BBY Show S10 Ep15: Dare to be you with Astrid Van Wanum, Beth Topolovsky and Susan Teichman

Welcome to Building Brand You™, the podcast that helps you accelerate your success by unlocking your greatest asset – you.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Authenticity is the foundation of a successful personal brand so raise your hand for opportunities that resonate with your deepest self.

Every interaction and action contributes to your brand. Every contact - from social media comments to professional meetings - leaves a trace and reinforces your personal brand.

Your personal brand is a reflection of your evolving self. It's not a fixed entity but a dynamic representation of who you are, your values, and your professional journey.

Being able to discern and choose clients and collaborations that align with your values, the difference you want to make, and your ways of working is one of the biggest benefits of understanding your personal brand.

ABOUT OUR GUESTS:

With nearly two decades of entrepreneurial experience, Astrid navigated from the world of language training and intercultural collaboration to my current role as a seasoned change lead. As a trusted guide, she helps executive teams navigate complexity and transformation with clarity and heart.

A lifelong polyglot and global citizen, Astrid worked across continents, connecting people and ideas. Her belief is that change is a craft, and curiosity is its most powerful tool. She is never without a fountain pen to capture new ideas.

When she’s not working, you can find her exploring new cultures, enjoying good food, and staying active through a variety of sports.

CONNECT WITH ASTRID VAN WANUM:

Email - [email protected]

LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/astridvanwanum

Instagram - @sparkyourpotential

Beth Topolovsky, is the founder and CEO of Spark Group AB, a consulting firm helping companies transform their product management practices to drive growth and to work with a product-led culture. 

She has over 25 years of executive management and technical experience from Cisco Systems, Hewlett-Packard, and KLA-Tencor in Silicon Valley.  Beth took an assignment to turn around an acquisition of Cisco’s located in Stockholm, Sweden and has been anchored there since. 

She has a deep interest in corporate transformations and enjoys nothing more than to see teams thriving and excelling beyond their greatest imagination.

CONNECT WITH BETH TOPOLOVSKY:

Email - [email protected]

LinkedIn -https://www.linkedin.com/in/beth-topolovsky

Website - http://www.sparkgroup.se/

Susan brings decades of experience in business development, small business and project management, treasury/financial reporting, team leadership, analysis and design, system implementation, communications and more. She was Treasurer and COO of a small litigation firm for more than 30 years, and was the interface with creditors, financiers, accountants, other law firms, the judiciary and professional organizations. Susan was also staff mediator, manager and mentor (which is no minor role, as anyone who operates a successful small business is aware!). She is a real estate investor in the affordable housing sector, having managed multiple renovation projects. She was an analyst for a leading financial services firm redesigning their world-wide trading system, where she was responsible for branch operations. And she coordinated special projects for the international public relations department of a Fortune 50 multinational corporation.

A graduate of New York University, Susan holds her B.A in Economics with honors, as well as a Certificate in Financial Management from Cornell University.

Susan sits on the NY Advisory Committee for a long-established nonprofit, raising funds and awareness to meet its mission. She was the Treasurer and Board Member for a young nonprofit that shelters homeless youth, where she established their system of books and records and compliance procedures.

Susan also volunteered with various community organizations, schools and ad hoc committees in her local area. She is an Ambassador for the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, and an advocate for vulnerable populations. She speaks Spanish and is learning Italian.

Brooklyn, NY is where Susan calls home.

CONNECT WITH SUSAN TEICHMAN:

Email - [email protected]

LinkedIn -https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-teichman-174383198

Website - http://www.reflexsolutionsllc.com/

ABOUT KYM HAMER:

Kym is an international leadership and personal branding thought leader, an executive coach, and a programme design and facilitation practitioner. She is also the creator of Building Brand You™ - a methodology helping organisations, teams, and individuals to build reputation, presence, and gravitas. Kym works with leaders - both individually and in organisational development initiatives - to inspire and engage thinking styles and behaviour that achieve results and leave legacy.

In 2020, just one year after launching her business, she was nominated by Thinkers360 as one of the Top 100 Women B2B Leadership influencers and is currently in the Top 15 Personal Branding and Top 10 Marketing Influencers in the world. For 5 years running Kym has also been one of Thinkers360's Top 10 Thought Leaders on Entrepreneurship and in 2023, 2024 and 2025, was recognised as one of their Top Voices globally.

She has been part of Homeward Bound Projects faculty since 2020, a global initiative reaching 1.8 billion people, equipping women and non-binary people with a STEMM background to lead conversations for a sustainable future. She is currently the Program Design and Faculty Lead for the 10th on-line cohort and was part of the on-board faculty who voyaged to Antarctica in 2023 and 2025, to deliver the initiative’s immersive component.

In between all of these things, you'll find her curled up in a corner with her nose in a book.

Building Brand You™:

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CONNECT WITH KYM HAMER:

LinkedIn - https://linkedin.com/in/kymhamer/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/kymhamerartemis/

Request to join the BBY Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/buildingbrandyou 

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Find out about BBY Coaching - https://calendly.com/kymhamer/bbychat/

HOSTED BY: Kym Hamer

DISCLAIMER:

The views, information, or opinions expressed during the Building Brand You™ podcast series are solely those of the individuals involved. They do not necessarily represent any other entities, agencies, organisations, or companies. Building Brand You™ is not responsible and does not verify the accuracy of any of the information in the podcast available for listening on this site. The primary purpose of this podcast is to educate and inform. This podcast does not constitute legal advice or services