In 2006 I left my home country, Cameroon, to come to the United States on a soccer scholarship. As I had never left the country, and spoke very little English at the time, my dad gave me a piece of advice for my travel: If you're not sure what to do, stop and observe what others are doing.

Since then, my observation of others has led to a deep curiosity about human behavior and has ultimately sparked a passion in me to better understand the human experience and our relationships with brands.

I took my first branding class while pursuing a Master in Business Administration, and I have since been fascinated by brands and the power they have to improve our lives, as well as our relationship with them. This curiosity brings passion into my work and feeds my professional interests.

I believe the most important skill for a marketer to have is empathy, and it’s a skill I work ceaselessly to develop. It has enabled me to create campaigns and produce work that not only resonates with various audiences, but ultimately enhances their human experience in big and small ways. Empathy, relentless curiosity and the ability to think creatively and strategically are some of the qualities that I bring into my work as brand architect and strategist.

In addition to my work as a fractional CMO, I am executive coach, a speaker, writer, and the founder of a brand consultancy called Grio, where it’s our mission to help companies find their soul and make their unique contribution with the world. It’s the privilege of a lifetime to work with so many passionate, brave and purpose-driven entrepreneurs like you.