It's No Fluke

Brian Keenan leads international strategy and AI consultancy for WE Communications, a ~$200M integrated marketing firm. Brian counsels senior leaders from companies such as Adobe, HEINEKEN and Amazon to succeed in an AI-enabled future. Latest interest areas including AI search, agentic commerce, synthetic audiences, and autonomous workflows. He is a regular presenter at industry conferences such as ICCO, PRCA, WARC, and Mumbrella across EMEA & APAC. He brings a global and grounded mindset to his work from living in four countries and raising three children.

Rebecca Bemhena is vice president, content at Shoptalk Luxe. She leads the editorial direction and research strategy for Shoptalk Luxe, with full accountability for the agenda and speaker lineup. Her work sits at the intersection of elevated retail, hospitality, and transformative technology, translating shifts in the premium consumer landscape into programming that is commercially relevant, insight-led, and built for senior decision-makers.With 11+ years of experience in content strategy and storytelling, she's motivated by bringing the right leaders into the right conversations at the moment the industry needs them most.

Charlotte Pavlik is the Chief Growth Officer at Gladiator Productions where she drives brand visibility, supports revenue growth, and showcases the company in high-impact environments. She's known for her strategic vision and flawless execution, building meaningful partnerships with global entertainment, luxury, & consumer brands like LVMH, Sol de Janeiro, and Live Nation while leading results-driven campaigns that push the envelope.Seth Dolan, Chief Creative & Experience Officer and Co-Founder of Gladiator Productions, has 20+ years of experience in live entertainment and experiential marketing under his belt for top clients like Pandora Jewelry, The Walt Disney Company, and AmorePacific. Dolan is a visionary creative and show producer who crafts immersive large-scale experiences that tie in storytelling, design, and brand strategy for global brands.

Dmitri Cherner is an influencer marketing leader and advisor known for building and scaling high-impact creator and ambassador programs from the ground up. At Future Influence, he partners with founders to turn creator relationships into sustainable growth engines for the entire marketing org.

Milton Correa and Jones Krahl are a creative duo with a drive for brand building, a passion for craft, and an obsession for business growth. From IBM's Smarter Planet, which redefined enterprise storytelling, to Coke Zero's first-ever Drinkable Campaign, to the Cannes Innovation-winning Illustrate Change, our work fuses bold ideas with tangible business impact.Their work spans digital shops, iconic agencies, product companies, design studios, and consultancies across both the U.S and Brazil.

Ashleigh Malangone is a lifestyle creator, host of The Eternal Entrepreneur Podcast and the Founder & CEO of Blaise, a tech startup building the missing infrastructure behind modern influencer marketing.After nearly a decade working as a content creator, strategist, and brand partner, Ashleigh recognized a fundamental flaw in the industry: creators were driving real-world consumer behavior, especially in physical retail, with no way to track, prove, or monetize their impact. Brands were investing heavily in creators, yet lacked verified attribution and clear ROI for in-store conversions. Blaise was built to solve that gap.Ashleigh built a highly engaged social audience and partnered with leading brands including META, Target, Estée Lauder Companies, REVOLVE, Bluemercury, and Tanger Outlets, to name a few. Her corporate background spans fashion and finance in NYC, giving her rare fluency across creative, commercial, and operational worlds.

Aimie Rigas is an audience engagement and growth expert. She is the Director of Audience Growth for Nine Publishing, which includes The Australian Financial Review, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, Brisbane Times and all associated brands such as Good Food. In this role, Aimie is responsible for audience engagement, consumer subscription revenue and marketing.She is a board member of the Fairfax Foundation, which provides financial support to advance the health, education and welfare of people who work in, or have previously worked in, the media industry in Australia and their families.

Libby Rodney is Chief Strategy Officer at The Harris Poll, where she helps Fortune 100 executives decode cultural shifts and anticipate what's next. A futurist who has shaped strategies for leading organizations for over two decades, she's known as a "human decoder" who helps leaders see around corners.Her insights have commanded the stages of Davos, Cannes Lions, SXSW, and CES, and been featured in The New Yorker, Fortune, and CNBC. She's the author of "The Next Big Think!" and co-host of the "So Get This" podcast.

Eri Mizobe is a digital marketing leader with over 12 years of experience spanning influencer marketing, social media, and public relations. As VP of Digital at MSL, Publicis Groupe's creative communications agency, she leads integrated digital strategy and execution for global brands including KitchenAid and JM Smucker. She has worked with industry-leading companies such as Dyson, Estée Lauder, and Marriott International, driving innovative campaigns that connect brands with modern audiences. Outside of work, Eri enjoys traveling, film photography, cooking and planning her wedding in Malta.

Katarina Marossy is a talent architect and cultural operator redefining what modern creator representation looks like. Known as a disruptor in the industry, she has built a reputation for being deeply connected to Black and Brown creators while simultaneously carving out space in the automotive content world, two verticals rarely bridged with intentionality.A true entrepreneur at heart, Katarina founded Disrupt MGMT before co-founding Stealth TLNT, a next-generation talent management company focused on long-term brand building, equity participation, and scalable creator businesses. Within its first three months, Stealth generated over $1.2M in topline revenue and secured exclusive representation for powerhouse creators such as Collins and Devan Key, signaling both velocity and vision.Her approach goes beyond traditional brand deals. Katarina is focused on placing talent on cap tables, structuring influence-for-equity partnerships, and building operational systems that allow creators to evolve from personalities into enterprises.

Felipe Mendez is a 26-year-old professional. He is a Manager @ UTA Marketing's Next Gen Practice, formerly known as JUV Consulting (acquired). Next Gen is a Generation Z team that works with clients to help them connect with young people. Formerly JUV has worked with over 20 Fortune 500 companies, has been profiled by the New York Times. He has managed some of the largest brand and studio TikTok accounts on the platform including Lionsgate, ArthurPBS. Above all, he's a Gen Zer spending way too much time on TikTok, and considers himself a professional internet surfer and is ready to talk about it.

Kamla Pande is the VP of Talent at Fixated, a creative-first management company that acquired her boutique firm, Moondust Management, in 2025. At Fixated, she continues to steward the careers of top-tier digital creators while collaborating closely with internal teams and brand partners to drive strategic growth and long-term opportunity.Kamla founded Moondust in 2019 with a mission to help creators build sustainable businesses beyond the algorithm, and she brings that same values-driven approach to her role at Fixated. Her career spans leading digital media and talent firms including Maker Studios, StyleHaul, and YMU Group, with a track record of launching and scaling creator-led ventures across brand deals, tours, IP and more.

Over the course of Jeffrey Bowman's career, his work has impacted brands like Pepsi, P&G, Unilever, Dell Technologies, Verizon,  Wyndham, United, British Airways, Restaurant Associates,  Prudential, MetLife, Gap, Sears, IKEA, Whirlpool, Delta Faucet,  Behr Paint, Unilever, Planned Parenthood, Estee Lauder and  CoverGirl to name a few. Bowman is an industry thought leader, two-time award-winning Wiley published author,  Campaign US 40 Over 40, pocstock 2025 Top 50 Future of Black America and recipient of the David Ogilvy Beacon Award. Prior to starting Reframe Consulting Services in 2015, Bowman was a senior partner, managing director at Ogilvy, where he disrupted the $1T industry by starting the first cultural agency while pioneering a change operating system - The Total Market Approach that helped leaders accelerate growth that reflected the total addressable audience.

Leanne Perice is the Founder & CEO of Made By All, a leading digital management company focused on representing talent who are defining the creator economy and culture. Founded in 2017, Made By All was built on Leanne's early belief that creators would become the most powerful force shaping culture, media, and commerce. She is widely recognized as a pioneer of the creator economy and has been featured in The Hollywood Reporter as one of the top digital managers and agents in the space.In 2025, she launched Made By Us, a cultural marketing and content division helping brands and celebrities operate like creators through viral storytelling, strategy, and social-first production.Clients include: Adam W, Hannah Stocking, Devon Rodriguez, Helen Owen, Haley Kalil and Amanda McCants

Christine Cyr Clisset is the special projects director for Wirecutter and co-host of The Wirecutter Show podcast. She has spent over 20 years in media covering home and consumer products. During her tenure at Wirecutter, she has overseen numerous categories, ranging from emergency preparedness to large-scale editorial initiatives.Wirecutter's recent three-part series detailing what two of their writers learned while recovering from the LA wildfires—and the vital lessons they can teach everyone. Listen to the three part series.

Alex Dahan, a fierce innovator with a passion for problem-solving, co-founded Open Influence in 2011. Alex has always had an entrepreneurial spirit which is what drove and ignited the idea of Open Influence. Shortly after graduating high school, Alex was searching for ways to advertise his clothing line when he turned to creators on Instagram with large followings. After finding success, Open Influence (originally Instabrand) was born. Over the decade in which Open Influence has been evolving, Alex dove into many other successful endeavors, including a startup studio, 0x Ventures, where he has developed products in the fields of SaaS, fintech, AI, and web3. layed a key role in securing many of the company's first major clients through his innovative and creative pitch decks. Alex also serves on the advisory board of electric car company Faraday Future (an OI client) and acts as a consultant to the Director of Innovation. Alex's creativity spills into his daily life into his many hobbies, including designing user-interfaces, drawing, skateboarding, surfing, snowboarding, playing guitar, and hiking with his two huskies. 

Marissa Kiersch is a seasoned event marketing and brand strategy leader with more than 20 years of experience creating high-impact experiential campaigns for Fortune 500 brands. As SVP & Head of Brand + Creative Strategy at 15|40 Productions, she leads the agency's positioning, creative vision, and strategic growth, helping clients deliver culturally relevant, unforgettable brand experiences. Her work spans large-scale immersive activations and tentpole events for brands including Paramount+, Hulu, ESPN, Disney, and Nickelodeon, with recent highlights such as Disney's Percy Jackson Experience at San Diego Comic-Con and ESPN's Party at the Playoff. Known for blending storytelling, innovation, and operational excellence, Marissa thrives on turning bold ideas into moments audiences can see and feel. She is passionate about pushing creative boundaries, mentoring teams, and building experiences that resonate long after the event ends.

Curtis Diggins is a cultural brand marketer who has worked with global companies like Nike and TikTok, as well as leading creative agencies, to build timeless campaigns and experiences. Beyond the work, Curtis is a proud husband and father of two.As careers evolve and our relationship with work continues to shift, Curtis finds himself in a moment of transformation, searching for a role that aligns with his values and reignites his creative spark. In a world where it often feels like everyone has it figured out, this is a conversation about embracing the search, and finding meaning in the answers uncovered along the way.

Lotte Jones is Chief Commercial Officer of Caliber, a multi-platform parent company defining a new era of journalism. Its portfolio of socially native, creator-led brands reaches more than 100 million users each month and includes The News Movement (TNM), delivering Gen Z-focused news; The Recount, covering U.S. politics; and Capsule, spotlighting lifestyle and cultural trends. Under her commercial leadership, Lotte oversees all partnerships, marketing and communications across the organization, as well as The Caliber Collective, a creative studio that produces digital campaigns for more than 25 major brands, including Amazon, KFC, Planned Parenthood, and Snap. Lotte brings over 20 years' experience leading and advising some of the world's biggest brands during moments of transformation and reputational scrutiny. She was also the first No. 1 female Creative Director in PR Week Powerbook. With a background spanning communications, corporate affairs, digital innovation and marketing, Lotte sits at the heart of our changing media landscape and is passionate about anything that has an impact on society and modern culture. Lotte has founded and sold her own communications agency in London, thrived building a start-up in New York and led global media companies.

Josh Horowitz is the creator and host of the long-running Happy Sad Confused podcast, which has become the destination for actors and filmmakers to speak openly about their craft. The show has broken entertainment news, gone viral, and drawn guests ranging from Jennifer Lawrence to Christopher Nolan. In the past two years, Happy Sad Confused has amassed over 200 million views and 750 million impressions across audio, YouTube, and social media. With Who's A Good Guest?, Horowitz – a devoted dog dad to the adorable Lucy, partners with BARK and brings that same mix of deep curiosity and joyful fandom to the dog world.Season one features a star-studded lineup of dog parents, including Zoey Deutch, Dylan O'Brien, Bob Odenkirk, Johnny Knoxville, Ginnifer Goodwin, and Patrick Wilson. Each episode invites a celebrity and their dog into a conversation that's funny, honest, and a little chaotic. From balancing careers with dog care, to the challenges of training, to the unbreakable bond they share with their furry friend, guests reveal a side of themselves usually reserved for living rooms and dog parks.

Philip Pirkovic is a brand architect who bridges the gap between creative ambition and business reality. Having led teams both in-house and within the agency world, he possesses a unique ability to marry creative vision with operational excellence. He has worked with global icons, high-growth startups, and heritage brands, helping them navigate the complexities of modern brand building.During his recent tenure at Shinola, he oversaw Brand & Partnerships, spearheading the brand's cultural resurgence. Philip specializes in building brand platforms and strategic partnerships that transcend traditional advertising, turning brand moments into genuine cultural touchpoints. His work and insights have been featured in premier publications including GQ, Business of Fashion, Rolling Stone, Forbes, Adweek, and Complex.

There was a lot of buzz coming out 1 Billion Followers Summit. Leslie Morgan helped develop 75 sessions across 154 speakers and three stages led by Creators HQ and Nizar Salman. We talk about what went into this, what went right and what to expect next year and beyond.

Christina Ziroli-Leaman is a social media strategist who got her start in social by manipulating HTML on Myspace to make her profile pink and sparkly. Fast forward 20 years, and now she gets to do what she loves for a living, every single day, which she's eternally grateful for. Her experience spans edtech, higher education, and manufacturing - proving that great storytelling works anywhere there's a human on the other side of the screen. Christina believes that in a world that can feel heavy, social media should be a place for light and joy, where humor, empathy, and the occasional meme remind us we're all still connected. She lives in Birmingham, AL, with her husband Matt, their 7 month old daughter Naomi, their crazy dog Zelda and their sweet parrot Juju. When she's offline, you can find her reading and sipping coffee while snuggling her daughter. Her favorite pizza topping is pepperoni, her favorite thing in life is family and her fun fact? She once wrote Harry Potter fanfiction on Quizilla and honestly, the storytelling hasn't stopped since.

Kacy Ray is a Director of Sports and Brand Partnerships at Salesforce, where she leads high-impact collaborations across sports, media, and entertainment. She has partnered with some of the most recognizable names in sports and media, including the Indiana Fever, Golden State Warriors, San Francisco Giants, United Football League, Tottenham Hotspur, Fox Sports, and NBC to name a few.Her experience spans global brand campaigns, Olympic storytelling, athlete and celebrity partnerships, and multi-million-dollar media strategies that connect brand to demand across the funnel. Known for her data-driven approach, cultural fluency, and ability to navigate complex organizations, Kacy is passionate about helping brands tell authentic stories that resonate across generations and communities.Originally from Arizona, Kacy began her career in New York City in journalism and digital media before transitioning into brand strategy and partnerships. She's now based in the Midwest and is proud to call Indianapolis home. As a mother to two young kids, Kacy loves to teach and take Pilates and barre classes in her free time to keep her sane.

Oksana Kravchenko is the Head of Creator Partnerships at Manychat, where she leads global influencer and creator strategy across the US, Europe, and Brazil. She focuses on building scalable, creator-first partnership programs that drive real business results — from always-on creator ecosystems to product-led storytelling and long-term relationships. Over the past year, Oksana has scaled Manychat's creator partnerships 7x, built and led cross-regional teams, and worked with hundreds of creators across marketing, lifestyle, business, and education.With over 10 years of experience in creator partnerships, influencer marketing, and growth strategy, Oksana's background spans PR and show business to modern creator-led SaaS growth. She's dedicated to helping creators turn influence into opportunity — blending relationships, technology, and strategy to build programs that scale without losing the human touch.Manychat is a leading Instagram automation platform used by over 1.5 million creators and businesses across 140+ countries. Officially approved by Meta, Manychat automations are user-friendly ways to automatically reply to users' Comments+DM, Collect Emails, and Request your Commenters to Follow you. With this new solution, Manychat helps users maximize the value of their DM automations, significantly improving their ability to convert conversations into actionable outcomes. Manychat is also available on WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and has recently become officially available for TikTok.

Miles Sellyn is the VP of Partnerships and Partner at Rare Days, a multi-disciplinary digital product agency. Elite creators partner with Rare Days to uncover and then capitalize on the innovative product opportunities that deliver value, create impact, and grow wealth.In his role, Miles oversees the platform and technology partnerships that are core to the agency's delivery, as well as being accountable for business development, sales and marketing, and initial stages of client strategy. 

Alexandra Vailas is the Head of Brand for Bad Birdie Golf, a golf apparel brand that challenges tradition and invites every player to show up as their bold selves. She has over 20 years of experience helping brands tell their stories, create memorable campaigns, and connect with communities in ways that stick. With experience as an influencer, agency leader, and brand executive, Alex brings a 360-degree perspective to executing campaigns that truly resonate. When she's not building brands, she's raising two kids and mentoring young professionals.

Maha Abouelenein is a strategic communication expert, best-selling author, and entrepreneur with more than three decades of experience. As the CEO and Founder of Digital and Savvy, a global communications consulting firm with offices in the United States and United Arab Emirates, Maha has been instrumental in orchestrating transformations in communication strategies for clients that include global corporate giants, high-growth startups, sports organizations, top governments, CEOs, and high-net-worth individuals. In 2024, Maha released her debut book, 7 Rules of Self-Reliance: How to Stay Low, Keep Moving, Invest in Yourself, and Own Your Future which became a USA TODAY bestseller and provides a transformative guide on mastering self-reliance. Raised and educated in the United States to Egyptian parents, Maha is at home in both Western and Arab worlds, offering a global perspective that translates into her work. She serves as a bridge between cultures, providing invaluable support to companies and high-profile executives seeking to navigate business opportunities in the Middle East market, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. She is active in the tech, sports, entertainment, and gaming industries. Maha is an Advisor to the BRIDGE Alliance, Lockchain.ai, JumpShot (the Top Golf of Basketball), the Global Gaming League, sits on the Global Board of Directors of the Associated Press, and is on the Board of the Animal Humane Society. Maha handled communications for some of the world's largest tech companies in the Middle East—from Google and Netflix to Udacity and Careem (Uber Middle East)—and more. She helped PR giant Weber Shandwick cement their presence in the Middle East, opening 18 offices in the region and leading the Cairo operation. She supported the largest IPO and the largest acquisition in Egypt's history at Orascom Telecom.

With over 30 years of creative leadership, Adele Mulford has served as strategic visionary for top global for-profit and nonprofit brands. From the highly disciplined world of finance to the heartfelt needs of children's health, she tackles the complex nature of brands head-on, and builds ground-breaking creative strategies that generate tangible results. Adele loves a good challenge, and believes that no matter the situation there is always boundless opportunity to unlock dynamic creative and operational solutions that cultivate stronger businesses – and people.Adele launched The Cultivate Company in 2022: A brand, creative and marketing firm that promises to elevate the people, companies and communities it serves.

In this episode, we sat down with John Sampogna, co-founder and CEO of Wondersauce, to unpack the evolution of agencies in a results-driven world. John shares how his team shifted from selling services to delivering measurable outcomes, the mindset needed for value-based client relationships, and why accountability, not billable hours, is the real differentiator for agencies today. They also dive into how human creativity and collaboration with in-house teams shape modern campaigns, and why every “last mile” matters in driving business growth.

Elizabeth Pigg is the Chief Communications Officer of That's it., makers of the No. 1 Fruit Bar in America. She joined the company in 2020 as Vice President of Marketing and was later promoted to Chief Marketing Officer, where she led efforts to strengthen its digital presence, eCommerce, and influencer marketing. In 2024, she pivoted her role to Chief Communications Officer, returning to her roots in brand storytelling and media strategy after nearly two decades as a senior leader at Edelman.At Edelman, Elizabeth led digital communications and marketing for several brands, most notably Ben & Jerry's, helping the brand stay culturally relevant while driving impact. Her experience spans public relations, social media, and integrated marketing strategy. She currently serves as Marketing Chair of the FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education) Advisory Council, has contributed to Forbes, and is a jury member for the Digiday, Effie, and Shorty Awards.Originally from Chicago and now based in Los Angeles, Elizabeth is also a classically trained violist and vocalist, a voiceover artist, and serves on the Board of Directors for Angels Nest, supporting youth aging out of foster care.

Camille Dagorn is an award-winning creator and influencer marketing expert with more than a decade of experience building high-impact campaigns for global brands including L'Oréal, Unilever, Pernod Ricard, GoPro, and Mastercard. As the VP, Creator Partnerships for McCann New York, she is known for scaling social-first programs, designing creator-led brand initiatives, and driving measurable growth across beauty, lifestyle, tech, and consumer verticals. Camille is passionate about creating meaningful, unforgettable moments for creators and audiences.

Alex Athanasiou is Managing Director at COLLINS, the transformation consultancy honored as “Firm of the Year” 6 times in the last 7 years by AdAge and the D&AD. Alex created the consultancy's new Cultural Capital practice, developing cultural strategies, stages and products for brands. He also directs productions and PR across the COLLINS portfolio, launching over 50 projects in the last three years to maintain the consultancy's positions as one of the most creatively awarded firms in the world.

GIPHY/Censuswide Group Chat study for a deeper dive into the numbers.Alix McAlpine is a creative and strategy leader with experience at the intersection of media, technology, and advertising. She has built and led high-performing teams, launched new products, spearheaded hundreds of impactful branded content campaigns, and developed systems that enable revenue-generating creative organizations to scale while executing flawlessly.As VP Client Solutions and Advertising at GIPHY, Alix oversees global advertising strategy and client solutions, leading the execution of all sales collateral and proposals, product innovation and marketing, packaging, and creative production. Previously, she led the Creative Strategy group at GIPHY, where she launched the Creators Club, a collaborative community and incubator supporting up-and-coming creators. Prior to GIPHY, Alix was part of BuzzFeed's creative leadership as Head of International Creative, overseeing branded content across six markets and running the Creative Fellowship program, which accelerated talent development during BuzzFeed's boom years. Her work at GIPHY earned her a spot on AdWeek's Creative 100, and multiple Webby Awards. Alix has served on the Shorty Awards jury since 2020.

Fahad Khawaja is your favorite community builder's favorite community builder. Marketing and innovation leader turned creator, social entrepreneur, podcast host, author, & speaker, he is the CEO and Chief Content Officer of Hue. Award-winning thought leader, panelist at major conferences, industry awards judge, lecturer at universities, & frequent guest on podcasts, he deeply believes in the power of community as a force for good.

With over 10 years of experience in the consumer space, Lauren Roth has helped brands grow their community through building out and running their influencer marketing, community engagement, UGC and brand partnerships programs. Brands include Otherland, United Sodas, Candy Crush, Daiya, Cricut, Lululemon and more.

This is a conversation about augmenting, not automating, creativity.Leslie Walsh is the Head of Strategy at RYA, the AI SaaS provider that's creating innovative campaigns for name brands. Leslie's experience as an advertising veteran includes leading brand and digital strategy for some of the world's biggest brands like MINI Cooper, Nestle, Oscar Mayer and AT&T. Leslie is a graduate of the University of Georgia.

Forbes has called Brian Solis “one of the more creative and brilliant business minds of our time.” ZDNet heralded him as “one of the 21st century business world's leading thinkers,” and Entrepreneur Magazine described him as "a world's top superforecaster."Check out his latest bestseller, ⁠Mindshift: Transform Leadership, Drive Innovation and Reshape The Future⁠Brian is a world-renowned digital futurist, 9x best-selling author, and international keynote speaker. He has published over 70 widely read research reports that explore the future of business and industries, disruptive technologies, and shifts in markets and consumer behaviors. Brian serves as the Head of Global Innovation at ServiceNow. In his role, Brian leads a global network of Innovation Officers and Futurists who study emerging technologies and micro and macro trends, business transformation patterns, and customer insights to understand important shifts affecting organizations and the markets they serve.  The Innovation team produces original research and thought leadership and delivers presentations and workshops that help leaders anticipate shifts, capitalize on trends, and drive resilience and long-term growth. He is published in industry publications such as Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, CIO, Forbes, and Worth. And he has consistently been recognized as one of the world's leading thinkers in innovation, business transformation, and leadership for almost three decades. 

Sari Zeidler is the vice president of audience development for NBCUniversal Local.In this role, Zeidler leads audience strategy for the division's extensive digital portfolio, which includes desktop and mobile sites, mobile and connected apps, social media and OTT platforms for 50 media properties, including NBC- and Telemundo-owned stations and the NBC Sports Regional Networks.Overall, Zeidler has more than 15 years of experience growing audiences and building engaging content strategies at some of the world's leading media organizations. Throughout her media career – which has included experiences as a writer, editor and producer – she has worked in Washington D.C., Atlanta, New York and London.Prior to joining NBCU in 2019, Zeidler spent nearly three years with Quartz as director of growth and editorial director of growth. Previously, she served as social media editor and international homepage & features producer for BBC.com during a three-year tenure. She also worked at CNN in a variety of digital, production and news roles.Zeidler began her career as an award-winning general assignment reporter for the Long Island Herald after graduating from the University at Albany with a degree in English.

As a thought leader on all things social media, Maren Hamilton has consistently driven community engagement for brands like The North Face, Starbucks and most recently Popfly. She holds a master's degree in Digital Media from the University of Washington and is a public speaker on social media strategy, creator marketing, and digital trends. When she's not on TikTok, you can find her on the trail or paddling the river with her pups.

Oksana Matviichuk partners with executive teams to adapt business models to the AI age, ensuring they remain relevant, resilient, and sustainable. She is the Founder & CEO of WBENC-certified OM Strategic Forecasting, a Forbes Agency Council member, and a three-time “Top Women Leaders of New York” honoree by Women We Admire. Oksana designs AI-native business models, operating standards, and decision systems. Her OM Sustainable Growth Assessment benchmarks a company across four verticals: Reputation, Relevance, Resilience, and AI & Automation Readiness, and OM Strategy scales organizations with clarity and control. She speaks on operationalizing AI while keeping human agency at the core.

Destiny K. Chambers is a seasoned marketing executive with a strategic approach to driving brand awareness and market leadership. With over 13 years of experience, she has a proven record of not just steering marketing initiatives, but igniting brand growth and achieving measurable business outcomes. Most recently, as Vice President and Head of Marketing at /prompt., she leveraged this expertise to spearhead the unification of marketing strategies across /prompt., Lippe Taylor and twelvenote, driving a cohesive vision for the agency's future.Chambers has a dynamic background in leading successful agency marketing campaigns at renowned organizations such as Young & Rubicam, WPP, and VML, consistently driving impactful large-scale activations both nationally and globally. Her influence extends beyond individual campaigns; she actively contributes to the direction of the marketing landscape as a member of the prestigious LIONS/ANA CMO Growth Council and the Forbes Communications Council. Previously, she shaped industry conversations around diversity, equity, and inclusion as Chair of the New York Festivals Advertising Awards' DE&I Advisory Board.Further showcasing her commitment to societal improvement, Chambers is a former Youth Empowerment Program leader and proud alumna of Urban Underground, where she supported youth-led social justice campaigns. As a skilled public speaker and writer, she has shared her insights and expertise at prominent events such as Cannes Lions, Advertising Week NY, AfroTech, and WAATBP and featured in distinguished publications such as Forbes, Adweek, Ad Forum, Ad Age, PR Week, Campaign Brief, and Little Black Book.

Marissa Rosen is the Founder, Owner, and Principal Consultant of Climate Social, a boutique communications agency she launched in 2015 to help impact-driven organizations and leaders share their stories and drive meaningful change. Her work spans public relations, social media, branding, copywriting, and creative campaigns that strengthen community engagement and inspire action. In addition to advising clients, Marissa has built her own thought leadership through writing, speaking, and media appearances across the climate, energy, and sustainability space.

As the Vice President, Global Head of Growth at Amazon's Audible, Bolong Li spearheads cross-functional teams dedicated to fostering sustained growth and enhancing customer experiences across diverse platforms.Before his tenure at Audible, Bolong accrued two years of experience at Apple, where he concentrated on Business Development and Retail Management. His career trajectory began in the financial industry, leveraging his educational background in finance from both undergraduate and graduate studies.Beyond his professional roles, Bolong contributes to academia by teaching business and marketing courses at Columbia University.

Lauren Danis brings nearly three decades of experience to Eventbrite, where she serves as the Chief Brand & Communications Officer, overseeing the global integrated brand and communications team which includes brand marketing, creative, social media, community, brand content and global internal and external communications. Prior to Eventbrite, Lauren was the VP of Communications at Ancestry where she led all global brand and product communications, social media and influencer relations. Lauren also spent over a decade at leading global public relations firm Weber Shandwick where she worked on many of the firm's marquee accounts including Mondelēz International, Unilever, Motorola, Nestlé, Abbott, and one of the most iconic American campaigns in recent memory – “got milk?” Early in her career, Lauren held communications roles at Hyatt, travel start-up e.Gulliver.com, and Edelman after graduating from the esteemed Northwestern School of Communication and Media Studies. Currently, she brings her integrated brand-building expertise to Eventbrite in an effort to help advance the company vision and reputation amongst various stakeholders including Britelings, consumers, event organizers, brand partners and investors. In her spare time, you can find Lauren reading a good book, finding her zen on her yoga mat, taking a long walk with her husband and dog, or experimenting in the kitchen with a new recipe.

Sherilyn is the Founder & Global CEO of The Marketing Academy – a unique non-profit organisation dedicated to developing leadership talent in Marketing, Media&Advertising. The Marketing Academy opened in 2010, bringing together some of the world's best known & popular brands to provide world-class learning for all levels of talent from emerging leaders to CMOs. Their highly respected Scholarship and Fellowship programs are delivered in the UK, EMEA, USA, Australia & APAC.  When she gets the chance, she writes about talent development and all things ‘leadership' featuring in many articles in The Sunday Times, FastCo, Telegraph, AdNews, Marketing Week, AdWeek, MarketingMagazine, Management Today and CMO.com. She has been frequently recognised for her work; receiving the CIM Women in Marketing 'Special Award for Contribution to Marketing', inducted into the Courvoisier Future 500, invited to join the Marketing Group of Great Britain, identified as one of the UK's Vision 100 by Adobe and included in AdNews Top 50 list of most powerful influencers in Australia. 

Dr. Karen Sutherland is a multi-award winning educator and author from the University of the Sunshine Coast in Australia. As a Certified AI Consultant and Director of Dharana Digital Marketing Agency, Dr. Sutherland specializes in using AI for strategic marketing and communication. In addition to designing and delivering training and workshops globally for over a decade, her research spans AI in strategic communication, B2B relationships, social media pedagogy and practice. She has authored two editions of her book 'Strategic Social Media Management – Theory and Practice' Palgrave Macmillan, downloaded more than 170k times, 'Transmedia Brand Storytelling - Immersive Experiences from Theory to Practice' Palgrave Macmillan, and 'Public Relations and Strategic Communication', Oxford University Press. Her latest book, '⁠Artificial Intelligence for Strategic Communication⁠,' , Palgrave Macmillan, has been adopted across 20+ countries. Dr. Sutherland has featured in global media including  the Wall Street Journal, Euro News AAP, ABC, Nine, Sky News and has been Ticker's AI and social media expert for the past five years. 

Anthony Delconte has 15 years of experience working across traditional and creator media ecosystems.He started his career at a video news startup during what he'll claim was the second pivot-to-video era (c. 2011), helping the company transform from a video hub to a syndication service and ultimately a white-label distribution tool.From there, he went to CNBC, where he joined a team responsible for managing distribution deals after business development signed them. He worked across editorial, product, and sales to drive additional revenue and reach.He then worked for Panda Global, an esports team, where he oversaw the company's creator initiative. The program was designed to identify rising stars (think VC coin-flipping for creators) while supporting the brand's event and merchandize operations, as well as building out digital video inventory.He later returned to traditional media, first at Men's Journal and most recently at Entrepreneur, where he oversees the social team and partnerships with creators designed to guide users into and down the funnel.He's also led an expansion to leverage those creator and influencer capabilities for Entrepreneur's partners and advertisers.

With more than 15 years of experience in the purpose and impact space, Whitney Dailey is a thought leader at the intersection of purpose and communications. At Allison, Whitney serves as Managing Director, Purpose and leads the agency's Purpose Center of Excellence – a dedicated team specializing in Purpose brand strategy and impact leadership, backed by Allison's global network of more than 1,000+ creatives and storytellers. She has personally authored upwards of 400 articles and 30 research reports on sustainability, social justice, and social impact topics and shared her message from the digital wavelengths of myriad podcasts, the lectern at Harvard University the stage of Sundance and Fordham's Responsible Business and Future Fashion Coalitions. In her previous role as Senior Vice President of Purpose Marketing, Research & Insights at Porter Novelli, Whitney transformed the agency into a Purpose-driven organization through powerful thought leadership, communications and marketing. Whitney holds an MBA in Environmental Management from the University of Massachusetts, Boston and a BA in Business Administration from the George Washington University. She also earned an MBA Certificate in Clean Energy and Sustainability from the University of Massachusetts, Boston. She is a frequent guest lecturer at colleges and universities including Boston College, Boston University and Simmons College and was an adjunct professor at Boston College during the 2022-2023 school year. Whitney was named a Top 100 Giving Influencer on Twitter by Give Local America in 2015 and in 2019, was a finalist for PR News Platinum Awards PR Professional of the Year. In 2024, she was named to the PRWeek Women of Distinction List. 

Traci DeForge, founder of Produce Your Podcast, an award-winning full-service production and audience growth marketing agency, is recognized as an international podcast expert, sought-after speaker, and media contributor. The creator of the Podcast Management Academy, the industry's only certified podcast manager training program, PodHive, and Co-Founder of the Podcast Professionals Association.  Traci hosts the Growth Accelerator Podcast, and co-hosts the popular Ask Brien Radio Show in Los Angeles.  She's been featured on all three major networks, including CNN, CTV, American Express Open, and RadioINK. She is also a member of the Rolling Stone Culture Council.

This is way more than just our first annual predictions episode. Victoria Bachan is the SVP, Creators at Wasserman. Wasserman operates at the epicenter of sports, music, entertainment and culture, serving talent, brands and properties on a global scale. Headquartered in Los Angeles, Wasserman's presence spans 28 countries and more than 70 cities, including New York, London, Nashville, Chicago, Abu Dhabi, Amsterdam, Hong Kong, Madrid, Mexico City, Toronto, Paris and Sydney.Formerly the Global President of Sixteenth, Victoria oversaw a team of 43 managers and over 300 diverse Creators, while spearheading the company's global expansion efforts.  Victoria and her team collaborated with some of today's brightest Creators, including People's Choice Award winner Doug the Pug, visual artist and best-selling author Adam J. Kurtz, Crypto and Gen Z Finance expert Taylor Price, best-selling author and gamer Kelsey Dangerous and the Nami Matcha Founder and CEO, Ashley Alexander. Previously her team was instrumental in launching two groundbreaking TikTok Creator houses, “The Crib Around the Corner” for Black content creators, and “Familia Fuego” for Latinx talent. In 2023, she also helped Doug the Pug launch Nonipup, a human-grade all-natural pet care brand. Under her leadership, 61% of the Sixteenth roster proudly identified as BIPOC, reflecting her commitment to diversity and inclusion. When Victoria isn't paving the way for prominent creators, she mentors South Asian executives and talent as a member of The Salon and supports fundraising efforts for Play Inspired.