Your Personal Sparring Partner.
For brand & marketing leaders.
Your brand has an agency. Your campaign has a team. But who works on you?
The higher you climb, the quieter it gets. Numbers are fine, the board is happy, the team delivers. And that's exactly when honest feedback stops. Your team sees the boss. Your boss sees the numbers. Nobody sees where YOU could go next.
That's why every top athlete has a team AND a personal sparring partner. Consider me yours: we fight for your next level. Faces intact – most of the time. ;-)
Here’s what you get:
🧠 A thinking partner with 20+ years at every side of the table.
🥊 Someone who challenges you, beyond the day-to-day.
❓ The questions nobody inside your company will ask you.
🔒 A space outside the org, where vulnerabilities turn into growth.
⚡ And when it's urgent: senior hands that get sh*t done overnight.
Why you’ll love it:
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![Green neon hourglass icon — symbol for time efficiency and fast delivery in brand strategy, brand identity, and brand playbook projects by Jan Berndt.]()
1. You get better again.
Growth ends when feedback stops. Sparring restarts it: how you lead and decide, and the routines that fuel the energy you bring to the table.
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![Green neon brain icon — creativity and strategic thinking in brand identity, brand playbooks, and marketing by freelance brand strategist Jan Berndt.]()
2. You can think out loud.
Half-baked ideas, doubts, office politics: ping-pong all of it with someone who has been there, has no stake in your company, and no reason to hold back.
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3. Eye level, no textbook.
I've been Head of Brand. I know the drill and the pressure from the inside, so we skip the theory and work on what's real, in your language, at your pace.
“Jan’s strategic strength is unrivaled – he combines experience with an exceptional feel for brands. The fact that he delivers overnight made our collaboration so efficient. On top of that it’s always fun and constructive to think, develop, and discuss with him.”
— Nadia Schmitt // Managing Partner & former Group Head Business Marketing
CV: From Head of Brand at O₂ to Personal Sparring Partner for the people who run brands.
I've spent 20+ years helping brands find their edge, scale their voice, and navigate real complexity. From leading as Head of Brand at O₂ to building strategic momentum for agencies, startups, and global giants, I've seen every side of the table. That's the experience I bring into the ring with you. Want to know more?
👉 Find my full CV here.
A fixed slot every week, plus me in your corner in between: for the questions that can't wait, and the decisions you want to think through with a partner in crime who knows your objectives. Outside your org, outside your agency: what happens between us stays between us.
Curious what sparring could do for you? During a quick 15-min Discovery Espresso, we'll spot where you're stuck, feel out the vibe, and explore how all of this could fit into your week.
☕ Book your Discovery Espresso now.
No strings attached, just ideas brewing.
Growth on speed dial.
Sparring on retainer.
How it works.