Critical Thinking for Marketers

"Many people think they are thinking when they are merely rearranging their prejudices."
- William James

In a world drowning in data and awash with bullshit, critical thinking just might be the most important skill marketers need.

In this workshop Carl Davidson will draw from behavioural science and cognitive psychology to demonstrate some of the flaws in our everyday ways of thinking, and provide some tools to sharpen your critical thinking and problem solving mindset.

In the process, you’ll see why critical thinking is rare (it’s much harder than you’d expect) and why most organisations make it much harder still.

You’ll learn why we’re all wired to think like lawyers rather than scientists, and why David Ogilvy was right about how evidence gets misused.

The workshop will then introduce a range of tools to unleash your critical thinking, nurture your scepticism, and supercharge your decision-making acumen.

It will benefit anyone with an interest in improving their thinking and decision-making skills, or in improving those skills among the people they work with. If you work with knowledge on a daily basis then this is the workshop for you.

Online Course Format
This workshop is also offered in an online format. A 90-minute live session will be held once each week over 4 weeks. The facilitator will present that week's topic live online with other participants. There will also be activities and resources to support your learning.

Choose Your Date and Location

Sharpen your critical thinking and problem-solving skills to make better marketing decisions with more clarity and confidence.

27/05/2026

9:00am - 5:00pm

Auckland

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Critical Thinking for Marketers

Delivered in four online sessions, sharpen your critical thinking and problem-solving skills to make better marketing decisions with more clarity and confidence. | Dates: September 8, 15, 22 & 29.

08/09/2026

12:00pm - 1:30pm

Online

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Critical Thinking for Marketers

Sharpen your critical thinking and problem-solving skills to make better marketing decisions with more clarity and confidence.

10/11/2026

9:00am - 5:00pm

Auckland

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Don't Take Our Word For It

"The workshop was truly inspiring and packed with valuable insights. It demanded strong brand thinking throughout, which made the experience both challenging and rewarding. Carl facilitated the session brilliantly; presenting complex information in a clear, digestible way while keeping the energy high and the audience engaged. I thoroughly enjoyed it!"

Past Attendee

2025

"Carl kept the room fully engaged all day - his energy and passion for his purpose was infectious. There was a great balance of learning and critical thinking to contribute to the group experience - and I would highly recommend this workshop. I also felt that he targeted the challenges many marketers face in the C-Suite debate chamber and imparted some really useful strategies and tactics to achieve better outcomes personally and professionally."

Past Attendee

2025

"Carl was amazing and knew his stuff. Great, fun yet informative session."

Past Attendee

2025

"Loved all the interactive activities, feels like I have walked out with a different brain! Carl is excellent! Loved the session!"

Past Attendee

2024

"Carl is a fantastic, engaging presenter who is an expert in his field. He maintains a good pace throughout the course and keeps the topic interesting!"

Past Attendee

2024

You'll Learn How To

Recognise the limits of your own thinking

Understand how heuristics, biases and hindsight shape your decisions often without you noticing.

Identify and challenge unconscious bias

Learn why your biases are invisible to you (but obvious to others), and how they influence judgement and decision-making.

Understand how organisations reinforce poor thinking

Explore why "learning organisations" are rare, and how group dynamics, hierarchy, and inertia limit critical thinking.

Think more effectively, both individually and in groups

Develop awareness of your own thinking processes and learn how to question assumptions more effectively.

Apply scientific thinking to marketing decisions

Use hypotheses, testing, and falsification to approach problems more rigorously and objectively.

Ask better questions and solve the right problems

Learn how to frame problems correctly, challenge assumptions, and avoid solving the wrong issue.

Build stronger arguments

Use counterfactual thinking and evidence to construct clearer, more persuasive reasoning.

Facilitator, Carl Davidson

Chief Curiosity Officer, The Curiosity Company

Social scientist. Insight strategist.

Carl is a psychologist by training, his professional life has been spent at the interface of behavioural science, organisational performance, and business strategy.

Facilitator, Jonathan Dodd

Research Account Manager, Truwind

Jonathan brings over 25 years of industry experience to Truwind. He holds a Master's degree in Social Sciences from the University of Waikato and is a Fellow of the Research Association of New Zealand.

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