On Brand with Nick Westergaard

In a noisy world, brand clarity is a competitive advantage. Michael Cadenzaro, president and chief brand officer of the brand leader, has spent 20-plus years building brands including Adidas, ASICs, WD40, and Monster Energy. We'll talk about turning brand into a growth engine, standing out in an AI-saturated world, and what it really takes to build a brand that matters. What You’ll Learn in This EpisodeWhy standing out requires aligning your entire customer journey and product delivery rather than relying solely on advertising.How true rebrands driven by the C-suite address foundational tensions in mission, vision, values, and operations rather than just a visual refresh.The hidden dangers of internal fragmentation and why brand values painted on walls fail if employees aren't actively delivering them.How artificial intelligence can scale content creation for the mid and lower funnels without sacrificing brand uniqueness and tone.The importance of maintaining brand consistency while staying adaptive and nimble in the face of rapid technological and cultural shifts.Episode Chapters(00:00) Intro(00:47) Welcome Michael Catanzaro(01:22) Delivering on the Brand Promise(02:57) Rebrand vs. Refresh and Unearthing Tension(05:08) Brand Therapy and Stakeholder Interviews(07:14) Moving Beyond Painted Walls and Poster Culture(08:58) Balancing Short-Term Results and Long-Term Equity(10:22) Overlooking Cultural Context and Competition(12:08) Building AI In-House Creative Agencies(15:08) Standing Out Tonally in an AI-Saturated World(17:53) Planning and Budgeting Amid Uncertainty(20:22) What Leadership Needs to Understand About Brand(23:39) Brand Smile and OutroAbout Michael CatanzaroMichael Catanzaro is the president and chief brand officer of The Brand Leader, with over two decades of experience building major brands including Adidas, ASICS, WD-40, and Monster Energy. He specializes in turning brand strategy into an operational growth engine through cross-functional alignment and modern creative innovation.What Brand Has Made Michael Smile Recently?Michael highlighted Imogene + Willie, an independent clothing brand out of Nashville, Tennessee, that transformed a potentially frustrating online denim return into a personalized virtual consultation and an exceptional in-store experience, turning him into a lifelong customer.Resources & LinksConnect with Michael on LinkedIn.Learn more about The Brand Leader on their website.Listen & Support the ShowWatch or listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Amazon/Audible, TuneIn, and iHeart.Rate and review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to help others find the show.Share this episode — email a friend or colleague this episode.Sign up for my free Story Strategies newsletter for branding and storytelling tips.On Brand is a part of the Marketing Podcast Network.Until next week, I’ll see you on the Internet! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

You can be great at what you do and still get overlooked if you can't communicate your value. Dr. Kristine Sickels, former SVP of marketing for a $2 billion brand portfolio, now helps leaders and especially women speak with confidence, build influence, and turn their expertise into opportunity. She's also the author of the new book, The Clearest Voice in the Room. What You’ll Learn in This EpisodeWhy high-performing professionals and especially women get overlooked when they translate or soften their voices instead of speaking directly.How defining your core leadership values creates a authentic foundation for clear, confident communication.The specific filler words and unnecessary apologies that undermine credibility in high-stakes conversations.How to shift from a self-conscious spotlight mindset to a value-focused lighthouse mindset to overcome public speaking anxiety.Strategies to handle interruptions, eliminate timid phrasing, and claim space early in meetings.Episode Chapters(00:00) Intro(00:41) Welcome Dr. Kristine Sickels(01:52) The Hidden Cost of Staying Silent(02:28) Clarity vs Loudness in Communication(04:13) Common Credibility Killers to Avoid(06:04) Building Confidence with Low Risk Reps(08:49) How to Handle Being Interrupted(09:39) Deconstructing Executive Presence(14:40) Shifting from Spotlight to Lighthouse Mindset(16:29) Mic Drop Workshop and Brand SmileAbout Dr. Kristine SickelsDr. Kristine Sickels spent over twenty years scaling the corporate ladder, ultimately serving as Senior Vice President of Marketing for a $2 billion multi-brand portfolio featuring household icons such as Rubbermaid, Crockpot, Calphalon, Mr. Coffee, and Oster. She is the co-founder of C-Sweet, a multi-million-dollar women-owned consulting firm advising brands like Conair, BaBylissPRO, BIC, Vitamix, and Kimball International. She is the CEO and co-owner of Mic Drop, an organization focused on helping women master public speaking, secure paid engagements, and scale their professional impact. Additionally, she is the author of The Clearest Voice in the Room: How to Speak with Power and Intention at Work.What Brand Has Made Kristine Smile Recently?Kristine highlighted the recent collaboration between lifestyle apparel brand Dandy and Starbucks, which brought over 3,000 eager fans to a Seattle pop-up experience through an unexpected, vibrant alignment of two distinct brand communities.Resources & LinksConnect with Kristine on LinkedIn and on her website.Learn more about the Mic Drop workshop she discussed during the interview.Check out her book The Clearest Voice in the Room.Listen & Support the ShowWatch or listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Amazon/Audible, TuneIn, and iHeart.Rate and review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to help others find the show.Share this episode — email a friend or colleague this episode.Sign up for my free Story Strategies newsletter for branding and storytelling tips.On Brand is a part of the Marketing Podcast Network.Until next week, I’ll see you on the Internet! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if some of the advice we've been given about leadership is actually making us worse at leading? After nearly four decades running sales organizations and billion-dollar operations, Larry Coval believes we've become too focused on authenticity, self-awareness, and how leaders feel, and not focused enough on competence, accountability, and helping other people succeed. His new book, Misled, takes aim at some of the most familiar ideas in modern leadership and asks a provocative question: What do people actually need from their leaders? What You’ll Learn in This EpisodeWhy the multi-billion-dollar leadership development industry is seeing declining employee sentiment despite increased spending on emotional intelligence and soft skills training.How focusing excessively on authenticity and vulnerability without operational competence can backfire for managers and their teams.The hidden pitfalls of hiring strictly for cultural fit and sameness rather than seeking out productive differentiation.Practical ways to shift from acting as an emotional prop for your team to becoming an active upskiller who invests directly in their success.Why traditional corporate meeting culture drains time and energy, and how red-teaming your calendar can give teams their productivity back.Episode Chapters(00:00) Intro(00:54) Welcome Larry Coval(01:33) The Flaws of Emotional Leadership(03:01) What Employees Actually Need(05:00) Fixing Broken Hiring Practices(07:53) Preparing Individual Contributors for Management(13:09) Unpacking Servant Leadership(17:38) Building Competency-Based Leadership Programs(21:12) Eliminating Meeting Culture(24:43) Brand Smile and OutroAbout Larry CovalLarry Coval is an executive leader, coach, and author who has spent nearly four decades running sales organizations and billion-dollar operations. Drawing on his extensive corporate experience, his new book, Misled: Why Almost Everything We Learned About Leadership Is Wrong and How to Fix It, challenges conventional wisdom in leadership development by shifting the focus from emotional states back to skill, competence, and accountability.What Brand Has Made Larry Smile Recently?Larry highlighted Honolulu Pickleball, a small family-owned business that has captured major industry awards against multi-million-dollar competitors through rapid innovation, cutting-edge paddle technology, and exceptional customer care.Resources & LinksConnect with Larry on LinkedIn.Check out his book Misled and his website.Listen & Support the ShowWatch or listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Amazon/Audible, TuneIn, and iHeart.Rate and review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to help others find the show.Share this episode — email a friend or colleague this episode.Sign up for my free Story Strategies newsletter for branding and storytelling tips.On Brand is a part of the Marketing Podcast Network.Until next week, I’ll see you on the Internet! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The brands we build are shaped by the cultures we build around them. But what happens when the culture tells you that parts of who you are don't quite belong? Arturo Nunez has worked inside some of the world's most influential brands, from Nike and Apple to the NBA and New Bank, and his new book, The Culture Compass, explores what it really takes to lead without leaving yourself behind. We talk about code switching, belonging, ambition and why identity may be one of the most overlooked sources of strategic insight What You’ll Learn in This EpisodeDiscovering the unwritten rules of corporate culture before trying to rewrite themNavigating code switching without erasing your individual identityRedefining professional norms beyond cultural familiarityThe hidden obsession with detail behind iconic brand ecosystemsEpisode Chapters(00:00) Introduction and guest background(02:08) Learning the unwritten rules of corporate culture(03:08) Code switching versus erasing yourself(06:03) Who gets to define professional norms(13:31) Inside the inspiration culture at Nike(15:18) The siloed obsession and detail at Apple(21:14) Using cultural differences as a strategic advantage(26:33) Outro and book detailsAbout Arturo NunezArturo Nunez is a seasoned marketing executive and author of The Culture Compass. He has held senior leadership roles at some of the world's most influential organizations, including Nike, Apple, Pepsi, and the NBA. Throughout his career, he has focused on connecting global brands with diverse consumer cultures and empowering professionals to lead authentically.What Brand Has Made Arturo Smile Recently?Bad Bunny made Arturo smile recently through his unapologetically authentic global tours and cultural impact, proving that staying true to your roots creates unmatched brand resonance.Resources & LinksConnect with Arturo on LinkedIn and Instagram.Check out his book The Culture Compass and his website.Listen & Support the ShowWatch or listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Amazon/Audible, TuneIn, and iHeart.Rate and review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to help others find the show.Share this episode — email a friend or colleague this episode.Sign up for my free Story Strategies newsletter for branding and storytelling tips.On Brand is a part of the Marketing Podcast Network.Until next week, I’ll see you on the Internet! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What happens when a brand that once mattered stops mattering? Joey Shamah has spent more than two decades answering that question, from co-founding e.l.f. Cosmetics to building AS Beauty Group through the acquisition and reinvention of brands like Laura Geller, Bliss, CoverFX, and Julep. This week, we're talking about what makes consumers genuinely connect with a brand, how to scale without losing the plot, and what it takes to make a legacy brand relevant again. What You’ll Learn in This EpisodeHow confidence directly shapes employee retention and business growthThe crucial difference between authentic confidence and egoWhy two thirds of employees would take a pay cut for supportive leadershipThe three step framework elite athletes use to overcome mistakes fastSimple questions to interrupt self doubt and regain clarityEpisode Chapters(00:00) Intro(00:49) Building From Scratch vs Revitalizing Brands(03:19) Rebranding Without Losing Core Customers(05:17) Cultivating Genuine Consumer Connections(07:11) Disrupting Conventions at e.l.f.(09:16) Balancing Profitability and Brand Growth(11:15) Lessons Learned Across the Entrepreneurial Journey(18:12) Surmounting Misconceptions in Leadership(19:29) Standing Out in a Crowded Market(22:35) Customer Feedback as a Strategic Advantage(25:23) A Brand That Made Him SmileAbout Joey ShamahJoey Shamah is an entrepreneur and executive with over two decades of experience building, acquiring, and revitalizing iconic consumer brands. He co-founded e.l.f. Cosmetics, helping scale the business from a grassroots direct-to-consumer model into a global beauty powerhouse. Today, Joey serves as a principal at AS Beauty Group, where he oversees the acquisition and transformation of heritage beauty brands including Laura Geller, Bliss, CoverFX, and Julep. He is also the CEO of Fit for Life, managing health and wellness accessories under major licensed brands.What Brand Has Made Joey Smile Recently?Joey highlighted Peloton as a brand that makes him smile. As an early adopter who purchased one of the first fifty bikes off Kickstarter, he uses the bike and tread to start his mornings, appreciating both the product experience and the strong community the brand has built around it.Resources & LinksConnect with Joey on LinkedIn.Learn more at the AS Beauty website.Listen & Support the ShowWatch or listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Amazon/Audible, TuneIn, and iHeart.Rate and review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to help others find the show.Share this episode — email a friend or colleague this episode.Sign up for my free Story Strategies newsletter for branding and storytelling tips.On Brand is a part of the Marketing Podcast Network.Until next week, I’ll see you on the Internet! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.