Dr. Marcus Collins is a sought-after keynote speaker who helps organizations understand culture to inspire action, loyalty, and growth.
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Top rated!5 of 5
“[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
Dr. Marcus Collins is one of the most influential voices at the intersection of culture, marketing, and human behavior. As an award-winning marketer, professor, and best-selling author, he helps organizations understand how culture shapes decisions and how brands can earn relevance by aligning with what people truly value. Drawing on experience from global agencies, iconic brands, and academic research, Marcus translates complex ideas into practical strategies that inspire action. His work bridges theory and practice, making him a trusted advisor to leaders who want to create meaningful connections with modern audiences.
Dr. Marcus Collins is an award-winning marketer and cultural translator known for helping organizations close the gap between what brands say and what people actually feel. He is a clinical professor at the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan, where he teaches marketing and consumer behavior, and Professor in Residence at TikTok. Alongside his academic work, Marcus has built a distinguished career in advertising, most recently as Head of Strategy at Wieden+Kennedy New York. His unique ability to merge scholarly insight with hands-on experience makes him a powerful voice for leaders navigating cultural change.
At the core of Marcus Collins’ work is a simple but often overlooked truth: people don’t buy products or ideas, they buy meaning. Over the course of his career, Marcus has developed a proven practice for creating culturally contagious ideas that inspire people to take action. By understanding shared beliefs, values, and identities, he shows organizations how to design strategies that resonate deeply and move audiences from awareness to advocacy. His approach helps brands stop chasing trends and start building relevance that lasts.
Marcus’ influence has been widely recognized across business, academia, and the creative industries. He is a recipient of Advertising Age’s 40 Under 40 and Crain’s Business 40 Under 40 awards, and an inductee into the American Advertising Federation’s Advertising Hall of Achievement. In 2023, he received the Thinkers50 Radar Distinguished Achievement Award for the idea most likely to shape the future of business management. He is also a member of the Marshall Goldsmith 100 Coaches and has served as a jury member at the Cannes Lion International Festival of Creativity.
Throughout his career, Marcus Collins has worked with some of the most recognized brands and platforms in the world. His strategic and creative contributions have supported the launch and growth of initiatives such as Google’s Real Tone technology, the Made In America music festival, the Brooklyn Nets, and State Farm’s “Cliff Paul” campaign. Prior to Wieden+Kennedy, he served as Chief Consumer Connections Officer at Doner Advertising and led Social Engagement at Translation, Steve Stoute’s agency. His work consistently demonstrates how cultural understanding can drive both creativity and commercial success.
Before his career in advertising, Marcus began in music and technology. He co-founded a startup, worked on iTunes and Nike sport music initiatives at Apple, and ran digital strategy for Beyoncé. These early experiences shaped his perspective on culture, creativity, and innovation, and continue to inform his thinking today. By blending insights from entertainment, technology, and marketing, Marcus brings a multidimensional view of how ideas spread and movements grow.
When you book Marcus Collins for your event, you invite your audience into a compelling exploration of culture, behavior, and influence. His keynotes are engaging, practical, and grounded in real-world examples, offering leaders and teams clear frameworks they can apply immediately. Whether speaking to executives, marketers, or innovators, Marcus delivers talks that challenge assumptions, spark new thinking, and empower people to create work that truly connects.
5 of 5
“[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
5 of 5
"Marcus was absolutely fantastic! Rave reviews from everyone in the audience and brought our show a lot of positive attention." -
Trace The INSTORE Show
5 of 5
"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
5 of 5
“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
5 of 5
“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
Keynote by Dr. Marcus Collins:
There is no external force more influential to human behavior than culture, full stop. This makes culture a cheat code for anyone with a vested interest in getting people to adopt the behavior, whether you are a brand marketer, manager, leader, or politician. Those who understand the dynamics of culture are more likely to have influence, while those who do not are almost always influenced by those who do. In this talk, Marcus pulls from both theory and practice, using learnings from his work spearheading digital strategy for Beyoncé to working with Fortune 500 companies like Apple, McDonald’s, and Google, to break down the ways in which culture influences behavior and unpacks how to leverage its power to get people to move.
Keynote by Dr. Marcus Collins:
When it comes to your company’s success, your organizational culture is more important than its individuals. It doesn’t matter how smart or talented your employees are if they don’t get along or don’t believe in your company’s purpose. That’s why it is imperative that leaders understand the inner workings of their internal culture, just as much as the external culture of their consumers—if they want to fully leverage the company’s resources for success. Dr. Marcus Collins is an expert in understanding culture, literally writing “the book” on it. In his upbeat and informative talk, Marcus shares stories of organizational culture using real-life case studies. Audiences will come away understanding how company culture works, how to influence it, and how to scale it for their teams.
Keynote by Dr. Marcus Collins:
In today’s competitive business landscape, it’s more important than ever to put the customer at the center of all business decisions. While this truth might be widely held, our ability to build organizations that are readily capable of implementing a customer-centric approach is not as accessible as we might desire. This talk uncovers a new perspective on customer-centricity and provides actionable strategies for adopting this approach within your organization that will demonstratively drive greater consumer engagement.
Watch Dr. Marcus Collins in action
