DT | CXL Excel Presents: Great Brand Expectations - 11:45 a.m.

Brands are everywhere. Consumer brands. Corporate brands.
Product brands. Even personal brands. And in this age of social sharing, whether online or through our day-to-day lives, we are all expected to understand and advocate for the brands we associate with. In an authentic way, of course.

But back up.

What is a brand, really? It's about so much more than the logo. It's about values, culture, audiences, experiences and differentiation. What is the magic sauce that powers the most successful brands? Can it be replicated? What do you need to understand in order to create a brand? Or advocate for one? What do your brand preferences say about you?

Megan Stephens is a brand strategist who works with companies to create brands people believe in and love. She will walk through some of the tools used to define the why, who, how and what of brand design. As a second generation partner in a woman-owned and operated brand design business (and a collaborator in the development of the Central Exchange's win|win
brand and the CXL brand) she will also discuss the decision she and her partners made to position and brand their firm as a woman-owned and operated design firm that brings a woman's perspective to the design process.

As a creative strategist, writer and account director, Megan specializes in leading our people-centered design process to create brand experiences that consumers love.  From infusing new energy to help brands compete in the ever-changing marketplace to creating concepts from the ground up,
Megan is passionate about envisioning possibilities and bringing them to life around design, messaging and experience. She has led brand strategy and experience initiatives for a large range of local, national and international brands over her 18-year tenure at Willoughby Design. Megan is a passionate advocate for women in the workplace and creating a culture of creativity, curiosity, balance and respect at Willoughby Design.