If you want to get more speaking engagements, grow your network, and be seen as a thought leader in your field, personal branding isn't optional — it's essential. In this episode, C-suite executive and personal branding powerhouse Victoria Pelletier shares the mindset and mechanics behind building a brand that actually opens doors. Victoria became one of the youngest COOs in her industry at 24, a president by 35, and a CEO by 41 — and she credits consistent, intentional personal branding as one of the keys to that trajectory.
Peter and Victoria explore what personal branding really is (and what it is not), how to uncover your genuine differentiated value, which platforms make sense for your audience and why you don't need all of them, and why consistency beats intensity every time. They also tackle the speakers bureau question head-on — and Victoria's answer may surprise you. If you've been waiting to "figure out" your brand before you start, this conversation will give you the framework and the push you need to begin.
Welcome to Public Speaking with Peter George. Do you want to be calm, confident, and credible every time you speak in public? Then stay tuned as we discuss public speaking tips, techniques, and tactics that help you increase your impact, influence, and income.
Victoria Pelletier became one of the youngest chief operating officers at age 24, a president by 35, and a CEO by 41. She has been recognized as one of the top 30 most influential business leaders in tech by CIO Look, among the top 50 business leaders in technology by Insight Magazine, and as IBM's number-one global social seller. Here's my conversation with Victoria Pelletier.
Victoria's Personal Brand Journey
Victoria: I wouldn't have used the term "personal brand" 20 years ago, but reflecting back, I've been focused on it for that long. When I made a shift from B2C banking into a B2B environment, the way to differentiate myself as the leader of the business was very focused on what I now call personal brand. I've been almost maniacally focused on it for the last 10 to 15 years — because of my side hustles and passion projects, and because it positions me to attract the kind of people I want on my teams. The right candidates do their homework before they meet with me. They walk in already aligned with my values and the culture I build.
Why Personal Branding Matters for Speakers
Victoria: There are a million people who want to be public speakers now. A strong personal brand is your unique value proposition — what makes you different from everyone else delivering talks on leadership, diversity, or whatever your topic may be. You can have an amazing speaker reel, but what's going to make an event manager call you specifically? It's showing up holistically in a way that builds genuine connection with your audience — not just because of your message, but because of who you are as a whole person. The majority of my speaking engagements come directly through my network and word of mouth, not through a speakers bureau.
We are all the CEO of Brand You. Don't let anyone else take control of it.
What Personal Branding Is Not
Victoria: Personal branding is not a character you play on stage. It's not a false curation that doesn't include your lived experience. And it's not just a platform for every opinion you have. It's about your values, your interests, your passions, your expertise — your whole self, consistently. One of the things that trips people up is being used to showing up on LinkedIn as a resume and not knowing how to bring anything more to life. But if you think about legacy — what do you want to be known for on your proverbial tombstone? It's not going to be the titles you held or the revenue you drove. That question makes it much easier to figure out what to put into your brand narrative.
Finding Your Differentiated Value
Victoria: I have worksheets I give people when I discuss personal branding. I ask them to work through: what is your subject matter expertise? What is the legacy you want to have? What makes you different? You need to curate that narrative — really. I'm not a fan of fake it till you make it, except when it comes to confidence. In this case, you need to do the homework. Find your trusted tribe, get their radical candor on how they actually perceive you today, and build from there. We're all different in one way or another. The person who says they can't find their differentiated value just hasn't done the work yet.
Where to Show Up and How to Stay Consistent
Victoria: You need to identify who your audience is and where they are. You can't be on every platform — make a decision. My audience is predominantly corporate, so you'll find me on LinkedIn and Instagram. I'm not on TikTok. The content matters too — on LinkedIn, I'm not always speaking about the day job. I'm building connection around who I am as an individual and as a leader. And consistency is everything. Don't build a great profile and set it and forget it. You have to engage — publish content, respond to others, stay visible. That's how the algorithms work, and that's how you stay in front of the people who would hire you.
How Long Does It Take?
Victoria: It takes time. Some people think personal branding will directly translate to increased revenue quickly — it won't. It's a slow build of steady growth, a growing network of people who want to follow you and see how you continue to show up. I've been speaking for 20 years and sit at 100,000 followers across platforms now. It took many years to get there. Start today. Be consistent. Be relevant to your audience. It will build.
Peter: Victoria, where can listeners learn more about you?
Victoria: Visit victoriapelletier.com — it'll take you to all my social platforms: LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
Thank you for listening to this episode of Public Speaking with Peter George. Are you ready to be calm, confident, and credible every time you speak in public? Then visit petergeorgepublicspeaking.com and let's make it happen. I'll see you next time.
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