. It is now working to digitalise Saudi’s hospitality industry by integrating its AI tour guide, BAE, with the Saudi Tourism Authority.

The Kingdom targets 100 million tourists by 2030 but faces a shortage of registered tour guides. With BAE, tour guides can handle bigger groups, target a wider audience, and free up their bandwidth to further personalise services and enhance the tourist experience.

Together with the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority (SAMA), BuzzAR projects that BAE’s refinement and deeper integration can bring in one million travellers and US$3.2 billion in tourism dollars by 2026.

Also Read: Introducing BAE: The world’s first AI travel companion by BuzzAR

Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund’s (PIF) Vision 2030 aims to diversify the economy. Its US$64b investment plan is geared toward helping the entertainment sector contribute more than US$23b, or 3 per cent of GDP, by 2030.

In 2022, BuzzAR raised US$3.8 million.

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Coolmate, a direct-to-consumer (D2C) men’s apparel brand in Vietnam, has completed its Series B funding round, led by Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia & India.

The investment will accelerate the startup’s international expansion, product innovation and omnichannel retail presence across Southeast Asia.

Also Read: Why Vietnam is the next big thing for startups and corporate partnerships

Founded in 2019, Coolmate specialises in “high-quality and affordable” apparel. It provides a diversified product range, including activewear, casualwear, and underwear, in partnership with top export-driven factories.

Coolmate innovates with eco-friendly materials like organic cotton, recycled fibres, and the latest eco-friendly production processes, such as clean dye technology. This resonates with Vietnam’s youth, many of whom are eco-conscious consumers.

Pham Chi Nhu, CEO and Co-Founder of Coolmate, said: “From day one, we’ve been driven by a mission to build a responsible business that positively impacts not only its customers but also its employees and society. At Coolmate, we are highly committed to reducing our environmental footprint whilst providing durable, stylish and comfortable clothing for modern consumers. These have always been our core values from the beginning.”

Vietnam’s domestic apparel industry is valued at US$6.4 billion, fuelled by favourable macroeconomic conditions and shifts in consumer behaviour. The fast-growing middle-class consumer segment strongly prefers quality and customer service. They are ESG-conscious and looking for affordability.

Also Read: VPCA to boost Vietnam’s investment landscape with US$35B private capital target

Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia & India is a leading early-stage venture capital firm that partners with high-growth startups across Southeast Asia and India. With a strong network and strategic expertise, it has invested in successful companies like Grab, Nium, FirstCry, and PatSnap.

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Technology has transformed almost every aspect of our day-to-day lives, from our work and house chores all the way through to entertainment. It has also strongly influenced our behaviour as consumers, changing our decision-making and buying habits.

One of the key technologies that are impacting consumer behaviour today is the adoption of live commerce and shoppable short videos. Businesses are beginning to recognise the importance of engaging their customers across multiple channels and driving higher consumer satisfaction through the use of live streaming and video technology.

In fact, a 2022 study showed that e-commerce platforms experienced a 115 per cent increase in orders from live streaming alone after a large influx of digital consumers from the APAC region. Furthermore, this trend isn’t going away any time soon.

According to a report by Andreessen Horowitz’s a16z, live shopping is expected to triple in revenue by 2026 and account for 20 per cent of all e-commerce transactions. 

So what makes live commerce so impactful and effective? The simple answer would be that consumers are looking for “shoptainment”, or an experience that goes beyond a simple purchase and includes personalised and entertaining features to the shopping journey. As  Andreessen Horowitz described, “It’s not just a transaction. Consumers seek out personalised and entertaining shopping experiences.” 

Also Read: The thrills of online shopping: Exploring Vietnam’s e-commerce haven

There are a handful of key reasons why live commerce is so effective, as shoptainment can be many things, and it certainly brings together several aspects and strategies to meet modern consumers’ demands, such as:

Personalised shopping

Through data analysis and machine learning, technology helps businesses to better understand their customers’ preferences and shopping behaviour. Businesses are then able to offer personalised recommendations and promotions, which can improve the overall shopping experience for consumers.

Therefore it is imperative, in my opinion, for businesses to gain access to first-party data as much as possible. This will enable them to accurately create shopper personas and push relevant content and information. With such personalisation and great sales mechanics, sales conversion would naturally follow.

Instant access to real-time information

At present, the world wide web makes it easier for consumers to research products and services before making a purchase. Consumers can read reviews, compare prices, and research the features and benefits of products online.

However, with the power of live streams, businesses are now able to replicate an almost identical in-store shopping experience virtually. Consumers can ask questions in real-time and live sellers are able to answer them immediately.

Features of the products can be demonstrated, and consumers can make purchasing decisions almost instantaneously. With information at their fingertips, consumers can then make a decision quickly, improving the conversion rates of a live stream.

The possibilities of future technology

The final reason is that technology has endless capabilities. From virtual hosts to metaverses to NFTs, consumers are now being introduced and exposed to various forms of these technologies within the live commerce space. These advancements will eventually be geared towards building a more engaged consumer market who are more loyal and would like to purchase products repeatedly.

It is this final reason that suggests to me that the live commerce space will continue to develop at a rapid pace. Looking ahead, there are plenty of interesting technological developments that would potentially change the meaning of consumer engagement in the years to come, such as augmented, virtual and extended reality (AR, VR, and XR), virtual hosts, and artificial intelligence.

Also Read: 3 success tips to help e-commerce businesses unlock online success

When it comes to AR, VR, and XR, these technologies allow consumers to see how a product would look on them or in their space before they make a purchase. This changes the entire live streaming experience, where consumers can now do virtual try-ons or “walk” into a store to browse the catalogue in a live stream. This creates an immersive and engaging consumer experience. 

While virtual hosts are typically computer-generated characters that serve as hosts or co-hosts of the live stream, they take a variety of forms, from simple characters to more complex avatars that use machine-learning algorithms to mimic human behaviour and conversation.

They can be customised to fit the style and tone of the live stream and are able to interact with the audience through chat or other forms of online communication. In addition to this, they can operate 24/7 and can be replicated across multiple platforms and streams at the same time. 

Of course, artificial intelligence has been a buzzword for many years, but it is only now, with the rise of ChatGPT, that we can truly witness the power of AI far and wide, and this, I believe, will be a game changer in the industry.

The power of AI to extract, consolidate, and process key vital information about a consumer would be important for businesses to be able to curate more meaningful and impactful content to convert them into loyal and paying customers. With the abundance of data that is prevalent in a live stream, businesses must harness the power of AI to gain an advantage over their competitors in the space. 

In conclusion, while the adoption of live streaming as a powerful tool for brands looking to connect with their audience and build trust and loyalty is gaining momentum, the technology surrounding the ecosystem is developing fast and moving ahead of the innovation curve.

It is imperative for brands and businesses exploring live commerce as part of their product offerings to partner with solutions providers who are able to understand their requirements and bring in insights from having worked with hundreds of implementations globally.

This way, brands across the globe can ensure they are meeting modern consumers’ demands as well as integrating the top technological trends to stand out and keep clients coming back for more.

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Editor’s note: e27 aims to foster thought leadership by publishing views from the community. Share your opinion by submitting an article, video, podcast, or infographic

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This article was first published on April 10, 2023

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The student debt crisis is a financial burden that millions of people continue to grapple with worldwide. In the US alone, student loan debt stands as one of the largest categories of consumer debt, with more than 42 million people owing over US$1.7 trillion.

As tuition fees continue to rise and federal relief programs face political and legal roadblocks, students and recent graduates are being saddled with financial obligations that impact every aspect of their lives — from career choices to buying homes, starting families, and even mental health.

The struggle of student debt

The student debt crisis has far-reaching consequences, especially for low-income and minority communities. Studies show that the financial burden disproportionately affects racial minorities, with Black and Latino borrowers facing higher average loan balances and default rates. One of the most significant consequences of student debt is its impact on economic mobility.

Graduates with large amounts of debt are often forced to take higher-paying jobs in sectors they’re less passionate about, as opposed to lower-paying public interest positions that align with their skills and values. This phenomenon, commonly referred to as the “public interest penalty,” stifles innovation and limits career flexibility.

Recent attempts at federal student loan forgiveness, such as President Biden’s proposed US$20,000 relief plan, were thwarted by legal challenges, leaving millions of borrowers in limbo. Despite these setbacks, there are other relief programs like the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), which offers debt forgiveness for workers in public service fields, though poor implementation in its early years left many qualified borrowers unable to access its benefits.

The Biden administration has made efforts to revamp these programs, offering over US$175 billion in total debt cancellation for nearly five million people since 2021 , but the reality is that for many, this isn’t enough.

The role of edutech in tackling the student debt problem

As student debt continues to rise, the role of edutech companies becomes more critical in addressing this issue. The edutech space is uniquely positioned to disrupt the traditional education finance system through innovative learning platforms, income share agreements (ISAs), and now, blockchain-based solutions. One of the most promising approaches in this space is the integration of technology to make education financing more accessible and flexible for students.

Also Read: Edutech is surging, but here are the 3 issues it is facing

Edutech companies have introduced alternative ways for students to finance their education, such as ISAs, where students agree to pay a percentage of their future earnings instead of taking on traditional loans. This model ties payment to success in the workforce, aligning the interests of both the student and the institution.

Notable edutech platforms like Lambda School (now known as BloomTech) have popularised ISAs in the tech space, allowing students to pay tuition only once they land a job. These innovations are changing the conversation around student debt and offering pathways to education that aren’t reliant on traditional loan models.

Another area where edutech is making strides is in leveraging blockchain technology for decentralised financing solutions. Blockchain has the potential to address many of the inefficiencies and lack of transparency in the current student loan system by providing secure, verifiable transactions and opening up opportunities for peer-to-peer financing. This is where Open Campus enters the picture.

Open Campus and blockchain-based student financing

At Open Campus (OC), we’re committed to tackling the student debt crisis head-on by leveraging decentralised technologies to create a more equitable system. With a portfolio of 60 edutech companies and over 22 million students, OC is in a unique position to provide a comprehensive financing solution. We believe that blockchain offers a way to transform not only how education is funded but also how students access that funding.

Through our decentralised education finance initiative, EduFi, we’re tokenising the US$1.7 trillion education finance market to revolutionise how students, investors, and institutions engage with student loans. By using blockchain, we’re creating a transparent and secure way for students to access funding without the bureaucratic red tape of traditional lenders. The decentralised nature of blockchain also opens the door for more creative financing solutions, like peer-to-peer lending and smart contracts that can automate repayment processes based on income.

Our vision at Open Campus goes beyond just lowering the cost of education. We aim to create a sustainable financial ecosystem where students can receive funding from a diverse set of investors, ranging from individuals to institutional players. By tokenising educational financing, students can access loans that are more flexible and tailored to their financial situation, with the potential for better interest rates and more favourable repayment terms. This, in turn, makes education more accessible for underserved populations, who are often disproportionately affected by the traditional student loan system.

Strategic partnerships and future opportunities

To make this vision a reality, we’re not going at it alone. We’re working to form strategic partnerships with various financial institutions, blockchain innovators, and even traditional venture funds that are looking to make a social impact through education. One key aspect of our approach is creating pathways for students to not only secure funding but also build their digital identity through verifiable credentials on the blockchain.

Also Read: The digital classroom: How edutech is sculpting the minds of tomorrow

Through strategic partnerships, we plan to collaborate with funds that are interested in co-raising and funding projects that align with our mission. For example, we’re exploring opportunities to work with decentralised autonomous organisations (DAOs) focused on education, where funding can be crowdsourced directly from members who believe in the power of education to change lives. This collaborative approach is essential for scaling our efforts and ensuring that millions of students can access the financial resources they need.

Moreover, we’re keen on establishing student distribution pathways, partnering with schools, educational platforms, and governments to help more students access decentralised loans. This multi-faceted strategy will help onboard millions of students into Web3 while solving the pressing issue of student debt. Imagine a future where students aren’t bogged down by crippling loans but instead are empowered by a flexible, transparent system that works in their favour.

The road ahead

The student debt crisis is a challenge that demands innovative solutions, and at Open Campus, we’re proud to be part of that solution. By leveraging blockchain technology, we’re not just offering a better way to finance education — we’re building a system that aligns the interests of students, educators, and investors alike.

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Editor’s note: e27 aims to foster thought leadership by publishing views from the community. Share your opinion by submitting an article, video, podcast, or infographic.

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