In today’s fast-evolving educational and professional landscape, building a robust Personal Learning Environment (PLE) has become essential for self-growth. After completing an insightful course on Personal Branding led by Kimberly Barker, an emerging technology librarian, I’ve gained valuable strategies for aligning my learning and professional goals. This course has greatly influenced how I approach learning and self-presentation, helping me refine my PLE.
The course emphasized the value of authenticity, personal mission alignment, and strategic visibility. One of the most impactful aspects was identifying three defining values to shape an authentic brand. Exercises like this encouraged introspection, helping me articulate my own values: integrity, sustainability, and creativity. These align closely with my journey as a student of sustainability and circular economy. Another transformative task was crafting a mission statement, which distilled my goals into a clear, guiding principle. This clarity acts as a “North Star,” guiding both my professional branding and personal endeavors.
Additionally, the course provided actionable strategies for leveraging social media effectively. It highlighted the importance of balancing engagement and self-promotion, recommending the 80/20 rule—80% engaging content, 20% self-promotion. I also learned the importance of maintaining an authentic digital presence, where personal and professional elements merge seamlessly. Lastly, the course encouraged continuous self-assessment, revisiting branding elements annually or during major life changes to ensure relevance and alignment.
Inspired by the course, I plan to expand my PLE by integrating my mission statement into Notion, using it to prioritize projects aligned with my goals. Twitter will also play a bigger role as I share sustainability insights, applying the 80/20 content strategy. Additionally, I’m revisiting personality-based tools like the Myers-Briggs assessment to align my learning activities with my strengths. By integrating intentionality into my learning and professional strategy, my PLE has evolved into more than just a collection of tools. It’s now a system driven by continuous growth, strategic visibility, and purpose.
About LAIBA ZAHID
A materials engineer specializing in advanced recycling and circular economy, currently pursuing a Master's in Circular Economy for Minerals and Construction Products at Universidad Politécnica de Madrid.
