Podcast thumbnail for North Star Leaders

North Star Leaders

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by Lindsay Pedersen

5.0(10 reviews)
70 episodes
Updated Weekly
Accepts GuestsHas Sponsors
35

Podcast Authority

Beta
PoorBased on show quality, social media presence, reviews, charts, and more
Pod Engine
Quality57
Social0
YouTube0
Engagement32

Podcast Overview

As a leader, how do you know where to focus? When there are a hundred possibilities, how do you direct your time, your team, your budget and your emotional energy? That is what Lindsay Pedersen is exploring on the North Star Leaders Podcast. In every episode she is joined by the entrepreneurs and executives who understand the impact brand makes on their companies, and how vital it is to have a North Star that aligns the efforts of everyone working towards a common goal at an organization. They dig into how to set the conditions for a company that creates real value for decades, and navigate the dance between creating economic value now, and serving a noble purpose that will last into the future. Remember: Brand is your North Star. The The North Star Leaders podcast is hosted by Lindsay Pedersen, a brand strategist and author of the bestselling book: Forging an Ironclad Brand. She has worked with corporations like Duolingo, Starbucks, Expedia, Pantheon and IMDB, arming them with an empowering understanding of brand, and a strategy they can use to grow their business with clarity, conviction and focus. Learn more about Lindsay Pedersen at IroncladBrandStrategy.com Questions she explores on the show include: What is it like to lead a purpose-driven business? What is soggy positioning, and how do you avoid it? How does brand strategy impact company culture? Why should non-marketing leaders care about brand? How does a brand help grow a business? How can brand help you elevate pricing? Each episode of the North Star Leaders podcast is a conversation with a leader who has embraced their business’s North Star, and the impact is has made on their companies. Lindsay Pedersen brings her experience from years of working with top brands to bear in helping to unearth exactly how having a North Star has changed the direction of these organizations. Popular topics on the North Star Leaders Podcast include: Brand strategy, positioning, CMOs, leadership, company culture, company values, customer journey, leadership stories, brand development, North Star Values, company mission, brand strategy insights, brand strategy advice, company differentiation, gaining market share, scaling a business

Language

🇺🇲

Publishing Since

9/21/2023

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35

Podcast Authority

Beta
PoorBased on show quality, social media presence, reviews, charts, and more
Pod Engine
Quality57
Social0
YouTube0
Engagement32
6
Excellent Areas
3
Good Performance
10
Growth Opportunities
excellent
Episode Length
26 minutes
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good
Publishing Consistency
Every 13 days

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Recent Episodes

Episode thumbnail for Built to Belong with Rick Brooks

June 23, 2026

Built to Belong with Rick Brooks

Culture isn't what's written on the wall - it's what people actually do when nobody's watching. So how do you build a company where employees act like owners, customers feel like they belong, and brand values drive real business results? In this episode, Lindsay speaks to Zumiez CEO - Rick Brooks, who shares how a deeply embedded culture has shaped one of retail's most distinctive brands, why individuality matters more than ever, and what leaders get wrong when they treat culture as a slogan instead of a system. You'll hear them discuss: How Zumiez built a culture where employees are empowered to own their business and make decisions locally Why teaching, learning, competition, and recognition sit at the center of the company's success The connection between strong culture, flat organizational structures, and leadership trust How Zumiez serves a specific customer who values individuality and self-expression over fitting in Why physical retail still matters in an increasingly digital world, especially for younger generations The role brand positioning plays in creating pricing power and long-term customer loyalty How staying committed to core values helps businesses adapt and evolve without losing their identity Resources: Rick Brooks on Zumiez | Find Zumiez Store | LinkedIn Lindsay Pedersen - Contact me to tell me who you'd like to hear as a guest! | Connect with me on LinkedIn

Episode thumbnail for Scaling Stories with Ali Albazaz

June 16, 2026

Scaling Stories with Ali Albazaz

Brand isn’t just a logo. Culture isn’t just a mission statement. And customer obsession isn’t something you put in a slide deck. In this episode, Lindsay sits down with Ali Albazaz, CEO of Inkitt, to explore how a company built on AI, storytelling, and relentless customer focus grew from a scrappy startup into a global entertainment platform with more than a million paid subscribers. Ali shares why brand strategy became a turning point for the company, how talking to users every single week shapes product decisions, and why building a business that lasts 100 years requires far more than growth hacks and ad spend. You’ll hear them discuss: How Inkitt is building what Ali calls the “operating system for storytellers” and transforming stories into books, movies, and franchises Why reaching a growth ceiling forced the company to get serious about brand positioning and customer recall The role word-of-mouth played in scaling beyond paid acquisition and accelerating growth How weekly customer calls help every employee develop empathy and stay connected to the people they serve Why Ali spends hours each day deep in product development despite leading a fast-growing company The thinking behind creating distinct brands for different audiences instead of putting everything under one umbrella How customer understanding, not competitor watching, became one of the defining principles of Inkitt’s culture A first look at Ironblood, Inkitt’s newest platform focused on superhero, action, and sci-fi storytelling Resources: Ali Albazaz on Inkitt | Galatea | CandyJar | LinkedIn Bill Conti - ''Gonna Fly Now'' (Theme from Rocky) on YouTube Lindsay Pedersen - Contact me to tell me who you'd like to hear as a guest! | Connect with me on LinkedIn

Episode thumbnail for Collective Brain with Bryan Law

June 9, 2026

Collective Brain with Bryan Law

How much of your buying decision is actually rational? And how much of it was made long before you ever started comparing options? In this episode, Lindsay Pedersen sits down with Bryan Law, CMO at Nerdio, for a fascinating conversation about the neuroscience behind marketing, why consistency drives growth, and what stories can teach us about influence and decision-making. Drawing on research, psychology, and years of marketing leadership experience, Bryan shares how brands can earn a place in people's minds long before buyers enter the market. You'll hear them discuss: Why consistent brand messaging helps companies grow faster and what research reveals about the "collective brain" The difference between being distinctive and being differentiated, and why one matters far more than most marketers realize How emotion, memory, and storytelling shape decisions, even in high-stakes situations where people believe they're being completely rational What courtroom psychology can teach marketers about influence, persuasion, and the power of a compelling narrative Why most buying decisions are heavily influenced before a customer ever enters the sales process How AI and synthetic audiences are helping companies uncover hidden customer insights and better understand buyer behavior Creating alignment across marketing, sales, and customer-facing teams to build a stronger, more consistent brand experience Resources: Bryan Law on Nerdio | LinkedIn Lindsay Pedersen - Contact me to tell me who you'd like to hear as a guest! | Connect with me on LinkedIn

70 total episodes available

Recent guests on North Star Leaders

Guests from recent episodes — sign up to see every guest that has ever appeared on this show.

Robert Wahbe

Guest

Kakul Srivastava

Guest

Joe Davy

Guest

Jennifer Heil

Guest

Doug Winter

Guest

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Frequently asked questions

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What is North Star Leaders?

As a leader, how do you know where to focus? When there are a hundred possibilities, how do you direct your time, your team, your budget and your emotional energy?

That is what Lindsay Pedersen is exploring on the North Star Leaders Podcast.

In every episode she is joined by the entrepreneurs and executives who understand the impact brand makes on their companies, and how vital it is to have a North Star that aligns the efforts of everyone working towards a common goal at an organization. They dig into how to set the conditions for a company that creates real value for decades, and navigate the dance between creating economic value now, and serving a noble purpose that will last into the future.

Remember: Brand is your North Star.

The The North Star Leaders podcast is hosted by Lindsay Pedersen, a brand strategist and author of the bestselling book: Forging an Ironclad Brand. She has worked with corporations like Duolingo, Starbucks, Expedia, Pantheon and IMDB, arming them with an empowering understanding of brand, and a strategy they can use to grow their business with clarity, conviction and focus.

Learn more about Lindsay Pedersen at IroncladBrandStrategy.com

Questions she explores on the show include:

What is it like to lead a purpose-driven business?

What is soggy positioning, and how do you avoid it?

How does brand strategy impact company culture?

Why should non-marketing leaders care about brand?

How does a brand help grow a business?

How can brand help you elevate pricing?

Each episode of the North Star Leaders podcast is a conversation with a leader who has embraced their business’s North Star, and the impact is has made on their companies. Lindsay Pedersen brings her experience from years of working with top brands to bear in helping to unearth exactly how having a North Star has changed the direction of these organizations.

Popular topics on the North Star Leaders Podcast include:

Brand strategy, positioning, CMOs, leadership, company culture, company values, customer journey, leadership stories, brand development, North Star Values, company mission, brand strategy insights, brand strategy advice, company differentiation, gaining market share, scaling a business

How often does this podcast release new episodes?

This podcast updates weekly.

Where can I listen to this podcast?

This podcast is available on 7 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.

Does this podcast accept guests?

Information about guest appearances is not available.

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