Barry Wacksman

Barry Wacksman emerges as a preeminent visionary in the realm of digital transformation, playing a pivotal role in shaping one of its eminent enterprises, R/GA. A distinguished journey spanning 21 years within R/GA, prior to co-founding Proto, positions him at the nexus of innovation and evolution.

In the annals of business strategy, Barry etched his mark in 2011 by conceiving the concept of "connected ecosystems," an epoch-defining approach that has underpinned the success stories of industry titans like Apple, Amazon, and Google. This paradigm, a cornerstone of 21st-century business, was elucidated in his co-authored book "Connected by Design" (John Wiley & Sons, 2014). The work unveiled seven pivotal principles driving the strategy, leading to its selection for Gary's Book Club at the esteemed 2015 Consumer Electronics Show.

Barry's entree into the digital agency arena transpired in 1994, with his ascent at R/GA commencing in 1999, where he orchestrated business development and corporate strategy. Under his stewardship, R/GA's transformative journey burgeoned from a modest ensemble of 45 individuals in a single location to a sprawling global network comprising 18 offices and a workforce of 2,200. His role was instrumental in securing partnerships with an array of marquee clients, including the likes of Nike, Johnson & Johnson, Verizon, L’Oreal, Nokia, Goldman Sachs, Walmart, MasterCard, Google, and Samsung. Notably, in 2012, Barry propelled a consultancy arm within R/GA, zealously focused on fostering business metamorphosis and corporate ingenuity.

Beyond his corporate sphere, Barry holds the mantle of Board Chair for the American Association of Advertising Agencies (4As), and he occupies the position of Chairperson at the Miami Ad School. His influence extends to the ANA Education Foundation, the New York chapter of the American Marketing Association, and ACT Responsible, as he actively engages in diverse board roles.

His academic journey culminated with a Bachelor's degree in philosophy from Ohio State University. An academic curiosity led him to pursue a Ph.D. candidacy in philosophy at Syracuse University, a testament to his multidimensional intellect.