Author Archives: Nick Westergaard

ketterers

What makes you different? Do you have a concise and compelling answer to that question? When it comes to positioning, less is more. But too often, companies get wordy and convoluted, losing the plot in a sea of text. Emma … Read More


travis hahler on brand

Your team isn’t trying to sabotage your new corporate strategy—their brains are just wired to fight it. In this episode, Salesforce change leader and neuroscience expert Travis D. Hahler shares insights from his new book, Rethink Resistance. Discover the biological … Read More


will leach on brand

We like to think our buying decisions are completely rational and deliberate. The truth is that most consumer behavior is driven by subconscious perception and invisible mindstates that leaders completely miss. When we design brand strategies for the logical mind, … Read More


griffin haddrill on brand

When Addison Rae headlined Coachella this year and the crowd lost it to “Fame Is a Gun,” the cultural momentum felt instant. But the social infrastructure behind that track was built months in advance, one creator at a time, by … Read More


Start with the Shark

June 18, 2026

start with the shark

I’m writing from our annual family vacation in Door County, Wisconsin. I love spending summers on the water. Not necessarily in it per se. That said, I’m not one of those people who are afraid to go into the water … Read More


yolanda fraction

The perk trap is costing organizations thousands while leaving teams burned out. Yolanda Fraction, author of the book Joyful Workplaces, joins us to share how leaders can move past surface-level culture and design systems that deliver both joy and results.


mark nichols on brand

Branding is losing its personality. In the race for digital efficiency, the world has succumbed to “blanding”—clean, neutral, and entirely safe design built for algorithms instead of people. Mark Nichols, Creative Director and Co-Owner of WMH&I, joins the show to … Read More


ron friedman on brand

What if the secret to a high-performing team isn’t found in a pep talk or a personality test but in the cold, hard data of behavioral science? Today we are joined by Dr. Ron Friedman, an award-winning psychologist and author … Read More


monica nassif mrs meyers clean day on brand

Building a brand that lasts requires a bundle of promises, an uncompromising dedication to craft, and a healthy dose of grit. Monica Nassif, the force behind Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day, didn’t just disrupt a tired $30 billion category—she bottled a … Read More


What do you want to be when you grow up?  That little question feels very big. In fact, many debate whether it’s even helpful to ask young people. It’s anxiety-inducing and asked way, way too early. Before I get into … Read More


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