Kelly is also a bestselling author and multi-award-winning entrepreneur and works with CEOs and some of the biggest retail and luxury brands on personal branding, so she knows all about personal style.
What’s your expat story?
I moved to Dubai when I was 21; new city, new job. As Emirates airline cabin crew I saw an incredible opportunity to see the world, and with a base in Dubai it was certainly going to offer me much warmer weather than Scotland!
It didn’t take me long to soak up Dubai’s entrepreneurial spirit. With a can-do attitude and a vision that ‘anything is possible’ at the age of 24, I hung up my wings for the last time and took the next big step launching the Middle East’s first personal shopping and styling service.
How does personal style work with branding and identity?
My first real job was at the age of 14 in a hair salon, I loved seeing the confidence that came from a fresh haircut and the effect it had on individual personal presentation. I moved into retail which further cemented the power of presentation; what you wear determines how people perceive you and how you feel about yourself.
Style is one part of personal branding, but it’s so much more. It’s all about consciously crafting a person’s public identity, which includes image, story, position, authenticity, and identity.
Can you pinpoint key turning points in your life?
The first turning point was moving to Dubai. It gave me the belief and the confidence to trust my life’s decisions and start my own business. After all, what’s the worst that can happen?
The second came after my divorce; rediscovering myself and the decision to radically change my business model.
How did your own consultancy come about?
We are all constantly evolving, personally and professionally. Selling my styling agency in 2019, I had the perfect platform to move forward with a new business model. I have always invested in my own personal development. I had a vested interest in personal branding and felt the time was right to focus on the next step, to guide lifestyle entrepreneurs to grow their personal brand to maximise impact and income.
“What you wear determines how people perceive you and how you feel about yourself.”
What do you think is key about branding?
In business YOU are your best asset, yet so many hide behind what they do in fear of judgement or lack of confidence. I want this to change! Through my learning and my practical experiences I help clients grow their credibility, likeability and trust and develop an online presence that they are proud of.
What’s your essential piece of advice to your clients?
Understand what makes you happy in a day.
Know that you are your own USP and that there is no-one quite like you, nor will there ever be. Fear stops many people from doing so many things, but we all have a gift that can inspire others.
What’s your own personal style?
I can’t live without a blazer; it will dress up any casual look and is much needed in the cool A/C in our Dubai malls. I like to create my own capsule wardrobe. As I travel a great deal and work out of many geographical locations, I keep it pretty versatile. That means choosing simple pieces that I can wear time and time again.
Your life motto?
Easy – ‘anything is possible’ – I use this so often and believe in this wholeheartedly. If you believe, you can!