Psychologist turned ad strategist, founder of Thinkerbell — applying behavioural science to brand building.
Adam Ferrier is a psychologist who became one of Australia's most respected — and deliberately provocative — advertising strategists. He is the founder of Thinkerbell, a creative agency that has built a reputation for uncommonly effective work, and the author of two books: The Advertising Effect, which lays out a behavioural science framework for what advertising actually does to people, and Stop Listening to the Customer, which argues that the conventional wisdom about customer-centricity is, in many cases, the enemy of brand building. He is a regular media commentator whose willingness to challenge industry orthodoxy has earned him a profile well beyond the advertising world.
Adam's central argument — that brands are built through action, not communication; through what companies do, not what they say — is grounded in the psychology of behaviour change, and it cuts against a significant amount of received wisdom in marketing. His work applies behavioural science not as a theoretical framework but as a practical tool for making better decisions about brand, culture, and creative strategy. The result is a perspective that is simultaneously more rigorous and more useful than most marketing thinking tends to be.
For marketing conferences, brand strategy events, leadership forums, and creative industry gatherings, Adam Ferrier delivers sessions that are intellectually sharp, deliberately counter-intuitive, and genuinely entertaining. He does not deliver the kind of presentation that is easy to agree with and then forget — he delivers the kind that generates argument in the car on the way home, which is a more reliable sign that something useful has been said. Audiences leave with a more honest account of how brand building actually works, and with a healthy scepticism about some of the ideas they arrived with.
Adam Ferrier is a keynote speaker based in Victoria who speaks on business strategy, change management and innovation. Book through Executive Speakers Australia.
Embracing evidence-based creativity to transform business
In these crazy and off-kilter times, many businesses and individuals are going through significant disruption and change. The good news is, there's one thing that can help make you more adaptive, innovative and better placed to take advantage of the changing landscape you find yourself in, and that's leveraging a more creative approach to your business.
Adam Ferrier combines his background in psychology and consumer insights with his deep experience as a global creative leader to present a compelling case for the role reinvention can play in finding new growth. He explores how embracing an evidence-based creative approach can radically change how you view and tackle any problem. And he always brings this to life through inspiring real world examples of brands who've done it well.
In this presentation, Adam covers:
- The 4 different types of creativity and when to use them
- How to practically reinvent your brand, business or yourself
- Why being a consumer insight company might just save your business
- The biggest mistake brands make when reinventing themselves
Creativity is often the competitive advantage that makes all the difference between a successful brand, and a failed one. So how do you go about building a more creatively driven brand, that can truly stand out from the pack?
Adam Ferrier draws on his unique experience as both a psychologist and brand builder to outline an evidence-based approach to brand building that places creativity at its core. He explores the science of creativity, the value it can bring to your brand and how to practically go about implementing it.
In this presentation, Adam covers:
- A 5-step process to creative brand building
- Why distinctive assets are the most important thing you're probably not focused on
- How to use creativity to build a brand that's talked about, long after your advertising spend has dried up
- Practical tools and techniques for building a more creative business
In today's data swamped world we are at risk of being blindsided by an over reliance on what consumers tell us. The problem is, what they say and what they do are often very different things. And with an ever increasing range of research tools and techniques at our fingertips, marketers are getting better and better at measuring what people say, but often missing what they actually do.
Adam Ferrier uses his background as a Registered Psychologist and his deep experience as a global creative leader to present a compelling case for a different approach to consumer insights. One that prioritises understanding human behaviour over what people tell you they'll do.
In this presentation, Adam covers:
- The 7 deadly sins of market research
- The hidden forces driving human behaviour
- How to practically apply behavioural science to your marketing and brand building
- Why brands that truly understand their customers don't always ask them what they want
Whether it be your business, your brand or your people, the most successful entities in the world are driven by a clear and compelling purpose. Purpose gives direction, drives decision-making and builds connection. So why do so many businesses still not have one? Or have one that's meaningless?
Adam Ferrier draws on his background in psychology and consumer insights to present a compelling case for the role purpose plays in successful brands, businesses and people. He explores the science of purpose, its link to performance and how to practically go about finding and activating one that truly means something.
In this presentation, Adam covers:
- The 3 types of purpose and which one is right for you
- Why most purpose statements are rubbish, and how to create one that isn't
- The link between purpose and performance
- How to practically activate purpose across your brand, business and people
How to change behaviour
We all want people to change their behaviour. Whether it's consumers choosing our brand, staff embracing a new way of working, or donors supporting a cause. The problem is, most of us go about it in the wrong way. We try to change people's minds first, hoping that their behaviour will follow. But the science says it's often the other way around.
Adam Ferrier draws on his background as a Registered Psychologist and his experience as a global creative leader to present the 9 action spurs from his bestselling book, The Advertising Effect: How to Change Behaviour. He shows how you can use these proven psychological tools to drive behavioural change in your audience, your customers, your staff – even yourself.
In this presentation, Adam covers:
- Why trying to change minds first is often the wrong approach
- The 9 action spurs and how to use them
- Real world examples of how brands have used these tools to drive behaviour change
- How to apply the action spurs to your specific business challenge
Adam was one of the best speakers we've had in years. His ability to blend psychology with practical marketing insight is extraordinary. Our team walked away with a completely new way of thinking about creativity and consumer behaviour.B&D Group
Adam is a brilliant speaker – funny, engaging and incredibly smart. His presentation on behavioural change gave our members a genuinely fresh perspective and practical tools they could apply immediately. Highly recommend.Australian Restructuring Insolvency & Turnaround Association
Adam delivered a masterclass on creativity and brand building that had our entire team riveted. His unique combination of psychology and marketing expertise is rare. Exceptional speaker.Elite Media Group
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