How to Build a Personal Brand: Lessons from Working with Gary Vaynerchuk and Top Entrepreneurs
Brittany Krystle went from practicing law to building personal brands for Gary Vaynerchuk, Marie Forleo, and Tom Bilyeu. Here's what I learned about personal branding strategy from our in-depth conversation.
Why I Wanted to Talk About Personal Branding
Personal branding is one of those topics that gets thrown around constantly, but very few people actually understand what it takes to build one from scratch — and even fewer have done it at the highest level. That's exactly why I sat down with Brittany Krystle for my Those That Inspire interview series.
I've been following Brittany's journey for a couple of years now, and her path from practicing attorney to personal brand strategist for some of the biggest names in business is one of the most compelling stories I've come across. She's worked with Gary Vaynerchuk, Marie Forleo, Tom Bilyeu, and dozens of other top-tier entrepreneurs, and the insights she shared in our conversation completely shifted how I think about building a brand online.
From Lawyer to Personal Branding Expert: An Unlikely Path
One of the things that fascinated me most about Brittany's story is how unconventional her route was. She went to law school, practiced securities regulation and litigation, and had no idea that building a business on the internet was even an option. She told me flat out — personal branding online wasn't even on her radar when she started her career.
But that's the thing about personal branding. It doesn't require a linear path. In fact, having a diverse background can be one of your greatest assets. Brittany moved through television, entertainment, and social media before landing at VaynerMedia, and each of those experiences gave her a unique perspective that most branding consultants simply don't have.
The Takeaway for Anyone Starting Out
- Your past experience is never wasted — it becomes the foundation of your unique positioning.
- You don't need to have it all figured out from day one.
- Being willing to pivot is more valuable than having a perfect plan.
What Working with Gary Vee Teaches You About Personal Branding
I asked Brittany to break down what she actually learned during her nearly three years at VaynerMedia, and her answer was eye-opening. She described it as learning "the grounding of everything" when it comes to personal brand strategy.
Gary Vaynerchuk personally recruited her to move to New York to work on his personal brand team. This was around 2014-2015, right when he was getting serious about scaling his own brand — preparing to launch the AskGaryVee book with the goal of becoming a number one New York Times bestseller. He saw something in Brittany's understanding of influence, especially as Instagram influencer culture was on the rise.
Key Lessons from the Gary Vee Experience
- Personal branding is a long game. Even someone as prolific as Gary Vee was strategic and intentional about scaling his brand over time.
- Influence is a skill, not an accident. Understanding how influence works online is what separates hobbyists from professionals.
- Surround yourself with the best. Working alongside top-tier talent accelerates your learning curve exponentially.
Going Solo: Building Your Own Brand After Working for Someone Else
In May 2017, Brittany made the leap to go out on her own, and I think this is where the conversation got really valuable for my audience. The transition from working on someone else's brand to building your own is a challenge many aspiring entrepreneurs face.
She started with consulting — leveraging the expertise and credibility she'd built at VaynerMedia — and has since evolved her business to include digital products. That shift from trading time for money to creating scalable offerings is something I've seen again and again with the most successful entrepreneurs I've interviewed.
The Evolution of a Personal Brand Business
- Phase 1: Build expertise. Work with or for established brands to develop real skills and credibility.
- Phase 2: Consult and serve. Use your knowledge to help clients one-on-one and refine your methodology.
- Phase 3: Scale with products. Package your expertise into digital products, courses, or frameworks that reach more people.
What Makes a Strong Personal Brand in Today's Landscape
Throughout our conversation, a few core principles kept coming back when we discussed what actually makes a personal brand work. Here's what I took away:
- Authenticity over perfection. The brands that resonate most aren't the most polished — they're the most real.
- Consistency compounds. Showing up regularly builds trust, and trust is the currency of personal branding.
- Content is the vehicle. Whether it's a podcast, video, or social media, content is how you communicate your value to the world.
- Your story is your differentiator. No one else has your exact combination of experiences, skills, and perspective.
Why I Believe Personal Branding Matters More Than Ever
Talking with Brittany reinforced something I've believed for a long time: personal branding isn't vanity — it's leverage. Whether you're a founder, a freelancer, or someone climbing the corporate ladder, how you present yourself online directly impacts the opportunities that come your way.
Brittany's journey from lawyer to one of the most respected personal brand strategists in the space is proof that it's never too late to reinvent yourself. And the frameworks she's developed from working with people like Gary Vaynerchuk, Marie Forleo, and Tom Bilyeu are genuinely actionable for anyone willing to put in the work.
If you're serious about building your personal brand, I highly recommend checking out Brittany's podcast, Beyond Influential, and visiting her site at brittanykrystle.com. And if this conversation resonated with you, make sure to watch the full interview — there's so much more we covered that I couldn't fit into this post.