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Adam Kleinberg

CEO/Co-Founder at Traction

Adam Kleinberg is the CEO and Co-Founder of Traction, a digital marketing agency based in San Francisco.1 He has held this position since May 2001, leading the company for over two decades.1

Professional Achievements

Under Adam's leadership, Traction has garnered significant recognition in the industry:

  • Finalist for iMedia Small Agency of the Year for four consecutive years
  • Named Independent Agency of the Year by iMedia
  • Won an Ad Age Small Agency of the Year award
  • Rated the #1 interactive agency in the U.S. by BtoB Magazine twice
  • Listed as one of the top 10 digital agencies in San Francisco by TheNextWeb

Expertise and Services

Traction specializes in:

  • Strategy
  • Advertising
  • Innovation

The agency has worked with numerous high-profile clients, including Apple, Adobe, Alibaba.com, Lenovo, Dolby, Walmart.com, Virgin Mobile, Bank of America, LinkedIn, Intel, and Charles Schwab, among others.1

Additional Roles and Recognition

Adam's influence extends beyond his role at Traction:

  • Board of Governor's member for the Bay Area's largest digital marketing industry advocacy and networking group
  • Former content chair for the organization
  • Recipient of the 2013 OMMA All-Star award, recognizing him as one of the three most influential creative professionals in digital marketing that year1

Educational Background

Adam holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Cornell University, which he earned between 1989 and 1992.1

Career History

Before founding Traction, Adam held several positions in the advertising and design industry:

  • Sr. Art Director at MRM//McCann (2002-2003)
  • Interactive Director at Doremus (2001-2002)
  • Art Director at Tribal DDB (2000-2001)
  • Lead Interaction Designer at Think New Ideas (1997-2000)1

Adam Kleinberg's extensive experience and the success of Traction under his leadership have established him as a notable figure in the digital marketing and advertising industry.

Highlights

Jun 12 · linkedin

Traction introduced our Futureproof Framework for AI adoption this morning to the Association of National Advertisers. Here are the top 10 takeaways from our presentation.

1 🚀 AI Expands Potential, Not Just Efficiency. AI is revolutionizing the creative landscape, enabling businesses to unlock immersive experiences and push the boundaries of what's possible.

2 🧰 Choosing the Right AI Tools for Your Needs. With over 67,200 AI companies worldwide, it's crucial to select the appropriate tools that align with your needs.

3 🗺️ The AI-Powered Marketing & Sales Adoption Journey. Traction's blueprint for AI adoption in marketing and sales focuses on five key impact areas.

4 🤖 Autonomous AI Agents Transform Customer Experience. Autonomous agents can significantly improve conversion pathways and automate customer care.

5 👑 The AI-Powered CMO. Your blueprint for AI marketing transformation should tie back to shareholder value.

6 🏗️ Fundamental Considerations of the AI Journey. The three critical aspects to consider in your AI journey are Technology, People, and Goal Alignment

7 🔧 Technology & Data Infrastructure. Data is the fuel that powers AI, so ensuring its cleanliness, organization, accessibility, and governance is paramount.

8 🤝 People & Organizational Culture. Employees may feel uncertain or even fearful about AI's impact on their roles.

9 🎯 Goal and Resource Alignment. Aligning your AI strategy with clear outcomes and measurable goals is essential.

10🚶‍♂️ Practical Staging Model for AI Adoption. Traction recommends a staged crawl-walk-run implementation pathway for effective AI adoption.

Thanks Michael Donnelly, Jeff Minsky and Cynthia Ramsaran for giving Sunil Subhedar and I the opportunity to present our framework to your members.

For a deeper drive on these takeaways and our #futureproof framework, check out:

https://lnkd.in/gjunH8qs

#aimarketing #aisales #aiframework #aiadoption #thefutureproofproject

May 22 · linkedin

Thanks to the ANA for sharing my perspective on the rise of the Chief Whatever Officer. CMOs aren’t going away, but they need a rebrand. Here’s why….

Related Questions

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Experience

CEO/Co-Founder at Traction (May 2001 - Present)
Advisory Council Member at Ascendant Network (June 2019 - Present), Advisor at Genee, an AI startup acquired by Microsoft (March 2014 - August 2016), Sr. Art Director at MRM//McCann (2002 - 2003), Int at Think New Ideas (1997 - 2000)

Education

Bachelor of Science from Cornell University (1989 - 1992), Spring Valley High School (1985 - 1988)

Location

San Francisco Bay Area