Ross Settles
Faculty Associate at Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University- Claim this Profile
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Bio
Amy Dalton
Smart. Inspiring. Insightful. These are just a few of the words I would use to describe Ross Settles. It was a sincere pleasure to work with Ross at Knight Ridder Digital. He was a thoughtful mentor and an important member of the leadership team at KRD. It was a pivotal time in the company -- it had just gone through a substantive re-organization and a leadership change -- and his strategic vision and marketing chops were put to the test. As a marketer, he is an asset to any company. As a boss, he is a creative leader. I would consider myself lucky to work with him again.
Mark Barnekow
I first met and worked with Ross at A.T. Kearney. When I interviewed him for the position, there were several other business school candidates under consideration. Given our backgrounds having lived and worked in Asia, we hit if off immediately. Bar none, Ross was the best candidate for the job. Ross has always impressed me with his intelligence. He has a thirst for knowledge and incredible recall. He is also highly analytical and has a great ability to command the room with his expertise in many given areas. His work ethic is unparalled and he has great integrity. As a fellow Sinophile, Ross has a passion for the Chinese language and culture which is unmatched. Given the opportunity, I would always choose to have Ross on my team and recommend him without reservation.
Amy Dalton
Smart. Inspiring. Insightful. These are just a few of the words I would use to describe Ross Settles. It was a sincere pleasure to work with Ross at Knight Ridder Digital. He was a thoughtful mentor and an important member of the leadership team at KRD. It was a pivotal time in the company -- it had just gone through a substantive re-organization and a leadership change -- and his strategic vision and marketing chops were put to the test. As a marketer, he is an asset to any company. As a boss, he is a creative leader. I would consider myself lucky to work with him again.
Mark Barnekow
I first met and worked with Ross at A.T. Kearney. When I interviewed him for the position, there were several other business school candidates under consideration. Given our backgrounds having lived and worked in Asia, we hit if off immediately. Bar none, Ross was the best candidate for the job. Ross has always impressed me with his intelligence. He has a thirst for knowledge and incredible recall. He is also highly analytical and has a great ability to command the room with his expertise in many given areas. His work ethic is unparalled and he has great integrity. As a fellow Sinophile, Ross has a passion for the Chinese language and culture which is unmatched. Given the opportunity, I would always choose to have Ross on my team and recommend him without reservation.
Amy Dalton
Smart. Inspiring. Insightful. These are just a few of the words I would use to describe Ross Settles. It was a sincere pleasure to work with Ross at Knight Ridder Digital. He was a thoughtful mentor and an important member of the leadership team at KRD. It was a pivotal time in the company -- it had just gone through a substantive re-organization and a leadership change -- and his strategic vision and marketing chops were put to the test. As a marketer, he is an asset to any company. As a boss, he is a creative leader. I would consider myself lucky to work with him again.
Mark Barnekow
I first met and worked with Ross at A.T. Kearney. When I interviewed him for the position, there were several other business school candidates under consideration. Given our backgrounds having lived and worked in Asia, we hit if off immediately. Bar none, Ross was the best candidate for the job. Ross has always impressed me with his intelligence. He has a thirst for knowledge and incredible recall. He is also highly analytical and has a great ability to command the room with his expertise in many given areas. His work ethic is unparalled and he has great integrity. As a fellow Sinophile, Ross has a passion for the Chinese language and culture which is unmatched. Given the opportunity, I would always choose to have Ross on my team and recommend him without reservation.
Amy Dalton
Smart. Inspiring. Insightful. These are just a few of the words I would use to describe Ross Settles. It was a sincere pleasure to work with Ross at Knight Ridder Digital. He was a thoughtful mentor and an important member of the leadership team at KRD. It was a pivotal time in the company -- it had just gone through a substantive re-organization and a leadership change -- and his strategic vision and marketing chops were put to the test. As a marketer, he is an asset to any company. As a boss, he is a creative leader. I would consider myself lucky to work with him again.
Mark Barnekow
I first met and worked with Ross at A.T. Kearney. When I interviewed him for the position, there were several other business school candidates under consideration. Given our backgrounds having lived and worked in Asia, we hit if off immediately. Bar none, Ross was the best candidate for the job. Ross has always impressed me with his intelligence. He has a thirst for knowledge and incredible recall. He is also highly analytical and has a great ability to command the room with his expertise in many given areas. His work ethic is unparalled and he has great integrity. As a fellow Sinophile, Ross has a passion for the Chinese language and culture which is unmatched. Given the opportunity, I would always choose to have Ross on my team and recommend him without reservation.
Experience
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Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University
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United States
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Research Services
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1 - 100 Employee
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Faculty Associate
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Sep 2022 - Present
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Self-employed
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Real Estate
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1 - 100 Employee
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Business Consultant and Investor
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Aug 2017 - Present
Provided independent business planning consulting, mentoring and research support to independent media in Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Myanmar), South Asia (Bangladesh), Australia and the Middle East. Provided independent business planning consulting, mentoring and research support to independent media in Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Myanmar), South Asia (Bangladesh), Australia and the Middle East.
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The University of Hong Kong
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Hong Kong
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Higher Education
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700 & Above Employee
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Adjunct Professor, Journalism and Media Studies Centre
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Aug 2018 - Jul 2022
Adjunct professor for media innovation and entrepreneurship. Adjunct professor for media innovation and entrepreneurship.
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Media Development Investment Fund
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United States
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Non-profit Organizations
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1 - 100 Employee
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Senior Advisor - Digital Media
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Jan 2012 - Jul 2017
Providing digital media development and consulting to MDIF clients. Providing digital media development and consulting to MDIF clients.
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Visiting Lecturer, Journalism and Media Studies Centre
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Jan 2017 - May 2017
Visiting Lecturer at HKU's Journalism and Media Studies Centre where I guest taught a 12-week course for students in the Master's of Journalism class on Digital Media Entrepreneurship. The goal for the class was to provide students in the Master's of Journalism program a grounding in the business of media, including revenue generation, product development and fund raising. Students developed independent media business projects for presentation for their final grade. Visiting Lecturer at HKU's Journalism and Media Studies Centre where I guest taught a 12-week course for students in the Master's of Journalism class on Digital Media Entrepreneurship. The goal for the class was to provide students in the Master's of Journalism program a grounding in the business of media, including revenue generation, product development and fund raising. Students developed independent media business projects for presentation for their final grade.
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Visiting Lecturer, Journalism and Media Studies Centre
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Jan 2016 - May 2016
Visiting Lecturer at HKU's Journalism and Media Studies Centre where I guest taught a 12-week course for students in the Master's of Journalism class on Digital Media Entrepreneurship. Visiting Lecturer at HKU's Journalism and Media Studies Centre where I guest taught a 12-week course for students in the Master's of Journalism class on Digital Media Entrepreneurship.
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Visiting Lecturer, Journalism and Media Studies Centre
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Jan 2015 - May 2015
Visiting Lecturer at HKU's Journalism and Media Studies Centre where I guest taught a new 12-week course for students in the Master's of Journalism class on Digital Media Entrepreneurship. Visiting Lecturer at HKU's Journalism and Media Studies Centre where I guest taught a new 12-week course for students in the Master's of Journalism class on Digital Media Entrepreneurship.
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Business Consultant and Investor
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Jun 2006 - Feb 2012
Doing Business as the sole proprietorship "Memespan", Settles provided strategic, product, marketing and business development/sales support for companies bringing new approaches to online media and advertising. Special emphasis on advertising and marketing uses for structured data/listings as well as social media. Clients include Zvents.com, The South China Morning Post Group (Hong Kong), The Knight Foundation, Yahoo! Local., and MediaNews Group (California Newspaper Partnership). Additional areas of work include paid content models for for online and mobile content. Engagements vary between traditional consulting, management of start-up business functions and venture involvement in new product development. Show less
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International Center for Journalists
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United States
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Non-profit Organization Management
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100 - 200 Employee
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Knight International Journalism Fellow
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May 2010 - Jul 2011
As a Knight International Journalism Fellow, Settles worked with independent online media companies in East and Southeast Asia to develop sustainable revenue models from advertising, subscriptions/paid content and related services. Based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Settles works mostly with MalaysiaKini.com the largest online media company in Malaysia. As a Knight International Journalism Fellow, Settles worked with independent online media companies in East and Southeast Asia to develop sustainable revenue models from advertising, subscriptions/paid content and related services. Based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Settles works mostly with MalaysiaKini.com the largest online media company in Malaysia.
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South China Morning Post Publishers
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Hong Kong
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Book and Periodical Publishing
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1 - 100 Employee
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Director, Digital Business
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Feb 2009 - Nov 2009
Led online businesses at one of East Asia's leading English language media companies, including online news portal, online recruitment products, and specialty online advertiser directories. Led online business development efforts for expansion efforts in Southeast Asia as well as China. Led online businesses at one of East Asia's leading English language media companies, including online news portal, online recruitment products, and specialty online advertiser directories. Led online business development efforts for expansion efforts in Southeast Asia as well as China.
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Knight Ridder
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Book and Periodical Publishing
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1 - 100 Employee
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Vice President, Strategic Marketing, Knight Ridder Digital
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Apr 2002 - Jun 2006
Responsible for Strategic Planning, Business Development, Brand Marketing and Research for digital division of second largest US newspaper company. During tenure with Knight Ridder Digital, Settles led company's efforts to invest in social networking, local shopping and deals, local search and aggregation. Invested companies include Topix.com, ShopLocal.com, and Tribe Networks. Also responsible for local marketing and development for classified sites - CareerBuilder.com, Cars.com, Homefinder.com. Company acquired by the McClatchy Company (NYSE: MNI) in June 2006. Show less
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SVP - Marketing/International
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Nov 2000 - Dec 2001
Responsible for international product development, strategic planning, public relations and marketing at early media leader, covering internet development, venture capital and technology. Company experienced dramatic downsizing to weather the downturn in tech advertising during the "internet bust". Assets eventually sold - original team disbanded. Responsible for international product development, strategic planning, public relations and marketing at early media leader, covering internet development, venture capital and technology. Company experienced dramatic downsizing to weather the downturn in tech advertising during the "internet bust". Assets eventually sold - original team disbanded.
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Times Mirror
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United States
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Appliances, Electrical, and Electronics Manufacturing
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VP - Marketing & Product Development, TM Digital
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Apr 1997 - Jul 2000
Responsible for marketing, public relations, and new product development at TImes Mirror-owned The Baltimore Sun, and eventually at the corporate digital subsidiary Times Mirror Interactive. Times Mirror acquired by Tribune in 2000. Worked briefly for Tribune Interactive in Baltimore and Chicago, left Tribune in July 2000 to pursue other interests. Responsible for marketing, public relations, and new product development at TImes Mirror-owned The Baltimore Sun, and eventually at the corporate digital subsidiary Times Mirror Interactive. Times Mirror acquired by Tribune in 2000. Worked briefly for Tribune Interactive in Baltimore and Chicago, left Tribune in July 2000 to pursue other interests.
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OMRI
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France
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Retail Health and Personal Care Products
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1 - 100 Employee
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Publisher
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May 1996 - Mar 1997
Managed the commercial operations for magazine providing news and analysis of the cultural, political and economic developments in the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. Organisation downsized and sold to largest client in 1997. Managed the commercial operations for magazine providing news and analysis of the cultural, political and economic developments in the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. Organisation downsized and sold to largest client in 1997.
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Kannon Consulting
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United States
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Business Consulting and Services
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1 - 100 Employee
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Co-Founder and Partner
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Jan 1994 - Apr 1996
Co-founded strategy and marketing consultancy focused on developing marketing and product strategies for media companies. Clients included Ameritech Services (local US telco), Landmark Newspapers, Guy Gannett Newspapers, The Baltimore Sun. Co-founded strategy and marketing consultancy focused on developing marketing and product strategies for media companies. Clients included Ameritech Services (local US telco), Landmark Newspapers, Guy Gannett Newspapers, The Baltimore Sun.
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The Cambridge Group
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United States
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Business Consulting and Services
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1 - 100 Employee
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Consultant
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May 1992 - Dec 1993
Marketing and product development consultant focused on developing customer focused product, marketing, and brand positioning plans for media and consumer products companies. Clients included The Weather Channel, San Jose Mercury News, AT&T Universal Card, and the Chicago Tribune. Marketing and product development consultant focused on developing customer focused product, marketing, and brand positioning plans for media and consumer products companies. Clients included The Weather Channel, San Jose Mercury News, AT&T Universal Card, and the Chicago Tribune.
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A.T. Kearney
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Brazil
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Accounting
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Associate
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May 1989 - Apr 1991
Consultant in International Strategy/Marketing. Worked principally on international development and transportation assignments in China, East Asia and the US. Consultant in International Strategy/Marketing. Worked principally on international development and transportation assignments in China, East Asia and the US.
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Education
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1987 - 1989
The University of Chicago Booth School of Business
MBA, Marketing, Economics -
1982 - 1983
Fudan University
Chinese Literature; 中文 -
1977 - 1982
Princeton University
AB, East Asian Studies - Chinese
