Megan Paquin Discusses Brand Management and Navigating Public and Private Personas in Inside Retail

Social media can be a double-edged sword for brand founders, who often struggle to balance their individual expression with their role as the face of their business. While brands like Shay Mitchell’s Beis and Michelle Phan’s Em Cosmetics have harnessed social media to build consumer awareness, others have faced backlash.

For instance, Scentbird’s co-founder Mariya Nurislamova faced criticism for controversial statements in her YouTube videos, leading to a loss of influencer support and damaging the brand’s reputation. Nurislamova’s case underscores the importance of careful curation of a founder’s public persona.

Crisis management expert and Paquin Public Relations Founder and CEO Megan Paquin, APR, CRPC, emphasizes the need for founders to establish clear boundaries between their personal and professional lives to mitigate potential fallout.

“My advice is to establish appropriate boundaries between your personal and professional lives, depending on your goals and the expectations of those stakeholders who could affect your ability to achieve those goals,” Paquin said. “Ideally, choosing to be your authentic self in any setting will be welcomed and valued.”

Ultimately, maintaining a positive brand image requires mindfulness and a strategic approach to social media presence.

To access the full article, visit Inside Retail here.