I build brands and the people behind them, with a focus on female founders and leaders.
Book me for a keynote or a workshop, or work with me on your company's positioning and your personal brand.
On stage at
And The Hive, Crossroads Sofia, EIC Women Leadership Programme and WeWork New York. Teaching at EU Business School, Munich Business School, Macromedia University and Dublin Business School.
Point of view
Too much good work stays invisible because the people behind it wait to be noticed.
I treat a personal brand the way I treat a company brand: a clear position, a story people remember and signals that earn trust. Potential deserves a fair chance, and visibility is how it gets one. In Germany, women make up just 18.8% of startup founders, and all-male founding teams still receive 91% of venture capital. (Female Founders Monitor 2025, Startup-Verband)
That is why my focus is women: founders, leaders, and the organisations that back them. I am a mother of two daughters, and I want the rooms they walk into to look different.
Three ways to book me.
For conferences, companies, networks and programmes that want their audience to see visibility as a strategy, not self-promotion.
People leave knowing what they want to be known for, and one concrete step to get there.
Formats: keynotes (20-minute signature format, other lengths on request) · moderation, panels and round tables · pitch feedback
For companies, women's networks, universities and founder programmes that want people to work on their own brand, not just hear about it.
Every participant leaves with a completed canvas, a positioning statement and a visibility plan.
Method · Brand Like A GirlMethods: Brand Like A Girl for women · You Are A Brand for mixed groups · LinkedIn Launchpad · Minimum Viable Brand Programme
For founders and companies that need a clear position before they spend on design, content or campaigns.
A brand strategy your team, investors and clients understand, and can act on.
Method · Minimum Viable BrandConversations and partnerships: Brand Like Me, commissioned conversations, selected event collaborations →
Selected proof
"Raya brought invaluable insights on personal branding in the age of AI, paired with meaningful stories that resonated deeply with our community."
Laurelle Chloé Merkli"She led You Are A Brand and LinkedIn Launchpad, helping students clarify their personal positioning, feel more confident, and leave with actionable steps."
Gretel Huerta"Raya has the talent and the know-how for communicating the topic of creating, packaging, branding and marketing products and services."
Galina Bankova
Stages include Bits & Pretzels, LEAP Summit, Fifteen Seconds, femella, Crossroads and the EIC Women Leadership Programme. Brand work for The Recursive, The Matchmakers, Merréh Paris, Mattō London Dry Gin and Alperivo. Nominated "Voice of a New Era of Leaders" by the female factor, 2024. See all stages
About Raya
I have spent twenty years building businesses and brands: ten in business development and communication, ten in brand strategy through my consultancy, smartset. My doctoral research produced the Minimum Viable Brand model for startups.
I teach branding, entrepreneurship and digital business at EU Business School, Munich Business School, Macromedia University and Dublin Business School, and I created Brand Like A Girl, the personal branding workshop for women.
Now booking 2027. Planning for International Women's Day? Book before the 8 March dates are gone. Selected openings remain in November and December 2026.
Check availabilityContact
Choose a topic and answer a few questions. It takes two minutes and saves us a round of emails. You receive a proposal within 3 business days once we have agreed the brief.
Prefer to talk first? Book a free 15-minute call.
Or connect on LinkedIn.
Email r.drenski@smartset.group.
Resources
Bio, keynote topics, formats and photos for organisers and media.
Open the press kit ↗ White paper · Brand Like Me · PDFWhat exceptional women do intentionally to build trust, recognition and opportunity. Seven conversations, seven methods, one shared logic.
Read the white paper ↗ Free checklist · PDFClarity, credibility, connection, consistency: check your profile in four steps.
Open the checklist ↗The three-layer model and ten-step process from my doctoral research. Join the list to get it first.
Occasional emails, never spam: new resources, open workshop dates and the Minimum Viable Brand white paper as soon as it is out.