Episode 04: The Modern Career Playbook - Teri Thomas

<p>In this episode of <strong>The Modern Career Playbook</strong>, Alex speaks with <strong>Teri Thomas</strong> about personal brand, visibility and what it really takes to build a credible, fulfilling and future-relevant career today.</p><p>Teri is the founder of <strong>Beyond &amp; Co</strong>, a business specialising in growth through people-led marketing. She works with leaders and founders to help them use their voice, perspective and presence more intentionally, not as a form of self-promotion, but as a way to build trust, create value and drive growth.</p><p>This is a thoughtful and practical conversation about how careers evolve, why doing good work is not always enough on its own, and how clarity, visibility and authentic communication can shape progression, leadership and opportunity.</p><p><br></p><p>In this episode, Alex and Teri discuss:</p><ul><li>how Teri’s definition of success, confidence and credibility has changed over time</li><li>why talented people are often under-leveraging themselves</li><li>why doing good work alone is not always enough for progression</li><li>what personal brand really means and why it is often misunderstood</li><li>how to think about authentic visibility without falling into performative self-promotion</li><li>the relationship between personal brand, leadership and growth</li><li>employee-generated content and why businesses are paying more attention to it</li><li>how AI is changing the way people communicate, create and show up at work</li><li>why leaders need to protect their own voice and thinking in an AI-shaped world</li><li>where to start if you know you have more to offer but struggle to articulate your value</li></ul><p><br></p><p>Key takeaways:</p><ul><li>Personal brand is not about self-promotion. It is about clarity, trust and value.</li><li>Doing strong work matters, but people also need to understand the value you bring.</li><li>Visibility is most powerful when it feels aligned, intentional and authentic.</li><li>AI can be a useful tool, but it should not replace your perspective, judgment or voice.</li><li>Careers often progress faster when people learn to articulate their value clearly and consistently.</li></ul><p><br></p><p>Connect with Teri:</p><ul><li><a href="https://www.beyondandco.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">Beyond &amp; Co</a></li><li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/teri-thomas-a4061738/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">LinkedIn</a></li><li><a href="https://www.instagram.com/mrs_teri_thomas/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">Teri&#39;s Instagram</a></li><li><a href="https://www.instagram.com/beyondandco.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">Beyond &amp; Co&#39;s Instagram</a></li></ul><p><br></p><p>Mentioned in this episode:</p><ul><li><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Squiggly-Career-Ladder-Discover-Opportunity/dp/0241385849" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">The Squiggly Career</a> Book</li><li><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/in-writing-with-hattie-crisell/id1490412801" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">Hattie Crisell, In Writing</a> Podcast</li></ul><p><br></p><p>Follow Favourite Positions:</p><ul><li><a href="https://www.instagram.com/favouritepositionspodcast">⁠Instagram⁠</a></li><li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-young-74431a135/">⁠LinkedIn⁠</a></li><li><a href="https://www.favouritepositions.com/">⁠Website⁠</a></li></ul><p><br></p><p>About the series:</p><p><strong>The Modern Career Playbook</strong> is a series of conversations with credible leaders and specialists exploring what progression, leadership and career development actually look like today.</p><p>If you enjoyed this episode, share it with someone who’s figuring out how to grow in their career, lead people more effectively, or simply feel more confident at work.</p>