We have always focused primarily on customers as the main group for our branding and marketing efforts…well those times are changing. On this episode of the ClarityConnects podcast, Anne Erhard, EVP for Social Impact & Sustainability at Edelman, shares recent research that demonstrates the importance of the belief-driven employee who have become th…

We are living through a fundamental shift in how customers, employees, investors, and other business stakeholders expect brands to genuinely show up and care for social and environmental issues. On this episode of the ClarityConnects podcast, Sandy Skees, Global Lead of Purpose & Impact Practice from Porter Novelli, shares recent research that show…

Although 2020 is finally behind us, it has molded us and caused tremendous repercussions on people, culture, and brands—now and in the future. On this episode of the ClarityConnects podcast, I share how last year’s events has forced people and brands to be more human, vocal, and powerful. Also, by considering the state of corporate activism, custom…

Let’s face it, branding is abstract. It is only once we grasp the core of branding in the context of visceral human emotions and yearnings, that we can see its full capacity. On this episode of the ClarityConnects podcast, Patrick Hanlon, CEO of PrimalBranding.co and a world-leading brand practitioner who is the author of Primal Branding, systemati…

It’s clear that purpose-led businesses have risen in 2020. But what are concrete implications that businesses must consider and undertake to embody purpose and act in accordance? On this episode of the ClarityConnects podcast, Margot Brandenburg, an expert on strategic philanthropy, capital markets, and inequality from the Ford Foundation, shares t…

Cultivating self-awareness can truly unleash human flourishing and imaginative ideas. On this episode of the ClarityConnects podcast, the brilliant and soulful Shannon Washington, Group Executive Creative Director at R/GA--who is one of the few Black Women creative leads in the advertising industry--shares why self-awareness is essential for creati…

2020 has been a year like no other. The compounding effects of the covid-19 pandemic, the crucial #BlackLivesMatter movement, and a pivotal U.S. election year has forced us as a people to reconnect with who we are and question our thoughts and feelings in a deeper way. On this episode, I share how cultural and individualist shifts has impacted our …

The brands and leaders who fully embrace the #BlackLIvesMatter movement will inevitably thrive—from a humanitarian AND profitability standpoint. On this episode of the ClarityConnects podcast, the fabulous Monique Nelson, CEO and Chair of UWG, the longest standing multicultural marketing agency in the world, shares how leaders can truly embody and …

These are such chaotic, sad, and uncertain times. But I believe that positive change can, must, and will happen. It all starts first by each of us being truly open to understand, feel, and actively listen to the needs and views of our fellow humans…to empathize with them. On this episode of the ClarityConnects podcast, Maria Ross, author of the boo…

The uncertain times of the covid19 pandemic, with its large scale isolation measures, is having a profound effect on people’s lives….and thoughts. On this episode, I share how the pandemic pause is affecting our feelings and values as a society, which is shifting the marketplace’s current and future needs. Topics include: How the pandemic is changi…

We live in a digital age full of astonishing connection possibilities. But are we connecting in a way that nourishes genuine meaning and maximizes our human existence? Hear my conversation with David Ryan Polgar, tech ethicist, and the Founder of All Tech is Human, as we explore how we can humanize technology for the growth of individuals and busin…

Inclusive design: what does it really mean and how can we best apply its principles? Hear my conversation with Regine Gilbert, Visiting Industry Assistant Professor at NYU, and author of the best-selling book “Inclusive Design for a Digital World”, as we explore the importance of UX and inclusivity from a human perspective. Topics we cover include:…

Teaching personal branding at NYU for the past few years has enabled me to fully grasp the core of personal branding and effectively put it into practice. On this episode, I share how the power of personal branding can help you genuinely connect with yourself and influence others. Topics include: What does personal branding really mean? The foundat…

In November 2019, I went to one of my favorite yearly events, the 3% conference in Chicago. Hear Anaka Kobzev, Global Head of Communications at TBWAWorldwide, and I share our main takeaways from the event as we cover the following topics. 1. The full spectrum of what diversity and inclusion actually really means. 2. A transformative transgender sto…

Let’s tap into the wolrd’s biggest database of human intent: Google search. Hear my conversation with Janneke van Geuns, the Head of Insights and Analytics at Google, as we explore what the digital data from Google search is telling about human beings’ behavior and how you can use these insights to help your brand connect more meaningfully with you…

Last week, I went to Adweek 2019 in NYC with my business partner Brooke Vines. Hear our #ClarityMoments from the event as we cover the following topics: Purpose-driven brands and how to connect genuinely with humans were the most predominant themes. We share examples from big brands (Verizon, IPG, Anheuser Busch) as well the new initiative Lion’s S…

Everybody talks about brands and branding, but not a lot of people really fully understands what it means. In this episode, come with me on a journey to get a sound foundation on brands and branding: we will explore the definition of branding, how to use brand principles into practice, the difference between branding vs marketing, my 3Cs to create …

Welcome to the very first episode of ClarityConnects! My name is Touseef Mirza, the creator and host of this podcast and in this episode, I am providing an overview of ClarityConnects: why this podcast came to be, the topics we will cover, the lovely guests that I will interview. I also share #ClarityMoments that solidified my understanding of the …