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Neil Golden

Neil Golden

Senior Lecturer and Director of Experiential Learning and IMC Employer Engagement

Office: Fisk 107A

Neil Golden began his relationship with Northwestern in 1979 when he started as an undergraduate student. He graduated in 1983. While he spoke at Medill and Kellogg periodically starting in 2007, he proudly joined the Medill faculty as lecturer and faculty adviser in 2014. He now also serves as co-director of the IMC Immersion Quarter.

Golden is a Fortune 500 consumer products/retail leader with 15+ years of C-level and national leadership and long history of board engagement.

He currently serves as an independent board director for Restaurant Brands International, Learners Edge and Data Source. 

Golden also serves as an advisory board member for Home Partners of America and executive consultant with Revenue Management Solutions.

Prior to this, Golden enjoyed a 24-year career with McDonald’s. His most recent position was chief marketing officer for McDonald's USA, which he held for six years. During this time, he played an active role on the leadership team, which resulted in record visitation, sales, profits, market-share and stock valuation. Additionally, he held positions at Burger King and RC Cola Co. as well as competed on the Men’s International Professional Tennis Tour.

He has a track record of success in driving strong revenue, profit and market share results across diverse business environments in addition to his many years of experience serving on boards. Golden is masterful at changing business paradigms, creating clear and compelling vision, and inspiring and aligning diverse groups. He has earned a reputation as a customer advocate and pioneer in creating strong value propositions across multi-cultural, generational and economic segments. He is a known subject-matter expert in brand building, corporate image, multi-media and classic 4P marketing principles.

Golden is a native of Chicago and a proud family man who is happily married to his wife of 30 years and has four spirited and active children.