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Building a Personal Brand Through Volunteering
Dr. Kristi Campoe
January 07, 2026
Welcome to The Bold Brief—
You are part of a community of expert nurses and healthcare professionals redefining what it means to lead with authenticity, balance, and meaningful challenge—driving forward with confidence.
We do not follow traditional career paths. We build them intentionally with strategy, systems, and clarity.
Every edition delivers practical insight, bold reframes, leadership, and career-building tools for true happiness in your life and career beyond the bedside.
Happy 2026!
So, bold by association…
The Bold Brief - Evidence-based success tips for a BOLD career and life.
2026 - A Year of Possibilities
Opportunities are everywhere, if you know where to look and how to act when they appear. At the start of a new year, your voice can get lost in everyone else’s noise. New job titles. Promotions. Certifications. "Exciting announcements."
With this in mind …
❓️ What do you want to be known for this year?
❓️ What work do you want to be invited into?
❓️ Where will your presence make the most meaningful difference?
Your personal brand is your answer.
Do you have a personal brand? |
Last fall, I highlighted how important professional associations, industry conferences, conventions, and exhibits can be the gateways to influence, innovation, and possibility. These events are where careers shift, collaborations form, and bold decisions are made.
That’s why I created this series Bold by Association, a repeat training series that continues this week.
In 2025, the Bold by Association series delivered the inside strategies for making the most of your professional memberships and attending events so you can:
Bold Brief subscribers and Bold Nurse Academy members loved this simple, timely content. Today, I want to build on how your personal brand actually provides the foundation for your growth via your association involvement as a volunteer.
What is a Personal Brand?
Your personal brand is the professional reputation and impression that follows you everywhere: Online, in meetings, on conference stages, or behind closed doors. It includes your:
Expertise - What you know
Experience - What you have done
Energy - How people feel around you
Essence - What people say about you when you are not in the room
So - You already have a personal brand! The question is whether you are intentionally shaping it.
“Your brand is what people say about you when you're not in the room.” — Jeff Bezos
Why Volunteering Builds a Stronger Personal Brand Than Your Job Title
Your job title says what you do. Your association work as a volunteer shows who you are.
When you volunteer in a professional association, you step outside the walls of your employer. You are no longer just a department educator, case manager, or director. You are a professional nurse with a national voice, a contributor to your profession, and a leader by action—not title.
This matters because personal branding is built through visibility, credibility, and consistency. Volunteering delivers all three:
Branding Element | What Employers See | How Volunteering Builds It |
|---|---|---|
Visibility | Do others know your work exists? | Speaking at webinars, writing for newsletters, presenting posters, moderating sessions—association platforms amplify your voice. |
Credibility | Are you seen as a subject matter expert? | Volunteering for strategic committees or peer-review panels builds trust and showcases your expertise to a broader audience. |
Consistency | Are your values and strengths reinforced? | Serving year over year, following through on projects, or mentoring new members tells others you show up and follow through. |
Volunteering makes your contributions visible. That means more people associate you with value, leadership, and professionalism—far beyond your resume.
✅ When you volunteer, you learn and demonstrate skills—strategically, visibly, and in service to your field.
Even 1–4 hours a month can shift how you are perceived amongst peers and what doors open next.
You can see now, that you have a personal brand. But, building your personal brand takes time. Here are 6 ways to build your personal brand and my top 3 books to learn more!
📌 7 Ways to Build Your Personal Brand Through Association Involvement
Start small. Stay consistent. Be visible.
Write for the newsletter or journal. Your ideas become part of our profession’s conversation.
Moderate a panel or lead a webinar. Online or in-person, you grow your presence and connection to thought leadership.
Serve on a committee. Contribute to strategic work and be part of shaping the future or all members of our profession.
Mentor a new member. Build reputation as a guide and advocate.
Apply for an elected or appointed role. Expand your network, confidence, and resume. Learn from and with the best!
Have fun! Work is work. But volunteering should be fun! Have fun!
📌3 Books to Help You Understand & Develop Your Personal Brand + My favorite quotes from each book!
❶ Show Your Work! by Austin Kleon – Making your ideas and process visible without overproducing.
"Share what you love, and the people who love the same things will find you."
"The minute you learn something, turn around and teach it to others."
❷ Branding Pays by Karen Kang - This book is probably the best practical guides on branding, offering a complete strategic plan to build your brand.
“Authenticity is magnetic. The more you reveal your true self, the more others will be drawn to you.”
“A personal brand is not about creating a persona; it’s about revealing who you truly are in the most compelling way possible.”
“Consistency in actions breeds trust; trust is the foundation of a strong personal brand.”
❸ Platform by Cynthia Johnson - Learn about the 4 elements of a strong personal brand namely, social proof, personal proof, associations, and recognition.
“Your brand is not about you: it is 100% based on others’ opinions of you.”
“Your brand, when it comes to getting more work and recognition, is 30% — 50% dependent on your network, how they perceive you, and what they know about you.”
What questions do you have? ⬇️ Comment Below → Share your ideas → Ask a question.
📩 What’s Next?
The next training from this series, Bold by Association will be in February 2026 delivered to your inbox! You have worked hard to build your expertise, experience, energy, and essence. Now it’s time to leverage it strategically, intentionally, and boldly in 2026.
"Brand yourself for the career you want, not the job you have."
See you next week!
P.S. If you want to learn from me on a regular basis, connect with me on LinkedIn.
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