Start your Thought Leadership journey with Clarity: How to Position Yourself for the Opportunities You Actually Want

Why you already have insight worth sharing — and how it can transform how opportunities find you

This is part 2 of the series on Why thought leadership matters and why STEM professionals, scientists, consultants, entrepreneurs, academics and alike should start today.

If you keep getting opportunities that feel uninspiring at best — or you’re overlooked for the ones you really want — it’s probably not because you’re underqualified.

It’s because people don’t know what to come to you for.

They don’t have language for your edge, because maybe… neither do you.

That’s not a failure. It’s a sign that your presence — and how you pitch yourself — hasn’t caught up to your ambition… yet.

This article is part of my Thought Leadership series — not the TED Talk kind, but the kind that helps people see you for what you actually stand for, and invite you into the right work.

If you missed Part 1 — Why Thought Leadership Isn’t Just for TED Speakers — you can read it here and find out why you probably already have what it takes.

Why Read This

Clarity is the foundation of effective thought leadership.

Without it, you risk being pigeonholed in roles you’ve outgrown or overlooked entirely for the opportunities that excite you most.

In this article, you’ll learn how to:

• Identify if your current pitch matches your ambitions

• Run a quick brand audit to see where you’re misaligned

• Start shaping a professional presence that attracts the right work

What’s Inside

1. Why Clarity Comes Before Content

2. How STEMM Professionals Get Boxed In

3. Clarity Is About Positioning, Not Picking a Box

4. Your 10-Minute Brand Clarity Check-In

5. From Clarity to Opportunity

6. Ready to Start?

“Thought Leadership is not self-promotion.
It is value, offered with clarity and intention.
It can shape how opportunities find you”

— Angelique Greco

Why Clarity Comes Before Content

When most people decide they want to be more visible in their careers, the first question they ask is:

“What should I post?”
“What should I say?”
“What should I say when I introduce myself?”
“What should I say in conversation?”

Whether you’re posting online or meeting someone at a networking event, the challenge is the same — if you’re not clear, the message gets lost.

You can have the most polished post or perfect networking introduction… but if people don’t understand what you’re about — what to come to you for — you’ll keep attracting the wrong opportunities (or none at all).

Clarity ensures that every conversation, connection, and piece of content points people toward the work you actually want to be doing.

How STEMM Professionals Get “Pingeon holed'“

I see this all the time with STEMM professionals:

• You’ve done a lot.

• You’ve worn multiple hats.

• You’re genuinely good at what you do and have a lot to offer.

But when someone says, “So, what do you do?” you either:

• Default to your job title, with the jargon that goes with it — which really does not help your case,

• List a mix of past roles and skills that don’t connect into a clear narrative — or into a narrative that’s built for your future

That’s how you end up pigeonholed — known for your history, not your future.

Clarity Is About Positioning, Not Picking a Box

When I talk about clarity, I don’t mean narrowing yourself to one niche forever.

I mean aligning your presence with your ambitions so the work, clients, or collaborations that come your way are a match for what you want next.

Clarity answers three key questions:

1. What do you want to be known for?

2. What kinds of opportunities do you want to attract?

3. How can you help others remember and repeat that?

Where to start? Your 10-Minute Brand Clarity Check-In

This quick exercise is adapted from my Start With Clarity guide.
It’s designed to help you see whether your current pitch matches your ambition — and where to refine it.

Set a timer for 10 minutes and answer these questions:

Step 1: Your Current Positioning

1. How do you currently pitch yourself?
   → Write down the exact 2–3 sentences you usually say when someone asks what you do.

2. Does that pitch naturally attract the opportunities you want?
   → If not, what would you need to change?

Step 2: Reset and Reframe

Now, take a step back. This is your reset moment.
Clarity isn’t just about how you introduce yourself — it’s about knowing what you’re aiming for.

1. What does success actually look like to you?
   Break it into three parts:

A. Your Bigger Mission
→ What change do you want to help create in your field, industry, or community?
→ What kind of work feels deeply meaningful to you?

B. Your Ideal Day-to-Day
→ What do you want to do more of?
→ What would you love to scratch off your to-do list forever?

C. Your People
→ What kind of people or organisations do you want to work with?
→ Who would you rather avoid working with?

1. What would you love people to say about you when recommending you?
   → Imagine you’re not in the room — how do you want them to describe the way you think, work, and contribute?

Step 3: Reality Check

Now, think about it:

1. How visible are you for these things right now?
   → Check your LinkedIn, your website, and your recent conversations — do they reflect your bigger mission, ideal work, and ideal collaborators?

Step 4: Future Impact

Finally, project yourself forward:

1. What’s the cost of staying vague or mismatched?
   → What kinds of offers, projects, or people will you continue to attract if nothing changes?

💡 Tip: If you want to go deeper, the Start With Clarity PDF guide includes these prompts plus examples and a “quick win” exercise to help you reposition your pitch right away.

From Clarity to Opportunity

Once you have clarity, everything else gets easier:

• You know what to say yes or no to

• You speak with intent and write posts that feel natural and aligned

• You make it easy for others to introduce and recommend you

• You become referable for the right things

Opportunities stop being random, they start being relevant becasue you’re shaping them.

Ready to Start?

If you’ve done the 10-minute check-in and realised your pitch and presence don’t match your ambition, don’t leave it there.

📄 Get the full Start With Clarity guide to crystalise this and have a quick win pitch improvement with an easy AI prompt designed to:

• Align your message with your goals

• Avoid being boxed in by your past roles

• Start shaping how people see you — and what they bring your way

👉 DM me “Clarity” here to get the guide or fill out the Know Thyself form here to book your free “Thought leadership discovery call”