Author: ROMA SINGHAL

Roma has spent over 15 years as Brand, Design and Digital Strategist carving disruptive and impactful strategies for blue-chips brands at marketing advertising organisations such as American Express, Ogilvy, Publicis Groupe, McCann, BBDO and more in Sydney, Singapore and Mumbai covering Global, AUNZ, ASEAN and India markets. She has planned and launched insightful and effective campaigns for a diverse clientele, spanning across various industries and brands. Her works have been awarded, one of them being The EFFIE Gold for Cadbury. She was also chosen as the first round judge for EFFIE Australia 2019. Last few years, she has been experimenting with her entrepreneurial spirit, having launched three planning initiatives, 1. THE SMILING STRATEGIST (www.thesmilingstrategist.com), a freelance strategy initiative working across a variety of brands and industries in a highly collaborative set-up; 2. SELFCONCEPT (www.facebook.com/selfconcept123), a self-awareness platform gathering true human insights, where training from Mind Master Tony Buzan on Mind Mapping techniques helped her think divergently; 3. ROYALE ARTISAN (www.royaleartisan.com), an online artisan gift store, which she has founded to give back to the talented rural artists. In her free time she drives her humanitarian initiatives, tries her mind at poetry, plays the guitarlele and experiments with acrylic painting on square shaped canvasses. A lover of philosophy, she is working everyday to become a better human being. To start a conversation please e-mail her at romasinghal@brandself.net. Also join her page on Linked-in @ https://www.linkedin.com/company/romasinghal-thesmilingstrategist/ for strategy tips.

Become a Strategist – Brand Game™

Is your Brand Game on?

Afters months of hard work, I introduce the strategic brand learning tool, Brand Game. The fastest way to sharpen your brand thinking through play and personal guidance. 🎮

What if learning brand strategy felt less like studying…
and more like playing a game you can’t put down with a buddy by your side?
That’s exactly why I built Brand Game.

Brand Game is a gamified branding experience designed for founders, marketers, strategists, and creatives who want to think sharper about brands by actually building them in real-world scenarios – with my personal guidance.

No slides.
No theory overload.
Just strategic decisions, consequences, coaching and growth.
It’s where learning and fun come together!

🎯 Learn brand positioning and design thinking
✍ Write great creative briefs
🎮 Play through strategic challenges
🖼️ Create your strategy canvas
💛 Build real branding instincts
⏰ Try the timed challenges

And more… with Brand Game. Because the future of learning isn’t passive, it’s interactive.

👉 Questmap. Challenges. Leaderboard. Explore Brand Game here:
🔗 https://lnkd.in/gc2GbJdt

Kindness for kindness? Grab a free cuppa for feedback. DM me. 😊☕

#brandgameon #brandstrategy #gamification #gamifiedlearning #brandgame #marketinggame #learningthroughplay #startups #marketingeducation #brandeducation #marketing #strategists #founders #entrepreneurs #marketers #gaming

Guide for a strategist to build confidence

Many strategists struggle with imposter syndrome. Here is a guide for a strategist to build confidence.

Confidence isn’t loud. It’s aligned.

Most people think confidence is about:
• Speaking louder
• Dominating the room
• Having all the answers

It’s not.

In our 4th YouTube video on @thesmilingstrategist, we break down what confidence actually is.

Real confidence is quiet. It doesn’t beg for validation. It doesn’t compete for attention. It doesn’t collapse under pressure.

It’s built.

And here’s the truth most people avoid: Confidence is not a personality trait. It’s a skill. Which means you can train it.

In this video, we share the architecture of confidence:
• The mindset shift that instantly elevates executive presence
• Why overthinking kills confidence
• A practical framework to build real confidence

If you’re building your personal brand, your leadership presence, your communication skills, your influence in rooms that matter, this one’s for you.

🎥 Watch Video #4 on Building Real Confidence here: https://lnkd.in/gP722_x6

#confidence #leadershipdevelopment #executivepresence
#personalbranding #communicationskills #selfdevelopment #influence
#professionalgrowth #personalgrowth #personalitydevelopment
#strategists #marketers #lifeskills #mindset #thesmilingstrategist #thesmilingstrategistyoutubechannel

The Smiling Strategist Column

Humbled to share my thoughts in The Smiling Strategist Column in Manifest.

I’ve written my first column inspired by my conversations with Jon Steel (my planning hero) and in appreciation of everything I’ve learned from him. 🙏

Grab the latest copy of Manifest here: https://lnkd.in/gWZ3pbQY

#thesmilingstrategist #thesmilingstrategistcolumn #manifest #advertising #accountplanning

Start with Why: Unlock Business Potential

Start with WHY. Most businesses communicate from the outside in. They talk about what they do. Some explain how they do it. Very few start with why. And that’s the difference between selling and inspiring.

The Golden Circle framework challenges leaders and entrepreneurs to rethink how they approach business strategy, marketing, and leadership communication.

When you start with WHY:
• You build trust faster
• You create emotional connection
• You differentiate beyond price
• You attract aligned clients and talent

Purpose-driven strategy is no longer optional – it’s a competitive advantage.
In my latest episode on The Smiling Strategist, I break down:

🎯 What The Golden Circle really means
🎯Why most companies get it backwards
🎯 How to apply WHY-HOW-WHAT in your brand positioning
🎯 Practical steps to strengthen your leadership message

If you’re building a business, leading a team, or refining your brand strategy, this framework changes how you communicate and how people respond.

Watch the full video here: https://youtu.be/xsCbLo3Y6-A?si=ovUUbGD6w1Bb_Tpz

What’s your WHY – and does your audience clearly understand it?

#leadership #businessstrategy #startwithwhy #brandstrategy #entrepreurship #purposedriven #strategicthinking #marketingstrategy #thoughtleadership #thegoldencircle #thesmilingstrategist #strategypartner #strategyconsulting #strategyconsultant #brandstrategist #strategyadvisor

Understanding the 12 Brand Archetypes

Let’s talk about Brand Archetypes. Most brands don’t struggle because they lack strategy. They struggle because they lack clarity in their brand identity.

If your messaging feels inconsistent, isn’t converting or connecting… You may not have defined your Brand Archetype.

The 12 Brand Archetypes framework (inspired by Carl Jung) is one of the most powerful tools in branding strategy and marketing psychology. It helps you define your brand personality, strengthen your brand positioning, and build emotional connection with your audience. When you understand your archetype, everything becomes clearer:

The 12 Brand Archetypes include:
• The Hero
• The Sage
• The Explorer
• The Creator
• The Ruler
• The Magician
• The Caregiver
• The Lover
• The Innocent
• The Outlaw
• The Jester
• The Everyman

Strong brands don’t try to appeal to everyone. They embody a clear personality.
That’s how you build brand authority. That’s how you create brand loyalty.
That’s how you grow sustainably.

I’ve just released a YouTube video breaking down The 12 Brand Archetypes Explained and how to apply them to your business, personal brand, or company marketing strategy. If you’re building a business, scaling your personal brand, or refining your brand positioning, this framework is essential.

Link here: https://youtu.be/iQaMwEyia2U

Don’t forget to like, share and subscribe. 😊

#thesmilingstrategist #strategyadvisor #strategypartner #brandarchetypes #brandstrategy #brandidentity #marketingstrategy #personalbranding #brandpersonality #businessgrowth #entrepreneur hashtag#marketers #marketing #brandpositioning #leadership #marketingpsychology