Chris Kaufman is a creative leader, entrepreneur, designer, educator, and investor with over 20 years of experience in brand building, marketing creative, and product design. Focused on supporting women and minority-led businesses that positively impact Detroit, Kaufman has been named one of Techweek’s “100 Most Influential People in Technology in Detroit” twice for his success in developing world-class teams and launching transformative businesses.As Co-Founder and former Chief Creative Officer of StockX, the global e-commerce platform known as the “Stock Market of Things,” Kaufman helped build its in-house creative agency, driving StockX’s growth to over 30 million users and a $3.8 billion valuation. StockX has created more than 2,000 jobs globally, many in Detroit. Kaufman also co-founded ArtClvb, a platform merging art and culture with digital mediums. His work in design, branding, and user experience has been recognized by The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, the Webby Awards, TechCrunch, and the Society of Typographic Arts.Kaufman began his career designing award-winning user experiences during the rise of e-commerce. After earning a BFA in Graphic Design from Eastern Michigan University (EMU), he became Interactive Design Director at Quicken Loans and later Vice President of User Experience at Shift Digital. He co-founded startups including Quizzle and UpTo, expanding his entrepreneurial expertise. In 2021, Kaufman joined the Advisory Board at GameAbove, an EMU alumni initiative that has provided over $34 million to support the university and Ypsilanti.Through his investment arm, West Grand, Kaufman advises and invests in startups led by women and minorities, including Onélogy, Bobblehaus, and Detroit Pizza Depot. He also serves on advisory boards for EMU’s Master of Science in Strategy and Innovation, The George Washington University’s Digital Marketing Program, and Harvard Business Review’s advisory council. Kaufman has been named Eastern Michigan University’s Alumni Entrepreneur of the Year and is certified through Brené Brown’s Dare to Lead program.In 2024, Kaufman served as EMU’s commencement speaker and was awarded an honorary doctorate. He completed his MFA in 2D Design at Cranbrook Academy of Art and is pursuing an MS in Learning and Organizational Change at Northwestern University. He also holds a certificate in Strategy from Harvard Business School. As an adjunct faculty member at EMU, Kaufman teaches graphic design. His first book, on the impact of vulnerable leadership, will be published by Forbes Books in 2025.