Consultant • Lecturer • Digital Marketing Philosopher

Richard Bulan — Strategic Marketing Consultant

Transforming digital through philosophical thinking and the performativity of language

From History to the digital realm, my atypical path combines analytical rigor, strategic vision and a human-centred approach to digital transformation.

Discover my philosophy
Richard Bulan

My working philosophy

Inspired by J. L. Austin’s performativity and the idea of a narrative bashō, I design every digital strategy as a speech act that shapes reality.

Language as a transformative act

Beyond a purely technical view of digital, I draw on Austin’s insight: to say is to do. A brand message, a content strategy, an interface do not merely transmit information — they perform, they create reality.

This perspective changes how we approach digital communication. Rather than merely “talk about” your brand, we make it exist through performative statements tied to evidence and use.

The art of the narrative bashō in strategy

The bashō is the enunciative position from which a brand speaks and becomes credible. Defining it means choosing the vantage point, implicit commitments and cultural codes that make the story operative across channels, so words, formats and interfaces align on a single intent.

Every brand has its own bashō: that place of authenticity where discourse becomes naturally performative and values stop being declarative to become constitutive of real identity.

“Words do not only describe reality — they constitute it. A brand that can make its values speak makes them exist.”

— Richard Bulan, on performativity in communication

My journey

From History to Digital: an atypical path

How did a History graduate become a reference in digital transformation? Through curiosity, adaptability and the conviction that technology must serve people.

My journey began with a degree in History, a discipline that taught me to analyse societal change and how innovation reshapes civilisations. That historical lens informs my view of digital today: every technological shift sits within a human continuum we must understand to support effectively.

The Oxford school and ordinary language philosophy

Discovering Austin and the Oxford school proved decisive. Understanding that language doesn’t just describe but acts reshaped my approach to digital communication. That insight now guides my strategies: turning brand discourse into a genuinely transformative act.

Trained in Digital Marketing Management at ESSEC, I developed a distinctive approach blending analytic rigour and creativity. International experience — notably in Estonia within the Nordic tech ecosystem and in Cambodia in a multicultural humanitarian context — brought a global, adaptable perspective on digital challenges.

Since 2016, I’ve supported diverse organisations in their digital transformation through RB Praeceptor. This triple role — consultant, lecturer and digital philosopher — keeps me close to innovation while maintaining a reflective, human-centred stance.

Differentiation through values

In saturated markets, values become a primary axis of differentiation. But beware: it’s not enough to declare them — you must perform them. That’s where Austin’s philosophy comes into its own in modern marketing.

My philosophy? Every engagement should create measurable value, every training must be immediately applicable, and every advisory should strengthen team autonomy. Successful digital transformation places people at the centre: informing, supporting, reassuring.

In structuring Télos, I condensed field practice and research (language performativity and narrative bashō) into an operating framework. The programme aligns vision and execution: diagnosing cultural invariants and market dynamics, formulating a verifiable promise, selecting proofs carried by product and service, plus governance and instrumentation for coherence (NAS) and business impact. The goal: turn deep conviction into durable competitive advantage.

Key experiences

Since 2022
Multi-institution Lecturer
Teaching in 20+ higher-education schools (ISCOM, INSEEC, Ynov…) from undergraduate to master’s. Focus areas: strategic communication, data marketing, AI, blockchain, storytelling.
Since 2016
RB Praeceptor — Co-founder & President
Leading strategic engagements: digital transformation, crisis management, editorial governance, automation. Managing specialised freelance teams.
2022–2023
Smartlife Coaching — Head of Marketing
Revamped CRM/automation stack, restructured SEO/SEA, redesigned customer journeys. Team of 7. Results: higher conversion and visibility.
2018–2020
CoinMetro (Estonia) — SEO Manager
International freelance team leadership, technical audits, ASO strategy, multi-format educational content. Fintech in a DeFi environment.
2017–2018
Jacoop — Chief Marketing Officer
Global marketing overhaul, positioning, CSR. Managed a team of 4, press relations, crisis communication. Outcome: profitability in 6 months.
2013–2015
MEP Cambodia — Chief Communications Officer
Strategic communication in sensitive contexts, event coordination, media relations, donor advocacy. Multicultural and humanitarian environment.
Ready for your transformation?

Let’s discuss your digital project

With 12+ years of experience and tailor-made engagements, I support your digital transformation with concrete, measurable outcomes.

20+
Schools supported
40+
Organisations assisted
12+
Years of expertise

Areas of intervention

My commitments

Teaching excellence

Since 2022, I’ve helped train students in 20+ higher-education institutions. My approach blends strategic theory and practical cases with a focus on immediate on-the-job relevance.

Responsible innovation

Member of the AI Safety Center (CeSIA), IHEDN auditor, trained in cybersecurity (ANSSI) and GDPR (CNIL). Innovation must serve people within a clear ethical framework.

Tailored support

Every organisation is unique. My engagements adapt to context, constraints and goals — from lean start-ups to large enterprises, from non-profits to the private sector.

Measurable results

+122% revenue at WiCi Concept, profitability in 6 months at Jacoop, conversion uplift at Smartlife… My work delivers concrete, measurable outcomes — always aligned with brand philosophy.

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Technical skills

Eidôlon requires a precise technical stack: trustworthy data collection and quality, advanced analytics, attribution and incrementality models, rigorous testing and CRM-linked automation — all to connect insight with real performance.

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Development & Data
Languages: HTML, CSS, JavaScript, PHP, SQL, Python, R
Analytics: GA4, Piwik Pro, Matomo, GTM
Visualisation: Looker Studio, Power BI, Tableau, yEd Graph Editor
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Digital Marketing
SEO & Ads: SEMrush, Ahrefs, Screaming Frog, Google Ads, Meta Ads
CRM: HubSpot, Salesforce, WordPress, Drupal, PrestaShop
Automation: n8n, Mailchimp, Brevo
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Design & Office
Creation: Full Adobe Suite
Productivity: Advanced Office Suite
Tools: Professional design & graphic workflows
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Recent certifications
2025: OSINT & Financial Analysis (Basel Institute)
2024: Strategy Executive (Harvard Business School)
Security: ANSSI, GDPR (CNIL)

Beyond work

Passionate about writing, strategy games and geopolitical reading, I nurture a broad curiosity that informs my perspective on digital. An opera and theatre enthusiast and a member of the “Société des Amis du Musée Guimet”, I draw an aesthetic sensibility that shapes my approach.

My non-profit commitments reflect my values: policy team member at CeSIA (since 2025), Treasurer at Béthanie (2022–2024), Communications lead for Téléthon 16 (2020–2021), IHEDN Youth Delegate for Estonia (2019–2020), and webmaster for CoJP (2015–2016). These experiences taught me how collective effort underpins any successful transformation.

A language lover (English C1, Spanish B1, basics in Chinese, Russian, Estonian and Khmer), I’ve always been drawn to other cultures and ways of thinking — a valuable asset in a global digital world.

Richard Bulan — Beyond work

Ready to transform your organisation?

Whether for advisory, a bespoke training, or hands-on guidance through digital transformation, let’s discuss your project with a performative, human-centred approach.

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