About

I’m a brand strategist, leader and educator. For more than 15 years, I’ve worked across agencies including Wieden+Kennedy, Chiat/Day and Instrument, and in-house at Apple and Nike, helping brands find what’s true about people and act on it. I’ve also taught brand strategy at the University of Oregon, and I guest lecture regularly.

I believe the best brands are built the same way the best lives are lived: with curiosity, courage and a deep understanding of people. My career has been defined by building brands, but the work has always been about something deeper: understanding how people create meaning, form beliefs, shape culture and inspire change.

My philosophy is grounded in one conviction. Humanity is the most powerful force in strategy. Through my writing, teaching, leadership and consulting, I help brands and leaders transform human truth into inspiring belief. My mission is to reconnect brands, leaders and the next generation of strategists to real life.

Brand Experience

Nike, Jordan Brand, Netflix, Gatorade, Apple Music, Apple Podcasts, Allstate, DoorDash, Patagonia, Sprite, Powerade, vitaminwater, Equinox, Ghetto Film School, Dollar For, Go-To Foods, Burger King, Uber, Facebook, Hulu, Quibi, Tiffany & Co., American Indian College Fund, Dropbox, Atlassian, Teachable, Laika, Electronic Arts, Velveeta

  • "Brandon is the kind of leader and mentor others genuinely aspire to become. He is respected not only for his expertise and experience, but trusted because of the way he leads: with integrity, clarity and purpose."

    —Sheri Thorburn, Founder, Epilogue People & Talent Partners

  • "Brandon is the real deal. He asks the hard questions, does his homework, leads with smart thinking and knows how to discover the insights to produce incredible creative work that solves the business problem."

    —Beda Calhoun, Director of Programming, The Jonathan D. + Mark C. Lewis Foundation

  • "The problem with Brandon is that there is only one of him. He's as creative as he is smart, and as humble as they come. He consistently made the work and everyone around him better, calmer, and more confident with his insights, intuition and ability to inspire."

    —Briana de Veer, Head of Marketing, Facebook at Meta

  • "Brandon is a true collaborator who cares about the work as much as the process. He is always curious about what is going on around him both in his immediate proximity and the world at large, and is just fun to be around."

    —Yan Wang-Benz, Head of Strategy, Droga5

  • "Brandon understands that leadership isn't just about what you do, it's about who you are while you're doing it. I've had the privilege of coaching him, and I've seen his commitment to leading with compassion, humility, conviction and presence. He represents a kind of male leadership I believe deeply in."

    —Sarah Gibbons, SG & Co., Executive Leadership Coach for Creative Executives & Entrepreneurs

Awards

4A’s 100 People Who Make Advertising Great

2017

Cannes Lions

4x

Clios

5x

The One Show

8x

D&AD

5x