AskMHB is a Strategy & Innovation Studio

We work with clients at key points of inflection and evolution to solve their brand and business challenges.

Clients

Companies call us
when they need to:

  • Change or evolve brand strategy

  • Create and launch new products and services

  • Unlock insights to understand customers

  • Challenge category leaders

  • Work with a strategic thought partner to help solve problems quickly

Our Expertise

Our core capabilities center around brand strategy: The long-term vision and plan that helps your business to grow, connect and compete.

Research

Qualitative Research
Quantitative Research 
C-Suite Interviews
Workshop Facilitation
Cultural Insights

Strategy

Brand Positioning
Brand Architecture
Brand Storytelling
Campaign Strategy
Product Strategy

Implementation

Creative Campaigns 
B2B & B2C Comms
Executive Comms
Sales Content
Pitch Decks

Projects

  • Global research study of teenagers for the Nike Brand Innovation Lab

  • Brand strategy for Samuel Adams

  • National study & strategy on immigration for Unbound Philanthropy

  • New product development for Chobani

  • Study on HR Innovation for Capital One

  • ROI analysis of a Formula 1 sponsorship

  • Futurist workshops with the Johnson & Johnson Med Tech team

  • Strategy for the annual 'Year in Music’ execution by Spotify

  • In-Home ethnographies with die-hard basketball fans for the NBA

  • Strategic workshops with the in-house creative team at Spectrum

  • Digital innovation strategy for the Bloomin’ Brands restaurant group

AskMHB has been run by me - Michael Hastings-Black - since 2013. I’ve stayed independent and agile because I love doing the actual work of strategy. Diving deep with Clients to unpack, understand and help solve their toughest problems.

It’s dirty. It’s nerdy. And it’s fun.

Sometimes it’s me, other times we’ll build a bespoke project team.

Before AskMHB, I was at Apple as a Creative Strategist, working with Sales, Product, and external partners, as well as leading an internal cultural and technological insights program.

I’ve been an Adjunct Professor at Parsons and have spoken at academic and industry conferences. Prior to that, I was working in film, on farms and for the NYC Parks Department.

I have a B.A. in English from Bowdoin College and also studied urban planning while living in India, South Africa and Brazil.

Nowadays I live with my family in Washington DC. Outside of work, you’ll find me hosting Breakfast Club DC, interviewing creative souls with Spin That Bottle or raising money for non-profits with my t-shirt store Hungry Vintage.

Creative Side Quests

Spin That Bottle

An interview series that injects some joy into your LinkedIn feed. Each respondent gets 9 questions, randomly selected from a set of 99.

Hungry Vintage

A vintage t-shirt store that raises money for non-profits.

Breakfast Club DC

If you’re in DC and you like talking with smart people IRL, we meet every-other-Thursday at The Line Hotel.