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Why Marketing Needs (Much) Better Marketing
As a seasoned marketing leader both in and advising the C-suite across brand strategy, advertising, and purpose-driven initiatives, SETH MATLINS understands the disconnect between marketing’s true value and how it’s perceived. He unpacks why marketing has a marketing problem—often undervalued, misrepresented, or sidelined—and what must change to position it as a critical business driver. Drawing on his expertise in brand storytelling, consumer engagement, and cultural strategy, Matlins provides actionable insights for marketers and business leaders to illuminate the impact of marketing as the heart of business success.
The Data Conundrum
With years of experience leading consumer-first marketing strategies, SETH MATLINS has seen firsthand how the explosion of data has transformed—and sometimes hindered—the marketing industry. In this talk, he addresses the growing paradox: while data enables precision, over-reliance on analytics can dilute creativity, intuition, and human connection. Tapping into his unparalleled expertise, Matlins offers an expert perspective on how marketers can use data as a tool without losing sight of storytelling, authenticity, and the emotional triggers that drive real consumer engagement.
Marketing to The Human and Cultural Context
Managing Director of the Forbes CMO Network SETH MATLINS has built a career helping brands navigate the intersection of commerce, culture, and human behavior. In this talk, he explores why marketing must go beyond traditional segmentation and performance metrics to truly connect with people in their real-world, ever-evolving contexts. Drawing on his expertise in purpose-driven marketing and cultural strategy, Matlins shares how brands can create meaningful, relevant campaigns that resonate not just with target audiences but with the broader cultural moment—ensuring impact, loyalty, and long-term success.
Marketing Is Everything and Everything Is Marketing
With extensive experience across branding, media, and consumer engagement both in and advising the C-suite of some of the world’s biggest global brands, SETH MATLINS has seen how marketing touches every facet of business—whether companies recognize it or not. In this talk, he makes the case that marketing isn’t just an isolated function but a core business driver embedded in product development, corporate values, customer experience, and beyond. Leveraging his expertise in brand positioning and storytelling, Matlins shows how businesses that embrace this holistic view of marketing can differentiate themselves, foster consumer trust, and drive lasting success.
Other Speech Topics
SETH MATLINS's other speech topics include:
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Seth Matlins is an award-winning marketer who has spent his career both in and advising the C-suite of some of the world’s biggest global brands.
He is currently the Managing Director of the Forbes CMO Network, having joined Forbes in February of 2022. In this role he is charged with overseeing and building the editorial, content, programming strategy and development for one of the most influential communities of marketers globally, which includes the annual Forbes CMO Summit; the World’s Most Influential CMOs list; the Entrepreneurial CMOs list, and signature events at Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity, and a growing portfolio of editorial initiatives.
Prior to Forbes, he was EVP of Cultural Strategy and Insights at Hollywood powerhouse Endeavor’s full-service cultural marketing agency 160/90, where he founded and oversaw the agency’s Strategic Planning, Cultural Insights, Purpose-Driven Marketing, and Entertainment Marketing practices. He also sat on Endeavor's DEI board of advisors.
Previously, he was the Global CMO of Live Nation; founder of That Was Then Enterprises, a brand-strategy and development consultancy, helping businesses reframe the purpose:profit narrative, where, he conceived and led the introduction of federal legislation, The Truth in Advertising Act (HR 4345), introduced in Congress in 2014 and again in 2016 with bi-partisan support, as an integrated part of a movement working to protect women and children from the health consequences perpetuated by “photoshopped” ads and images. This work, led directly to his award-winning CVS Beauty Mark campaign, while at Endeavor.
Before Live Nation, Seth started the Marketing Practice for legendary Hollywood, agency CAA. Prior to CAA, he was President of Rock the Vote.
He is also the co-author of The Scratch & Sniff Book of Weed (Abrams, 2016), now in its 7th printing.
My Speaker List
