Michael Fanuele - Chief Brand Officer at Shake Shack

About this episode

Michael Fanuele discusses his journey in branding and leadership, sharing insights on fear, identity, and creativity.

Michael Fanuele, Chief Brand Officer at Shake Shack, has built a career shaping some of the most iconic brands in the world. Over the course of his career, he has created market-moving work for brands such as Dos Equis, Arby’s, Cadillac, Charles Schwab, Cheerios, The Economist, and Volvo. In this conversation with Ryan, he brings that same clarity and curiosity to a personal story that changes how he thinks about leadership and creativity. From uncovering his biological family to stepping into a role with real momentum, Michael opens up about fear, identity, and the responsibility that comes with leading people. They talk about hospitality as a true brand advantage, why the best ideas often come from pushing into uncomfortable territory, and how great leaders create the conditions for others to do their best work.

People in this episode

Host: Ryan Berman

Guest: Michael Fanuele

Topics covered

• leadership
• creativity
• branding
• identity
• hospitality
• personal story

Keywords

• branding
• leadership
• creativity
• hospitality
• identity
• personal story
• Shake Shack

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Shake Shack, Dos Equis, Arby’s, Cadillac, Charles Schwab, Cheerios, The Economist, Volvo

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