[Acquired by Apple] Beats by Dre’s Omar Johnson on building a brand and standing out

In 2010, Beats by Dre saw a huge opportunity to pivot and make a mark. They were able to uniquely combine the world of sports and music in a way people hadn’t seen before. A clear vision and authentic messaging helped differentiate themselves. 

We talked with former CMO, Omar Johnson, who shared insights from Beats’ early days: 

• Set clear objectives. Find an authentic place for your product. 

• Discover interesting ways to tell the same story. Come up with a clear and simple focus and apply that message to different contexts.

• Listen to people’s needs. Pay attention to real human behaviors — listening is what sparks big ideas.