In this episode, global branding expert Laura Ries joins Matt and Jacob to unpack her provocative new book Strategic Enemy: How to Build a Brand Position by Fighting Someone Else. Together they explore why great brands need a clear adversary, how to choose the right one, and how this approach sharpens focus, storytelling, and growth.

Expect iconic examples, practical frameworks, and fresh inspiration for your next brand strategy session.

In this episode, global branding expert Laura Ries joins Matt and Jacob to unpack her provocative new book Strategic Enemy: How to Build a Brand Position by Fighting Someone Else. Together they explore why great brands need a clear adversary, how to choose the right one, and how this approach sharpens focus, storytelling, and growth. Expect iconic examples, practical frameworks, and fresh inspiration for your next brand strategy session.

In this episode, global branding expert&nbsp;Laura Ries&nbsp;joins Matt and Jacob to unpack her provocative new book&nbsp;Strategic Enemy: How to Build a Brand Position by Fighting Someone Else. Together they explore why great brands need a clear adversary, how to choose the right one, and how this approach sharpens focus, storytelling, and growth.

Expect iconic examples, practical frameworks, and fresh inspiration for your next brand strategy session.

S06.EP17 - The Strategic Enemy: Why Great Brands Need a Villain with Laura Ries

The JUST Branding Podcast, hosted by Jacob Cass &amp; Matt Davies, is the only podcast dedicated to helping designers &amp; entrepreneurs grow brands.

Each episode goes deep into the details of the brand building process, with professional insights, actionable tips and resources to help you build better brands.

The focus is on helping designers &amp; entrepreneurs bridge the gap between strategy and design. Branding professionals from around the world join Jacob &amp; Matt in discussing the benefits of brand strategy, top tools, how to sell strategy, brand purpose, brand positioning, neuroscience, brand personality, messaging, storytelling, brand naming, tag lines, logo design, brand identity design and brand experience.

ABOUT JACOB CASS

Jacob Cass is a Sydney-based designer &amp; strategist who runs <a href="http://justcreative.com/" target="_blank">JUST Creative</a>, an award-winning branding &amp; design firm that doubles as an industry leading blog. Jacob helps brands grow &amp; get results by crafting distinctive logos &amp; brand identities that are backed by a solid brand strategy.

He recently rebranded San Francisco and Puerto Rico, and also branded New York's Digital District. Other clients have included the likes of Disney, Nintendo and Jerry Seinfeld. Jacob has spoken at TEDx, been featured in Forbes, Entrepreneur and has been awarded LinkedIn’s “Best of” for branding.

For him, design is a lifelong journey of continuously honing his craft, as well as educating other fellow designers &amp; business owners to build on theirs, which has allowed him to build a large and loyal following, including his website which has been been viewed over 50 million times. Jacob is an avid traveler and has traveled to 87 countries.

ABOUT MATT DAVIES

<a href="https://www.mrmattdavies.me/" target="_blank">Matt</a> is a brand strategy specialist working with leaders to align around their brand and get it ready to connect deeply with those inside and outside of their organisations. His work enables you to grow your business faster and easier. Matt solves a variety of brand challenges, from strategy and positioning to naming and identity right through to company culture and product innovation.

Arts

Design

The JUST Branding Podcast, hosted by Jacob Cass & Matt Davies, is the only podcast dedicated to helping designers & entrepreneurs grow brands. Each episode goes deep into the details of the brand building process, with professional insights, actionable tips and resources to help you build better brands. The focus is on helping designers & entrepreneurs bridge the gap between strategy and design. Branding professionals from around the world join Jacob & Matt in discussing the benefits of brand strategy, top tools, how to sell strategy, brand purpose, brand positioning, neuroscience, brand personality, messaging, storytelling, brand naming, tag lines, logo design, brand identity design and brand experience. ABOUT JACOB CASS Jacob Cass is a Sydney-based designer & strategist who runs JUST Creative, an award-winning branding & design firm that doubles as an industry leading blog. Jacob helps brands grow & get results by crafting distinctive logos & brand identities that are backed by a solid brand strategy. He recently rebranded San Francisco and Puerto Rico, and also branded New York's Digital District. Other clients have included the likes of Disney, Nintendo and Jerry Seinfeld. Jacob has spoken at TEDx, been featured in Forbes, Entrepreneur and has been awarded LinkedIn’s “Best of” for branding. For him, design is a lifelong journey of continuously honing his craft, as well as educating other fellow designers & business owners to build on theirs, which has allowed him to build a large and loyal following, including his website which has been been viewed over 50 million times. Jacob is an avid traveler and has traveled to 87 countries. ABOUT MATT DAVIES Matt is a brand strategy specialist working with leaders to align around their brand and get it ready to connect deeply with those inside and outside of their organisations. His work enables you to grow your business faster and easier. Matt solves a variety of brand challenges, from strategy and positioning to naming and identity right through to company culture and product innovation.

The JUST Branding Podcast, hosted by Jacob Cass &amp; Matt Davies, is the only podcast dedicated to helping designers &amp; entrepreneurs grow brands.

Each episode goes deep into the details of the brand building process, with professional insights, actionable tips and resources to help you build better brands.

The focus is on helping designers &amp; entrepreneurs bridge the gap between strategy and design. Branding professionals from around the world join Jacob &amp; Matt in discussing the benefits of brand strategy, top tools, how to sell strategy, brand purpose, brand positioning, neuroscience, brand personality, messaging, storytelling, brand naming, tag lines, logo design, brand identity design and brand experience.

ABOUT JACOB CASS

Jacob Cass is a Sydney-based designer &amp; strategist who runs <a href="http://justcreative.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer">JUST Creative</a>, an award-winning branding &amp; design firm that doubles as an industry leading blog. Jacob helps brands grow &amp; get results by crafting distinctive logos &amp; brand identities that are backed by a solid brand strategy.

He recently rebranded San Francisco and Puerto Rico, and also branded New York's Digital District. Other clients have included the likes of Disney, Nintendo and Jerry Seinfeld. Jacob has spoken at TEDx, been featured in Forbes, Entrepreneur and has been awarded LinkedIn’s “Best of” for branding.

For him, design is a lifelong journey of continuously honing his craft, as well as educating other fellow designers &amp; business owners to build on theirs, which has allowed him to build a large and loyal following, including his website which has been been viewed over 50 million times. Jacob is an avid traveler and has traveled to 87 countries.

ABOUT MATT DAVIES

<a href="https://www.mrmattdavies.me/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Matt</a> is a brand strategy specialist working with leaders to align around their brand and get it ready to connect deeply with those inside and outside of their organisations. His work enables you to grow your business faster and easier. Matt solves a variety of brand challenges, from strategy and positioning to naming and identity right through to company culture and product innovation.

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S06.EP17 - The Strategic Enemy: Why Great Brands Need a Villain with Laura Ries

S06.EP17 - The Strategic Enemy: Why Great Brands Need a Villain with Laura Ries

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