“People connect with authenticity more than polished perfection” – Kopano Moshoana

Make yourself a cappuccino, get a blanket and find a comfortable spot on your couch for this Q&A. This Q&A with Kopano Moshoana, a personal branding expert, is for the books. It is a perfect masterclass on showing up intentionally. Make sure your phone, tablet or laptop is charged because you do not want any interruptions. Check it out:

Sibusiso Nkosi: Firstly, what has made you obsessed with personal branding?

Kopano Moshoana: Honestly? It started from being overlooked. I realised very early on that having skills wasn’t enough — people needed to associate something with you. I became obsessed with personal branding because it gave me a way to position myself with purpose. It’s not about being famous or loud — it’s about being clear.

And here’s the wild part: I didn’t even realise I had a personal brand at first. Clients were choosing to work with me — not just because of my businesses — but because of how I carried myself as the founder. It was in how I communicated, how I showed up in meetings, how I handled strategy. That energy was my brand.

So, I decided to lean into it more intentionally — not just as a businesswoman, but as Kopano The Brand. I used that platform to highlight my natural gifts of speaking, teaching, and storytelling. It wasn’t something I had to create from scratch — it was already there, waiting to be claimed and refined.

Sibusiso Nkosi: Let us speak about personal branding from an entrepreneurship perspective. How can a consultant, for example, build a personal brand?

Kopano Moshoana: For consultants, your personal brand is your business card, your pitch deck, and your first impression — all rolled into one. Start with clarity: What do you want to be known for? Then use digital platforms (especially LinkedIn!) to show thought leadership through consistent content, storytelling, and valuable insights. Don’t be afraid to inject your voice into your work — people connect with authenticity more than polished perfection. Lastly, build relationships online the same way you would offline — with value, warmth, and intention.

Sibusiso Nkosi: In entrepreneurship, how does having a good personal brand grow a business?

Kopano Moshoana: Let’s be real: People buy from people they trust — and trust is built through visibility + consistency. When your personal brand reflects your values, your expertise, and your personality, you become memorable. That leads to opportunities: Podcast invites, collaborations, media features, clients finding you without you pitching. In my own journey, a strong personal brand has allowed me to create businesses, not just market them — because people buy into the person, then the product.

Sibusiso Nkosi: Tell us about your own personal branding story. How did you build Kopano The Brand?

Kopano Moshoana: Kopano The Brand was born out of purpose. I’ve always been passionate about using marketing and personal branding to provide a platform for clients to shine — especially in Africa. But at one point, I realised I was building amazing brands behind the scenes and not positioning myself visibly.

So I started intentionally showing up online. I began sharing what I was learning, doing, building. I leaned into my uniqueness — as a young African woman in marketing and personal branding — and I stopped shrinking.

But here’s the part that truly elevated the brand: I started highlighting my natural gifts — speaking, teaching, storytelling. That’s when everything aligned. It stopped being just about business and became a movement. Kopano The Brand was born when I gave myself permission to be fully seen, as I am, and used my voice to create value for others. That authenticity attracted the right audience, the right partnerships, and ultimately, the right opportunities.

Sibusiso Nkosi: What are your top 5 tips for personal branding?

Kopano Moshoana: Here are my go-to gems:

1. Be clear on your positioning – Know what you want to be known for and keep refining that.

2. Show up consistently – Whether it’s weekly posts or monthly newsletters, stay visible.

3. Own your story – Your lived experiences are your superpower. Don’t be afraid to share them.

4. Leverage digital platforms strategically – Different platforms need different versions of you. Know how to play the game.

5. Build with intention – Personal branding is not a hustle; it’s a legacy project. Lead it with clarity, purpose, and heart.