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Mike Freedman

Partner at Freedthinkers
(Cape Town, South Africa)
Mike Freedman is founder of Freedthinkers (www.freedthinkers.com) which has offices in Johannesburg and Cape Town. Freedthinkers works with clients in the private & public sectors to understand what is, discover what can be & reach clarity on how to get there. He is also the author of monthly think-pieces on brands, culture & strategy, trustee of the Impact Trust, & a public speaker. Contact Mike at and follow @Freedthinkers on Twitter.
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[2013 trends] Growing power, vulnerability of the corporate brand
[Mike Freedman] How are P&G and Unilever differentiated? Does the Coca-Cola Company want to be known for obesity or health? Will supermarket brands be strengthened or weakened by their supply chains? The perfect storm of social media, continuing social unrest, concerns over the economy and environment will batter brands that are not resilient and adaptive, while shaking established ad agencies to their foundations. 17 Jan 2013 14:04
[2012 trends] Sustainability and beyond
[Mike Freedman] Trends arise from major shifts in global thinking. Otherwise they tend to be fads and blind alleys. And so to only look at trends is like trying to map the ocean by studying the waves. We need to dive deep, to the currents underneath, the reefs and the ocean floor. And so it is a time of fundamental change and it is happening at bewildering speed. 24 Jan 2012 15:46
One-man team
[Mike Freedman] Here's a question for anyone following COP17 and the English Premier League - why is climate change like Robin van Persie? 14 Dec 2011 12:03
Divisions and dependencies
[Mike Freedman] Brands are hailed as the unifying principle of the organisation. Yet brand-owners busily create divisions for advertising, sponsorships, promotions, social media, corporate social investment and so much more, with separate budgets, objectives, agendas and measurements. 10 Oct 2011 13:17
The power of design
[Mike Freedman] The hero's journey is a story celebrated in art and life. "The Lion King" opens with a happy young cub. Then thrust out into the wilderness, tough lessons are learnt. In the third act, re-entry to the magic kingdom, the most extreme test, awaits. Now consider the career of Steve Jobs. 12 Sep 2011 14:09
Brand-building in the time of conspicuous conservation
[Mike Freedman] There's a story about Joel the Tailor, told by my late father, that may well be apocryphal - yet it resonates with a human truth: we like to be recognised for doing good. 18 Jul 2011 12:51
One small step for man in bamboo socks
[Mike Freedman] I've been reading about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, an area larger than the US, where abandoned fishing nets, plastic bath toys, computers and plastic pellets wash around endlessly, and wondered if I would find my odd socks and lost pens there. These thoughts propelled me around the socks section of a Cape Waterfront clothing store, grumpily looking for replacement pairs. 28 Jun 2011 11:53
SA not rising to its creative, job-generating potential
[Mike Freedman] Globally, the creative industries are seen as vehicles of strong economic growth but South Africa lags in promoting and advancing these opportunities. 8 Dec 2008 09:27
The wisdom in not knowing
[Mike Freedman] The most astute marketer I worked with did not train as a marketer: Carol Grolman began as a secretary, became marketing director of Edgars and then Woolworths. Instead of a head cluttered with Porter, Aaker and Ogilvy, she relied on her gut and was brave enough to trust her instinct. 28 Nov 2008 09:50
Ads, mantras and Zen
[Mike Freedman] Many great brands have brand mantras that in a few words capture their spirit. The mantra is not a slogan - it is the golden thread that holds everything together, from what a company makes, to its hiring policies. 4 Nov 2008 09:20
Brand-building: 3D vision and Buddhist mantras
[Mike Freedman] Building a business and a brand is like firing a rocket at the moon. You don't aim at the moon, but where it will be by the time the rocket arrives. A brand takes years to grow, while the marketplace is never static and what seems an opportunity now can be an overtraded cul-de-sac within a few years. 24 Oct 2008 09:35
War of words
[Mike Freedman] The global financial meltdown is becoming trapped in clichés - as the first four words of my introduction typify. Every time there is a crisis, whenever change occurs, clichés proliferate and, if the clever writer isn't cautious, they soon start choking communication. 15 Oct 2008 09:04
Activists take on global brands
[Mike Freedman] Well financed, well organised and benefiting from shared best practices, activists are taking on the world's biggest brands, from Big Mac to Shell, from Nike to Ford. Brand-owners can no longer preach to the masses from a distance and expect to keep their faults hidden. One ad from the Rainforest Action Network (RAN) is worth 100 from Ford, which it targeted recently. The balance of power is changing. 11 Jan 2005 13:01
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