Shobha Ponnappa – Breakthrough Strategist for Stuck Brands

Unusual By Strategy

Unusual Breakthroughs … for Brands That Feel Stuck

If your brand feels stalled, my Clarity Sprint is the fastest way to unlock new momentum. In this focused one-on-one session, I diagnose the root of stagnation and help you see a fresh path forward with clarity, direction, and energy.

I’m Shobha Ponnappa, strategist to leaders worldwide who want unusual breakthroughs, not routine fixes. Over 45 years, I’ve partnered with 125 + brands, helping them reframe challenges into bold opportunities that reignite growth.

CLIENTS HANDLED ...

Boeing · Ford · Vivendi · Unilever · Glaxo SmithKline · HSBC · Credit Suisse · Wipro · Brooke Bond · Giorgio Armani · Mahindra & Mahindra · Apollo Hospitals · Sheraton Hotels · Orchid Pharma · Cadila Pharma · India Pistons · Kerala Tourism · Helpage International · Plan International · London Olympics 2012

... among several others

Brand Reframe Store

A DIY version of my Clarity Sprint brand breakthroughs process … now available as a my Signature Six sequenced products!

ORIENT

Ground yourself in where your brand stands today with a guided self-audit. This product gives you a structured checklist to cut through swirl and see your current reality.

SURFACE

Bring forward the signals of drift, confusion, or inertia holding you back. This product uses guided prompts to help you spot recurring patterns and challenges.

PROBE

Ask sharper questions that go well beyond surface assumptions. This product gives you a diagnostic Q&A that uncovers blind spots and hidden truths holding you back.

SPOT

Cut through the noise to define one bold breakthrough idea. This product offers a decision-matrix tool to help you identify the single lever for your brand momentum.

FRAME

Shape your idea into a crisp and powerful breakthrough statement. This product includes a worksheet to articulate your insight in a way that rallies alignment.

MAP

Translate your breakthrough into a simple 90-day path of action. This product provides an action plan template that prioritises moves for traction and energy.

All About Me

In a market overcrowded with formulas and familiarity, brands that play safe often slip into sameness.

After four decades in brand strategy, I’ve seen that what moves a brand isn’t just difference for difference’s sake … but one sharp, strategically unusual idea that unlocks traction.

That’s why I work at the point where brands stall … and why I’m unapologetically Unusual by Strategy. Because when a brand dares to break pattern, it finally breaks through. And that breakthrough doesn’t just shift perception … it reshapes momentum.

- Shobha Ponnappa

I have notched up 45 years of experience in multinational Advertising & Digital Marketing. I worked with global agencies like Ogilvy, JWT, and Lowe Lintas. I also owned my own avant garde web innovations company, Avigna Technologies.

I have consulted in Digital Marketing for more than 125 brands of all sizes and nuances … including global megabrands as well as disruptive startups.

My expertise lies in unlocking momentum for stuck brands … through strategic reframing, campaignable big ideas, and bold content systems that shift the conversation. Every engagement is designed to deliver not just clarity, but a breakthrough no one saw coming.

Holding an MBA in Marketing from the University of Wales, UK, and as a SmartBlogger Certified Content Marketer, I blend academic rigour with practical experience to deliver strategies that are both innovative and grounded.

BREAKTHROUGH CASE STUDIES ...

From Enmity To Advocacy: How A Car Brand Shifted Gears On Consumer Trust

From Hard Sell To Soft Pitch: How A Skincare Brand Smoothed Its Approach

From Cafés To Clicks: How a Coffee Brand Steamed Up Digital Engagement

From Local Legacy To Digital Draft: How A Beer Brand Brewed A New Strategy

From Disconnect To Destination: How An Airline Brand Redirected Its Journey

From Loan Provider To Lifelong Partner: How A Bank Brand Diversified Assets

From Clinical To Compassionate: How A Hospital Brand Healed Its Perspective

From Fragmented To Flowing: How A Telecom Brand Streamed Its Seamless Story

From Directives To Delights: How A Healthcare Brand Sweetened Its Diabetes Strategy

From Meals To Moments: How An Instant Food Brand Started Satiating Diverse Passions

From Puffs To Partings: How A Nonprofit Brand Stubbed Out Its Old Anti-Smoking Stance

From Showrooms To Screens: How A Home Decor Brand Draped Its Digital Content

From Simplicity To Scalability: How A CRM Brand Tracked SmallBiz Aspirations

From Pace To Purpose: How An Athletic Gear Brand Rerouted Its Running Narrative

My Thinking Edge

Sharp insights and breakthrough lessons from my Case Studies and FAQs … inspirations for brands that are sliding, stalled, or stuck.

How A Tech Strategist Simplified His Story to Amplify His Success

Personal Brand Case Study: I helped a tech strategist redefine his brand by translating his complex expertise into a simple, clear story.

How One EdTech Founder Graduated from Personality to Principle

Personal Brand Case Study: I helped an EdTech founder transform her brand from a personality-driven to a principle-led teaching venture.

FAQs: When Brand Refresh Efforts Confuse Instead of Clarify

FAQ Post: I answer 6 tough questions about why brand refresh efforts often end up confusing audiences instead of clarifying purpose.

How A Consulting Firm Found Its Nerve To Guide Others’ IPOs

Company Brand Case Study: I helped a mid-tier IPO consulting firm first rediscover its own courage by transforming via strategic bravery.

FAQs: When Clarity Drops as Soon as Brand Offerings Expand

FAQ Post: I answer 6 tough questions about why clarity collapses when expert-led brands broaden their offerings and how to rebuild coherence.

When a Strategy Advisory Firm’s Rebrand Won Strength in Silence

Service Brand Case Study: I helped a strategy advisory firm discover that in a world of noise, clarity isn’t won by saying more, but less.

Load More Posts

VOICES OF TRUST ...

"Shobha Ponnappa was a major part of a core SEO content writing project for one of our larger clients. I chose her to provide not just the content writing but also her vast content marketing knowledge acquired from her past in multinational advertising and digital marketing."

Meera Sharath ChandraFounder CEO & CCO, Tigress Tigress & Different Stripes

"Shobha Ponnappa is an excellent content writer. She understands how to write compelling content for her audience. She goes further with a rare skill. She knows how to combine content strategy with information architecture and organize blog articles into content hubs."

Samuel SchmittAvid SEO Blogger and Founder of Thruuu

“Shobha is a highly skilled writer who pays great attention to detail with every piece of content she creates. She's followed my advice in my books and courses on blogging and blog commenting, and like me she has a passion for writing that makes her want to excel at it.”

Ryan BiddulphCreator and owner of Blogging From Paradise

“I have worked with Shobha at various times over the years. She has always been an intelligent and professional strategist, focused on moving projects from conception to goals. Her understanding of both marketing and how words can be used to reach marketing goals has made her an asset in every project I have seen her work on.”

David LeonhardtFreelance Writer & Owner of The Happy Guy Marketing

"Her writing skills, coupled with her SEO smarts, make Shobha a highly effective online business writer. She is also an accomplished marketing expert with 40+ years of experience. I have no hesitation in recommending Shobha Ponnappa for your writing project – you won’t be disappointed.”

Rob PowellWriter, SEO Expert, and owner of RobPowellBizBlog.com

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