Episode #84
Joshua Gould: Building a Professional and Personal Brand through Authenticity
Welcome to The Jeff Bradbury Show, featuring conversations with the creators who are shaping the future of learning. In this episode, Josh Gould shares insights on building a personal brand, leveraging AI in content creation, and effective social media strategies for entrepreneurs and leaders. Become a High-Impact Leader: This episode is just the beginning. To get the complete blueprint for designing and implementing high-impact systems in your district, get your copy of my book, " Impact Standards ." Strategic Vision for Digital Learning: Learn how to create a district-wide vision that aligns digital learning with your educational goals, transforming how standards-based instruction is designed and supported. Curriculum Design and Implementation: Discover practical strategies for integrating digital learning into existing curricula, creating vertical alignment of skills, and mapping digital learning across grade levels. Effective Instructional Coaching: Master the art of coaching people rather than technology, building relationships that drive success, and measuring impact through student engagement rather than just technology usage. Purchase your copy of “ Impact Standards ” on Amazon today! Key Takeaways 1) Executive brand & thought leadership Why personal branding is becoming a core leadership skill The difference between building attention vs. building trust 2) AI as a leverage tool (not a gimmick) How AI can streamline content creation, training, and internal workflows Why AI “democratizes software” by helping non-technical people build systems faster 3) Authenticity vs. persona Where authenticity matters most When a “persona” (or slight caricature) can help early on—and how to evolve it into something real 4) Audience growth is compounding Why consistency matters more than virality What patience and persistence look like in practice over months/years 5) Relationship-driven growth The role of in-person networking and speaking engagements in expanding reach and credibility 6) YouTube as an executive credibility engine Building (and monetizing) a channel through consistent output What long-form video enables that text alone can’t Bottom line: Consistent, useful content + real relationships compound into trust, opportunity, and long-term audience growth. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction and episode overview 01:09 Josh Gould's background and entrepreneurial journey 04:54 The role of personal branding for CEOs and leaders 08:27 Authenticity versus persona in content creation 13:39 The impact of AI on content creation and leadership 20:47 Building a tribe and audience growth strategies 24:24 Effective thumbnail strategies and content tips 30:43 Getting started with content creation and networking 33:36 Practical advice for aspiring content creators About our Guest: Joshua Gould Joshua Gould is a CEO, investor, and operator known for scaling businesses through disciplined execution across private equity-style value creation, M&A, and modern go-to-market. He is the CEO of thebigword, a global language technology and services company serving enterprise and government clients, where he helped grow the business from $6M to over $100M in revenue; building the operating system, commercial engine, and leadership cadence required to scale. In 2021 Josh sold the business to a large US based PE firm and continued as a CEO where has has led a $20m technology investment into AI and automation and the acquisition of the UK's largest Sign Language provider Clarion. Josh has also invested and sits on the board of Falafel Love a CPG business, and has made a strategic investment in Alwoodley Capital a healthcare fund. Joshua is a straight-talking guest for business podcasts that go beyond startup clichés and into what actually works: how to buy and integrate companies, how to build predictable revenue, how to protect margin while scaling delivery, and how to deploy technology and AI in a way that improves quality and speed rather than creating chaos. He’s equally comfortable discussing the mechanics of deals (sourcing, diligence, LOIs, integration) and the realities of leadership (boards, investors, culture, and execution under pressure). He also has a growing audience with 31,000 followers on LinkedIn where he shares practical insights on PE, M&A, business strategy, sales and marketing, operations, technology, and AI. Links of Interest Website: https://en-gb.thebigword.com/ YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@Exec_Craft Let’s Work Together Contact Me Today: https://www.teachercast.net/contact Follow on Social Media LinkedIn: https://www.teachercast.net/linkedin Twitter/X: https://www.teachercast.net/twitter BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/jeffreybradbury.bsky.social YouTube: http://teachercast.net/youtube Subscribe to This Podcast Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-jeff-bradbury-show/id519685828 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7btbAI5CjqBgLhitJLMM8y?si=7d151287eb574845 Check Out Additional TeacherCast Programming Digital Learning Today: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/digital-learning-today/id546631310 Ask the Tech Coach: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-the-tech-coach/id1067586243 The Jeff Bradbury Show https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-jeff-bradbury-show/id519685828 Book Jeff for your Next Event Jeff Bradbury (ISTE “20 to Watch” Award Winner and ISTE Certified Educator) is available for keynote speaking, workshop facilitation, and live event broadcasting. With expertise in educational technology and professional development, Jeff brings engaging content and practical strategies to conferences and professional learning events. Visit Jeff’s Website: https://jeffreybradbury.com Contact Jeff Directly: https://jeffreybradbury.com/contact/ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ [gravityform id="2" title="true"]
