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On Brand with Nick WestergaardAuthor: Nick Westergaard
On Brand helps you tell stronger stories and build better brands. Each week, host Nick Westergaard, author of Get Scrappy and Brand Now, interviews marketing and communication thought leaders and innovators from brands like Ben & Jerrys, Microsoft, LinkedIn, Meta, Crayola, Beats by Dre, Southwest Airlines, Reddit, Spotify, and MailChimp. Watch the full, in-depth conversations and get actionable insights to help you and your brand stand out in a crowded, distracted world. For show notes and more, please visit http://onbrandpodcast.com. Language: en Genres: Business, Management, Marketing Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it Trailer: |
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Emergent Leadership Beats Overwhelm
Sunday, 30 August, 2026
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 leadership, self-mastery, and building a strong brand. We're talking about what it takes to become a leader and build something that really lasts. What You’ll Learn in This Episode How building yourself and building a brand are the exact same project Why empathy needs to be treated as a hard skill for managers What separates "emergent" leadership from static management models How to avoid getting overwhelmed by the sheer volume of new tech tools Why AI should serve the individual rather than replace human judgement Episode Chapters (00:00) Intro (00:46) Building Yourself vs Building a Brand (04:30) Empathy as a Core Management Skill (06:08) Defining the Emergent Leader (09:34) Navigating Modern Information Overload (12:32) Managing Stress and Fear in Leadership (18:33) The Theater and Business Connection (22:34) Managing AI and the Human Element (28:44) A Brand That Made Don Smile About Don Gregori Don Gregori is the Chief Operating Officer of First Factory, a nearshore software development firm, and the author of The Emergent Leader. With a background spanning technology, strategy, and the performing arts, he focuses on self-mastery, organizational culture, and navigating rapid industry change through empathetic leadership. What Brand Has Made Don Smile Recently? During a recent trip to Maine, Don was brought a smile by Gelato Fiasco—a local favorite in Brunswick—and Middle East Coast, a regional brand making exceptional tahini-forward hummus. Resources & Links Connect with Don on LinkedIn. Check out his book, The Emergent Leader. Learn more on his website. Watch or listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Amazon/Audible, TuneIn, and iHeart. Rate and review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to help others find the show. Share this episode — email a friend or colleague this episode. Sign up for my free Story Strategies newsletter for branding and storytelling tips. On Brand is a part of the Marketing Podcast Network. Until next week, I’ll see you on the Internet! Listen & Support the Show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
