Inside This Edition:

• Why personal branding matters (and how to actually build yours in 2026)
• The 1-hour LinkedIn refresh to get your profile working for you
• Career advice that holds up when things get uncertain
• The trends and research shaping work in 2026, from LinkedIn's hottest jobs to four-day work week results
• Events to help you build relationships and get support with your next moves

Why You Need to Build Your Personal Brand in 2026 (And How to Actually Do It)

Quick question: what do people say about you when you're not in the room?

Not what your CV says, or what's written on your LinkedIn profile. But what your colleagues, managers, and people in your industry actually think when your name comes up.

That's your personal brand, and whether you've been deliberate about it or not, or ignored it because you thought that it's just for influencers, you actually already have one.

If you have ever seen someone get an opportunity and thought, "I could have done that" or "why didn't they offer it to me?", then you may need to spend a little time reviewing what your current brand or professional reputation looks like to others, and then identify how you actually want to be perceived going forward.

The people who get the best opportunities aren't always the most qualified, but they are the ones who are known for something specific, they are memorable, and they have built a great network around them - and I want that for you!

So as a January challenge, start thinking about intentionally building your professional reputation in 2026 so that the opportunities, pay rises, promotions and invitations you want to receive come to you.

​This week's post walks through exactly how to define your brand, where it shows up (hint: it's not just LinkedIn), and the practical steps to start building it strategically. Plus a reflection exercise to help you get clear on what you actually want your professional reputation to be.

Events to help you start the year building relationships that can support your year ahead.

📊 JOBS ON THE RISE LinkedIn dropped their 2025 hottest jobs list and surprise, AI specialists are everywhere. Sustainability managers and healthcare roles are also booming, so if you've been thinking about pivoting, now's your moment to see where the opportunities actually are.

🤔 CAREER DECISIONS The eternal question: stay put or jump ship? This breaks down how to actually make that call when you're stuck between the comfort of what you know and the pull of something new (especially when the economy's being weird).

💡 TIMELESS WISDOM Ben Meer compiled nine career principles that actually hold up no matter what's happening in your industry. Think less about hacks and quick wins, more about the stuff that compounds over time, genuine relationships, consistent learning, those sorts of things.

🧠 MENTAL HEALTH AT WORK Plot twist: most people will support you if you're struggling, but nearly half of us are still terrified to admit we're not okay at work. Turns out having mental health benefits isn't the same as actually feeling safe enough to use them.

📅 FOUR-DAY WORK WEEK The four-day work week trial results are in, and they're honestly incredible. 71% less burnout, way less stress, same productivity. 90% of companies who tried it are keeping it, which tells you everything you need to know.

We had such a lovely Walk & Talk over the weekend - nothing beats starting your year with fresh air and good conversation. Our next Walk & Talk is in February, and I'm already looking forward to it. Hope you can join us!

This Thursday, we're hosting our first Supper Club for Peer Suite members at The Greenhouses. If you're interested in joining future supper clubs, just reply and let me know. I'd love to make this a regular series if there's appetite for it.

January can bring up a lot of quiet questions about your career. Should you push for that promotion? Is it time to make a change? Have you outgrown your current role? If you'd like support thinking through what's next, I'd love to see you at an upcoming event, in the membership, or in a one-to-one session.

However you choose to approach it, you don't have to figure this out alone!

Your friend,
Rebecca x

Founder - Peer Suite ​

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