Harvard Business Review vs. Forbes.
Which Approach to Personal Branding is Right for You?
In 2025, the concept of personal branding is more relevant than ever for procurement professionals looking to stand out in an increasingly competitive job market. But when it comes to building your personal brand, should you follow the strategic path laid out by Harvard Business Review (HBR), or the more flexible approach advocated by Forbes? In this article, we compare and contrast the insights from both to help you develop a personal branding strategy that works for your career.
Harvard Business Review’s Analytical Approach to Personal Branding
According to Harvard Business Review's article "A New Approach to Building Your Personal Brand," the key to successful personal branding is rooted in strategy and self-reflection. HBR emphasizes the importance of understanding your professional identity in a detailed and methodical way. Here’s what HBR suggests:
Clarity of Purpose
HBR focuses on identifying your purpose and aligning it with the value you can provide to your industry. For procurement professionals, this means being clear on what unique skills and experience you bring to the table—whether it's expertise in sustainable sourcing or mastery of cost-saving strategies.
Intentional Networking
Building a personal brand requires targeted networking. HBR recommends identifying influential people in your field and creating deliberate connections. For procurement professionals, this could mean seeking out leaders in supply chain management or sustainability.
Authenticitic and Consistency
HBR stresses the need for authenticity—your personal brand should reflect your genuine strengths and values. It also advocates consistency in communication across multiple platforms, whether you’re on LinkedIn or contributing to industry journals.
Forbes’ Practical Approach to Personal Branding
On the other hand, Forbes provides a more flexible, actionable framework in "7 Steps to Create a Powerful Personal Brand." It encourages adaptability and emphasizes the importance of building a brand that evolves with your career. Let’s look at their key steps:
Identify Your Niche
While HBR promotes self-reflection, Forbes starts with finding a niche in the market. For procurement professionals, this could mean specializing in a specific area, such as digital transformation in procurement or AI-driven sourcing strategies.
Create Value-Driven Content
Forbes suggests that professionals should regularly create content that showcases their expertise. Whether through articles, case studies, or webinars, procurement professionals can position themselves as thought leaders by sharing their insights on procurement trends, challenges, and successes.
Leverage Social Media
Where HBR advises consistency across platforms, Forbes places a stronger emphasis on leveraging social media for brand building. Actively engaging with followers and sharing real-time updates about industry trends can significantly elevate your profile within procurement communities.
How to Choose the Right Approach
So which approach is better for procurement professionals in 2025—HBR’s strategic, thoughtful methodology or Forbes’ dynamic and content-driven approach? The answer depends on your personal goals and the direction you want your procurement career to take.
If you’re seeking to establish long-term credibility in specialized areas, the analytical approach from Harvard Business Review may provide the structure you need. Conversely, if your focus is on growth, adaptability, and immediate impact, the more practical steps from Forbes could offer the flexibility you’re looking for.
Both Harvard Business Review and Forbes offer valuable strategies for building a personal brand in 2025. By blending HBR’s strategic depth with Forbes' emphasis on adaptability, procurement professionals can develop a personal brand that not only stands out in the short term but also evolves with the industry’s demands.
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