Now more than ever, business leaders are looking for fresh ideas, new understanding, and actionable insights to jumpstart their business. Denise Lee Yohn inspires, informs, and instructs them with a completely different way of thinking about their business. The author of the new book What Great Brands Do:  The Seven Brand-Building Principles that Separate the Best from the Rest (available on store shelves today!), Denise boasts over twenty-five years of experience working with world-class brands including Sony and Frito-Lay. We’re delighted to put Denise in today’s spotlight:

What inspired you to want to be a speaker?

I want to be able to share my ideas with, and be of service to, as many people as I can.

Any advice for aspiring speakers?

Practice, practice, practice–I was amazed to learn how many accomplished speakers practice their talks extensively before giving them–now that I do the same, I believe the difference really shows.

What do you like to leave audiences with?

Inspiration and instruction on how to build a great brand.  I want to challenge people to think differently and inspire them to choose greatness –but I also want to demystify the brand-building process and empower and equip people to revitalize and strengthen their brands.

How do you prepare before a talk? Any special rituals? A good luck talisman?

Deep breathing before a talk; then a sweet treat after!

If you had to choose a new career, what would it be?

Definitely I would be a personal trainer–and in fact, I used to be an aerobics instructor.  I love helping people push themselves to achieve important goals.

Desert island album?

Van Halen’s 1984–I’m still a Midwest rockin’ girl at heart.

Last book you read?

Norwegian Wood, by Haruki Murakami. He weaves delightful phrases into a captivating story about young Japanese friends losing and finding themselves.

Last film you saw?

The Hobbit:  Desolation of Smaug.

Celebrity crush?

Brad Pitt–but don’t tell him…