Available to book
Build brands that truly connect and develop creative courage with award-winning brand strategist and marketing expert, Sam Dolan. Sam works with businesses to develop emotionally-driven brand strategies, create compelling marketing briefs, and convert employees into brand advocates. Creator of ITV's Ad of the Year "Cats with Thumbs" campaign.
Sam Dolan is the founder of Jazz Hands, a people-first brand strategy agency. With 25 years of experience spanning the technology, beauty, and food and beverage sectors, she helps organisations solve business challenges through clear, effective brand strategy.
Sam has led award-winning teams and built recognisable brands throughout her career. Her work includes winning ITV's Ad of the Year for Cravendale's "Cats with Thumbs" campaign. She has developed expertise in brand architecture, marketing strategy, and leadership across multiple industries, working with agencies and clients to create commercially successful campaigns.
Sam shows organisations that effective brand strategy starts with clear communication and service-minded thinking. She teaches marketers how to write briefs that inspire creative work, shift focus from price to value, and build emotional connections with consumers. Her approach addresses the reality that 95% of purchasing decisions happen subconsciously, making emotional engagement more valuable than promotional tactics.
Audiences learn how to develop creative courage that aligns with brand values and build agency-client relationships that produce better results. Sam shares frameworks for transforming employees into brand ambassadors and creating emotional connections that secure long-term customer loyalty.
Book Sam for practical brand strategy advice delivered with humour and real-world experience that teams can implement immediately.
Topics, sessions and talks
In this session, Sam Dolan explores the critical need for a service mindset in brand strategy, illustrating how prioritising value over price can foster emotional connections and brand loyalty. Attendees will gain insights into shifting their perspective towards service, alongside strategies for long-term success amidst inevitable change. Sam’s dynamic approach promises to ignite fresh thinking about the future of branding.
Sam Dolan highlights the untapped potential within every organisation, asserting that every employee can be a powerful influencer. By understanding their roles and key messages, employees can add real value as brand advocates. Sam will discuss how fostering internal engagement can enhance your marketing strategy and improve employee’s sense of agency. Attendees will leave with actionable insights on empowering their teams, leveraging internal advocates, and creating a unified brand message, all delivered with Sam's distinctive flair.
Sam Dolan tackles the pressure of launching new products within tight deadlines. She offers practical strategies to ensure success, highlighting both built-in processes and creative approaches for standout product launches. Sam’s engaging style will motivate attendees to embrace the excitement of new developments as well as equipping them with tools to drive repeat purchases. Participants will learn how to navigate challenges with confidence and invigorate their product strategies.
Sam Dolan explores the profound impact of emotional advertising on brand loyalty. He highlights that when consumers express love for a brand without knowing why, it signifies true success. Sam emphasises that feelings drive sales more effectively than promotions or packaging. With 95% of purchases occurring subconsciously, brands that adopt an emotion-focused strategy can achieve an impressive 82% loyalty rate. Attendees will learn how to cultivate lasting emotional connections with their audience for sustained brand success.
Sam Dolan argues that brand marketers often struggle to master every aspect of their role, leading to unrealistic expectations. Agencies, as experts, can effectively support these marketers, but success hinges on clear communication and well-defined briefs. Attendees will learn how to foster better collaboration with agencies, ensuring a harmonious partnership that enhances marketing effectiveness and drives results.
Sam’s 25 years creating award-winning campaigns across tech, beauty, and FMCG give her unique credibility when it comes to conversations about brand growth and commercial impact. Clients value her practical frameworks for activating internal teams as brand advocates and shifting focus from price to emotional value during critical launch windows.
Testimonials
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frequently asked questions
Something we've not covered here?
To book Sam Dolan, email sam.dolan@getapeptalk.com or call PepTalk on +44 20 3835 2929 (UK) or +1 737 888 5112 (US), and one of our speaker agents will contact you within hours to confirm Sam's availability and speaking fee. If you can, please include your budget upfront – it helps us fast-track your request. It’s also helpful to know the date, format (virtual or in-person), location, and about your audience.
Sam Dolan structures her sessions around practical frameworks drawn from 25 years of brand strategy work, using real-world case studies — including award-winning campaigns such as Cravendale's Cats with Thumbs — to illustrate how emotional engagement and service-minded thinking drive commercial results.
Sam Dolan speaks on service-led brand strategy, employee advocacy as a marketing tool, and product launch execution under time pressure. She is the founder of Jazz Hands, a brand strategy agency, and won ITV's Ad of the Year for the Cravendale “Cats with Thumbs” campaign.
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