Who Are You Without the Logo?

I challenged a director-level client of mine recently. It seemed like a simple exercise.

I asked her to update her LinkedIn profile so it reflected who she is, what she cares about, and what she wants to be known for beyond the title on her business card and the logo of the company she works for.

A week later, I asked how it was going.

"I haven't done it yet."

"Why not?"

"I don't know."

So we sat with it for a minute.

"What do you think might happen if you did?"

"People might think I'm looking for another job."

"Are you?"

"No."

"Then what are you worried about?"

Another pause.

"What if people start questioning how committed I am?"

I looked at her and said:

"Committed to what?"

"My job."

"You mean the same job you've consistently delivered results in for years?"

She smiled.

"When you put it that way..."

"It's interesting, isn't it?" I said. "The minute you start talking about who you are beyond your title, your brain assumes people will think you're less committed to it."

Another smile.

"I hadn't thought about it like that."

Neither had I for a long time.

WHAT

One of the most common things I see in high-achieving women is how tightly identity becomes attached to achievement.

At first, it makes sense.

Your title reflects your hard work. The company reflects your credibility. The role reflects years of experience and expertise.

Over time, those things become part of how you introduce yourself, how others see you, and sometimes how you see yourself.

Nothing wrong with that.

Until one day you're asked a surprisingly simple question:

Who are you without it?

And suddenly the answer isn't as obvious as you thought.

WHY

Most women don't struggle to describe what they do. They struggle to describe who they are beyond what they do.

That's a very different challenge.

It's also why career transitions, promotions, layoffs, entrepreneurial pursuits, empty nests, and major life changes can feel so unsettling.

When your identity is deeply connected to a role, any change to the role can start to feel personal.

The fear isn't really about updating a LinkedIn profile. The fear is being seen.

Without the title. Without the company logo and without the shorthand you've relied on for years.

HOW

The answer isn't to reject your accomplishments. The answer is to expand your identity beyond them.

Start paying attention to the things you care about that have nothing to do with your title.

The ideas you can't stop talking about. The values that shape your decisions.

The people you help. The problems you're drawn to solve.

The experiences that have changed how you see the world.

Those things matter too.

In many cases, they matter more than the line on your business card.

Because titles change. Companies change. Careers evolve.

The strongest sense of identity comes from knowing who you are when those things inevitably do.

BEFORE YOU GO

What I've noticed about women who navigate change well is that they don't wait until a transition happens to figure out who they are.

They've already done that work.

And that makes all the difference.

If this brought up something for you, spend a few minutes with this question:

If your company logo disappeared tomorrow, what would you want people to know about you?

Maybe start there.

P.S. There are only two issues of AchieveHER left after this one.

That feels strange to write.

This newsletter helped me find my voice as a writer and connect with so many incredible women.

I'm grateful for every issue, every reply, and every woman who chose to spend a few minutes of her week here with me.

What's coming next feels more personal, more honest, and more aligned with the questions I'm most interested in exploring.

And if yesterday's first issue of The Impossible Daughter is any indication, I think you're going to love where we're headed.

💛

Jaspreet