Before you build your personal brand, find your direction.
A private one-to-one strategy session for founders, CEOs, executives and ambitious professionals who want to build a stronger personal brand, but need greater clarity on what makes them distinctive, what they stand for and what they want to become known for.
Get clear on who you are, where you want to go and the story that will take you there.
Proudly Trusted by Leaders Including
You don't need another personal branding formula. You need a starting point.
Every week I speak to people at different stages of their careers who know they have more to offer, but aren't always sure how to express it.
Some are founders and CEOs. Others are experienced professionals, emerging leaders or ambitious individuals preparing for their next chapter.
They have experience, ideas and ambitions.
They know that understanding what makes them distinctive, and communicating it with confidence, could open new doors.
But they're not always clear where to begin.
Not because they lack ability, experience or ambition.
Because they haven't yet connected the experiences, strengths and perspectives that make their story uniquely theirs.
That's what the Identity Compass Session is designed to help you discover.
Visibility
You want your experience, strengths and contributions to be recognised, but you're not sure how to make the right impression.
Positioning
You know you have something distinctive to offer, but you're not yet clear what you want to become known for.
Story
Your experiences have shaped who you are. The opportunity is to connect them into a story that gives your future direction.
Direction
Whether you're growing in your current role or exploring what's next, you want clarity about where you're heading and why.
Your experience tells people what you've done. Your story reveals who you are.
Your career, achievements and job title are important. But they don't tell the whole story.
Whether you're a founder, a senior leader or someone building the next chapter of your career, you've been shaped by far more than the roles you've held.
Your experiences, decisions, beliefs and perspectives have all contributed to the person you've become.
The opportunity is to understand what connects them.
Not to invent a new version of yourself, but to make sense of what makes you distinctive, what matters to you and how you want to move forward.
Your experience explains where you've been. Your story helps shape where you go next.
Building your own story is one thing. Helping your people build theirs is another.
For organisations looking to invest in their people, Corporate Identity Compass™ brings our storytelling expertise and methodology to leadership teams, emerging leaders and employee cohorts.
We help individuals understand what makes them distinctive, strengthen how they communicate their value and connect their stories to the wider ambitions and identity of your business.
Looking to develop your people, strengthen your leadership stories or bring greater clarity to your organisation's brand?
Explore Corporate Identity Compass Discover the programme for organisations.
Marc Maley
Founder, My Brand Academy
Creator of Identity Compass™
The Story Behind the System
I spent my career helping build some of the world's biggest stories. Now I help people make sense of their own.
For more than two decades, I've worked across entertainment, global brands and leadership, helping shape stories for some of the world's most recognised franchises, organisations and individuals.
From working on Harry Potter, Marvel and Star Wars to developing storytelling and audience strategies for TikTok, I've seen first-hand how powerful stories can change the way people are understood, remembered and valued.
But something became increasingly clear.
The people with the greatest potential weren't always the people who were most clearly understood.
They had experience, ability and ambition. What they often lacked was a way to connect their experiences, understand what made them distinctive and articulate their story with confidence.
That's what inspired me to create Identity Compass.
By bringing together entertainment-grade storytelling, professional experience and personal branding expertise, I help individuals make sense of who they are, what they stand for and what they want to become known for.
Your Story Is Your Strategy.
Identity Compass is where that journey begins. A private strategic conversation, with the option of a personalised Blueprint, to explore your experiences, understand your story and discover the direction that's right for you.
Because before you decide what you want to become known for, it helps to understand what makes you worth knowing.
Connect with me on LinkedInBefore you build your personal brand, understand the story behind it.
It's easy to focus on becoming more visible before you've decided what you want to become known for. But the strongest personal brands begin with understanding your experiences, what makes you distinctive and the perspective only you can bring.
Identity Compass isn't a content strategy or a personal branding programme.
It's the clarity that comes before them.
A dedicated opportunity to explore your story, understand what makes you distinctive and discover the direction you want to take before deciding what comes next.
Trusted by leaders, founders and creative thinkers.
Michal Oshman
Creator of TikTok’s Global Company Culture | Developed Meta’s Leadership & Learning Solutions | Best-Selling Author
Marc has been instrumental in my personal brand development and growth. Marc’s support extends beyond just strategy; he has been a trusted advisor, continuously helping me refine my narrative and impact both in my career and as an author.
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Marc has been instrumental in my personal brand development and growth. Marc’s support extends beyond just strategy; he has been a trusted advisor, continuously helping me refine my narrative and impact both in my career and as an author. His unique insights and strategic guidance helped me transition smoothly from my role at Facebook to TikTok, where I continued to shape company culture and leadership and Marc also worked with my teams. As I evolved into a best-selling author, Marc’s expertise in personal branding was invaluable, providing me with a clear, authentic voice.
Philip Cohen
HSBC Head of Banking, UK & International
Marc’s deep understanding of storytelling and its impact on personal and corporate brands, combined with his passion and extensive experience, makes him a standout leader in the branding world.
Rebecca Smart
Leadership and Talent Coach at Penguin Random House
Marc’s sense of the possible is infectious, and his open and honest communication is a breath of fresh air. He has a deep understanding of developing appealing brand propositions, and his amazing creativity means they are always spectacular.
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Rory Scarfe
Managing Director, Client Management, The Blair Partnership
I have always enjoyed working with Marc enormously. He is full of ideas and passion for what he does and I know our author clients have greatly valued his personal brand development work.
Jasmine Aloma
Publicist at BBC Three
Marc is a warm, thoughtful leader who was a pleasure to work with. He’s open to new ideas and activations to broaden campaigns and reach new audiences and also advocates for creativity and collaboration in the workplace.
Andy Gowland
Head of Global Operations, Mercury 13
I have had the pleasure of working with Marc over the last several years, and I can confidently say that his extensive experience and expertise in brand strategy and development are truly remarkable. Marc consistently demonstrates a high level of integrity and trustworthiness, making him a reliable partner.
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I have had the pleasure of working with Marc over the last several years, and I can confidently say that his extensive experience and expertise in brand strategy and development are truly remarkable. Marc consistently demonstrates a high level of integrity and trustworthiness, making him a reliable partner. His creative approach to problem-solving not only brings innovative solutions but also inspires those around him to think outside the box. Beyond his professional accomplishments, Marc is a genuinely kind and approachable individual who values collaboration and fosters a positive work environment. His passion for applying his experience and skills towards helping others reflects his commitment to making a difference, in his field, across communities and to individuals too.
George Walkley
Chair, Midas PR | Author
Marc is one of the most imaginative brand strategists I’ve worked with. We worked together on a project where the sky was the limit creatively, but there were tight deadlines to achieve success.
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Marc is one of the most imaginative brand strategists I’ve worked with. We worked together on a project where the sky was the limit creatively, but there were tight deadlines to achieve success. I really appreciated Marc’s deep experience, creative mind, and ability to turn insights into plans and then action. Plus, and this matters, he’s not just smart and energetic, but a really nice guy with it.
Tim Ross
General Counsel at Orgvue
Marc's knowledge and understanding of personal brand development are exceptional. He is a true professional who knows how to bring out the best in people, guiding them to realise their full potential.
Jonathan Levi
Managing Director, Content Kings
Marc brings decades of experience to the table and has a rare, sharp and clear understanding of the importance of personal brand and how to achieve one. His skillset is sought after and his results speak for themselves.
A conversation that changes how you see yourself. And what you do next.
A focused, private two-hour strategic conversation designed to help you make sense of your experiences, understand what makes you distinctive and discover the direction you want to take. It's your opportunity to explore the person behind the personal brand.
Your North Star
Everything begins with clarity.
Make sense of your story
Explore the experiences, decisions and defining moments that have shaped who you are and how you see the world.
Discover what makes you distinctive
Identify the strengths, perspectives and patterns that make your experience and contribution uniquely yours.
Connect your personal narrative
Begin bringing your experiences, beliefs and ambitions together into a story that feels authentic to you.
Find your North Star
Get clearer on what matters to you, where you want to go and what you genuinely want to become known for.
Decide what comes next
Leave with greater clarity about your direction and the next steps worth taking, personally and professionally.
Sometimes clarity is all you need.
Sometimes it's the beginning of something much bigger.
One conversation. Two ways to move forward.
Both experiences begin with the same private two-hour Identity Compass™ consultation. Choose the conversation on its own, or have the insights translated into a personalised strategic Blueprint you can continue building upon.
Private consultations are delivered worldwide via Zoom. Most sessions are available within five working days of booking.
Identity Compass™ Session
A private strategic conversation for people who want to make sense of their experiences, explore what makes them distinctive and gain greater clarity about the direction they want to take.
Sometimes having the right conversation, with the right questions and an experienced outside perspective, is exactly what you need.
- ✓ Private two-hour consultation with Marc Maley
- ✓ Exploration of your identity and experiences
- ✓ Origin story and defining moments
- ✓ Strengths, perspectives and distinctive qualities
- ✓ North Star and future direction
- ✓ Session notes and key reflections
Identity Compass™ Session + Custom Blueprint
For people who want more than the conversation. This experience transforms the insights we uncover together into a personalised strategic foundation they can own, revisit and build upon.
Your custom Identity Compass™ Blueprint brings together the defining themes of your identity, your experiences, your story, what makes you distinctive and the direction you want to take.
It becomes a reference point for how you communicate, position yourself, make decisions and develop your personal brand.
Your Blueprint can also provide valuable context for the AI tools you already use, including ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini.
Instead of asking AI to guess who you are, you can give it a foundation built around your actual experiences, perspectives, expertise and ambitions.
That means more relevant ideas, more distinctive content and a stronger starting point for whatever you choose to create next.
- ✓ Personalised Identity Compass™ Blueprint PDF
- ✓ Personal observations and strategic insights
- ✓ Emerging identity themes and distinctive strengths
- ✓ Your personal narrative and North Star
- ✓ Personal brand positioning foundations
- ✓ Recommended priorities and areas to explore next
- ✓ Reusable strategic context for your AI tools
Prices are displayed and charged in USD. If you pay using another currency, your bank or card provider will determine the applicable exchange rate.
From purchase to private consultation.
Once you've selected the right experience, the rest of the process is simple.
Secure your session
Complete your purchase through our secure online checkout.
Choose your time
Use your private booking link to select a convenient two-hour appointment.
Complete your preparation
Answer a short questionnaire so we can begin with greater context and focus.
Your booking and preparation links will also be sent to you by email after purchase.
Clarity first. Everything else follows.
Identity Compass™ is designed to help you understand who you are, make sense of your story and discover the direction worth pursuing.
The Session provides the conversation and key reflections. The Blueprint captures that thinking in a personalised strategic document you can continue using.
Neither option includes a fully developed content programme or ongoing implementation. Those can come later, if and when they're right for you.
Every meaningful brand begins with a conversation.
If you still have any questions in regard to the Identity Compass Sessions before booking, or want to organise a 20-minute discovery call, please complete the form below and I’ll respond personally, usually within one to two business days.
Clarity can be the destination. Or the beginning.
Whether you choose the Identity Compass™ Session or the Session with your own Custom Blueprint, both experiences are designed to deliver meaningful value in their own right. For some people, that clarity is exactly what they need. For others, it becomes the foundation for something bigger.
Identity Compass™
A private conversation to understand your story, discover what makes you distinctive and find your North Star.
With or without your personalised Blueprint.
Clarity is enough.
The Identity Compass™ experience gives you a deeper understanding of your identity, the language to express what makes you distinctive and a clearer sense of direction.
You leave knowing what matters, what you want to become known for and which opportunities are worth exploring.
If you've chosen the Custom Blueprint, you also have those foundations captured in a personalised document you can continue using.
It becomes the first step.
Once you've discovered your North Star, you may decide to build a more complete Identity Playbook around it.
This is where we take the foundations of your identity, story and ambitions and develop them into a more comprehensive personal brand strategy.
From how you position yourself and communicate your value to the audiences you want to reach and the opportunities you want to create.
There is no expectation to take the next step.
The Identity Compass™ experience is designed to stand on its own. If deeper work makes sense, that's a conversation we can have when you're ready.
Everything you need to know before choosing your session.
Identity Compass™ is designed to be simple, focused and easy to book. Here are the answers to the questions leaders most commonly ask before getting started.
Do I need a discovery call before booking? +
No. This page is designed to give you everything you need to choose the right option and book directly.
The Identity Compass Session is itself the focused strategic conversation. Adding another call beforehand would create an unnecessary step.
Once you have purchased, you will be taken directly to the booking page to choose your session time.
How quickly can I book my session? +
We commit to making a suitable two-hour appointment available within five working days of purchase, unless you would prefer to schedule it for a later date.
Availability may sometimes allow you to book sooner.
What happens after I purchase? +
After completing payment, you will be taken to a private booking page where you can choose a convenient two-hour appointment.
You will also be invited to complete a short Identity Compass preparation form. This helps me understand your current position, professional story and reasons for booking so we can make the best possible use of our time together.
You will receive a confirmation email containing both links, so you can complete either step later if needed.
Which option should I choose? +
Choose the Identity Compass Session if you primarily want a private strategic conversation, immediate clarity and key reflections from the discussion.
Choose the Identity Compass Blueprint if you also want the insights translated into a concise written foundation that you can revisit and build upon afterwards.
Both options include the same private two-hour consultation.
What should I prepare beforehand? +
You do not need to arrive with a finished personal brand, content strategy or perfectly articulated story.
Before the session, you will complete a short preparation form covering your current role, professional journey, ambitions, areas of uncertainty and what you would most value from the conversation.
The form should take approximately 10 to 15 minutes and gives us a stronger starting point for the session.
Do I need to complete an assessment? +
No. The Identity Compass preparation form is not a personality test or formal assessment.
It is a short set of reflective questions designed to give me useful context before we meet.
You do not need to have polished answers. Honest, instinctive responses are more useful than carefully constructed ones.
Is this a personal branding programme? +
No.
Identity Compass™ is the conversation before a full personal brand programme.
It is designed to help you find direction, articulate emerging themes and decide what may be worth exploring next. It does not include a twelve-month strategy, content plan or implementation roadmap.
Will you create LinkedIn content for me? +
No. The session may help clarify the stories, themes and perspectives that could eventually inform your LinkedIn content, speaking, newsletters or thought leadership.
However, content creation and ongoing implementation are not included in either Identity Compass option.
Is the session confidential? +
Yes. The conversation is private and treated as confidential.
You may discuss professional experiences, ambitions, tensions or personal reflections without any expectation that they will be published or shared.
Nothing from the session will be used publicly without your express permission.
Is this only for CEOs and founders? +
The service is primarily designed for founders, CEOs, executives and senior leaders who have accumulated meaningful professional experience but have not yet translated it into a clear personal narrative.
It may also suit an emerging C-suite leader or established professional preparing for a significant next chapter.
It is not intended as an entry-level career coaching session.
What happens if I need to reschedule? +
You will be able to reschedule using the link included in your booking confirmation.
We ask that you provide at least 48 hours’ notice wherever possible. Full cancellation and rescheduling terms will be shown on the booking page.
What happens after the session? +
For some people, the session provides all the clarity they need.
For others, it reveals an opportunity for deeper work, such as a complete Identity Playbook or long-term personal brand strategy.
There is no obligation to continue. Any further conversation only happens if it feels appropriate and useful to you.
Can my company purchase the session for me? +
Yes. The session can be purchased personally or funded by an organisation as part of executive development, leadership visibility or professional positioning.
Company billing details can be entered during checkout, and an appropriate receipt or invoice will be provided through the payment process.
Identity is your compass. Your story is your strategy.
Your personal brand isn't something you invent. It's something you uncover.
Whether you're a founder, CEO, senior leader or ambitious professional, understanding what makes you distinctive is the foundation for deciding what you want to become known for.
No pressure to become someone you're not. No expectation to commit to a longer programme. Just a private conversation designed to bring clarity to what comes next.