Built in Public
Built in Public
Courtney Johnson
Alexandra Steinacker-Clark: How a Personal Brand Creates Opportunities in Any Traditional Industry
36 minutes Posted Jun 30, 2026 at 11:00 am.
Why a "lowly" job at a big name is a career cheat code09:20 How she built her brand by shining the spotlight on other people14:30 How the podcast became the foundation of everything18:00 How she put together a book proposal from scratch using YouTube21:00 The LinkedIn DM that landed her a Hachette book deal24:00 Twenty cold submissions and what she learned from every no25:14 Why LinkedIn works even when you're not trying28:06 Done is better than perfect always30:00 What sustainable personal branding actually looks likeAbout AlexandraAlexandra Steinacker-Clark is a London-based American-Austrian art historian, podcaster, and author of Working In Art: How to Build a Career in the Art World.
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Alexandra Steinacker-Clark got her foot in the door at Sotheby's through a cold coffee request, built 27K followers on LinkedIn without a strategy, and landed a book deal with a Hachette subsidiary through a LinkedIn DM that sat unread for five months.Alexandra is the host of the 'All About Art' podcast and the author of 'Working in Art: How to Build a Career in the Art World', the book that finally tells you how to break into one of the most closed-off industries in the world 🫳🎤In this episode, we get into how she broke into the art industry with no connections, no insider access, and no roadmap. She shares the EXACT cold outreach move that got her in the door at Sotheby's, why taking a "lowly" job at a big name is one of the smartest career moves you can make, and how she built her entire personal brand by shining the spotlight on other people instead of herself.Also, Alexandra grew 27K followers in LinkedIn without a content strategy, without posting every day, and without ever optimizing a single thing. We also get into the book deal. Twenty cold submissions, five months of silence, and one LinkedIn DM that changed everything. If you've been telling yourself your industry is too traditional, too conservative, or too closed off for a personal brand, this episode is your reality check. YOU DESERVE MORE. 📘 Career Cheat Codes - IT’S OUT!!!My new book Career Cheat Codes is now available to order. It’s a practical guide to building career leverage, growing your visibility, and turning your expertise into real opportunities.Order yours → penguinrandomhouse.com/books/807588/career-cheat-codes-by-courtney-johnson/📗 Working in Art - Alexandra Steinacker-ClarkAlexandra's book is the ultimate guide to building a career in the arts. Fourteen chapters, fourteen different art careers, and the real stories of the people actually doing the work.Order yours →www.amazon.com/Working-Art-Find-Living-World/dp/184091954X05:34 Why a "lowly" job at a big name is a career cheat code09:20 How she built her brand by shining the spotlight on other people14:30 How the podcast became the foundation of everything18:00 How she put together a book proposal from scratch using YouTube21:00 The LinkedIn DM that landed her a Hachette book deal24:00 Twenty cold submissions and what she learned from every no25:14 Why LinkedIn works even when you're not trying28:06 Done is better than perfect - always30:00 What sustainable personal branding actually looks likeAbout AlexandraAlexandra Steinacker-Clark is a London-based American-Austrian art historian, podcaster, and author of Working In Art: How to Build a Career in the Art World.
 
She obtained her BA in History of Art at University College London and continued her education at Goldsmiths University with an MA in Arts Administration and Cultural Policy. Her specializations are in contemporary art and the contemporary art market along with accessibility, engagement, and the demystification of the professional art sector.
 
Steinacker is the founder and host of the 'All About Art' Podcast, which covers the variety of professional paths that exist in the arts and cultural sector, streamed in over 115 countries worldwide.Connect with Alexandra👍 Instagram: @alexandrasteinacker💼 LinkedIn: Alexandra Steinacker-Clark🌐 Website:  alexandrasteinacker.com/Stay connected with me📧 Contact: [email protected]👍 Instagram: @builtinpublicpod👍 Instagram: @courtlynnjohnson💼 LinkedIn: Courtney Johnson🎶 TikTok: @courtney..johnson