257: From Introverted IT Nerd to Executive Leader: Building a Powerful Personal Brand cover art

257: From Introverted IT Nerd to Executive Leader: Building a Powerful Personal Brand

257: From Introverted IT Nerd to Executive Leader: Building a Powerful Personal Brand

Listen for free

View show details

About this listen

 Sean Barnes, President of Wolf Executives and former VP of IT, HR, ESG, and Leadership Development in oil and gas, shares how building a personal brand became the biggest unlock of his life. From introverted “IT nerd” hiding behind a keyboard… …to an executive leading multiple functions and launching his own company… Sean walks through the exact mindset shifts and strategies that helped him build a reputation as a problem solver, leader builder, and trusted executive partner. Using examples from brands like Nike, Lamborghini, and Louis Vuitton, Sean breaks personal branding down to its simplest form: What are you known for when you’re not in the room? Podcast Show Notes – Episode 257 | 11.25.2025 Episode Title: From Introverted IT Nerd to Executive Leader: Building a Powerful Personal Brand Key Moments 00:00 – Opening and introduction 01:14 – Who actually has a personal brand? 01:53 – Nike vs. Reebok: what brand really is 03:29 – The introverted kid in the corner 04:21 – Discovering technology and drive 05:48 – Ladder climbed… purpose missing 07:06 – “I think I can lead HR” (and getting shut down) 10:39 – The email that changed everything 11:44 – Becoming VP of IT and HR overnight 12:08 – Learning to lead people, not just systems 13:11 – “All ships rise with the tide” 13:36 – Adding PMO and ESG to the mix 14:00 – Stacking domains: IT, HR, PMO, ESG, HSE, leadership development 15:08 – Entrepreneurship and adversity 15:40 – What this has to do with personal brand 16:06 – Lamborghini and Louis Vuitton: one-word associations 16:37 – Brand in its simplest form 17:20 – The three pillars: Clarity, Visibility, Value 17:37 – Clarity: getting real feedback (even from your nemesis) 18:55 – Aim your brand: who do you want to become? 19:29 – Visibility: how you show up in rooms and inboxes 20:28 – LinkedIn done simply 21:21 – Turning events into content 21:38 – Value: give more than you take 22:22 – The results: reputation, influence, and invitations 23:50 – Why this is a marathon, not a sprint 24:23 – Being spoiled for choice 25:33 – The playbook & closing challenge Key Takeaways Everyone already has a personal brand — it’s what people say about you when you’re not in the room, whether you’ve been intentional about it or not.Clarity comes first: you need to know what you’re known for today and what you want to be known for tomorrow, then close that gap with deliberate growth.Visibility matters: how you show up in meetings, emails, conferences, and on LinkedIn shapes your executive presence and reputation.Value is the engine: approach every interaction by giving more than you take, even when it’s tiring, that’s how trust and reputation are built.Adversity and stretch roles are brand accelerators: saying yes to hard, unfamiliar opportunities forces growth and creates powerful stories about who you are as a leader.A strong personal brand gives you options: when you’re known and trusted, you’re no longer trapped in toxic cultures, you’re “spoiled for choice” in your career. Host: Sean Barnes Website: https://www.wolfexecutives.com https://www.seanbarnes.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seanbarnes/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/wolfexecutives https://www.linkedin.com/company/thewayofthewolf/ LinkedIn Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7284600567593684993/ The Wolf Leadership Series: https://wolfexecutives.com/wolf-leadership-series/ YouTube: youtube.thewayofthewolf.com Twitter: https://x.com/the_seanbarnes https://x.com/wolfexecutives Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_seanbarnes https://www.instagram.com/wolfexecutives https://www.instagram.com/the_wayofthewolf TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@the_seanbarnes Email: Sean@thewayofthewolf.com Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Way-of-the-Wolf-Podcast/B08JJNXJ6C Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2BTGdO25Vop3GTpGCY8Y8E?si=ea91c1ef6dd14f15
No reviews yet
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.