Marketing strategy · Human judgment · Persuasive communication

Ideas should
lead somewhere.

I turn marketing insight into decisions people understand, believe, and act on—through research, teaching, speaking, and strategic counsel.

Brad Carlson

Professor & James J. Pierson Endowed Chair in Marketing

Past President, Academy of Marketing Science

Host, AMS Illuminations Podcast

01 / Point of view

Information is everywhere.
The advantage is knowing what to do with it.

For more than two decades, I have studied how people relate to brands, taught future leaders how to think strategically, and helped turn complex ideas into decisions people can actually use.

My work sits at the intersection of marketing strategy, consumer behavior, education, and human judgment. That intersection has become more important as AI makes answers abundant—and thoughtful evaluation scarce.

I bring the rigor of a researcher, the practicality of an advisor, and the instincts of someone who has spent a lot of time in classrooms, boardrooms, conference rooms, and occasionally on stages of a very different kind.

More about my background →

02 / Ways to work together

Rigorous thinking.
Made useful.

03 / Signature ideas

Frameworks people
remember and use.

Presentations
Own the Room

A practical approach to making ideas matter, built around C.H.A.R.M.: Clarify, Humanize, Activate, Reduce, and Move.

01
AI + Education

Refine.AI

A six-stage process that puts human thinking before, between, and after AI—because assistance is valuable only when judgment stays in the loop.

02
Strategy

SURE

A test for stronger differentiation and positioning: Is it simple, unique, relevant, and enduring?

03

04 / Current thinking

Questions worth
thinking about.

A hand selecting one meaningful signal from a field of information01
AI & education

If information is everywhere, what is the value of education?

An imperfect idea refined through AI and returned to human reflection02
Teaching

What students learn when AI gives them a better answer

One brand signal interpreted in different ways by different people03
Marketing strategy

Marketing is the meaning customers make.

Explore current thinking →

05 / Academic work

Scholarship with
something to say.

I am Professor and James J. Pierson Endowed Chair in Marketing at Saint Louis University’s Chaifetz School of Business and a Saint Louis University Research Institute Fellow.

My research examines consumer-brand relationships, identity, brand meaning, and strategic marketing decision-making. I am also a co-author of the 12th edition of Marketing: Real People, Real Choices and have received recognition for teaching, research, and service.

Explore my research and recent publications →
5,000+Google Scholar citations
12thEdition textbook co-author
AcademyPast President
SLUEndowed Chair

06 / Let’s talk

Have an interesting
problem to solve?

Start a conversation
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