With some additional conversation going on in Twitter & on the blog here, here is where I'm at!

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Personal vs. Company branding has its pros and cons. I think the real question would be: Do you plan on transitioning your brand at some point? Personal branding is a great idea, but if you are looking to pass on the brand then company branding would def be the way to go. I would imagine that someday you would want to retire and pass on what you have worked so hard to establish. Otherwise the brand will go when you do. On the other hand I somewhat agree with Shauna's comment: "a company’s brand should strive to be something employees want to promote for you, over any personal brand they might have (or in conjunction with any personal brand they might have)." I wouldn't want to work for a company who I personally did not want to promote. However, the only problem with jointly promoting the company and your personal brand is that one of you run the risk of losing consumers when the company and the employee part ways.

I try and run the two brand thing. Robbie Wright is Life & Times, but he is also fi-linx. Kind of like Mark Shuttleworth and Ubuntu. It is tough, but I like it the best.

I maintain several brands with personal connections. I have only recently begun branding my name as part of a personal brand strategy. However each of my businesses have their own unique and separate brands.

Our agency, as a collective, is very competent, creative and experienced in credit union marketing. That is our brand. "Andermahr & Company - The Credit Union Marketing Agency".

My personal brand is more laid back. I want people to know that I am here to help, I am approachable, I have experience and a track record of internet marketing, social media and consumer advocacy. These are all good things for my company to be known for - but sometimes I can be a little irreverent. I don't want my personal brand to overlap the company brand and vice-versa. Basically, I don't want to be a dork and have people think that the company is dorky too.

The other benefit to running separate and parallel brands is that if my brand is solid, and the company brand is solid it makes a sale easier or I get extra credibility. Plus it allows me to align my personal brand to another endeavor without compromising my company brand.

Those are my thoughts

Interesting thoughts. However, I don't think that the company brand is dead. Perhaps instead, a company's brand should strive to be something employees want to promote for you, over any personal brand they might have (or in conjunction with any personal brand they might have).

I myself struggle with this because I am torn because I love and want to promote the organization I work for (I love their brand) but also want to work on my personal brand to open up work opportunities outside of Allegiance CU.

can't view on my iPhone dang it !