Notion

Brex

Gusto

Later

Kira Klaas

VP, Corporate Marketing & Global Brand (Later, Notion, Brex, & Gusto)

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Successful brand marketing is the ultimate output of a cohesive strategy, leadership buy-in, and cross-functional alignment. I share my top 5 frameworks for brand operators and founders in this 30-minute lightning lesson.

The Keys to Effective Brand Marketing

In the interview process—or during onboarding or at the start of a key project—what questions can you ask to gauge how a company’s leaders understand and prioritize brand—and avoid walking into a situation where you won’t be set up for success? These are my strategic interview questions across 9 topics that probe across strategy alignment, governance, measurement, and brand acumen—a preview of one of the 25+ templates and resources you'll find in the course.

Download my Strategy Frameworks Library | Notion Template ($27 off)

Get executive buy-in, build your long-term brand plan, and connect brand to growth from day one.

Brand expertise from Notion, Brex, Gusto

Brand for Growth-Stage Leaders: The 2026 Playbook

Marketing Strategist

Founder

Partnerships/Ops/Marketing

Team Lead - Marketing

Head of Brand & Communications

Senior GTM Project Manager

GTM Fractional Leader

Campaign Marketing Manager

Senior Strategic Brand Manager

Building is no longer a moat. When AI makes product development faster and copying easier, then distribution is everything—and brand is how you win distribution.That's why you're seeing: <ul><li>Tech companies investing heavily in personal brands, storytelling and media arms</li><li>Content and comms roles becoming more prevalent and strategic</li><li>More pressure than ever to prove brand's connection to business outcomes</li></ul>There are so many resources about branding theory and creative strategy. But no one's talking about the realities of running brand at product-first, founder-led, performance-obsessed tech companies.As someone who's led brand at Notion, Brex, and Gusto (and now advises early-stage companies while publishing insights to 4,000+ brand operators), I built this course to teach you the updated playbook for brand leadership in 2026—how to: <ul><li>Position yourself as a strategic leader with both creative vision &amp; business acumen</li><li>Connect brand to the metrics that matter to your execs and board</li><li>Secure the resources, budget, and headcount your brand vision requires</li></ul>This is your path from brand executor to brand leader.

The 2026 Brand Playbook: Lead Strategy, Drive Growth, Command Executive Respect

Build your long-term brand playbook for the AI era

Get executive buy-in and influence C-suite decisions

Operate like a senior leader at big tech companies

Mid- to senior-level brand marketing ICs ready to break into leadership roles and demonstrate strategic thinking that earns exec respect

Marketing leaders (Director-level and up) at Series B–D+ companies who need to prove brand's impact on business outcomes

⚠️ This is not for you if you want Branding 101—we're going beyond the fundamentals and deep into daily operating rhythms

Brand leader • Notion, Brex, Gusto

Collaboration between marketing teams can be challenging—learn how brand can take the lead.

Connect brand, product, and growth marketing

Earn buy-in from key leaders and navigate planning cycles with a clear, proactive plan.

Earn alignment and own change management

Turn your briefs and strategy docs from stale deck into visual frameworks and robust project management databases.

Kira Klaas Kira Klaas will change how you understand brand.

Kira Klaas

About Kira

Courses

Brand for Growth-Stage Leaders: The 2026 Playbook

Lightning Lessons

The Keys to Effective Brand Marketing

Resources

The Keys to Effective Brand Marketing

Top brand leaders are using these questions for interviewing and hiring

Download my Strategy Frameworks Library | Notion Template ($27 off)