Joel Bines is a well-known keynote speaker, best-selling author, and consumer expert with nearly 40 years of experience. He graduated from Bates College with a degree in Philosophy and earned an MBA with Distinction from Harvard Business School. Joel started his career in the early 1980s, working with struggling consumer companies. His early successes led him to roles such as account executive at Nike Communications and promotions manager at Mont Blanc. He played a key role in revitalizing Letts of London, a calendar and diary publishing company. He joined AlixPartners, a business consulting firm, where he spent nearly two decades as Managing Director and global co-leader of the Retail Practice. Joel built a strong retail and consumer consulting practice, known for his honesty and integrity. He advised major companies like Saks Fifth Avenue, Coca-Cola, and Walgreens Boots. Joel is the author of the international best-seller "The Metail Economy," which explores the changing power dynamics between consumers and companies. The book outlines six strategies for businesses to succeed in the "Me-Centric" consumer revolution: Cost, Convenience, Category Expertise, Customisation, Curation, and Community. It has been praised by leading consumer companies and featured in major media outlets like The New York Times and Bloomberg. As a sought-after keynote speaker, Joel discusses consumer behavior and performance improvement, focusing on topics like the "Me-Centric" consumer and the "Quantum Consumer." After retiring from AlixPartners in December 2022, Joel now lives in Dallas, TX, where he runs his own investment and strategic advisory firm. He advises executives, boards, and investors and serves on the boards of Dormify and The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Foundation, as well as being a trustee of TITAS/Dance Unbound. His extensive experience has made him a leading voice in consumer behavior analysis.