Welcome back to Branded: your comprehensive guide to creative branding. In this episode, we're excited to welcome Will Greenblatt, a recovering child actor from Disney Channel turned entrepreneur, public speaking coach, and creative powerhouse. Starting his acting journey at just seven years old, Will has leveraged his experiences in acting, teaching, and entrepreneurship to co-found the OutLoud Speaker School, focusing on enhancing public speaking skills for executives and entrepreneurs. Today, we dive into Will's fascinating journey from the world of acting to the realm of branding and teaching. We explore the duality of personas, authenticity in branding, and the significance of storytelling in building meaningful connections. Both Larry and Sara engage in profound discussions with Will about the challenges of maintaining personal authenticity while nurturing a public persona, whether it be as the "Red Hat Guy" or a former child actor.

Personas vs. Authenticity: Will discusses the importance of moving from performance-based personas to true authenticity. By embracing one’s true self beyond the act, he found a way to connect better with audiences while maintaining his own peace of mind.
Storytelling as a Powerful Tool: We dive into how storytelling forms the backbone of impactful communication. Will and Larry share personal anecdotes, emphasizing the transformative power of sharing genuine stories not just for business, but to connect on a human level.
Embracing Vulnerability: We all explore how embracing vulnerability can strengthen connections. Sharing personal struggles and hardships, they noted, can inspire others and foster an environment of empathy and understanding.
The Influence of Personal Experience: Will and Larry reflect on how personal experiences, whether it be loss or overcoming substance abuse, shape their professional stories and thereby their brands. Authentic experiences serve as a bridge to audience connection.
Building and Engaging a Community: Will provides insight into leveraging platforms like LinkedIn for community building and discusses the importance of creating content that truly resonates. He shares his approach to maintaining an engaged and responsive network, using platforms like newsletters and community forums for genuine interaction.

We hope this episode inspires you to take a closer look at the stories behind your own brand and find new ways to connect authentically with your audience. And head to our social media for a bonus clip: Will Greenblatt revives his role of Sheldon Schlepper on Life With Derek to sign his character's rendition of Piano Man, fulfilling a bizarre lifelong dream for Sara. Thank you for joining us, and we'll see you next week on Branded! [embed]https://youtu.be/eS3s_RN4Lgs[/embed] About Will Greenblatt Will Greenblatt started acting at seven years old, starring in The Homecoming with Oscar Winner Anne Bancroft. He graduated from theatre school in 2010, but hated being a working adult actor, so he quit. He moved to Spain to teachEnglish before co-founding an Education company in China. He used his background in acting, teaching, and entrepreneurship to co-found OutLoud Speakers School, an agency of actors teaching public speaking skills to entrepreneurs & executives. He has repeatedly spoken at Google, Wayfair, Remax, Boston Dynamics, and Ericsson, and coached over 5000 individuals worldwide. Will’s clients have won over $350 million in investment and won deals on Dragon’s Den. When he’s not speaking, he is also a performing & recording musician, with 2 albums available on Spotify. Will speaks 4 languages and is currently learning his 5th, Urdu, to speak with his wife’s family and their daughter. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/willgreenblatt/ Newsletter: https://greenblast.beehiiv.com/ Community: https://www.skool.com/speakingheroes/about YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@willgreenblatt2578