Startup Story
Bronwynne Wiehl is the founder & CEO of Conversation Station. Having worked in the corporate sector for over 20 years, she left to start her own social media consulting business. She focuses on giving small business owners and entrepreneurs strategic guidance with their social media brands and presence. Her strength is advising business leaders on content strategies and reputation management. She has a passion for social media engagement and content marketing strategy where she believes storytelling has the ability to change the world.
LoA spoke to Bronwynne to learn more about what companies and business leaders need to do to powerfully connect with their audiences using social media.
What does your company do?
I help individuals and companies become more visible on LinkedIn and Instagram. I build their confidence and take away their fears of showing up on social media and help them to fearlessly tell their stories to inspire others. I build LinkedIn profiles. I develop content marketing strategies and I coach people to be more courageous.
What inspired you to start your company?
I had so much more to offer the world. I knew that with the wealth of two decades of working in corporate, that I could make a difference to small business owners and professionals eager to stand out on social media. I wanted the freedom to be me and not be bound by my job title. I wanted more balance in my life and to be happy.
“I develop content marketing strategies and I coach people to be more courageous.”
Why should anyone use your service or product?
Most of my clients mirror my journey. I left corporate and didn't quite know who I was. I had to start from scratch so I know how scary it can be to build a brand on social media. But with the basket of skills that I took with me after two decades in corporate, I was able to do it successfully. This is what I teach entrepreneurs to do today. Trust me, I've walked in your shoes. It's possible once you start owning your story and telling it fearlessly.
Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And do you come from an entrepreneurial background?
I grew up in the trenches of corporate life, first at Anglo American, then at Standard Bank. But I outgrew corporate and wanted more out of life. I was frustrated with the politics and bureaucracy. I took a huge leap of faith and started my own social media business, having run the Standard Bank Group social media team for a couple of years before I left. I knew that my knowledge would benefit so many people. What I didn't realize then, and what I would learn in the three years after I left the bank, was that my greatest value was in fact helping professionals build their personal brands on social media, something I taught myself to do. When you work for a corporate, you hide behind their brand. But no one teaches you how to sell yourself and build your reputation when you need to do it for yourself or your small business. And for most people, it can be frightening and crippling. But I teach people to overcome that fear and to shine!
What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?
I want to offer online training and regular webinars so that my coaching reaches a wider network of people who need to get their voices heard and their content seen on social media.
“I knew that with the wealth of two decades of working in corporate, that I could make a difference to small business owners and professionals eager to stand out on social media.”
What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?
Knowing that I have found my purpose and that I'm only just beginning to make a difference takes my breath away. As I grow, so do my clients. Seeing clients showing up and telling their stories, being able to safely be their most authentic and vulnerable selves is inspiring.
What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?
Know what you want you to be known for. Realize that everything you say on social media builds your personal brand, i.e., your reputation. This is important because people buy from people. People trust people and want to do business with people. Sharing your personal journey and building up a strong community of loyal fans will only benefit your business in the long run. My final thought: the only way you stand out on social media is by being yourself. Nobody is boring. Nobody can copy you and nobody can tell your stories as well as you can. Somebody needs you! My favorite quote is this: "Even if your business is small, the fact that you started something and created employment for yourself is extraordinary.
Bronwynne shares daily tips on personal branding on https://www.instagram.com/conversationswithbron
Find out more:
WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | EMAIL bronwynne@conversationstation.co.za
Why LoA loves it…
If there is one person who really understands the power of creating great content that can not just connect with audiences but truly engage them on social media, it is Bronwynne Wiehl. She knows how to harness the power of digital platforms to tell stories that resonate with audiences and to position leaders and brands in a genuine, positive way. Knowing how to make social media work in business and in personal profile building is key in today’s world, and having a specialist in this field like Bronwynne on your side gives you the edge. — Melanie Hawken, founder & ceo, Lionesses of Africa