Bozoma Saint John
Born 1977 · Age 48
American–Ghanaian marketing executive and businessperson; former CMO of Netflix, CMO of Endeavor, Chief Brand Officer at Uber, Apple Music marketing lead; author and founder of consumer brand(s).
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Life & Career Timeline
Father earned PhD from Wesleyan University
Her father received a PhD in ethnomusicology from Wesleyan the same year she was born; he is cited as a major inspiration.
Born in Middletown, Connecticut
Bozoma A. Arthur (later Saint John) was born in Middletown, CT to Rev. Dr. Appianda Arthur and Aba Arthur.
Family moved to Ghana (at ~6 months)
Her family moved to Ghana when she was about six months old; she spent her early childhood between Ghana, Nairobi and Washington, D.C.
Family settled in Colorado Springs, Colorado
Saint John's family settled in Colorado Springs when she was 12; she cites growing up between continents as formative.
Brought Jay-Z to Wesleyan campus
As a student organizer she helped bring Jay-Z to campus (circa 1996) and taught a student-run class on Tupac.
Graduated Wesleyan University (BA)
Graduated from Wesleyan University with a degree in English and African-American studies.
Temp/hired at SpikeDDB (Spike Lee’s agency)
Worked first as a temp answering phones and later became an office coordinator and then hired at SpikeDDB — her entry into marketing/advertising.
Worked at Arnold Worldwide (advertising agency)
Early-career role at the advertising agency Arnold Worldwide (dates approximated after SpikeDDB).
Married Peter Saint John
Married Peter Saint John (marriage year listed as 2003).
Vice President of Marketing at Ashley Stewart (approx.)
Worked at plus-size fashion brand Ashley Stewart as VP of Marketing (source shows this role existed; precise years vary across bios).
Joined PepsiCo as Senior Marketing Manager
Saint John joined PepsiCo in 2005 and rose through music and entertainment marketing roles during almost a decade at the company.
Birth of daughter Lael Saint-John (approx.)
Daughter Lael's birth year inferred from multiple sources: she was ~4 in 2013 and 8 in 2017, placing birth around 2009.
Became Head of Music & Entertainment Marketing at PepsiCo (approx.)
Led PepsiCo's music- and festival-based marketing, collaborating with major artists and events (date approximated during her 2005–2014 tenure).
Husband Peter Saint John died
Her husband Peter Saint John was diagnosed with cancer and died in late 2013; she became a single parent.
Consecutive recognition: Billboard Women in Music appearances
Appeared on Billboard's Women in Music list for multiple consecutive years; later noted among Billboard's halls/recognitions after a decade of appearances.
Inducted into American Advertising Federation Hall of Achievement
Recognized by the American Advertising Federation with inclusion in its Hall of Achievement (year cited by bios as 2014).
Joined Beats Music as Head of Marketing
Recruited by Jimmy Iovine in April 2014 to lead marketing at Beats Music; relocated to Los Angeles for the role.
Beats acquired by Apple (shortly after she joined)
Beats was purchased by Apple shortly after she joined Beats; Saint John became part of Apple's marketing organization.
Became Apple employee — Head of Global Consumer Marketing, iTunes & Apple Music
Starting August 1, 2014, she was an Apple employee leading global consumer marketing for iTunes and Apple Music.
Billboard: Top Women in Music (list)
Named to Billboard's Top Women in Music list (2015).
Named in Fortune's 40 Under 40
Fortune listed Saint John in their '40 Under 40' list (2016).
Billboard Female Executive of the Year; Fortune 40 Under 40; other lists
Recognized across the industry in 2016: Billboard Female Executive of the Year, Fortune 40 Under 40, Fast Company/Adweek honors, etc.
Featured widely in industry lists and profiles (Ad Age, Adweek, Fast Company, Ebony, etc.)
Multiple features across Ad Age, Adweek, Fast Company, Ebony and others naming her among most creative, most powerful, and most exciting personalities (2015–2017 era).
Breakout presentation at Apple WWDC (Apple Music redesign)
Delivered a widely praised, viral presentation of the redesigned Apple Music at WWDC 2016 that significantly raised her public profile.
Named a Henry Crown Fellow, Aspen Institute
Named a Henry Crown Fellow of the Aspen Institute (press release March 2017).
Joined Uber as Chief Brand Officer (CBO)
On June 6, 2017, Saint John left Apple to become Chief Brand Officer at Uber during a period of intense scrutiny for the company.
Uber partnered with Girls Who Code; she supported diversity initiatives
While CBO at Uber, the company announced partnerships (e.g., with Girls Who Code) and she supported efforts to increase diversity in tech.
Left Uber; joined Endeavor as Chief Marketing Officer (CMO)
In June 2018 Saint John left Uber and was named Chief Marketing Officer at Endeavor (parent of WME, UFC, Miss Universe, etc.).
Led crisis-branding work for Papa John's (while at Endeavor)
Helped lead a branding/PR project for Papa John's after racist comments by its founder, working on rebranding and communications.
Joined boards and advisory roles (Pencils of Promise, Vital Voices, Girls Who Code, Wesleyan advisory)
Serves as Global Ambassador to Pencils of Promise (Ghana), on boards of Vital Voices and Girls Who Code, and as a Wesleyan advisory council member (dates vary).
Featured speaker/keynote at major conferences (SXSW, TED, etc.)
Has given major talks and keynotes at events including SXSW and TED (bios and speaker pages list videos and appearances; dates vary by event).
Named Global Ambassador to Ghana for Pencils of Promise
Joined Pencils of Promise as a Global Ambassador to Ghana (reported Dec 2019), aligning philanthropic work with education in Ghana.
Launched 'Back to Biz with Katie and Boz' podcast
In May 2020 Saint John launched a limited-series iHeart podcast with Katie Couric about business reopenings and later systemic racism topics.
Co-launched #ShareTheMicNow Instagram initiative
On June 10, 2020 she helped launch #ShareTheMicNow: 52 Black women took over the Instagram feeds of 52 white women to amplify Black women's voices.
Named Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) at Netflix (announcement)
Netflix announced Saint John as its new CMO on June 30, 2020; she was the company's first Black C-level executive and the third CMO in ~18 months.
Started as Netflix CMO
Saint John officially started her role as Netflix CMO in August 2020.
Created 'The Badass Workshop' (online course) and curator
Developed an online course 'The Badass Workshop' to teach career and leadership skills to those who feel marginalized; date approximated from bios.
Taught Harvard Business School intensive program 'Anatomy of a Badass'
In January 2021 Saint John taught an SIP for MBA candidates at Harvard Business School called 'Anatomy of a Badass'.
Named Forbes #1 Most Influential CMO in the World (reported in bios/press)
Multiple speaker/agency bios and press identify her as Forbes' #1 Most Influential CMO in 2021 (industry recognition cited).
Harvard Business School publishes case study 'Leading with Authenticity and Urgency'
HBS published a multi-media case study about her career and leadership; the case is used in executive education and courses.
Member of CFDA Black Advisory Board; appointed Special Envoy/Ambassador roles (approx.)
Named to CFDA's Black Advisory Board and cited as an Ambassador for the African Diaspora and Special Envoy to the President of Ghana in bios; dates not precisely reported.
Recognized as one of 23 Black leaders shaping history (CNBC profile inclusion)
Included in profiles/lists of influential Black leaders shaping history and business media narratives in 2020–2021.
Listed on numerous 'most influential' & 'powerful' lists across media
By 2022 she had been repeatedly listed by Forbes, Fortune, Billboard, Adweek, Fast Company and others for influence in marketing and entertainment.
Departed Netflix as Chief Marketing Officer
She left the CMO role at Netflix in March 2022 (press reported her departure March 3, 2022).
Inducted into American Marketing Association (AMA) Marketing Hall of Fame
AMA New York announced the 2022 Marketing Hall of Fame inductees, which included Bozoma Saint John.
Increased public profile as author and entrepreneur
Following publication of her memoir and the launch/branding efforts around Eve by Boz and other projects, she transitioned toward entrepreneurship and media appearances.
Founded/Creator: Eve by Boz (hair & hair-care brand)
Listed as Creator and CEO of Eve by Boz — a hair extension and care brand celebrating Black women; exact founding date unspecified in sources.
Published memoir 'The Urgent Life'
Her memoir 'The Urgent Life: My Story of Love, Loss, and Survival' was published by Viking on February 21, 2023.
Joined 'The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' (announced)
It was announced May 22, 2024 that Saint John would join the cast of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills as a full-time cast member for season 14.
Key Achievement Ages
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