Our Leadership

As a Fellow, Robert Moran is focused on the structural forces shaping the economic competitiveness of the 20 states in America’s Heartland, the information tracking regional competitiveness, and the evidence-based policies supporting growth in America’s core.

Robert is a data-driven strategist, management consultant, and public opinion expert working at the intersection of emerging trends and business decisions. He has built a career translating complex data into actionable insights for leaders across business and policy environments.

He is a Partner at the Brunswick Group, where he advises a range of corporate clients. Pervious to Brunswick he served as the President of Edelman’s research firm, StrategyOne. He began his career at Public Opinion Strategies.

Robert frequently writes and speaks on emerging trends and public opinion. He has appeared on numerous broadcast networks, including BBC Television, BBC Radio, C-SPAN, Fox Business News, Australian Broadcasting, Al Jazeera, and Sky News. He is a BBC contributor and frequent guest.

He writes regularly for Research World, Campaigns & Elections, and the Mensa Bulletin.

Robert grew up in the Heartland, attended Ohio University on academic and athletic scholarships, and graduated from Ohio University with degrees in History and Political Science.

He has written two novels – Lincoln 2.0 and Big Alien Movie. Lincoln 2.0 is a near-future thriller in which a team of politicos build and run an AI Abraham Lincoln for President. The novel reflects his broader interest in leadership, civic identity, and the evolving relationship between citizens and institutions in an AI age. Big Alien Movie follows a Hollywood director grappling with the unknown when he is hired by the Pentagon to bring a mysterious film to life. Both novels are set in a near-future America, leveraging his experience as a futurist.