MBA in Entertainment, University of Southern California | Ex: Disney, JPMorganChase, KPMG, PwC

Fun fact: My LinkedIn isn't my resume. 

So don't come here looking to evaluate hiring me based on my LinkedIn. 

Or maybe you should look at my LinkedIn to realize I beautifully blend data and analytics with entertaining and educational storytelling. 

I always dreamed of being a television programmer. It never happened, so instead I live out my dream programming LinkedIn like my own TV channel. 

Over the past 5 years, I’ve logged 10,000+ hours on this platform. I’ve built a following of 100,000+ by programming my LinkedIn like my own TV channel. My content isn’t random. It’s strategic. Story-driven. Designed to drive real outcomes.

And it’s worked, generating $10M+ in deals for the companies I've worked. Read that one again. Not me, but my companies. The power of companies leveraging LinkedIn is the future of LinkedIn. 

In 2021, I launched a global  events company while working with a Mark Cuban and Ashton Kutcher startup, producing 40+ events in LA, NYC, Dubai, Paris, and London that drove millions of dollars in  revenue. I understand how to leverage LinkedIn so companies can drive real results. 

A few highlights:

-Closed a strategic partnership with CAA
-Raised $7M in funding for a Mark Cuban venture-backed startup
-Secured $4.13M in brand deals for one of the world’s top celebrities

My background spans banking (JPMorganChase), global advisory (PwC, KPMG), and a decade as CFO/COO in the luxury design world, managing 50+ people and overseeing $40M+ in ARR and $1B+ in real estate projects for icons like President Obama, George Clooney, and Cindy Crawford.

I’ve lived and worked in LA, NYC, and Dubai. I’ve built communities in tech, luxury, and now the creator economy. I’m obsessed with solving complex business problems through storytelling, partnerships, and scalable brand strategy.

Always open to meeting new and interesting people that love life, love to win, and love to make the world a better place.

John Kraski

Want to win on LinkedIn?

Talk about someone other than yourself.

My first post of 2026 is a shoutout.

To Nila Makhfi, M.S.

We both went to University of Southern California.
Same school. Same campus. Same Trojan pride. 
Never crossed paths.

Then LinkedIn happened.

We connected here.
Finally talked this past week.
And now we're teaming up.

We're putting together an event at USC. 
To teach students the power of LinkedIn.

Because in this job market?
A personal brand isn't a nice-to-have.
It's a necessity.

And Nila Makhfi, M.S. gets it.

She graduated with a 4.0 in her master's.
Consulted for Snap, LinkedIn, and Dunkin'.
Founded LinkedUp to bring creators together IRL.

The woman is a force.

That's the magic of LinkedIn.

It connects people who should've met years ago.
And turns strangers into collaborators.

So here's to 2026.
Here's to Nila Makhfi, M.S.
And here's to talking about someone other than yourself.

Trust me and Nila Makhfi, M.S. on this one.

Creator, Celebrity, and Brand Partnerships Executive I MBA in Entertainment, University of Southern California

I showed up to a conference with no friends.

Then Monica Khan saved my life.

Creator Economy Live in Las Vegas.
Hosted by my good friend Justin Johnson

Hundreds of creators.
Everyone already knew each other.
I knew no one.

I started having flashbacks of high school.

Was I going to be walking around like a lost little puppy dog?

With no friends that wanted to hang out with me. 

Then Monica Khan came to the rescue. 

I landed in Vegas around the same time as her.

She said, "Don't worry. Stick with me. I'll introduce you to everyone."

And she did.

I met so many amazing people including: 

David Neyman, Joe Sousa, Val Guerrera, Kimia Kalbasi, Gary Zucker, Garin Fons, Adrienne Fleming, MS, Erica Fieldman, Kenny Layton, Colin Duethorn, Meredith McLuckie, Grace Niu, Lisa Zlotnick, Courtney Buckhanon, Brendan Gahan, Keith Bendes, France Tantiado, Dylan Huey, Nila Makhfi, M.S., Oksana Kravchenko, Morgan Swinford, and so many more. 

Monica Khan took me under her wing.
Introduced me to her friends.
Invited me to her events.

She even got me into an amazing dinner hosted by Later.
Special shoutout to Tim Clarke, Scott Sutton, and Lyle Stevens. 

Think about that.

Most people at conferences network for themselves.
The best ones open doors for others.

That's the difference between a connector and a collector.

Collectors hoard relationships.
Connectors share them.

Make sure to follow Monica Khan.

Trust me and every person with no friends at a conference on this one.

Your degree won't get you hired.

Your network will.

21% of Duke MBAs were still job hunting 3 months after graduation.

15% at Michigan.

That's according to The Wall Street Journal.

These are elite programs.

And the job market is still brutal.

Here's the uncomfortable truth most students learn too late:

A degree gets you educated.
A network gets you employed.

That's why I'm heading back to the University of Southern California.

I got my MBA there.
Now I want to give something back.

I'll be on a panel about personal branding on LinkedIn.

With Nila Makhfi, M.S., Jessica Lam, and Dylan Huey.

We're breaking down how to actually build relationships that lead to jobs.

Because the students who crack this?

They're not sending 300 applications.

They're getting warm intros.
Recruiter DMs.
Offers before graduation.

LinkedIn isn't a resume database.

It's a relationship engine.

And right now, relationships beat résumés.

Register here: https://lnkd.in/gbzJREK4

Trust me and every student struggling to find a job on this one.

The best kept secret on LinkedIn?

Azzy Maizer✨.

Not going to lie.

I thought she was AI at first.

Her posts are seriously next level.

The pacing.
The energy.
The intelligence.

Then we got on a call.

Two hours later, I realized I was wrong.

AI has nothing on her.

She's just operating on a different level.

Goldman Sachs.
Now part of Deloitte's stealth venture arm.
Building relationships with Anthropic, OpenAI, and Neo4j.

She creates playbooks before the market even exists.

Her banner says it all: "Together makes progress."

She's not here to chase followers.

She's here to make the world a better place.

That's why I follow her.

I love connecting with people who don't think like me.

People who open my mind to new ways of thinking.

Azzy is one of those people.

Do yourself a favor.

Follow Azzy Maizer✨.

Trust me and the future of AI on this one.

Design Directive Inc.

•	Works closely with clients to identify essential business goals and needs in order to envision and deploy mission critical digital technologies to attain target objectives.  
•	Guides product development team on effective product execution while prioritizing user needs, product quality, and sales targets.
•	Utilizes digital automation tools to streamline and automate business processes in order to improve operational efficiency and productivity.
•	Conducts audits of existing digital channels to identify and eliminate inefficiencies.
•	Utilizes data aggregator tools (Semrush®) to devise and implement effective and budget oriented SEO strategies to ensure long term profitability.
•	Envisions and oversees all aspects of web development projects to ensure optimal efficiency and accuracy of execution.
•	Analyzes data and performance metrics to identify opportunities for improvement.

Principal –  Digital Technology Advisor

Conglom Inc.

•	Envisioned, researched, and developed all proprietary product collections in close collaboration with executive and sales teams.
•	Actively managed a portfolio of consumer products with an average annual sales volume of approximately $40M.
•	Developed mission critical relationships with suppliers, vendors and manufacturers to ensure cost-effective production of high-quality products that reflect the company’s design philosophy, while realizing margin targets.
•	Reviewed product sales performance metrics and key performance indicators to better understand customer needs and desires in order to optimize profitability through precise product market fit.
•	Guided product development team on effective product execution while prioritizing user needs, product quality, and sales requirements.
•	Collaborated with key retail customers to ensure precise and timely execution of deliverables.
•	Ensured product design conformance to numerous engineering and regulatory standards.
•	Regularly traveled internationally to oversee and support international manufacturing and sales teams, evaluate new suppliers, and to source innovative new products.
•	Provided technical assistance to sales, marketing, and customer service departments.

Head of Product Development - Kitchen & Bath

Eserro Inc.

•	Envisioned, developed, and commercialized over 15 new consumer products.
•	Devised and established IP licensing agreements with strategic industry partners.
•	Planned and executed product launches via tradeshows, and publicity campaigns.
•	Maintained key client relationships and oversaw sales and marketing initiatives.
•	Performed business due diligence and management, finance, and accounting functions.
•	Secured new funding and financing for commercialization of new products.
•	Managed development and implementation of product and social media websites.

Founder –  Product Manager

FlashPoint Design and Tool Inc.

•	Envisioned and developed numerous successful consumer products.
•	Managed a team of fabricators in the development of prototypes and production tooling.
•	Assisted sales and marketing teams in product launches and promotions.
•	Researched new materials and technologies to identify new business opportunities.
•	Provided critical manufacturing support to key clients.

Product Development Manager

Skyjack Inc.

•	Responsible for the creation and control of quality assurance documentation.
•	Audited quality conformance processes and procedures.
•	Implemented engineering change orders with production and quality teams.
•	Documented design revisions and updated technical product manuals.
•	Sampled production output to verify conformance to engineering standards.

Quality Assurance Technician

I specialize in enabling companies to adopt digital technologies to streamline processes, increase efficiency, and improve customer experiences. By leveraging emerging digital tools and platforms, I empower my clients to improve their data analysis and decision-making capabilities, and increase their productivity and revenues in the process. Lastly, as approved Canada Digital Adoption Program (CDAP) digital advisor, I help companies to get up to:

•	$15,000 in funding for the development of a digital adoption plan;
•	$100,000 in 0% interest loans from BDC for implementation of digital technologies; and
•	$7,300 in wage subsidies to help with their digital transformation.

Let’s talk to strategize how digital technologies can help to accelerate the growth of your business.

taplio

The Battle

John Kraski

Tom Korzen

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taplio

The Battle

John Kraski

Tom Korzen

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Engagements

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Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}John Kraski's LinkedIn Performance

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