Dmytro Makarov is not a typical marketing executive. He did not go to university. He has never worked in a traditional office. And he does not measure success by titles or job descriptions. Instead, he is focused on one thing – building ideas that matter.
Born and raised in Kyiv in a family of entrepreneurs, Makarov chose a different path early in life. He left school after the eighth grade and began learning through real-world experience. He started working as an independent consultant, and already at 16, he founded his own marketing agency. Today, he lives in London and manages a global business from his laptop.
However, what sets Dmytro Makarov apart is not just how early he started, but how he works. He believes the future of marketing lies in authenticity, and especially in influencer marketing. “Influencer marketing sets the cultural context today. It is about real, trust-based communication that traditional tools cannot replicate,” he explains. For him, it is not about big celebrities, it is about finding the voices people truly listen to.
His agency has worked with major names like BMW, Intel, Durex, Hugo, NIVEA, and Domino’s Pizza. But Makarov believes honesty matters more than prestige. That is why his agency offers clients a clear deal: if a campaign does not meet agreed goals, they get a refund or extra exposure at no extra cost. This openness is part of what keeps his business growing.
From the beginning, Dmytro Makarov has run his company hands-on. He found clients, wrote strategies, launched ads, and did all the reporting himself. “I do not think of myself as a genius – just someone who works hard and cares deeply,” he says. It is this personal investment that has helped him build trust: with his team, his clients, and his audience.
His daily routine is simple, and that is by design. Each morning begins at 7:30 with a coffee and 20 minutes of quiet – time to read the news, think, and plan. Mornings are for focused work. Afternoons include meetings and teamwork. Evenings are for winding down, with exercise, reading, or catching up on UFC fights or Dota 2 matches. And every single day includes at least one new idea – something fresh learned from a book, podcast, or article.
Outside of work, Dmytro Makarov is committed to giving back. He supports charitable projects that help children and veterans, especially those affected by war. He funds treatment, rehabilitation, and education – believing these efforts are key to rebuilding communities. “I am inspired by people who never give up – Ukraine’s defenders, volunteers, doctors, teachers. They hold this country and this world together,” he says.
When asked about what he values most, Dmytro Makarov’s answer is simple. “That I have stayed true to myself through everything – success, loss, war, restarts. And that I have gathered people around me whom I trust.” As the entrepreneur admits, one cannot buy that, and therefore it is the hardest thing to keep.
