Rich Thau is the president of Engagious. His company is the industry leader in scientifically testing and refining the effectiveness of business and issue-advocacy content, moment-to-moment. The firm helps its clients become more successful by applying the power of behavioral science and social psychology to dial test focus groups.
Thau is also the moderator of the high-profile Swing Voter Project, which Engagious conducts in partnership with National Public Radio and the focus group recruiting firm Sago. Each month, Thau moderates focus groups with “Biden-to-Trump” swing voters to probe on attitudes towards policies debated in Washington. NPR covers the focus groups first, and then other news organizations such as CNN show snippets from the groups on “Inside Politics”.
Using dial testing, Thau has spearheaded groundbreaking research in public policy, financial communications, TV shows and movie trailers, insurance, trial consulting, and infomercials. His firm’s clients include a host of major trade associations, advocacy groups, and large corporations.
Thau’s recommendations have shaped the national debates over Social Security, climate change, prescription drug pricing, and tax reform. His firm’s policy messaging projects have focused on clean energy, housing affordability, immigration, trade, financial services, foreign policy, government spending, healthcare, the Jones Act, labor/management issues, and franchising.
He is a 1987 Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Haverford College, where he received a B.A. in History (with honors). Raised in Roslyn, NY, Thau lives in suburban Philadelphia with his wife, Nicole Tell, Esq., and their son Ezra.