Meet Imran, a personal branding and marketing strategist dedicated to helping founders and business owners unlock their full potential and monetise their brand through social media, events, and networking. Whether coaching individuals on how to launch and scale their brand or managing social media campaigns on their behalf, Imran empowers clients to maximise their influence and revenue.
Beyond marketing, he also conducts public speaking classes for adults, working with new managers and directors to build confidence in addressing stakeholders and leading teams. As the creator of Black Vault Tribe, a growing community focused on branding and marketing insights, Imran continues to inspire and educate through his self-published book, The Black Vault of 100 Marketing Tips.
What motivated you to start offering public speaking classes specifically for new managers and directors?
Initially, I was more interested in economics and finance, but I realised how automation was changing those fields and how they weren’t as fulfilling as I had envisioned. Public speaking, on the other hand, is a skill that can last a lifetime.
After going through the journey of learning, applying, and eventually teaching public speaking, I saw how it opened doors in ways I hadn’t expected. When it comes to managers, leaders, and directors, many of them have always worked behind the scenes, managing small teams or handling tasks independently.
When they step into leadership roles, technical skills alone are no longer enough. They need soft skills like how to rally their team, present ideas persuasively, and inspire people. Without it, they face significant friction when managing teams where some leaders struggled to inspire confidence, leading to issues with trust, clarity, and team cohesion.
These individuals are often brilliant at what they do, but articulating their ideas in a compelling way is a major gap. That’s why I saw the need to serve this group and help them develop their public speaking skills.
Can you share a memorable success story where a client significantly improved their public speaking skills under your guidance?
One of my students continued working with me beyond the program because she needed additional support for a high-stakes presentation at an Asia-Pacific Energy Conference. She was an expert in her field but had a fear of public speaking, made worse by a past negative experience.
The conference crowd was going to be tough—industry experts who would be skeptical, distracted, and hard to impress. Her previous attempt at public speaking had resulted in harsh criticism, and she had vowed never to go on stage again.
However, after joining my program and working with me to build her confidence, refine her mindset, and manage her expectations, she slowly regained her ability to speak publicly.
She eventually delivered her talk successfully at the conference. The transformation didn’t stop there. She went from fearing public speaking to embracing it. Since then, she has spoken at multiple conferences and even delivered a presentation in Mandarin at an event in China.
How do you approach coaching founders and business owners to unlock their personal brands, profit, and potential through social media, media events, and networks?
Many founders start their business thinking, “I just need clients.” They rely on word-of-mouth referrals in the beginning. But when that dries up, they realise they need new leads and often turn to me, saying, “Imran, can you help me run ads?” The problem is, ads alone don’t work the way they used to.
Consumers today are more savvy. They don’t just click and sign up impulsively like they did 10-15 years ago. They want to see an active brand presence, a story, and an X-factor before making a purchase.
On the other end of the spectrum, some founders try to create content every day, multiple times a day, but nothing converts because they don’t have a monetisation strategy. That’s where I come in. I sit down with them and map out a clear business model before they create any content.
We also introduce soft launches every two to three months—mini marketing tests to gauge audience response and refine their brand positioning. This approach ensures social media isn’t just vanity metrics, but an actual tool for business growth.
People buy from those they like. If you only share technical knowledge, you become forgettable. But if you show who you are, people will remember and trust you.
What are the common challenges founders face when launching and monetising their personal brands, and how do you assist in overcoming them?
Many are uncomfortable being on camera or voicing their opinions online. Some worry about compliance issues or negative feedback.
Some lack clarity and don’t know what to share, while others sound overly stiff and unnatural. Some provide overly technical content. They focus too much on frameworks and theories, forgetting that audiences connect with people, not just information.
I had a client who was extremely likable in real life, but once he got on camera, he became stiff and robotic—like a car salesman reading from a script. He was well-dressed, had perfect lighting, but it didn’t feel like him. Halfway through recording, I stopped everything.
I told him, “This isn’t you. It’s too polished, and it’s making you look bad.” We shut down the setup, moved to a lounge area, and just had a casual conversation for an hour. I filmed it on a phone.
Suddenly, he became relaxed, his face lit up, and he expressed genuine emotions. The key lesson? People buy from those they like. If you only share technical knowledge, you become forgettable. But if you show who you are, people will remember and trust you.
Could you elaborate on the services you provide when managing social media campaigns for your clients?
There are two main paths: coaching and strategy or done-for-you management. Some founders want to learn and execute themselves, so I guide them through my Grand Slam Experience—a small group program where we define their business model and Unique Selling Point (USP). Then we ceate a content and acquisition plan.
Second way is the done-for-you management where some clients want my team to handle everything—social media management, campaign planning, launches, promotions, and branding.
What inspired you to create the Black Vault Tribe community, and how has it evolved since its inception?
The Black Vault was inspired by my book, The Black Vault of 100 Marketing Tips. Throughout my entrepreneurial journey, I’ve had to reset from zero multiple times. Each time, I had to dig deep into my own knowledge and experience to restart. That’s why I call it a vault—a repository of ideas, strategies, and insights.
I created the Black Vault Tribe as a community where business owners who have failed or struggled can share knowledge and support each other. Instead of just relying on their own experiences, they can access a collective vault of expertise.
Since launching in August last year, it has grown steadily. Initially, I had to slow things down because I welcomed my firstborn right after the launch. But from January onwards, we’ve been expanding the community with networking events and live discussions. The goal? Expand this concept internationally.
Where do you see yourself, and what’s your vision for Singapore in the next five years?
Singapore’s marketing industry is becoming more AI-driven, and adoption has been rapid. We’ll see more AI agencies, but I believe the real value will be in blending AI with human expertise.
I take a contrarian approach—while I use AI, I don’t let it replace fundamental skills. Many people who rely entirely on AI sound perfect online but struggle offline. They can’t sell, can’t close deals, and their brands collapse when AI tools are removed.
In five years, the most in-demand professionals will be those who master both AI and human connection. That’s where I see myself—staying ahead by blending technology, strategy, and authenticity in branding and business growth.
Connect with Imran: Facebook, TikTok and LinkedIn.
