#4: The Brand Wizard Shaun Neff On Building Multiple +100M Culture Driven Brands
How does a creative entrepreneur go from selling beanies to becoming the "Branding Whisperer" behind some of the most culturally iconic brands of our time? Shaun Neff is the legendary brand builder and founder of Neff Headwear, and the force behind Moon, Pattern, BÉIS, and Sun Bum. He’s partnered with stars like Kendall Jenner, Millie Bobby Brown, and Snoop Dogg — and he's also co-owner of the X Games and LAFC.
In this inspiring conversation, Shaun breaks down the mindset, strategy, and raw storytelling behind his brand magic. You’ll hear how he spots breakout markets, builds products people obsess over, and navigates real partnerships with A-list talent.
From launching the disruptive fragrance brand Noise to saving Sun Bum from the brink, Shaun reveals how to build lasting brands that scale — and how staying true to your story is the ultimate superpower.
👉 Subscribe for more founder stories that move culture and scale companies.
Follow Shaun - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shaunneff/
Follow Derek - X (Twitter): https://x.com/derekjandersen
Timestamps:
0:02 - Introduction to the Episode and Guest.
3:01 - Neff’s Journey into Art Collecting.
12:01 - The Role of Storytelling in Branding.
16:58 - Identifying Market Opportunities and the Process of Brand Creation.
18:23 - The Launch of Noyz and the Resurgence of Fragrance.
20:44 - Knowing if a Celebrity Client is Willing to Work Hard.
24:20 - Spending Time with Michael Jackson.
29:14 - The Current State of Retail.
33:57 - Navigating Brand Building: Long Term vs. Exists.
39:18 - The Team Surrounding Each Brand.
42:48 - The Check That Saved Sun Bum from Bankruptcy.
49:31 - How Shaun joined the ownership group for LAFC.
54:35 - Joining the X Games ownership team.
57:45 - Shaun’s Most Difficult Accomplishment.
59:16 - Advice for doing hard things.
1:01:42 - Key piece of advice.
Episode Partners:
Notion
Startups get up to 6 months free of Notion with unlimited AI. Use code SGXNotion: https://ntn.so/startup
Google Cloud
Accelerate your AI startup with Google for Startups Cloud Program: https://partners.startupgrind.com/partner/google-cloud/
Follow Divot:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Divotpod
X (Twitter): https://x.com/divotdotorg
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/divotdotorg
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@divot.org
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/divotdotorg/
#ShaunNeff #BrandingWhisperer #BrandStrategy #InfluencerMarketing #StartupAdvice #DivotPodcast
