Building authentic professional presence doesn’t require a complete reinvention – sometimes it starts with a single, meaningful choice. Entrepreneur Vinisha Rathod shares how one decision transformed her networking success and what EAs can learn about strategic personal branding.
I spent many years struggling to find my place at work. Many people called me a ‘late bloomer’… Maybe you can relate. I followed the corporate rules – kept my head down, waited for managers to recognise my efforts, got promoted and continued the cycle.
I often felt like I was riding a merry-go-round, knowing there had to be an easier way to work with the world rather than constantly fighting to be in it.
Sometimes you stumble upon answers unexpectedly. For me, it happened on an ordinary bus ride as I started a new job in the startup world.
It began with a bag search
I knew I needed a new laptop bag when I saw him; a man holding a brown leather briefcase and half a litre of milk in the same hand. I was flooded with memories of my father who carried a black briefcase to work every day. I miss him daily.
He was diagnosed with cancer months after I graduated university and within four months one of the people closest to me was gone. He was 50 and I was 22. He never saw me succeed in business and never saw me find my place in the startup world he would have loved.
In that moment on the bus, I knew a modern briefcase would be my new laptop bag; something that would embody Dad’s spirit so he could be with me every step of the way.
After searching store after store with my mum and almost giving up (briefcases aren’t popular nowadays), I finally found one.
The power of the brand
The briefcase quickly gained attention from friends, colleagues and clients. I brought it everywhere (networking events, conferences, meetings) and it became a constant conversation starter.
Without realising it, my briefcase became core to my personal brand. The conversations it sparked always started the same way: “Hey V, what’s in the briefcase?”
I narrowed my answer down to three things:
- Venture capital money
- “Thoughts and prayers” (from an ex-Prime Minister)
- Secrets to sustainably scaling your business
If the first two didn’t spark interest, the third always did. It became key to my networking strategy for building new connections.
I realised my briefcase had become central to my success and decided to lean into it. I built my brand on what I love and who I am authentically – bold fashion, colourful nails and statement earrings that represent my creative yet professional approach.
I earned the title Startup Fairy within the Australian tech ecosystem.
From nobody to industry voice
I knew no-one when I entered the startup system three years ago. Now I’m regularly called to speak on authenticity, personal branding and leadership.
The briefcase became my magic power for success – leaning into authenticity had a ripple effect on how I presented myself professionally.
For the first time, I integrated my personality into my work. When I started my own business, the transition was easier because people already knew who I was through my established brand presence.
People by people
In our digital-first world, authenticity and relatability matter more than ever. As an EA, your greatest commercial strength is you; your essence.
Building professional presence doesn’t require dramatic reinvention. Sometimes it starts with one meaningful choice that reflects who you truly are.
Whether it’s how you organise meetings, your communication style or even the professional accessories you choose, small authentic decisions can become powerful differentiators.
The briefcase effect taught me that when you align your professional presence with your authentic self, opportunities follow naturally.
