Brand Values Must Be Unshakable

Related Sessions

• The Power Of Fandom: Unlocking Loyalty in an Era of Distraction

  Creativity Stage

  • Content & Pop Culture

  • David J. LeeCOO & CFOWEBTOON Entertainment
  • Erika BerlinContributing EditorAd Age Studio 30
  • George AudiVice President of Business DevelopmentDuolingo
  • Jenna FidellowExecutive Director, US Head of ContentWavemaker
  • Scott DonatonSVP, Global Brand & CommunityCrunchyroll

  Cultivating a loyal fanbase is every brand’s dream. But some companies have turned fandom into the foundation of their business. While traditional social platforms chase fleeting attention, brands like Duolingo, Crunchyroll, Wavemaker and WEBTOON Entertainment are building lasting connections with engaged communities. In this session, you’ll hear from executives at these culture-shaping companies to learn how they create and activate fandoms and how you can apply those strategies to turn customers into devoted fans.

  Mon 10/6 • 10:10AM EDT30minIn person

• Creativity at the Speed of Culture: How AI Is Redefining Storytelling

  Creativity Stage

  • Content & Pop Culture

  • Amit JainCEOLuma AI
  • Asa HikenReporterAd Age
  • Marcos RibeiroSenior Director, Advertising & BrandMacy's
  • PJ PereiraCo-Founder, Creative Chairman // CCOPereira O'Dell // Serviceplan Americas
  • Sil CuriatiStorytelling StrategistSTORY

  AI is not here to replace creativity; it is here to supercharge it. In this fireside chat, Amit Jain, CEO of Luma AI; Marcos Ribeiro, Senior Director of Advertising & Brand for Macy’s; PJ Pereira, Creative Chairman at Pereira O’Dell, Founder of Silverside.ai, and Chief Creative Officer of Serviceplan Americas; and Sil Curiati of STORY, will explore how AI is transforming advertising and entertainment.

  Presented by

  Mon 10/6 • 5:30AM EDT30minIn person

• Why OOH is Every Brand’s Winning Play

  Creativity Stage

  • Content & Pop Culture

  • Brian RappaportFounder & CEOQuan Media Group
  • Anna BagerPresident and CEOOAAA
  • Esther RaphaelCMOIntersection
  • Sloane StephensTennis Champion, Entrepreneur & Philanthropist

  In today’s fragmented, saturated media landscape, brands, creators, and athletes are turning to the real world to deliver breakthrough impact. From bold billboards and building wraps to airport takeovers, immersive activations, and moving media, out of home (OOH) doesn’t just command attention-it fuels content, shapes culture, and drives commerce. This panel will explore why OOH has become the channel of choice for those seeking cultural relevance, authentic connection, and influence that extends far beyond the screen.

  Mon 10/6 • 7:30AM EDT30minIn person

• Scaling Chaos: Two Years At The Onion

  Creativity Stage

  • Content & Pop Culture

  • Michael GewirtzmanGlobal Vice President, ProgrammingAdvertising Week
  • Jordan LaFlureExecutive EditorThe Onion
  • Leila BrillsonChief Marketing OfficerThe Onion

  America’s Finest News Source, The Onion, has crammed a decade of plot into the last two years: It sold to new owners, staffed up, relaunched a subscription print edition, nearly bought Infowars (long story), and opened America’s Finest Creative Agency to bring its humor to brands. In a conversation economists are already calling “an upcoming session at Advertising Week,” The Onion’s Leila Brillson and Jordan LaFlure take us behind the scenes of the mischief-making institution that always keeps legal on its toes.

  Presented by

  Mon 10/6 • 8:10AM EDT30minIn person

• Off the Feed & Into the Chat: How the Internet Has Gone Private

  Creativity Stage

  • Content & Pop Culture

  • Chris KellySenior ReporterMarketing Dive
  • Kevin HeinChief Growth OfficerGIPHY

  In a world where people express themselves through reaction GIFs, emojis, and memes, how do we define success? This session will explore how emerging tools like GIPHY are helping brands measure cultural velocity, not just impressions. Messaging offers a new form of opt-in engagement, where search and share data provide valuable insight into what users want your brand to mean. Performance here isn’t about persuasion or conversion, but participation, and that’s a more powerful signal than a swipe or a skip.

  Mon 10/6 • 6:50AM EDT30minIn person

• The Fandom Advantage: How Strategies Can Fuel Brand Growth

  Creativity Stage

  • Content & Pop Culture

  • Daisy BoatengHead of Global Brand Engagement – iT CosmeticsL'Oreal
  • Dennis ClausVP StrategyApply Digital
  • Stephanie RogersEVP, MarketingSan Francisco 49ers

  This session explores how sports fandom provides a model for brands to move beyond transactional loyalty and foster true fans. We’ll discuss insight from our research that reveals how embracing fandom principles such as community, identity, gamification, recognition, and personalization allows consumer brands to unlock deeper engagement and lasting advocacy – particularly among Gen Z, who expect authenticity, interactivity, and participation.

  Mon 10/6 • 12:50PM EDT30minIn person