Brian Halligan in

Brian Halligan

Visionary · DISC type Ds
Host at Long Strange Trip: CEO to CEO with Brian Halligan
📍 Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States

Brian Halligan is the co-founder and Executive Chairperson of HubSpot, where he previously served as CEO. He is credited with coining the term "inbound marketing." He holds an MBA from MIT Sloan and is described by colleagues as a visionary mentor and leader.

Outside of work, Brian is a published author with a notable passion for the band The Grateful Dead, from which he has drawn marketing insights. He has also shared his personal journey of recovery and resilience after a serious accident, which has given him a new perspective.

He co-authored a book titled "Marketing Lessons From The Grateful Dead," applying the bands unique business model to modern marketing.

Read the full overview →
Experience
29 Years
Current Role
Host
Job Level
Leadership
Location
Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States
Personality Overview

How Brian shows up

Goal-Oriented
Early Adopter
Risk Tolerant

They might take some time to make their mind up but once they do, they don't change it easily. They are very professional in their approach and can weigh multiple perspectives together. Reading between the lines and seeing beyond your words comes naturally to them.

Priorities

Topics Brian cares about

Inbound Marketing
He pioneered the inbound marketing movement, shifting the focus from outbound tactics to creating value and drawing customers in. He co-authored the book on the subject.
Scaling Businesses
As the long-time CEO, he successfully scaled HubSpot from a startup into a publicly traded company, focusing on sustainable growth and company culture.
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Career

Work history

12-2025
Host
Long Strange Trip: CEO to CEO with Brian Halligan
5-2025
Co-Founder & Board Member
HubSpot
5-2024
Senior Advisor
Sequoia Capital
10-2022
Co-founder & Partner
Propeller
8-2021 - 5-2025
Co-founder & Chairperson
HubSpot
In the press

Media appearances

HubSpot Co-Founder and Chairman Brian Halligan on AI and SaaS, Board Meetings, and The Incumbent Advantage. Featured in SaaStr
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HubSpot CEO Brian Halligan: Navigating Startup Boards. Featured in Spotify
+12 more appearances Login to view media
Education
2005 - 2005
MBA
MIT Sloan School of Management
1986 - 1990
BS
University of Vermont
Social presence
in
Behavioral profile

DISC profile (public)

D

Dominance (D)

Dominance (D) reflects how goal and task oriented a person is, and their ability to accomplish results irrespective of how demanding the circumstances might be. Those scoring high tend to be motivated by winning, competition, and success.

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