When done right, personal branding can go a long way in providing a clear focus on the development of your brand, while also establishing you as a name to reckon with. It helps you stand out from the crowd. Because your personal brand is all about you, it is important that you put in the time and the effort required to grow and develop it. And of course, it needs to align with your values. Consistency is key.

To understand this phenomenon better, we spoke to 11 influential people from various industries about their personal branding initiatives.

Here’s what they said about how they made it work for them and how you can harness its power for yourself:

Pratik Dholakiya is the Founder of Preceptist, a content marketing agency for SaaS businesses.