--- title: Meet Kantar's J Walker Smith description: Kantar Retail's expert J Walker Smith covers consumer trends and futures, generations, demographics, economics, social change and culture, and storytelling --- [![KantarRetailIQ](https://retailiq.kantar.com/hubfs/KantarRetailIQ.svg "KantarRetailIQ")](https://retailiq.kantar.com/?hsLang=en) ![](https://retailiq.kantar.com/hubfs/public_site_assets/imgs/moble-menu-close-icon.svg) - Solutions - [Retail IQ](https://retailiq.kantar.com/iq) - [Shopper Insights](https://retailiq.kantar.com/shopper) - [Category IQ](https://retailiq.kantar.com/categoryiq) - [Access the Experts](https://retailiq.kantar.com/access-the-experts) - Insights - [Insights for Purchase](https://retailiq.kantar.com/reportsforpurchase) - [Complimentary Insights](https://kriq.kantarretailiq.com/en/p-iq/insights/insights-on-demand) - [Experiences](https://retailiq.kantar.com/experiences) - [Events](https://retailiq.kantar.com/events) - [Webinars](https://kriq.kantarretailiq.com/en/p-iq/experiences/webinars) - [Podcasts](https://retailiq.kantar.com/retail-sound-bites) - [About Us](https://retailiq.kantar.com/about-us) - [Newsroom](https://retailiq.kantar.com/newsroom) - [Login](https://kantarretailiq.com/Login.aspx) - [Request a demo](https://retailiq.kantar.com/contactus) [![search-icon](https://retailiq.kantar.com/hubfs/search-icon.svg "search-icon")](https://retailiq.kantar.com/?hsLang=en) ![](https://retailiq.kantar.com/hubfs/public_site_assets/imgs/moble-menu-icon.svg) ![Walker-Smith-300x300](https://retailiq.kantar.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Walker-Smith-300x300.jpg?width=400&height=400&name=Walker-Smith-300x300.jpg)   [![Get in touch](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3788602/3761ee07-7cc4-4a38-a5dd-258e029c095f.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3788602/3761ee07-7cc4-4a38-a5dd-258e029c095f) ###### KNOWLEDGE LEAD ### J Walker Smith ##### Coverage areas include: Consumer trends and futures, generations, demographics, economics, social change and culture, storytelling Walker has been described by Fortune as “one of America’s leading analysts​ on consumer trends.” He is co-author of four highly regarded books, a blogger, a MediaPost columnist, an ex-podcast host and a former public radio commentator. Walker’s insights and ideas appear frequently in news stories, podcasts and webinars. He was recognized by his peers as an inductee into​ the Market Research Council Hall of Fame and as the recipient of the American Marketing Association’s Charles Coolidge Parlin Award for outstanding contributions to marketing. He is a three-time winner of the WPP Atticus Award for thought-leadership and an inductee into the N.C. Journalism and Media Hall of Fame. He was a featured expert interviewed by Tom Brokaw for a segment in the CNBC special “BOOMER$,” and he was one of the authorities narrating the “Generation Boom” bonus content included with the Season 7 Mad Men DVD. Walker is a former director of Premiere Global Services (NYSE until 2015 sale to Sirius Capital) and a past president of the Foundation Board of the Hussman School of Journalism and Media at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, from which he holds a doctorate in Mass Communication. ​ ![KANTAR_Small_Logo_White_RGB](https://retailiq.kantar.com/hubfs/KRiQ%20Atlas%20Integration/KANTAR_Small_Logo_White_RGB.svg "KANTAR_Small_Logo_White_RGB") Copyright © 2026 Kantar #### Company - [Terms of use](https://www.kantar.com/Terms-and-Conditions) - [Kantar Retail IQ Privacy Policy](https://retailiq.kantar.com/privacy-policy) - [About Kantar](https://www.kantar.com/About) - [Privacy](https://www.kantar.com/Cookies-Policies)