Dave Knox

Dave Knox bridges the worlds of startups and Fortune 500s with sharp insights on innovation, marketing, and digital transformation.

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“Dave Knox is an incredibly compelling and knowledgeable speaker. He has an amazing ability to convey deep insights in a way that is both accessible to everyone and leads to practical, actionable takeaways. We have invited him speak to a variety of audiences and he nails it every time. Everyone leaves the room energized and with a new perspective, no matter who they are.”

Dirk Bown

Director of the McNair Institute for Entrepreneurism and Free Enterprise, University of South Carolina

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Why book Dave Knox for your next event

Discover how Dave Knox connects startup agility with corporate strategy to drive growth and innovation.
Gain actionable insights from a marketing leader who’s helped brands and startups scale with purpose.
Learn from the strategist behind Rockfish and The Brandery, shaping the future of digital business.

Non-binding request for Dave Knox

Expert on marketing innovation, entrepreneurship, and business transformation

Dave Knox is one of the most insightful voices in modern marketing and business transformation. A sought-after consultant, keynote speaker, and author, he bridges the gap between entrepreneurial thinking and corporate innovation. With experience that spans Fortune 500 leadership and startup acceleration, Dave has a rare ability to decode what makes businesses thrive in a rapidly changing world. His talks inspire leaders to think differently, connect creativity with strategy, and apply startup speed to established organizations. Whether on stage or in the boardroom, Dave Knox brings clarity, energy, and direction to the future of business.

From Brand Builder to Business Innovator

Dave Knox’s career has been defined by his ability to unite two often opposing forces: the agility of startups and the stability of large corporations. His journey began at Procter & Gamble, where he spent seven years leading key digital initiatives that transformed the company’s marketing approach. Under his leadership, P&G became part of AdAge’s prestigious Digital A-List, a recognition of the company’s forward-thinking adaptation to the digital era.

After P&G, Dave joined Rockfish, where his leadership helped turn the agency into one of the fastest-growing digital firms in the United States. As Chief Marketing Officer, he expanded Rockfish’s presence across multiple cities, growing revenue sixfold to nearly $70 million and achieving best-in-class profit margins. His approach was rooted in combining creative marketing with measurable business strategy, a balance that continues to define his work today.

Bridging Startups and Global Brands

Dave’s entrepreneurial mindset found its perfect outlet in The Brandery, one of the nation’s top-ranked startup accelerators. Focused on applying brand marketing principles to early-stage ventures, The Brandery has graduated over 65 startups that collectively raised more than $150 million in venture capital. Many of these ventures have gone on to successful acquisitions, proving that the right blend of branding and innovation creates sustainable business growth.

Through initiatives like Brand Fusion, Dave continues to foster collaboration between startups and established corporations. The event brings together dozens of brands and startups for curated discussions on solving real-world business challenges. His vision for innovation is not just about technology, it’s about building meaningful partnerships that drive long-term transformation.

Author, Strategist, and Keynote Speaker

Dave Knox captured his philosophy in the acclaimed book Predicting the Turn: The High Stakes Game of Business Between Startups and Blue Chips, which explores how traditional companies can learn from the disruptive speed of startups. The book earned the prestigious Grand Prix Atticus Award in 2017, cementing his reputation as a thought leader in business strategy and innovation.

As a consultant, Dave advises high-growth startups, venture funds, and global corporations across industries, from retail disruptors like GoPuff to cybersecurity leaders such as Reliaquest. His broad experience gives him a panoramic view of modern business challenges, allowing him to craft strategies that balance innovation with operational excellence.

A frequent contributor to AdWeek, AdAge, and iMedia, and host of the HardKnoxLife podcast, Dave continuously shares insights on the evolving marketing landscape. He’s also a regular speaker at major conferences such as SXSW, AdTech, and NRFtech, and has delivered corporate talks for organizations including Nestlé, General Mills, Humana, and WPP.

Leadership and Community Impact

Beyond his corporate and entrepreneurial success, Dave is deeply engaged in community development. He serves on several boards, including the Cincinnati Mercantile Library, Main St. Ventures, and the VCU Brandcenter. His board work extends to startups like Ahalogy, Hunt Club, and Braxton Brewing, where he mentors emerging leaders and helps shape the next generation of innovators.

Dave’s commitment to local growth is best reflected in his role in the revitalization of Cincinnati’s Over-the-Rhine district. By establishing entrepreneurial hubs like The Brandery and Cintrifuse in what was once a struggling neighborhood, Dave and his peers helped spark a community renaissance, turning it into a thriving center for innovation, creativity, and collaboration.

A Voice for the Future of Business

Dave Knox’s story is one of vision, action, and transformation. His ability to connect the fast-moving energy of startups with the structured might of Fortune 500s has made him a trusted advisor to leaders worldwide. When you book Dave Knox for your event, you invite a speaker who understands how to turn change into opportunity, and strategy into growth.

With his engaging storytelling, real-world experience, and proven frameworks, Dave empowers audiences to think boldly about the future of business and to start shaping it today.

Customer Reviews

Dirk Bown Director of the McNair Institute for Entrepreneurism and Free Enterprise, University of South Carolina

“Dave Knox is a smart, dynamic, and engaging speaker. We felt very lucky to have him on our stage for our 2019 Analytics Symposium at Wittenberg University. The material truly resonated with our audience of Chief Information Officers, senior technology leaders, data analysts, students, and faculty members. Many of our attendees are looking for expert advice on leveraging known information and making better decisions with it, communicating data and information more effectively with business peers, or learning about emerging fields. Dave hit all these learning goals with his speech.

Kevin Steidel Assistant Professor & Ness Chair of Entrepreneurship at Wittenberg University

“Dave is a very knowledgeable, engaging and thought provoking speaker. During the Predicting the Turn Summit which was held that he University of Kentucky, Dave spoke to an audience comprised of business leaders, investors and students, who all came away from his keynote with very positive feedback about the content provided and Dave’s overall presentation and relatability. He also did a wonderful job leading a panel discussion focused on some the themes raised in his presentation.”

Warren Nash University of Kentucky

“As a relocation management company that serves some of the world’s biggest businesses, we see the positive workforce implications for those that can recognize and respond to industry changes. Dave’s presentation delivered a powerful message that companies of all sizes can adapt and even capitalize on the technology and innovation in our rapidly evolving global economy.

Joey Ham Vice President of Global Marketing at Graebel

“Dave’s talk is compelling, honest, and insight based. It is packed with current and relevant examples of how the game is changing between big companies and startups. The lessons are clear, and so too is the overarching lesson that the competitive advantages are shifting, and winners must prioritize the speed in new business models.”

Chris Foley SVP / CMO at Pepperidge Farm

“Dave Knox challenged us to think differently about everything – exposing us to new startups, technologies, and engagement techniques. Most importantly, he encouraged us to NOT follow our own rules but TO follow the rules of our target audience if we want to be invited to play in their sandbox. Working with him is exciting, scary, but ALWAYS delivers the right results.”

Heather Shultz Vice President of Participant Marketing at Fidelity Investments

“I’ve worked with Dave in several capacities on the conference circuit. He’s been a trusted advisor, helping my team to shape event content and programming. Dave’s unique experience – spanning brand at P&G, agency at Rockfish, and with entrepreneurs at the Brandery – positions him as a versatile and knowledgeable resource for conference creators and attendees alike. As a speaker, he is dynamic and engaging on both small and large stages. Book Dave for your next event, and I guarantee that you won’t be disappointed.”

Katharine Panessidi Vice President of Content & Programming at Comexposium

“Dave Knox was a keynote speaker at SOCAP’s Re-Imagine Customer Care Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah. Dave was very insightful and provided relevant, practical takeaways in his presentation. His grounding in industry, including a knowledge of customer care issues, also resonated well with our event attendees. Overall, Dave was a great keynote speaker!”

Marjorie Bynum President & CEO, SOCAP International

“Dave Knox spoke at our Clorox Global R&D Town Hall and made a deep impression. He speaks the language of Innovation and Disruption, and has a unique perspective from his work within both the corporate and start-up world. I’ve heard comments such as “Inspiring,” “Thought-Provoking,” “Frightening,” “Disturbing yet Compelling” and “Hands down the best town hall speaker we’ve ever had.” Beyond evoking these emotions, he has instilled a sense of urgency and a clear road-map for engagement with the start-up and VC world, not just in the innovation and leadership community, but within the global R&D organization. This call-to-action is priceless.”

Navin Kunde Open Innovation Manager R&D, Clorox

“Few people can meaningfully speak of both the entrepreneur’s universe and the Fortune 50. Dave Knox’s unique background in these two worlds gives him a perspective like no other.”

Pete Blackshaw CEO at Cintrifuse and former Global Head of Digital at NestLe

“American Modern Insurance hosted an internally focused innovation conference with a goal of spurring new ways of thinking within our organization. To do this, we relied on visionaries in our community to share their experiences and expertise. Dave Knox gave our closing keynote at the conference. Dave was able to translate points from his book Predicting the Turn to fit our audience’s perspective. Dave’s keynote was engaging and thought-provoking and spurred our audience to think outside of the box.”

Shannon Lewandowski Innovation and Digitalization-IoT

“As a brand marketer, venture investor, and startup advisor, Dave provides a rare perspective and one that was valued and appreciated by the attendees of our innovation-focused NEXT conference. Dave brought great energy to the room as he presented a compelling and articulate message filled with provocative ideas and helpful advice, which he followed with thoughtful responses to each question. He was generous with his time afterward, engaging with our group at his book signing until everyone had a chance to visit with him. From an event organizer’s perspective, it was a pleasure to work with Dave from beginning to end – he was quick to provide content to help promote his talk and was eager to hop on pre-event calls to ensure that his presentation meshed with the interests and needs of our audience.”

Art Flanagan VP of Communications at Insights Association

“David kept the audience of senior marketing professionals engaged by opening their minds and provoking thought. His content was continually brought up throughout the rest of the event, and he earned extremely high grades in the post-event surveys. Highly recommended!”

Dan Yaman Live Spark (Meeting Planner)

“I had the privilege of using Dave Knox as an opening speaker and would echo what one of my attendees told me afterwards: ‘Dave Knox was the best opening keynote I have ever heard.’ He energized the room and set the tone for the day!”

Christine Franklin Executive Director at Point of Care Communication Council

“We brought Dave as our only keynote speaker for our first Global Marketers Meeting. This was the first time we were bringing together USA, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Western Europe marketers. We were all new and needed a kick in the pants to ensure we could disrupt the disruptors. Dave is a super-energetic speaker. He focused on teaching us how to create and maintain a culture of innovation and speed. He was the highest-rated module of the four-day event”

Laston Charriez Head of Marketing at Pilgrim’s Pride

Keynotes

Keynote by Dave Knox:

PREDICTING THE TURN

As a brand marketer, venture investor, and startup advisor, Knox provides a one-of-a-kind worldview into the changing relationship between disruptive startups and Fortune 500 companies. In his Predicting the Turn talk, Knox teaches the world’s largest companies how to foresee the future of their industry and respond to these new competitive challenges.

Takeaways include:

Case studies of companies that succeeded or failed at innovation
Techniques for future-proofing your company
Ways to engage disruptors

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Keynote by Dave Knox:

PARTNERSHIP FOR INNOVATION

After leading Procter & Gamble’s partnerships with digital innovators like Facebook and Google, Dave has helped companies such as Ford Motor Company and Nestle to navigate the landscape of venture capital and Silicon Valley. While some people see entrepreneurship and Fortune 500-type companies as the antithesis of each other, Dave has been able to find the connection between them. In this talk, Knox outlines the best practices for building partnerships between companies big and small and how that connection can change the way we think about what we do every day.

Takeaways include:

Common mistakes Fortune 500s make with startups
How startups view larger corporations
Do/don’t guidelines of succeeding with startups

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Keynote by Dave Knox :

DIGITAL INNOVATION

Disruption and innovation are at the top of every executive agenda for the world’s largest companies. The rise of digital creates tremendous opportunities for companies to embrace innovative new business models. In this workshop-style talk, Knox guides companies through the digital landscape and how the innovation matrix can spark new ideas for their business.

Takeaways include:

Models for innovation
Techniques for building an innovation mindset inside an organization

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Keynote by Dave Knox:

DON’T CALL US FLYOVER COUNTRY

Recognized as one of the top 10 startup accelerators in the world, The Brandery has been a key catalyst in the entrepreneurial renaissance of Cincinnati. In this talk, Dave tells the history of The Brandery and how it proves that a city’s history can be the foundation of its future.

Takeaways include: