Michael Tadesse

Michael Tadesse is a Teaching Assistant Professor of Marketing at the George Washington University School of Business, where he explores how technology, psychology, and strategy converge to shape the future of marketing and commerce. 

He teaches courses including AI Application in Marketing Strategy, Consumer Neuroscience and Persuasion, Digital Marketing in the Age of AI, and Contemporary Marketing, blending theory with live, applied projects. His classes operate as innovation labs, where students collaborate with both large corporations and local businesses to tackle real-world marketing challenges. Rather than relying solely on case studies, students design AI-powered prototypes, debate emerging ideas, and develop vision-driven products that address real market needs. They are encouraged to bring challenges from their workplaces and apply strategic frameworks in class, transforming academic learning into actionable business solutions.

Each semester, Tadesse invites renowned industry leaders and innovators to co-lead discussions, offering students direct exposure to executive-level thinking and emerging trends shaping global marketing and technology. His courses are grounded in human-centered design, where community comes first. By the end of the semester, every student leaves with not only sharper skills, but also a stronger sense of confidence, purpose, and authentic voice.

Tadesse describes his teaching approach as similar to coaching a soccer team: managing a diverse group of 50 students from different walks of life, identifying strengths, and developing every individual into their best version. Inspired by the leadership philosophy of Sir Alex Ferguson, Tadesse believes greatness is achieved not through affirmation, but through consistent action and belief in one’s own potential. 

He encourages students to build companies, lead teams, and reimagine the role of leadership as they advance in their careers—understanding that the courage to be different and impactful matters more than conformity. For Tadesse, marketing, psychology, and technology form the intersection where the next generation of innovators and leaders are made.

Before joining GW, Tadesse worked across Big Four and boutique consulting environments, leading digital transformation, loyalty, and customer experience initiatives for global consumer-facing brands. An entrepreneur at heart, he has founded ventures in food technology, health technology, and AI-first consulting, helping small and mid-sized businesses understand how to be discovered and trusted in the age of intelligent systems.

A proud alumnus of the George Washington University, Tadesse earned his Global MBA. His areas of expertise include marketing strategy, customer loyalty, digital transformation, hyper-personalization, and consumer psychology.