In an increasingly polarized landscape, where anti-DEI sentiments are on the rise and some brands are pulling back from equity commitments, the need for marketers to champion DEI as a strategic priority has never been more urgent. Renewed dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion is essential for building trust, credibility, and long-term success.

Join Aba Blankson, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer of the NAACP, as she shares insights on how marketing leaders can navigate polarization, strengthen their DEI strategies, and elevate their brand's reputation while contributing to a more equitable future.

Consumers engage with content across a multitude of channels, including social media. Join our expert panel to explore how multichannel journey advertising empowers brands to reach consumers seamlessly across diverse touchpoints. We'll dive into data-driven strategies and AI-powered tools that drive meaningful engagement and measurable results.

Top Takeaways:

• Integrated Customer Journeys: Discover how to create cohesive, personalized customer experiences across various channels (display, retail media, audio, video, and select social media).
• Data-Driven Personalization: Learn how data and AI can help identify high-value customers and tailor messaging for optimal impact across multiple platforms.
• Dynamic Campaign Management: Explore AI-powered tools that analyze real-time data and dynamically adjust campaigns for peak performance.
• Actionable Insights: Unlock the power of real-time analytics to gain insights into campaign performance and identify areas for improvement.
• Continuous Optimization: Master the art of continuous optimization to refine strategies and maximize ROI throughout the consumer journey.

Ryan Meegan, CMO of Dude Wipes, shares the unconventional and hilarious journey of building a challenger brand in the personal care space. From securing an investment from Mark Cuban to creating viral moments with a "Mini Pooper," Ryan will reveal how Dude Wipes embraces bold marketing, leverages the power of community and UGC, and maximizes emerging channels to drive explosive growth. Discover how this scrappy startup takes on the industry giants while staying true to its irreverent roots – all while proving that impactful marketing doesn't require a massive budget.

In today’s fragmented media landscape, building a brand takes more than just a single great idea—it requires a holistic approach that merges strategy, creative, media, influencer marketing, and analytics into one unified framework. In this roundtable, will examine how an integrated, agile methodology can amplify brand stories across platforms and connect with audiences on a deeper level. We’ll explore the importance of tapping into cultural moments, leveraging data-driven insights to refine messaging, and seamlessly aligning all aspects of brand communications—from design and content creation to performance marketing. Gain practical strategies for collaborating across disciplines, measuring success, and adapting in real time to craft campaigns that resonate powerfully in the modern marketplace.

Key Takeaways

• Holistic Collaboration: Learn how interdisciplinary teams—spanning strategy, creative, media, and more—can collaborate seamlessly to drive brand growth and consistency.
• Data-Driven Insights: Discover how to use performance analytics and consumer behavior data to continuously refine messaging and improve campaign outcomes.
• Real-Time Adaptation: Gain practical advice for adjusting strategies and tactics on the fly to capitalize on cultural moments and market shifts.
• Influencer Integration: Understand the value of authentically incorporating influencers to enhance brand storytelling and audience engagement.
• Scalable Solutions: Explore methods for rolling out integrated campaigns in a cost-effective, scalable manner, ensuring flexibility for brands of all sizes.

Marketers are awash in data—but are you handling it responsibly? This roundtable digs into the challenges of bringing disparate data sources together in a privacy-first world. Join a candid conversation on how to harness customer information for more personalized experiences while staying ahead of evolving privacy regulations like GDPR and CCPA. We’ll also look at the importance of metadata enrichment, search monitoring, role-specific perspectives, and secure content management, illuminating how these considerations shape a mindful, future-ready approach to data.

• The Unified Customer View: Why it matters, and the practical steps to achieve it through data integration across platforms and channels.
• Building Trust Through Transparency: How to be upfront with consumers about data practices, obtain consent, and prioritize data security.
• The Role of Technology: Exploring data management platforms and privacy-enhancing technologies that can help marketers stay compliant.
• The Future of Data & Privacy: Expert perspectives on anticipated trends, challenges, and the evolving relationship between brands and consumer data.
• Metadata Enrichment & Search Suggestion: Techniques for refining and discovering data insights more efficiently.
• Search Monitoring & Optimization: How monitoring search behaviors and optimizing keyword strategies can inform better data usage and engagement.
• Privacy Compliance in a Global Market: Understanding the nuances of GDPR, CCPA, and other emerging regulations impacting data collection and usage.

Move over Millennials, there's a new generation in town! Gen Z is already making its mark, and Gen Alpha is right on their heels, reshaping the consumer landscape, demanding authenticity, and driving social change. This interactive roundtable delves into the cultural revolution led by these generations, exploring how brands can meaningfully connect and participate in their movements.

Key Learnings:

• Decoding the Next Generation: Unpack the distinct values and motivations of Gen Z and Gen Alpha. How do their expectations differ from previous generations, and what are their unique cultural influences?
• Digital Revolution: Explore the evolving digital landscape and how these generations consume media.
• Which platforms are most effective, and how can brands leverage emerging technologies to engage them authentically?
• Content with Purpose: Discover the power of purpose-driven content and messaging that resonates with these generations' values. How can brands create impactful experiences that foster genuine connections and inspire action?
• Building a Movement: Learn how to cultivate long-term relationships with Gen Z and Gen Alpha, moving beyond brand loyalty to build a community of engaged advocates.
• The Future of Influence: Gain insights into the evolving trends and technologies shaping the future of youth marketing and the role of brands in driving positive social impact.

The Climate Emergency represents one of the greatest existential threats to humanity and our planet. Yet, within this crisis lies an unprecedented opportunity. Brands and marketers must act now—both to be part of the solution and to seize the transformative potential this transition offers. But how can you make a meaningful impact? Join Boaz Paldi, Chief Creative Officer at the United Nations Development Programme, to discover actionable strategies to help protect the planet while ensuring sustainable growth for your business.

Marketers today are inundated with promises about AI: more rapid insights, more precise personalization, and more intelligent automation. However, there’s far less discussion about the practical reality—how to genuinely prepare for a successful AI rollout.
AI thrives on context, and that context is derived from your data. Without solid data, AI is simply another shiny tool with limited use. Yet for CMOs at fast-scaling companies, data is often fractured—distributed across multiple business units, regions, and acquisitions—making it nearly impossible to establish a single, connected view of each consumer. In the age of AI, having meticulously structured, interconnected data resources that cut through the clutter is more crucial than ever.

So, how do you move from data disarray to being truly AI-ready?

In this session, Nataly Kelly, CMO of Zappi, will share insights from collaborating with top brands like PepsiCo, Heineken, Reckitt, and Mars to create connected data frameworks that seamlessly integrate with AI. We’ll explore:

• Where to begin when overhauling your data for AI—and how to align it with business objectives
• How to build a “safe sandbox” for AI experimentation
• Securing internal support by identifying core partners and stakeholders
• Selecting the right technology platforms and collaborators to drive significant business change

Join us for a conversation on how to filter out the hype, break down internal barriers, and position your brand to fully harness the AI revolution.

Think you’ve got what it takes to outsmart the best in the business? Put your marketing knowledge to the test in this fast-paced, highly competitive CMO Trivia Showdown! From brand history and iconic campaigns to adtech, AI, and the metaverse, this interactive session will challenge even the most seasoned CMOs. Expect surprising facts, industry-shaking trends, and bragging rights on the line as you compete to see who truly reigns supreme in marketing mastery. Join us for a fun, high-energy session where only the sharpest strategists will emerge victorious!

Life is too short not to take a moment to smile at what it is like to be a Marketing leader. From understanding the language of Gen Z to remembering and celebrating small successes, Luke will take you down the rabbit hole of what it was like to be a leader in the 90s through decades of change. It’s ok to not take yourself so seriously when you realize you are only human, and learning from the BEST mistakes, makes for the best triumphs later in your career.

In an era where consumers are bombarded with marketing messages, cutting through the noise and building genuine connections is more critical than ever, especially in the sensitive healthcare space. Join Dan Kenger, Chief Design Officer at Hims & Hers, as he reveals how the brand has leveraged design to disrupt traditional healthcare marketing and win the trust of modern consumers.

Dan will dissect the strategies behind Hims & Hers' impactful visual language, showcasing how they've crafted a brand that resonates with a diverse, multi-generational audience. He'll explore:

Destigmatization as a marketing tool: Discover how Hims & Hers uses design to break down barriers and foster open dialogue around sensitive health topics, turning destigmatization into a powerful marketing differentiator.

Designing for trust and credibility: Learn how visual cues and design elements contribute to a sense of security and transparency, essential for building trust and driving conversions in the healthcare industry.

Winning the modern consumer: Gain insights into how Hims & Hers has successfully captured the attention of today's discerning consumers by embracing a digital-first approach and adapting its visual language to remain relevant and engaging across multiple channels.