UNAIR NEWS – The Directorate of Career Development, Entrepreneurship Incubation, and Alumni Affairs (DPKKA) Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) recently hosted another installment of the Airlangga Career & Internship Club (ACIC) Webinar series. The virtual event, conducted via Zoom on Wednesday (February 12, 2025), was titled First Impressions Matter: Personal Branding and Public Speaking for Career Growth. The webinar featured Tiodora Nandan Kartika, Talent Acquisition and Branding Manager at Karier.mu, as the speaker.
The session began with opening remarks from Lina Nugraha Rani, SE, MSEI, Head of Career Development at DPKKA UNAIR. She highlighted that the collaboration between DPKKA UNAIR, Karier.mu, and the Prakerja program aims to equip students and alumni with essential career development skills, particularly in personal branding and public speaking.
As a faculty member in the Islamic Economics program, Rani underscored the importance of these skills in professional growth. “The term career growth suggests a structured path toward success. By refining your personal brand and enhancing your public speaking abilities, you increase your chances of securing better opportunities each year,” she explained.
Personal branding tips
Opening her presentation, Tiodora Nandan Kartika defined personal branding as the deliberate process of shaping, managing, and promoting one’s professional identity to establish a distinct public persona.
She emphasized that a well-crafted personal brand enhances credibility, differentiates individuals from competitors, creates career and networking opportunities, provides control over public perception, accelerates professional advancement, and builds self-confidence.
Drawing from her experience, Kartika outlined four key steps for developing a strong personal brand.
“First and foremost, understand yourself and identify what makes you unique. Next, build and optimize your professional profile. Then, share your insights and expertise through platforms like LinkedIn, your CV, or Instagram. Lastly, establish and expand your professional network,” Kartika explained.
Role of public speaking in personal branding
Public speaking plays a crucial role in personal branding, as effective communication is essential in establishing and reinforcing one’s professional image. Kartika pointed out that public speaking is not just about addressing an audience—it is about conveying ideas clearly, persuasively, and with confidence.
Concluding her session, she encouraged students to continuously develop their confidence in both personal branding and public speaking. “Confidence in these areas is built through self-awareness, consistent practice, thorough preparation, and unwavering commitment,” Kartika remarked.
Author: Selly Imeldha
Editor: Edwin Fatahuddin
