From employee to advocate: Why account managers should build a personal brand, with Claudia Cardinali
Creative Agency Account Manager PodcastShow Notes
Welcome to episode 136.
We’re talking about a topic that’s becoming a real game-changer for creative agencies - the power of personal branding and employee-generated content.
If you're an account manager, this one's especially for you. Clients are increasingly choosing to work with people, not just businesses. So the way you show up online can directly impact trust, relationships and even new business opportunities.
I chat to Claudia Cardinali, the Strategy Director for Personal Branding Agency, Great Influence where she works closely with CEOs & founders and senior leadership teams on their public image. Claudia has worked to build the personal brands of Political Party Leaders, Sunday Times bestselling authors, Premier League football players, Journalists & Unicorn Entrepreneurs. She was awarded a LinkedIn Top Voice last year, has gained an audience of over 65k followers and has built her career by sharing her thoughts on the platform, particularly around 'Becoming A Manager' and 'Employee Generated Content'.
In this conversation, we covered:
How employee visibility strengthens client relationships and eases handovers Why personal branding isn’t just for founders Practical tips for sharing content online, even if you’re not sure where to start How agencies can create a culture that encourages their teams to show up And how AI can help make the whole process quicker and easier
If you're looking to build your presence online and become an even greater asset to your clients and your agency, you’ll get so much value from this. Claudia’s message is clear - personal branding builds trust, strengthens client relationships, and helps you stand out as a true advocate for your agency. https://greatinfluence.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ccardinali9/
And if you want to sharpen your client development skills even further, check out my Account Kickstarter programme - a self-paced, eight-session online course designed to help you grow and retain your agency accounts with confidence.
Plus, we’ve just added a brand-new bonus: AI for Account Managers - packed with practical tools to help you save time, personalise client communications and uncover new growth opportunities. All available now inside your Account Kickstarter dashboard. https://www.accountmanagementskills.com/account-kickstarter
More from Creative Agency Account Manager Podcast
Welcome to Episode 174. This episode is particularly useful if you're wondering how your clients are really adopting AI, and what that means for the future value of agencies.
Welcome to Episode 173. This episode will be genuinely useful if you're an agency owner thinking about how you'll eventually sell your business, or wondering whether AI is actually giving your agency an edge or just helping you do things faster.
Welcome to Episode 172. AI in agencies has moved on significantly from simply experimenting with ChatGPT and saving a bit of time. My guest is Roy Murphy, Co-founder at G3NR8 - AI innovator for brands including Samsung, Arsenal, and Perrigo. Roy helps businesses unlock exponential technologies as a driver of growth, guiding organisations to understand and act on AI through comprehensive training, strategy, and implementation initiatives. He serves as AI Advisor to the in-house agency network Inside Out and has delivered AI training for over 150 brands, including GSK, Lego and the Bank of England. Roy regularly speaks at AI roundtables, podcasts, and industry events, working with HR, communications, marketing, and operations teams to drive meaningful transformation. In this episode, we look at: • what comes next • why agencies need to rethink their business model and service lines • how connecting your existing client data can give account managers much better intelligence • and why agentic workflows could fundamentally change the way we manage and grow client relationships. We also talk about the skills account managers need to stay valuable as AI becomes embedded in everyday agency life. There’s a lot packed into this one. You can connect with Roy Murphy on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roymurphy/
Welcome to episode 171. I’m joined by Duncan Arbour, Head of AI Innovation in the Kinetic team at Syneos Health.
Welcome to Episode 170. This is a fascinating one if you work in or with design agencies, or if you’ve ever wondered why brilliant creative work doesn’t always get the influence it deserves inside client organisations.