Dr. Marcus Collins

Marcus Collins is an accomplished marketer, cultural translator, and academic. As the Chief Strategy Officer at Wieden+Kennedy New York and a marketing professor at the Ross School of Business, University of Michigan, he has developed a unique perspective on the intersection of culture and commerce.

Marcus’ work centers on the impact of culture on consumption and the power that comes from having great cultural proximity. He has developed a practice for creating culturally contagious ideas that inspire people to take action, and his strategies and creative contributions have led to the launch and success of numerous campaigns, including Google’s “Real Tone” technology, the “Made In America” music festival, and State Farm’s “Cliff Paul” campaign.

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’ expertise in brand strategy and consumer behavior has been recognized by numerous organizations, including Advertising Age, Crain’s Business, and Thinkers50. He is a recipient of Advertising Age’s 40 Under 40 award, Crain’s Business’ 40 Under 40 award, and a recent inductee into the American Advertising Federation’s Advertising Hall of Achievement.

His upcoming 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.