Author Archives: Nick Westergaard

joey shamah on brand

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, … Read More →


cindra kampoff on brand

What happens to an organization when people stop believing in themselves? Dr. Cindra Kampoff is a confidence researcher and performance psychology expert who has worked with Minnesota Vikings players and Olympic athletes. Her new best-selling book, The Confidence Habit, explores … Read More →


gina london on brand

What happens to your voice when everyone has AI helping them find the right words? Gina London, an Emmy-winning former CNN correspondent and author of Amplify You, has coached tens of thousands of professionals around the world on communicating with … Read More →


ron johnson on brand

Before the first Apple Store opened, the experts said it would fail within a year. But Ron Johnson saw a different story. As the retail pioneer who worked directly alongside Steve Jobs to build the Apple Store from scratch, Ron … Read More →


sept story article

In preparing for the launch of another podcast, Hoover 360, I’ve been embracing my identity as a plaque-reading history dad. While I’d love to take credit for this turn of phrase, it actually came from my kids.


thom dennis on brand

What if the biggest threat to your organization isn’t disruption from the outside, but the way you operate inside? Tom Dennis argues that many companies have become overcontrolled and disconnected from the things that make organizations resilient: trust, adaptability, and … Read More →


brian herr on brand

AI may be everywhere, but Brian Herr says the technology itself isn’t the competitive advantage. The real moat, he argues, is data, distribution, and trust. As founder and CEO of Starting Blocks and managing partner at HHI Advisory Group, Brian … Read More →


Leaders have more advice, tools, and resources than ever. So why are so many still overwhelmed? Don Gregori says we’ve been missing the bigger picture. He’s the COO of First Factory and author of The Emergent Leader, a book about … Read More →


What can happen in 30 seconds? For Linda Kaplan Thaler, quite a lot. She’s the creative force behind some of the advertising world’s most unforgettable ideas, from the Aflac duck to “I don’t want to grow up, I’m a Toys … Read More →


think small article

It’s only fitting that in a summer where I began with a lesson from Jaws, I close the season with a lesson from another Steven Spielberg film. The catch? It’s not directed by Steven Spielberg. It’s not even produced by Steven Spielberg. … Read More →


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Nick has a knack for making complex topics simple.
Jacey Wilkins
National Institute of Metalworking Skills