Tash Insights

Why every founder needs to build a personal brand | Tash at Built by HER

Tash Courtenay-Smith

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0:00 | 3:33

Tash Insights presents a live talk from Tash Courtenay-Smith, recorded at Built by HER in New York.

Built by HER, hosted by Shopify and EmpowHER, brought together founders, operators and senior leaders in commerce for a hands-on summit focused on making AI practical, tangible and operational for women-led teams.

In this clip, Tash makes the case for personal branding as one of the most commercially valuable things a founder can build. Drawing on her background as a journalist, author and growth advisor, she shares what she has learned from helping female founders build some of the most recognisable personal brands in the UK, before finally applying the same playbook to herself.

Tash explores the early discomfort of publishing, the awkward middle phase of finding your voice, and the long-term commercial value that comes from becoming known in your category.

You’ll hear:

  • Why personal brand is a growth lever for founders
  • What holds founders back from publishing consistently
  • How visibility pre-qualifies you before you enter a room
  • Why finding your voice only happens through repetition
  • What Tash learned from DRock, the videographer behind Gary Vaynerchuk’s personal brand
  • Why building a serious personal brand is a multi-year project

This is a practical and honest listen for founders, operators and leaders who know they need to become more visible, but are still waiting to feel ready.