At OTSMAGAZINE, we believe in celebrating trailblazers who not only excel in their fields but also inspire others to achieve their fullest potential. In another proud collaboration with Champions Speakers, we are delighted to spotlight Bianca Miller-Cole—a multi-award-winning entrepreneur, personal branding expert, author, and sought-after keynote speaker.

Bianca Miller-Cole is a multi-award-winning entrepreneur, speaker, author, and personal branding expert, best known for founding The Be Group – a leading consultancy dedicated to enhancing workforce potential through personal development, employability, and image consultancy. Since its launch in 2012, the company has worked with an enviable list of global clients, including Google, HSBC, Barclays, and PwC. Bianca rose to national prominence as a finalist on BBC’s The Apprentice in 2014, where she impressed Lord Sugar with her business acumen and dedication. She went on to be named a Forbes 30 Under 30 honouree for her innovative hosiery brand and has been recognised by LinkedIn, EMpower, and the Financial Times for her leadership and influence.

As a sought-after keynote speaker and a representative of The BAME Speakers Agency, Bianca shares her insights with audiences across the UK and beyond, championing diversity and excellence in business. She is also the co-author of Self Made: The Definitive Guide to Business Startup Success and consistently delivers impactful talks and workshops on topics such as intrapreneurship, leadership, and building a personal brand.

In this mini interview, she discusses how professionals can shape a personal brand that aligns with their goals, why an entrepreneurial mindset is crucial within organisations, and her top advice for fostering high-impact leadership. With clarity, energy, and real-world experience, Bianca continues to inspire individuals and businesses alike to reach their full potential.

Bianca: “For me, it is really important that we think about how the audience gets actionable information from a talk. I always like to go in with clarity over what steps they need to take to improve their personal brand but also make sure that’s aligned with what their goals are. I always say to the audience, ‘Okay, what is your vision for the future? What do you want to do in your career or in your business, and how do we have clarity over how we showcase who you are to your audience?’

For me, personal branding is always about how you look at your personal brand and the culture of the organisation and how those two things link. So, how do we showcase who you are but also what value you bring to your key stakeholders and to the organisation as a whole?

With personal branding sessions, typically they are interactive workshops or talks, and we cover four key areas. So, it might be presentation, approach, communication, and knowledge – looking at things like their LinkedIn profile, how they show up online, how they interact face-to-face, and how they communicate using vocal, visual, and verbal communication. So really, all of the different cues that help to feed into an indelible personal brand – one that really makes a positive and lasting impression.”

Bianca: “I’m an entrepreneur, which means that I have my own businesses. But prior to being an entrepreneur, I utilised my entrepreneurial spirit within an organisation, and so I am a big advocate for people who work in an organisation understanding how to really think about themselves as an entrepreneur – as the CEO of their project or of their career.

It means thinking about their entrepreneurial mindset, but within the context of being internal in an organisation. So, thinking, ‘How do I add value? How do I innovate? How do I look at a problem that exists?’ - and not thinking, ‘Oh, that's a problem someone else should sort,’ but actually thinking, ‘This is a problem that I have the opportunity to be part of the solution, or the solution.’

By engaging that entrepreneurial mindset, you’re more focused on the solutions but also on adding value to an organisation. And in turn, that of course will impact your personal brand, because you're seen as that go-to person – that person who is always thinking innovatively about the future of the organisation, as well as the future of their career.”

Bianca: The top tip for organisations wanting to improve leadership in their workplace really is to make sure the leaders have the right support. And what I mean by that is, as a leader or a potential leader, you need to make sure that you have the support to be the best that you can in terms of leading your team but also in terms of your own confidence.

So often, people who have leadership potential don't realise that they have the potential because they don't feel confident in that role or in that position. I often work with individuals and groups to help them to really optimise the opportunities they have to fulfil their potential, but also to look at leadership strategy so that they can build the culture of their team to make it work for them.” 

This exclusive interview with Bianca Miller-Cole was conducted by Chris Tompkins.

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