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Brand power comes from keeping – not only making – promises.  And to keep your brand promises, your brand and culture must be aligned and integrated.   In other words, brand-building requires brand-culture fusion. But a recent HBR article by Roger L. Martin, former dean of the Rotman School of Management, and a couple of LinkedIn […]

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Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg recently referred to Meta employees in a new way:  Metamates.  Is this a good idea?  Should you use a coined name to refer to your employees? The poll I fielded on LinkedIn yielded a definitive answer: It depends.  28% supported the practice of made-up names for employees; 32% voted against it; […]

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Accelerated agility, enriched engagement, and definitive differentiation — these are the top priorities brand builders need to achieve brand leadership today. The roles that brands play and the expectations people have of them today requires new brand-building mindsets and skillsets. My new post in my LinkedIn Brand+Culture Series explains the what, why, and how of […]

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In difficult times like the COVID-19 pandemic and protests over racial injustice, you might be tempted to hunker down, keep a low profile, and avoid taking on risk.  But now is not the time to pull back; you have the opportunity to push forward. In fact, crisis tend to separate those leaders who are able […]

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Emotion has always been critical component for brands to connect with customers and business leaders to connect with employees.  But today, when the coronavirus has unleashed anxiety and decreased physical interaction, an emotional connection is more important than ever.  If you are able to make an emotional connection virtually, you will stand out, win people’s […]

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What brands should you pay attention to in the coming year?  I’ve just published my list of Brands To Watch In 2020.  Naming one brand per letter of the alphabet, the list includes Amazon and Facebook of course, as well as non-tech sector newsmakers such as Nike and LVMH — and even some unconventional takes […]

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According to the Chinese zodiac, 2019 is the year of the pig — which usually means a spirit of relaxation and enjoyment.  It’s unlikely, though, that all brands will enjoy a happy, prosperous 2019.  Many will undergo significant changes – others will face challenges from category disruption and stiff competition.  And all will have to […]

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When it comes to predicting what will happen in 2018, I’m following Casey Stengel’s advice:  “Never make predictions, especially about the future.”  But I am keeping my eye on some brands because I’m pretty sure they’ll be making the headlines in the coming year.  So, here’s my list of Brands to Watch in 2018, in […]

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When will marketers learn that eyeballs aren’t worth more than integrity?!  Brand managers and advertising agencies continue to run irresponsible ads and do outrageous acts in an effort to draw attention to themselves.  At best they might get some short-lived PR but more likely they end up just wasting their money — and damaging their […]