My Brand: The Science of Turning Character into Impact
Evidence That Strengths-Based Learning Drives Performance and Wellbeing
We spend years teaching students how to write essays, calculate fractions and pass exams. Yet one of the most powerful predictors of lifelong success, understanding who you are and what you stand for, rarely gets taught with the same intent. That is where My Brand comes in.
This is not another wellbeing program filled with clichés about positivity. It is a research-backed, identity-based learning experience that helps students uncover their character strengths, align them with purpose and channel them into meaningful action. It brings together neuroscience, psychology and emotional intelligence to create real-world impact.
From Fixing Problems to Building Strengths
For decades, mental health education focused on what was wrong with young people. We assessed risk factors, tracked stress and managed symptoms. Modern research now paints a more hopeful picture, showing that mental health thrives not just when distress is reduced but when strengths are actively developed (Keyes, 2002).
The global movement of positive psychology reframed wellbeing as more than the absence of illness. It is the presence of strengths. Studies now show that using one’s unique strengths daily is strongly linked to greater engagement, optimism and satisfaction with life (Proyer, Ruch, & Buschor, 2013).
Dr Ryan Niemiec, a leading researcher on character strengths, describes them as “pathways to flourishing.” They are not just personality traits but teachable skills that shape how we think, feel and behave in ways that help us grow, connect and cope (Niemiec, 2020).
That science forms the foundation of My Brand.
Discovering an Identity that Makes an Impact
Every student who completes My Brand begins by exploring their character strengths using a validated approach inspired by the VIA Classification. It is an empowering process that flips the traditional model of self-assessment. Instead of focusing on gaps or weaknesses, students uncover the values, habits and motivations that make them who they are.
In a landmark global study, 83 per cent of participants reported that discovering their strengths was meaningful, 74 per cent gained self-awareness and 62 per cent improved their ability to solve problems (Feraco & Casali, 2025). When students see what is right with them, they begin to show up differently. They take more ownership of their learning, treat others with more empathy and feel capable of shaping their world.
Students in the My Brand Program visualise how their unique character strengths shape the way they want to live, learn and lead.
Awareness is only the beginning. My Brand turns self-knowledge into action through Not Just A Teacher Education’s SOAR Framework.
Visualise – Students take time to picture what living their brand looks like. They use their strengths as a lens to design how they show up in class, at home and in their community.
Motivation – They identify what drives them, connecting strengths to values and purpose.
Action Plan – They turn insight into tangible community impact, designing a gesture or project that expresses their “brand” in action.
Check-In – They reflect, measure growth and build emotional regulation through guided review and feedback.
This process transforms abstract concepts into practical, visible behaviours. Students are not just learning about self-awareness and resilience; they are practising it.
The Evidence Speaks for Itself
Over two decades of research shows that strengths-based interventions improve both wellbeing and mental health outcomes (Casali & Feraco, 2025). When students intentionally use their character strengths:
They experience higher motivation and engagement in school settings (Lottman, Zawaly & Niemiec, 2017).
They report lower stress, anxiety and depressive symptoms (Casali & Feraco, 2025).
They build stronger social connections and healthier relationships (Niemiec & Pearce, 2021).
They demonstrate improved self-regulation, a critical skill for learning (Proyer et al., 2013).
In a world where young people face constant comparison and pressure, building internal validation through strengths is one of the most powerful mental health tools available.
Building Identity Through Purpose
My Brand does not tell students who to be. It helps them decide who they want to be. By linking identity with contribution, it nurtures a sense of purpose that extends beyond the classroom. Students learn that character is not just personal, it is relational. Strengths such as kindness, curiosity and bravery become avenues for leadership, empathy and civic engagement.
From self-awareness to action, My Brand helps students bring their strengths to life through real-world impact in their community.
When students apply their strengths to benefit others, they experience a deeper sense of belonging and meaning. These are two of the strongest protective factors for mental health in adolescence (Niemiec, 2023). Whether they are organising a fundraiser, mentoring younger peers, or showing persistence in class, every act reinforces that identity and purpose are built through consistent, value-driven action.
Why Schools Trust My Brand
Schools across Australia are under growing pressure to deliver wellbeing outcomes that go beyond token awareness days. My Brand offers a practical, evidence-based structure that complements academic learning and curriculum requirements. It supports the Australian Curriculum’s focus on Personal and Social Capability, Civics and Citizenship and Health and Physical Education through authentic, student-led projects that promote voice and agency.
Teachers report that students who participate in strengths-based identity programs display better emotional regulation, more positive peer interactions and stronger engagement with learning (Thomas et al., 2022). The evidence supports what educators observe in classrooms. When students know their strengths, they know how to use them, even under stress.
We live in a time when young people are surrounded by messages about who they should be. Social media, peer expectations and performance pressures create a constant tension between authenticity and approval. My Brand gives students the language and confidence to navigate that space with clarity.
It is not about branding in the commercial sense. It is about branding from within, by understanding your emotional DNA, knowing your story and acting with intention.
When students learn to align who they are with what they value, they become more than resilient. They become purposeful.
Self-awareness is where identity becomes intentional. Students in My Brand learn to align their daily actions with the person they want to be.
The Future of Emotional Education
The My Brand Program represents a new chapter in how schools approach social and emotional learning. It blends neuroscience, psychology and evidence-based educational practice into a framework that is practical, measurable and deeply human.
It redefines what success looks like. Not as grades or accolades, but as young people who can say with confidence:
“I know who I am. I know what matters to me. I am ready to make a difference.”
That is the future of education. That is My Brand.
