Omar Johnson
“Brand Genius”
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Fee Range: Contact Speaker Exchange Agency
- Marketing and Branding Keynote Speaker
- Entrepreneur
- Former CMO at Beats by Dre
- Former VP Market at Apple
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Omar Johnson is a marketing and branding keynote speaker, entrepreneur, former CMO at Beats by Dre, and former VP Marketing at Apple. At Beats Electronics, Johnson was responsible for brand development, advertising, retail experience, entertainment / sports marketing, and digital marketing for all global brand marketing and advertising efforts. Adweek named Johnson a “Brand Genius” in 2013, and Business Insider named him one of the “Most Innovative CMOs” in 2016.
Under Johnson’s tenure, Beats grew from $180 million to a $1.1 billion dollar global icon and category leader, becoming the #1 premium headphone in North America, UK, France, Germany, South Korea and Singapore.
Johnson drove explosive growth in the headphone category through groundbreaking campaigns including #ShowYourColor Solo Campaign, Powerbeats starring LeBron James and The Pills featuring Chris Rock and Eminem. He used “ambush marketing” and influencers to expand the brand—giving athletes and musicians free headphones at private company parties—which helped turn Beats into the headphone of choice for the best musicians and athletes in the world.
Previously, Johnson led innovative marketing programs for international brands such as Nike, Coca-Cola, Kraft Foods, and Campbell Soup. As an advertising lead at Nike, Johnson produced some of Nike’s most memorable TV commercials including “Rise,” starring LeBron James, “All Together Now,” featuring Kobe Bryant, and “The Most Valuable Puppets”.
Johnson also built the Nike+ sports music platform, establishing Nike’s first revenue-generating relationship with record labels. Johnson and his team created an industry-first sports music program with Universal, Interscope, Sony, Capitol, Def Jam and more than 25 independent labels. This collaboration sold +5 Million tracks and deepened the connection between music and sports.
Johnson is from Brooklyn, NY. He received a BS in Biology and Chemistry from Georgia State University and an MBA from Goizueta Business School at Emory University.
As the marketing mastermind behind Beats by Dre, Omar Johnson raised the bar on what it meant to go viral, elevated influencer marketing to a previously unimagined level, and turned Beats from a phenomenon into a movement. How? He believes that all marketing is B2H (Business to Human)–a human-centric approach to marketing that combines people, product, and storytelling to create amazing experiences and an authentic sense of purpose for your brand. Drawing from his experiences at Nike, Beats, Apple and several tech startups, Omar shares his inside tips and methods for delivering incredible experiences to customers and employees.
As CEO of brand management firm ØPUS United and ØPUS Intelligence Lab, a software company that is revolutionizing marketing tech through the use of Artificial Intelligence and other tools, Omar is once again at the forefront of “what’s next,” leading strategists, creatives, and technologists developing the next generation of marketing breakthroughs and technologies.
In this timely talk, Adweek “Brand Genius” proves that whether you call them consumers, clients, or customers, people are human beings first—and marketers must look beyond data and numbers for insights that activate them at this universal level. He also looks at the world of modern marketing and media, where the rules of customer engagement have changed, customer experience has lost its meaning, permission marketing rules, and customers themselves have become creators and social media influencers. Whether you’re a CEO, marketer, creative, or in the media, this enlightening talk will reveal what’s next—and give you actionable insights on preparing for a rapidly-changing future.
The idea of the majority workplace culture is changing. Instead of expecting everyone to fall in line, employees are encouraged to bring their individuality to work, such as their culture, gender, or sexual orientation. While celebrating and encouraging individual differences is good for breaking groupthink and innovating, it is also hard to manage as a leader. In this engaging and thought-provoking talk, Omar Johnson discusses the challenges and benefits of meeting people where they are. Audiences will come away with an understanding of employee differences, which can provide for a better work environment that enriches the company culture and the bottom line.
When Omar Johnson left marketing giant Nike to become employee #3 at a small, niche headphones company, no one could have imagined the phenomenal success story that was about to take place. Within four short years, Beats by Dre rose from $20 million to $2 billion in sales, beating out Bose to become #1 in the category worldwide before being acquired by Apple for $3 billion. Along the way, Omar expanded the headphone market way beyond male audiophiles on airplanes to women, athletes, musicians, fashionistas, and celebrities. What’s more, he created his unconventional, breakthrough marketing on a comparatively shoestring budget. He also built a winning company culture that personified diversity, leading a flat organizational structure where ideas, creativity and innovation flourished. In this entertaining and illuminating talk, Omar tells the inside story behind the Beats worldwide phenomenon—sharing lessons and insights for any organization aspiring to reinvigorate their culture, reinvent their industry, and activate their employees to reach for the stars.
FROM BEATS TO AI: DISRUPTING TECH AND SaaS WITH VISION AND LEADERSHIP
Omar Johnson, the visionary marketing leader who transformed Beats by Dre into a cultural phenomenon, takes the stage to ignite your imagination about founding and growing tech companies. Now a successful tech entrepreneur and AI expert at Opus Intelligence, Omar will share his unique insights on harnessing the power of technology to disrupt industries and create groundbreaking experiences. His most recent success is Opus Intelligence, a tech company that is revolutionizing marketing, brands and the use of AI in the marketplace.
In this thought-provoking keynote, you’ll discover:
- Marketing secrets: Uncover the unconventional strategies Omar used to propel Beats to global success, and learn how they can be applied to your own brand.
- The AI revolution: Explore the cutting-edge world of artificial intelligence and its potential to reshape industries from marketing to product development.
- Building the future: Gain actionable insights on how to leverage technology to innovate, connect with customers on a deeper level, and stay ahead of the curve.
- From passion to purpose: Omar’s inspiring journey, from Brooklyn prodigy to industry leader, will leave you empowered to pursue your own vision and make a lasting impact.
Omar Johnson is not just a speaker, he’s a catalyst. He will challenge your perspectives, ignite your creativity, and equip you with the tools to thrive in the ever-evolving landscape of technology and marketing.
This keynote is ideal for:
- Businesses looking to innovate and embrace new technologies
- Marketing professionals seeking inspiration and fresh perspectives
- Leaders navigating the changing landscape of the digital age
- Anyone who wants to be inspired by a visionary thinker and doer
Capitalize on this opportunity to gain insights from a true game-changer.
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