A creative Solopreneur building personal brands for the top 1% entrepreneurs on LinkedIn and sharing what I learn along the way.

In December 2022, I was building my personal brand to land a UX design internship.

I didn’t expect it would turn into a business serving 80+ CEOs.

Here's my story:

I met my first client - a UX Design Agency founder who looked at my work and said,

“Your design skills are good… but your ability to position people is rare. You should build personal brands, not interfaces.”

He handed me his LinkedIn account.

I built his personal brand from scratch.

He loved it. Then he referred his brother... a co-founder whose account had been poorly managed by another agency.

I took over.

Both profiles grew. Both businesses did, too.

Then in October 2023, I started freelancing.(it didn't worked out well)

So I positioned myself as a solopreneur.

By early 2024, I was working with CEOs, entrepreneurs, and founders across the U.S. - including Silicon Valley startups backed by top venture capital firms.

Then I launched Mikaios, a personal branding company built on one belief:

If people knew your story, they’d trust your brand.

→ 80+ CEOs and founders served globally
→ 5,400+ posts written.
→ 200+ qualified leads generated.
→ 10M+ views generated organically.

In 2025, I founded Brand By Content, a media company that helps people build authority at scale through newsletters, systems, and education.

Recognition

🏆 Ranked 28th LinkedIn Creator on Taplio’s Growth Challenge (out of 2,600+)
🏆 Ranked 12th Best Storyteller & Writer in India by Favikon

Today, I help CEOs and founders who already have the results (but not the visibility) build personal brands that attract opportunities, partnerships, and recognition.

If you’re ready to become known for what you do best, book a private strategy call with me:https://cal.com/johnnaveen/strategycall

John Naveen

Last year, I took my grandma to Sri Lanka.

It's been her dream for more than a decade.

She always wanted to visit, meet relatives there, and explore the country.

I still remember (when I was in grade 3 or 4) I told her:
"Wait a little… one day, I'll take you."

She laughed. I laughed.
But deep down, I meant it.

Last year, it finally happened.

We visited different cities, explored new places.
She enjoyed everything with the curiosity of a child.

It was one of the very few times in my life where I felt:
"Okay… this is what happiness actually looks like."

On one of the bus rides, a man sitting near us asked where I was from and what we were doing in Sri Lanka.

I told him, "I brought my grandma here. She always wanted to visit."

He paused. Looked surprised.
And then said something that stayed with me:

"This is the first time I'm seeing a grandson take his grandma on a trip."

I didn't know what to say.

It felt strange… and honestly, it hurt a little.

Because to me, it wasn't anything special.

A happy elder in your home is a blessing,
that's how I've always seen it.

But after that moment, I started noticing something:

Many people my age barely speak to their grandparents.

Some don't visit.
Some don't sit with them.
Some don't even know their stories.

I'm not judging… life gets busy, people move, routines change.

But that bus ride made me realize how rare simple love has become.

Even today, whenever I go to a new city or achieve something small, I tell my grandma first.

She doesn't understand most of the work I do (it's all tech and internet things) but she listens with full attention.

And maybe that's what life is.
Not just growth. Not just ambition.

But moments you create for the people who once created your world.

***
When was the last time you spent real time with your grandparents?

John Naveen Kennedy

CEO & Founder @ Mikaios - A personal branding company

I stood in front of 1200 students last year.

Ten years ago, I couldn't speak in front of 10.

As a kid, I loved speaking.

My audience was small: my mom, my sister, a few people at home.

I would talk, sing, shout, share whatever was in my head.

Even back then, I enjoyed standing in front of people.

Not to show off. Not to impress anyone.
Simply to share what I knew.

Then school happened.

Stage fear crept in, and insecurity followed.

"What will people think?"
"What if I mess up?"

So I stopped.

I forgot about public speaking entirely.

Last year, I made a simple decision:

I'm going to speak publicly, no matter the outcome.

If I fail, fine.
If people laugh, fine.
If someone mocks me, fine.

I wasn't attached to the result.
I was attached to the process.

I wanted to prepare.
I wanted to try.
I wanted to show up.

Soon after, I got an opportunity to speak at a college.

The first talk went well.
Students told me it helped them.

The staff appreciated the session.

Then came the second opportunity… this time, with 3x the audience.

The fear came back, briefly.

But I still went up on stage.
And once again, it worked :)

I've been writing content for three years.
I work closely with CEOs.
I help build personal brands.

But standing in front of students, sharing what I've learned, that gives me a kind of happiness nothing else matches.

It reminded me why I started in the first place.

***
What was the bravest thing you did in 2025 that turned out to be a great experience?

We recently rolled out a new internal rule at Mikaios.

Before any client post gets approved, it has to pass three checks.

No exceptions.

1. Does this post have a story?

If it's just information, tips, or opinions without a narrative — it doesn't go out.

People don't remember points.
They remember stories.

2. Is there a clear idea behind the story?

A story without an idea is just noise.

Every post must answer:
What should the reader think differently after this?

If there's no takeaway, we don't approve it.

3. Is there a supporting visual?

A photo. A carousel. A screenshot.
Something that grounds the post in reality.

On LinkedIn today, this matters more than ever.
The platform is flooded with AI-generated content.

Everyone is using AI. Even my friends tell me:
"I just give context and publish whatever it generates."

That alone isn't a differentiator anymore.

The edge now is:

A real story.
A clear idea.
A visual that proves it happened.

AI can help you write faster.
It can't replace lived experience.

So instead of fighting AI, we design around it.
This checklist is our filter.

And it's how we make sure every post feels human in a feed full of machines.

***
What's your filter for deciding whether content is worth publishing?

PT Usaha Kreatif Indonesia

As a UI/UX Designer at PT Usaha Kreatif Indonesia, I was entrusted with key projects for PT Delapan Belas Berjangka, a prominent forex trading broker. I designed intuitive websites, dashboards, and trading applications to streamline complex trading processes.

Additionally, I contributed to redesigning PT Usaha Kreatif Indonesia's corporate website and creating a clean, user-friendly design for PT Global Investama Finansial, a forex trading firm, helping both companies elevate their digital presence.

These projects not only strengthened my expertise in the forex industry but also demonstrated my ability to deliver impactful design solutions tailored to dynamic and high-performance markets.

UI/UX Designer

CAMP Investment Technologies

I worked on various projects related to cryptocurrency products, providing design solutions based on the company's specific requests. My role involved creating a user-friendly UI and enhancing the overall UX to support the company’s vision.

Tokenomy

I worked with the product team on crypto features and projects. I focused on enhancing UX and design quality across multiple platforms. My primary responsibilities include advancing the design system, implementing quality assurance processes, and maintaining comprehensive design documentation to support ongoing development efforts.

I accomplished a significant milestone by enhancing the completion of the design system from 0% to 28.3% on the web dashboard. Additionally, I pioneered design quality assurance (QA) processes, effectively ensuring seamless integration across four different platforms.

I also continuously maintained and updated end-to-end design systems, accommodating change requests and diligently documenting design assets to facilitate a more efficient workflow.

Serabut Nusa

As a founding team member and UI/UX Designer. I played a key role in building the company's digital presence from the ground up. I helped design the website to boost brand awareness, support marketing efforts, and drive promotions.

Additionally, I created landing pages tailored for various audiences, including MSMEs, resellers, end users, and B2B exports, ensuring each one effectively communicated the brand's message and goals.

Founding Team︱UI/UX Designer

Future Creative Network (FCN)

During my internship at FCN, I conducted a thorough UX audit for the UOB and DML websites, which provided valuable insights and recommendations for improving UX. I also developed a User Testing (UT) plan for the Eiger project.

InnoCircle Initiative

I successfully built partnerships with four printing shops, which helped us expand and launch our Minimum Viable Product (MVP). I also led the market launch of an Internet of Things (IoT) technology MVP, driving innovation and enhancing our presence in the market. 

Additionally, I coordinated user acquisition efforts at a grassroots level, helping to validate the MVP's viability and ensuring it met the needs of our target audience.

UX Designer

Thank you for stopping by.

👋Hi, I'm Denis,
a UI/UX Designer with 3+ years of experience.

My sights are set on becoming
a Product Designer, DesignOps, or Design System Manager.
 
Expertise
• Crafting UI across the platform
• Design system planner and builder
• Design documentation
• Ability to work on details 
• Pride in delivering a robust product
• Understanding business/user needs and goals

Interest
• Design facilitator and mentorship
• Acknowledge user behavior

Ready to take on a project or collaborate?
Connect with me today and shoot me a message.

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John Naveen

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