Raising Al kids

BUSINESS MATTERS Beyond the Bottom Line

- FRANCIS J. KONG

Time and time again, Philip Kotler, the father of marketing, will always be at the top of the list of marketing gurus. I had the privilege of joining him at a World Marketing Summit conference a couple of years ago and met him in person during my younger days.

Next on my list is the celebrated marketing expert Seth Godin. A year before the pandemic, | interviewed him in New York and offered to invite him to give a marketing seminar here. And being a straightforward no-nonsense person, Seth said, “That's not gonna happen.”

I wasn’t offended. I laughed and found it amusing. And he says he finds little sense in having to travel 20-plus hours to come here for a two-hour talk, then having to travel another 20-plus hours going back. This marketing guru really goes straight to the point.

I will meet him again and interview him in New York this year, and who knows? Perhaps he may change his mind and visit us here.

But the next marketing guru I totally respect and look up to is Mark Schaefer. He’s a consultant to many of America’s big companies, especially in the tech sector. He is an expert in the areas of personal branding, communications and marketing in an AI-driven world. He knows his stuff.

There is a strong possibility that he will come and visit, share his expertise and knowledge with our business community.