CHAT JPG*

“Overall, Josh Grau's career is characterized by a blend of leadership in marketing, a deep understanding of digital media, and a passion for sports, particularly volleyball. His experiences across various high-profile companies and his ongoing involvement in education and sports broadcasting demonstrate his versatility and expertise in multiple domains.”

~ Chat GPT

Did you fall asleep? Because I definitely did.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m a huge fan of AI and what it can (and will!) enable. Hell, I worked for an AI company so I even know how to market this technology. But is that really the best summary of a 20+ year career? This human says no.

So instead of relying on a generative AI shortcut, here’s the more scenic route written by yours truly.

*my initials :)

THE BRAND MAN

My first (and thank god only) magazine cover

If ChatGPT’s description of me lacked pizzaz, Northwestern’s alumni magazine once gave me a label that both accurately summarized my career and served as a '‘kick me” sign among my friends and family.

But there is truth to the moniker –  I’ve been lucky to work for and with some exceptional brands at pivotal times in their history. From early-stage startups to public companies, from an IC to the C-suite, from the Big Ten to Big Tech, the last 20+ years have been a wild, wonderful ride. And tbh, I never saw it coming. Nor did most people. Back in time to high school or college, many friends were convinced I would pursue a comedy career. I guess the joke’s on them!

Joking aside, it makes sense I ended up here. I majored in psychology, and that fueled my already inherent curiosity about people and how they make decisions. I also love being creative and working in teams, so a career in marketing was kind of inevitable.

But I’m not one for being cookie-cutter, and my path to being a (now 4-time) CMO has been anything but linear. There have been twists, turns, and pivots. Conscious decisions and sliding doors moments. Big wins and tough losses. But throughout it all I’ve been able to do two things I love the most: be creative and work with brilliant people. There’s also been plenty of room for comedy 😉

OH, THE PLACES I’VE GONE!

When I graduated high school a family friend saw something coming when she gave me the iconic Dr. Seuss book Oh, the Places You’ll Go!  And boy, have I gone places.

My career has allowed me to work and live in some amazing locations and learn firsthand what it takes to be a global leader. Traveling the world for work gave me an important perspective on what unites people and where there are important cultural differences to consider as you bring a US-founded product to a non-US market.

I’ve been an expat, led global teams, and visited dozens of countries in my career. I’ve given 100s of presentations and keynote speeches on stages and in conference rooms worldwide (my record: 8 of the same 1-hour pitch in a single day – I’m still recovering). There were a few wild times, too. I was detained by customs agents in Jakarta (passport issue, not a Midnight Express situation). I was also in Turkey the night Erdogan banned Twitter (very unnerving and sobering).

But my favorite part has been the remarkable people I’ve met, the lifelong friendships I’ve forged, and the empathy I’ve learned by spending time with consumers and customers on their home turf.

4 Cities

Where I have lived and worked San Francisco | Dublin | Chicago | Austin

Where I have built & managed teams USA | EMEA | APAC | LATAM

4 REGIONS

20 COUNTRIES

Where I launched a new market 🇧🇪🇧🇷🇨🇱🇪🇬🇫🇷🇩🇪🇮🇳🇮🇩🇮🇹🇲🇽🇳🇱🇵🇱🇵🇹🇶🇦🇷🇴🇿🇦🇪🇸🇸🇪🇹🇷🇦🇪

OH, THE PLACES I’VE Worked!

So you’ve met the man, now meet some of the brands that helped make the man. The road has been full of twists and turns, but what a ride it’s been!

2000s

2010s

2020s

10 Questions

I’ll conclude this song of myself by answering the iconic 10 questions the late great James Lipton asked each of his subjects at the end of every Inside the Actors Studio interview, which Bernard Pivot originally developed for his show Bouillon de Culture:

  • What is your favorite word? Vacation

  • What is your least favorite word? Moist

  • What turns you on? A great sense of humor

  • What turns you off? Self-importance

  • What is your favorite curse word? Mother f*cker

  • What sound or noise do you love? People I love laughing really hard

  • What sound or noise do you hate? Sirens and styrofoam rubbing together

  • What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? Writing and acting on SNL or a Psychologist 🤷🏼‍♂️

  • What profession would you not like to do? A window washer for skyscrapers (nothing more terrifying)

  • If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? Hello, Newman.