01. How are you doing these days?

Pretty great. Back in the U.S. Berlin was an incredible chapter. Now I’m excited to see where the next one takes me.

02. WHERE DO YOU CALL HOME?

Now that I’m back in the U.S. I’m based out of Chicago. But I’m pretty open to wherever the right opportunity is.

03. Coffee or tea?

Coffee. The answer has always been coffee..

04. What’s one thing Berlin taught you?

Craft matters. Whether it’s a watch, a loaf of bread, or a headline, people notice when you care.

05. What do you actually do?

I help brands figure out what they want to say… and then I help them say it better.

06. What’s your creative superpower?

Finding the one sentence everyone else walked right past.

07. What’s overrated?

Meetings that could’ve been a voice note.

08. What’s underrated?

A really good brief.

09. What’s the first thing you notice about a brand?

Whether it knows who it is.

10. Favorite city?

Berlin surprised me in all the best ways. Ask me tomorrow and I might say Tokyo.

11. Window or aisle?

Window. I like watching the world get smaller.

12. What’s always in your carry-on?

AirPods, passport, charger, a Sharpie… and far too many snacks.

13. What’s something people always get wrong about copywriters?

That we’re just writers. Half the job is asking better questions.

14. What’s your favorite word?

“Exactly.”

15. Least favorite phrase?

“Can you make it pop?”

16. What gets you excited about a new project?

That moment when everyone suddenly realizes, “Wait… that’s the idea.”

17. What’s your guilty pleasure?

Bravo. I have absolutely no intention of apologizing for that.

18. Favorite advertising campaign?

It changes all the time. The ones I admire most usually make me wish I’d thought of them first.

19. What do clients actually hire you for?

They think it’s the writing. Eventually they realize it’s the thinking.

20. What’s something you’ve gotten better at?

Listening. Younger Brandon was always thinking about his answer. Older Brandon is genuinely interested in yours.

21. What’s one thing AI can’t replace?

Good judgment.

22. Describe your leadership style in one sentence.

Give people room to do great work, then be there when they need you.

23. What’s your toxic trait?

Believing one more revision might magically solve everything.

24. What’s one hill you’ll happily die on?

Great copy deserves great typography.

25. What still makes you smile every time?

Watching someone laugh at a line I wrote.

26. What’s the best piece of career advice you’ve ever received?

Don’t chase titles. Chase people you’ll learn from.

27. What’s one thing you’d tell your 25-year-old self?

Relax. Almost nothing goes exactly according to plan… and that’s usually where the good stuff happens.

28. What instantly makes you like someone?

Curiosity.

29. What instantly makes you trust someone?

When they’re the same person in every room.

30. Morning person or night owl?

Night owl pretending to be a morning person.

31. What do you miss most about berlin?

Walking everywhere. It made life feel just a little slower in the best way.

32. What’s one thing you definitely don’t miss?

Trying to explain a Minnesota accent in Germany.

33. Favorite meal?

Anything that ends with, “You have to try this.”

34. What’s something you’re surprisingly good at?

Finding the best restaurant in a city I’ve only been in for 24 hours.

35. What’s something you’re surprisingly bad at?

Folding fitted sheets. I’ve accepted defeat.

36. What’s your idea of a perfect Saturday?

Coffee. A farmer’s market. Wandering around a neighborhood I’ve never been to. Dinner with people I don’t have to impress.

37. Beach or mountains?

Depends who’s coming with me. Mountains probably.

38. Last thing you asked ChatGPT?

Probably something completely useless that somehow became a 45-minute rabbit hole.

39. What makes a great creative team?

People who leave their egos at the door and bring their opinions anyway.

40. What’s one misconception about advertising?

People think we spend all day coming up with taglines. We actually spend most of our time solving problems.

41. Favorite airport?

Schiphol. They somehow made an airport feel… civilized.

42. What’s something you’ll never get tired of?

Watching planes take off. It still feels like magic.

43. Favorite place you’ve ever lived?

Every place has given me something. Berlin just happened to give me a lot.

44. What motivates you now?

Making work I’m proud of with people I genuinely enjoy being around.

45. If money didn’t matter?

I’d probably still be writing. Just with a better view.

46. What do you collect?

Passport stamps… and screenshots of great ads.

47. What’s your favorite compliment?

“I’d work with him again.”

48. What’s something you’ve changed your mind about?

I used to think the loudest idea won. Now I think the clearest one usually does.

49. What’s one thing that always inspires you?

Watching someone become genuinely excited about an idea they didn’t see coming.

50. What’s your definition of success?

Doing work you’re proud of with people you’d happily have dinner with afterward.

51. What’s something people are surprised to learn about you?

That I’m actually pretty quiet until I get comfortable.

52. What’s always in your refrigerator?

Greek yogurt… and at least three condiments I forgot I bought.

53. What’s your favorite smell?

Coffee brewing in the morning. A close second: rain on hot pavement.

54. If someone comes to your city, what’s the first thing you take them to do?

Walk. Every great city reveals itself on foot.

55. What’s the best thing to hear from the client?

“Exactly.”

56. Favorite way to brainstorm?

A whiteboard, a Sharpie, and somebody who’s willing to challenge my first idea.

57. What makes a great leader?

Someone who gives away credit and takes responsibility.

58. What’s your biggest creative pet peeve?

People falling in love with execution before they know what they’re trying to say.

59. What’s the best part about getting older?

You stop worrying about impressing everyone and start focusing on doing good work.

60. What’s your happy place?

An airport with nowhere to be for an hour.

61. What’s one thing you’ll never stop being curious about?

People. They’re endlessly fascinating.

62. If you weren’t in advertising?

I’d probably be making documentaries… or opening a tiny neighborhood wine bar with suspiciously good branding.

63. What’s your favorite thing to do on vacation?

Eat. Walk. Repeat.

64. What’s one thing you’re proud of that’s not on your CV?

The friendships I’ve kept.

65. What’s your favorite app?

Google Maps. I use it like other people use Instagram.

66. What’s something you’ve become better at saying?

“I don’t know.”

67. What’s the hardest part about being creative?

Knowing when to stop tinkering.

68. What’s your biggest weakness?

I can disappear down a rabbit hole chasing the perfect solution. Sometimes “really good” is already enough.

69. What’s one thing you’ll never compromise on?

Being kind. You can have high standards without making people miserable.

70. What keeps you inspired?

Travel. Conversations. Podcasts. Great writing. A really good meal. Honestly…just paying attention.

71. What’s next?

Hopefully another adventure. I’ve learned the best chapters are usually the ones you didn’t see coming.

72. After everything you’ve done, what still excites you?

The blank page. Every project is another chance to surprise yourself.

73. Last question: What are you looking for?

Great people. Interesting problems. Somewhere I can do the best work of my career… and still laugh a lot along the way.