a podcast where host Dylan Conroy interviews the c suite of media companies, agencies, brands and thought leaders on his quest to build the worlds greatest sales culture Become a supporter of this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dylanconroy/support
Sean is CEO of the new Destination Media and GSTV. He was recruited to lead the next generation of growth following a joint venture announcement that combined the assets and operations of Verifone's media division with the former Gas Station TV, owned by Detroit-based Rockbridge Growth Equity and Falcon Investment Advisors. The combined business now operates under the GSTV brand and deliver 3.3 billion brand safe 1-to-1 annual impressions from over 29,000+ locations in all 50 states.Sean previously served as EVP – Strategy & Partnerships at Clear Channel Outdoor, Americas. While at CCO he led all strategic revenue activity with leading agency and brand partners and pioneered new product and partnership approaches to OOH, DOOH and integrated media campaigns. He's been continually focused on driving business results by understanding the evolution of media, the consumer journey and behavioral insights by using data, technology and the power of content to drive brand and consumer engagement. While at Clear Channel he also led industry sales and marketing initiatives across verticals, integrated sales partnerships, industry events such as Cannes Lions, CES, ANA events and so on and he has been a featured speaker and writer. He also led global client outreach & strategy which created first-to-market global client and agency partnerships across technology, fashion, beverages and more as well leading global agency holding companies.Prior to his last role, Sean held a variety of executive sales and marketing positions across North American regions. He began his career at a private-equity backed media company which ultimately grew to a 9-figure IPO and subsequent acquisition and consolidation of an industry sector. Working for both small and large organizations and public and private ownership, he has a broad point-of-view of managing organizational change, integration, business growth strategy, team strategy development and collaborative leadership and vision.
Nadja Bellan‑White is a powerhouse leader in global marketing and communications, currently serving as Group CEO, North America at M&C Saatchi Group and CEO of SS+K. With over three decades of experience across markets including the U.S., EMEA, LatAm, and APAC, she has a proven track record leading transformation and brand growth .Her career highlights include:Global Chief Marketing Officer at Vice Media Group (2020–2023): Guided enterprise-wide brand strategy during a pivotal era in youth media.Executive Partner & WPP Team Leader at Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide: Led major brand transformations for Dove (Unilever), and spearheaded initiatives for American Express, Coca-Cola, IKEA North America, Siemens, LG, and more .CEO of Ogilvy Africa (2014–2017): Directed the largest agency network on the continent, managing diverse client portfolios across Africa.Nadja is celebrated for her bold, inclusive leadership style and her unwavering advocacy for diversity. She co-founded Ogilvy/WPP Roots, champions cultural representation, and actively shapes industry standards. Her achievements have been recognized through awards such as AdColor's Legend Award and inclusion in Savoy Magazine's Top 100 Women in Corporate America.She holds a BA in Foreign Affairs and Spanish from the University of Virginia and an MBA from NYU's Stern School of Business.
Ali Cornford – Managing Director, 72andSunny New YorkAli relocated from Toronto to New York and brings over 15 years of leadership in advertising and agency management . In March 2024, she was named Managing Director of 72NY, joining the executive leadership alongside Juliana Cobb and Geoff McHenry. Previously, she led Convicts as MD (2021–2024) and held account and business roles at BBH, Droga5, Anomaly, BBDO, and Grey Canada. In her current role, Ali oversees agency operations and client partnerships, with clients including Paramount+, Sleep Number, E*Trade, 1800 Tequila, Autotrader, and Comcast Adweek. Known for her “gritty hunger, curiosity, and leadership,” she's focused on driving business growth, award-winning campaigns (including E*Trade Super Bowl work), and an invigorated agency culture Adweek.Geoff McHenry – Head of Strategy (formerly Executive Strategy Director), 72andSunny New YorkGeoff is a strategist, thought leader, DJ, and public speaker who joined 72NY in October 2023 as Executive Strategy Director, setting vision for the strategy department and leading its growth. He came from Translation, where he led strategy on high-profile work like WhatsApp's “Naija Odyssey” documentary about Giannis Antetokounmpo. Before that, he was at Wieden+Kennedy NY managing strategy for vitaminwater, Jordan Brand, and Sprite. A Morehouse College graduate, Geoff is passionate about building culturally relevant brands, mentoring diverse talent, and driving industry change through roles like ADCOLOR advisory co-lead. His work emphasizes strategic clarity, collaboration with creatives, and balancing cultural insight with marketing effectiveness
CEO, Rhonda Hiatt has been at Clear for over seven years, where she has focused on growing the retail and shopper offer and delivering retail and shopper strategy for clients including Reckitt Benckiser, Philips, Nautica, and Abbott.Prior to joining Clear, Rhonda was Head of Brand Strategy, Analytics, and Shopper Sciences for Interbrand Design Forum, where she focused specifically on retail and CPG clients.Rhonda previously taught Consumer Behavior in the MBA program as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Dayton. She has been recognized in Design Retail's 40 Under 40 for her contributions to the retail industry and has most recently been honored as one of Consulting Magazine's Top Consultants for Excellence in Client Services. She is also a member of Chief, a private network focused on connecting and supporting women executive leaders.Rhonda likes to spend her free time “experiencing retail” (aka shopping!), drinking wine, and taking vacations with her daughter and husband.
Robin Clarke is the Global CEO of Passions & PR at M C Saatchi Group, where he leads the Sport & Entertainment and Talk PR divisions across North America, EMEA, and beyond. He was appointed to this role in July 2024 and sits on the agency's Executive Leadership Team under Global CEO Zaid Al‑Qassab.Bringing nearly 25 years of experience in sports and entertainment marketing, Robin began his career in sports hospitality sales before moving into advertising and agency leadership. His previous roles include Senior Business Manager at M&C Saatchi (2002–2003), Head of Fuse Sport & Entertainment at Manning Gottlieb OMD (2004–2010), and leadership positions at Starcom EMA and Publicis Media Sport & Entertainment (2010–2018).From 2018 to 2024, Robin was a key leader at 160over90 (part of Endeavor), serving first as SVP International and later as Global EVP. There, he managed major global client relationships—including DP World, Visa, AB InBev, and Marriott—and built a strong industry network.At M C Saatchi, Robin spearheads the “Cultural Power” strategy within Passions & PR, integrating sport, entertainment, and PR capabilities to deliver global campaigns and fan-focused narratives. Under his leadership, the agency has expanded client offerings across lifestyle, music, film, and large-scale sporting events, including preparations for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and Los Angeles 2028 Olympics
Stevie Archer is the Regional Chief Creative Officer, North America at M&C Saatchi (SS+K), based in the New York City metro area. Named after Stevie Nicks, she grew up in Winston‑Salem, North Carolina, and earned a degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill .Stevie began her career as a copywriter, building experience at agencies including McKinney, Mullen, and Big Spaceship—where she led Starbucks accounts—before joining SS+K in 2019 as Executive Creative Director. She rose to Chief Creative Officer in late 2023 and was recently promoted to Regional CCO, N. America in early 2025 .Her award-winning work includes the “Looks Like You Need Iceland” campaign, creative strategy for Mount Sinai Health System, JPMorgan Chase's Detroit revival, LeBron James's More Than a Vote voter initiative, and rebranding projects for clients like Smartsheet . Known for blending political‑style strategic thinking with bold creative ideas, Stevie thrives on tackling complex challenges—from helping reshape tourism to influencing social change
Cherie R. Cohen is a seasoned media and sports executive currently serving as Global Chief Revenue Officer at X Games. She joined the organization in 2025 as it embarks on evolving into a year‑round international action‑sports league. Prior to X Games, Cherie spent five years as CRO at the World Surf League, where she significantly diversified sponsorships—bringing in brands like Red Bull, Lexus, Neutrogena, Chase, Samsung Electronics, Corona, Apple—and forged partnerships with tourism agencies to grow new revenue streams Earlier in her career, she held key sales and revenue roles at ESPN, NBCUniversal, and Paramount Pictures, managing major events such as Monday Night Football, Super Bowl, the International Olympic Committee – IOC, National Basketball Association (NBA) Finals, and X‑Games .
As CEO of Razorfish, Dani Mariano leads teams who are focused on delivering performance outcomes rooted in brand purpose. Innovation is in Razorfish's DNA, and Dani is leading the agency's day-to-day operations at a time when exponential growth in emerging spaces such as AI and Web3 has never been more attainable. She is committed to discovering how Razorfish can help brands build relationships in this new digital age through valuable consumer touch points, and how to keep companies at the forefront of the latest technology advancements to future-proof them for what's to come. Most importantly, she empowers the agency's team members to seek opportunities for growth that will prepare them to be the next generation of agency leadership.During her time at Razorfish and its parent company, Publicis Groupe, Dani has led an award-winning global digital marketing transformation for Samsung spanning the Web3 launch of 837X and Discord channel, DTC commerce experiences, social commerce innovations, global website UI-redesign, and advanced analytics & measurement – all underpinned by a relentless focus on consumer behavior fueled by data insights. Dani's blend of deep expertise in marketing, pioneering approach to new technologies, and digital-first innovation has translated into a track record of industry recognitions, such as Hermes Creative Award 2022, Data Breakthrough Award 2022, Effie 2022, Adweek Media Plan of the Year 2021, and multiple Webby Awards.Prior to joining Razorfish and Publicis, Dani spent over 20 years in marketing leadership roles working with brands such as Nestle, Avery Denison, DIRECTV, Honda, Alterna Hair Care, and Public Storage.When Dani is not following her relentless curiosity around emerging technology and the implications for consumer experiences, she can be found around Los Angeles or relaxing at the beach with her family.
Shannon Pruitt serves as Global Chief Marketing Officer for Stagwell's Brand Performance Network (BxP), where she leads global business development, marketing, and communications efforts. Promoted in February 2024, she previously held the role of Global Chief Content & Partnership Innovation Officer, joining Stagwell in 2020.With over two decades of agency- and brand-side experience, Shannon previously served as Chief Marketing Officer at The Honest Company and co-founded Dentsu's The Story Lab, guiding campaigns for Fortune 100 brands like P&G, Microsoft, Mondelez, and MasterCard. She has also spearheaded content and business teams at Warner Bros., Fremantle, Octagon, and 19 Entertainment, and led integrated sponsorship strategies for the FIFA World Cup, MLB, and NFL .An MBA graduate from the University of Oregon, Shannon is a proud advocate for DEI and ESG, having launched Stagwell's “Partners for Progress” diversity initiative and overseen global ESG consolidation efforts stagwellglobal.com.Based in Los Angeles, she blends strategic storytelling, data-informed marketing, and partnership innovation to drive unified brand and performance outcomes across Stagwell's network.
Edgar Hernández is the Chief Strategy Officer at My Code, where he leads the company's strategic vision, overseeing editorial direction, media strategy, and sales growth across its owned platforms. He joined the agency full-time in December 2023 after consulting over six months, bringing more than 20 years of experience in multicultural media and advertising Prior to My Code, Edgar spent 13 years at Complex Networks, launching landmark initiatives like ComplexCon, ComplexLand, and popular content franchises such as Hot Ones and Sneaker Shopping. He continued driving revenue as Chief Revenue Officer at BuzzFeed, especially during the integration of Complex Based in New York, he holds a B.A. in Journalism from UMass Amherst and is a vocal advocate for culturally informed, growth-oriented marketing. Edgar's leadership centers on authentic representation—arguing that “marketing to diverse audiences isn't about politics. It's about growth.”
Claude Zdanow is a visionary leader in the business and marketing industry, boasting nearly two decades of unparalleled experience in scaling and directing multiple marketing and advertising enterprises. His strategic acumen has transformed startups into global brands valued at tens of millions of dollars. Zdanow's impressive client portfolio includes industry giants such as 7-Eleven, Brown Forman, Disney's FX Networks, The Recording Academy, Peter Thomas Roth, Pernod Ricard, Rolls Royce, Steven Soderbergh's Singani 63, and Microsoft's Xbox. Throughout his career, he has successfully executed transactions exceeding $100 million in cash value, encompassing acquisitions, capital raises, asset sales, financings, restructurings, and other corporate financial activities.Before venturing into marketing and advertising, Zdanow built a formidable reputation in the music industry, initially as a musician and later as an entrepreneur. He founded and grew companies that collaborated with top-tier artists like Avicii, The Chainsmokers, Chris Brown, The Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Eminem, Drake, and Yo-Yo Ma. His businesses were involved in 22 Grammy Award-winning projects and received 30 Grammy nominations, reflecting his significant impact on the music scene.As a dynamic and insightful speaker, Claude engages global audiences on topics including business, marketing, M&A, and music. His thought leadership has been featured in prestigious media outlets such as Bloomberg, Rolling Stone, Forbes, Inc. Magazine, MarketWatch, and The Village Voice. He has also served as an industry expert for renowned organizations and events like The Recording Academy, The Organization of American States, Grammy Camp, Pro Audio Summit, Rotterdam Beats, SAE University, Columbia Business School, Winter Music Conference, and Amsterdam Dance Event.Currently, Zdanow is the CEO of ONAR (OTCQB:RELT), a publicly traded marketing agency network that acquires and develops marketing agencies specializing in driving growth for clients across various sectors, including consumer products, entertainment, spirits, and healthcare. Beyond his corporate achievements, Zdanow is a mentor, advisor, and board member to startups and businesses, including Endexx Corporation & Chemtech. His passion for nurturing entrepreneurial talent and business leadership is matched by his love for wine and hospitality. He is the founder of Sona Hills, a boutique vineyard resort in Paso Robles, CA, and Claude Philippe Wines, where he combines his business acumen with his personal interests.
Mattia is a legal and technology expert turned entrepreneur. He is a co-founder and CEO at Anonymised, a tech company that is enhancing privacy and ad effectiveness through ID-less advertising.Excessive reliance on the collection and sharing of consumer data undermines digital advertising because:
Laura Hoffman is a Partner and Head of Brand Management at HAYMAKER, an independent, minority‑owned creative agency based in Los Angeles. She joined the agency as Group Brand Director in late 2021 and quickly rose to Partner status in 2022, where she now leads brand strategy, client relationships, and organic growth initiatives—including the launch of the agency's in‑house production arm, THROWDOWN .Before HAYMAKER, Laura held senior brand roles at top-tier agencies like 72andSunny, The Many, BBH, Deutsch, and DDB, managing major consumer brands and bringing a wealth of creative strategy and account leadership to her work. She holds a B.S. from Villanova University in Business, Management, and Marketing theorg.com.Dynamic, curious, and client-focused, Laura is known for structuring agile teams and driving innovative brand initiatives that resonate in today's evolving media landscape.
Kristi O'Brien leads LTK's Brand Platform team – developing and driving creator commerce strategies for its brand partners. She also oversees the product and technology teams as they develop advertiser focused tools, including its recent launch of LTK Connect, a self-service advertiser product focused on connecting LTKs creators with brands of all sizes. She started at LTK in 2018 as the VP of Strategy and Corporate Development managing organizational initiatives and strategic relationships.O'Brien came to rewardStyle from Allen & Company, an elite New York based investment bank focused on the technology and media industries. During her tenure, she advised on over $150 billion in transactions including Time Warner's sale to AT&T, Scripps' sale to Discovery, Time Warner Cable's sale to Charter, and multiple financings for companies in the media and technology space.
With over two decades of experience in the skincare and beauty industry, Tara specializes in building brands that move culture. Her work lives at the intersection of science, storytelling, and soul, and it is always anchored in results.She specializes in grit. Her dad is a third-generation pistachio grower in California, and that blend of artful curiosity, beauty, and serious hard work runs deep in her DNA. Today, as the Global President of Dermatological Skincare at Galderma (Cetaphil, Differin, Alastin, Benzac), she brings that same grounded tenacity to leading a portfolio of globally loved brands. She focuses on driving impact through innovation, advocacy, and breakthrough marketing.A California native now living in Switzerland, after a few unforgettable years in Paris, she brings a global perspective to brand-building. Her approach blends sharp market insight with emotional nuance and deep respect for local culture.She works closely with healthcare professionals to deliver superior outcomes that build trust, create value, and honor the deeply personal nature of skincare. Before joining Galderma, she led transformative work at iconic companies including Kendo Brands (LVMH), Too Faced, and Pierre Fabre, launching breakthrough campaigns and fueling growth across global markets.At her core, she is a builder. She thrives on mentoring future change makers, fostering collaboration, and creating bold, lasting brand value through curiosity, clarity, and purpose.She is also a frequent speaker and podcast guest, passionate about sharing insights on beauty, leadership, and brand-building at the intersection of science and soul.Val Vacante is an award-winning, creative catalyst and global innovator. As the SVP of Solutions Innovation at Dentsu, she uncovers cultural trends, commerce dynamics, and emerging technologies to shape next-generation product innovations, and solutions impacting the way people connect in the physical and digital world.Val is the product lead and innovator behind the Meta Global Messaging Alliance and Intelligent Messaging, Dentsu's first-of-its-kind full suite of end-to-end messaging innovations designed to accelerate 1:1 conversational messaging, AI-amplified assistance, and human connection – showcased at CES, SXSW, Cosmoprofs and featured in Digiday, MediaPost, Retail Brew and more.She is the co-creator behind Dentsu NXT Space, a co-space for rapidly realizing the future of AI, 3D spatial environments, and everyday technology in collaboration with Microsoft, LinkedIn and HeadOffice.space featured in PSFK's, “Best of CES,” Forbes, Fast Company, Digiday, Coindesk and more.Val is also the co-creator of ShopNXT™ — Dentsu's retail innovations focused on helping brands create more personalized shopping experiences increasing loyalty, sales, and customer joy. The ShopNXT suite of products has been named top product picks at CES by PCR Magazine featured in CNET, The Drum, PSFK, eMarketer, MediaPost, PCR among others.Additionally, Val architected and launched NXT Intelligence™ an innovation platform featuring 12 technology, innovation, and brand solutions designed to rapidly explore, evaluate and evolve business growth opportunities. Her latest work focuses on connected experiences, emerging technologies, gaming, retail and play.She is also the Founder of the strategy and innovation firm Collabsco; where she pioneered award-winning digital products and connected experiences across IoT, AR, VR, voice, robotics, and the first connected play landscape featured in VentureBeat, The Drum, VRScout, and more.Her portfolio includes over 50+ brands including Microsoft, Hasbro, Mattel, Disney, Bandai Namco Entertainment, PepsiCo, P&G, Nestlé, Mercedes-Benz, MINI, Galderma, AT&T, Vodafone, Honeywell, Sleep Number, Dell, MERGE, WowWee and Virsix Games, among others.Val has been named one of the Top 25 Women in Tech by PCR magazine and Women in Tech Global Product Management Leader of the Year.
Ian Orekondy is the Director of Media, Analytics & Innovation at Method1, where he applies data-driven strategies and behavioral science to optimize media planning and brand impact for clients like PepsiCo, Gap, and Merck . Joining Method1 in early 2024, Ian has nearly two decades of experience across media, analytics, product, and ad-tech leadership roles Before Method1, Ian founded PranifyRx, an AI-powered ad data platform focused on pharmaceutical marketing, and held senior product and leadership positions at AdComplyRx, Good Apple, United Business Media, and Rosetta . He holds a B.S. in Business Administration from SUNY Buffalo and earned an altMBA certificate from Seth Godin signalhire.com.Ian's cross-functional expertise in connecting technology, analytics, and creative strategy makes him a key driver of innovative, measurable campaigns in a privacy-first world.
James Townsend is currently CEO of Stagwell EMEA and Global CEO of Stagwell's Brand Performance Network (BXP). He assumed the EMEA role on January 1, 2024, after serving as Global CEO of Assembly and Brand Performance Network, and leads the company's expansion across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa en.wikipedia.org+10stagwellglobal.com+10odwyerpr.com+10.With more than 15 years in agency leadership, James previously drove digital growth as European CEO at 360i (under Dentsu Aegis) and spent five years as Managing Director at Fallon, working on global brands including Cadbury, Nokia, and Škoda people.equilar.com+1theorg.com+1.At Stagwell, he's spearheaded the integration of ForwardPMX into Assembly, scaled the Brand Performance Network, and opened a major London hub in late 2023 to support over 750 employees across 16 agency brands in the region odwyerpr.com+4stagwellglobal.com+4people.equilar.com+4.Known for uniting best-in-class creative, media, analytics, and commerce capabilities, James continues to shape Stagwell's challenger‑holding model—helping brands thrive in a complex global marketplace.
As Global CCO, Matt pushes the creative limits of 72andSunny by helping lead its commitment to experimentation with art, technology, and entertainment. He's a born tinkerer, and is always looking for new ways to create opportunities with all of our brand partners.Matt's passion for partnership has produced unlikely collaborations, including rallying millions of girls to code holiday trees on the White House's lawn, galvanizing everyone at United Airlines to become more than just employees, but rather, a collective force for good, and turning the Tinder App into an interactive adventure called Swipe Night that led to matches IRL.
Vida Delrahim is a WeNatal Co-Founder with 20+ years of leadership in Brand Marketing. Building campaigns from the ground up as the Senior Marketing Director at Nike, she's responsible for executing numerous high-profile endeavors including the Nike Women's Marathon, World Cup, and Nike Women Los Angeles. Vida's experience with bringing stories of strength & empowerment to light shifted to the fertility space when her own personal journey with loss led her to redefine how parents-to-be navigate the world of reproductive health. As she transforms the fertility narrative from me to we with premium prenatal company WeNatal, she also cherishes family time off the grid - staying active with her husband and two daughters.
With over 20 years of global experience in production and creative leadership, Don Strom's journey began in technical theatre and live performance, igniting his passion for entertainment. He launched his career in TV and live broadcast with major networks like ABC, FOX, and NBC before transitioning to executive producing large-scale events for Fortune 500 companies, including Google, Netflix, Nike, and Apple. After serving as VP of Production and Operations for a global non-profit (2009-2017), leading 500+ events across 17 countries, Don co-founded Salt and Pinch. His leadership blends agency, theatre, broadcast, and non-profit expertise, driving both agencies to deliver award-winning work. By balancing creative and production disciplines and fostering "healthy tension," Don creates environments that inspire teams, enhance quality, and ensure brand satisfaction. Today, he continues to travel the world producing high profile events, overseeing production teams and continue to work towards establishing stronger connections within the experiential marketing, live event and television production community. He considers himself an inspiring leader who focuses on producing quality events by creating a safe and fun workplace for both the production team and client. He believes, having an environment that promotes creative thinking, and encourages personalized growth is key to a successful event and developing long lasting relationships.
Greg Williams graduated from Susquehanna University in 1992 with a degree in accounting, but quickly pivoted toward the outdoors, co-founding the Philadelphia Rock Gyms (PRG) Gym in 1993 and helping build one of the region's first indoor climbing communities. He later moved to Colorado to work in advertising at Climbing Magazine Inc, combining his professional skillset with his passion for the outdoors. Greg joined Backbone in 1997 as a PR Account Manager and went on to launch the agency's Paid Media and Social Media services—becoming VP of Media and helping shape Backbone's integrated approach. In 2022, he became President and now oversees all 11 service areas across paid and earned media. He serves on the boards of Mountain Projects, Inc, RootsRated Media, and 5Point Film Festival. Outside the office, he's a 10-year youth basketball coach and enjoys climbing, biking, and rucking.
Gabby Ludzker is CEO of Rapp UK, joining the agency in 2020. She spent 11 years at Proximity: 3 years running the International business in the Paris office and 8 years in Proximity London as MD and then CEO.Coming from a Digital background at the start of it all, Gabby is passionate about the constant evolution of Marketing, finding new and better ways to solve meaty client problems, make consumers happy and deliver outstanding creative work! She is also obsessed with harnessing the collective genius of the Agency to make magic.
Agencies are a trip.She should know. After spending 20 years at some of the largest and most influential agencies, she's come to appreciate the unique power of independent and inclusive teams. Now, as the COO of Xpedition, she is part of a team committed to revolutionizing agency and entertainment work and delivering world-changing results in partnership with clients like Google, YouTube, Amazon and more.Her mission is to build systems that drive industry-leading creative and elevate underrepresented voices that reflect the diversity of the world we live in. She believes that true innovation and the future of marketing are built by embracing a multitude of perspectives.In partnership with her colleagues, Xpedition is setting new standards for creative excellence and collaboration. Thier focus on inclusive processes and groundbreaking strategies is paving the way for a more dynamic and representative industry. Looking ahead, she is excited to continue driving change and setting new benchmarks for creativity and belonging.She is always eager to connect with like-minded professionals who share a passion for innovation. Let's explore how you can collaborate to create meaningful and impactful work together.
Tamara Francious is CEO and co‑founder of The XP Agency, an award‑winning experiential and multicultural marketing firm based in New York. Since launching the company in 2016, she has led the agency's growth, championing immersive, culturally resonant activations for clients like Netflix, Coca‑Cola, Procter & Gamble, Ghirardelli, and Aflac Under her leadership, The XP Agency earned a spot on Inc.'s 2023 Northeast Regionals list (#79) for its innovative brand experiences inc.com.Tamara draws on over 20 years of experience in entertainment and marketing to bridge real-world events with virtual and digital storytelling, crafting campaigns that deeply engage multicultural audiences blackenterprise.com. A respected voice in the industry, she's been recognized among BizBash's 2025 “Industry Innovators” alongside co-founder Adolfo Vasquez
Tom is an accomplished senior agency leader and executive advisor with proven expertise in accelerating revenue growth in both large corporate and independent entrepreneurial environments. Significant experience creating sales and marketing strategies that have generated revenues for ad agencies, publishers and ad tech startups. Highly adaptive with versatile sales skills and reputation as innovative, marketing-driven revenue builder. Collaborative leader and mentor. Experienced at attracting, training, and scaling teams. Exceptional and vast industry relationships across marketing clients, creative agencies, and senior level executives at media companies.
Adam has 30 years of global experience across a number of areas in marketing and the live event industry, leading diverse projects such as fashion shows, live broadcast events for TV, theatre, music, ceremonies for international sporting events, complex consumer marketing campaigns, and corporate brand experiences. Over the years, he developed a reputation as a world-class event and experience producer.In 2003, he was appointed by Jack Morton Worldwide as the Producer of the Closing Ceremony of the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia. From 2007 to 2018, he was based in China, one of the biggest and most dynamic markets in the world, before relocating to Dallas, Texas, in August 2018 to join Freeman's corporate headquarters and lead its agency business globally.In 2023, Freeman acquired Sparks, and he proudly became the Chief Growth Officer at Sparks. Sparks is a global brand experience agency specializing in creating meaningful connections between brands and their audiences through innovative event marketing, experiential design, trade shows, and more. Sparks partners with some of the world's most renowned brands to deliver unforgettable experiences that inspire and drive action. He prides myself on establishing and maintaining long-serving relationships with clients, staff, and partners. He is passionate about building creative, supportive, and collaborative environments that empower employees to constantly challenge themselves to do what they do better.He believes that the positive culture of a company is the key to its success. It creates value for the company's stakeholders, both in the short and long term.He builds creative, supportive and collaborative environments that empower employees to constantly challenge themselves to do what they do better.He believes that the positive culture of a company is the key to its success. This is what creates value to the company's stakeholders both in the short and long term.
Steve Erich is the Co-Founder and President of Erich & Kallman, which has been named AdAge 2024 North American Agency of the Year, honored as an ADWEEK Fastest Growing Agency, named on the AdAge A-List and has three times been awarded Small Agency of the Year - West by AdAge. Erich & Kallman has produced award winning work for Hershey, Disney+, General Mills, Great Wolf Lodge, iRobot, Take 5, Kelly Services, Chick-fil-A, Fisher Investments and Zero Cancer. Prior to starting Erich & Kallman, Steve was President of Crispin Porter Bogusky with responsibility over seven global offices. He oversaw CPB's expansion into Europe in 2006 with the management of its London, Madrid and Munich offices, and Asia in 2014 with the launch of its office in Hong Kong. Prior to CPB, Steve worked at TBWA Chiat/Day, Vitro and The Martin Agency. He has overseen work which has been awarded two Grand Effies and over 300 other strategic and creative awards, been a guest lecturer at both the University of Missouri and University of Colorado Schools of Journalism, and a featured speaker for the 4A's MPF Program, Minneapolis Ad Club, the AdAge Small Agency Conference in Los Angeles, the Mirren CEO Summit in Chicago, the Word of Mouth Conference in Hamburg, and Marketing 2.0 in Paris. He currently sits on the BBB's National Advertising Review Board and AAAA'sWestern Leadership Committee, is the Jury Chair for the Jay Chiat Awards for B2B Strategy and has judged the Effies and the Association of National Advertisers B2B awards multiple times.
Aaron C. Lang is the President of MSQ, a global marketing group known for its collaborative, multi-disciplinary approach to building modern brands. With a career spanning leadership roles across agencies and client-side organizations, Aaron brings a deep understanding of integrated marketing, digital transformation, and growth strategy. At MSQ, he champions innovation and creative excellence, driving cross-agency collaboration to deliver impactful results for some of the world's most ambitious brands.
Anders just completed an unprecedented 21 year run at Deckers Brands, one of the most dynamic and powerful companies in the world of footwear - and consumer brands broadly speaking. Over the course of that time, he grew from an entry level Marketing Coordinator to his most recent post as the VP and Global GM of the Teva Footwear brand. Throughout his tenure at Deckers he was a central contributor and leader during 2 separate eras of astronomical growth and organizational transformation. Between 2002 and 2011, UGG grew from $36m to just short of $1bn, and his small team built one of the most enduring and essential brands in the history of the industry. In his next capacity as Director of Strategy Development, they acquired a very small but compelling running brand called HOKA, and built a broad and insightful consumer strategy for the brand that enabled to mass adoption that we see today.
Mariam is a first generation half-Mexican half-Palestinian American with global experience in creative, media and technology. Her skills range from creative to commercial—with particular expertise in brand strategy, industry strategy and business development. Thanks to a diverse and illustrious career abroad, she understands the nuances of cultural relevance and context on a global scale for brands. She also speaks Spanish, French and terrible Arabic. Each city she has worked in has shaped her on both professional and personal levels. Driven by vision and seeing opportunity at every turn, she brings high energy (and equally high standards) to all of her work. Between this and her passion for teamwork and generosity, she has a proven track record of galvanizing colleagues and clients to achieve a shared vision. As innovation requires creative and commercial acumen, she brings her unique expertise to whatever follows; she doesn't just ‘get' creativity & technology—she harnesses its power to transform the communications of her clients.She gets a rush from public speaking and has been invited to speak in front of audiences at conferences like Cannes, Social Media Week, Rebels and Rulers and DMEXCO on how brands can leverage technology and creativity to change the conversation. She is also a regular contributor to publications such as Campaign, Little Black Book and Shots, writing on topics ranging from diversity & inclusion to retail strategy and brand experience.
Since 2019, Pius leads Sanofi China encompassing Greater China, representing the 2nd largest market of Sanofi in the world with over 8,000 associates. Pius and his team are fully dedicated to transforming healthcare by accelerating the introduction and access to innovative and chronic medicines, driving digitalization, as well as empowering people to bring their best to the workplace.Pius' extensive experience in the healthcare industry encompasses a variety of key positions and responsibilities, including leading global core brands, and P&L responsibilities for different geographical areas within Europe, Latin America, emerging markets, and Greater China. He has worked around the world in countries including France, Germany, Switzerland, Turkey, Brazil, Tanzania, and China. He has successfully launched several major innovative medicines both globally and locally.Pius is a native of Switzerland. He started his career in the healthcare industry at the Cardiology Department of the University of Basel in a research collaboration with Novartis in Switzerland, where he earned his PhD in medical research, graduating magna cum laud. He is an alumnus of INSEAD and Singularity University. He speaks fluent German, English, French, and Portuguese.Pius has an extensive experience with various industry associations, where he currently holds several key leadership positions, as an active member of RDPAC Executive Committee and Sponsor of the Market Access Committee, as well as Vice-Chair of the European Chamber Shanghai Chapter. Pius is also speaker at the World Economic Forum's China Chapter.He is a strong believer in the idea that innovation ultimately drives progress and prosperity, an active advocate for increasing diversity in society. Pius is happily married, and a proud father of twin daughters.
Jo is perpetually bored with the status quo, she's a visionary leader at the forefront of transforming the future of work through generative AI & the agentic future. After a successful tenure as CEO of Burns Group—where she drove significant growth & participated in the company's acquisition by a leading agency—she redirected her passion and expertise to redefine organizational transformation across industries. She employs a future-back approach, partnering with companies to reimagine every workstream & workplace, not just for efficiency but to envision entirely new ways of working, with a particular focus on marketing, advertising & insight.
Mat transform how brands connect with their markets by fusing creative storytelling with strategic rigor. From copywriter to CMO at Prophet, my 25+ year journey spans digital innovation, agency leadership, and brand transformation for Fortune 500 clients.My expertise bridges the brand-demand divide to drive measurable growth in both B2B and B2C environments. I've led digital disciplines of 30+ specialists globally, served as CCO at OgilvyOne, and pioneered integrated marketing approaches since 1996.Beyond client work, I have judged at Cannes Lions and Effies, spoken at industry events such as B2BMX and ANA Brand Masters, host two podcasts (Cidiot and Rising), and written "Bronze Seeks Silver"- a memoir on creative marketing leadership. Recently named among "Top 25 Marketing & Sales Consultants" by The Consulting Report.
Jonathan Haber is a cofounder of Giant Spoon, an independent, integrated agency that expands the ways people experience brands. Giant Spoon is known for turning marketing upside down. Obsessed with culture and driven by insatiable curiosity, the agency blends teams across creative, media, and experiential to stir shit up for ambitious brands.
Pep loves working with amazing people, He loves solving problems, and he loves meeting new folks from everywhere in the world.Currently, he has the privilege of leading a fantastic team of engineers and business leaders. Together they are driving the future of brand-consumer relationships. They are building SaaS that helps brands uncover authentic conversations at scale and help them put the most effective marketers front and center – everyday people with 4-8x better engagement on vertical video than produced, branded content.Zelf brings together Pep's long-time passions. Originally from the Netherlands, he studied astrophysics while dipping his toes in video-making and progressive political activism. At the age of 9, he had his first entrepreneurial venture and had the fortune of living various lives since: from popcorn baker, to video editor, to sustainability activist, and eventually joining the consulting firm McKinsey & Company, before founding his first company.McKinsey allowed him to see the workings of a wide array of industries (consumer goods, e-commerce, retail, food, finance, etc.), took him all over the world and allowed him to live and work on all of the six major continents, with most notably business building adventures in Vietnam, Thailand, Sydney, Madagascar, Colombia, and the US, all with fantastic people.From there, he had the honor to pursue his MBA at MIT Sloan — where I founded Alfie one of the first movers in ISAs (Income Share Agreements) and through which he met so many of the amazing people that are now helping me build Zelf.
Damaune serves as Global Chief Growth Officer at 72andSunny, one of the world's most admired and innovative creative agencies, where he is responsible for the global revenue of the business including marketing and revenue operations, business development, and corporate communications.For Journey, success means driving growth on both the agency and the client sides of the partnership, and he works across 72andSunny's four global offices, as well as its long roster of brands, including the National Football League, United Airlines, Zoom, and Audible. Previously, Journey was Chief Growth/Marketing Officer at Private Medical, a concierge medical practice serving select UHNW families across the United States. In this role, he successfully developed and led the organization's growth and expansion strategy. Prior to Private Medical, Journey was hired by private equity firm TPG Growth to serve as Chief Revenue Officer at the renowned private security firm Gavin de Becker & Associates, where he was responsible forrevenue growth, marketing and commercial operations, and scaling strategy.As an executive and business unit leader at ShotSpotter, a venture-backed technology company, Journey helped lead thefirm's IPO with its 2016 NASDAQ listing and was a featured protagonist in the Harvard Business School case, “ShotSpotter: A Gunfire Detection Business Looks for a New Market” about his efforts. Before ShotSpotter, he led global marketing and business development for CSECO, where he successfullyexpanded the business to international markets on four continents.Outside of his private-sector career, Journey has proudly served as National Chairperson and advisory board member of the National Society of Black Engineers and currently serves as a board director for a number of non-profits and social enterprises. Journey has a Bachelor's degree in Industrial & Operations Engineering from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor and an MBA from Harvard Business School. Born and raised in Flint, Michigan, helives in Oakland, CA with his wife and their two young children.
Christopher Brady, President, Global Chief Commercial Officer at Tribeca Enterprises. In this role, Brady is responsible for revenue strategy across the organization, including finding new ways to grow the Tribeca Festival, as well as other live events and Tribeca Studios, the organization's production company. This past year he's helped drive the highest sponsorship figures for the Tribeca Festival and further expanded Tribeca Enterprises into the international realm with Tribeca Festival Lisboa. Brady explores sponsorship, distribution and production deals, as well as franchise experiences and other opportunities. He reports directly to Jane Rosenthal, Tribeca Co-Founder and CEO.
Dustin is a musician who became an award-winning marketer more than 20 years ago after receiving his first guitar, a truly life-defining moment that set him down a path of creative exploration. He is passionate about filmmaking, photography, design, illustration and all things creative, as well as marketing strategy, data and analytics. He specializes in telling engaging stories and connecting brands and artists with global audiences through proven strategic marketing efforts. He splits his time between Los Angeles and Paso Robles, California and is honored to work alongside some of the best and brightest creatives to produce work for the world's most respected brands.
German is a practitioner of "mixed cognitive arts" building modern brands across a full spectrum of categories (with a leaning toward health, pharma, wellness, beauty, finance, insurance, food, hospitality, sports and automotive).A Silicon Valley-trained entrepreneur and thought leader applying ingenuity and leading methodologies to simplify marketing challenges using human insights, cultural trends, lateral thinking and new technologies.A passionate advocate for anthropology bringing ethnographies, artificial intelligence, expert crowdsourcing and cultural computing to advertising, media, innovation and corporate strategy. A client-savvy executive building long-lasting client relationships and driving high-profile pitch wins and account retention for agencies.A visionary team architect mentoring talent, rejuvenating culture and shaping the future of the Strategy & Planning discipline.Feeling at home in both disruptive and mainstream agencies with a preference for the former.Brands: Procter & Gamble, Unilever, Intel, NASDAQ, Ask.com, Creditcards.com, Ely Lilly, AMGEN, Novartis, Pfizer, Otsuka, Kyowa Kirin, Ipsen, Stryker, Foundation Medicine, National Jewish Health, Weight Watchers, Bank of America/Merrill Lynch, American Family Insurance, Emblem Insurance, Volvo, Volkswagen, Honda, Lufthansa, Expedia, L'Oreal, Estee Lauder, Erno Laszlo, Victoria's Secret, RadioShack, Best Buy, CVS, Burger King, Domino's Pizza, Wendy's, Miller Coors, Brown Forman, Kahlua, Nike, Pearl Izumi.
Mark Barker is co-founder and strategy lead at Craft & Commerce, an outcomes-focused digital media agency serving purpose-driven brands, nonprofits, foundations and advocacy organizations.
Michael Nyman has made a career by being on the leading edge of marketing trends. With this latest venture he has created another new go to market strategy. Nyman, the former long time PMK*BNC Co-Chairman & CEO, has now launched Acceleration, a new investment vehicle & advisory firm. With Acceleration, Nyman will be developing a new go-to market business approach with a series of strategic and complementary acquisitions and build outs aimed at providing a unique collective of specialized agencies, designed to help clients move quickly and efficiently with their branding, marketing and media decisions.Nyman, a 30-year veteran, started his own firm, Bragman Nyman Cafarelli (along with founder Howard Bragman and co-founder Brad Cafarelli) in 1991, before selling it to Interpublic Group of Companies (IPG:NYSE) in the fall of 2000, and leading the firm through its transition to a public company and subsequent expansion. In the fall of 2009, Nyman was asked to lead the merger combining the talent powerhouse of PMK with BNC's established leadership in not only communications, but also marketing services and expertise in merging brands with entertainment. Within five years PMK*BNC had doubled its revenue and built up to 300 employees representing nearly 1,000 entertainment and Fortune 500 clients.For more than two decades of work with BNC and PMK*BNC, Nyman has architected and contributed to numerous award-winning campaigns and/or counseled clients, including Samsung, Pepsi, American Express, Avon and BeatsbyDre to Product(Red), Jordan Brand (Nike), The Television Academy (Emmys), Shonda Rhimes, JC Penny, The Academy of Country Music (ACM's), Warner Bros, Digital Networks Group and Condé Nast.Nyman has served on multiple boards over the past two decades. Currently he is the Chairman of the California Film Commission, serves on the Board of Governors at Cedars-Sinai and the Board of Councilors for USC's Annenberg School of Communications and Journalism.
As the Global CEO and Founder of Meet The People, an advertising group headquartered in New York City, he leads a team of more than 750 staff across ten offices in the US and Canada. He created MTP in 2021 to build a unique new consultancy group that focuses on helping brands to growth their business by combining the power of integrated marketing and advertising strategies merged with data and technology. MTP works for world know blue chip brands like IBM, Google, LG, LVMH, L'ORÉAL, Moderna, CME Group, Sappi and many mid-sized businesses in North America.Furthermore he's an active investor in EU and US based startups, with a track record that includes pre-IPO investments in firms like Airbnb, Anduril, Animoca Brands, Anthropic, Blockchain.com, Blockdeamon, Forge, Klarna, OpenAI, Palantir, Robinhood, SoFi, SpaceX, Spotify, TON, Tonies and many more. With over 27 years of entrepreneurial experience in marketing, He has built and managed multiple international advertising groups, with operations in EMEA, APAC, MENA, and the US. He is passionate about innovation, entrepreneurship, and social impact, He regularly speaks at industry events and support charitable causes.
While carrying the “ethos” of a Marketing Technologist to many enterprises, He's always possessed a firm understanding of how technology has continued to transform the discipline of Marketing while disrupting today's conventional consumer engagement models. Over that past 20+ years his communications experience ranges from African American, Hispanic, LGBT, Asian American, Arab American, Indian, Boomers, Millennials, Urban, GM to International.He's been an audience "segmentation specialist" for clients looking to enhance their brand positioning by rethinking and redefining their Go-To-Market approach. Some of them include the likes of Lexus, NYPD, Medline, State Fair, Spalding, HBO, MCD, LA Sparks, Game Show Network, Verizon Wireless, Clear brand under Unilever, Ford Division, Lincoln Mercury, Burger King, Colgate, HSBC, Time Warner Cable, Home Depot, AstraZeneca, US Marines, Pfizer, Novartis, Merck, and Hyatt Resorts.His vantage point is oriented around enhancing a clients' Brand building efforts through ROI driven programs that leverage unique consumer insights and deliver relevant customer experience. I've always thought outside the traditional framework to solving business problems because the only thing constant is EVOLUTION. He has also done guest speaking for Meltwater Social, MediaPost, Digiday, ThinkLA, CYNOPSIS, Adweek, and The VAB inclusive of live and virtual events. In the past, he's participated in guest speaker series for NYU, Baruch, University of Maryland, University of Nevada, and Georgetown. Tune into the HYPERLINK "https://protect-us.mimecast.com/s/IvUyCwp2q2H2LpTVv9A2?domain=open.spotify.com" The Transient Identiti, podcast which chronicles the Voice of the Consumer.Other than Strategic Intuition and the Human Truths in Marketing, "gratitude" is one thing he value deeply in business. Meaning, being grateful for how open-minded he's been to constantly challenge and even disrupt my own thinking!
Winston is the Chief Brand & Experience Officer at GALE, leading the creative, production, and experience design team. In 2024, GALE was named Campaign UK US Advertising Agency of the Year. He works with with companies like the National Basketball Association (NBA), Delta Air Lines, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Cotopaxi, MilkPEP, Pella, Santander, Bain & Company, Fogo de Chão, and others. Over the past twenty years, he's helped leading global brands craft their narratives and create innovative campaigns and experiences that harness the marketing potential of the digital and social age. His diverse client portfolio includes Domino's, Michaels Stores, American Express, Target, Burger King, Nike, Vail Resorts, Taco Bell, Pandora, AB InBev, and Volkswagen Group. Before GALE, he was a brand consultant and Chief Digital Officer of Deutsch North America.
Matthew Garcia is the President of The Sasha Group. The Sasha Group is a VaynerX company founded in 2019, infused with entrepreneurial DNA and built by folks with decades of Fortune 500 expertise. They teach, guide, and execute present-day brand building for ambitious businesses of all sizes to unlock meaningful growth. In a world that's constantly changing, they build brands that win hearts in their vision of a future full of beloved brands. In addition to marketing services, their education products provide knowledge, tactics, and strategies to business leaders through in-person and virtual events and weekly content delivery. They also offer consulting packages to guide businesses through their journeys with their expertise and network.
Dana Seguin is a passionate brand builder and marketing leader with 25 years of experience reshaping the retail and fashion industries. Her career began on the merchandising side at American Eagle Outfitters, but she found her true calling in creative marketing—developing powerful strategies in advertising, PR, and social media for brands like SPANX, Chico's, and Aerie.Her proudest accomplishment is spearheading the groundbreaking “Aerie Real” campaign, which set a new industry standard by refusing to retouch images and championing a positive body image for women of all sizes. This authentic, inclusive approach propelled Aerie into one of the top brands among young consumers. At SPANX, she led a complete creative redesign—from packaging to product navigation—and launched the brand's first advertising campaign introducing leggings as a new product category, driving significant brand expansion.Currently, as SVP Chief Marketing Officer at Altar'd State, she oversees all creative and marketing initiatives as well as the eCommerce business for their family of brands—Altar'd State, Arula, Vow'd, Tullabee, and AS Revival. She thrive's on transforming businesses, inspiring teams, and delivering bold ideas that resonate with consumers. Whether building an iconic campaign or driving a strategic shift, she's committed to turning vision into reality—and creating meaningful, measurable growth every step of the way.
As a transformative business leader, she has built a career defined by driving growth, accelerating iconic brands, and delivering unbeatable results for global retail, technology, and consumer industries.She has guided world-renowned companies to achieve record-breaking success and enduring market impact, including consumer and B2B leaders in retail, technology, and analytics. Currently, she serves as President of January Digital, The Marketing Leadership Company™, which solves business challenges through media excellence, strategic guidance, and actionable analytics for leading global brands including Kendra Scott, Carhartt, Interstate Batteries, StriVectin, and Steve Madden. Her focus on human connection, strategic excellence, and profitable growth has not only propelled business results but also fostered an ethical, high-performing, and award-winning organization.Throughout her career, she has provided some of the world's most respected brands—such as Travelocity, Lilly Pulitzer, iProspect (Dentsu Aegis), Chevrolet, ClearSaleing (eBay), and Match.com—with strategic leadership across business growth, brand marketing, creative direction, operations, HR strategy, and customer acquisition.She has served on multiple executive teams, worked collaboratively with boards of directors and guided private companies through successful funding and acquisitions as well as public companies through rapid growth initiatives.Beyond executive roles, she is dedicated to industry innovation and mentorship. Her advisory board roles with Shoptalk, Trybe, and Rebel Nell underscore her commitment to advancing the retail and tech sectors while championing opportunities for women and underrepresented voices. Her philanthropic work further reflects this passion, including support for underserved communities, families experiencing homelessness, and domestic violence survivors through nonprofit LSH in Philadelphia.
James Edmunds cofounded plant-based CBD-infused drinks brand TRIP in 2019. Its canned sodas are now stocked in stores and bars in over 30 countries and the London-based company raised $5 million from investors in 2021 to expand into the United States.
Blayne Ross is a creative entrepreneur, experience designer and producer known for award winning experiences, environments and content that sparks meaningful connections. He began his career in the entertainment industry in 2001 and quickly found a home working on the Emmy nominated HBO series Six Feet Under at the Greenblatt Janollari Studio. With a passion for complex stories that influence culture, Blayne became a Creative Executive in Original Programming for the Showtime Network, where he supervised "hit" series such as The L Word and Queer As Folk. He also helped develop the critically acclaimed, Peabody award winning political drama Brotherhood. Embracing his love of design and inspired physical environments, Blayne left Los Angeles for New York City to found a Design-Build shop KAID DESIGN. There, Blayne provided an end-to-end solution including architecture.
With over 20 years of hospitality experience, Dan has been honored to work in New York City's most prestigious and historic hotels. With a backdrop of iconic locations like the United Nations, Times Square, and the heart of Manhattan, he has shared indelible experiences alongside the finest hoteliers in the world. Throughout his career he has attained a broad knowledge of operations from his hands-on experience and built successful teams through his collaborative leadership. His breadth of experience, passion for learning, and team development have been the driving forces to enable organizational improvement and transformation.
Juan Pablo is a Marketing leader with an MIT Executive Education. He led global brands atMondelēz International,L'Oréal, and BIC. Recognized as Top 25 Marketeers in LATAM and the 75 Best Marketeers in Mexico. He has Industry expertise in Beauty, Food, and Stationery, driving growth and profitability across Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Argentina, and the USA.He Co-founded ventures with successful exits after creating a Publishing Company and SEO Exclusive technology. Currently he is investing in a DTC skincare brand, Dermatolab, and a fitness app.He is a Speaker and podcaster on new marketing competencies for high-performance brands. Effie award-winner and passionate sports enthusiast, tackling marathons, triathlons, and global mountain summits.