Vinisha Rathod
I spent many years struggling to find my place in the world and at work.
Many people called me a ‘late bloomer’ (maybe you can relate). I followed the rules in my corporate career: I kept my head down, waited for my managers to recognise my efforts, got promoted and continued the cycle.
I often felt I was riding the merry-go-round at work and in my personal life. But I knew in my curious heart that there was more. There had to be more among all this craziness – an easier way for me to work with the world rather that constantly fighting to be in it.
Sometimes you stumble upon the answers to your questions unexpectedly, and this was very true as I entered into a completely new industry and chapter of my life. Little did I know that an ordinary bus ride would shape my life, my work and the book that I wrote, titled The Briefcase Effect.
It all began with a bag search
I was starting a new job and needed a new bag for my laptop, and there it was on a bus ride I took one day – a man holding a brown leather briefcase and half a litre of milk in the same hand.
It was at that moment that I was flooded with memories of my father, who used to carry a briefcase to work. He had a black one. I miss him every day. He was diagnosed with cancer a couple of months after I graduated from university, and within four months one of the people closest to me was taken away. I was twenty-two, he was fifty. Watching someone you love dying in front of you – nothing prepares you for that.
Because of this, he never saw me succeed in business. The start-up world is the closest parallel to the science fiction stories we grew up with. He would have found his place in it and been quietly proud to see me in mine.
After years of feeling disconnected, I was searching for a sign that I was on the right track. I smiled, grateful for the sign I’d been searching for. My dad would have loved that man’s briefcase. It was in that moment on the bus that I knew a modern day briefcase was going to be my new laptop bag; something that would embody Dad’s spirit so he could be with me every step of the way.
After searching store after store with my mum and almost giving up (it turns out briefcases aren’t so popular nowadays), I finally found one. It wasn’t long before the briefcase started gaining attention from my friends, colleagues and clients. I’ve brought it everywhere, from networking events to conferences and meetings, and no matter where I am, it’s always a topic of discussion.
The Briefcase Effect by Vinisha Rathod.
The power of the brand
Without realising it, my briefcase (and my dad’s spirit) became a core part of my personal brand as a professional. And that was only the tip of the iceberg.
As I learned more about my new industry and grew my confidence in my new role, the meaning behind the briefcase and the conversations it evoked became deeper. It always starts with the same question, ‘Hey V, what’s in the briefcase?’ I’ve narrowed it down to three things:
- Venture capital money
- ‘Thoughts and prayers’ (from ex-Australian prime minister), and
- Secrets to sustainably scaling your business.
If the first two items don’t pique somebody’s interest, the last one always does, and it’s become a key part of my networking strategy to build new connections.
I quickly realised that my personal brand – my briefcase – had become a core part of my success and decided to lean into it. I built my brand based on what I love and who I am as my most authentic self; my bold fashion, colourful nails and big statement earrings represent my daring and creative yet professional approach to business. And it earned me the endearing title of the ‘start-up fairy’ within the Australian tech ecosystem.
From nobody to a ‘start-up fairy’
I knew no one when I entered into the system three years ago, and now I am often called by the community to speak and share my thought leadership in authenticity, personal branding, diversity, glass ceilings and ending domestic violence.
The briefcase – my brand – has become my magic power for success and contentment in life, and leaning into my authenticity had a ripple effect on how I put myself out into the world. For the first time in my life, I was able to integrate my personality into my work, and ‘the briefcase effect’ only enhanced what happened next.
Because of my established brand in the market, the transition to my own business was easier. People already knew who I was due to my presence both offline and online.
What I wish I had known earlier in my journey is this: people buy people, and if you are going to build your own business, people want to know if they can trust you. Living in a digital-first society, we have both online and real-life personas, making authenticity and relatability even more
important.
With the Fourth Industrial Revolution of generative AI (artificial intelligence) already coming into force, it’s important to understand your greatest strength when navigating the commercial world, and that’s you; your essence. This is the briefcase effect.
