Philippe Cesson

Badass-in-Chief™ at CESSON | Provocateur to the best CEOs of America™ | Badass Speaker™ on Digital Growth, AI & Cracking the Generational Code

PHILIPPE CESSON IS HERE TO INFUSE MODERN CEOS WITH HIS SIGNATURE BADASS FLAIR

Philippe Cesson, known as the "Badass in Chief" at CESSON, a standout Digital Marketing Agency, has mastered the art of empowering CEOs with modern strategies, delivered with his trademark wit, provocative humor, and a rich dose of actionable knowledge. With a dynamic combination of repartee and insight, Philippe enables leaders to sharpen their edge and accelerate business growth.

With over 20 years of experience, Philippe has conducted more than 400 presentations, keynote addresses, and workshops in 43 American states (looking at you, Wyoming), as well as in Canada, Mexico, the UK, and several European countries. He has been invited to headline prestigious events and conferences at some of the world’s most iconic venues, including the Javits Center in New York, the Navy Pier in Chicago, and the Blue Danube in Budapest, establishing himself as a highly sought-after speaker. His engaging style and valuable content have earned him a spot in the elite “200 Club” of top-rated Vistage speakers, a testament to his expertise and unique Badass approach.

Philippe’s impressive journey includes serving on the alumni board of the University of Dallas, where he earned his MBA, and presiding over the San Diego French American Chamber of Commerce. Philippe enjoys time with his three children. He also relishes cruising the remote highways of the American Southwest on his iron horse, soaking in the landscape's rugged beauty.

While he eagerly anticipates an AI-fueled, more connected world, Philippe balances his fast-paced professional life with moments of deliberate disconnection like his annual Digital Detox—what he calls a vacation for his mind—and takes pride in being a lifelong student of the ancient Greek and Roman philosophy of Stoicism.

What makes us human hasn't changed much in 2,000 years, which is why getting AI right is humanity's crucial responsibility—and every CEO's ultimate challenge.

His experiences, adventures, and insights into societal and technological shifts shape his dynamic perspective, enabling him to blend innovative business strategies and practical execution with authentic leadership. This makes him a relatable and inspiring curator for CEOs and organizations navigating today’s ever-evolving landscape.


Download Philippe's Bio in PDF below

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TESTIMONIALS

  • Peter Buchanan, TEC Canada

    Philippe´s session was outstanding — several members said he might be the best speaker we’ve ever had. He personally reviewed every member’s website and gave each of us a clear, practical report card on our AI readiness. He had also done his homework on Canadian and provincial privacy and digital marketing laws, so his advice felt both current and very relevant to our businesses. Everyone left with concrete ideas they could put to work right away.

  • Arturo G. Lopez, Vistage Chair

    Philippe Cesson is a true visionary and one of this generation’s most innovative and forward-thinking speakers. Charismatic and an expert in technology, Philippe challenges CEOs to own their individual business style and pushes the boundaries of modern day marketing.

  • Chris Baker - Corporate Vice President, PAREXEL

    Great presentation

  • Michelle Jewett - Owner and CEO, Michelle J. Coaching

    I think we all have information overload. To find someone who can bring meaning and context and curate that content like Phil is valuable.

  • Mark Stefanick - President & CEO, Advantage Benefit Solutions

    Philippe’s presentation on social media was spot on.

  • Eric Toker - Partern, Lemay + Toker

    I really understand how to use social media a little bit more bring it into drive marketing and sales in our organization.

  • Richie Gimmel - President, Atlas Machine and Supply

    Philippe help us find another level of productivity and are getting more done, rather than reacting to emails.

  • Mark G. Gardner - CEO, Avatar Management Services, Inc.

    There is not a day that goes by that I don’t quote Philippe’s theories.

  • Charles Andrews - Chair, Vistage Worldwide

    Philippe is an inspiration. After his presentation, I realized my website did not tell the right story for where I am today. I was inspired by the range of new tools to rebuild my website.

  • Scott Lins - President, Sierra Courier

    Philippe’s presentation helped me use social media in a much broader context, like how I can bring my staff together, customers together, and create more of a learning environment.

  • Elizabeth Brennan - Director of Marketing, BIG Construction

    I definitely took away some great info from Philippe’s presentation for new ways to engage our audience!

  • Lauren Elliott - Attorney, Elliott & Associates Attorneys

    Philippe’s techniques to use technology/data to attract and analyze leads was thought provoking.

  • Steven Friedmann - Partner, Orion Risk Management

    Love Philippe’s presentation! His interaction with each audience member was great. All 5 stars on the Vistage score sheet!

  • Eric Maul - Vice President of Institutional Advancement, San Francisco Zoo

    OMG! The workshop was so much - and Philippe is awesome.

  • Martin Staubus - Executive Director, the Beyster Institute at UCSD Rady School of Management

    Phil was a great presenter, he made it very interesting and relevant, my students love him.

  • Kelly Angelopoulos - Broker, Jameson/Sotheby’s International Realty

    Learned from Philippe the badassery of using social media for your business, out-of-the-box training, and opportunities for improvement.

  • Tom Stacey - VP, Lightstream/SunTrust Bank

    Philippe is the rare marketing pro who has a mastery of classic marketing knowledge AND a thorough understanding of the new technologies. He knows how to help his clients reach more customers, create more sales, and make more money.

  • Barbara Murray - Account Executive, Make It Better Media

    Philippe was charismatic and clear on how to channel efforts to grow brands and be bold and authentic in brand identity.

  • Donald Mcallister - President, Lionakis

    The conversation with Philippe was very stimulating and came at the right time as we reevaluate our social media strategy.

  • Rich Peterson - Founder, Lighthouse Public Affairs

    I was very impressed with Philippe. He gave an excellent presentation and the was unanimous praise for him, personally and professionally.

  • Joe Da Rosa

    I would highly recommend your dynamite presentation to any business interested in staying relevant in an ever-growing Gen X and Gen Y world.

    Thank you!

  • Patrick Kennedy

    I thank Philippe for this and curse him at the same time due to the fact that I got moved from a comfort zone and I am always thinking about what Philippe has taught me. Thanks.

  • Kirby Hom

    Thank you for your enlightening and wonderfully refreshing talk at today’s CCIL meeting. Your talk has strong interest with our company as we try to move forward and stay competitive in the future. Thanks.

  • Susan Mccann

    I wanted to thank you for the phenomenal presentation today! It was so informative and I learned more than I ever imagined! Thanks again!

  • Tom M.

    “I appreciate and value the Card Deck (Presentation) that was shared and provided for our download. I will certainly share some of its content with my team. As it is applicable on many fronts. Thanks for that.”

  • Loren M.

    “Great topic, great delivery”

  • Trisha T.

    “I really like the generations part of your presentation. I keep thinking about how I could use this information in my practice. I will be in touch. Thanks again. Enjoy your time with your family.”

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Celebrating 20 years, CESSON began in a California garage in 2005 with a bold vision: to help businesses navigate the digital marketing revolution. Today, it has grown into a powerhouse marketing and training agency, driving success nationwide through digital campaigns, content creation, social media management, search engine optimization (SEO), and website development. By blending human expertise with AI technology, CESSON delivers measurable results that keep businesses ahead of the curve. With an average client tenure three times longer than the industry standard, CESSON’s results-driven approach continues to create a lasting impact.

Now is the time for action-oriented,
results-driven events and training

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