Building Your Personal Brand in the Startup Ecosystem with Sarah Johnston

Are you a physician considering a career pivot or wanting to explore opportunities outside traditional medicine? In this episode, I sit down with Sarah Johnston, a career branding expert and founder of The Briefcase Coach, who has helped hundreds of executives, including myself, navigate career transitions. We explore practical strategies to optimize your LinkedIn profile, craft a compelling executive resume, and build a personal narrative that opens doors. Sarah and I also dive into the mindset shifts necessary to step into new roles, from overcoming self-doubt to embracing your transferable skills. 

Sarah Johnston, a former healthcare recruiter and industry "insider," is dedicated to empowering talented high-achievers by equipping them with the necessary tools to succeed in their job search. Driven by her passion for empowering professionals, Sarah founded the Briefcase Coach, a renowned global executive branding firm. Operating worldwide, the Briefcase Coach has successfully served clients in all 50 states and across six continents. Sarah was recognized as a LinkedIn Top Voice in the career space in 2019 and acknowledged among HR Weekly's Top 100 Most Influential People in HR. Furthermore, Balance Careers named Sarah's resume writing firm as the "best" for experienced executives. JobScan named Sarah a "top follow" in 2019, 2020, and 2022. Sarah is a graduate of the University of Georgia.

Episode Highlights:

[0:44] - Introducing Sarah Johnston and my journey to career clarity with her help.
[2:40] - Sarah’s background as a recruiter and her transition to building a global resume writing firm.
[4:46] - Why physicians struggle to identify and market their transferable skills.
[8:52] - The value of reframing “failure” and using data to tell a compelling career story.
[9:59] - Why LinkedIn is essential for physicians and how to overcome the “ick factor.”
[15:54] - Crafting a LinkedIn headline: Using keywords to align with your career goals.
[19:47] - Leveraging opportunities within your current job to build skills for a future pivot.
[23:13] - Volunteer work and side gigs: A pathway to gain experience and open doors.
[28:19] - The long-term career impact of stepping out of your comfort zone.

Resources:

Sarah Johnston’s Website: The Briefcase Coach

Checkout our services at StartupPhysicians.com

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the podcast, rate, and leave a review. Don’t forget to share this episode with fellow physicians who might be interested in startups. Together, we can shape the future of healthcare! See you next time.

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