⁠⁠2 CEOs vs 2 Gen Zs | The Bridge S1E2: Is Personal Branding Really Necessary?

Thank you for the overwhelming response to Episode 1 of The Bridge!We absolutely loved reading your comments, your thoughts, reflections, and even disagreements made it clear: We need more conversations like these.So, here we are back with Episode 2.This time, we’re asking: IS PERSONAL BRANDING NECESSARY?Why is everyone suddenly obsessed with “being seen”?Why does every Gen Z feel the need to show up online all the time?And is that visibility actually translating to value?Joining Shantanu this time are two sharp Gen Z voices, Avani Rathore (Entrepreneur, Ex-BCG) and Goutami Rane (Senior Account Executive at Ogilvy), who’ve built their presence in the digital world and understand the trade-offs that come with it.Across the table are Revant Bhate (Co-Founder & CEO, Mosaic Wellness) and Kaushik Mukherjee (Co-founder & COO, SUGAR Cosmetics). Two seasoned founders who’ve built iconic brands from scratch without ever turning themselves into a ‘brand’.Together, they unpack what personal branding really means today, beyond LinkedIn carousels and viral reels.Tune in for an honest debate on:1. Does Gen Z value visibility over actual value?2. Can your LinkedIn presence really get you promoted?3. Where’s the line between authenticity and performance?Drop your thoughts in the comments below!Tune in now to hear both sides of the debate and rethink how we show up in the world of work.Navigate your way through the chapters00:00 Coming up01:00 Introduction02:06 Views of Gen Z on Personal Branding03:45 The gap between the true self and the public persona06:59 The role of branding in starting a career08:25 Employee views on Personal Branding11:52 Promoting online presence vs. valuing offline skills14:28 The importance of storytelling in building a brand18:42 How social media impacts personal branding19:08 Recruitment parameters based on personal brands22:27 The reality and effort behind personal branding25:41 Founders on using podcasts to boost growth27:54 Closing thoughts