It's No Fluke

As an advertising creative, Ben Levy pulled all-nighters at agencies like StrawberryFrog, HAVAS, and RTO&P. His work for brands including Coca-Cola, Boost Mobile, New Balance, Jägermeister, Virgin America, and others occasionally earned him shiny things.As a presentation coach, Ben's taught the fine art of persuasion to everyone from creative freelancers to agency execs. He's spoken to and coached folks at shops like Mischief, Droga5, GREY, Ogilvy, Digitas Health, FCB, VML, etc.He's trained in three forms of martial arts, can slow his heart rate on command, and has an encyclopedic knowledge of Looney Tunes.Don't be too impressed though, he also managed to fail a Salsa class.

Five years after it started, Breaking and Entering Media has published over 50 episodes, built a vibrant student and professional community, and earned recognition from Ad Age, Campaign US, and The Wall Street Journal. Geno Schellenberger was a senior at the University of Illinois. He had a job lined up at Edelman. Then the pandemic hit. The world paused. His job was delayed by nine months, and the advertising industry felt out of reach for nearly everyone trying to break in.By 2022, the podcast had real momentum. Jack Westerkamp, another childhood friend from Lombard, joined the team to lead growth and business strategy. With Geno hosting, Buchun Jiang designing, and Jack building, the foundation was set.The team built a full media platform. They launched the Crowbar Awards, a quarterly spec competition for aspiring creatives. Then came The Vault, a paid newsletter offering behind-the-scenes advice. Jack launched his own podcast, Creator Incorporated, focused on the creator economy. Geno introduced new series like BrandSide and Breaking with Brian Bonilla.They added a daily video series called Whiteboard News, which quickly became a go-to source for fast-moving industry headlines. Weekly content like Ads in the Wild and seasonal coverage around the Super Bowl and Cannes Lions helped further establish Breaking and Entering's role in creative media.In September 2024, Geno and Jack moved to New York City to go full-time. They settled into a tiny East Village apartment, signed for office space on Madison Avenue, and haven't looked back. They now produce content daily, run a multi-format podcast network, and reach millions of creatives each month.But the story isn't finished. This is just the beginning.

Carmen Boon is the Vice President of Public Affairs at Food Bank For New York City, the city's largest hunger relief organization, empowering New Yorkers to achieve food security for good. Carmen specializes in leveraging storytelling and data narrative to drive civic engagement, shift public perception, influence policy, and generate funding for social impact. She has led successful multilingual and multicultural campaigns that have advanced significant public and nonprofit initiatives across New York City.Before transitioning to the nonprofit sector, Carmen held senior positions in NYC government, where she directed outreach efforts on critical issues such as housing, social services, human rights, and public healthcare. She also contributed to managing crisis communications during key citywide, regional, and global events, including the Hurricane Sandy recovery and the COVID-19 pandemic at NYC Health and Hospitals.A Fulbright alum with Journalism and Media Studies degrees, Carmen currently serves on the board of the Fulbright Association Greater NY Chapter. She is a Shorty Award juror and winner, and an active mentor and advocate in various national leadership networks, including CHIEF, 100 Hispanic Women, the Public Relations Society of America, and the Advocacy and Policy Engagement Committee of Feeding America.

Paula Bruno is a seasoned marketer and brand builder with nearly 25 years of experience—15 of those as CEO of Intuition Media Group. Her expertise spans brand and integrated marketing, influencer and experiential marketing, community engagement, and even a touch of M&A. At her core, she is a connector and builder—crafting brand strategies, negotiating talent partnerships, and leading integrated campaigns, all while managing budgets and driving sustainable growth.Intuition partners with forward-thinking brands to expand their influencer capabilities and drive growth through content and experiences that make an impact. Recent clients include Canon USA, the FDA (anti-vaping, anti-cigarette campaigns), TikTok, AtlanticNY, Hyundai, GoDaddy, FCB NY, Washington Prime Group, Kobrand Wine, and more.

Mike Kelton has developed, created, and produced multiple award-winning TV shows and digital series for TLC, Peacock, Fusion, LogoTV, MTV, and more.Currently, Mike is the Exec Producer for LogoTV; MTVE & Parmount's LGBTQ brand where Mike directs/show-runs LogoTV's yearly pride campaign along with the brands highest rated digital series, SPILL With Johnny Sibilly now with over 70M views. Most recently, Mike took home the Shorty Award for “Best Documentary” for Logo's 2024 “Logo Legend” piece honoring the one and only, Ts Madison!Previously, he created multiple linear formats including the award-winning DRAG ME DOWN THE AISLE and DRAGNIFICENT for TLC. Mike's roots can be traced back to the UCB Theatre where he learned the power in true collaboration through improvisational comedy & can still be seen performing at the theatre monthly with his team, WHAT I DID FOR LOVE.

Reema Mitra is the VP Group Director and Interim Head of Social Strategy at Digitas, where she leads national strategy across clients and capabilities. Known for scaling brands through culture-forward, insight-led creativity, she has spent the last two decades guiding beauty-focused CPG giants, tech brands and entertainment companies through digital transformation. Reema's background spans both agency and in-house leadership, including VP roles at EssenceMediacom (Google) and TodayTix, and Head of Social at HUGE NY. She's helmed award-winning work like Dove's Real Beauty Sketches at Edelman and Webby-recognized campaigns at TodayTix. Passionate about social impact and all things futures, she's especially focused on where the influencer and creator economy is headed. Reema holds a master's in Innovation from Goldsmiths, University of London, and lives in Brooklyn with her fiancée, their charismatic mutt Crumpet, and rambunctious kitten Nero.

Ashley France is the CEO of ANF Consulting, LLC and a Media Personality. She is a graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park, where she obtained her Bachelor's of Arts Degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice. Ashley also has obtained her Juris Doctorate from the University of Maryland School of Law. Her journey online started out as a natural hair influencer in 2015 while she was in law school and worked with top natural hair brands through brand partnerships with less than 3K followers. She grew her following so quickly people started asking her how she did it, inspiring her to post tips and resources on social media marketing. She graduated law school at 24 as the youngest person of her graduating class, specializing in transactional law and landing a job in house at a top Fortune 500 Company. After being inspired by so many young and prosperous entrepreneurs surrounding her, she decided to start her consulting company to aid entrepreneurs, athletes creatives, and entertainers in solidifying their business and establishing their brand. After working in corporate america over the years she decided it was time to take the leap and go full time into her consulting company. She grew her consulting business to over 6-figures in less than three years and has helped over 4000 business owners through her paid services and products. But it doesn't stop there, she was chosen to be one of the advisors at the entrepreneurship college for Georgia State University. She has been mentioned in publications such as Yahoo and has her work featured in Billboard. As well as being named one of the top influencers to watch locally and globally. Throughout her consulting business she has worked with top technology startups, entertainment companies such as Billboard, and Grammy nominated artists such as Slim Jxmmi. In 2021 she decided to combine her content creation talents and love for telling stories to become media personality. Since then she has worked with ; broccoli city, mystics, rolling loud , AT&T, the nba, big3, plain sight, blk app and many more . When she isn't working with major brands she is keeping her online audience of 60k+ followers across social media platforms up to date with the latest pop culture news and brand trends.

Sara Celotto is a strategic operator and Fractional COO who helps creators, founders, and small businesses turn vision into structure and structure into results. With an extensive background in operations, law, business strategy, and systems building, she's known for creating the foundation that makes sustainable growth possible.Sara spent over a decade working in the legal industry, where she led legal operations and supported business, estate, real estate, and probate matters in high-growth law firms. Today, she advises creators, agencies, and founder-led companies on operations, marketing, hiring, monetization, and long-term planning. Beyond her client work, Sara curates a monthly Substack featuring in-person NYC events for creators and those building around them. She also speaks regularly on the often overlooked side of entrepreneurship, from systems and tax readiness to succession and legacy planning.Raised by a single mom who owned and ran a business while battling cancer, Sara brings heart, clarity, and grit to everything she does. She's a proud twin mom, a trusted partner to visionary leaders, and a firm believer that freedom starts with a strong foundation.Website: The Vision Catalyst

Aniket Mishra and I make the case. But you don't have to take our word for it. Aniket is a YouTube Growth Strategist and the Founder of Born21 Media, a New York-based YouTube agency that helps brands and creators turn YouTube into a high-impact revenue channel. With over 6 years in the industry, Aniket has helped some of the top creators and Fortune 500 companies grow their channels to hundreds of millions of views.

Paige Walker leads social media listening and intelligence for The Hershey Company's U.S. brands. She has spent the past several years building the strategy for social listening and intelligence at The Hershey Company and educating stakeholders about its benefits. Her work is delivered to 10+ teams to provide product feedback, brand health, campaign performance, competitive intelligence, category analysis, crisis monitoring, and more. Paige was recently recognized as one of the top 50 most influential people in social intelligence by The Social Intelligence Lab for 2025.

Lawrence Nwajei is an Enterprise Account Executive at Salesforce, a published author, life coach, and business consultant dedicated to living and helping others achieve a balanced, purposeful life. With deep expertise in enterprise sales and marketing technology, Lawrence brings a strategic mindset to driving business growth and digital transformation.Outside the corporate world, Lawrence is the author of One Step Into Spirituality, a guide designed to help readers begin their spiritual awakening and find balance in today's fast-paced world. Blending practical wisdom with personal insight, his work empowers others to align their inner growth with professional success.

Michelle Songy is the Founder & CEO of Press Hook, a media tech platform transforming how brands, PRs and media connect - only platform to facilitate a hybrid of earned, affiliate, and paid media opportunities. She is also the former founder of Cake, a fintech startup acquired by American Express and an advocate for the future of media, AI-driven PR, and supporting the next generation of journalists and creators

The first returning champion to the pod, Michael Gewirtzman is the Global Vice President of Programming at Advertising Week. For over a decade, he has programmed and hosted events and broadcasts for organizations that have featured some of the world's most influential executives, celebrities, politicians, athletes, authors and thought leaders.We talk about the industry, the partnership with Six Degrees, there is a secret giveaway somewhere in the middle and we break some news about Advertising Week. All that and more in this episode. Previously, Gewirtzman was the Founder and President of Vinyl Artist Management, where he managed the careers of internationally beloved, mainstream and independent artists.

After 10 years in investment banking, Scott Eddy moved overseas and lived in Europe and Asia for 17 years. While living in Bangkok, he started the first digital agency in Asia and was the 'go-to' agency when the region was establishing itself as a destination, and it remained the biggest one in the region for 5 years. He sold the agency and built up a personal brand. Now he travels full-time while teaching brands how to turn storytelling into ROI for the hospitality industry.

As the co-founder & CEO of Social Agent, Lisa Jammal is leading a new era of on-demand content creation, seamlessly connecting users with trained, certified creators to capture and edit shareable moments in real time.Download the appPrior to founding Social Agent, Jammal established herself as a pioneering force in social media strategy as the founder & CEO of Social Intelligence Agency (SIA), one of the industry's first dedicated social media agencies. Under her leadership, SIA currently spearheads digital strategies for global companies and media giants, including Condé Nast, Disney Channel, the Recording Academy, the Television Academy and COSM. She has also been at the forefront of live social media production, crafting dynamic audience experiences for major events like The GRAMMY Awards and The Emmy Awards.Jammal's innovative approach to social media began in 2011 with The Tweet Squad across the US, one of the first agencies to offer real-time, event-driven social media services. In 2014, she evolved the company into SIA, assembling a team of top social media experts to push the boundaries of creativity and engagement.

Casey Benedict isn't here to blend in—she's here to maximize the impact of every influencer activation she touches. Known for her ability to see around corners, she helps global brands build strategies that are as smart as they are scalable. As CEO of Maverick Mindshare and founder of Niimbus Influencer Innovation Summit, Casey is a driving force shaping and defining the leading edge of an ever-evolving industry.

Chelsey Mori is modernizing legal services for the creator economy. The founder of Unbound Legal, Mori is pioneering innovative solutions like a digital AI clone on her website for free creator support, in-house counsel subscriptions, DIY AI contract redlining tools, and a VR-managed practice - making legal services more accessible and efficient than ever.Mori serves as Chair of Rider Advocacy for the Creators Guild of America (CGA) where she leads the development of the CGA Rider, a contract addendum designed to protect creators and streamline negotiations.Mori's unique background includes training with former FBI, CIA, and Secret Service agents as a finalist on Bravo's espionage reality show Spy Games, training as a safari tracker, and traveling to all seven continents- twice.Mori earned her law degree from UC Berkeley Law School and a business degree from Ivey Business School. Before founding Unbound Legal, she worked at top entertainment firms like Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, Cohen Gardner, and The Altschul Firm.Today, her clients include top creators, live-streaming platforms, shop agencies, production companies, and management firms.

"Don't let anyone dim your light, just tell everyone to put some shades on."Aaron Francois is a Blerd, social media enthusiast, sneakerhead, and lover of all things DEI.He was first introduced to the marketing industry through the 4A's MAIP program, and since then, he has worked across several verticals, including retail, finance, gaming, and technology. Aaron takes pride in fusing cultural nuance and strategic thinking to build impactful, inspirational, and consumer-focused approaches. In addition to his day job as an Associate Strategy Director, he leverages his platforms to speak on subjects like career advancement, creative strategy, and the future of social media.In 2022,  Aaron founded Black Visionaries, a non-profit 501(c)(3) with the mission to democratize access to resources and community for Black professionals. The organization curated both virtual and in-person experiences for their community, including their annual event, The Black Visionaries BrunchAaron's love of community has translated into distinctive honors such as MAIPer to Watch, Mr. ADCOLOR 2022, the inaugural recipient of both the 4A's x McCann Worldgroup Billy Davis Award & the “Right Hand” Plug Award, as well as the 2024 Rockstar award from the Ad Club.

Gabrielle Gambrell joined Hachette Book Group as Senior Vice President, Chief Communications Officer in August of 2024.Gambrell comes to HBG from Amazon, where she served as Head of Communications for Inclusive Experiences and Technology, Employee Experience. Prior she was Chief Marketing & Communications Officer of Barnard College of Columbia University. She managed teams across the globe as Worldwide Director of Communications and Public Relations at FCB Global, an award-winning advertising agency network. Before FCB, Gambrell was Director of Communications for NBCUniversal leading all global diversity communications. As a professor, Gambrell shares her marketing and communications experience with students at Columbia University and New York University. Gambrell has been named to PR Net's “Marcomms' Most Influential List,” celebrating top brand marketers and communicators for their leadership, innovation and achievement in the field; Color Magazine's POWER 40 Under 40, a roster of exceptional young professionals of color who are reshaping industries, igniting change, and inspiring a new era of leadership; Advertising Week's AWNewYork Future is Female Shortlist, presented by Warner Bros. Discovery; PRNEWS' list of Top Women in PR; and PRWeek's Hall of Femme.She is originally from Los Angeles, California, and currently resides in Westchester County, New York, with her husband, son and daughter.

Noah Greenberg is the CEO of Stacker, the first content distribution platform built for earned reach. Under his leadership, Stacker has pioneered a new media ecosystem where brands build trust through editorial storytelling and publishers access a library of high-quality, vetted content, at no cost. Today, over 4,000 news outlets rely on Stacker's platform to enhance their coverage, while leading brands, nonprofits, and institutions use it to amplify their reach and engagement at scale.Prior to Stacker, Noah played a pivotal role at Graphiq, a semantic technology company later acquired by Amazon. As Head of Publisher Partnerships, he spearheaded initiatives that expanded Graphiq's data visualization products, scaling engagement and growing the business 30X in two years.His expertise in content strategy, syndication, SEO, and business development has positioned him at the forefront of media innovation. In recognition of his impact on the industry, he was named to Forbes 30 Under 30 in Media in 2018.Noah holds a degree from UC Santa Barbara and is passionate about bridging the gaps in a fragmented media ecosystem, empowering publishers and storytellers with scalable distribution solutions.

Trish Riswick is a seasoned social media strategist and Team Lead at Hootsuite, where she oversees the company's social media marketing efforts. With over seven years of diverse experience—from freelancing and managing small business accounts to consulting and working at the enterprise level—she brings a deep understanding of what makes social strategies succeed.At Hootsuite, Trish plays a key role in bringing marketing campaigns to life across six social channels. She collaborates closely with the video and brand teams to deliver creative, out-of-the-box ideas to their audience. She also leads the development of Hootsuite's social listening and engagement strategies, helping the brand stay ahead of online conversations. Over the past three years, she has helped cultivate a thriving online community of more than nine million followers.Check out their newsletter The PerchHootsuite's latest innovation, OwlyGPT, launched this week

Gigi Robinson is a Gen Z speaker, creator, author, and founder of Hosts of Influence, a platform helping creators and professionals build personal brands with purpose. Her content has driven over 200M impressions across social platforms, and she's partnered with brands like Adobe, LinkedIn, TikTok, and Google. A chronic illness advocate and author of A Kids Book About Chronic Illness (Penguin Random House), Gigi blends storytelling with strategy to inspire and educate. She's spoken at CES, VidCon, and top universities nationwide. Through Hosts of Influence, she offers workshops, speaking, and creator education that empower others to scale their voice and impact.

Stephanie DiPisa is an American entrepreneur who has previously worked with brands like Pampers, Hyatt, Gillette and HP in the agency marketing world prior to taking a career pause to raise her three children. Currently, DiPisa is the founder + CEO of her first entrepreneurial venture with Solara Suncare, a multi-award winning skin protection brand formulated for the love of sensitive skin, our health and the planet. DiPisa created Solara from a genuine need: to solve her children's dermatological reactions to popular sunscreen products as well as find wellness-based personal products to support her own healing journey with Lyme disease.Her brand, a favorite with celebrities, estheticians, dermatologists and beauty experts, features two product Collections that can be found on retail shelves ranging from Blue Mercury, Neiman Marcus and top luxury spas and boutiques, to Whole Foods and Target.

Christina Westley is an NYC professional with an extensive career in Influencer Marketing. As former Head of Influencer at PepsiCo and graduate of The Wharton School, Christina has brought a strong business acumen to the emerging industry. In addition to her professional experience, Christina's own background as a Black woman in the space has formed an inspiring advocacy for influencer diversity.Starting 2023, Christina developed Social Feed as an online resource that would expose her large network of marketers across several companies to “the latest in influencer diversity.” In 2024 she added on the experiential arm, Social Setting to allow Black influencers to build personal relationships with brand leads via curated experiences.Now in 2025, she has launched into independent ventures full-time, adding on Social Consult, where she collaborates fractionally behind the scenes to support enterprise & startup clients on influencer marketing.

Virginia Chamlee is a longtime writer and the best-selling author of Big Thrift Energy, a book about sourcing valuable vintage items for your home. She also authors the Substack What's Left, among the Top 30 most popular design newsletters on the platform. She is also an avid thrifter (obviously), longtime vintage dealer and an artist with work available via Chairish and Anthropologie.

The best strategy falls apart if people can't buy the product or pay for the service or if there's friction in the experience. We are seeing a lot of innovation in making sure creative and payments align in a multitude of verticals. Maria Prados is the Senior vice-president, go-to-market, global enterprise, Worldpay. Since 2013, she has led vertical growth, solution commercialization, enterprise partnerships and sales enablement for Worldpay—a global leader in payments technology that processes more than 50B transactions each year for more than 1M merchants across the world. As Worldpay's senior vice-president for go-to-market, she is one of the top global experts on what the world's biggest brands in every major industry need to best serve their customers at checkout. Previously Ms. Prados worked at Dixons Retail as part of the digital transformation team in charge of building the company's successful e-commerce and omnichannel turnaround strategy. Her career began in financial services at Deloitte in Madrid. She earned an MBA from the IESE and Columbia business schools, after which she held roles in fields ranging from social venture capital to strategy consulting, building her passion for fintech along the way.

Yuriy Yarovoy is the SVP, Revenue at Medal, the fastest-growing platform for gamers to capture and share gameplay. In his role, Yarovoy, oversees the platform's growth, partnerships, and ad monetization strategies. Leveraging his background leading teams across marketing agencies and Fortune 500 companies, Yarovoy focuses on expanding Medal's reach and deepening engagement with its 8+ million global users.Yarovoy boasts 15 years of experience in SEO, product strategy, and customer acquisition for companies across gaming and technology. Prior to joining Medal, he led a marketing team of 40 people in 26 countries at mobile gaming platform BlueStacks, helping to scale the company to over 450 million users. He was also integral to the launch of Game.tv, a community-driven esports platform, and served as Chief Growth Officer at “fan hub” startup Kanga.gg (acquired by Riot Games in 2021).Additionally, Yarovoy serves as an advisor to several creator economy startups and has mentored early-stage founders on how to scale their businesses. 

Julia LaBoy is a talent manager with half a decade of experience working with creators across different verticals including fitness, lifestyle, medical, and entertainment. Passionate about helping content creators grow their platforms and connect with their audiences in meaningful ways for long term success. Specialized in securing strategic brand partnerships that align with creator values and interests, leveraging deep understanding of how different content verticals require unique approaches to brand collaborations and monetization strategies

If the title doesn't hook you wait until the conversation. Jake Browne is an entrepreneur and start-up founder. He sold his creator financing company Peblo to fintech unicorn Wayflyer in 2023 and has started a new business Retrograde where he and co-founders are now building Emma the AI talent agent for content creators.

RJ Larese is Vice President of Talent and Influencer Marketing for Paramount Global. He works with digital creators and unscripted talent for all the iconic Paramount brands and franchises, finding them opportunities within scripted and unscripted content, brand partnerships, consumer marketing, events, and more. Prior to joining Paramount, he was a talent, casting, and development executive with over a decade of experience at networks, production companies, and publishers, including ABC, ATTN:, Endemol, ITV America, and PopSugar. RJ has also cast and developed shows for Bravo, E!, Lifetime, MTV, NBC, TLC, TruTV, and VH1. He's worked with brands ranging from Abercrombie and Fitch, Banana Republic, Delta, General Mills, H&M, Invisalign, Moose Akedo, Sephora, Target, and Ulta. In 2021, RJ was named an AdWeek Young Influential. In 2022, he was on the Variety Power of Pride list for his contributions empowering the LGBTQUIA+ community in the entertainment space. In 2023, he was named on LA TV Week's 40 Under 40 honoree list, backed by Broadcasting and Cable.

Aimee Gilbreath is the President of PetSmart Charities®, the leading funder of animal welfare in the U.S. and Canada with a $50M annual grantmaking portfolio and 4x Shorty Award winner last month including for Large Non-Profit of the Year. Aimee drives the nonprofit's strategy with focus on increasing access to affordable veterinary care, supporting pets and their families and animal welfare organizations during natural disasters, addressing pet hunger and connecting people and pets through adoption. Under her leadership, the organization has grown thriving partnerships with national social service nonprofits including American Red Cross, Feeding America and Meals on Wheels America to recognize and integrate the needs of pets as important family members. Prior to her current role, Aimee served as executive director of the Found Animals Foundation, Inc., a non-profit dedicated to saving pets and enriching lives, and as a Principal at the Boston Consulting Group, developing and implementing strategic and operational improvements for Fortune 500 clients. Aimee is a seasoned leader in both non-profit and private-sector organizations with extensive experience in a range of industries spanning biotech, consumer goods and philanthropy.  In addition to her role at PetSmart Charities, Aimee serves as Vice Chair of the Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI)Board of Trustees and Secretary/Treasurer of the Veterinary Innovation Council Board of Directors. An Arizona native and lifelong animal lover, Aimee holds an MBA from Stanford University and a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Arizona.

The co-founders of Greenlight Group join for a very inside look at the creator economy. We talk about the many opportunities and some challenges facing the creator economy, how to be the best advocate for talent, where to find talent and Italian Brainrot. IYKYK. It's a Masterclass without the subscription. Michael Berkowitz is A Berklee College of Music graduate, Michael majored in Professional Music with a concentration in Music Business, Creative Entrepreneurship, and Songwriting. This unique blend of creative and business acumen has positioned how well. Since the inception of Greenlight Group in 2020, Michael has leveraged his keen eye for talent and industry foresight to build a powerhouse roster, securing game-changing partnerships and opportunities. Doug Landers holds a degree in Mandarin Chinese from Duke University. His philosophy centers on the idea that true success stems from nurturing talent, fostering entrepreneurial ventures, and building lasting online and offline careers. Under his leadership, Greenlight Group has flourished, representing TikTok and YouTube's most well-known and pioneering figures. 

Thea Neal knows brands. As the founder of TMN Branding, with more than 15 years of marketing experience, Thea has led marketing teams at Coinbase, Royal Caribbean Group and Hallmark. She is a Forbes 30 Under 30 in marketing and advertising, and is still pushing herself to live up to the title (despite being now over 30). When she isn't creating strategies for Fortune 500 companies, you can find her snuggling her rescue dogs or taking a coloring book way too seriously.

Francesco Federico is Chief Marketing Officer at S&P Global, where he leads global marketing strategy across five divisions of the 165-year-old heritage brand. With a career that defies conventional paths, Francesco combines the analytical precision of his legal training with entrepreneurial vision and corporate leadership experience to drive marketing innovation in complex financial markets.Francesco's journey began with founding a digital marketing agency in Milan before holding transformative leadership roles at global organizations including Vodafone, Acer, and JLL. At each stop, he pioneered initiatives at the convergence of marketing, technology, and business growth—from launching Vodafone's first self-care mobile application to implementing real-time dynamic pricing algorithms that doubled conversion rates.As a recognized thought leader in Artificial Intelligence, Francesco's interest in AI dates back to his academic work, where he authored a thesis on AI applications in legal practice. Today, he explores how generative AI is reshaping marketing and business transformation through his widely-read newsletter "Chronicles of Change" and speaking engagements worldwide.At S&P Global, Francesco is pioneering a vision where human talent and agentic AI systems operate as unified marketing teams. This emerging approach aims to amplify strategic capabilities and creative intelligence while delivering enhanced efficiency and market relevance across financial and energy sectors

Damon Harman is the Founder & CEO of StreamerDap, a cutting-edge platform revolutionizing sponsorships between brands and live streamers. By enabling seamless, real-time brand integrations, StreamerDap transforms traditional advertising into an authentic and measurable experience for both brands and creators.A pioneer in interactive content, Damon has produced and directed live and branded entertainment for Twitch, collaborating with major brands like Progressive, American Family Insurance, and McDonald's to name a few. His extensive career spans over 500 episodes of television for networks such as MTV, Universal, and Fox, alongside hundreds of commercials for global brands such as Coca-Cola , Emporio Armani and Calvin Klein.With a passion for gaming, technology, and audience engagement, Damon has consistently been at the forefront of digital innovation—from launching early mobile content platforms to integrating brands into live-streaming culture. His work has generated over $200 million in production and sponsorship revenue.Outside of StreamerDap, Damon is a proud husband to Maria and father to Oliver, a rising Twitch Affiliate.

Andrea Palten is the founder of CMO Growth Guide, where she helps startup founders and early-stage companies scale through effective marketing strategies. She's also the Vice President of Marketing at Techstars. With over a decade of helping thousands of founders with their marketing and scaling their businesses, Andrea specializes in building demand generation systems and teaching marketing to early-stage founders.Andrea is the creator of two courses: The Homepage Conversion System, which teaches founders how to optimize their website for clarity and conversion, and The Startup Growth System, a comprehensive program for driving traffic, capturing leads, and nurturing customers without a marketing team. With her free CMO Growth Guide Newsletter, Andrea makes complex marketing strategies accessible and actionable for entrepreneurs and startup leaders.

Simone Banna, the self-proclaimed Queen of Strategy and Culture, is a marketing and partnerships executive known for translating cultural relevance into measurable growth. She specializes in building strategic partnerships that unlock new revenue, expand audiences, and strengthen brand ecosystems across high-impact verticals including sports, technology, and entertainment.Simone has held roles at Klutch Sports Group, MoonPay, Twitch, and the NBA. At Klutch, she led marketing for top basketball talent, bridging athlete influence with brand growth strategy. At MoonPay, she helped scale the company's footprint through growth partnerships across Web3 and consumer sectors. During her time at Twitch, she expanded the platform's presence beyond gaming and helped drive new vertical development within sports. Her tenure at the NBA spanned five years, where she played a central role in advancing the league's digital innovation, platform strategy, and partnership development across the NBA, WNBA, and NBA G League.In addition to her partnership expertise, Simone brings above-average fluency in social media and emerging platforms. She has a keen understanding of what's trending, how culture moves online, and how to position brands for maximum cultural traction. Her work is grounded in an obsession with data, using performance metrics and platform insights to inform every strategic decision.Simone is a magna cum laude graduate of the University of Georgia and currently resides in Atlanta.

Ian Shepherd has 25 years commercial experience at some of the world's leading media companies including Disney, Universal Music and WarnerMedia along with start-up experience as the founder of two leading Creator Economy businesses.He is currently Co-CEO and Co-Founder at Electrify Video Partners. They invest in and scale established YouTube channels, enabling content creators to maximize their full potential. They have access to $85m in funding and have invested into a number of leading channels including Veritasium and Astrum.He also hosts the Business of Creators, a leading podcast for the Creator Economy, featuring creators, managers, investors and unicorn entrepreneurs.He previously founded The Social Store, a pioneering consumer products and events business working in partnership with globally renowned social media stars. As part he launched and sold a successful Amazon FBA business.

Becky Frost is the founder and CEO of Frost Communications. She is a highly accomplished communications executive whose career spans over 18 years of driving strategic, integrated marketing and communications programs across the globe. Becky brings a unique blend of brand strategy, executive advisory, and messaging expertise to organizations at every stage of growth—from nimble, fast-moving startups to globally recognized, publicly traded companies. In her awareness advisory capacity, Becky has become a trusted confidante and one-on-one advisor to senior executives, helping them build and elevate their personal brands in ways that amplify corporate impact and extend reach into new markets. Her tailored approach to executive presence and narrative development not only strengthens individual credibility, but also serves as a powerful lever for broader company visibility, media engagement, and stakeholder trust.

Josh Kaplan is the CEO and Co-Founder of Smooth Media, a new agency that represents the best knowledge creators on the internet. He was on the founding team at Morning Brew and is focused on helping creators educate, empower, and engage professional audiences.

Mandy Hoskinson is a talented digital marketer and visual artist based in Los Angeles, California. She has a passion for digital marketing and community management, which began during her time at UCLA where she co-launched the university's social media platforms.After her successful experience at UCLA, Mandy took on various roles in the digital marketing industry, including work for LA 2028 (the Olympic and Paralympic Games), Apple, Fox TV, and CBS. Over time, her client base grew, and they began to request additional services such as photography, videography, analytics, print marketing, design, and more. This led to the establishment of Mandy's own boutique marketing agency, MediaMandy Agency, which has since rebranded as Zolay Studio.Mandy's dedication to her industry extends beyond her work at Zolay Studio, as she is also the President of the Social Media Club of Los Angeles.

Monica Khan is a creator economy multi-hyphenate with 15+ years of experience helping creators build sustainable, revenue-driven businesses. As Partner and Head of Digital at Strand Entertainment, she leads creator management, representing top digital-first talent through multi-platform growth and strategic partnerships.Earlier in her career, Monica worked directly with top creators and media companies at YouTube, helping grow channels that would go on to become some of the platform's most popular today. At Meta, she led the product marketing team to launch monetization features for Facebook Groups. Most recently, she worked with some of the world's biggest creators while founding and scaling the Spotter Creator Community, establishing the company as a trusted partner for creator knowledge and support.Monica is also the co-founder of the Bay Area Creator Economy, fostering community among creators and industry leaders. Her mission is to empower creators to own their growth, expand their impact, and build lasting businesses on their own terms.

Robyn Nissim began her career on the agency side of advertising, launching social channels for global brands like Michelin and Nissan. After five years in the Ad World and winning a Webby Award, she realized she could make waves on social platforms using zero brand dollars, which led her to launch an independent freelancing business.During this time, Robyn built out Ulta Beauty's entire influencer marketing program, leading strategy and execution for their team. She went on to build and manage some of the largest social communities in the world, in-house on the brand side, taking Anastasia of Beverly Hills to its peak (24M Followers on Instagram) and building out Alo Yoga's entire social footprint, sprouting to +4M in less than one year.After driving massive results at both brands and receiving acknowledgments from Instagram, Robyn founded Social Proof Agency (SPA) and began facilitating training programs designed to help individuals, teams, and organizations adopt a social-first mindset. Through interactive workshops and hands-on learning, SPA equips teams with the knowledge and tools to execute Social Media and Influencer Marketing strategies in-house.

Rachel Catanach is Senior Partner and General Manager of FleishmanHillard's New York operations, responsible for people development, cultivating existing client relationships, and securing new business.  She has held this position since November 2021.  She also spearheads the firm's Global Executive Advisory initiative. A New Zealand native, Rachel started her communications career as a business journalist and at in-house public relations positions before stints at Sweeney Vesty Limited in New Zealand, and then Waggener Edstrom, as General Manager of their Hong Kong operations.   In July 2007, she joined FleishmanHillard Hong Kong as General Manager and in 2016 was promoted to President of FleishmanHillard's Greater China operations, responsible for growing the firm's presence and reputation in this highly dynamic market. Rachel is a strong advocate for the PR industry and a regular commentator on industry issues and trends.   She has presented at Summer Davos in Dalian, moderated on the main stage at the Cannes Festival of Creativity, and was a key writer and contributor to The Page Society's most recent thought leadership report, Beyond Communication: CCO Leadership in Navigating New Complexity.  She has received many awards and in 2024 was recognized by PR Week as a Woman of Distinction.

Carolyn Pollock is a visionary brand builder who has transformed some of the most iconic brands in North American retail. As Chief Marketing Officer at Tailored Brands (parent company of Men's Wearhouse and Jos. A. Bank), Carolyn led a sweeping brand and creative relaunch, reshaping customer perceptions and driving measurable gains in awareness, consideration, and loyalty.Known for her bold approach to social and influencer marketing, she helped Tailored Brands claim 26% of all TikTok impressions in men's apparel and increased social ROAS by 23%, all while leading a 25% improvement in overall marketing ROI. She combines creative instinct with data-driven execution—whether it's building campaigns that spark conversation or scaling performance strategies that deliver growth.Carolyn previously served as Managing Partner at RevelOne, and held brand leadership roles at eBay, Thumbtack, and Timbuk2. She's a frequent advisor to industry leaders like Google and Salesforce, and was recently named to Adweek's AI Trailblazers Power 100.

David Shelley is Chief Executive Officer of the Hachette Book Group, which is home to seven publishing divisions – Basic Books Group; Grand Central Publishing; Hachette Audio; Little, Brown and Company; Little, Brown Books for Young Readers; Orbit; and Workman Running Press Group. He also serves as CEO of Hachette UK, the second largest UK publisher, with 12 autonomous divisions and over 50 imprints.  During his tenure, he published bestselling authors including Mitch Albom, Mark Billingham, Patricia Cornwell, Carl Hiaasen, Dennis Lehane, Val McDermid, and J.K Rowling. In 2015, he was named CEO of Orion and Little, Brown, and later appointed Group CEO of Hachette UK in 2018. In 2024, Lagardère tapped David to also oversee Hachette Book Group in the US as part of a new English-language management structure. He has since transformed the New York-based company, ushering in new imprints, high-profile hires, and boosting revenue and profit – HBG sales were up 7% over 2023—the biggest jump posted by any of the groups in Lagardère's publishing business.  David's leadership is defined by the company's four strategic business pillars: Understanding Consumers, Changing the Story, Owner Mentality and Growth Mindset. He fosters open communication with the 3,500 employees he leads across both sides of the Atlantic, cultivating a sense of community while aligning all business teams. David is an Officer and past President of the Publishers Association, a trustee of The Reading Agency, and a director of Tate Enterprises.

Jamie McLaughlin is the Founder and CEO of Monday Talent. He is regarded as an authority in Marketing, Creative and Communications recruitment and search, successfully working in the industry for nearly 20 years, across 5 continents and partnering with the world's most regarded brands.Jamie has an unrivaled global network and has created formidable tactical partnerships with some of the most high-profile organizations. He sits on the boards of the Institute for Public Relations, USC Annenberg School of Communication, creative agency ConCreates, influencer marketing firm Social Studies - as well as advising The Marketing Academy and Celtic Football Club

Maria A. Rodriguez is the VP of Marketing and Communications at Open Influence, a global creator marketing agency that has shaped the industry since 2013. With over 13 years of experience spanning journalism, digital media, and strategic communications, her career has been built at the intersection of media, culture, and technology.She holds a Master's degree in Strategic Public Relations from USC, where she began her research on the global creator economy. Since joining Open Influence in 2017, Maria has led brand, content, and communications efforts—positioning the agency as a trusted partner to Fortune 500 brands and a thought leader in creator marketing. She is passionate about helping modern marketers harness the creativity of creators to build authentic, engaged brand communities.

Barbara Duffek is an Assistant Professor of Marketing at Georgia State University, J. Mack Robinson College of Business. Barbara holds a PhD from Imperial College London.In her research, she explores the cooperation between different stakeholders in influencer marketing, with the goal of better understanding how influencers can be effectively leveraged. She also explores the use of AI in consumer behavior, including how it impacts pro-social behavior, interaction with influencers and virtual influencers and the metaverse.Barbara's research has been published at leading marketing journals, including the Journal of Marketing, the Journal of International Marketing, and AMS Review. She teaches Generative AI Applications in Marketing to undergraduate students, and Customer Relationship Management to graduate students at Georgia State UniversityShe has been invited as an expert speaker at various industry and academic events to discuss how AI is shaping the future of marketing

James Heath is the VP of Creator Marketing at TelevisaUnivision, boasting 8 years of experience in the creator economy. With a career spanning various roles in growth strategy, audience development and talent management, James has navigated every creator era, from MCN to TikTok house. In his current role, he has reshaped TelevisaUnivision's creator capability by launching a new model for brand partners that integrates U.S. Hispanic creators into Latin culture's biggest moments across music, sports and more, executing campaigns for 40+ blue-chip brand partners. James is at the forefront of developing innovative practices in the ever-evolving creator marketing landscape.

Anne-Margot Rodde, Founder & CEO, Creators Corp.For nearly two decades, Anne-Margot Rodde has been a pioneering force in video games, digital media, and the metaverse, holding strategic roles at leading agencies and driving high-profile projects for brands like Microsoft Xbox and PlayStation. Margot launched her first gaming venture with experiential agency WePlay, serving clients such as EA, Riot Games, Nexon, Epic Games, and IGN. After the pandemic opened new doors, she transitioned from the agency world to launch Creators Corp., an award-winning Fortnite Creative studio at the intersection of the creator economy and the metaverse. Creators Corp. specializes in designing original games that inspire and engage global audiences, partnering with IP holders and content creators across entertainment and gaming, while thoughtfully integrating brands where it adds value.Jake Laumann, Data Analyst at Creators Corp. As a former esports leader at Major League Baseball and video game expert, Jake Laumann holds the position of data analyst at Creators Corp., where he supports the team with gameplay optimization and on-platform marketing.