Drew Train set up shop as Co-Founder and President of OBERLAND, the agency for purpose-driven brands, with Bill Oberlander in May of 2014. Previously, Drew started the social-good practice at J. Walter Thompson New York, called JWT Ethos. He now frames the go-to-market approach for OBERLAND and runs the business with purpose-driven marketing at the core. He has also served on the Board of Directors at Summer Infant and lead accounts for HSBC, UPS, Puma, Verizon and Lufthansa.

Key Take Aways

• Purpose is becoming increasingly important in branding and marketing, and it is following a similar growth trajectory as digital did.
• Building a purpose-driven agency requires patience, authenticity, and a long-term view of brand equity.
• While there may be challenges and doubters, founders should remember that no one has all the answers and everyone is figuring it out as they go.
• Consumers can be forgiving, but brands need to be authentic and consistent in their purpose-driven efforts to build lasting brand love.
• Purpose is not just about marketing and communications; it should be implemented within organizations through policies, benefits, and actions.
• The myth that all founders have it all figured out is not true; everyone is trying to navigate the challenges and uncertainties of entrepreneurship.