Your personal brand is working for you – or against you – long before your first startup. In a world where decisions are often made before the first meeting, how you’re perceived opens doors, attracts investment, and decides who gets the next opportunity.
In a special Ignite by Coller session at Tel Aviv University, a panel of senior experts reveals how personal branding and reputation are built at the highest levels of influence. The panel is led by Ana Lipnik Levy, a strategic reputation expert who helps founders and executives turn personal branding into a deliberate growth engine.
Personal branding, seen from four angles:
Individuals – build a brand that creates opportunities, even before you have a product.
Media – who decides which stories get told, and how to get on the radar.
Corporations – how a founder’s brand shapes valuation, market entry, and fundraising.
Nations – how the same principles attract investment and partnerships at the largest scale.
Who Should Come
Students, aspiring founders, and early-stage entrepreneurs – anyone building something, or planning to. No product, company, or track record required. That’s exactly the point.
Why It Matters
In entrepreneurship, people don’t just invest in ideas – they invest in people they trust, and your reputation starts working long before your first startup. You’ll leave with a behind-the-scenes look at how personal brands are built at every level – and practical insights on how to start building your own.
Agenda
18:30 – 19:00 | Mingling
19:00 – 20:00 | Panel Discussion
20:00 – 20:30 | Extended Q&A
To Register
Speakers:
Natali Ziv is a senior communications leader with more than 23 years of experience leading strategic communications, corporate reputation and executive messaging across global technology companies. She currently serves as Head of Communications for TikTok EU Emerging Markets, overseeing communications across the Nordics, Central & Eastern Europe, Ukraine and Israel, with a focus on trust, policy, business growth and cultural impact. Prior to TikTok, Natali held senior communications leadership roles at eBay, PayPal, Micron, Numonyx and Intel, and specialized in navigating complex, high-profile environments while building impactful narratives that connect business, culture, and society.
Rodrigo Gonzales is a media entrepreneur and strategic advisor operating at the intersection of media, technology, and influence. With years of experience in digital media, content production, and international communication, he has led projects across Latin America, the U.S., and Israel, building networks that connect creators, journalists, media organizations, and impact-driven initiatives. He is the founder of NEEWZ.AI, an AI-powered platform focused on real-time UGC discovery, verification, and creator-driven media infrastructure, helping transform how news, sports, and live events are discovered, distributed, and monetized in the digital era. Rodrigo’s work combines storytelling, technology, audience growth, and strategic influence with a strong focus on the future of creator-led media and the fight against misinformation.
Shay Thieberg is a Co-Founder of MAIA Digital, a LinkedIn-focused marketing agency, and a LinkedIn Certified Marketing Expert. With a background in psychology, Shay blends behavioral science with B2B marketing to help companies turn trust into measurable business outcomes. He lectures at Reichman University and has delivered hundreds of workshops on LinkedIn strategy, thought leadership, and growth for organizations worldwide.
Ana Lipnik Levy is a serial entrepreneur, global marketing and reputation strategist, and public speaker with extensive international experience building brands and growth strategies. She founded the marketing division of Samsung Israel and later established the commercial operations of Huawei in Israel. Today, she is the Co-Founder & CEO of HICONA, helping companies and founders build global reputation, authority, and market presence. In recent years, Ana has worked closely with deep-tech companies on positioning, investor readiness, go-to-market strategy, and international growth. She also mentors startups, lectures on branding and business growth, and actively promotes women in technology and leadership.
{The event will be held in English}
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