The Boldest Voices in Business & Culture

Claude Silver is the world's first Chief Heart Officer at VaynerX, where she oversees people and culture for over 2,000 employees across 11 countries. Known for pioneering “emotional optimism,” Claude leads with empathy to create thriving, people-first workplace cultures. Under her leadership, VaynerX has grown exponentially, with its foundational company, VaynerMedia, being named Adweek’s Breakthrough Media Agency of 2022. A sought-after speaker and award-winning leader, she has been featured in the New York Times, Forbes, and Fast Company, inspiring others to embrace empathy as a driver of growth and transformation.

Mark Kirkham is Chief Marketing Officer for PepsiCo’s U.S. beverages business.  In this role, he is responsible for brand/category strategies and marketing programs across PepsiCo’s $27B portfolio; including iconic brands such as Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Gatorade, Lipton Iced Tea, and Starbucks RTD beverages.  Prior to this role, he led the sparkling (CSD) portfolio across North America.  Mark spent over eight years working internationally; leading beverage marketing outside of the US as Chief Marketing Officer, International Beverages, expanding our portfolio as VP of Global Sports, Juice, and Energy, and leading key regional teams as Head of Marketing & Innovation for Western Europe.

A 15-year veteran of PepsiCo, Mark has held a variety of marketing leadership roles at both the global, regional, and local levels.  This included leading several global brands platforms such as Pepsi’s partnership with UEFA Champions League, the Pepsi Taste Challenge, expanding Gatorade and Mountain Dew across Asia Pacific, Europe and Latin America, and developing many iconic brand campaigns around the world.  He joined PepsiCo in 2010 leading new product innovation and packaging initiatives in the US and has since continued to develop award-winning brand building and innovation programs across the beverage’s portfolio.

Prior to joining PepsiCo, Mark held various roles at P&G included global brand/portfolio management, new product development and regional marketing and brand activation in both the US and Europe.  Early in his career, Mark held roles in research, consulting and marketing communications at firms including Nielsen and Forrester Research.

Mark holds a BS in Communications from Boston University and an MBA in Marketing from the University of Connecticut.   He has lectured and taught courses on marketing and global business strategy at Boston College, Boston University, Georgetown University and Trinity College in Dublin.  Mark is based in Purchase, NY, loves sports, music, and travel.  He has been married to his wife Jenn for over twenty years and has two beautiful daughters (Kylie 18, Brooke 16) and two furry sons Fenway and Dublin.

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Erinn Piller, Head of Global Business Marketing at TikTok Canada, is leading a world-class team dedicated to empowering marketers with solutions that drive authentic connections and business results. With over 15 years of experience in developing and implementing innovative communication and marketing strategies, Erinn has worked with leading entertainment and digital brands and platforms, including Global Entertainment, National Geographic, STACKTV, and Disney. She has also driven brand excellence and leadership across leading NGOs worldwide, including the World Wildlife Fund, and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.  In addition to her role at TikTok, Erinn is a Women of Inspiration – Authentic Leader Award winner. She sits on the B2B Executive Committee with the Canadian Marketing Association, is a Board Member for the Jane Goodall Institute of Canada, and is an acting Director with the Charles H. Ivey Foundation which invests in community organizations supporting youth at risk.

As a Managing Director and Head of YouTube’s Creator and Gaming team, Kim is responsible for managing the growth of our largest, most influential creators on the platform. This includes the critical ecosystem of companies that surround creators including creator service providers, talent partners, game publishers and influencer marketing agencies. In her previous roles at Google, she launched the Google BrandLab, an immersive strategy experience designed for top advertisers to develop tailored strategies for YouTube. She went on to manage the global brand services function which included creative effectiveness, media measurement, and consumer insights. Her team pioneered the use of machine learning to build data-driven creative best practices for YouTube ads. Kim joined Google in 2012 with 20+ years experience leading marketing teams at the intersection of technology and brand at Nike, Jamba Juice, and Prophet. Kim holds a BS in Neuroscience from Vanderbilt University and an MBA from the University of Virginia. Kim serves on the Creator Board for the IAB, on the Advisory Board for Women in Games International and previously served on the Board of Directors for the Effies, and Oxford University’s Future of Marketing Initiative.

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Marcela “Mele” Melero is the Chief Growth Officer for Dove Personal Care North America and Dove Masterbrand, where she leads brand strategy, innovation, and marketing.  With over 20 years dedicated to Dove, Mele has been a driving force behind the brand’s global marketing transformation and sustained business growth.

Her standout campaigns include Dove’s collaboration with TikTok favourite Crumbl Cookies, blending indulgence with self-care; the launch of Dove Whole Body Deodorants with the bold “Let Your Body Body” campaign; and the award-winning “Unready for Anything” campaign featuring Dove’s most iconic product, the Beauty Bar, which earned a Gold Lion for its visual storytelling at this year’s International Festival of Creativity in Cannes.

Originally from Argentina and a mother of three daughters, Mele is a champion for inclusive beauty, cultural relevance, and real representation across the industry. In 2025, she was recognised as one of Ad Age’s Leading Women, thanks to her transformative leadership and lasting impact on the beauty world.  This recognition reflects her deep commitment to helping young people reach their full potential —most notably through her leadership of the Dove Self-Esteem Project, which has reached over 137 million young people with body confidence and self-esteem education in 153 countries.

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A pioneer in digital marketing and innovation, Avery Akkineni spearheads brand strategy, content, events, and communications as Chief Marketing Officer at VaynerX.

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In seven years at VaynerX, Avery has catalyzed exponential growth by launching new companies and leading international expansion. She built VaynerMedia APAC from the ground up to over 150 employees in two years, opened key Asia Pacific markets like Singapore, Bangkok, Sydney, and Tokyo. During her tenure, VaynerMedia APAC was awarded Marketing Interactive's Agency of the Year. She also served as the Managing Director for VaynerMedia LATAM in 2024.

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In 2021, Avery founded Vayner3, an innovation consultancy focused on emerging technologies like AI and Web3. Under her leadership, Vayner3 achieved significant industry acclaim, and she was named an Ad Age Web3 Trailblazer, and an AI Thought Leader by Business Insider. Her proven ability to identify and leverage leading-edge channels to drive growth for Vayner and her brand partners has landed Avery recognition on advisory boards of top platforms including Salesforce’s AI Council, Meta’s Creative Council, and Tracer.

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Based in Miami, FL overseeing VaynerX's regional LATAM presence, Avery continues to push boundaries in marketing. She is a sought-after speaker on modern marketing and digital innovation, who empowers teams and companies to embrace new opportunities.  

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Avery sits on the Board for PeacePlayers, a nonprofit organization that brings youth in conflict zones together.

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Evan Jones has served as Chief Marketing Officer at Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC), the world's leading musical instruments manufacturer, since 2015. In this role he leads Fender's global marketing strategy and investments to drive growth, elevate the brand, deepen consumer engagement across Fender's brand channels, and fuel an expanding global community of Fender artists, players, creators and influencers.

During his tenure, Jones has led the transformation of Fender's marketing approach, elevating and amplifying the brand's relationships with artists & musicians, driving global demand for Fender product innovation and key product categories, expanding the brand's reach to younger, more diverse, global audiences, and helping establish Fender's digital foundation and ecosystem including platforms like Fender Play and Fender Tune. His leadership has contributed to triple-digit growth across Fender's brand channels, driven parallel triple-digit expansion of Fender's global business, and substantially grown Fender's overall market share. Jones also helped develop the Fender Play Foundation, which has provided over 15,000 instruments to students in LAUSD.

Prior to joining Fender, Jones was CMO at New Era Cap Co. and has held previous leadership positions at other companies including Activision/Blizzard (Guitar Hero), and DC Shoes/Quiksilver. Jones started his career at Nike, where he spent 12+ years in various marketing and sales roles in Europe and in the United States, including leading Nike Basketball marketing in the US from 2004-2007.

A lifelong music and sports enthusiast, Jones played professional basketball in Europe after earning his Bachelor's degree from UC Davis. He bought his first Fender American Standard Stratocaster in 1995 and continues to play, write, and record music. Jones lives in Los Angeles with his wife Kirsten and their three children.

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A 15 year media/marketing veteran, with experience across agencies, startups, and brands - Leisha has a passion for media (and all the things around it). Currently overseeing Consumer Media, at Tubi TV - she has been laser focused on honing in on the marketing success that has catapulted Tubi to nearly 80 million monthly users and how media helps drive this. She has been principally focused on advancement in strategic analytics/measurement, segmentation, and connecting the dots between creative and media so that Tubi can continue to drive brand love (as well as millions of hours in watch time) across the platform’s growing user base.   In her offtime, Leisha still eats, sleeps, and advocates for Marketing. She is on the Board of Directors at ThinkLA (a local trade org focused on mentorship/education within the marketing and media landscape with over 3K members in Southern California). She also serves on the board of Asians in Advertising (helped to produce the first in-person Breaking Barriers summit in May 2024, as the Marketing/Communications Chair), to continue to fight for more diversity and representation in marketing. She has also guest lectured at USC on the impact of Marketing in Experiential/Live entertainment. With the time left, she’s on a constant journey to find the best burger and martini in Los Angeles!

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She turns awkwardness into art. Stocking got her start on Vine and now has 72 million fans across YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram who watch her highly produced sketches that exaggerate everyday dramas. “My content is minimal talking,” she says. “If someone doesn’t speak English, they can still laugh--it’s Charlie Chaplin-esque.”

Meredith Kinsman is Senior Vice President Brands and Commercial Partnerships at AG1, a global health company with a mission to empower people to take ownership of their health.  In her role, Kinsman plays a pivotal role in expanding AG1’s global brand presence and is responsible for delivering commercial partnerships and experiences that drive consumer engagement, foster loyalty, and strengthen brand equity. A seasoned marketing executive with over 20 years of experience, Kinsman has held leadership roles at Benjamin Moore & CO., Octagon, Fox Corporation and Reader’s Digest and is recognized for her ability to bring together creativity and commercial impact to deliver sustained growth. Based in Connecticut, Kinsman spends her spare time playing the ukulele, and loves spending time outdoors and on the water with her family.  

At Shopify, Jessica leads all brand marketing and partnership functions, overseeing creator partnerships, sponsorships, brand campaigns, integrated marketing, social, marketing operations, and experiential marketing. She’s spearheaded high-profile collaborations with MrBeast, Kai Cenat, Nicki Minaj, Drake, A$AP Rocky, Emma Chamberlain, and Serena Williams, positioning Shopify at the intersection of commerce, culture, and content. Jessica also manages a long-tail creator program of 500+ creators across YouTube, Meta, TikTok, podcasts, and newsletters, ensuring Shopify’s brand presence is deeply embedded in the creator economy at every level. Passionate about mentorship and transformative leadership, Jessica likes to take bold, calculated risks that drive business growth, spark creativity, and enhance both the Shopify brand team and creator experience. Before Shopify, Jessica led brand and partnerships at Coinbase delving into realms of crypto and sports, music, and fashion. Prior to that she held diverse product marketing, brand marketing and partnerships roles at Visa.

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Adam W is one of the most influential comedy creators of his generation. With over 63 million followers and more than 28 billion views across platforms in the past two years, he’s become a global force. As the fastest-growing comedy star on YouTube Shorts, Adam gained 16 million subscribers in under two years, blending sharp relatable humor with mass appeal. In 2024, he took his comedy from screen to stage, opening for Dane Cook on tour, while also speaking at industry events with TikTok, YouTube, and Forbes. His success has earned him the Cover Creator spot on the Forbes’ Top Creators List 2025, as well as features in Rolling Stone’s Top 20 Creators, Forbes 30 Under 30, and profiles in Fortune, Adweek, and The LA Times. With partnerships with Disney, the NFL, Pepsi, Walmart, and ambassadorships with Instagram and Old Spice, Adam has built a brand that’s both creatively original and commercially powerful, redefining what it means to be a digital star and creator today.

Jon Gordon – Best-Selling Author and Keynote Speaker

Jon Gordon's best-selling books and talks have inspired readers and audiences around the world. His principles have been put to the test by numerous Fortune 500 companies, professional and college sports teams, school districts, hospitals, and non-profits. He is the author of 30 books including 17 best sellers and 5 children’s books. His books include the timeless classic The Energy Bus which has sold over 3 million copies, The Carpenter which was a top 5 business book of the year, Training Camp, The Power of Positive Leadership, The Power of a Positive Team, The Coffee Bean, Stay Positive, The Garden, Relationship Grit and his new release The One Truth. Jon and his tips have been featured on The Today Show, CNN, CNBC, The Golf Channel, Fox and Friends and in numerous magazines and newspapers. His clients include The Los Angeles Dodgers, In-N-Out Burger, The Los Angeles Rams, Campbell Soup, Dell, Publix, Southwest Airlines, The Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat, The Colorado Rockies, Truist Bank, Clemson Football, Northwestern Mutual, Bayer, West Point Academy and more. Jon is a graduate of Cornell University and holds a Masters in Teaching from Emory University. He and his training/consulting company are passionate about developing positive leaders, organizations and teams.

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Alex is a copywriter, marketing strategist and the founder of the Copy Posse, the raddest, baddest crew of copywriters on the Internet with over 500,000 students worldwide.⁣

Alex got her start in the marketing world in 2008 when she accepted an internship at Mindvalley and quickly became part of the executive team that grew the company 3X to over 8 figures in annual revenue.

Alex left her position as Creative Director at Mindvalley in 2011 to start her own successful consulting and copywriting business. Since then she has helped launch several successful brands and has proudly partnered with many of the hottest transformational authors and businesses on the planet, writing high-converting sales copy, scaling multi-million dollar brands, and crafting iconic promotional campaigns.⁣

⁣In 2020, she founded the Copy Posse, an online academy dedicated to helping copywriters and entrepreneurs from around the world ignite their businesses with her fun and empathetic approach to branding, marketing and copywriting.

Alex has been featured on Forbes, Mindvalley, and Foundr. She is a 5-time speaker at Ad World, was crowned 2022 Marketer of the Year by DigitalMarketer, was voted #1 most popular copywriter in 2023, and received the Game Changer Award at the Women of Inspiration Awards in 2024.

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Andrew Yaffe is the Chief Executive Officer of Dude Perfect, joining the team in 2024. Prior to that, he served as EVP, Head of Social, Digital, and Original Content at the NBA, where he led content strategy across platforms with over 200M+ followers and helped launch major initiatives like the NBA App and key content franchises.

Earlier in his career, Yaffe was the NBA’s Head of Global Strategy, playing a key role in launching the Basketball Africa League and NBA2KLeague. He holds an MBA from Stanford and a Public Policy degree from Duke University. He lives in Dallas with his wife, Christen, and their two children.

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Nicole Wingard is a viral marketing architect, brand storyteller, and the force behind one of the most successful short-form campaigns in the beverage industry. Best known as the co-creator and face of the “Best Marketing Strategy Ever”, Nicole helped rebrand Mixoloshe, a non-alcoholic cocktail company, into the now-iconic SMASHD, generating over 120 million views, half a million followers, and a 1200% revenue increase in just 60 days. As SMASHD’s Chief Smash Officer, Nicole didn’t just lead content strategy—she was the content. Her can-smashing videos activated a nationwide grassroots movement dubbed the “Smash Army,” which sparked features in AdAge, Gary Vee’s podcast, and LinkedIn’s top marketing newsletters, and catapulted two product lines to sold-out status. The campaign is now cited in books, podcasts, and agency playbooks as a masterclass in authentic, community-driven marketing. Now she works with Gallery Media Group as a Creative Strategist ideating content for some of the most iconic brands in the US. Nicole is a seasoned public speaker and four-time finalist in the Miss Texas pageant, where she used her platform to launch her “Rise Above” podcast and college tour advocating for sexual assault prevention. When she’s not helping brands go viral, you can find her volunteering as the Program Director for an international high school debate team, finding all the best coffee shops to try with her fiance, and reading mystery novels.

President, The Gathering, Leadership Guide, Author

Mandy Balak is the President of The Gathering, the world’s premier business and leadership Festival, where high-performance leaders and brands redefine what’s possible. A strategist, movement builder, and leadership guide, she’s spent 15+ years helping executives scale impact, build legacies, and lead with authenticity.

As a soon-to-be-published author of Chasing Enough and host of The Well Podcast, Mandy helps high-achievers break free from the endless chase for “more” and step into alignment, freedom, and fulfillment. Her work challenges leaders to think bigger, prioritize well-being, and create lasting impact—in business and life.

Christina Lang (Lang) is the Vice President of Marketing at Mozilla, the mission-driven tech company building products that put people before profit, from a privacy-first browser to new innovations in AI and online trust. A seasoned marketing leader with a track record of scaling business impact, Lang brings over a decade of experience at the intersection of tech, creativity, and operations. Since joining Mozilla in 2021, she’s led efforts to expand the company’s product reach globally through bold campaigns, process innovation, and deep cross-functional collaboration, driving both business growth and team culture. Prior to Mozilla, Lang shaped go-to-market and operational strategy at Twitch, Facebook, and Outbrain. Her superpower is turning complexity into clarity — aligning teams around ambitious goals and delivering results with purpose.

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Coby Cotton is one of the co-founders of Dude Perfect, one of the most popular entertainment properties in the world. With over 110 million followers, live shows in NBA Arenas, and a host of products and experiences for families, Dude Perfect is striving to be the most trusted entertainment on earth. Coby has an incredible wife and is a proud girl dad of two! He is also a passionate connoisseur of chocolate milk.

Cory Cotton is one-fifth of the sports and comedy group Dude Perfect, known for sinking impossible shots and putting smiles on faces across the globe. A Jesus follower, twin, husband, and proud dad of 4, Cory loves what he does and strives to push forward Dude Perfect’s mission of being “The Most Trusted Entertainment on Earth.” He’s a huge fan of basketball and milkshakes, and is very sorry to all parents and teachers for the whole water bottle flipping thing.

Professional Biography: Katrina DemersKatrina Demers is a brand architect, experience designer, and strategic leader who transforms companies into unforgettable brands. As Vice President of Brand at Pursuit (NYSE: PRSU), she leads the evolution of more than 60 iconic attractions, lodges, and hospitality experiences across North America and Iceland.Her impact is evident in Pursuit’s most celebrated properties: the Banff Gondola and Sky Bistro, spotlighted by National Geographic; the Columbia Icefield Skywalk, winner of the Governor General’s Medal in Architecture; and FlyOver Chicago, named one of USA TODAY’s Best New Attractions. Under her leadership, Pursuit’s portfolio has earned repeated Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice awards, with destinations like Sky Lagoon in Iceland and Kenai Fjords Tours in Alaska ranking among the world’s best.Known for blending creativity with systems, Katrina builds frameworks that make vision scalable and enduring. Through this work, she has positioned Pursuit as a leader in elevated attractions and hospitality, empowering teams to deliver experiences worthy of global recognition.She lives in Bozeman, Montana, with her husband and twin daughters, where big skies and mountain peaks inspire her vision to spark wonder, amplify joy, and Go Beyond.

Chad Coleman is the Chief Brand Officer at Dude Perfect, where he leads brand strategy, creative direction and brand partnerships. Since joining in 2019, he has helped grow the brand’s global presence and fan engagement. Prior to Dude Perfect, Chad led the social and digital marketing team at Callaway Golf. He holds a journalism degree from the University of Arkansas and is a proud husband and girl dad.

Jeff Beitz is the director of Brand Strategy for YETI in Canada and has been with the organization for more than half a decade, joining shortly after the brand's expansion from Austin, Texas to north of the border.  

During his tenure, Beitz has grown the marketing discipline from a single contributor to a full-service in-house team with agency support to drive scale, pushing the Canadian business to not only become YETI’s second largest market , but also to ensure the brand’s presence was immersed in Canadian culture and fully bilingual. As part of this, he built the Canadian direct-to-consumer business that has since become YETI.ca. 

Prior to joining YETI, Beitz held global marketing roles in the sports and nutrition, and wellness space, which are also personal passions of his. His personal and professional background uniquely set him up to be a driving force in further developing and strengthening YETI’s sport community in Canada while continuing to stoke the brand’s core in the outdoor space. 

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Jo leads Whalar, part of The Whalar Group, with a visionary approach, forging pivotal relationships with brands, Creators, platforms and strategic partners to drive innovative growth.

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She has led core partnerships across some of the world’s leading brands, including: Amazon, Estee Lauder Companies, Google, the NFL and Spotify, and forged global marketing collaborations with LinkedIn, Meta, Snapchat, TikTok, Twitter/X and YouTube.

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Jo champions Creators and, in 2023, co-founded Whalar Group’s Creator venture studio, Moby Ventures, developing products and brands with and for Creators.

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Jo joined Whalar with over 16 years of media experience. Splitting her career between London and NYC, she brings a unique bi-global perspective to her current role in NYC.

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Brandon Marshall is the creator of the wildly successful unscripted podcast, I Am Athlete (IAA), and the newly launched daily show, Paper Route. The platform has quickly garnered over 1 Million YouTube subscribers within its first few seasons. Co-hosted by Marshall and fellow former NFL stars, IAA is steadily gaining momentum by tackling essential and controversial topics around sports, culture, and society that meaningfully redefine what it means to be a celebrity in these turbulent times. Marshall has always been a vocal advocate for several socially conscious issues, especially his own battle with mental health.

Marshall spent 12 years in the National Football League as one of the top wide receivers in the game. He would spend his career shattering records and collecting countless awards and accolades. Now, just a few years into his retirement, Brandon continues to exceed expectations and redefine what it means to be an athlete. Marshall is also the founder and CEO of House of Athlete. This lifestyle wellness brand provides every athlete of all levels access to the top-tier resources necessary to unlock their full potential and train like a pro. Brandon is utilizing his many years of experience with mental and physical health, to build an empire of limitless potential. Marshall is also widely considered a pioneer and the face of mental health awareness. Through his many business ventures, he continues to serve his community by raising awareness through motivational speaking and providing access to mental and physical health resources.

In between wearing his many hats, Marshall is a two-time Emmy nominee for his role as a host on Paramount Networks Inside the NFL and was a contributor on The Drew Barrymore Show, and a co-host on Fox Sports hit show, “First Things First”.

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Lizzy Bilasano is the U.S. Head of Creative Strategy at Whalar, the world's leading independent Creator and social agency, where she leads North America's creative strategy team in crafting culturally-resonant solutions that forge meaningful connections between brands and Creators. Drawing from her Filipino-American heritage and background as a professional dancer, Lizzy brings a uniquely dynamic perspective that transforms innovative thinking into compelling creative strategies. Her multidisciplinary experience as a performer, Creator, and creative strategist enables her to choreograph breakthrough campaigns for global powerhouses including LVMH, The Estée Lauder Companies, Nike, Nestlé Health Sciences, consistently delivering results that push creative boundaries. Lizzy has showcased her expertise as a sought-after panelist at premier industry events like Cannes Lions, SXSW, and Marketing Brew, where she has championed the power of creative storytelling and cultural relevance in shaping the Creator Economy. In addition, she has served as a judge for key industry award shows, lending her key strategic eye to recognize and celebrate innovative Creator-led campaigns. Lizzy's craft extends far beyond traditional creative strategy - she's a creative polymath whose expertise flows seamlessly between concept and craft in advertising and the visual/performing arts. As a dedicated champion for diversity in creative leadership, she actively creates pathways for women of color to thrive in the industry, fostering an ecosystem where different perspectives aren't just welcomed but essential to pushing creative boundaries. Through mentorship and advocacy, she's helping to architect a future where the next generation of creative leaders reflects the rich diversity of the stories they tell.

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Shez Mehra is a creative entrepreneur, strategic advisor, producer, and DJ working at the intersection of audio branding, entertainment, partnerships, and immersive experience design. He is the founder and chairman of The 194 Group, a firm that helps visionary brands create unforgettable live experiences, craft how they sound, and design how they feel.  Shez’s career began behind the decks as an open-format DJ, performing on global stages and for cultural icons including Lady Gaga, John Legend, Usher, The Weeknd, and at landmark events like Paris Fashion Week, the Montreal Grand Prix, and TIFF. This foundation — shaping emotion through sound in real-time — cemented his belief that audio, when used strategically, influences perception, behavior, and brand value at scale.  As a producer and A&R, he’s collaborated with influential artists including Drake and The Clipse, giving him a deep understanding of how music and culture move people.  Through The 194 Group, Shez has led experiential campaigns for brands like Aston Martin, BMW, Four Seasons, Google, Harley-Davidson, Mastercard, MLS, Nike, Rolls-Royce, Samsung, Shopify, and TED, blending strategic storytelling with world-class execution to deliver cultural and commercial outcomes.  He is also a partner at Raina, a fast-growing B2B music streaming platform for hospitality and retail, powering immersive audio environments for leaders like Tao Group Hospitality, Drake Hotels, and INK Entertainment.  In 2019, Shez founded AudioBrand.io, a practitioner-led consultancy focused on crafting distinctive, ROI-driven sonic identities. The firm has shaped the sound of brands like Destination Toronto, Rümi, SickKids Foundation, Telus, and Universal Music, ensuring they are heard as clearly as they are seen.  Known for his fluency across creative and commercial spheres, Shez is a sought-after speaker, mentor, and judge with organizations including the 4A’s, Effie Canada, the American Marketing Association, The Gathering, ICA, and Miami Ad School.  Based in the Greater Toronto Area, he’s a proud father of three and remains focused on shaping how the world experiences brands through music, movement, and meaning.

Rob brings 20 years of integrated marketing, strategic communications, and brand/talent partnerships experience across entertainment – working at the intersection of music, gaming, sports, fashion, and youth culture. Most recently, Rob served as the SVP - Brand Partnerships & Talent Mgmt. at Warner Records, where he led strategic brand and commercial partnerships for several notable artists including Saweetie, Benson Boone, Teddy Swims, Dua Lipa, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Lincoln Park.  During his tenure, Rob was also recognized on the 2025 Billboard Sports & Music Power Players and 2024 Billboard Top Marketers lists.  Prior to joining Warner Records, Rob spent much of his career at top entertainment agencies where he helped position brands at the forefront of culture.  His portfolio of work includes noteworthy initiatives such as Pepsi Max’s Uncle Drew campaign with Kyrie Irving, Call of Duty’s professional athlete internship program featuring NFL stars, American Express’ Music Meets Art Campaign with Kendrick Lamar and Shantell Martin, and Bud Light’s Dive Bar Tour with Lady Gaga, John Mayer, G-Eazy and Post Malone.

Glenn is Co-Founder and Chairman of 72andSunny, a marketing, advertising, and design company that specializes in brand transformations. At 72andSunny, Glenn sets the company's standard for innovation, fosters a culture of optimism, and recognizes the creativity in everyone. 72andSunny has twice been named Agency of the Year by AdAge and AdWeek, twice named to Fast Company’s list of World’s Most Innovative Companies, and currently operates 6 offices on 4 continents, partnering with brands like Google, Adobe, and the NFL.

Glenn started his career at Wieden & Kennedy where he shaped the global Nike soccer brand, pioneering the long-form appointment-viewing ads for which the brand became famous. Along the way, he earned 7 Emmy Awards and produced the JXL remix of "A Little Less Conversation” by Elvis, breaking a long-standing tie with the Beatles for global #1 hits.

Glenn recently co-founded Sport Beach, a co-creation platform for ambitious brand marketers, elite creative leaders, and entrepreneurial athletes. He also serves as Chairman of the Board for The One Club For Creativity, the world's leading creative non-profit.

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Dr. Laura P. Dannels, PhD, MBA, is a nationally recognized human capital executive with nearly two decades of experience leading transformational workforce strategy across the healthcare and energy sectors.  She currently serves as Chief Talent Officer at Wellstar Health System, an $8 billion academic and community health system, where she leads workforce and culture strategy for nearly 40,000 team members. Her work spans talent acquisition, workforce planning, digital transformation, and culture—focused on solving today’s most pressing workforce challenges while building for long-term resilience and growth.  Previously, Laura served in senior leadership roles at organizations including PG&E and Kaiser Permanente. At Kaiser, she led an enterprise-wide culture initiative and founded KP Leadership University. She has also led large-scale human capital and digital transformation efforts, including Workday and Epic implementations, and successfully integrated talent systems during major mergers, hospital openings, and regional expansion efforts. Her digital leadership portfolio includes initiatives leveraging AI, automation, VR/AR, and emerging technologies to modernize the human capital function, enhance the employee experience, and align workforce strategy with evolving business needs.  Her impact has been recognized by Forbes, Fortune, Becker’s Healthcare, Fair360 (formerly DiversityInc), Great Place to Work, ACHE, and The Obama Administration.  In addition to her executive leadership, Laura serves as an adjunct professor at Columbia University, where she teaches in the graduate Human Capital Management program and contributes to curriculum on the future of work. She is passionate about developing the next generation of human capital leaders and advancing research at the intersection of workforce, technology, and leadership.  A native of Northern California, she brings a strategic, human-centered approach to building the workforces that power modern healthcare.

Lori Hatcher is a brand builder, challenger, and innovator and Chief Marketing Officer for Kicking Horse Coffee. She sees life as a continuous journey and is endlessing finding ways to create the new and different, and to enhance the experience for those around her. 

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Having spent over 15 years shaping some of the world’s most iconic brands, including General Mills, Canada Goose and Truss Beverages Co.,  Kicking Horse Coffee provided Lori with a unique opportunity - to take a brand with equity dating back to the mid-90s and develop its first ever marketing strategy - and challenge the coffee industry in Canada like never before.

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Under Lori’s leadership, Kicking Horse Coffee launched its first-ever North American brand campaign - Kickstart Your Heart - aimed at bringing Kicking Horse Coffees’ story to new consumers that, like the coffee, is a big, bold kick in the ass. 

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Recognized as one of Canada’s leading marketers, Lori is well known for her transformational leadership approach to the brands she builds and the teams she leads.  A traditionally trained CPG marketer, Lori has applied those skills to some of the most successful market disruptors from cannabis beverages to coffee. 

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In her spare time, Lori loves bringing her friends together over a delicious meal, as well as vacationing with her family at her cottage in Newfoundland. It’s here she gets to explore her true passion for being outdoors and connecting with nature.

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Janne Robinson is a poet, author, and keynote speaker known for her transformative work in corporate culture. She has led workshops for global companies, using prose and narrative to foster vulnerability, connection, and purpose among teams. Her approach has been credited with enhancing employee well-being and engagement, and has been featured in leadership retreats from Beverly Hills to boardrooms across North America. Janne is also the founder of This is for the Women Who Don’t Give a Fck*, a celebrated poetry collection and cultural movement.

Chris Kneeland is an advisor, brand builder, marketer, revenue generator, profit producer, and thought provoker. He is an enabler of big ideas and ideal experiences and a dedicated enthusiast of cult brands. At his core, Kneeland is a teacher who finds his greatest joy in learning and helping others apply new principles or concepts.

Co-founder of Cult, Kneeland established the company to assist business owners and brand leaders in elevating their thinking about the possibilities for their companies and careers. This mission is rooted in his extensive research into the world's most cult-like brands. Kneeland is driven by a daily commitment to making businesses more deserving of brand advocates who not only purchase more but also buy into the brand’s ethos.

Kneeland combines a unique blend of data-driven insights and instincts to enhance customer and employee experiences, ultimately fostering stronger brand attachment. His professional purpose centers on helping businesses become more successful and significant by engaging customers, prospects, and staff on a deeper emotional level. Through empathy and expertise, Kneeland and his team assist organizations in creating better products, programs, and value propositions that boost brand relevance and make their offerings irresistible.

Kneeland’s approach emphasizes not just communication but meaningful interaction, striving for clear and compelling engagement that leads to category dominance. He finds fulfillment in significantly improving the trajectory of companies and elevating people's understanding of their true potential.

In summary, Chris Kneeland is a strategic leader dedicated to helping businesses achieve greater success and significance through enhanced brand engagement and customer experiences. His passion for teaching and his expertise in building cult-like brands make him a valuable asset in the marketing community.

Xanthe Wells believes in the transformative power of creativity to fuel business growth and is known for building high-impact internal creative teams that deliver industry-defining work. As VP of Global Creative at Pinterest, she leads the House of Creative, the engine behind the company’s record-breaking campaigns, including “It’s Possible,” the most successful and awarded campaign in Pinterest history. Under her leadership, the team has also produced standout B2B initiatives like the Pinterest Manifestival at Cannes, the annual Pinterest Predicts Trend Report, and the P is for Performance campaign, all of which have earned widespread industry recognition.

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Before Pinterest, Xanthe was the Global Executive Creative Director at Google, where she oversaw global campaigns, packaging, first- and third-party physical retail, and e-commerce for the Pixel and Nest portfolios, the gaming platform Stadia, and services like Google Fi, Nest Aware, and Google One across eight different markets. Her direction brought home accolades such as Brand Side Agency of the Year at The One Show and ADC, a Cannes Grand Prix for Real Tone on Pixel, the CMO Pencil, a D&AD Black Pencil, and myriad other top honors.

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Prior to taking on a broader role at Google, Xanthe served as Global Creative Director at Nest, where she re-established Nest’s profile as a creative powerhouse. Before going brand-side in 2017, Xanthe spent her formative years in Los Angeles at TBWA\Chiat\Day under the legendary Lee Clow, working on The Pepsi Refresh Project, Kraft, Lay’s, and PlayStation. After Chiat, she ran the boutique agency Pitch as Chief Creative Officer prior to its acquisition by Project:Worldwide.

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Named an Ad Age “Woman to Watch,” Ad Age “40 Under 40,” and one of Business Insider’s “30 Most Creative Women in Advertising,” Xanthe still hasn’t quite won over her mom, who wishes she would do a campaign as funny as the Aflac duck. Born and raised in San Francisco, Xanthe lives in Silicon Valley with her two kids, though her heart belongs to LA.

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Miah is a culture-first strategist and storyteller, currently leading Global Creator Relations for The Sims at Electronic Arts. She oversees creator campaigns, partnerships, and brand activations that connect gaming to the wider world through talent, culture, and community.

With a background in entertainment, media, and consumer brands, Miah has spent the past decade helping companies show up with relevance and intention. Her work blends insight with imagination, turning creative ideas into systems that scale and stories that stick.

She builds programs that spotlight diverse voices, empower creators, and make space for authentic self-expression—both online and off. Miah brings clarity, heart, and cultural fluency to every project she leads.

She’s driven by the belief that strategy should feel human, creativity should be lived, and impact should be shared.

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As a sport and performance psychologist, Dr. Michael Gervais is one of the world’s leading experts on the relationship between the mind and elite performance. Over the course of a 20-year career working with world class performers and organizations, Dr. Gervais has developed a framework for the mental skills and practices that allows individuals and teams to thrive in pressure-packed environments. Gervais’ influence can be felt across many touchpoints of popular culture. His clients include the Seattle Seahawks, world record holders, Olympians, internationally acclaimed music artists, Fortune 50 CEOs and MVPs from every major sport. ​ ​ Dr. Gervais is the host of the popular Finding Mastery podcast that explores the psychology of the world’s most extraordinary thinkers and doers. Dr. Gervais created an online master class for the mind and authored the national bestseller, The First Rule of Mastery.

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Paula Shearer is a Calgary based fly fishing guide who has spent her life chasing trout across Alberta’s rivers and lakes. What began as a deep curiosity for moving water and the rhythm of casting has grown into a career built around adventure, connection, and storytelling.

Today, Paula guides on the world-famous Bow River and southern Alberta streams, hosts fishing adventures, and travels widely to share her passion through photography and media. Her work has been featured in TV shows, films, magazines, and podcasts, where she brings both expertise and authenticity to the fly-fishing community.

A Fly Fishers International Certified Casting Instructor, Paula mentors new anglers and collaborates with leading outdoor and lifestyle brands as a trusted ambassador and voice within the industry.

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I was a fly fishing guide in Aspen, CO at a 5-star resort for several years. I landed a job at a media agency called Backbone Media as their "Hunting PR Manager" and managed public relations for SITKA Gear, Filson, Thermacell, and several other major brands. After my time at Backbone Media, I took a position with YETI as their Hunting Marketing Manager, where I was introduced to the community marketing playbook. I worked at YETI for 4 years, and left to help get a startup off the ground - we built a two-sided marketplace for hunting and fishing guides. I then started my own marketing consulting company focusing on working with younger brands to build their community marketing departments. Turtlebox was my first client on the consulting business. After 2 years contracting with Turtlebox, I joined their team in a full-time capacity as the Director of Community Marketing - overseeing our sports marketing and community marketing departments.

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Veronica Romney is a 16+ year marketing leadership expert, international speaker, podcast host, and the proud creator of the Rainmaker Residency™ programs. As a former Speaker and Trainer for Tony Robbins and Dean Graziosi, Chief of Staff at BossBabe, Director of Marketing Suite Products for a $2B evaluated software company, and former Marketing Agency Owner, she’s had the privilege of witnessing the marketing industry's evolution firsthand from every angle possible.

Whether through keynotes, workshops, or strategic consultations, Veronica’s mission is to empower marketing teams not only to perform better and generate record-breaking revenue results but also reignite their passion for their work, fostering a culture of proactivity and long-term commitment within their companies.

When not helping her members and private clients “make it rain”, you can find her hosting the Rainmaker Podcast, writing her upcoming marketing + leadership book, and wrangling her two man cubs in the beautiful oak trees of North Carolina.

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Allegra Poschmann is the Founder & CEO of Pact, the design-and-engineering studio behind category-defining ecommerce experiences for Counter, Hill House Home, Studs, Rifle Paper and other breakout brands.   Her work has driven more $1 Billion+ in revenue for Pact’s clients and routinely delivers 10× ROI and double-digit conversion gains, earning Allegra a reputation as one of the leading creative and growth partners for modern retail brands.  A former Head of Design & UX at Dynamo, she shaped the earliest digital experiences for pioneering DTC brands such as Glossier, Reformation and The Honest Company before founding Pact in 2020. Over the past 5 years, she has scaled Pact into a seven-figure business driven entirely by word-of-mouth growth. She’s been awarded by the Art Director’s Club and Brand New, and her work has been featured in The Dieline, RGD, Typewolf, Awwwards, The DTC Pod and many more.

With over 15 years of experience as a wellness professional, Randelle Lusk brings a rich blend of expertise as a yoga teacher, meditation guide, conscious leadership coach, and somatics educator. Drawing from her extensive studies and personal journey, she founded Rare Method, a somatic-informed approach that weaves together movement, meditation, and self-inquiry to support nervous system health and foster lasting transformation, both personally and professionally.

Michael Smith is the Head of Brand Marketing for Starry at PepsiCo, where he plays a pivotal role in the brand's rapid success through innovative partnerships and strategic marketing. Under his leadership, Starry has become a prominent figure on the sidelines of NBA and WNBA games, recognized by its vibrant yellow and green logo.

With extensive experience in marketing both established and emerging brands, Michael brings a unique perspective shaped by his diverse career. He is adept at navigating the complexities of modern marketing, particularly in leveraging the power of digital and social media to saturate the market with engaging content.

Michael is committed to building great brands and better teams by integrating consumer-first thinking, clear product differentiation, and compelling brand storytelling. His expertise includes curating teams with the optimal blend of in-house talent and partner agencies, ensuring a cohesive and effective approach to brand marketing. Through his work, Michael demonstrates the power of marketing to generate sustainable competitive advantages for consumer brands.

Chela Davison Writer. Facilitator. Soul-Excavator. Contemplative Bard in a Jumpsuit. Chela Davison tells the truth so outrageously, you can’t help but tell yours too. A sought-after performer, transformational facilitator, and former coach to socially conscious entrepreneurs, rebel leaders, and coaches who coach coaches who coach coaches, Chela is the creator of the one-woman show A Little Bit Much and is known for turning a mic and a moment into a movement.    With two decades of experience in entrepreneurship and personal and collective transformation, Chela’s work is rooted in kindness, woven with honesty, and designed for a future we can actually live with. She’s here to strip the varnish off our voices and remind us that we’re in this together. Chela publishes the Substack, Wisdotainment, for seekers with a sense of humour. She lives on Bowen Island, BC, Canada, the unceded and ancestral lands of the Squamish Nation. Learn more  at cheladavison.com

Eb is a digital content executive specializing in music, sports and entertainment, with over 15 years experience building brand affinity via social media campaigns and influencer activations. She has built a reputation of not only developing and producing innovative content, but using outside-the-box marketing tactics to build awareness and increase engagement that has broke many company YOY growth records across both established and emerging platforms for the likes of ESPN, BET, WNBA, Essence Festival and more. She is currently leading the influencer engagement team at Peacock.

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No one packs a punch quite like Eric Johnston. Eric Johnston is an award winning comedian, actor, emcee and #1 Best Selling Author that delivers a one-of-kind high-energy comedy experience. Fresh from his 4th Coast to Coast “UndeniaBULL” Comedy Tour, Johnston has performed across Canada and the United States, having been featured on MTV, JFL, The Laugh Factory, The House of Blues and The Comedy Store in Hollywood. From stories about being raised by a professional wrestler, to jokes about thriving and surviving in his hometown of Hamilton, Ontario, Johnston’s comedy is both outrageous and relatable, and will leave you begging for more. Through hard work and hilarity, Eric Johnston proves that when you run with the bull fast enough - his success is InevitaBULL!

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Elaine Shui is the US Head of Client Services at Whalar, the world’s leading independent Creator and social agency dedicated to transforming brands into cultural drivers. In her role, Elaine leads a high-performing team driving revenue growth and incredible account management by delivering cutting-edge campaigns for big brands such as Amazon, HP, Nestle Health Sciences, Kenvue, Anthropic to name a few, With a strong background in sales and brand partnerships, she brings a wealth of experience from top-tier media companies, including The New York Times, InStyle, and New York Media, where she consistently exceeded revenue targets and established lasting partnerships across multiple industries. Elaine’s expertise lies in identifying untapped market opportunities and spearheading innovative strategies that address client needs. Her collaborative approach fosters an environment where creativity thrives, motivating her team to exceed expectations and deliver outstanding results. Known for her solutions-oriented mindset, Elaine has built long-term, impactful relationships with global brands and continues to drive success both for clients and for Whalar. Elaine is a leader and trusted mentor, passionate about the Creator Economy’s transformative potential to reshape industries and elevate individuals. With a strong focus on collaboration, innovation, and excellence, she is dedicated to driving impactful change for her clients. Elaine has also served as a judge for the Shorty Awards, celebrating groundbreaking innovation and creativity in digital and social media.

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Erik Huberman is the Founder and CEO of Hawke Media, Your Outsourced CMO® providing world-class marketing expertise to brands of all sizes. Erik launched Hawke Media in 2014 with a mission to make top-tier marketing accessible through a flexible, data-driven, and performance-focused approach. Since then, the agency has helped over 5,000 brands—including Red Bull, Verizon, Casamigos, Funko, and Crocs—scale and thrive. A serial entrepreneur, Erik successfully built and sold two e-commerce companies before the age of 26. His deep expertise in business growth and marketing strategy led him to write his bestselling book, The Hawke Method, which breaks down the three core principles of effective marketing. He also spearheaded the development of Hawke.AI, a proprietary marketing intelligence platform that provides brands with real-time insights to optimize performance. Erik has expanded his business portfolio through multiple company acquisitions and the launch of Hawke Ventures, investing in innovative startups shaping the future of commerce. His thought leadership extends to HawkeTalk, his podcast featuring in-depth conversations with industry leaders. A recognized industry leader, Erik continues to push the boundaries of marketing, empowering businesses and entrepreneurs to reach their full potential.

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A 25-year marketing industry veteran, Paul has spent his career focusing on using data, technology and analytics to deliver the right message to the right customer at the right time. This journey has led from mass advertising to promotions, shopper marketing, digital and 1:1 CRM. For over 10 years, Paul led the North American operations of Track DDB, a leading digital, data, technology and analytics agency focusing on delivering connected experiences to some of the world’s best brands. In addition, Paul is an Industry Professor at the DeGroote School of Business at McMaster University where he teaches Customer Value Creation and Marketing Analytics as part of their MBA faculty. He is also an advisor for the McMaster Digital Transformation Research Center. As Chair of the ICA’s Canadian Marketing Effectiveness Council and author of The Alchemy of Effectiveness: A Focus on Canada 2025 report, Paul is responsible for using real results to help drive effectiveness for Canadian brands.

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IN-Q is a professional spoken word artist, Emmy nominated lyricist, multi-platinum songwriter, world renowned keynote speaker, and the best-selling author of the poetry book “Inquire Within”. His career started in Los Angeles, over 25 years ago, where he was one of the original members of the historic open-mic Da Poetry Lounge. He has also been featured on HBO's Def Poetry Jam and won the National Poetry Slam Championships along with his team in 2004.

Other notable achievements include being named to Oprah's SuperSoul 100 list of the world's most influential thought leaders, being the first spoken word artist to perform with Cirque du Soleil, and being featured on A&E, ESPN and Verses & Flow.

Countless audiences around the world have been inspired through his performances and storytelling workshops. Many of his poetry videos have gone viral with over 60 million views combined, and his stand-up poetry special, IN-Q - Live at the Ace Theatre, streams exclusively on Amazon Prime Video.

The Never Ending Now, his recent spoken word album and poetry journal, explore the importance of creativity for emotional and mental wellbeing.

Mark Groves, founder of Create The Love, is a Human Connection Specialist, author, speaker, coach, motivator, creator, collaborator, and connector whose purpose is to help humans step into their most authentic, effective, loving selves by way of his bold, no-BS approach to life. Mark brings complex academic concepts and research to life in a fun & relatable way, empowering humans to transform the way they work, think, and relate. He loves tacos, hiking, and making people laugh so hard they can't help but pee their pants a little. Mark founded Create The Love (see @createthelove on Instagram) to help humans create deeper relationships with themselves and others. Now he's on a mission to expand his compassionate approaches to dialogue and discourse into all aspects of human existence through his Podcast.

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Tara Milburn has always known that impact goes beyond the bottom line. From her work on professional sports and Olympic bids, she learned how to leverage branding to create lasting change. Today, as CEO of Ethical Swag, she continues this mission, driven by a commitment to her family and community. She founded Ethical Swag on the belief that corporate branding and ethical values are not mutually exclusive but can work hand-in-hand, a vision that is now redefining how business in the industry gets done.

Tripp Westbrook is an innovative, convention-breaking agency leader and President/Chief Creative Officer of Firehouse. His creativity has been recognized by virtually every major advertising award show, but it’s his thought leadership and expertise in challenging category norms that have been the real difference maker for both his clients and his agency.

Steve Smith, CEO of Firehouse, has built an impressive career by understanding people. With a background in account planning, strategy, media, and client management, he has a unique perspective on consumers, relationships, and the myriad of ways to unlock, communicate, and motivate any audience. Unsurprisingly, these same skills serve him exceptionally well as an empathetic leader who saw the agency named a multi-year winner of Ad Age’s Best Places to Work, including the #1 spot in 2024.

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Branden Collinsworth is the founder of THE LOVE INC, a global leader in human performance and holistic wellness. Once homeless and a high school dropout, he transformed his life through fitness and education, co-founding the Jump for Joy Foundation and Real Results Fitness before becoming Nike’s first-ever Las Vegas-signed trainer. Over the past decade, he’s launched Nike Yoga, co-created CorePower’s Strength X, founded Warrior Retreats in Peru, and became a U.S. Ambassador of Yoga. His TEDx talk on Radical Self-Love became one of the most viewed of 2023, and today he continues his impact through writing, neuroscience research, and his upcoming poetry book The Love That You Are.

Amy Crawford works at the intersection of music, brands & innovation as VP, Creative Development (Americas) at Songtradr/MassiveMusic. It’s highly likely that you interact with award-winning music and sound that she created as you go about your day, having led sonic branding & design efforts for global brands, entertainment and media having led sonic branding efforts for global brand and entertainment clients including Disney, HBO, ESPN, PepsiCo and beyond. Her thoughts on sonic branding and the future of music in media have been published by The New York Times, AdAge, AdWeek, Muse by Clio, Hypebot and more. She has been invited to lead workshops and/or speak alongside Muppet friends from the Jim Henson Company, at SXSW, at Advertising Week, the AICP and at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. She is a member of The Recording Academy and President of the East Chapter Board of the Association of Music Producers.

I believe there is only one true heroism in the world -- to see the world as it is, and to love journaling.

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Ryannon K. Frederick, M.S., R.N., is the Chief Nursing Officer for the Department of Nursing at Mayo Clinic. In this role she is executing a strategic focus to elevate and leverage the nursing professional voice to transform healthcare. Her unique approach starts with a "for nurses, by nurses" emphasis. Ensuring staff at every level contribute to innovation and patient care solutions, they are leading in the reduction of administrative tasks and allowing more time for direct patient care. Ryannon and her team are pioneering AI tools to support clinicians, including co-development of an ambient documentation solution for inpatient nursing set to implement in early 2025. They executed the first system-wide AI initiative at Mayo Clinic, reaching over 16,000 staff, demonstrating reduced response times to patients and decreased cognitive burden on the care team. Under her leadership, staff are being elevated and supported as inventors, with pathways to assist with ideation and patent attainment. Additionally, they have created an AI workforce planning & budget tool to automate manual processes.Prior to her system leadership, Ryannon has held various site-based roles at Mayo Clinic. In her 24-year career, she held roles including Chief Nursing Officer in Rochester, Florida and Southwest Minnesota. Ryannon holds a Bachelor of Science Nursing from the University of Iowa and a Master of Science in Nursing and Healthcare Systems Administration from the University of Minnesota.

Derrick Emsley serves as the co-founder and CEO of both tentree and veritree. From a young age, Derrick has been actively involved in environmental stewardship. At 16, he founded a tree planting company that sold carbon credits to businesses, a venture that saw over $1 million dollars in contracts, and planted 150,000 trees. This venture helped pave the way to the founding of tentree, a lifestyle brand that plants ten trees for every product sold. Today, tentree has set new standards in the sustainable apparel world, sold 10s of millions of units, and contributed to the planting of well over a 100 million trees. More recently, Derrick launched veritree, a technology platform purpose built to verify, report, and monitor global reforestation projects - aiming to set a new standard of restoration. veritree now offers "reforestation-as-a-service" to thousands of companies across the globe looking to integrate high quality sustainability and restoration actions into their business model. Collectively, Derrick’s businesses are now supporting the planting of >100MM trees per year and on pace to plant over 1B trees by 2030.

Benjamin Hart is the President & Chief Creative Officer of Brains and co-founder of Mass Culture, our sister media agency. An award-winning creative leader with over 15 years of experience successfully bringing startups to market, building communities, and igniting social movements through impactful brand identity and soul-filled campaigns, Ben has worked with clients across industries including tonies, Amazon, Warner Bros, Michelin, Dr. Seuss, AIGA, and the National Breast Cancer Foundation. He's also a #1 New York Times bestselling children's book author.

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Dan is the Founder and CEO of Ensight Partners. For over 13 years, Dan has been the executive coach and advisor to leaders of global enterprise organizations, entrepreneurs, small businesses, government, and internationally Nobel-prize winning research and academic institutions. Dan is a two-time recipient of the Switzerland-based Excellency Award fromGeneva Group International for his professional services, a two-time winner of theNorth American and International Thought Leader of the Year Award, and anominee of the Pay-it-Forward Leadership Award for women’s leadershipempowerment.Dan is is a Fellow of the Harvard University Institute of Coaching at McClean Hospital, is a Founding Council Member and Judging Committee Chair of the Tony Hsieh Award. Within the American Psychological Association, Daniel has served as a chair on the DEI Task Force and the APA President’s Special Task Force for fiduciary responsibility for major donors. He is a credentialed member of the International Coaching Federation and a member, fundraiser and donor of The Nature Conservancy. Daniel is also a Board Member for Governance and Strategic Planning at Rose City Center, a sliding-scale non-profit for mental health services in California.

Dr. Christine has been practicing Naturopathic Medicine since 1997. The successful treatment of her patients includes the use of Foundational Naturopathic Care blended with modern, evidence-based Integrative Medicine. The methods she employs include IV Nutrient, Chelation and Ozone therapy, Homeopathic & Botanical Medicine, Nutrition and Supplementation, Detoxification, Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), Bioscan, the Original Bowen Technique, and Kundalini Yoga. Her extensive training in, and passion for, the Bowen Technique lead her to create, and teach, a Certificate Program for Mount Royal University.She has extensive successful clinical experience and is sought out for her expertise in the areas of Auto Immune disorders, Biotoxin Illness, Chronic Complex Diseases, Integrative Cancer care and Anxiety and Depression; being referred to by her colleagues and peers within the Conventional and Naturopathic medical fields.With almost 30 years of experience Dr Christine has developed a deep understanding of human physiology and biology, the physical aspects of healing and the dynamic energetic principles of well-being. She incorporates metaphysics into Medicine which adds a unique and powerful dimension to restoring health. And her clients achieve extraordinary results in accelerated time.Dr. Christine’s focus on whole-person healing brings together the aspects of physical, mental, energetic, and spiritual health and wellness. By determining the underlying cause of symptoms, and conditions, and focusing on a person’s core needs, she introduces treatments that support and stimulate a patient’s optimal health.

Shawn Freeman is a partner at Always Beyond and a seasoned tech entrepreneur with a proven track record of building and scaling successful MSPs. After achieving a 7-figure exit with his first company, he brings deep expertise in leadership and IT strategy to his role at Always Beyond. Shawn works closely with business leaders to strengthen security, simplify systems, and use technology with confidence to achieve meaningful results.

Christoph Frehsee – President, Tonies US & Chief Revenue Officer, Tonies SEChristoph Frehsee is President of Tonies US and Chief Revenue Officer of Tonies SE, the company behind tonies®, the global leader in screen-free audio entertainment for children. In his dual role, Christoph leads Tonies’ U.S. market and drives global commercial strategy, aligning growth across Europe, North America, and international markets while empowering local teams to succeed.As President of Tonies US, Christoph launched the business in 2020 and quickly built it into one of the most dynamic growth stories in children’s entertainment. Under his leadership, Tonies expanded from its U.S. retail debut at FAO Schwarz New York to nationwide presence in thousands of doors with partners such as Target, Walmart, Amazon, and specialty stores. Today, more than 10 million Tonieboxes have been sold worldwide, each sparking imagination and creativity through storytelling and music.In his role as CRO, Christoph steers Tonies’ next chapter of global expansion and innovation, including the launch of the Toniebox 2 in 2025 — designed to grow with children through interactive play, learning, and bedtime routines.A Stanford MBA and MS graduate with a background in entrepreneurship, Christoph combines business-building expertise with a mission-driven mindset. He is recognized as a champion of screen-free play, committed to elevating it as an essential part of childhood.An avid surfer, father, and mentor, Christoph is passionate about sustainable growth, empowering diverse teams, and helping families around the world imagine more together.

Tim Ringel is a serial entrepreneur with the passion and drive to push past the status quo. His ambition and desire to make things work the way they’re supposed to has led him to the role of Global CEO of next-generation international advertising group Meet The People. A builder of multiple international agency groups, Tim is a seasoned global CEO and executive in the marketing space, having run world-renowned Spring Studios and Reprise Digital, IPG Mediabrands’ digital global agency network. With experience in EMEA, APAC, LATAM and the U.S., Tim has operationally managed ad businesses with more than 3,000 staff and 68 offices around the globe. He has been a speaker at 250-plus industry events, including talks at the United Nations, Cannes Lions, Google and Facebook, and he is an active supporter of entrepreneurial associations and charities.

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Erica Baker has built an exceptional career by bridging the gap between brands and the people behind them. With experience across national and international brands, she excels at turning complex strategies into clear, actionable initiatives. A former professional ballet dancer, Erica combines discipline and grace with strategic rigor, leading with empathy and collaboration while driving real business results.

Charlie Grinnell is the Co-CEO of RightMetric, where he helps brands eliminate blind spots by surfacing external signals that most teams overlook. These include audience shifts, competitor moves, platform changes, and cultural trends. Under his leadership, RightMetric has partnered with Meta, The Home Depot, lululemon, and Red Bull to provide Marketing Outsight that clarifies what is changing and why it matters.

Charlie’s career began in video production with Nike and NBC Sports before transitioning to digital marketing. At Red Bull, he managed the brand’s digital presence in Canada and later led global sports social media strategy. He also served as Head of Social Media at Aritzia. 

In 2019, BC Business named him to its 30 Under 30. He is a sought-after speaker, sharing how Marketing Outsight creates strategic clarity for marketing leaders at organizations like YPO, TELUS, and Rogers Communications.

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Pedro Porto Alegre started out his career at PepsiCo Foods Canada where he did a variety of roles across field sales, customer development, data analytics, shopper marketing, and brand marketing. After nearly a decade on the brand-side of the business, he decided to go to the agency-side as a strategist, where he is now the VP of Strategy at CULT. He is laser-focused on learning and pushing the craft forward while inspiring the next generation of marketers to reach their full potential.

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Dr. Kieran Avlonitis is a member of the Oncology Association of Naturopathic Physicians (OncANP), Alberta Association of Naturopathic Doctors (AAND), and College of Naturopathic Doctors of Alberta (CNDA). He is board certified in intravenous therapies, ozone therapy, and chelation therapy. By combining these therapies with lifestyle modifications, nutraceutical or botanical supplementation, other Naturopathic modalities, and conventional care – he achieves an individualized and integrative approach to each of his patients.

Kent Yoshimura is a professional muralist and the co-founder and CEO of Neuro. After studying Neuroscience at UCSD and film at UCLA, Kentaro created content for global brands such as McDonald’s, Lego, and Benjamin Moore before transitioning into illustration and brand direction. His children’s illustrations have been exhibited in museums across the U.S., and his work has been featured in outlets including NBC, The New York Times, TIME, Forbes, and NPR. A competitive martial artist, Kentaro has fought Muay Thai in Thailand and trained with Judo Olympians in Japan. In 2015, he co-founded Neuro, a functional gum and mint brand revolutionizing the supplement space. He also co-founded okidoki, an experiential design agency, creating immersive experiences for brands like Fear of God, Britney Spears, and CAMP in New York. He continues to paint murals, chew Neuro gum, and run ultramarathons.

Casey Campbell is the Managing Director, North America at Gameloft for brands, where he connects brands with engaged audiences through games and interactive media. He oversees Sales and Business Development in the U.S. and Canada, leading the award-winning COMBO! in-game media network. With 20 years in mobile gaming, Casey has navigated major shifts in technology and business models, drawing from his early career in systems integration and consulting and a lifelong passion for gaming.

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With over 20 years in marketing and nightlife, Ronn Nicolli has been recognized as one of the most influential people in hospitality. He began his career at Wynn Las Vegas, rising to Senior Executive Director of Nightlife Marketing, before joining Palms Casino Resort as SVP of Creative Strategy during its $620M renovation. In 2020, he joined Resorts World Las Vegas, where he now serves as CMO, leading brand marketing and producing award-winning campaigns such as “Rule the World.” He also serves on the board of the Discovery Children’s Museum and contributed to the Super Bowl LVIII Host Committee.

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Matt Gagnon was Born and raised in the woods of Maine, with a 15 year period in Austin, TX. He has since returned to Maine in 2021. Matt is the founder of Atomic Mornings and Matt Gagnon Coaching.  Once a hardcore night person who spent every last second he could under comfort and safety of his blankets, he made the drastic change into becoming a morning person. To say it changed is life is an under statement, as it also became an unexpected and life changing program for others. As the founder of Atomic Mornings he works with C-suite leaders, Entrepreneurs, and high performers who feel like their is never enough time in the day for family, friends, self care and work. These individuals feel like the calendar is holding them hostage from living a fulfilling life. Matt focuses on the five things most people have total control over which Matt defines as Supply Lines: Sleep, Prayer/Mediation Time, Fitness, Nutrition, and Connection Time With Positive Family and Friends.  He guides his clients through a customized 30 day one on one program, creating a sustainable morning routines that proves anyone is capable of becoming a morning person and how to regain control of their calendar.

Matt is also certified professional executive performance/life coach, TEDx speaker, and virtual professor for Austin Community College teaching LinkedIn skills. In the fall of 2023, Matt took what was once a hobby, and became local performing paid musician throughout the state of Maine using his love for music and skillset with vocals, guitar, piano, and story telling to not only entertain, but to create connection and community. Prior to his current roles, Matt spent 15 years in retail arena with Staples, Cole Haan, Under Armour, and Carters/Osh Kosh. He was known for developing high performing store teams using a servant leadership style approach with a direct focus on a coaching strategy while covering cross country territory.

In his free time Matt enjoys road trips, camping, hiking, ax and knife throwing, vinyl records, super hero movies, collecting non-sports cards, and all things pop culture.  His biggest passion is sharing many of these hobbies with his 11 year old son, who has also become a locally paid musician in Maine. Matt lives by the mindset that life is better when it has its own soundtrack.

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mattgagnon1

Instagram: @IamMattGagnon and @AtomicMornings.io

Rah Bhatt is Director of Creative Strategy at MassiveMusic, where he translates brand DNA into unforgettable sonic identities. With 17 years shaping how brands use music and sound to move culture, he’s helped craft the sonic strategies for Google, Disney, L’Oréal, Samsung, and more.

Partnering with agencies like McCann, DDB, Ogilvy, and BBDO, Rah specializes in turning abstract brand ideas into emotional connections that stick. He sees sound not just as a branding tool, but as a cultural force - driving recognition, loyalty, and resonance. A dedicated mentor, he champions collaboration as the heartbeat of breakthrough creativity.

Rah’s perspectives have been featured everywhere from Creative Bloq and Brands & Culture to the History Channel. Beyond music, he finds balance in Muay Thai, meditation, and outdoor adventures with his family.

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Roger Sho Gehrmann is a trailblazer in the world of audio advertising and sonic branding, currently serving as the VP of Partnerships at MassiveMusic. With a career spanning from advertising agencies to music streaming and social content platforms — Roger has become a thought leader in the industry, known for shaping the future of how brands connect with audiences through sound.

In 2019 Roger co-founded Studio Resonate, an award winning audio creative studio that has been instrumental in crafting cutting-edge digital advertising for some of the biggest brands on the planet, directly supporting more than half a billion dollars in media sales for the SiriusXM group.

During his tenure as Executive Creative Director for the SiriusXM/Pandora/Stitcher group, Roger led the rebranding of SXM Media, the world's largest ad-supported audio media network. They served as the resident 'Audio Media Evangelist,' keynoting at premier events like CES, SXSW, and Cannes Lions, where they championed the unique power of audio as a medium for brand storytelling. Their leadership also spearheaded award-winning programs like the Six Dimensions of Sound and The Stand for Sonic Diversity.

Currently as VP of Integrated Partnerships at Songtradr, Roger spearheads innovative projects that blend music, technology, gaming and marketing into powerful brand experiences. From crafting sonic identities for global brands to leading strategic partnerships, his work pushes the boundaries of what’s possible in the audio space.

Roger is passionate about fairness and inclusion in the music and media industry, equitable voice casting and sonic diversity, ensuring that the future of sound is inclusive and representative of all voices having launched The Stand For Sonic Diversity and being involved with Balance The Mix.

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From growing up on the stunning coast of Nova Scotia to forging his career in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, Brendon Arnold (BA) has become a Brand/Marketing powerhouse in the sporting goods arena.

 Over the course of BA’s career, he has worked with some of the biggest and baddest sporting goods brands in the world, including Nike, Jordan Brand, Adidas, Fitbit and Apple.

In 2018, a unique opportunity arose to takeover and lead the Sherwood Hockey brand out of Calgary, Alberta. Since that day, BA has been at the helm of the Sherwood brand – helping guide Sherwood in the direction of disruption – purposely steering the ship into uncharted waters to find the ‘white space’ within the sport of hockey. Under his leadership, BA has been able to resuscitate a dusty, irrelevant brand, and transform it into the hottest, fastest growing hockey brand in North America, while attracting and signing some of the biggest names in the sport.

For over a decade, Greg has worked with notable brands to build and maintain deeper and more engaging relationships with customers, prospects and staff. He has helped launch one of the top 10 most successful start-ups in U.S. history, assisted Harley-Davidson in rebranding and forming lucrative relationships with new customer segments, and advised both UCLA Health and Penn Medicine on how to achieve cult brand status.

Evin Shutt is the Global CEO of 72andSunny, where she leads the agency's sports clients, primarily focusing on the NFL. She co-pilots the innovative Sports Brand Strategy service and played a key role in the creation of Sport Beach at Cannes 2024. Evin also co-produced one of the most iconic Nike Soccer ads of all time. As a business leader, she helped bring in 72’s first sports clients, including Nike, Quiksilver/Roxy, and 2K Sports. A former Division 1 volleyball player at Drake University, Evin stays connected to sports by coaching youth flag football. Her achievements have earned her a place in the Advertising Hall of Achievement.

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David Lee is the CEO and Co-Founder of Nex, the motion technology and entertainment company that brings families and friends together through active play. Nex created Nex Playground, a category-defining system that transforms living rooms into playgrounds. Since its 2023 launch, Nex Playground has become a breakout success — sold through major retailers including Target, Walmart, Sam’s Club, Best Buy, and Amazon — and powered by partnerships with some of the world’s most beloved brands, including Bluey, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Barbie, Sesame Street, Kung Fu Panda, the NHL, and Zumba.Before founding Nex, David built EditGrid, one of the earliest online spreadsheets, which was acquired by Apple. At Apple, he led the engineering teams behind iWork for iCloud — creating the web versions of Pages, Numbers, and Keynote, along with the server infrastructure that enabled cross-platform collaboration — with teams spanning Cupertino and Hong Kong.

Vinod Varma is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Creator, recognized by G2 as an influencer marketing leader that bridges the gap between brands and creators. With over a decade of experience in marketing and brand development, Vinod has been instrumental in shaping strategies that foster collaboration and growth within the creator economy. Under Vinod's leadership, Creator has evolved into a comprehensive ecosystem that empowers both brands and influencers with clients that include Amazon, Fender, Nike, Oakley, Mercedes, and Best Buy.

Caroline Murphy leads growth, strategic alliances, and go-to-market strategy for PowerUP, Meta4 Interactive’s in-house brand activation studio. With a track record as an award-winning marketer and growth leader, she drives campaigns that turn passive audiences into active participants. Under her tenure, PowerUP has launched breakthrough activations for top global brands bringing their stories into UGC ecosystems at scale.

Prior to Meta4 Interactive, Caroline held senior leadership roles in growth, marketing, and partnerships at top global agencies and tech firms. Her work has been recognized across industry awards for innovation, creativity, and commercial impact. A seasoned strategist, she combines deep experience in brand-building with hands-on expertise in gaming, creative collaboration, and emerging technology.

At The Gathering, she will anchor a discussion on how brands can bridge culture and commerce within UGC, moving beyond logos and islands to build trust, fandom, and cultural momentum.

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Zak Phelps is a leader in UGC game design and was an architect behind Fortnite Creative. As a key contributor behind the evolution of Fortnite as a culture platform he spent nearly a decade at Epic Games.  Zak served as Senior Director of Product Design for Fortnite Creative, helping to architect the tools and systems that empowered creators and transformed Fortnite into a participatory creative ecosystem.

Before his tenure in Creative, Zak contributed to early Fortnite development in executive production roles. Fortnite Creative grew into one of the most active UGC environments in gaming, fueling community expression, viral maps, and new monetization pathways.

Zak is also known in creator circles as ZooKeeperZak for his ongoing advocacy and mentorship of emerging UGC creators. 

At The Gathering, Zak will offer unmatched insight into how brands and creators can co-build experiences that players want—not just consumable activations—and how to think about platform dynamics, discovery, and creator economics from the inside out.

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Paulo Salomão is the Founder and CEO of King Ursa, one of Canada’s leading independent full-service creative agencies, built on Creativity with Teeth™—the belief that bold ideas must also bite into business results.

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As a Board Director at the Institute of Canadian Agencies and Chair of the Agency Acceleration & AI Adoption Committee, Paulo helps shape how Canadian agencies grow in an era where engagement can’t be bought and culture is both the competitor and the canvas.

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Under his leadership, King Ursa partners with brands ready to move beyond impressions and into impact—creating work built for cultural stickiness, powered and amplified by paid reach. Paulo blends creative intuition, behavioral data, and emerging technology to help CMOs build brands that don’t just get noticed, but get remembered.

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Kelly Parsons is the Chief Executive Officer of WaterAid America, a global NGO

working to ensure universal access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene. In this

role, she leads the organization in delivering on its mission and vision, building a

sustainable business model that balances growth and investment with long-term

impact. Since joining in 2019, Parsons has strengthened WaterAid America’s position

and role in the sector, co-leading the development of an ambitious ten-year strategy

for the WaterAid federation and more than doubling the organization’s income.

Most recently, she spearheaded #TeamWater—the largest clean water campaign in

history. Led by MrBeast and Mark Rober in partnership with WaterAid as Global

Partner and powered by the world’s biggest team of content creators, the campaign

raised $41 million to bring life-changing clean water access to 2 million people

worldwide.

Parsons has a proven record of transforming nonprofits, global corporations, and

start-ups for more than 25 years. Before WaterAid, she was the Senior Director of

the Corporate Partnerships and Philanthropy team at Population Services

International (PSI), where she designed and implemented a strategic fundraising

plan. She previously led the Marketing Leadership Council, a network of Fortune 500

marketing executives, and served as CEO of Melcrum, stewarding it from startup to

successful acquisition by Gartner.

She holds a Master’s in International Development from the Johns Hopkins School of

Advanced International Studies (SAIS) and an MBA from the Wharton School of

Business. Parsons began her career as a Peace Corps Volunteer in rural Guatemala

and later served on the board of the National Peace Corps Association.

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Todd Meleney is the founder and CEO of while on earth™, a performance footwear and apparel brand that is inspired by the ethos that time is our most valuable currency. The brand is co-founded with NFL superstar Christian McCaffrey and CrossFit legends Brooke Wells and Mat Fraser. Together they are creating a performance wellness brand that empowers people to reach their full potential. Prior to founding while on earth™, Todd was the award winning CMO of athletic footwear and apparel brand NOBULL. As the company’s first employee he oversaw marketing, content, and revenue from pre-launch through to $200m+ in annual sales. Todd built a cult following for the brand in its early years through community building and highly anticipated product launches that were among the largest of their kind.

Jeff Bezner grew up near Dallas and graduated from Texas A&M in 2001.  He interned in the audio industry, but ended up with an Oil & Gas career, successfully doing Sales and Sales Management for 20 years.  In 2020, he was elated to circle back to audio full-time as a co-founder of Turtlebox Audio where he's currently leading the company's Sales efforts.  Jeff and his wife Maria have three boys and reside in Katy, Texas

Reagan Fincher is a born and raised Houstonian and a “lifer” at Second Baptist School.  Quick to adventure, he attended Wake Forest University where he graduated in 2001 Cum Laude with a BBA and received a scholarship award for entrepreneurship. Returning to Texas he interned for Jacobsen Hardy Golf Design and began his career in land development, with projects in Texas and Colorado.  Turtlebox was Plan C for much of this time, becoming Plan B and in 2021 Plan A and now with a full time roll as Chief Product Officer. Reagan and wife Shelly enjoy the outdoors every chance they get with children Kennan, Cade and Corinne.

William Bradley grew up in Houston, TX before heading east to receive his BBA from The University of Mississippi in 2003. He started his career as a broker in the commercial real estate industry for New Regional Planning and Read King. In 2017, he took a leap of faith and started Bradley Commercial Properties and has not looked back. Will currently serves as the Chief Community Officer for Turtlebox Audio, where he leads community marketing efforts, as well as brand partnerships.  He and his wife, Brennin, have three beautiful children: Brock, Berkley, and Bowen. They enjoy traveling to the beach, boating, live music, and spending time on the weekends at their family ranch.

Jonathan McKenzie is a native born Houstonian who attended Baylor University where he received a BBA in Finance and Entrepreneurship.  He started his corporate career in commercial real estate but quickly moved into the midstream oil & gas sector where he worked in transportation, trading, and logistics for boutique energy companies in Houston.  Jonathan and his wife, Mollie, have to young sons, Jonathan and Samuel, and enjoy being outside as often as possible running, biking, and hiking.

Amanda Horn is an award-winning hospitality brand marketer, SSI Divemaster & global brand ambassador, and ocean advocate innovating at the intersection of water wellness, marine biotechnology and personal care. She is the founder of Shower Thoughts™, a circular blue beauty company designing water-responsible innovations that protect and restore the world’s bodies of water, starting with the way we care for our own.Amanda is driven by a single belief: water is the original mirror for humanity, and the ocean is reflected in everything we do and all that we are. Inspired by the human-ocean connection, she turns moments of clarity like the ones we experience in the shower into meaningful innovation. Her work is rooted in story-based brand strategy, purpose-driven design, and Blue Mind science, which shows that water inspires calm, creativity, and connection.With over a decade of experience building brands across global beverage portfolios, Amanda blends sustainability with performance. She champions wellbeing as inseparable from water, recognizing that our relationship with the ocean fuels human creativity, resilience, and collective potential.

Eve Rémillard-Larose is a dynamic and visionary leader. With a reputation for driving innovation and fostering creativity, Eve has impacted the Canadian advertising landscape through her strategic foresight and relentless pursuit of excellence.With over two decades in the advertising industry, Eve has honed her skills in various capacities ranging from account management to strategic planning and leadership. Her career is marked by a commitment to blending creative ingenuity with data-driven insights, ensuring that clients receive campaigns that are both imaginative and effective. She has partnered with organizations ranging from start-ups to global multinationals, always aiming to elevate brand experiences and drive business growth.At TBWA\Canada, Eve is celebrated for her transformative leadership style, emphasizing collaboration, diversity, and inclusion. She empowers her team to push boundaries and think disruptively, aligning with TBWA's global reputation as The Disruption® Company.Eve's influence extends beyond the agency walls.  Eve serves as a director on the board of the ICA and is an active advocate for gender equality and mentorship in the workplace, often speaking at industry events and participating in initiatives aimed at nurturing the next generation of creative thinkers. In addition to her professional achievements, Eve is a dedicated community leader, serving as a director on the board of directors for BGC (formerly Boys and Girls Club Canada). Her commitment to empowering young people and fostering inclusive environments aligns with her professional ethos, further highlighting her dedication to making a positive impact both professionally and in the community.

Jetty Nieuwenhuis is a speaker, model, and wellness advocate. As CEO and Founder of Trujetty, she uses her personal stories of invisible illness — bulimia, Lyme Disease, and depression — to help women wake up from a life on autopilot and unapologetically go after their desires. Rebelling against the perfectly curated influencer image, complete with unattainable standards, she focuses on the real contradictions of life like fashion over 50, beauty without the heavy edit, and having enough while still wanting more. Jetty is a Creator on multiple platforms, a frequent podcast & tv guest, and was invited to NYFW. She is an IAWP Health/Wellness coach, holds certifications in makeup artistry and image consulting, and has successfully completed two Ironmans.

Mike Tyler, founder and CEO of War RoomMike Tyler is the founder and CEO of War Room, one of North America’s fastest-growing paid media platform partners. He’s the visionary behind Kedet, an AI-powered programmatic platform proven to increase ROAS by up to 20%. Under his leadership, War Room has become a trusted long-term partner to top brands in tourism, sports, and entertainment, including the NBA, Vancouver Whitecaps, Science World, SkiBig3, and the Vancouver Canucks.Driven by a belief in ethical AI, transparency, and accountability, Mike has built a culture where performance and integrity go hand in hand. His work bridges technology and human insight, redefining what brand partnerships can achieve in the age of intelligent advertising.