Mike is a humble man on a mission, to help dramatically increase the success rate of new product/service ideas and business expansion.

He has a very long list of accomplishments in the real world. Diploma of Fine Arts Preliminary, studied law, discovered advertising by accident and went on to win the Trenchard-Smith trophy for highest marks in Australia and New Zealand in the Advertising Institute Examinations. 

He co-founded advertising agencies; Colenso BBDO and Hutcheson Knowles Marinkovich, Managing Director of Saatchi and Saatchi. He launched several other businesses, including a building company, a fair trade/organic coffee and tea company, Lonely Cow vineyard on Waiheke Island, and The Lighthouse Ideas Company. 

He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing and has a Master of Philosophy degree (1st Class Hons) - his thesis was on the alchemy of innovation in New Zealand business. He is not an 'accidental academic' as an Adjunct Professor at Auckland University of Technology, a director of a number of companies, private and public and charitable Trusts.  He is a regular radio and television guest and commentator.

And finally, he was inducted into the Marketing Hall of Fame for his career-long service to the marketing industry by way of his advertising and educational work.