keynote speaking

I speak regularly as a Marketoonist about innovation and marketing, using cartoons and case studies to tell the story visually.  The Huffington Post ranked my South By Southwest talk the third best of the conference out of 500. Please contact me if you’d like to add a cartoon-fueled talk to your next event.

Sample Topics

1. Overcoming Idea Killers

I parody innovation pitfalls and showcase how companies can foster creativity, avoid mediocrity, and create more remarkable products. Geek Squad described advertising as a “tax for unremarkable thinking.” The creative process shouldn’t end after the brainstorm, yet ideas often suffer a thousand cuts in the process of bringing them to life. I will shed light on the path of transforming ideas into new products and frame ways to build a culture that champions creativity and overcomes idea killers.

2. Marketing From Within

Marketing has evolved and Don Draper is no longer in charge. We can no longer manage all of the touch points of a brand by command and control. Instead, we have to build from a belief, market from the inside out, and start conversations. Consumers don’t just buy what we make. They buy why we make it.

3. Thinking Like David

Whether David against Goliath or David within Goliath, thinking as a challenger brand can create success against insurmountable odds. The key lies in changing the game and not playing by Goliath’s rules.

Sample Testimonials

“Tom was the inaugural featured speaker at the Nestle Purina CMO meeting and he set the benchmark very high. Through the use of insightful, clever cartoons, Tom challenged the group to be the David in the Goliath and market like a challenger brand. With multiple examples, he showed that being a challenger is a state of mind, not a state of market. His engaging style coupled with real life practical experience made for a truly inspirational dialogue.” (Patricia Erb, Nestle Purina PetCare)

“I invited Tom Fishburne to be a keynote at our 2011 Consumer Day event just prior to our business planning session. His talk was to end the day – and he brought down the house! Entitled “Challenger Branding From Within” he inspired everyone with his very personal (and very funny) take on how thinking as a challenger brand even when you are working from within a Goliath can create success against insurmountable odds. His cartoons not only engaged and amused, but landed important lessons that stuck with people long after the day was done.” (Jennifer Nelson, Johnson & Johnson)

“Tom was by far the best speaker we have had on our programe to date. We gave a loose brief as to what we were looking for and Tom took that to another level and really brought the topic to life. His wealth of experience in the world of Marketing and brand building coupled with his infectious enthusiasm made for an unforgettable presentation. To sum-up in a word it was inspiring.” (Phil Edelston, Dylan)

“I thought Tom Fishburne was fantastic. I feel like he really ‘got’ us. It was both funny and thought-provoking – a difficult combination. The feedback from my team was really positive: several people described Tom as ‘inspirational’, several said that he was a ‘fantastic speaker’, and many said they enjoyed his presentation immensely.” (Jon Rudoe, Head of Brand, Ocado)

“A presentation by corporate product manager-turned-cartoonist Tom Fishburne captured the complex vibe of this week’s South by Southwest conference. The connection between drawing cartoons and innovation struck a chord among the eclectic mix of software developers, marketers, artists, PR pros and others attending SXSW.” (South-by-Southwest)