Transcript
A (0:00)
I think it was jobs, in his 97 address, talks about that. He says, you know, even great brands need caring and investment if they're going to remain vital and relevant. And so that's that piece. We always have to balance, you know, true to our core, true to our values, true to our past. But what does the audience and what do these audiences and what does the world for that matter need in the future? And you've got to be able to evolve in that respect.
B (0:29)
Welcome to another episode of the EdTechConnect podcast. I am really excited today to have a marketing savant that I saw speak at a recent conference here with us today. I'm like, we gotta have Ethan Braden come on the EdTech Connect podcast. Ethan is the Vice President and Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at Texas A and M University where he leads storytelling and reputation building strategies for one of the nation's most iconic academic brands. Reporting to Texas A&M's president, he champions positioning, promoting and protecting the Aggie brand on a global scale. Named 2023 Content Marketer of the Year by the Content Marketing Institute, Ethan's work has been featured in Fast Company, the Washington Post, Ad Age, and npr, which called him the top dog in higher ed marketing. Before Texas A and M, Ethan served as Executive Vice President and CMO at Purdue University where he helped transform Purdue into a nationally recognized brand earning brand that matters honors three years running from Fast Company and recognition as one of its most innovative companies. His leadership drove over 55 million YouTube views in 2023 alone. Prior to higher education, Ethan spent more than a decade at eli Lilly & Co. Launching billion dollar brands like Cymbalta and Jardiance. He holds an MBA from the University of Notre Dame and a BA in Economics and Spanish from Willamette University. Ethan Braden, it is great to have you today. Thanks for joining. So I want to start off and ask you, you've worked with some of the biggest brands in higher ed and beyond, but if you weren't in marketing, what's a completely different career you could see yourself enjoying?
A (2:27)
I've got two answers. First one's easy. Country music singer.
B (2:31)
Oh yeah, in Texas. That makes sense.
A (2:33)
Yeah. Well, at least I moved here, right? But then the other day I met the pitmaster for BUC EE's and I think, you know, being able to sample all of the barbecue and for that matter all the products @buc EE's might be right up my alley as well. So either country singer or Buc EE's pitmaster.
B (2:48)
I love that. I love that. I always think I would do something outside of a screen too, like off the digital, something else, you know.
