Founder & LinkedIn Strategist | I help founders and executives turn deep expertise into an unmissable personal brand | 10 years at L’Oréal & J&J | Book a free strategy session (offer ends 20/02)

Most founders and executives have more expertise than visibility. I help turn that expertise into visible authority, inbound opportunities, and leverage – without turning you into a full‑time content creator.

Hi, I’m Alec, I went from global consumer marketing at L'Oreal and Johnson and Johnson, tp Founder of We Grow. Here's more about me:

🟢 In 2015, I joined L'Oreal on the most competitive marketing grad scheme in the UK.
🟢 From 2017 to 2024, I was promoted 6 times from Assistant manager to Global Group Manager.
🟢 In 2024, I grew my LinkedIn from 3,000 to 60,000 with daily posts on career growth.
🟢 In 2025, I quit to be a Career Coach and helped 150+ people get promoted to 6-figure roles.
🟢 I also helped others grow on LinkedIn, building a 6-figure personal branding service in 9 months.

Now in 2026, I am relaunching that business as WE GROW.

WE GROW helps partners and executives with deep expertise, go from invisible to unmissable online.

Our done-for-you marketing services help you create a distinct and ownable brand and grow your reputation and influence at scale. 

So WE can attract new opportunities and clients, while YOU focus on what you do best: building relationships and delivering great work.

🟢 To connect and learn how I can help book at: https://calendly.com/we-grow/wegrowintro
🔵 To partner with me as a content creator or public speaker, please email: enquiries@alecrickard.com

Alec Rickard

You’re allowed to outgrow what you’re known for.

Your job.
Your resume.
Even your reputation.

Where you start doesn’t have to limit where you finish.

At some point, growth feels uncomfortable.

You walk into work and something feels off.

The role that used to stretch you now feels small.
The problems feel repetitive.
The praise feels routine.

That discomfort is not random.

It is information.

It is pointing you toward your next move.

Most people ignore it.

They tell themselves they should be grateful.
They remind themselves the pay is good.
They stay because it is familiar.

But growth rarely feels comfortable.

It feels risky.
It feels uncertain.
It feels like you might disappoint people who only know you one way.

You are allowed to grow beyond your current identity.

If you are known as the operations person, you can build strategy skills.

If you are known as the quiet executor, you can become the one who leads meetings.

If you are known for one function, you can start learning the next one before you are given the title.

Reinvention does not start with a new job.

It starts with a decision.

A decision to stop settling for being good at what is easy.

Look at the skills you already have.

Communication.
Project ownership.
Data analysis.
Client management.

Ask yourself where those same skills could create a bigger impact.

Then start acting in that direction before anyone gives you permission.

Volunteer for a cross functional project.

Ask to present the update instead of sending the email.

Have the conversation about the role you want next.

Build proof in small ways.

That is how your identity shifts in real time.

What you are known for today is based on your past actions.

What you build tomorrow is based on the actions you choose now.

A growth mindset is not a quote on a wall.

It is choosing expansion over comfort.

Again and again.

So be honest with yourself:

Are you staying loyal to an old version of you,
Or are you building the next one? 👇

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Founder & LinkedIn Strategist | I help founders and executives turn deep expertise into an unmissable personal brand | 10 years at L’Oréal & J&J | Book an intro call below

Your potential is far higher than you think.

Don’t limit it by building your own ceilings.

Most people hold themselves back with beliefs like…

🚫 “I’m not qualified enough”
🚫 “I’m not ready yet”
🚫 “What if I fail in front of everyone”

But here’s the truth: you don’t need to feel ready.

You just need to start. 

4 Actions to Go After What You Want:

1️⃣ Apply before you feel qualified
↳ Most people learn on the job.
↳ Confidence comes from action, not waiting.
↳ The worst they can say is no.

2️⃣ Say yes before you feel ready
↳ Courage shows up before confidence.
↳ Growth comes from uncomfortable reps.
↳ You’ll figure it out faster than you think.

3️⃣ Ask even if it scares you
↳ Promotions, raises, opportunities… they go to people who ask.
↳ Closed mouths don’t get fed.
↳ The ask is often the difference-maker.

4️⃣ Try again after you fail
↳ Everyone stumbles.
↳ The winners are simply the ones who get back up.
↳ Each failure is training for your next attempt.

You’ll never feel 100% prepared.
Do it anyway.

What’s one thing you’ve been holding back from? 
Drop in the comments 👇

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High-performers stand out for 2 things:

1. They execute the brief.
2. They support others along the way.

I used to believe high performers win by beating others.

Be first.
Be faster.
Be louder.

But the opposite is true.

The best performers I’ve seen don’t compete with their peers.

They work with them.
They act as a role model.
They help drive higher standards.
             
It's the fastest way to build trust
And make an impact on the whole team.

And trust changes everything.

When people trust you, 
They back you.
They want you on bigger projects.
They speak your name when you’re not in the room.

That’s how careers really move.

None of this slows you down.
It speeds you up.

Because leaders don’t promote the person who steps on others.
They promote the person who makes the whole team stronger.

The goal isn’t to win alone.
It’s to rise by helping others rise too.

So ask yourself this:

Are you trying to win, or build something people want you to lead?
Share your thoughts 👇

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Your boss will never say these out loud.

But they’re expecting them. Always.

There’s nothing more frustrating than:

 → Doing solid work
 → Delivering results
 → Still being overlooked

If that’s you, this is why:

Your boss has expectations they’ll never tell you.
They’re watching what you do when no one’s watching them.

Here are 8 unspoken expectations your boss has from you: 

1️⃣ Take initiative
↳ Doing what’s asked is the bare minimum.
↳ Leaders anticipate, not wait.

2️⃣ Bring solutions, not problems
↳ Pointing out issues doesn’t move the business forward.
↳ Showing initiative does.

3️⃣ Understand the bigger picture
↳ You’re not just doing tasks, you’re driving results.
↳ Know what success looks like for the team.

4️⃣ Make their job easier
↳ They notice who helps them breathe easier.
↳ Manage your work without constant check-ins.

5️⃣ Act like the next level up
↳ Promotions go to people already performing at that level.
↳ Show leadership before it’s official.

6️⃣ Take feedback like a pro
↳ Feedback isn’t criticism, it’s direction.
↳ Curiosity beats defensiveness every time.

7️⃣ Be consistent daily
↳ Your habits build your reputation.
↳ Reliability is remembered long after results.

8️⃣ Invest in your own growth
↳ Your boss won’t map your development plan.
↳ They expect you to own it.

They may not say it, but they’ll always reward it.

Which of these do you think most people overlook? 👇

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Nobody cares about your job title.

They care about what you actually do.

You can have the most impressive title in the building.

But if you're not delivering? 
It means nothing.

Titles don't get you promoted. 
Work ethic does.

Showing up earlier. Staying later. Solving problems nobody asked you to solve.

That's what separates the people who rise from the people who stall.

Here's what nobody tells you about work ethic: 

1. It's visible even when you think it's not 
↳ People notice who follows up without being asked. 
↳ That reputation gets built before any title does.

2. It compounds faster than skill 
↳ Skill takes years. Trust takes months. 
↳ Consistency beats talent every single time.

3. It follows you when you leave 
↳ Titles stay behind when you walk out the door. 
↳ Habits don't. They carry you through every restart.

4. It attracts the right people 
↳ Nobody reaches out because of a title on your profile. 
↳ They reach out because someone saw how you work.

A title tells people where you sit in the org chart.

Work ethic tells people whether you're worth betting on.

One of those matters in a meeting. 
The other matters in a career.

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Hard work got you here.

It won't get you to the next level.

Beyond a point, effort stops adding up.
If you run your career like a system, you make cleaner decisions and protect your time.

Most people stay stuck in reactive work and chasing the wrong numbers.

Here are the 9 laws high performers use, and how to put them to work:

1) North Star Principle
↳ A long-term goal that guides every career decision.
➟ Keeps you focused and on track over the years.
➟ Check it weekly and ask if your tasks are serving that goal.
➟ Use before planning your quarter or saying yes to something.

2) Law of Inversion
↳ Avoid failure first, then chase the win.
➟ Fewer mistakes, more consistent results.
➟ Before big moves, write down what could go wrong and block it now.
➟ Use on strategy, hires, deals, and launches.

3) Parkinson's Law
↳ Work grows to fill whatever time you give it.
➟ Tighter timelines and faster results.
➟ Cut your deadline in half and add a midpoint check.
➟ Use for projects, presentations, and decisions.

4) Law of Diminishing Returns
↳ After a certain point, more effort gives you less back.
➟ Save time and stop over-polishing.
➟ Stop at 80 percent and get real feedback next week.
➟ Use on decks, features, content, and analysis.

5) Peter Principle
↳ People get promoted until they reach a role they struggle in.
➟ Stay sharp after every promotion.
➟ Within 30 days, plan skill sprints and get coaching.
➟ Use after promotions or big jumps in responsibility.

6) Goodhart's Law
↳ When a number becomes the goal, it stops telling the truth.
➟ Better behaviour and fewer hollow wins.
➟ Track a mix every month: quality, speed, impact, satisfaction.
➟ Use for KPIs and personal scorecards.

7) Principle of Least Effort
↳ People always take the easiest path available.
➟ More gets done when the right action is also the simplest one.
➟ Remove friction and make the good habit the default today.
➟ Use on workflows, templates, and routines.

8) Pareto Principle (80/20 Rule)
↳ A small number of actions drive most of your results.
➟ More impact with less wasted effort.
➟ Every week, find your top 20 percent and spend more time there.
➟ Use during planning, reviews, and prioritisation.

9) Gall's Law
↳ Big systems that work always started as small systems that worked.
➟ Fewer failed projects and faster learning.
➟ Start small and test with one case this week.
➟ Use before building new processes or products.

Why this matters: at senior levels, good judgment beats hard effort.
Use these to protect your energy, raise your standards, and grow without burning out.

How to use this: scan it before big decisions.

Each week, pick one law and apply it to one choice.
Review monthly and add another.

Save this and come back to it before your next planning cycle or promotion conversation.

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Your logo doesn't matter if no one knows what you stand for.

What people think personal branding is:

→ Nice logo
→ Viral posts
→ Quote graphics
→ Paid ads
→ Fancy website
→ Catchy tagline
→ Cold outreach

What personal branding actually is:

→ Clear identity
→ Sharp positioning
→ Real relationships
→ Useful content
→ Two-way conversations
→ Strong values
→ Shared growth

Personal branding is clarity.

Clarity on:

Why do you care?
Who will you help?
Why are you different?

What problem do you solve?

When people know exactly what you stand for,
decisions get easier.

Introductions happen faster.
Opportunities feel aligned.
Trust builds naturally.

You stop chasing.

People start coming to you.

And here’s the hard truth…

If I asked 10 people in your network what you’re known for
Would they give the same answer?

Or 10 different ones?

So ask yourself:
What do people actually know you for? 

If that answer isn’t clear,
your personal brand isn’t either.

If you want help getting clear on your positioning:

Book your FREE strategy session
Link at top of my profile 👆👆

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Your personal brand is either working for you or against you.

There is no in between.

If buyers don’t feel influenced, they won’t inquire.
Influence drives inbound, pricing power, and deal velocity.

After a decade in global marketing,
here are the 6 hidden rules behind brands that consistently convert:

1/ Reciprocity
→ Give value before you ask for anything.

↳ Publish how-tos, templates, checklists people can use today
↳ Answer questions in comments; be useful in public
↳ Builds goodwill that turns lurkers into warm leads.

2/ Consistency
→ Repetition creates trust and recall.

↳ One clear positioning and promise
↳ Weekly cadence across 2-3 content pillars
↳ Makes you predictable and memorable to buyers.

3/ Scarcity
→ Specificity increases perceived value.

↳ Niche by audience, problem, and outcome
↳ Show limits (capacity, waitlist, scope), not fake FOMO
↳ Say no to misfit work publicly

4/ Likability
→ People buy from people they like.

↳ Write how you speak; use first person and plain language
↳ Share your reasoning and values, not just wins
↳ Be generous: credit others, engage, reply fast

5/ Social Proof
→ Evidence beats claims.

↳ Case studies with numbers and screenshots
↳ Logos, testimonials, and “before/after” outcomes
↳ Public milestones (speaking, features, growth)

6/ Authority
→ Lead with what you’ve actually done.

↳ Name roles, scope, and results (e.g., “led X to Y”)
↳ Teach proprietary frameworks you’ve used in the field
↳ Highlight earned media, talks, boards

Stacking beats solo tactics.

Authority + Social Proof = instant credibility.
Reciprocity + Consistency = long-term trust.

Scarcity focuses demand on you.

Save this and audit your last 10 posts and your profile against all 6.

Use them in your headline, banner, pinned post, and weekly content.

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Ghalib Hassam

Account Manager @ Kurogo | We create thought leaders through personal branding

I’m the Head of Content at Darkroom.

My job is helping the people inside the company share what they already know without turning it into performative content or forcing anyone into a creator box.

I’m building an internal thought-leadership motion across LinkedIn, X, Substack, and TikTok by putting structure around good thinking and making it easier to create content consistently.

Before this role, I spent a few years deep in LinkedIn, working closely with founders and operators, asking a lot of questions, and turning long conversations into clear, useful content.

What I noticed pretty quickly was that the people with the most insight are usually the least interested in posting. They don’t lack ideas. They lack time, systems, and a clean way to translate what’s already in their heads.

I come from an engineering background (master’s in engineering), which probably explains how I think about content.

At Darkroom, that shows up as helping leaders find their real point of view and designing content systems that work across platforms.

I’m especially interested in founder-led and expert-led content, and in building internal content engines that feel sustainable.

Always up for a coffee chat. Feel free to hit me up.

Personal Brand Manager.

The only right answer to OpenAI’s $110bn funding round

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The Battle

Alec Rickard

Ghalib Hassam

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Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Alec Rickard's LinkedIn Performance

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