Chris Markel

Early Life and Education

Chris Markel is shaped by the city that raised him: Houston, Texas.

His hometown is the fourth-largest and most diverse city in the United States, where oil barons, rap legends, and rocket scientists share the same skyline. He took his southern drive north and attended four prestigious universities, pursuing studies that laid the groundwork for his future in business:

• Harvard University – Harvard Business School

• New York University – Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences

• Purdue University – College of Engineering (Aeronautics and Astronautics)

• University of Texas at Austin – Cockrell School of Engineering (Physics)

Markel would eventually step away from traditional academia, trading degrees for real-world experience and a long-term strategy: to learn how people think, how markets move, and how to build something that lasts.

Career Journey and Chicago

Markel’s hands-on business education began in Chicago, Illinois, as a college dropout with no money and a useless résumé.

What he did have: vision, curiosity and $60 (cash) for every night took the train downtown to polish silverware behind a seafood restaurant.

He quickly worked his way up the food and beverage scene, becoming a classically trained bartender in the country’s highest ranked, James Beard Award-winning establishments  — all to master the psychology of service, and human nature.

Along the way, he sought a trusted mentor who would introduce him to digital marketing, and the game plan came into focus. Over the next decade, Chris evolved into a technically fluent growth operator, known for his fluency in paid media, algorithmic trends, and performance strategy.

Markel eventually co-founded his own marketing and sales agency. In less than two years, it had evolved into a full-service consultancy supporting global brands, VC-backed startups, and federal agencies.

After seeing everything imaginable from Silicon Valley to New Dehli, Chris carries the surgical skills and bullshit detectors that make him a sought-after strategist for high-stakes campaigns worldwide today.

Mezcal and México

Chris Markel has lived in Oaxaca for several years, splitting time between digital consulting, reconnecting with his Mexican heritage and nurturing his obsession with mezcal.

When he moved to Oaxaca, launching a mezcal brand was the furthest thing from his mind. He saw what most people don’t — an industry flooded with outsiders chasing profit, bottling garbage, and selling vibes. For years, he wanted no part of it.

Markel’s motto was simple: the moment you label a bottle, it turns to shit

If Chris wanted the good stuff, he needed to leave the city, pass the commercial distilleries, and head into el campo (rural Oaxaca). This is where indigenous communities have been making the laws and the mezcal, at home, for generations.

Within months, Markel’s home became a vault for the rarest gems in the region. Without a label, a warehouse, or a business plan, Chris unknowingly became “the plug” — the guy with the good stuff, the mezcal even locals couldn’t find.

That’s when he realized: maybe the world didn’t need another mezcal brand.

It needed the right one.

Chris Markel doesn’t want to fit into the mezcal industry. He’s wants to bury it and build something better.

This message is already wrapped in glass, shipping in México, and coming to a country near you.

Personal Life

Outside of the office and palenques, Chris Markel consistently pursues too many hobbies.

He is a licensed pilot, jiu jitsu trainer, Ducati hooligan, underground musician, watch collector, author, filmmaker, photographer, and a few other things best left unsaid.

The guy has been around the world multiple times and his dad jokes are legally considered weapons in six countries.

On any given day, you can find him wherever he finds happiness — eating tlayudas on the street, getting his cowboy boots shined, or disappearing into Oaxaca’s rural mountains in search of the world’s rarest and most remarkable mezcals.

Your Business + Chris Markel

Ride with someone who sees around corners, moves faster than your dev team, and drinks mezcal with the legends who make it.

Contact Chris Markel to accelerate your company’s growth and give your competition something to stress about.