Dr. Jonathon A.J. Wilson Brand

Biography

Professor Jonathan A.J. Wilson has spent over 20 years in industry and academia, specialising in what he calls the ABCDs of Business and Culture: Advertising, Branding, Communications, and Digital. He is a multi award-winning Academic and Partner of the London firm, Dragonfly Black.

Professor Wilson has published over 200 pieces of work and spoken at over 100 conferences across the globe. He has a BSc Chemistry degree, MBA in Business, PhD in Branding, DLitt in Halal, and is Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Islamic Marketing.

His work and opinions have received media coverage from Harvard Business Review, BBC, Forbes, Huffington Post, Thomson Reuters, The Economist, The Guardian, The Times, ITV, Sky News, RT, TRT World, KBS TV, The Drum, Nikkei Asian Review, and Astro Awani

Professor Wilson has worked internationally with a range of government, corporate, and university clients on projects in the following sectors: Halal, travel, tourism, education, technology, media, food, fashion, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, finance, professional services, music, sports, identity, ethnicity, religion, Gen-Y, Gen-Z, and popular culture.

November 2018 saw the release of his book, Halal Branding, which was reviewed in Forbes.

His Backstory

I was born and raised in Manchester, England – son of a white Scottish father and black Caribbean mother, from St Kitts, into a Christian household. Like Bob Marley, I’m a café latte blend of frothy milky Scottish swagger; underpinned by an intense, rich, dark, Arabica Caribbean kick.

Culture, the art of Science and the science of Art are what makes me tick. After years of reading and tasting different cultures, philosophies, and religions: I decided to convert to Islam in January 2000 – and join that elite list of kilt-wearing Muslims.

Once upon a time, I was a mean rugby player at University and for England Schools. At school I won national awards for my ceramics and art. I’m a retired touring and session bass guitarist and vocalist who made it onto television, radio, and international concert stages like Glastonbury. I also provided music and character voices for the first few award winning Grand Theft Auto video games.

I train in the Japanese martial arts at a London dojo – the pupil of a Japanese sensei with over 70 years experience. I hold a 4th Dan in Iaido, and a 3rd Dan in Kendo.

I’m from that generation that was coloured by a diet of Jimi Hendrix, Muhammad Ali, Daley Thompson, Malcolm-X, Bruce Lee, Beethoven, Toshiro Mifune, Guitar music, Electronica, and Hip-hop.

My work fuels my play and my play fuels my work.

The 5 Second Marketing Challenge

To Grab Attention & Nab Emotions

Branding Through Bass Guitars

How to Build Brands Today

Inventions and Innovation

TRT World, Roundtable

Cultural Nuances and Advertsing

to Minority Groups

Improving Business School Education

Understanding Names, Terms, and the Muslim World

Branding Bottled Water

TRT World, Roundtable

Mindset, Behavioural Shift and Unconscious Bias

ITN News - World Afro Day

Afros, Natural Hair, and Bias in Football and Management

BBC 1Xtra

BBC News and BBC World News - Growth of Halal

The Future of American Muslim Consumerism and Halal

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