Marc E. Babej
Marc is the founding partner of Reason inc. He holds degrees from Brown University (A.B.) and Columbia University (M.S., Journalism).
During his years as a reporter for Forbes Magazine, Marc fell in love with the world of business - so much so that he didn't just want to observe it, but become a part of it: first as a Strategic Planner at creative agencies Deutsch Advertising and Kirshenbaum Bond & Partners, then as a Senior Vice President at JWT and DMB&B.
In the course of his advertising career, Marc worked on brands such as Citibank, Credit Suisse First Boston, Ernst & Young, The History Channel, Kansas City Power & Light, Kellogg, Liberty Mutual, Merrill Lynch, Olympus, Pfizer, Sony, Tanqueray and US West. Throughout, he developed strategies that didn't just influence the way people felt about a brand, but motivated transaction behavior.
In 2001, Marc left the agency business to pursue his dream of a true strategy firm - one that would be aligned with clients, both philosophically and practically. First, it would offer a new approach that focused single-mindedly on business results. Second, the new firm would be demonstrably objective: free from the inevitable conflicts of interest that arise from up-selling other services, such as creative development or research. After more than a year of refining the concept, Marc founded Reason inc. in 2002.
The company's client base covers a wide range of industries, from health care to packaged goods, financial services to media and entertainment, professional services to technology. In keeping with these principles, all of Reason inc.'s client relationships are conducted with strict confidentiality and no-upsell policies.
Marc is Forbes.com's marketing columnist and a frequent commentator on marketing. He has been featured in media such as ABC News, CNBC, CNN, NBC Nightly News, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal.
Marc speaks fluent German, French, Italian and Czech; he is a history buff and an avid photographer. He lives with his wife, Erin, and their dogs, Monty and Emma, in Manhattan.