#107 Staying On Brand While Shaping, Shifting, and Sharing Your Story

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Branding expert, Aliza Licht

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I first connected with Aliza Licht through Liz Elting, episode #68, (pictured below) author of Dream Big and Win, but I’d heard of her before we even met. Aliza had been in fashion working at DKNY, in a top executive capacity and became the first fashion influencer when she launched and anonymously (at first) manned the twitter handle DKNY PR Girl. She was like the fashion nanny–she had wit, she had sass, she had style, and later, she owned her name and built her brand without the stamp of DKNY behind it.

Estelle Erasmus, Liz Elting and Aliza Licht

Recent photo of moi, Liz Elting and Aliza Licht at an in-person event I did with Liz at NYU.

I loved our chat and there are so many golden nuggets throughout that I know you will adore dipping your toe in the pool of Aliza’s direct advice and granular knowledge about branding, social media, making and leaving  your mark and more.

In This Episode

  • The importance of personal branding in a chaotic publishing terrain
  • The evolution of Aliza’s  “DKNY PR Girl” brand on old-school Twitter
  • Being the first fashion influencer
  • Creating a micro brand and brand guardrails
  • Finding permission to play
  • Addressing Founder and last name syndrome
  • Navigating the complex algorithms of social media
  • Advice on platform building for aspiring authors
  • Creative branding social media strategies to hook your audience
  • Does controversy sell?
  • The way Aliza worked branding and a signature look into her social media posting
  • How Aliza became an accidental activist when it comes to addressing the scourge of  anti-semitism  
  • Measuring each step you take against your own personal values. 

Watch on YouTube 


About Aliza

ALIZA LICHT is an award-winning marketer, bestselling author, podcaster, personal branding expert, and the founder of LEAVE YOUR MARK, a multimedia brand and consultancy. She advises businesses and mentors individuals on brand building and career development. Licht leverages over two decades of expertise in marketing, communications, and digital strategy in the fashion industry. She was named one of “America’s Next Top Mentors” by The New York Times and Business Insider’s “Top 20 Most Innovative Career Coaches.” As a social media pioneer and one of the first fashion influencers, Licht created and was the voice of the anonymous social media phenomenon DKNY PR GIRL. Licht is a sought-after keynote speaker and sits on several industry boards. Her first book, Leave Your Mark, was published in 2015. Her new book, On Brand: Shape Your Narrative. Share Your Vision. Shift Their Perception is a comprehensive roadmap to building your personal brand. She lives in New York City with her husband, two children, and two dogs. Find her online at alizalicht.com and @alizalichtxo.

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Mentioned On the Podcast

Liz Elting’s episode #68

Dream Big and Win with Liz Elting

Aliza’s Linkedin Post:

Being a Jewish Activist Wasn’t On Brand for Me

Estelle’s article on Shondaland

I’m Learning to Listen in New Ways

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