Jörg Dietzel: From Audi's Global Creative Head to Teaching Brands How to Win | Branding, Strategy & Ambition

In this episode of the Executives, I sit down with Jörg Dietzel, former global head of creative at Audi, four-time author, and award-winning brand strategist who has spent over 25 years shaping brands and minds across continents from Berlin to Singapore. Today, he's teaching the next generation how to build brands that matter.🎯 What You'll Learn:The origin of Jörg's unique personal brand (and his signature cocktail in Seoul)What it really takes to build a brand that stands outHow AI is fundamentally changing the branding landscapeThe difference between authentic brands and fake onesWhy personal branding matters more than everHow to pivot when your brand goes off trackThe unwritten expectations that separate good employees from great onesWhy Germany (and the world) needs more ambition right nowJörg's unpopular opinions on branding and authenticityHow to measure if your brand is actually working⏱️ Chapters:01:17 Who is Jörg Dietzel?02:18 The Cocktail Question: If Your Brand Were a Drink03:58 The Story Behind the "Jörg Dietzel" Cocktail in Seoul05:27 From Advertising to Teaching: Finding His True Calling15:40 Balancing Introversion with Teaching and Public Speaking08:52 Then vs Now: Evolution of Creative Tools13:00 Teaching Gen Z: Struggling with Their Vocabulary? 16:48 Why is it important to build a personal brand?19:32 Aspiring to Success: Does Surrounding Yourself Work?21:11 Growing Apart: When Ambition Divides Friendships23:01 Living Across Continents: How Culture Shapes Storytelling27:21 Defining Your Target: The First Rule of Personal Branding32:43 Brand Story vs Ambition: Perception vs Goals38:32 Beyond Advertising: What Experience Branding Looks Like47:56 Biggest Misconceptions Business Leaders Have About Branding58:38 Breaking Down Hierarchy: Why Leaders Need to Be Contradicted01:01:33 Traditional Advertising vs Everyone Being Their Own Brand Manager01:08:47 Behind the Scenes: Unusual Moments Giving Brand Advice01:13:43 The Big Reset01:19:43 Your Funniest Career Moment01:27:40 Final Advice: Challenge Yourself and Find Reasons Why It CAN WorkAbout Jörg DietzelJörg Dietzel is the former Global Head of Creative at Audi, a four-time published author, and an award-winning brand strategist with over 25 years of experience shaping iconic brands across four continents. From running advertising agencies in London, Berlin, and Beijing to leading Audi Korea's marketing department and teaching at Singapore Management University for 20 years, Jörg has built a career at the intersection of creativity, strategy, and education. Today, he runs his own brand consultancies in Singapore and Germany, mentoring startups and teaching the next generation of brand leaders at top business schools, including Stellenbosch University.📢 Connect with Jörg Dietzel:LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jorgdietzelWebsite: https://jorgdietzel.com/📢 Connect with Majid Mahmood:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/majid-m/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/majidmofficial/X (Twitter): https://x.com/majidmofficialThreads: https://www.threads.com/@majidmofficial Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/majidmpage Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@majidm_official Majid M : https://www.majidm.com 📢 Follow the Executives:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theexecutivespodcast Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theexecutives_podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theexecutives_podcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-executives-a-dialogue-with-majid/