Marcus Collins is a leading marketing strategist and cultural expert known for his ability to connect brands with consumers on a deep, emotional level. As a marketing professor at the University of Michigan and a former marketing executive at brands like Spotify and Puma, Marcus has helped some of the world’s most recognized companies build powerful, culturally relevant brands that resonate with their target audience.
Dr. MarcusCollins is an award-winning marketer and cultural translator who leverages hisscholarly work as a clinical professor at the Ross School of Business,University of Michigan, and the many years he spent in marketing as anadvertising executive—most recently as the head of strategy at Wieden+Kennedy,New York—to bridge the academic-practitioner gap and use this knowledge to helppeople get people to take action.
His deepunderstanding of brand strategy and consumer behavior has helped him bridge theacademic-practitioner gap for blue-chip brands and startups alike. He is arecipient of Advertising Age’s 40 Under 40 award and Crain’s Business’ 40 Under40 award, and an inductee into the American Advertising Federation’sAdvertising Hall of Achievement. In 2023, he was recognized by Thinkers 50 with the Radar Distinguished Achievement Award for the idea most likely to shape thefuture of business management. He is a member of Marshall Goldsmith’s 100Coaches and has also served as a jury for the Cannes Lion International Festival of Creativity.
Before joining Wieden+Kennedy, he served as the Chief Consumer Connections Officer atDoner Advertising and led Social Engagement at Steve Stoute’s advertisingagency, Translation. Over the course of his career, Marcus has developed apractice for creating culturally contagious ideas that inspire people to takeaction. His strategies and creative contributions have led to the launch andsuccess of Google’s “Real Tone” technology, the “Made In America” musicfestival, the Brooklyn Nets, and State Farm’s “Cliff Paul” campaign – amongothers.
Prior to hisadvertising tenure, Marcus began his career in music and tech with a startup heco-founded before working on iTunes + Nike sport music initiatives at Apple andrunning digital strategy for Beyoncé.
Marcus’ work centers squarely on the impact of culture and the power that comes from havinggreat cultural proximity. His best-selling book, For The Culture: The Power Behind What We Buy, What We Do, and Who We Want to Be, examines the influenceof culture on consumption and unpacks how everyone from marketers to activistscan leverage culture to get people to take action. Throughout the book, herelies on literature, case studies, his work with brands, and academic data toillustrate the “whys” and the “hows” so that readers will be empowered tosuccessfully apply these learnings in their own pursuits.
Marcus holds a doctorate in marketing from Temple University where he studied culturalcontagion and meaning-making. He received an MBA with an emphasis on strategicbrand marketing from the University of Michigan, where he also earned hisundergraduate degree in Material Science Engineering. He is a Forbes columnistand a trusted voice among CMOs and business leaders. But most importantly, heis a proud Detroit native, a devoted husband, and a loving father to Georgiaand Ivy.
Why Marcus?
Marcus Collins brings a unique perspective to marketing by understanding consumer behavior through the lens of culture. His ability to teach teams how to connect with their audiences on a human level makes him a sought-after speaker for companies looking to drive impactful, culturally relevant marketing campaigns that inspire loyalty and engagement.
Speak to a member of the Arthelon Speakers Team about booking the perfect speaker.
