Building a Personal Brand as a young CA

October 05, 2025 CA , Chartered Connects , personal brand 0 Comments

Why does any CA need personal branding?

I can think of two key reasons. One, the world continues to become increasingly competitive, and each of us needs to stand out, and that’s where personal branding is especially helpful. Two, trust is at the core of what we CAs deliver to our clients/employers, and you can communicate trustworthiness through your personal branding.

What is personal branding?

Personal branding is the intentional act of shaping public perception so that people see you as you intend. It differs from reputation, which may or may not be the outcome of an intentional process. While everyone has a reputation, not everyone manages a personal brand.

How to approach personal branding?

Many years ago, I came across a video where the person in the video dared the viewers to introduce themselves. It appeared to be a very simple challenge, but it was not. The person said, “I dare you to introduce yourself to me… but here is the catch. You are not allowed to mention where you live, your career, nationality, ethnicity, education/qualification, hobbies, who your relatives/family are, etc.” Well, introductions are so easy, especially for CAs. Many (not all) of us will say, ‘I am CA so and so, I do so and so,’ and then move on. However, when the conditions mentioned earlier are considered, the same act of introduction becomes difficult and, for some, almost impossible. Once you can describe yourself with the conditions outlined above, you have taken the first conscious step in building your personal brand. Once you know who you are at your core, you can take charge of your brand identity. Simplistically put, the steps are:

• Your motivations, your skills, your ambitions, etc., form your core.
• Ensure that the practice or employment you are undertaking complements your core activities. Alternatively, you may need to make a change.
• Over and above your day-to-day work, build expertise in a niche area.
• Then, identify your stakeholders.
• Reach out to the stakeholders and talk about your work. (A topic to be explored separately).
• Additionally, communicate through articles, blogs, social media posts, etc. Exhibit thought leadership regularly.
• Network through one-on-one meetings, seminars, industry events, etc. Actively seek opportunities to be mentored.
• In all the above, be authentic and consistent. Also, hard & quality work are non-negotiable.

When is the right time to start personal branding?

The answer is just one word, “Now”. Young CAs are at an advantage, as they start with a cleaner slate. Their reputation has less of an established impact, allowing personal branding to have a greater effect. Personal branding is not a one-time activity but a long-term evolving process.

Personal branding may seem superficial or unprofessional to some, but it is not. It aligns you with the right people, creates effective networks, improves outcomes for you and your team, and improves growth opportunities. The greatest advantage is that you are no longer subject to a reputation formed behind your back; instead, you are in control of your narrative through personal branding. A successful personal branding strategy often leads to referrals and recognition.

Needless to say, whatever we do must comply with ICAI’s Code of Conduct and all applicable regulations.

All the best!

As published in the 'Chartered Connects Insights' newsletter on LinkedIn on October 5, 2025.