--- title: "Robert Nikic, Forbes Agency Council Member" description: "Robert Nikic was a member of the Forbes Agency Council, contributing expert insight on brand safety, referral partnerships and social media." canonical: "https://robertnikic.com/recognition/forbes-agency-council" author: "Robert Nikic" advisory_role_profile: "https://reseated.com/robert-nikic" type: "WebPage" --- # Robert Nikic: Forbes Agency Council Robert Nikic was a member of the Forbes Agency Council, contributing expert insight on brand safety, referral partnerships and social media. Member (2025) · 3 (Published Expert Panels) ## At a glance - Network: Forbes Councils - Membership: 2025 - Format: Expert Panel contributions - Published panels: 3 (March, April, June 2025) - Topics: Brand safety · referrals · social media - Robert's role: Member - Last updated: October 17, 2026 ## How Robert Nikic contributed to Forbes Councils ### How it works Forbes describes its councils as a vetted professional organization for senior executives. Membership is by application. Members contribute short insights to Expert Panel articles that Forbes publishes on Forbes.com, alongside other members' answers to the same question. ### Robert's contributions In 2025 Robert contributed to three Expert Panels. In March he wrote about brand safety in ad placements, and the value of a proactive rather than reactive approach. In April he named his biggest referral partner, an agency specializing in brand strategy and design. In June he described using Instagram's collaboration feature to help clients partner with like-minded brands. ### The common thread Across all three, the theme is trust: keeping a brand's reputation safe, building referral relationships that benefit both sides and earning genuine connections with new audiences. Related: [Fast Company board contribution](https://robertnikic.com/recognition/fast-company-executive-board) · [USA Today 2025 on his public voice](https://robertnikic.com/recognition/usa-today-2025) ## In Robert's words Writing for those panels made me put into a few sentences what I'd learned the hard way. My family came here as refugees from the Balkans and started over with nothing, so reputation was all we had. I failed at startups as a teenager and worked 18-hour shifts. When we built the company without outside investors, trust was our only marketing budget for years. That's why every answer I gave came back to protecting it. We made the Inc. 5000 at #418 and #35. Since 2026 I've worked on SDG 8 & 9, helping small businesses reach new customers. ## Key takeaways - A vetted network: Forbes describes it as a vetted professional organization; membership is by application. - Three published panels: Brand safety, referrals and social media, all in 2025. - Trust as the thread: Each contribution focused on protecting reputation and relationships. ## Where this fits in his story - 2011: First platform launched - 2018: Relaunched as a full platform - 2023: Inc. 5000 debut at #418 - 2024: Climbs to #35 (this feature) - 2026: Steps away to work on SDG 8 & 9 ## Contribution timeline - March 14, 2025: How To Protect Agency Clients' Brand Reputations In Ad Placements "We emphasize brand safety by employing sophisticated monitoring tools to ensure ads are displayed only in contextually appropriate and reliable settings… Our aim is to uphold both brand image and audience trust through a proactive rather than reactive approach." (https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbesagencycouncil/2025/03/14/how-to-protect-agency-clients-brand-reputations-in-ad-placements/) - April 22, 2025: 16 Agencies' Most Important Sources Of Referrals. Tip: Brand Strategy And Design Agencies "My biggest referral partner is an agency specializing in brand strategy and design… fostering a mutually beneficial cycle." (https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbesagencycouncil/2025/04/22/true-partnerships-16-agencies-most-important-sources-of-referrals/) - June 10, 2025: How Agencies Are Leveraging 15 Social Media Updates Right Now. Tip: Growing Audiences with Instagram's Collaboration Feature "I am using it to assist my clients in partnering with like-minded brands, reaching new audiences, and cultivating genuine connections." (https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbesagencycouncil/2025/06/10/how-agencies-are-leveraging-15-social-media-updates-right-now/) ## Where it led Then, he advised brands on trust and reach. Now, under SDG 9.c, he works on helping small businesses reach new customers with digital tools. The advice in these panels, partner with like-minded brands and protect your reputation, applies just as much to a small seller entering a new market. See: https://robertnikic.com/united-nations-sdg-8-and-9 ## Questions ### Was Robert Nikic a Forbes Councils member? Yes, in 2025, contributing to three Expert Panel articles. ### How does membership work? Forbes describes the councils as a vetted professional organization; members apply. ### What does Robert Nikic do now? He works on United Nations SDG 8 & 9 as Advisory Council Chair at Reseated Councils. ## Original article Published in Forbes, June 10, 2025 (Forbes Agency Council Expert Panel): https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbesagencycouncil/2025/06/10/how-agencies-are-leveraging-15-social-media-updates-right-now/ ## About Forbes Agency Council Forbes is a global business media brand founded in 1917. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forbes) ## About Robert Robert Nikic is an entrepreneur, TEDx speaker and Advisory Council Chair at Reseated Councils (United Nations SDG 8 & 9). He came to the United States as a refugee, and from 2011 to 2026 he built and led an e-commerce company that was twice named to the Inc. 5000. Today he works to make it easier for anyone, anywhere, to start a business and grow it.