Corina Goetz | Saudi Strategist | SEEN™ 20 Women, 20 Stories: The Personal Brand Experience | Lisbon, Portugal

What inspired you to start your business, and what keeps you excited about the work you do today?

What lights me up about this work is still the very same reason I started my business. When I was a kid, I was stereotyped. And then I saw the same thing happening to Gulf people, and it really got to me, because I knew exactly how that felt.

What always struck me was how kind and giving they were with me. So if I can help bridge that gap, if I can get just one more person to understand the cultural differences, how to respond, and that it is not about one person being right and the other being wrong, then I feel like I have done my job.

Who is your ideal client, and what transformation do you hope they experience after working with you?

My ideal client is someone who already does business in the Gulf. They have clients, they know they have competition, but they want to do it better. They want to get it right.

They want to understand that Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman are all different, and stop putting everyone in the same pot.

They also genuinely care. They want their clients to feel that they matter, that they are not just another number.

The transformation is loyalty. When you work with me and your Middle Eastern clients feel truly seen, they become far more loyal, and you understand each other better. Business grows because of it.

They spend more, and they stay with your brand, because they felt seen.

What is one challenge you’ve had to overcome in your business, and what did it teach you?

Business always ebbs and flows, and you have to keep finding new ways to stay ahead of the game. You have to put yourself out there far more than people imagine, on social media, learning new things, learning new skills.

The other day I was finishing off a sales page and it took me three days to get it right. But I thought, I will persevere. Resilience is one of my strong points. I will always find a way.

How has becoming more visible helped your business grow?

Visibility has given me more credibility. It has given me access to people who previously had no idea I existed. It has brought me leads and PR opportunities such as podcasts and speaking slots. And it has positioned me as the authority and as a brand.

Now when people think of me, they think of the person who does something with the Middle East. I went to an event recently, and someone stopped me and said, oh, you are the lady who talks about the Middle East on LinkedIn. I thought that was really cool.

Many women hesitate to put themselves out there. What would you say to someone who’s holding back from showing up?

Feel the fear and do it anyway. Before my very first podcast interview I barely slept. I was so nervous, I kept thinking, what are people going to think? And honestly, half of them probably never even saw it.

Now, when I have a podcast, I am actually excited. I think, I can totally do this. I hardly need to prepare, because I know what I am talking about, I know what I stand for. So just keep building the reps. It will become easier.

What did you enjoy most about your Personal Brand Experience?

I absolutely loved it. It made me think about the colours I like, how I wanted to come across, what outfits to choose, and Monica helped me pick the right ones. During the session she made me feel so empowered. I actually felt like a proper model, which was funny, because that is really not who I am.

I felt completely comfortable, and that is a big deal for me, because normally I hate having my picture taken and I hate most photos of myself.

With hers, I love them. I look at them and think, this is exactly what I wanted. They bring my personality across. It was an all-round incredible experience.

How are you using your personal branding photographs in your business?

I use them everywhere. My website, my social media, any time I get a PR feature or have an announcement to make. I recently signed a partnership and used them there too.

I have a Google folder where all my PR images live, all from this branding session. So when someone asks me for a picture and a bio, I just send them the whole folder and they pick whatever suits their branding best. I think that is brilliant.

If someone was considering investing in a Personal Brand Experience but felt nervous, what would you say to them?

I would say you really do need to invest in a personal brand, especially if you are an entrepreneur or a founder. Nobody will do the work for you. If you do not put yourself out there, and that includes professionally taken pictures, nobody else will do it for you. You have to.

It is one of the most important things you can invest in. It gives your website credibility. It gives your PR features credibility. On social media there are so many ways to use the images, and Monica is very good at photographing you so that each picture has multiple uses.

One shot can work in a beautiful feature about you, and then be repurposed across social media. That is the real key, and the brilliance of her brand shoot.

What’s one thing you wish more people knew about the woman behind your business?

I am also a mum. I have a nearly fourteen-year-old son, and I love being present for the things that matter to him. I love travelling, and I love being there for my friends. I am usually the one trying to build the others up.

If someone is feeling down, I remind them that better times are coming. I check in on people. And I remember things, like birthdays, especially for clients. I am very on the ball.

And one thing people do not always see: I am not afraid to try anything. Give me AI, give me social media, I will give it a go. Why not? What have I got to lose? But it took me a while to build that confidence.

Outside of your business, how do you love spending your time?

I love travelling. I love swimming. And of course I love spending time with my son. I also love spending time with my niece and nephew, because I like to think I can widen their world a little, that through my travels they see there is so much more out there to explore.

I love good food, hanging out with friends, going to a good concert or a nice show. I am always up for trying something new.

A Few Quick Favourites

Three words your closest friends would use to describe you: Friendly. Always checking in on others.  Always motivating and empowering others.

A book every woman should read or listen to: It Starts With You by Emma Grede.

A podcast you love: The Mel Robbins Podcast, and Aspire with Emma Grede.

A favourite quote or mantra you live by: “No matter what happens today, I can handle it.”

One word that describes the season you’re stepping into: Upleveling.

Where to Find Me

Website: www.star-cat.co.uk

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/starcat_corina/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/corinagoetz/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@star_cat_ltd

Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4Zvf7VlANW41sXO6qMXJWY

Other platforms or links you’d like to include

Threads: https://www.threads.com/@starcat_corina

Substack: https://substack.com/@corinagoetz