On Brand with Nick Westergaard The Stories That Made Guy Kawasaki a Wiser Guy
What makes an idea—or a person—truly remarkable? Guy Kawasaki has spent decades evangelizing some of the world’s most influential brands—from Apple to Canva—and helping ideas spread in ways that stick. In his new book, Wiser Guy, he shares the lessons, stories, and wisdom he’s gathered along the way, showing how to think remarkable, lead with purpose, and make an impact that lasts.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode
- Why Wiser Guy isn’t a memoir and what it is instead
- The surprising truth behind Guy’s decision to publish this book with a traditional house
- How evangelism has evolved from Apple’s Macintosh launch to Canva today
- Why democratizing technology matters—and where AI fits into that story
- The timeless wisdom Guy believes we shouldn’t wait too long to share
Episode Chapters
(00:00) Intro
(00:36) Welcoming Guy Kawasaki back to On Brand
(03:08) Why Wiser Guy is not a memoir
(05:08) From self-publishing advocate to Wiley author
(10:45) Stories and lessons that rose to the top
(15:12) Evangelism past and present
(20:03) Is AI truly democratizing technology
(27:02) A brand that’s made Guy smile recently
(32:21) Where to learn more and closing gratitude
About Guy Kawasaki
Guy Kawasaki is the chief evangelist of Canva and the creator of Guy Kawasaki's Remarkable People podcast. He is an executive fellow of the Haas School of Business (UC Berkeley), and an adjunct professor of the University of New South Wales. He was the chief evangelist of Apple and a trustee of the Wikimedia Foundation. He has written Wise Guy, The Art of the Start 2.0, The Art of Social Media, Enchantment, and eleven other books. Kawasaki has a BA from Stanford University, an MBA from UCLA, and an honorary doctorate from Babson College.
What Brand Has Made Guy Smile Recently?
Guy shared that Liquid Death has been making him smile. Beyond simply selling water in a can, the brand has built a bold, countercultural identity around “killing thirst.” Guy admires how they’ve created something fun and meaningful while inspiring him to craft his own marketing mantra, “kill mediocrity.”
Resources & Links
Connect with Guy on LinkedIn.
Guy Kawasaki’s website.
Wiser Guy on Amazon.
Remarkable People podcast.
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