Thomas Kolster

Thomas Kolster is one of the world’s leading voices where marketing, business and sustainability meet. A motivational speaker, author, impact entrepreneur and sustainable marketing advisor, he has been called “a climate change agent” by Forbes and “a pioneer of impact advertising” by Shots Magazine.

He is the author of Goodvertising (Thames & Hudson, 2012), The Hero Trap (Taylor & Francis, 2020), and contributor to Utopia Brands (2023). With his first book, he coined the term Goodvertising to describe advertising that creates positive environmental or social benefits. With his second, he challenged the industry with the idea of a post-purpose market, where people don’t buy your values, but who you can help them become. His methodology The Arrow has since been widely adopted across the industry.

Kolster has spoken in more than 80 countries for brands like Meta, adidas, P&G and IKEA, and at conferences including TEDx, SXSW, Cannes Lions and Advertising Week. As founder of the Goodvertising Agency (est. 2010), he advises Fortune 500s, start-ups, NGOs and governments on creativity, sustainability and impact.

He’s an opinionated and often-cited voice in the global debate on marketing’s role in society. A regular columnist for The Guardian and other leading outlets. He also co-hosts Purpose Hits and Misses with Ad Age, where he dissects the highs and lows of global purpose campaigns. Kolster has judged top award shows such as Cannes Lions and the D&AD Impact Awards, and serves on advisory councils including the International Advertising Association’s Sustainability Council and Act Responsible.