Where does the desire to publish come from? For me, it stems from a commitment I made to myself many years ago. For much of my life, I felt uncomfortable being visible. I was afraid of off ending others, of not fitting in, or simply attracting the “wrong” kind of attention. But beneath that hesitation was a deep-seated need to connect, to build friendships, and to help others achieve greatness.

I started small, writing short stories, blogging about my experiences, and eventually launching a personal website. That was my first channel for expression. Fast forward to today, and I am “all in.” This publication is the culmination of that journey, serving as a platform for myself and my colleagues to express the ideas that move us.

Every great endeavor begins with a fundamental question of identity: Who are we, and why do we matter? In an era of endless noise, the answer is found in the brand.

We named this publication BRAND to strip away the jargon and get to the heart of what makes people care. We explore the vital intersection of Marketing, Sales, and Business Operations to understand how the world’s most influential entities build trust and scale loyalty. By examining how personal branding and visionary leadership propel organizational growth, we bridge the gap between individual influence and corporate excellence.

From the visual strategist to the master “action-taker,” we profile the people defining what it means to be a brand today.

Calgary is a city that builds. But building is only half the story. In our inaugural issue, we explore how brands scale without losing the essence of what made them matter in the first place.

As we profiled the founders and operators behind Calgary’s most recognizable brands, a pattern emerged: The ones who succeed don’t just grow bigger; they grow clearer. They refine their identity as they expand, adapting to market demands without diluting their soul. We are here to share their “homework.”

We are incredibly grateful to the contributors who trusted us with their stories, the experts who offered their insights, and the readers who are now part of this conversation.

Stay tuned for our next issue! We have something brewing.

Your Friend,
Danijel Slisko
Publisher, BRAND Magazine