Brands with Heart: Warren Kornblum on Minter Dial Podcast

In this episode, host Minter Dial sits down with iconic brand strategist and author Warren Kornblum.

With a storied career spanning founding his own agency, serving as the first Global Chief Marketing Officer of Toys R Us, and advising leading brands, Warren brings a wealth of frontline marketing wisdom. Together, they delve into the evolving nature of branding—exploring what truly gives a brand a personality, and how purpose, authenticity, and emotional connection build lasting value in a world increasingly drawn to data and automation.

Warren shares insights from his new book Notes from the Brand Stand, illuminating lessons gleaned from years of building and advising recognizable brands. The conversation touches on the challenges of staying true to a brand’s core—especially amid the pressures of private equity, the complexities of holding companies, and the rise of AI. Minter and Warren also discuss how purpose must be lived authentically from the inside out, and why making tough choices about what your brand is—and isn’t—is vital for long-term trust and customer loyalty.