Quick Summary

What if the secret to skyrocketing your business lies not just in sales, but in understanding your customers on a deeper level? In this episode of Curious Leadership, Dominic Monkhouse chats with James Peach, award winning speaker, investor and brand marketing expert whose portfolio includes roles at Innocent, Uber, and Vinted, about customer obsession, and how it shapes brand marketing strategies that resonate and influence buyer perceptions.

Takeaways

  • Great brands solve real problems, not just shout about themselves.
  • Customer obsession beats chasing sales, because understanding needs builds loyalty.
  • Brand impact is slow-burn but powerful, so measure more than just quick wins.
  • A clear purpose aligns teams fast, making growth smoother and less chaotic.

James dives head first into the very essence of brand marketing, how it transcends mere promotion to become a powerful tool for problem-solving and emotional engagement. Hear how effective brand marketing can transform what customers think about a business, driving loyalty and growth, and how the greatest challenge impacting every business lies in measuring brand impact versus direct sales metrics.

Discover the vital collaboration between both brand and growth teams and how clear purpose is essential for motivating employees to enhance organisational efficiency – a principle not just applicable to large corporations but impacts all businesses, regardless of size or industry. Reflecting on his scale-up experience, James shares how fast-paced decision making can dramatically influence brand perception and the importance of maintaining a customer obsession throughout the journey.

James’s story is not just confined to corporate boardrooms and beanbags; it crosses over into global adventures and personal growth by pushing himself to the max – 2 years of solo cycling across the world, mirroring his leadership philosophy – embrace discomfort for growth and leverage experience for success.

Book recommendations:

Good to Great – Jim Collins

Radical Candor – Kim Scott

When the Dust Settles – Lucy Easthope

What Got You Here Won’t Get You There – Marshall Goldsmith