WE'RE LAUNCHING DUKE'S MOST AMBITIOUS CAMPAIGN IN ITS HISTORY.
Are you MADE FOR THIS?
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Brandon Putnam

BRANDON PUTNAM ’13

35  / Washington, D.C. 
MAJOR: Public Policy and Sociology with a certificate in Markets & Management Studies

Brand marketing and strategy leader with the National Football League Players Association

Duke Days: “Duke shaped my career long before I fully understood the direction I would take. What set me on my current path was not one single moment, but a collection of experiences that taught me how to lead, communicate and think strategically. One of the most pivotal was a project in a marketing and communications course where we were challenged to build a full campaign for a real-world brand. That assignment forced me to blend creativity, data and storytelling in a way I had never done before – and it was the first time I realized marketing could be both analytical and deeply cultural.

Looking back, Duke didn’t just prepare me for my career – it helped me discover it. It pushed me to think bigger, pursue opportunities I never would have considered, and ultimately step into the kind of roles where creativity, culture, and leadership intersect.”

Success means: “Impact without ego. It’s knowing that the rooms I enter are better because I showed up prepared, thoughtful and intentional. It’s creating pathways for others, elevating voices that deserve to be heard, and pushing culture forward in a way that feels honest and inclusive. Success isn’t about chasing the spotlight – it’s about using whatever influence I have to make something better, clearer, or more possible for the next person. When I can do that, that’s when I feel like I’m actually succeeding.”