Marcus Collins

Culture Expert, Award-Winning Marketer, Bestselling Author, and Professor in Residence at Tik Tok
Marcus
Collins

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AVAILABLE FOR

Keynote
Virtual Presentation

Fee ranges

Domestic In-Person (USA):

$25,000 - $35,000*

International In-Person:

$30,001 - $40,000*

Virtual:

Please inquire

Other:

* Ranges are presented as a guideline only. Speaker fees vary by engagement type and are subject to change without notice. For an exact quote, please contact Gravity Speakers.

Traveling from

Michigan, USA

About

Dr. Marcus Collins is an award-winning marketer and cultural translator who leverages his scholarly work as a clinical professor at the Ross School of Business, University of Michigan, and the many years he spent in marketing as an advertising executive—most recently as the head of strategy at Wieden+Kennedy, New York—to bridge the academic-practitioner gap and use this knowledge to help people get people to take action.

His deep understanding of brand strategy and consumer behavior has helped him bridge the academic-practitioner gap for blue-chip brands and startups alike. He is a recipient of Advertising Age’s 40 Under 40 award and Crain’s Business’ 40 Under 40 award, and an inductee into the American Advertising Federation’s Advertising Hall of Achievement. In 2023, he was recognized by Thinkers50 with the Radar Distinguished Achievement Award for the idea most likely to shape the future of business management. He is a member of Marshall Goldsmith’s 100 Coaches 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 at Doner Advertising and led Social Engagement at Steve Stoute’s advertising agency, Translation. Over the course of his career, Marcus has developed a practice for creating culturally contagious ideas that inspire people to take action. His strategies and creative contributions have led to the launch and success of Google’s “Real Tone” technology, the “Made In America” music festival, the Brooklyn Nets, and State Farm’s “Cliff Paul” campaign – among others.

Prior to his advertising tenure, Marcus began his career in music and tech with a startup he co-founded before working on iTunes + Nike sport music initiatives at Apple and running digital strategy for Beyoncé.

Marcus’ work centers squarely on the impact of culture and the power that comes from having great 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 influence of culture on consumption and unpacks how everyone from marketers to activists can leverage culture to get people to take action. Throughout the book, he relies on literature, case studies, his work with brands, and academic data to illustrate the “whys” and the “hows” so that readers will be empowered to successfully apply these learnings in their own pursuits.

Marcus holds a doctorate in marketing from Temple University where he studied cultural contagion and meaning-making. He received an MBA with an emphasis on strategic brand marketing from the University of Michigan, where he also earned his undergraduate degree in Material Science Engineering. He is a Forbes columnist and a trusted voice among CMOs and business leaders. But most importantly, he is a proud Detroit native, a devoted husband, and a loving father to Georgia and Ivy.

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Topics

Topics

For The Culture: The Power Behind What We Buy, What We Do, And Who We Want To Be

Culture Eats Strategy For Breakfast: How To Drive Sustainable Organizational Change

Putting The Humanity Back Into Customer Centricity

Videos

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNrEcNZxmMo
Nothing ‘more influential to human behavior than culture’: Dr. Marcus Collins
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OE4ZXCVKABY&t=160s
Too Foreign For Here: The Life of a Black Sheep | Marcus Collins | TEDxUofM

Books / Movies As an Amazon Associate, Gravity earns from qualifying purchases.

Testimonials

“Marcus Collins is nothing short of fantastic. As a speaker, Marcus has a way of presenting that is often difficult to find... He's a rare gem when it comes to presentation style, ability to take feedback, area of expertise, and more. Marcus truly listens to what others have to say before responding.”

Jaclyn
Capital One

“Marcus brought an awesome presence and engagement to the session. I loved his succinct yet powerful slides and message. In particular, I really enjoyed his energy, sincerity & passion. Great to see academic & real life role merged!”

Toyota Motors Corporation

"Marcus is not only an expert storyteller but a captivating speaker. As we continue engaging in virtual conversations and events, Marcus has the gift of energizing the room as if he were in person. He is dynamic, thoughtful, and beyond fun! You walk away with so much knowledge and a new way to see the world!"

Ashley
Snyk

"Marcus was absolutely fantastic! Rave reviews from everyone in the audience and brought our show a lot of positive attention."

Trace

“[After Marcus’ talk] our team felt inspired to action and empathy. I had goosebumps multiple times - was NOT expecting that at all.”

Shivani, Account Manager
Google