In today's business world, the line between personal and professional identity is increasingly blurred. While conventional wisdom once dictated keeping work and personal life strictly separate, industry leaders are now finding that strategic authenticity can be a powerful career asset. But how do you strike the right balance between being yourself and maintaining professional standards?
Members of the GTIA vendor community answered that question. They reveal how to guage what to share, when to share and how much is too much. The result, they say, is not only a better professional experience, but stronger bonds with the people you work with.
The Power of Selective Authenticity
"Not everything needs to be brought over, but surely there is one unique thing you can bring forward that others may resonate with," said Alexandria Boyd, sales director at OIT, LLC, who has turned her interest in tarot cards into a distinctive professional trademark. Her approach to sharing this potentially controversial hobby illustrates a key principle of workplace authenticity: Thoughtful presentation matters.
Boyd says sharing whatever excites you is a great first step to authenticity. Knowing some people would find her hobby objectionable, she “focused on presenting tarot as a tool for self-reflection and personal growth.” By carefully considering potential objections and thoughtfully preparing her message and response, she transformed what could have been a liability into a unique professional identifier. She’s happy with the results. “I’m known as the Tarot lady now, and I’ve got lines waiting for me at most conferences to do readings.”
Stay True, But Read the Room
Carrie Green, SVP of operations at Alt-Tech, emphasizes the importance of situational awareness. “You can still be a version of yourself, but you need to tailor your responses and interactions to the room,” she said. This doesn’t mean compromising your authenticity but instead being mindful of your audience and context.
It’s something most people already do, adjusting slightly when dealing with friends, parents, children and others in our lives.
This principle extends across all professional spaces, from in-person meetings to social media presence. Boyd advises that if your personal social media doesn’t align with your work social media, consider making your personal social media private. The goal is consistency in your professional persona while maintaining appropriate boundaries.
Building Authentic Professional Connections
One possibly surprising path to authentic professional relationships is admitting what you don’t know. Saying “I don't know” or “Can you help me?” can be transformative, said Louis Bagdonas, senior program manager for MSPs at Moovila. Being vulnerable and asking for help is the first step to building relationships and trust, two key things in networking.
Boyd points out this approach is particularly effective in the community-driven channel, where transparency about knowledge gaps often leads to stronger professional connections. Instead of pretending to know everything, professionals who openly acknowledge their limitations and seek help often find themselves building deeper, more genuine relationships.
Making Space for Authentic Leadership
The shift toward getting more personal might have been inevitable given that most people spend the majority of their lives at work. Leaders play a crucial role in setting the tone for workplace authenticity, and can take advantage of several key strategies:
- Lead by example in sharing appropriate personal interests.
- Ask questions and actively listen to team members.
- Create open conversations about professional identity.
- Get personally invested in team relationships.
Being authentic at work does carry risks. Some colleagues or clients might not appreciate certain aspects of your personality or interests. However, as Boyd points out, this can be beneficial: Those who avoid her for when she’s being authentic probably aren’t ideal business partners to begin with.
Moving Forward Authentically
The path to professional authenticity starts with self-reflection. Ask yourself: What unique aspects of your personality could enhance your professional presence? What excites you that might resonate with others? “We’re all unique, but we're not all so unique that we don't share common interests,” Boyd said.
And when you see others taking steps toward authenticity in the workplace, support them. As Green emphasized, celebrating those who step into their authentic selves helps create an environment where others feel safe to do the same.
In the end, professional authenticity isn't about sharing everything (though that’s what some people choose to do). No matter how much you share, the key is thoughtfully bringing forward those aspects of yourself that can enrich your work relationships and career while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries. With careful consideration and preparation, your authentic self can become one of your greatest professional assets.
Be yourself at the GTIA Communities & Councils Forum (CCF) 2025!
March 10-12 in Chicago → Register Now!
