It's No Fluke

Marina Mogilko, known online as Silicon Valley Girl, is a YouTube creator, entrepreneur, and investor with a global community of over 18 million followers. She's the co-founder of LinguaTrip, a language learning startup she launched after immigrating from Russia to the U.S., and now hosts The Silicon Valley Girl Podcast, where she dives into entrepreneurship, AI, money, and the creator economy. Through her content and conversations, Marina helps millions build meaningful careers, grow online, and think like founders.

The Business of Creativity, part of the Whalar Group, launched Beyond Your Limits, a first-of-its-kind 7-week course created in partnership with former Nike Chief Marketing Officer Greg Hoffman. Built for modern Athletes, the program empowers them to confidently express who they are, shape their narrative on their own terms, and unlock opportunities that extend well beyond the game.Greg Hoffman is a global authority on brand leadership, the former Chief Marketing Officer of Nike, and founder of the brand advisory group Modern Arena. Over a 27-year career at Nike, he held senior roles across marketing, design, and innovation, most recently serving as Vice President of Global Brand Innovation, where he led teams exploring the future of storytelling and consumer experience. Today, through Modern Arena, Greg helps brands and leaders build bold, distinctive identities that inspire connection and cultural impact.Ben Lee is an entrepreneur and investor committed to unlocking human potential through creativity. He is the co-founder and CEO of The Business of Creativity, a platform that partners with leading experts to help individuals and organisations harness creativity as a strategic advantage. Previously, Ben was a partner at The Garage Soho where he led investments into a portfolio of early-stage consumer startups, supporting founders as a board member and helping them scale through building distinctive brands. Ben continues to champion creativity as a catalyst for growth, innovation, and cultural impact.

Ayden Syal is the Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder at MOGL, the leading athlete influencer marketing platform. He has been named to Sports Business Journal's New Voices Under 30 list, has been recognized as a Sports Business Journal NIL Power Player, and won the 2022 SXSW Pitch competition on behalf of MOGL. MOGL was also recognized as part of the Forbes 30 Under 30.Prior to founding MOGL, Ayden held key roles at Morgan Stanley, Lexington Partners, and S&P Global. His diverse professional background has positioned Ayden as a visionary leader in the NIL space, where he is dedicated to helping brands reach Next-Gen audiences at scale and with precision.Ayden graduated from the University of Notre Dame, served on the Young Alumni Board at the University of Notre Dame and is a proud partner of SeeHer and Every Kid Sports.

Diandra Binney is Director of Communications, North America at Xero, a global small business platform that helps owners supercharge their businesses with smart automation, strategic insights and expert support. With nearly 15 years of experience in B2B technology communications, Diandra specializes in building powerful brand narratives that drive market leadership and business results. At Xero, she leads the North American strategy for media relations, executive visibility and corporate reputation across the region. Before joining Xero, held senior roles at several high-growth agencies, where she played a pivotal role in helping clients navigate periods of rapid scaling, funding rounds and new market entry.

Jacques Keyser is the Director of Programming at VidCon, where he leads the strategy and execution of event programming across the US and international markets. With over 15 years of experience in music, entertainment, and the creator economy, he has worked with leading platforms, labels, creators, executives, and global brands. At VidCon, Jacques has helped launch and scale events worldwide, curating industry-leading programming that unites creators, executives, and fans on a global stage. Previously, he held senior roles in talent management and artist development, shaping the careers of top UK digital and music talent while building strategic partnerships across the industry. Jacques also shares insights on the creator economy through his bi-weekly VidCon industry newsletter.

Jessy Grossman is a long time entrepreneur in the digital media space. She's passionate about supporting women in business and being at the forefront of innovation. She's been quoted in the New York Times (again here), Forbes and was awarded a spot in the “Influencer Top 50” by Talking Influence. In less than two years she created one of the fastest growing influencer talent agencies in the country. Amidst unprecedented growth, she sold the multi-six-figure agency and pivoted to focus on her long-time passion project: Women in Influencer Marketing (better known as WIIM). Founded in 2017, WIIM is the premiere professional organization for those who work with influencers. The community offers networking and new business opportunities, career services, continuous education and so much more. Jessy also does consulting, advising and influencer marketing recruiting through her consultancy Tribe Monday. You can find inspiring stories and more about Jessy on the WIIM Podcast. Check out iamwiim.com and tribemonday.com for more information.

Aidan Brannigan is the Founder of No Boring Brands, the content agency making Memes + Skits for Fortune 500 companies, SaaS Unicorns, and legacy brands. They are generating 100s of millions of organic views for their B2B clients via evergreen content and built the largest marketing meme page on IG in less than 2 years. He lost $500k in crypto when he was 20, lost a spam eating contest to Joey Chestnut in front of 14,000 people and can probably hit a 4 hybrid further than you. He spoke at SXSW about memes - is a twin - his mom checks his follower count every day and takes a screenshot, so you better follow or you'll upset her - Featured in AdAge for a skit filmed in his bed.

Julie Alvin is a digital media executive, consultant, editor, and speaker. She has led cross-platform content strategy at brands like Refinery29, TheSkimm, InStyle, Real Simple, and Bustle, and now has her own content strategy and brand marketing consulting practice, taking on clients across fashion, beauty, lifestyle, wellness, tech, politics, and the nonprofit space. She is a former adjunct professor for NYU's master's in publishing program, a founding member of Chief executive women's network, a board Member at FOKO, and a former regular on Fox News.Julie's still very relevant piece in Adweek.

Bill Zimmerman is an assistant teaching professor in the department of advertising and public relations in the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications at Penn State. He's the author of “Understanding the Creator Economy: Making Digital Media Work for You,” published by Kendall Hunt. He teaches courses such as Digital PR and PR Campaigns, and in the spring semester will offer Digital Content and the Creator Economy, a new course launching Penn State's content creator certificate program. Prior to teaching, he worked as a newspaper reporter and public relations professional in higher education. He also holds the Accreditation in Public Relations.

With 15 years' experience spanning some of fashion's most influential global names, including Stella McCartney, Farfetch, and Net-a-Porter, followed by senior roles in both nimble independents and major network agencies, Lucinda Bounsall brings a rare blend of brand-side insight and agency-honed expertise. Her practice is rooted in both doing and thinking, interrogating outdated models and reimagining how strategy is applied for the way modern brands actually operate. The result is a sharper, more culturally attuned approach that bridges big-picture vision with tangible impact.

If you haven't seen the ad just yet, “Driven” kicks off with a high-octane brand campaign starring Chalamet and directed by Oscar-nominee James Mangold (A Complete Unknown, Ford v. Ferrari). The spot blends cinematic flair with automotive innovation, with Chalamet and a bride (played by Larsen Thompson) hijacking the Lucid Gravity SUV from a top-secret desert facility in a two-minute “director's cut.” Akerho “AK” Oghoghomeh is the Senior Vice President & Global Head of Marketing at Lucid Motors, where he's redefining what it means to build a premium brand in the EV space. Known for blending creativity, culture, and strategy, AK has led some of the most transformative campaigns in food, beverage, and now mobility. At Lucid, he's steering global storytelling and cultural partnerships around the launch of the Gravity SUV and beyond.Before Lucid, AK was Chief Marketing Officer at Beyond Meat, where he helped reshape how people think about food, and Senior Vice President of Marketing at Red Bull North America, where he drove record-breaking U.S. growth. From scaling Amazon's recruitment engine to building lifestyle movements with Red Bull, AK thrives on turning bold ideas into brands that inspire.Ian Grody is Chief Creative Officer of Giant Spoon, an independent, integrated agency that expands the ways people experience brands. As the only creative agency on Fast Company's Top 50 Most Innovative Companies 2023 and #1 in its Advertising category, Giant Spoon is known for turning marketing upside down. Obsessed with culture and driven by insatiable curiosity, the agency is composed of teams across creative, media, and strategy to stir shit up for ambitious brands.Leading creative at Giant Spoon, Ian has produced award-winning work for clients like Lucid, Autodesk, HBO, Johnnie Walker, Netflix, Away, Marvel, and Savage x Fenty across offices in New York City and Los Angeles.Over the course of his career, Ian has been named one of Adweek's 100 People Shaping Culture and Media and included on The Drum's 100 Most Awarded Creative Directors in the World. Ian has written superhero shows, dystopian thrillers, and raunchy country musicals for networks like MTV, SyFy, and CMT; optioned features domestically and abroad; and published a graphic novel with AWA Studios and The Tribeca Film Festival.

Latha Sarathy is the founder of SALIENT HQ, a first-of-its-kind research agency and advisory service providing best-in-class, real-world-tested insights and strategic guidance on a fractional basis. In an age of AI, SALIENT HQ is committed to blending human intelligence with rigorous, intentional research to help clients achieve their goals.With over 30 years in media and market research, Latha has held senior leadership roles across blue-chip companies and industry organizations. Most recently, she served as Chief Research Officer at the Association of National Advertisers (ANA), overseeing analytics, insights, and measurement while driving initiatives such as SeeHer.where she laid the groundwork for industry insights and benchmarks in gender equality in media and marketing.Previously, as SVP of Insights & Strategy Activation at Ipsos North America, she managed a multimillion-dollar portfolio of global consumer insights projects for leading media and technology clients. She has also built high-performing research teams at NBCUniversal, Univision, CBS, Disney Publications, Interactive One, and Wenner Media.A frequent industry voice, Latha has presented at Cannes Lions, ANA conferences, Advertising Week, ARF, Comexposium Japan, and CTAM. She has also led strategic workshops for brands including American Express, Walmart, Georgia-Pacific, and General Mills, helping organizations translate insights into innovation and growth.

Jordan Matter is a two-time New York Times bestselling author (Born to Dance and Dancers Among Us) and the most-followed photographer in the world, with nearly 50M followers across socials. As the creator behind the #2 most-watched YouTube channel in the U.S., and the #1 channel for female viewership, he has built a global audience of 31M subscribers and more than 11B views.Jordan's path to becoming one of the most prominent creators in the world began in photography, with his street portraits and dancer series gaining international acclaim and exhibitions across Korea, Moscow, France, Montreal, Chicago, and New York. His work has been featured by The Today Show, BBC, ABC World News, People, The New York Times, and more.At the core of Jordan's storytelling is joy, authenticity, and connection, reflected in his frequent collaborations with his daughter, Salish. Together, they've earned recognition, including People Magazine's Top 50 Creators of 2024, a 2024 Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Award for Family Creator, and a 2025 Webby Award. Salish was also named Kids' Choice Female Creator of the Year in 2025. Jordan and Salish launched their young adult skincare brand, Sincerely Yours, on September 6th in Sephora stores nationwide, further expanding their influence from digital entertainment into consumer products.

Sara Rezaee is Head of Creator Marketing for North America at Edelman, where she leads a best-in-class team of Creator specialists and helps clients across sectors harness the power of the Creator Economy to drive meaningful business impact. With 17+ years of experience in digital and communications, she has shaped DJE's global approach to creator marketing, building deep relationships with creators, agencies, and platforms worldwide. Her award-winning work—recognized by the Webbys, Shortys, Clios, and more—reflects her focus on data-driven, earned-centric, and culturally relevant programs that connect brands.

Vikki Chowney has spent over 20 years shaping how brands create and connect through content - spanning social, partnerships, and influencer strategy. At Burson, she leads the global influencer team, helping protect and build brand reputation through credible, creative, and data-driven collaboration.Previously, she was Global Head of Content & Publishing and U.S. Innovation & Creative Lead at Hill & Knowlton, where she built the agency's U.S. Innovation & Creative Hub and led a global network across editorial, branded content, social, and influencer marketing - delivering award-winning work for Pfizer, ANA, Intel, Huawei, and the United Nations.Vikki has also held senior roles at TMW Unlimited, where she launched the agency's social media department for clients including Unilever, INFINITI, Canon, and Sony, and at Condé Nast Britain, where she developed brand-owned content strategies with the talent behind iconic titles such as Vogue, GQ, and Vanity Fair. A former journalist, she has written and edited for titles like Econsultancy, Contagious, The Guardian, and Marketing Week.Recognized as a PRWeek U.S. 40 Under 40 and in PRovoke's inaugural EMEA Innovator list, Vikki is also a sought-after speaker and mentor, sharing her expertise at events such as Cannes Lions and SXSW. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling with her three children, Reformer Pilates, and curating the perfect playlist.

Josh Ott is a sales and marketing leader with over 15 years of experience in startups and media. He is currently Head of Revenue at The Shade Room, the leading digital media platform covering Black culture, with over 42 million followers across social channels. The early years of his career were spent leading ad sales and partnerships with former roles at ABC, BET, MTV,Scripps, and Pivot. His entrepreneurial spirit led him to create a successful grass-fed beef company, which further fueled his passion for brand growth and development. MAGNA Media Trials and The Shade Room released new research that quantifies how Black culture drives consumer spending globally. Despite this influence, brand investments in Black creators and Black-led platforms fall short. The report, Cultural Capital: What Black Culture Means for Modern Brands, highlights the growth opportunity and the risk for marketers who fail to engage authentically.

Madeline Temple is a global brand and communications strategist who has spent many years flinging herself into the unknown. It seems to be a theme in her life. That, and good hair. Fingers crossed both continue.She is a firm believer in taking calculated risks, both personally and professionally. Sometimes they don't work out as planned, but the stories have always been worth it.Madeline's calculated risks have provided real-world, international experience you can't find in a style guide or the latest marketing best-seller. She's experienced in branding, strategy, design, corporate storytelling, advertising, cultural trends, PR, content, social media, and research — both on the agency and client side in the US and UK; in B2B and B2C companies; and at Fortune 500 corporations, PE firms, and startups. She's been quoted in the Chicago Tribune and Wired magazine and has appeared on BBC Radio 4's flagship program Today in London.Currently, Madeline is VP, global brand, communications & content at Safeguard Global, the company that started the global EOR category and industry. Prior to this, she was Hillrom's VP, corporate marketing. There, she wrote the brand story that turned a $3 billion medical device maker into a medtech company acquired by Baxter in 2021.

Patrick Zielinski has been creating content since before it was called content. He'd record skateboarding videos to tape and play his boombox in the background to underlay music – everything from filming, editing, and burning videos to disc drives in the early days of digital media.He understands the creator hustle because he lived it, working in TV, film, and digital entertainment through high school, college, and the early days of YouTube. His career spans talent representation and leading teams at Cameo and LinkedIn, where he helped shape talent-driven campaigns with top creators, celebrities, and athletes.Today, Patrick is CEO and Talent Manager at The Drive Agency, representing creator-entrepreneurs in B2B, tech, career, and lifestyle verticals. His roster includes creators who align perfectly with enterprise brands and B2B products – the kind of talent who can authentically speak to professional audiences and drive real business outcomes. Having worked across every wave of the creator economy, Patrick founded The Drive to champion creators who are building thriving communities around their expertise with a long-term mindset.

Former A+E Networks and Canal+ executive, Fabienne Fourquet founded 2btube along with her friend and media veteran Bastian Manintveld in september 2014. 2btube is a leading digital content solutions consultancy working with more than thousand brands and managing content from more than 700 creators and media channels worldwide managing creators, brands and media digital presence with an original focus in Spanish speaking markets. Its audience exceeds 500 million subscribers and reaches 5 billion views per month on YouTube. 2btube has more than 80 employees in its offices in Madrid, Miami, Mexico and Ecuador. 2btube owns the leading entertainment brand in Latin America and among LatinX, EnchufeTV.

Tinja Anderson is an award winning wealth manager and certified exit planning advisor dedicated to driving excellence through comprehensive financial planning strategies that grow and preserve wealth for her clients. As Chief Revenue Officer for EG Capital Holdings, a boutique investor solution firm, she brings strategic leadership and deep market expertise to institutional investment management.Raised in her family's consultancy, Tinja understands firsthand the critical importance of planning with the end in mind to build and protect businesses, families, teams, and legacies. This foundational experience, combined with over 15 years as a strategic sales and business optimization consultant, has equipped her with unique insights into developing transformative proposals that drive change and exceed global market demands.Her exceptional performance in wealth management has earned prestigious recognition, including MassMutual Greater Houston's "Rookie of the Year" (2019), NAIFA's "Rising Star" (2020), and "Jr. Advisor of the Year" for MassMutual Greater Houston (2021, 2022). Beyond her professional achievements, Tinja was crowned Ms. Texas International in 2022.A first-generation American with an exceptional athletic background, Tinja was a Collegiate All-American in Sailing (2006), 5-time National Champion in sailing, held swimming records, and played Olympic development soccer. She maintains an active lifestyle through running, swimming, cycling, and sailing. She is also a published cookbook author, founder of the Pursuit of Excellence Podcast, and a devoted Blue European Doberman dog-mom.

Jerrica Long is a creative strategist and digital showrunner with 12+ years shaping stories, brands, and fanbases at CAA, DreamWorks, Lionsgate, and Netflix. She's worked on Harry Potter, Barbie, American Girl, and UNO, while also championing pay equity and fair creative labor. Today, she runs Studio Jerrica, a TV and Film studio, and Greenlight Yourself, a consultancy helping creators and companies build loyal audiences without Hollywood-sized budgets.

Cam Hogan is a creative strategist, outdoor enthusiast, and lifelong believer in the power of reinvention.He's helped shape campaigns and brand storytelling for tech and product powerhouses like Crypto.com, Instagram, IBM, Microsoft, Nuvei, and Samsung, crafting narratives that span from product launches to cultural relevance. At Meta, he played a key role in launching the Ray-Ban Meta AI glasses, ensuring the experience felt both intuitive and intelligent.When he's not behind a screen, Cam is usually chasing snow or sleeping under the stars. He has backpacked and skied across the Pacific Northwest, British Columbia, Japan, and Chamonix, believing that time outdoors—through adventure and exploration—isn't just an escape, but a way of thinking, moving, and pushing past limits. He also volunteers with CatRock Ventures, a nonprofit organization that utilizes outdoor experiences to help young people from underserved communities develop confidence, leadership skills, and a connection to the natural world.Cam's work and story reflect a deep commitment to self-trust, creative freedom, and building a life that feels good to live.

Lori Zoss Kraska, MBA, CFRE is the Founder and CEO of Growth Owl, LLC and author of The Boardroom Playbook: A Not So Ordinary Guide to Corporate Funding for Your Purpose Driven Organization. She's a recognized leading expert in generating corporate sponsorship support from Fortune 1000 companies on behalf of creators and purpose-driven organizations throughout the United States. Lori has earned a reputation for establishing pathways quickly to help clients exceed revenue/fundraising goals via corporate sponsorship. She also specializes in facilitating high-impact corporate sponsorship training both in person and online. She's regularly called upon by  leaders to work with them one-on-one in developing their mindset and message for successfully engaging with C-suite decision makers. She earned her MBA in Systems Management from Baldwin Wallace University and earned her Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) certification by the American National Accreditation Board (ANAB). Lori speaks at national conferences and facilitates workshops on all aspects of generating corporate sponsorship and funding–from the mental to the message and to the motion. She's also been a featured guest on a variety of national podcasts to discuss her best-practice processes as well as her success.Lori is also an Amazon best seller list author for her suspense fiction novel Under Caution.

Brent Lilley is an accomplished entertainment executive and entrepreneur at the forefront of digital media and live events. As Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Real Good Touring, Brent has redefined the touring landscape for creators, leading the charge in producing large-scale live experiences for the world's most influential YouTube and digital talent.In addition to his work at Real Good Touring, Brent serves as the driving force behind Game Grumps, the wildly popular comedy-gaming brand that has amassed over 7 billion views globally and cultivated a fiercely loyal fanbase. A former agent and manager, Brent's career includes representing Academy Award-winning writers and directors, giving him a unique perspective that bridges traditional entertainment and the creator economy.He resides in Los Angeles with his dog Lincoln, a renowned expert in treats and affection.Arin Hanson is a pioneering creator, performer, and entrepreneur whose influence spans animation, comedy, music, and live entertainment. As Co-Founder and Creative Director of Real Good Touring, Arin channels his extensive experience in content creation into designing innovative live experiences that bring digital communities together in the real world.Arin is best known as the co-creator and face of Game Grumps, the iconic comedy-gaming channel boasting over 7 billion views and millions of fans worldwide. His creative vision and charismatic storytelling have helped shape the online entertainment landscape, inspiring a new generation of creators to build meaningful, fan-first connections.Based in Los Angeles, he continues to blur the lines between digital and live entertainment with passion, humor, and an unwavering commitment to fans.

Haddie Djemal is a media trainer, consultant, and the founder of the #Hire a Journalist initiative, a platform dedicated to advocating for journalists' skills in today's communications landscape. With more than a decade as a national correspondent, producer, and host, Haddie built her career in both traditional newsrooms and branded entertainment, where she developed a reputation for turning complex ideas into compelling stories that resonate with diverse audiences.As a consultant, Haddie helps executives and organizations harness journalistic tools to sharpen their storytelling, strengthen their brand identity, and expand their visibility. She designs and leads workshops, host trainings, and content strategies that not only prepare leaders for media opportunities but also teach companies to operate with a newsroom mindset—building internal frameworks that make their people the storytellers.Through Hire a Journalist, Haddie champions the value of media literacy and universal media training at every level of an organization. She believes journalists' ability to synthesize information, uncover narratives, and build trust is not just vital for the press—it's a competitive advantage for brands navigating a crowded media environment.From coaching C-suite executives to consulting on brand amplification strategies, Haddie bridges the gap between journalism and corporate communications. Her mission is clear: to advocate for journalists, equip leaders with media mastery, and help brands create authentic stories that spark connection and drive growth.

Kate Terentieva is a self-proclaimed chatterbox, passionate about intentional, thought-provoking conversation. Growing up, she was the girl who could talk to anyone. As she got older, she noticed conversations often remained at the surface. In fact, we have meaningful dialogue less than 50% of the time!Realizing she wasn't the only one struggling with post-pandemic loneliness and increased disconnection, Kate created Off The Record as a way to foster and encourage conversations of substance. After all, how well do we actually know the people, with whom we spend our time? On a mission to help us break free from superficial chats with fun, intentional prompts, Kate believes that true connection (and our happiness) begins when we're willing to share and listen. A creative & art director for some of the world's most iconic brands -- WhatsApp, Calvin Klein, Converse, Justin Alexander, and Lobos 1707 -- Kate combined her communications experience with her love for relationship-building to create Off The Record. Designed with portability and convenience in mind, Off The Record's cigarette-pack-esque packaging contains 45 cards with 90 questions to spark addictive, dynamic conversations. All Off The Record questions are family & corporate-friendly, creating opportunities for meaningful connection anywhere.While Off The Record is fun to play, its mission is ambitious— make people happier by equipping them with strong conversational habits. It's even adored by Jay Shetty and Radhi Devlukia-Shetty (see them playing it in on their sparkling tea brand's website).

Josh Cons is leading the team at Notice Me(dia), helping build "The Modern Day PR Firm" (a group of specialized content agencies serving B2B teams). Josh spent the last 6 years, since the age of 16, building in technology, startups and Venture Capital. He spends 90% of his day consuming content on LinkedIn and strategizing GTM pushes for some of the most forward-thinking companies.

With five years of content creation and almost a decade of social media expertise, Alli Kennon is a Social Creative Producer at Microsoft, shaping brand stories across Copilot and the broader Microsoft ecosystem. After three years as an in-house content creator, she's honed the craft of turning strategy into scroll-stopping visuals. A former speech & debate kid, Alli brings narrative flair to every frame—whether she's producing campaigns or curating matcha latte flavors with the precision of a scientist. She currently resides in Boise, Idaho with her husband.

Leslie Morgan builds the infrastructure behind today's most influential creators, IP, and media  ventures, turning creative chaos into scalable, monetizable ecosystems. With 16 years of experience at the intersection of media, technology, and culture, Leslie is the founder of Every Problem Solved, a consultancy focused on content strategy, operations, format development, and  growth for digital-first businesses. She partners with creators, Fortune 500 brands, and media companies  to develop high-impact content, drive operational clarity, and scale revenue across platforms. Most recently, she served as Head of Digital for Mo Willems' Hidden Pigeon Company, a joint venture  with Stampede Ventures and RedBird Capital. Previously, as VP of Lifestyle Programming at Endemol Shine Beyond, Leslie generated $2 million+ in  revenue, oversaw all lifestyle and branded programming, and launched ICON, a global digital venture  with Michelle Phan. ICON hit 50 million monthly views across five countries within six months. As a consultant, Leslie has worked with top-tier clients including Hank and John Green's  Complexly (Interim COO), Spy Ninja Network (doubled team size and scaled six YouTube  channels), Lightricks (Facetune, Videoleap), The Chosen, and Canvas Media Studios, advising across  strategy, operations, and monetization. In 2025, Leslie produced the 1 Billion Followers Summit in Dubai, a first-of-its-kind global event  funded by the UAE government. She programmed 40+ sessions, worked with 100+ creators, and  delivered a flawless three-day experience for 15,000+ attendees—showcasing her ability to lead  complex, high-visibility events that merge culture, tech, and influence. She serves on the VidCon Advisory Board, hosted VidCon's main stage in 2023, and is a frequent  contributor to Ad Age and Digiday, offering insights on creator-led innovation and the future of digital  media. She lives in Long Beach, CA with her husband and daughter.

Austin Null is the Founder and Chief Creator Officer of We Get It. We Get It is a creative agency, powered by creators, looking to redefine what a creative agency is in a social-first world.He has 15+ years of experience in the social media and influencer marketing space working with brands like Intel, Microsoft, Samsung, Popeyes, Xbox, Wingstop, Choice Hotels, Henkel, Bytedance, and more, leading to over 400M+ views across multiple platforms. It's a unique background having 1) Worked at an MCN (Fullscreen) when social influencer marketing was beginning to bloom, 2) Been a successful full-time influencer amassing a collective 750,000+ followers across platforms, and 3) Ran both influencer and social media strategy for major advertising agencies.

Jillian Richardson is the brains behind the 'weird LinkedIn' movement. She's a ghostwriter for founders, a writing teacher, and a creator on LinkedIn herself. Outside of being a writer, Jillian has grown her own personal brand as a community builder in NYC. Her thought leadership has been quoted in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and NPR. It has also been shared by luminaries like Esther Perel, Priya Parker, the founder of Meetup, and— somehow— Chris Voss, the famous FBI investigator.If you want support with finding your weird online-– for yourself or your company–– find her on (you guessed it) LinkedIn.

Stephanie Stabulis is a 15-year veteran influencer marketing strategist working exclusively in the industry since the early days of modern influencer marketing. She's developed impactful, award winning programs and campaigns across a wide range of consumer industries for icons such as Southwest Air, ESPN, Budweiser, Nestle, Nickelodeon, McDonalds, TJMaxx, KellaNova, Sanofi, and Smirnoff. She has worked at both large and small marketing and ad agencies, has freelanced, owned a business and been a full-time employee. She is a VP of Strategy & Analytics at OneFluential, servicing the L'Oreal US portfolio of beauty brands. As a speaker, writer, colleague and mentor, her focus remains on innovation and strategic industry leadership, helping to shape the next generation of influencer marketing, while protecting what's beautiful about human-to-human social relationships.With five years of content creation and almost a decade of social media expertise, Alli Kennon is a Social Creative Producer at Microsoft, shaping brand stories across Copilot and the broader Microsoft ecosystem. After three years as an in-house content creator, she's honed the craft of turning strategy into scroll-stopping visuals. A former speech & debate kid, Alli brings narrative flair to every frame—whether she's producing campaigns or curating matcha latte flavors with the precision of a scientist. She currently resides in Boise, Idaho with her husband.

Sarah Evans is a partner and head of PR at Zen Media, bringing over 15 years of experience as the former CEO of her own nationally recognized PR agency. Known as one of the top voices in PR for the past 17 years, Sarah has been instrumental in shaping the landscape of public relations and communications.At Zen Media, Sarah leverages her extensive background in the technology sector, where she has led high-level strategic communications campaigns and full-scale media relations efforts. Her expertise spans a broad range of sub-verticals, including cybersecurity, commodities, consumer, cloud computing, SaaS, travel technology, medtech, martech, healthtech, edtech and more.Sarah is celebrated for her development of the "Reputation+" methodology, a data-driven and AI-powered approach designed to elevate brand credibility, trust, awareness, and authority in a competitive marketplace. Her innovative strategies have consistently achieved rapid growth for her clients by seamlessly integrating earned, shared, and owned digital tactics.Sarah is often sought for her insights into technology trends, especially in consumer tech. Her thought leadership has led to regular appearances on The Doctors TV show, CBS Las Vegas Now, and as an Adobe influencer. She is a respected contributor at Entrepreneur magazine, Grit Daily and Hackernoon where is the number three writer on business and tech in the world.

Danny Gardner is the head of social media insights, analytics, & measurement at Haleon, the CPG company behind Advil, Sensodyne, TUMS, Flonase and more. He has remit over the company's US and Canadian markets, spanning 28+ owned brands, 100+ competitor brands.Danny is also a proud adjunct professor at the University of Florida where he teaches master's candidates social listening, analytics and reporting.His expertise includes advanced social listening, applied analytics, measurement, eCommerce ratings & reviews, influencer marketing, the creator economy, and emerging media.He is the #SocialListening industry's leading voice on LinkedIn, and recognized by The Drum Future 50, Brand Innovators 40 under 40, Social Intelligence Insider 50, and more as a leading authority in the larger social media, data analytics, and consumer insights communities.

Ashley Segura is a content marketing strategist, speaker, and operator with 15+ years of experience turning messy, disconnected marketing efforts into systems that actually work. As Director of Marketing at SearchLab Digital, she leads campaigns that connect with humans (not just algorithms) for brands across the globe. Invited to speak at industry-leading events like SMX Munich, BrightonSEO, Pubcon, Engage, and Semrush Spotlight, Ashley has also been named a Top 100 Content Marketing Influencer and featured in SEOFOMO's Inspiring Women in SEO.

Jason Sperling brings his distinguished talent and leadership to the role of Chief Creative Officer at INNOCEAN. He has an incredible track record for creating iconic work for brands like Apple, Honda, TikTok, Amazon, Disney Pixar and UNICEF Worldwide. He was the genius behind the Apple “Mac vs. PC” campaign which was declared “Campaign of the Decade” by Adweek. He counts numerous Cannes Gold Lions, including an Emmy nomination among his many awards and has developed marketing campaigns that made a difference and have had an impact on culture and the world at large. He's also authored two books; one on creative leadership and another on building brand attraction in an age of brand aversion.

Bridget Evans joined Spotify in August 2023 and holds the position of Global Head of Advertising Business Marketing for Spotify. Before Spotify, Bridget held the role of Head of Business Marketing for the Family of Apps at Meta, leading efforts to help brands see the full potential of Instagram, Facebook, and Threads to drive their business objectives. She has 13+ years of experience pushing brands forward with digital-first strategies. Prior to Meta, Bridget led consumer marketing, content, and affiliate for Amazon Fashion. Previously, she served as vice president of account strategy at Vaynermedia, where she married creative and media to develop brand and DR campaigns for companies like Coach, Sour Patch Kids, Birchbox, and JP Morgan Chase.She has correctly guessed Worldle on her first attempt at least three times, and currently lives in New York.

Zach Vallese is a creator economy reporter at CNBC, where he covers the business of creators, platforms, and digital media across the network's digital and social platforms. His reporting explores how creators build sustainable businesses, how platforms adapt their strategies, and how monetization, regulation, and AI are reshaping the online landscape. He regularly interviews TikTokers, YouTubers, Instagram creators, and the teams behind them to understand how this industry is evolving. In addition to his reporting, Zach is a segment producer for Squawk Box, CNBC's flagship morning show, where he produces daily live segments on business, tech, and markets. He can also solve a Rubik's cube in under two minutes.

At just 23, Dylan Huey has become a successful content creator, musician, entrepreneur, host, speaker, innovator, and leader in the entertainment, social media, and technology industries. As a creator, he has garnered over 6 million cumulative followers on social media under his monicker and stage name, Rodin' Flash. In addition, he has previously managed other creators with followings over 100M, including being creator Huddy's first manager and leading his expansion from 200K - 5M followers in a year and a half. Dylan has been a featured creator on TedX, Consumer Electronic Show, and Vidcon. Currently, he runs the first and only collegiate influencer organization, REACH, which was started at USC and now expanded to 100+ other universities, including UCLA, Penn State, and Duke. Under his leadership, REACH has expanded into four divisions beyond the student organization: a full-service marketing agency supporting 100+ brands, content production studio, talent management firm representing 50+ talent, and venture arm with equity in 25+ startups.

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