Dean MacKo

About Dean MacKo

With 25+ years of experience across consumer insights, business development, customer success, and strategy, I continue to explore better (often tech-enabled) ways to help businesses thrive. I’m an active user and proponent of AI in the insights industry, and I’m fascinated by how it can free researchers from manual work so they can focus on more strategic thinking and decision-making.I’m always looking to learn, grow, and collaborate to drive real results, often fueled by an entrepreneurial, get-it-done mindset. My clients span Automotive, CPG, Financial Services, Health & Wellness, Retail, Restaurants, Apparel, and Technology.I got my big break in research in the 1990s. After graduating from one of Canada’s top business schools, I ran straight into a recession—no one was hiring. I started out selling stereos and those brick-sized early cell phones. One day, I spotted an opening for an entry-level Market Research Associate at a leading Toronto research firm. After a strong HR interview, I was brought in to meet the “big boss,” Peter Haslam, to explain why I was right for a role supporting a major automotive client.He said, “I’ve got dozens of business grads who say they love cars—what makes you different?” That’s when I pulled out my ace card. In college, I had hustled local dealerships for test drives so I could write my own automotive column for the school newspaper. I brought the articles with me, and the rest is history.Since then, I’ve remained deeply passionate about market research, brand strategy, and innovation, most recently working with tech-focused firms dedicated to bringing better insights into the boardroom.

Experience

1. Sr Advisor

   Scalafai

   Mar 2026 — Present · Raleigh, NC, US

   Scalafai is an AI-enabled, end-to-end research suite built for researchers, by researchers. It’s designed to plug into existing workflows (not replace them), and because it’s modular, teams can start wherever it delivers the most value.What we help accelerate- Survey design, programming, and fielding- Data cleaning and tabs - Full PowerPoint/Slides, Word and infographic deliverables- A centralized knowledge base that connects insights across studies over timeIf you\'re looking for an easy-to-implement way to streamline manual work and speed insight-to-action, please visit scalafai.com to learn more.

Education

• Wayne State University

  Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.), Marketing

• Wilfrid Laurier University

  BBA, Marketing