03/03/2025
Is your brand speaking the right language?
I recently -okay weeks ago, 😉- attended the Young Moguls Mixer Brunch Edition, and let me tell you—it wasn’t just about sipping water and capturing aesthetically pleasing moments for Instagram. It was a masterclass in personal branding, social capital, and understanding the power of clear messaging.
One moment that truly stuck with me was an exercise led by Tutsirai Jenje, a real gem in the personal branding industry. For the exercise, we were each given half of a word and had to find the person with the other half.
Simple, right? Well, not quite.
I had the word "guard," and naturally, I assumed my match had "life" so I kept looking for a "lifeguard". Maybe I’ve watched too much Baywatch, but in my mind, it all made perfect sense!
Meanwhile, my actual partner, holding body, was trying to describe their word as something you put clothing on.
The result? Total confusion.
While others quickly paired up, we were left searching, convinced we were right but completely missing the actual connection: bodyguard.
It was funny in the moment, but it drove home a critical lesson: never assume that what you think is what everyone else thinks.
In branding and marketing, this happens all the time—businesses believe they’re being clear, but their audience hears something entirely different.
If your messaging isn’t crystal clear, you might find yourself speaking one language while your audience hears another.
And when that happens? You lose the connection, the sale, or worse—the trust.
A huge thank you to Tutsirai Jenje, a powerhouse in legacy brand building, Tinotenda Borerwe for breaking down authentic relationship-building, and of course, Nicole Kundai Duma for curating such an impactful event.
If you’re building a brand, remember: clarity wins. Make sure your audience actually hears what you’re trying to say.
Want more gems from the mixer and my best branding + marketing tips? Hit that follow button—I promise no Baywatch reruns, just real strategies to make your brand unforgettable!