MANDALA

BILL RYAN

Brand Narrative Strategiest ​

 

​William (Bill) Ryan's journey began in the early 1970s when he became deeply involved in the Transcendental Meditation organization, working closely with the organization throughout his twenties. Bill spent two years at Maharishi International University, where he headed the audio-visual department, producing over 300 hours of content that developed both his technical expertise and his leadership acumen.

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In 1980, Bill moved to San Francisco, where his career took a decisive turn into consulting for various companies, including work on legitimate tax reduction strategies. However, it was his foray into the tech world that truly set his career on a new trajectory. In the early 1980s, Bill's early work in the tech ecosystem included producing the first AutoCAD Expo in Chicago and promoting Apple Mac products. This period marked the beginning of Bill’s influential role within Silicon Valley, establishing him as a key figure in the emerging technology landscape.

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One of Bill’s notable early successes came through his work with Xerox, where he was tasked with promoting the 4020 color inkjet printer. His innovative approach generated unprecedented publicity for the product, surpassing even the firm’s larger agencies' efforts. The success of the 4020 campaign not only elevated the printer’s visibility but also led to further collaborations with Xerox's renowned Palo Alto Research Center (PARC). There, Bill played an instrumental role in bringing pioneering products to market, including those born from the cutting-edge research at Xerox PARC.

In the early 1990s, Bill co-founded Niehaus Ryan, later known as Niehaus Ryan Wong (NRW), along with Ed Niehaus. The firm was the first of its kind to focus on the Internet as a marketplace. The company launched Yahoo when it was still eight guys in a trailer on the Stanford campus and subsequently launched many of the early startups that are now today's major brands.

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NRW's growing reputation attracted the attention of Steve Jobs. Due to NRW's strong reputation, Steve Jobs personally hired the agency to represent NeXT, which they did for several years. When Jobs returned to Apple, he brought NRW with him to assist in repositioning the company, including the iconic launch of the iMac, which revitalized Apple's brand and solidified its place in the market.

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Under Bill's leadership as Chief Creative Officer and Chairman of the Board, NRW became a driving force behind these high-profile projects, growing to employ over 120 people across offices in San Francisco, Austin, and New York.

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NRW represented other iconic brands such as Deloitte Consulting, Pixar, Bank of America, AOL, and Netscape. The firm’s work extended to launching major projects like eSpeed, Cantor Fitzgerald’s trading arm, prior to the tragic events of September 11. Beyond his work with NRW, Bill also held senior marketing roles for companies focused on enterprise development, security, edge computing, and artificial intelligence (AI), further broadening his influence across key technology sectors.

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Throughout his career, Bill has developed deep insights and expertise across numerous industries, including enterprise computing and cybersecurity, application development, Software-as-a-Service, infotech (data, analytics, security, privacy), fintech (blockchain, cryptocurrency, and cybersecurity), mobility and VoIP communications, the Internet-of-Things, search, artificial intelligence and machine learning, and deep tech (science and advanced engineering). His extensive experience has enabled him to help companies navigate these dynamic fields with innovative strategies and solutions.

 

After the dot-com bubble burst, Bill transitioned into refining his unique "Architecture of Identity" methodology, which focuses on helping companies define and communicate the core story that drives their business. This strategic approach has been key in helping CEOs and executive teams position their companies for success in competitive markets.

 

Today, Bill continues to work with industry leaders and emerging startups, collaborating closely with his decade-long colleague, Andy Abramson, to bring innovative strategies to market through their combined expertise.

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Bill holds a BA in Psychology and Information Science from the University of Wisconsin and a Master's in Education with a specialization in Continuing Education Technology from Maharishi International University.