When you first hear the term “brand genius,” you may be picturing a top advertising executive or marketing professional that has propelled a brand forward exponentially. But a brand genius isn’t strictly limited to the advertising industry. A brand genius can be an entertainer, blogger, media professional, or artist. Essentially, a brand genius is someone who has taken great strides with their own brand or the company they work for, instilling that brand firmly in the minds of their audience and consumers everywhere. In this informative and entertaining category, Adweek showcases some of the biggest brand geniuses within and outside the industry, and how they achieved that status.

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Call for Nominations: The 2025 Brand Genius Awards

Enter now to be among ADWEEK's venerated class of Brand Geniuses.

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The 2025 Brand Genius Creators Starting Trends and Driving Brand Love

The social media stars setting the agency for modern marketing.

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How the 50+ Audience Embraces Technology, According to AARP

Authentic portrayals of aging will help marketers tap the huge spending power of older consumers. And by subverting stereotypes, brand leaders can also change how our culture views old age, [...]

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Resume Rewind: Alexis Ohanian

Alexis Ohanian is known to most as co-founder of Reddit, founder of venture capital firm Seven Seven Six, founder of big-bucks women’s track event Athlos, or, in these parts anyway, [...]

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Alexis Ohanian, Keke Palmer, and More Lead the Way at Brandweek

Alexis Ohanian, Keke Palmer, and more will be speaking at ADWEEK's 2024 Brandweek conference next week (Sept. 23-26) in Phoenix, Arizona.

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Alexis Ohanian’s Next Big Bet: Women’s Sports

The Brand Genius honoree revolutionized online communities with Reddit. Can he do the same for women's sports?

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ADWEEK’s 2024 Brand Genius Winners Are Shaping the Future

These 14 visionaries—and one legacy brand upending stereotypes—are forging a more dynamic and equitable world.

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Netflix House Is Built on Brand Innovation and Cultural Cachet

A flywheel strategy has the streaming service competing in a race all its own.

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The Substack That Became the Antidote to Food & Bev Puff Pieces

Snaxshot founder Andrea Hernández calls it how she sees it for her subscribers.

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Call for Submissions: Help Us Find the Brand Genius Class of 2024

Submit your nominations now for ADWEEK's blue ribbon of branding.

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Create a Career-Catalyzing CMO Legacy Beyond Your Tenure

A CMO's impact on a brand can last long after saying goodbye.

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Andréa Mallard Built Pinterest’s Marketing to Champion ‘Inspiration’

The Brand Genius honoree goes against the grain of most social media rivals.

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Nationwide CMO Ramon Jones Built Trust—and Accountability—During a Pandemic 

The Brand Genius honoree and evp helped drive the insurance brand to record sales.

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The Campaign Against Living Miserably Saves Lives Via ‘Borderline Illegal’ Marketing

Adweek’s Brand Purpose honoree makes global waves with its suicide prevention efforts.

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CMO Soyoung Kang Turned Eos Into a Beauty and Skin Care Powerhouse 

The Brand Genius honoree focused on social marketing to cultivate the challenger brand.