A celebration of origin, identity, and the community that made us.
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What is Rooted (in terms of personal branding)?
On July 13, we kicked off The Signature Series in Chicago – a celebration of where it all began. From live convos to hands-on brand-building moments, here’s everything you missed (and what you helped make special).
This conversation was led by Alisha Gupta, founder of Beauty in Balance, and Sunny, founder of Dinner Club. Together, they reminded us that building something meaningful starts by staying true to what made you.
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Your personal brand doesn’t begin with a niche or a complicated strategy. It begins with memory. Reflect on who shaped you, what values matter, and what still grounds you today.
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There’s no one right way to start. Try something that feels right and observe how it lands. Even if it fails, it teaches you something about what belongs in your toolkit. Personal branding is a process of elimination – what doesn’t “stick” still gets you closer to what will.
Think in seasons. What do you want your brand to be right now?
“Let it go. The best part about life is you don’t owe anyone anything. You only owe yourself to do the things that make you happy.“ – Sunny
A personal brand isn’t what you say, it’s how people experience you. It's not just about being visible online; it’s about being remembered for the way you make others feel. Even offline efforts like hosting, collaborating, or showing up in real life can build more meaningful brand equity than content ever could.
"Being known is very different than having a brand that you can stand on." – Alisha
“As long as you're adding value to even a few people, the brand naturally builds itself.” – Sunny
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What you grew up doing, the identity you carry, and even your childhood traditions can become a toolkit. Whether it's learning how to talk to everyone at a party or balancing dual cultural identities, your roots can be repurposed into connection as well as clarity in your brand story.