Embracing the Icon Within

Laurie D. Battaglia’s Journey in Visual Storytelling

Laurie Battaglia, CEO of Aligned at Work based in Scottsdale, Arizona, leads a company dedicated to helping forward-thinking organizations create engaging workplaces. Aligned at Work specializes in facilitating strategic events, executive coaching, and leadership training, with a strong emphasis on diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. The company tailors its services to meet the specific needs of each organization, aiming to guide them towards clear organizational goals and effective leadership.

Check out our conversation as Laurie shares her transformative experience with the Icon Experience photoshoot and the profound impact it has had on her professional presentation and branding.

What inspired you to pursue the Icon experience?

I got interested in the Icon experience because Ana Melikian, who lives here in Phoenix, had actually worked with you for her brand pictures. I loved her photographs on her website, and I thought they truly captured her essence. 

I really needed good pictures of me on stage because I don't photograph well when I'm in action. I usually get caught in one of those photos where your face is funny or my eyes are closed or something. I needed to get photos of me actually speaking in front of people.

So that was the big appeal, and then seeing how the branding came out from Ana had me thinking, well, okay, you can never have too many good branding photos, either!

Throughout my professional life, I’ve always been told to play it small, tone it down. I’m physically small, but I have a big personality, and that has always made some people uncomfortable, especially in the corporate world. That’s one of the main reasons why I decided to start my own business, so I could express myself more fully in my work. But my photos still didn’t reflect that. I didn’t have a single photo of my “sassy” side, and I felt you were the right photographer to help me capture that.

So once we started the process, we went through a few steps - like doing a mood board and creating a shot list. What was that like for you?

Initially, I grumbled my way through that because I had literally taken on too many things at the time. But it got me thinking about the way I wanted to position myself. Who am I really? And how do I bring out this person that I want people to see?

I used to be a banker, so I spent years in matchy-matchy suits and heels. I didn’t wear the colorful outfits that I wear today. As I was creating my mood board, I realized that I was still very cautious in my photos.

I really love Iris Apfel who just recently left the planet at age 102. She was known for her flowy outfits and big jewelry, and shows up prominently in my mood board. I can’t wear the big jewels because I’m pretty small but I can wear the bright colors! The prep process gave me the confidence that I could show up in photos in a way that felt true to me.

We did two different shoots for you: stage shots and an individual session. How did that go?

I wasn't quite sure how the stage day was going to go, but you did a great job. I loved that you got each of us doing something different on stage to capture unique moments, and the fact that we had a nice size audience there. 

It helped to have all the moments planned in advance. I have a moment in my speech where I throw down a book, as a reference to “throw away the rulebook.” It was great to be able to do that on stage and have that moment be captured!

I also enjoyed the shots that you did at the end when we were on a “panel”. I had a really fun time and I’m enjoying seeing the photos that folks in the group have been posting.

For our individual session, we started my day on a yoga mat with my cup of tea. You captured me looking at my script, behind my desk, on the phone. It felt like giving the viewer a window into my day. I was excited that we got to use my brand colors, especially teal, in my attire and against various walls. It truly reflected how I navigate my day and present myself.

I also appreciated the moment where you asked me to bring more intensity into my photos. After decades and decades of being asked to tone it down, it was very refreshing!

Would you recommend this experience to others?

I would tell people to do this just because you come out feeling so much better about yourself. I never felt like I photographed well, and I don’t like wearing makeup, so photo shoots in the past have made me feel out of my element and not myself. You put me at ease throughout the process.

If you’re a professional speaker, this is something you ought to do for yourself. Speakers with ginormous budgets have photos and videos from their gigs, but those of us on smaller stages deserve good photos too. You capture what every speaker needs in their portfolio by bringing out their personality. It’s amazing.

Where can people learn more about you?

They can find me on LinkedIn, I’m there under my full name, Laurie Battaglia, and on my website at alignedatwork.com. I do LinkedIn lives and a lot of things on LinkedIn since that’s my stage of choice.

Laurie D. Battaglia's journey through the Icon experience serves as a powerful testament to the transformative power of personal branding. By stepping out of her comfort zone and embracing a process that allowed her to reflect deeply on her professional identity, Laurie was able to redefine how she presents herself to the world. Her experience highlights the importance of authenticity in branding, demonstrating that the right visuals can significantly enhance how professionals are perceived and engaged by their audience. 

Interested in learning how personal branding, particularly through professional photography, can be a strategic tool for enhancing your professional narrative and help you connect more deeply with your target audience? Check out the Icon Experience this September in Boston, MA