TOP 50 GEN Z THOUGHT LEADERS, KEYNOTE SPEAKERS AND GENERATIONS FUTURIST CONSULTING EXPERTS

02 Dec TOP 50 GEN Z THOUGHT LEADERS, KEYNOTE SPEAKERS AND GENERATIONS FUTURIST CONSULTING EXPERTS

Posted at 20:35h in Uncategorized by

Today’s Top 50 Gen Z thought leaders, keynote speakers and generations futurist consulting experts collectively illustrate how marketing, branding, and generational insight converge to shape how companies engage with younger generations. As a result, many of the world’s Top 50 Gen Z thought leaders list picks range from futurists like Scott Steinberg who analyze generational values to CMOs at leading global brands who craft campaigns to agency and brand‑marketing veterans steering large portfolios.

Clearly, all manner of leading pundits and consultants influence everything form product design to ad tone, media strategy, and cultural resonance. Therefore it’s typical to see Top 50 Gen Z thought leaders rosters that include a range of influential voices from all sorts of backgrounds and disciplines.

In a world where the cohort’s values — authenticity, social responsibility, inclusivity, digital fluency — increasingly shape consumer expectations, take note. Global Top 50 Gen Z thought leaders are increasingly known for the skill to bridge legacy brands and emerging generational trends.

Leading the Way — Gen Z & Marketing Thought Leaders

  1. Scott Steinberg

Consider Steinberg, who is widely recognized as a futurist keynote speaker, generational trends expert and marketing strategist whose work helps companies decode generational shift. A leading Top 50 Gen Z thought leaders consultant, he has advised Fortune 500 companies and global brands, authored books, and guided organizations on how to adapt to changing consumer behavior and emerging generational values.

Noted Influencers and Brand Leaders (2–50)

Featuring a host of top marketing and brand executives, here are dozens of noted individuals who — via their roles at major corporations or agencies — define how brands speak to future generations such as Alpha and Beta. Of course myriad Top 50 Gen Z thought leaders lead massive marketing efforts; others define agency strategy and creative direction. Note that numbering is merely ordinal and does not imply strict ranking.

  1. Marc Pritchard — Chief Brand Officer, Procter & Gamble
  2. Lorraine Twohill — CMO, Google
  3. Raja Rajamannar — CMO, Mastercard
  4. Bozoma Saint John — Former CMO, Netflix
  5. Lisa McKnight — EVP & CMO, Mattel and Top 50 Gen Z thought leaders advisor
  6. Diego Scotti — CMO, Verizon
  7. Sarah Franklin — Former CMO, Salesforce
  8. Jack Hinchliffe — CMO, KFC (UK & Ireland)
  9. Todd Kaplan — CMO, Pepsi
  10. Chris Capossela — CMO, Microsoft
  11. Deborah Wahl — CMO, General Motors
  12. Kory Marchisotto — CMO, e.l.f. Beauty
  13. Julia Goldin — CMO, LEGO
  14. Angela Zepeda — CMO, Hyundai
  15. Andrea Brimmer — CMO, Ally Financial, Top 50 Gen Z thought leaders authority
  16. Dara Treseder — CMO, Autodesk
  17. Carla Hassan — CMO, JPMorgan Chase & Co.
  18. Jeff Charney — Veteran marketer, formerly CMO at insurance & retail firms (e.g. Progressive, Aflac)
  19. Jonathan Mildenhall — CMO, Rocket Companies; previously influential at Airbnb
  20. William White — CMO, Walmart
  21. Marcel Marcondes — Global CMO, Anheuser‑Busch InBev
  22. Antonio Lucio — Former Global CMO at Facebook, HP Inc., Visa — a veteran marketing leader with broad influence.
  23. Ann Lewnes — Former CMO, Adobe; instrumental in Adobe’s digital‑marketing & brand direction.
  24. Kristin Lemkau — Former CMO, JPMorgan (before Carla Hassan); now CEO of J.P. Morgan Wealth Management.
  25. Tim Rosato — Founder, Silver Lion Group High‑impact consulting executive recognized for his work advising leading consumer brands
  26. Marisa Thalberg — Chief Brand/Marketing Officer at a major retailer (e.g. Lowe’s), known for retail‑brand innovation.
  27. Kenny Mitchell — CMO at Snap (social media company), shaping youth and Gen Z–friendly brand outreach.
  28. Kinjil Mathur — CMO, Squarespace — influential in positioning digital‑first brands to younger audiences.
  29. Deborah Yeh — CMO, Sephora — a leader shaping beauty brand appeal to younger generations.
  30. Patrick McLean — Senior VP & CMO, Walgreens — guiding marketing in retail/pharmacy with broad consumer reach.
  31. Greg Lyons — CMO, PepsiCo Beverages — influencing beverage marketing toward younger demographics.
  32. Aron North — CMO, Mint Mobile — part of leaner, digitally native marketing organizations aimed at younger users.
  33. Doug Sweeny — CMO, One Medical — blending user experience, branding, and modern consumer expectations.
  34. Nick Tran — Head of Global Marketing, TikTok — defining content and outreach to Gen Z audiences.
  35. Chris Brandt — CMO, Chipotle — helping brands speak to younger consumers through food and culture.
  36. Rick Gomez — Marketing executive for retail/consumer brands impacting brand‑to‑consumer engagement for broad consumer base including Gen Z.
  37. Fernando Machado — CMO/Marketing leader at major consumer‑facing brands orienting toward younger demographics.
  38. Kelly Campbell — Former CMO, digital‑first media/entertainment — impacting how media brands reach younger, digital‑native audiences.
  39. Gretchen Saegh‑Fleming — Marketing exec, cosmetics / beauty sector — helping beauty brands stay relevant with younger generations.
  40. Tony Weisman — CMO, quick‑service or fast‑casual food brands — prominent in youth and mass‑market outreach.
  41. Matthew Anderson — CMO, streaming / media / digital‑native service providers — helping shape how younger generations consume media.
  42. David Rubin — Marketing lead at major news/media or subscription‑based brands — relevant in shaping information consumption for younger audiences.
  43. Linda Boff —CMO at GE— helping legacy brands adapt to generational shifts, digital marketing, and modern brand relevance.
  44. Silvia Dias Lagnado — Marketing executive in global brands targeting consumers worldwide, including young demographics.
  45. Carolyn Tisch‑Blodgett — Brand/marketing leader at digital or consumer‑goods brands — driving accessible brand engagement for younger users.
  46. Bruno Cardinali — Marketing executive for companies appealing to youth, mass‑market — important in broad‑reach branding and advertising strategies.
  47. Fiona Carter — Global brand marketing executive at large telecom or media firms impacting communications to younger and diverse audiences.
  48. Claudine Cheever — Head of Brand and Marketing at major e‑commerce or tech retail companies like Amazon — influencing shopping and lifestyle brands for younger generations.
  49. Sanjiv Gajiwala — Senior marketing leader at emerging beverage or consumer‑goods companies — contributing to youth‑centric consumer culture and marketing innovation.

 

As you can see, today’s Top 50 Gen Z thought leaders are a vast and varied bunch. All make a good starting point if you’re looking for a consulting expert or keynote speaker for a conference.