In this episode, get the five most significant marketing and branding stories making headlines this week, from major leadership changes to technological breakthroughs that are reshaping the industry landscape. 

• PepsiCo appoints Mark Kirkham as new CMO for US beverages, signaling potential strategic shifts in response to changing consumer preferences
• Three BBDO offices merge to form West BBDO, creating an integrated agency powerhouse offering clients comprehensive services
• Spotify launches a programmatic ad exchange, revolutionizing how audio advertising is targeted and purchased
• The rise of agentic AI is transforming marketing roles, with autonomous AI taking over routine tasks while humans focus on strategy and creativity
• Harry's grooming brand executes a major reset, moving beyond product-focused marketing to build deeper emotional connections with consumers

Follow the Brand Builder Lab newsletter on LinkedIn and follow our podcast for your daily dose of marketing and branding insights.

Produced by Kai D. Wright. Follow Kai on LinkedIn. 

Buy the companion book, "Follow the Feeling: Brand Building in a Noisy World" on Amazon. 

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In this episode, we unlock powerful personal branding strategies from industry experts to help you make your brand shine. 

With more than 1,000 new people surpassing the one-million-follower mark on social media each month, and over a million people now having over a million social media followers, growing an audience is no longer the measure of a strong personal brand. 

Listen to hear how to stand out in the noise in a way that resonates:

• Kasey Brown's "Stop-Stay-Share" framework for creating emotional content that gets noticed and shared (Get the details)
• Jon Evans' strategy for tapping into your unique voice to go from 0 to 50K (See his PDF guide)
• Ruth Gotian's factors that drive success (Subscribe to her new newsletter)
• How major companies like Nike and The North Face are using LinkedIn and social platforms to find creative partners (Ad Age)
• The transformation of LinkedIn from resume platform to "digital storefront" in the creator economy

Whether you’re building a startup or refreshing your brand, this is your blueprint for turning an audience into a tribe.

Subscribe to the weekly Brand Builder Lab newsletter. 

Produced by Kai D. Wright. Follow Kai on LinkedIn. 

Buy the companion book, "Follow the Feeling: Brand Building in a Noisy World" on Amazon. 

💬 Text us.

Support the show

In this episode, we explore Kai D. Wright's "culture-ethics pressure test" for communications, campaigns, and content. The three-part framework helps brands connect with communities authentically and ethically. This powerful approach gives marketers a way to check if their community engagement efforts are genuine, impactful, and culturally resonant.

Take some time today and think about how these principles apply to what you're doing right now. What's one small step you can take to be more earnest, more empowering, and more empathetic?

Whether you’re building a startup or refreshing your brand, this is your blueprint for turning an audience into a tribe.

Subscribe to the weekly Brand Builder Lab newsletter. 

Produced by Kai D. Wright. Follow Kai on LinkedIn. 

Buy the companion book, "Follow the Feeling: Brand Building in a Noisy World" on Amazon. 

💬 Text us.

Support the show

In today's fast five, the Brand Builder Lab breaks down five critical marketing and branding stories transforming how brands connect with audiences. From gaming industry strategies to AI-powered advertising tools, we explore the shifts that marketing professionals need to understand to stay competitive in today's rapidly evolving landscape.

• GTA VI's strategic marketing approach demonstrates exceptional brand loyalty with gamers willing to pay $100 without hesitation for the Take-Two Interactive blockbuster
• Meta and LinkedIn aggressively deploying AI-powered advertising tools to enhance campaign performance and targeting capabilities
• Creative partnerships like McDonald's Minecraft meal and The Ordinary's egg carton stunt generating significant brand buzz
• Google's $100 million advertising settlement highlights digital advertising complexity while zero-click searches change SEO strategy
• AI adoption for marketing processes, especially video creation, has more than doubled in a year, becoming essential for brands including Coca-Cola
• Chief Marketing Officers using AI to maximize ad budgets and campaign performance

Follow the Brand Builder Lab newsletter on LinkedIn and follow our podcast for your daily dose of marketing and branding insights.

Produced by Kai D. Wright. Follow Kai on LinkedIn. 

Buy the companion book, "Follow the Feeling: Brand Building in a Noisy World" on Amazon. 

💬 Text us.

Support the show

We break down the top five marketing and branding stories making headlines right now, from major leadership changes at TikTok to luxury brands entering Formula One racing. These insights help you navigate the rapidly changing marketing landscape with clarity and strategic direction.

• TikTok's leadership shuffle signals potential changes in advertising strategy and brand partnerships
• AI use in marketing video content has more than doubled to 41%, creating new opportunities for "AI empathy" and deeper audience understanding
• Value-driven shopping drives innovative marketing approaches, exemplified by The Ordinary selling eggs at cost
• LinkedIn evolves beyond networking into a critical brand platform where major companies now hire specialized agencies
• Luxury giant LVMH makes strategic moves into Formula One, targeting younger audiences through unexpected collaborations

Follow the Brand Builder Lab newsletter on LinkedIn and follow our podcast for your daily dose of marketing and branding insights.

Produced by Kai D. Wright. Follow Kai on LinkedIn. 

Buy the companion book, "Follow the Feeling: Brand Building in a Noisy World" on Amazon. 

💬 Text us.

Support the show

Why are careers winning over cuddling? In this episode of Brand Builder Lab, we unpack the reasons behind Harris Poll's recent discovery that 61% of individuals would rather job hunt than go on a date. 

Hear how the creator economy and longevity mindset are shaping the future of work, increasing the economic value of personal brands.  

Get a sneak peek at the ACE method for personal transformation, inspired by Arthur Ashe. 

Whether you’re building a startup or refreshing your brand, this is your blueprint for turning an audience into a tribe.

Subscribe to the weekly Brand Builder Lab newsletter. 

Produced by Kai D. Wright. Follow Kai on LinkedIn. 

Buy the companion book, "Follow the Feeling: Brand Building in a Noisy World" on Amazon. 

💬 Text us.

Support the show

Subscriber-only episode

Why are careers winning over cuddling? In this episode of Brand Builder Lab, we unpack the reasons behind Harris Poll's recent discovery that 61% of individuals would rather job hunt than go on a date. 

Hear how the creator economy and longevity mindset are shaping the future of work, increasing the economic value of personal brands.  

Get a sneak peek at the ACE method for personal transformation, inspired by Arthur Ashe. 

Whether you’re building a startup or refreshing your brand, this is your blueprint for turning an audience into a tribe.

Subscribe to the weekly Brand Builder Lab newsletter. 

Produced by Kai D. Wright. Follow Kai on LinkedIn. 

Buy the companion book, "Follow the Feeling: Brand Building in a Noisy World" on Amazon. 

💬 Text us.

Subscriber-only episode

What do Peloton, Liquid Death, Crocs, and Duolingo all have in common? In this episode, we unpack the secret sauce behind cult brands—the ones that go way beyond product to spark deep emotional connection and community.

From sonic branding and unique lingo to rituals, visual identity, and even shared enemies, we break down the patterns that turn customers into superfans.

You’ll hear real-world examples, fresh insights, and a powerful takeaway: building a brand people believe in starts with authenticity, not imitation. Plus, we tease the upcoming 2025 workbook for "Follow the Feeling: Brand Building in a Noisy World."

Whether you’re building a startup or refreshing your brand, this is your blueprint for turning an audience into a tribe.

Subscribe to the weekly Brand Builder Lab newsletter. 

Produced by Kai D. Wright. Follow Kai on LinkedIn. 

Buy the companion book, "Follow the Feeling: Brand Building in a Noisy World" on Amazon. 

💬 Text us.

What do Peloton, Liquid Death, Crocs, and Duolingo all have in common? In this episode of Brand Builder Lab, we unpack the secret sauce behind cult brands—the ones that go way beyond product to spark deep emotional connection and community. 

From sonic branding and unique lingo to rituals, visual identity, and even shared enemies, we break down the patterns that turn customers into superfans. 

You’ll hear real-world examples, fresh insights, and a powerful takeaway: building a brand people believe in starts with authenticity, not imitation. Plus, we tease the upcoming 2025 workbook for "Follow the Feeling: Brand Building in a Noisy World."

Whether you’re building a startup or refreshing your brand, this is your blueprint for turning an audience into a tribe.

Subscribe to the weekly Brand Builder Lab newsletter. 

Produced by Kai D. Wright. Follow Kai on LinkedIn. 

Buy the companion book, "Follow the Feeling: Brand Building in a Noisy World" on Amazon. 

💬 Text us.

Support the show