Marketing therapist. Mentor. Ball dude.

In 2003, Neil had an office down the hall from Traction’s first office. He strolled in one day and offered to help us develop a brand strategy for Traction. That positioning as a team of “inspired problem solvers with an informed point of view” still informs our consultancy today. It was also the beginning of collaboration two decades young.

Neil Cohen has more than 40 years of experience creating, building and managing brands from start-ups to Fortune 500 companies, including SEGA, Hilton, Arby's and McDonalds. As a “marketing therapist,” he works with companies to help them focus and "get out of their own way."

He consults with companies on marketing, business and innovation strategies, teaches marketing at San Francisco State University College of Business, serves as advisor to four start-ups, and is an active mentor for San Francisco's IndieBio biotech accelerator, Startup Mexico, Puerto Rico's Parallel18, Santiago's Startup Chile and SVG: Thrive AgTech accelerator.

He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism from the University of Florida, Gainesville, and a Master of Science degree in Journalism from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles. He currently sits on the board of San Francisco State University's University Corporation (UCorp).

Neil is also an avid Fùtbol player and diehard San Francisco Giants fan. During the baseball season you might catch him prowling the sideline as a Giants Ball Dude.