With only days until the next royal wedding, the world has turned its attention to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Many people know actress Markle from her appearances in the show Suits and in the films Remember Me and The Candidate. Since then, she has chosen to leave behind her time as an actress and transition into her new life as a future royal.
Since the engagement was announced in November 2017, Markle has had to consider how she will brand herself in the public eye as a royal. Similarly, students at the David Eccles School of Business will have to consider how they will manage their brand as they transition from a student into a fully fledged business professional after graduation.
Without further ado, here are three things Markle has done to manage her brand:
1. Staying true to herself
Markle commonly has been admired for her natural, minimalist approach to hair and makeup. She plans on staying true to this as she embarks on her next adventure. By sticking with her natural self, she has been able to show the public a more authentic side of herself. For Eccles School students, it is important to remain authentic and fresh when entering an interview, internship or job. By doing so, employers can see you for who you really are and make sure the job is the right fit for you.
2. Embracing change
In order to embrace her new life, Markle has left behind her time as an actress both professionally and physically. While she is staying true to her values, she is recognizing she must present herself differently in respect to her new role. For example, she has chosen to style herself differently as well as delete her entire social media presence. While wiping one’s self from the grid is not a requirement, it is important for students and graduates to consider what changes they will need to make in order to become their best self as a professional.
3. Preparing for the future
As most of us know, these kinds of life-altering changes do not happen overnight. For the past few months, Markle has been receiving protocol training about etiquette, traditions, royal duties and more. Like Markle, Eccles School students will need to reflect on what steps they need to take in order to manage themselves and their brand. Whether it is sprucing up your LinkedIn, learning how to manage a professional network or doing research about the companies in your field of interest, get a head start and set yourself up for success.
While managing your personal brand goes far beyond just three things, the three listed above are simple ways to build a strong foundation. Regardless if you are a future royal or a student at the David Eccles School of Business, brand management is vital to being successful.