‘The Spark’ is when business leaders stand right on the cusp of opportunity, but need a little extra oomph to move from inspiration to transformation. Keep an eye on the Kinesis blog for this new series.
Shawn Busse
Founder
Shawn has an incredible knack for finding opportunities in your business and turning them into new streams of revenue. No one does a better job with transforming companies, inspiring audiences, or connecting the dots between brand and culture. Over the years, Shawn has led numerous transformational business efforts; his fundamental approach to doing business is summed up in two words: win-win.
Superpower:
Business Transformation
Joined Kinesis:
2000
Authored by Shawn Busse
Transformation takes courage. Kinesis Founder Shawn Busse explores how something so deceptively simple can be the key to your success.
Many are grappling with how to respond to this national moment of reflection. At Kinesis, we’ve been meditating on the particular importance of symbols.
FULL BIO
Shawn Busse is the founder and CEO of Kinesis, a Portland-based marketing firm and business consultancy focused on transformation.
Since starting Kinesis in 2000, Shawn has been on a mission to radically transform how businesses think about marketing, culture, and growth. While traditional marketing focuses on external tactics, he found that the most successful companies start at their epicenter and gravitate outward. Shawn uses this core business philosophy, Marketing from the Inside Out®, to help small business owners and leaders reinvent their companies.
Kinesis has been one of Oregon’s fastest-growing private companies for five straight years — earning the prestigious Lighthouse Award in 2016. The company was also honored at the Portland Business Journal’s Small Business Innovation Awards, and named one of America’s Best Entrepreneurial Companies by Entrepreneur Magazine. Kinesis is also a proud certified B Corporation and has been acknowledged as a Best For The World Company two years in a row.
As Kinesis’ CEO, Shawn’s primary focus is on setting the strategic direction for the company, championing the business mission, values, and vision, and deliberately maintaining internal culture with every new hire and client acquisition. His new book, Marketing from the Inside Out® captures nearly two decades of experience in starting, running, and growing small businesses.
Topics I’m passionate about
- 3 Wicked Problems
- Workforce Development
- Recession Resilience
- Growth-Based Marketing for SMBs
- Small Business Strategies, including Business Model Transformation
- Mission, Values, and Vision — including Values-Driven Leadership
- Employee Recruitment and Retention
- Culture as a Strategic Advantage
Speaking Experience
Pacific Northwest Defense Coalition Supply Chain Conference (2019)
Recession Resilience
B Corp BLD PNW Conference (2019)
Building a New Business Paradigm
Association of General Contractors Oregon (2018)
How to Recruit the Best of the Best
Pacific Northwest Defense Coalition (2018)
The Candidate’s Journey: How to Recruit and Retain the Best of the Best
Real Estate Investment Trust (2018)
Marketing from the Inside Out®
McMinnville Economic Development Operational Excellence (2018)
The Power of Storytelling
Small Giants Summit (2017)
Talent Engine: The Secret to Recruiting and Retaining the Best of the Best
McMinnville Economic Development Forum: NEXT Speaking Series (2017)
Mission, Vision, and Values as Competitive Advantage
Oregon Manufacturers’ Summit (2017)
Sales & Marketing for the 21st Century
Northwest Self Storage Annual Employee Meeting (2017)
Social Media and the Engaged Employee
Advance Astoria Economic Development Panel (2016)
Planning for Astoria’s Future
Oregon Economic Forum (2016)
What’s Next after the Election?
Xenium Webinar (2016)
Talent Engine — How to Recruit and Retain the Best of the Best
Oregon Manufacturers’ Summit (2016)
The Candidate’s Journey (highest-rated speaker among 16 breakout sessions)
Professional Experience
Founder & CEO, Kinesis
Jan 2000 – Present
Adjunct Professor, Southern Oregon University
Jan 1999 – Jun 2004
Awards
Best For The World Honoree
B Corporation, 2018, 2019
Best Entrepreneurial Companies in America
Entrepreneur Magazine, 2016
Oregon’s Fastest-Growing Companies
Portland Business Journal, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
Lighthouse Award
Portland Business Journal, 2016
Publications
Pragmatic Marketer
Daily Journal of Commerce
Portland Business Journal
Octane: The Entrepreneurs’
Organization Magazine
Blue Ocean Strategy Blog
Education
Southern Oregon University
Bachelor of Fine Arts
Ohio University
Master of Fine Arts
Looking to engage Kinesis for your next event?
We love partnering with peer organizations to inspire and engage. Fill out the form with some details about your event, and our team will get back to you shortly.