The School of Greatness

559 Make Your Brand the Best in the World with Bozoma Saint John

Nov 6, 2017

In this engaging conversation, Bozoma Saint John, Chief Brand Officer at Uber and former marketing leader at Apple Music and PepsiCo, shares her remarkable journey from a challenging upbringing in Africa to spearheading iconic campaigns. She emphasizes the power of storytelling and authenticity in branding while recounting personal battles, including her husband's cancer fight. Boz discusses the significance of resilience, the impact of her multicultural background, and the lessons learned from her transitions in the fast-paced marketing world.

01:15:45

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Episode guests

Bozoma Saint John

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Quick takeaways

Bozema St. John emphasizes that maintaining a strong brand involves actively managing reputation through thoughtful narrative alignment and consumer engagement.

She advocates for the importance of intuition in branding decisions, highlighting the value of trusting one's instincts over pure data analysis.

St. John stresses that achieving diversity and inclusion within the tech industry is vital for fostering innovation and reflecting societal values.

Deep dives

The Importance of Brand Reputation

A brand acts similarly to a person's reputation, accumulating value based on how well it manages difficult situations. This concept is emphasized by the idea that overcoming challenges is crucial for establishing a positive reputation. In the podcast, Bozema St. John highlights her transitions through various high-profile roles in companies like Apple Music and Uber, noting how reputation management can shape both personal and corporate identities. She stresses that maintaining a strong brand relies on continuous engagement and ensuring that the narrative aligns with public perception.

Intro

3min

Journey to Business Success: Overcoming Barriers and Finding Inspiration

3min

Navigating Identity and Belonging

17min

Teaching Tupac: Exploring Lyrics and Social Commentary

6min

Navigating Post-College Life

17min

Navigating Business Needs with Clear Messaging and Reliable Support

2min

Forging Connections: Brand Truth and Personal Resilience

20min

Thoughtful Gifting and Connection During the Holidays

2min

Lessons in Leadership and Legacy

11min

10.

Embracing Authenticity: A Journey Towards Greatness

5min

"You have to fill that void by using an asset they will listen to. - Bozoma Saint John
Ever wonder who is the mastermind behind successful campaigns by brands such as Pepsi and Beats by Dre? Well it's the same person who is looked at as the savior for Uber - Bozoma Saint John.
Bozoma or Boz has lead an incredible and inspiring life. She grew up in Africa, learned to speak three languages, and has pushed through so many hardships it's absolutely amazing.
Boz started her early career working for Spike Lee. She started by getting coffee, and doing everything needed around the office (including fixing the coffee machine). By chance one day she was given a script to look over, and the notes she made instantly boosted her career into an expert of branding and campaign management.
She went on to lead marketing at Pepsi, which became an era of her life when she went through her toughest personal struggle. Her husband was diagnosed with cancer, and only had six months left to live...

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