Selma Kuyas is a leading personal branding expert and a respected LinkedIn influencer who has twice been recognized as a LinkedIn Top Voice in Jobs & Careers. With over 44,000 followers on LinkedIn and more than 100,000 followers on all social media, she has established a strong and authentic personal brand.
Selma Kuyas emphasizes that authenticity and digital visibility lead to a higher quality of life and economic success. She particularly addresses C-level executives, entrepreneurs, startup founders as well as specialists and managers. With extensive experience in corporate influencing and employer branding, she supports executives and companies in strengthening their digital presence.
Her keynotes and talks emphasize the importance of authenticity and the power of LinkedIn for professional success. Selma Kuyas is not only a business influencer for well-known brands such as Samsung and Personio, but also a sought-after lecturer and consultant in the areas of digital authenticity and personal branding.
Interview with Selma Kuyas:
1. What are the core subjects of your keynote speeches?
Authenticity:
We are living in a time of information overload, generic marketing claims and superficial influencers and role models. We are caught up in the hustle and bustle of everyday life and are increasingly losing touch with our authenticity. This is dangerous because authenticity is the fabric from which our credibility is woven. Credibility is the foundation on which we build trusting (business) relationships. In a digital world in which artificial intelligence has arrived, authenticity is becoming the new superpower. The more authentic we are, the greater our quality of life. Both personally and professionally.
Personal branding:
It’s not the best who get promoted or get the job – it’s the most visible. In 2024, anyone who is invisible digitally will not be relevant or considered. An authentic personal brand is like an asset that never loses value. The benefits of a strong digital reputation are economic opportunities. With personal branding, you automatically build a network and open doors that you didn’t even know existed. My aim is to empower the audience with the courage they need to become digitally visible. So that they can attract a better job, more customers, more sales and more economic opportunities into their lives.
2. Which audience or which branch do you reach with your speech?
- C-Level Executives
- Entrepreneurs, startup founders, owners
- Specialists and managers
- Entrepreneurs & solopreneurs
Industries: Service sector, corporates, groups, all industries
3. Are you a PREMIUM SPEAKER? Where do you get your insights from?
As a 2x LinkedIn Top Voice with over 100,000 social media followers, I understand how to build an authentic personal brand. My digital visibility started in 2019. In record time, I was not only able to build a strong network on the world’s largest business platform, but also found myself through becoming visible: my authentic self. The highlight of this journey was my public speaking appearance at the Hallenstadion Zurich in 2023, in front of 10,000 people at the event ‘A night with Barack Obama’. All because I had the courage to become visible with my topics. After having published more than 2,000 content pieces, my business and life has changed completely changed: Digital visibility has opened me the doors to more quality of life. That’s what I wish for everyone and that’s why I’m on stage. To encourage others to follow this path. We have nothing to lose – only to gain.
4. What will be in the future? Does «time» play an important role in your work?
Authenticity:
Quiet Quitting, Burnout and Exhaustion. A lack of authenticity is one of the main reasons why many people burn out internally. Authenticity means aligning your thoughts, actions and feelings with your personal belief system. However, if we no longer have time to think about who we really are, what we stand for and what values we represent, it always has negative consequences. The effects on the economy and the world of work are frightening. It is vital that we rediscover ourselves so that we can contribute effectively as valuable members of the economy and society.
Personal branding:
Since the coronavirus pandemic at the latest, we have been living in a crisis of trust. The era of artificial intelligence is adding fuel to the fire. What is real, what is fake? Who can I trust and who not? A strong personal brand acts like a beacon in the midst of the many flags in the wind. CEOs in particular have a duty to become digitally visible. Employees need guidance and leadership – they need social CEOs. But professionals also need to understand that their digital business card and a strong network are essential for advancing their careers. GenZ no longer uses Google to find information, but social media. Companies need to adapt if they want to continue to attract talent.
5. Tell us your life motto? What do you want to give your listeners to take with them?
Our lifespan is very short. It comes with an expiration date and is the most precious commodity we hold. What drives me at the core is to ensure that nobody wastes a single day of their precious life time because they lack the courage to be authentic and digitally visible. Because the more authentic I am, the more peace of mind I have. And the more visible I am, the more economic opportunities I get. Neither costs us a cent. We can only profit – real quality of life. It’s priceless – and life is short.