The election of Barack Obama as president of the United States says a lot about America. It confirms what is good about our nation and what diversity offers our future – new ideas, innovation, consensus and a renewed enthusiasm for American values. I’m reminded that while many see America as a “melting pot” some like my friend, Hector Barreto, the former head of the U.S. Small Business Administration, sees it more like a stew. In a stew each ingredient adds flavor and indulgence making the pot richer and more tasteful. Our diversity works the same way. Every time we display the diversity of our cultures and talents, we are stronger and better equipped to face challenges of the future. Companies and brands must do the same. The future is indeed bright. But brands have to be willing to engage in a cultural conversation with consumers, in the way the Obama campaign did in the election, to develop the necessary brand fluency required to strike a chord and take advantage of the stew that is brewing in America today.