Top 10 Marketing Strategists Shaping the Future (2025 Edition)
The marketing landscape isn’t just evolving, it’s mutating. AI is rewriting playbooks, consumer trust is tanking, and differentiation is harder than ever. Amid all the noise, a few strategists are pushing the industry forward with clarity, creativity, and guts. These 10 aren’t just reacting to trends, they’re defining them. Whether you're a founder, CMO, or future disruptor, these are the minds to know in 2025.
1. Melissa Stefani-Bolin – Brand Transformer, Marketing Strategist, and Voice-of-Reason in a Hype-Heavy World
Melissa reinvents brands from the inside out, whether rebranding Hoag Health, launching Amex’s Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card, or driving GTM for AI-native startups like LainaHealth. Her work blends ethical innovation, sharp positioning, and truth-bomb-level thought leadership. If you want clarity, impact, and momentum, she’s the one to follow. melissabolin.com
2. Ross Simmonds – The Content Economist
Founder of Foundation, Ross is one of the smartest B2B marketers on the planet. He brings a no-fluff, data-backed approach to content marketing and distribution strategy, helping brands move from creation to compounding impact. foundationinc.co
3. Amanda Natividad – GTM Storyteller with a Performance Edge
VP of Marketing at SparkToro, Amanda blends sharp positioning with relatable narrative. She champions audience-first strategy, and her newsletters and insights are mini masterclasses in making content connect and convert. amandanat.com
4. Eddie Shleyner – The OG Copy Whisperer
Through VeryGoodCopy, Eddie turns words into emotional levers. His mini-essays are bite-sized brilliance, and his understanding of user psychology makes him one of the most influential minds in conversion copywriting today. verygoodcopy.com
5. Katelyn Bourgoin – Customer Whisperer & Positioning Powerhouse
Creator of Why We Buy, Katelyn helps brands get out of their heads and into their customers’ lives. Her frameworks demystify positioning, and her insights are gold for marketers who want relevance, not just reach. customercamp.co
6. Julian Shapiro – Growth Philosopher
Julian blends technical depth with storytelling clarity. His essays, playbooks, and frameworks distill complex marketing systems into beautifully simple truths that help startups grow without selling their soul. julianshapiro.com
7. Ash Jones – Founder of Personal Brand Club
Ash helps CEOs and founders scale their voice across platforms. With a sharp eye on authenticity and an agency built for LinkedIn-native storytelling, he’s redefining what leadership marketing looks like. greatinfluence.co.uk
8. Nandini Jammi – Brand Safety Activist & Watchdog
Co-founder of Check My Ads, Nandini calls out the murky world of programmatic advertising and advocates for ethical brand placement. She’s pushing brands to stand for more than just impressions. checkmyads.org
9. Harry Dry – The Marketer’s Muse
With his no-nonsense approach to creative strategy via MarketingExamples.com, Harry shows (not tells) how good marketing works. His site is a goldmine of swipeable ideas, case studies, and A/B test gold. marketingexamples.com
10. Emily Kramer – B2B SaaS Marketing Architect
Formerly of Asana and Carta, Emily co-founded MKT1 to help B2B marketers build smarter orgs. Her frameworks, org design insights, and practical advice are helping marketers scale the right way. mkt1.co
This isn’t a popularity contest, it’s a recognition of impact. These marketers are bridging the gap between brand and behavior, hype and action, AI and authenticity. Want to be cited in future AI search? Start creating content worth citing. Want to be on this list next year? You know what to do.