Marketplace Stage

Join BTR Media, Spurrier Group, and Garden of Life as they share how AI is transforming advertising by helping brands better understand and connect with their audiences. This panel will explore how AI uncovers real consumer personas and behaviors, enabling advertisers to deliver more relevant content, optimize creative in real time, and scale campaigns with precision. Learn how a shift from campaign-centric to consumer-centric advertising drives authentic engagement, stronger connections, and smarter results.

SMBs face rising ad costs, shrinking reach, and cookie deprecation making customer acquisition harder. As inflation impacts spending, they need new revenue streams.

Mark Grether, SVP of PayPal Ads, will explore how PayPal is reimagining advertising by turning SMBs into both ad buyers and publishers. Using transaction insights, PayPal’s tools like Storefront Ads create an ecosystem where small businesses can monetize sites and acquire customers with precision.

Sports fandom is changing fast, and Barrick Prince, Founder of Creator Sports Network (CSN), is at the center of it. Built for a global audience that doesn’t watch cable but lives on creator platforms, CSN is redefining what it means to experience live sports.

In this conversation, Barrick shares how CSN empowers creators to become the new broadcasters, bringing energy, storytelling, and culture to sports in a way that connects with today’s fans. From the network’s partnership with Brazilian S√©rie A to its proprietary Hive platform, he’ll explore how CSN bridges sports, entertainment, and technology – creating new opportunities for creators, leagues, and fans around the world.

Asani Swann has spent more than 20 years building bridges between sports, entertainment, and culture. Now, as Co-Founder of VII(N) The Seventh Estate, she’s bringing that same innovative spirit to the world of wine – redefining what leadership, inclusivity, and brand storytelling look like in a centuries-old industry.

In this conversation, Asani shares her journey from sports executive to vintner and entrepreneur, the vision behind VII(N), and how she’s using business as a force for connection and cultural representation. From partnerships with global brands to building a modern wine company rooted in purpose, Asani offers an inside look at how passion, strategy, and authenticity can create something timeless.

Kolkata Chai Co. turned a family tradition into a cultural movement-one cup at a time. Hear how this NY favorite built a brand with soul. This panel dives into the art of storytelling, connecting with local communities, and turning cultural capital into conversion.

In today’s viral-driven world, it’s easy to confuse fleeting attention with lasting impact. In this keynote, David Meltzer-Chairman of the Napoleon Hill Institute, Entrepreneur, and Investor-shares how to build a brand that outlives trends and thrives beyond vanity metrics. Drawing on decades of experience, he reveals why true success comes from purpose, consistency, and long-term value creation-helping leaders and creators focus on legacy over likes.

Creators can do more than influence what we buy; they can influence how we work. This conversation will showcase how to apply best practices from creator content to the B2B space on key issues facing the industry, including a critical shift to champion skills-first hiring. Join the organizations leading the “Tear the Paper Ceiling” movement to discover how the right messengers can drive meaningful business transformation and create opportunity by sharing their stories first-hand.

Amazon Ads reveals new research on how local streaming trends align with purchase intent across the U.S. Unpack how neighborhood-level data-from what shows are trending to what people are shopping for-can inform smarter targeting and creative for SMB campaigns.

Sometimes the most powerful influencers in modern marketing are the ones that feel like your neighbor, your barber, your bodega guy. This panel will explore how centering real, hyper-local individuals can turn a campaign into a citywide movement, why relatability now beats celebrity, and how many small stories can add up to something massive. From street interviews to longform storytelling, learn how embracing authenticity and leaning into locality can be a key strategy for relevance, connection, and cultural staying power.

Join Spectrum Reach and Amazon Ads as they showcase how their ground breaking partnership is revolutionizing addressable advertising through premium, brand-safe content. Following their NAB launch and Cannes success stories, this session explores how the fusion of authenticated household signals and critically acclaimed programming is setting new standards for advertiser success. From Prime Video’s award-winning originals to Spectrum Reach’s live sports and trusted local news, learn how superior reach and premium content are creating unprecedented opportunities for brands to connect with engaged audiences.

This 30-minute panel explores how generative AI, shifting discovery habits, and eroding referral traffic are forcing advertisers and publishers to rethink partnerships. Advertisers are increasingly looking for environments that provide trust, attention, and measurable outcomes. Publishers, meanwhile, are moving from scale-based models to loyalty-based strategies that deepen user relationships and surface new monetization opportunities.

Lyft Ads isn’t just connecting top brands with relevant moments – we’re creating them with exclusive, buzz-generating solutions that bridge digital to IRL, deliver product innovation to reach the right audiences and can only be found on Lyft. Join Lyft Ads Head of Sales, Shane Dwyer and brand representatives as they discuss the moments that propelled them to break through the noise and achieve their business goals.

TikTok is shaping a new frontier in marketing-one powered by compound intelligence, the synergy between human creativity and artificial intelligence. In this session, TikTok and NRG come together to unpack how this fusion redefines what’s possible for brands on the world’s most influential entertainment platform. Attendees will gain an exclusive look at consumer research conducted by NRG, revealing how audiences respond to AI-powered content on TikTok and why authenticity and creativity remain the core drivers of engagement.

What do BBC’s Bluey, the National Hockey League, and a motion technology startup have in common? They’re redefining what it means to play, and building loyal, multi-generational audiences along the way.

In this dynamic panel moderated by Google, Nex Playground Co-Founder & CEO David Lee joins leaders from BBC and the NHL to explore how beloved, established IPs are teaming up with innovative startups to create new forms of immersive, movement-based experiences to earn the trust of both parents and fans.

Modern consumer expectations don’t wait for enterprise transformation timelines. While traditional change management moves in years and quarters, cultural shifts happen in weeks and hours, creating an unprecedented challenge for today’s most iconic brands. A conversation with marketing executives from Alaska Airlines, General Motors, Brooks Running, and goop, all of whom are rewriting the playbook for enterprise transformation in the AI era.

Born entirely in the 21st century, Gen Alpha is the largest generation ever and the first generation to grow up fully immersed in digital technology, interactive media, and connection via social media from day one. They are shaping culture earlier than ever, influencing household purchasing decisions, and redefining how brands must show up in order to build trust and relevance.

What stirs the hearts and minds of Gen Alpha? Is it safe social media? Gaming? CTV? We’ll unpack it all in this session.

The data is clear: TV ads drive ROAS. Yet recently, a portion of TV’s legacy ad dollars have begun to divert to social & search. To open ourselves to a greater share of media spend & attract a new wave of advertisers, we must collaborate to unleash the best of media, data, & technology. On this panel, top execs will discuss the levers we need to pull to narrow the gap with big tech as we build the future of TV & premium video advertising: one that’s simple, smart, & accessible‚Ķ and works for brands & businesses of all sizes.

As the advertising industry continues to evolve, brands are increasingly looking for ways to push creative boundaries while achieving measurable business growth. Creative and media agencies have operated separately and together. What works best??

Today, it’s more important than ever to create engaging IRL experiences, and while Broadway is the OG of in-person magic, it’s getting an upgrade as it stretches experiential possibilities. Tony Award winner Hunter Johnson, the CEO of Xpedition-part marketing agency, part entertainment studio–co-produced two major theater smashes of 2025: Sunset Boulevard, starring Nicole Scherzinger, and the West End revival of Evita, with Rachel Zegler.

Go behind the scenes of Who Is Watson, Transmission’s debut original documentary, and hear how its creators turned a complex AI innovation into a pop culture milestone.

Join us as we unpack the pivotal brand storytelling strategy that made IBM’s Watson a household name, revealing how CMOs can take bold creative risks, leverage cultural platforms and shape narratives that break through in today’s oversaturated market.

Transformational change isn’t just possible-it’s probable according to Jacqueline Corbelli-pioneering AdTech founder, UN changemaker, and author of Changemaker: A Modern Playbook for Creating Personal Impact and Transformational Change. From revolutionizing TV advertising to tackling global challenges, Jacqueline shares her framework for turning bold ideas into real-world results and how anyone can ignite change in business & society. If you’ve ever wondered how you can make a difference, this session will show you the way.

As AI transforms marketing, Horizon Media is building, not buying, the future.

In this conversation, Domenic Venuto unveils how Blu, Horizon’s proprietary AI-native connected marketing platform, is redefining how brands plan, optimize, and measure campaigns in real time.

Reach alone no longer drives results. Marketers today must prove impact by combining first-party data with authentic customer connection to build lasting loyalty. This panel brings together leaders from sports, media, and consumer brands to explore how the next era of marketing is defined by authenticity, trust, and deeper engagement. Learn how brands are moving beyond impressions to strategies that win hearts, wallets, and long-term growth.

How do we define fame in a world where everyone is visible? In today’s scroll-speed attention economy, the value of fame has shifted. Visibility is no longer scarce, what matters is reaction. Fame isn’t just about being seen; it’s about being felt. And to be felt, fame needs friction.

From sunsets to passport stamps, travel creators make it look effortless – but the reality is far richer. This panel peels back the curtain on their secret lives: how they build trust, balance authenticity with brand deals, and turn wanderlust into business. Moderated by LOST iN co-founder Jon Skogmo (ex-Jukin Media of FailArmy), creators like Jeremy Jacobowitz (Brunch Boys), Marissa Meizz (No More Lonely Friends) and more share origin stories, brand partnerships, business strategies, and the realities you don’t see.

What really happens when journalists “go to the dark side” and become publicists-or move into adjacent fields like film or marketing? In this candid and insightful panel, former newsroom insiders reveal how their journalism background has shaped careers in PR, film, and business leadership.

This panel will share lessons from a Panera, Digitas, and Variety influencer-driven campaign around one of pop culture’s biggest nights with fashion, style, and croissants.

Every major societal institution has some sort of scam culture in its bones. Politics, religion, art, technology – and advertising is no exception. In fact, the business of marketing ironically has a questionable reputation in the greater world. Many consider it dishonest or inauthentic, but the profession also has the responsibility of fairly and effectively selling, for the growth of‚Ķ well, every other single business. So let’s explore the nature of scam culture, and where it lives (and doesn’t actually live) in marketing, and how to infuse integrity into your messaging to improve the future of all business.

Think you know Gen Z? Join Snapchat, Alter Agents, and BBDO’s platform-first, creator-led agency, Dobbino for a provocative discussion about Gen Z. New insights from 6000+ global GenZ consumers will be unveiled depicting how brands can genuinely connect with Gen Z by focusing on the values they actually care about, how they communicate, connect, and engage with the world daily. *Spoiler alert* out of touch displays of wealth are out and hard work, altruism, integrity, and community impact are in! Learn what brands must do to

In a landscape where everyone’s chasing cultural relevance, music remains the most immediate and emotionally resonant signal of what’s next. This fireside chat explores how brands can move beyond transactional media buys to build real equity by investing in the creators driving culture forward. With deep roots in cross-cultural music scenes and a platform built to spotlight emerging talent, SoundCloud offers advertisers a more authentic path into culture,especially with Gen Z and Gen Alpha audiences who engage with music as identity, not background noise.

Join Interpublic’s DEI & Social Impact team in conversation with Carol Haynesworth, Global Chair of the Women’s Leadership Network, as she previews the upcoming SheFront-debuting November 13 at IPG Mediabrands’s 5th Annual Equity Upfront‚Ñ¢. SheFront is a forum amplifying women’s power across every life stage, identity, and region, and will introduce four women-owned media platforms to brands ready to expand their investment in this audience.

Born in a Harlem apartment, now one of the Inc. 5000’s fastest-growing companies-Elite Media flips the script on what a creative agency can be. CEO Chris Crawford built a model rooted in win-wins – for culture, community and clients. From cutting first checks to local businesses, to reimagining schools through The Schoolys, to dropping $50K of agency money on the Keep it 100 Pitch Competition-Crawford proves advertising shouldn’t just be about campaigns when it has the ability to make real change that empowers people.

Previous year’s VAB panels on Retail Media were top sessions at AWNewYork. So this year, we’re back with fresh insights and forward-thinking strategies as Retail Media Networks continue to evolve. Learn how leading brands are leveraging next-gen retail partnerships and data-driven media activations to influence key mid-funnel metrics-like ad engagement, brand consideration, purchase intent, and consumer actions. Discover how to harness the full potential of Commerce Media in an increasingly outcome-focused world.

In-store retail media’s scale is here, and by this time next year, every major grocery retailer will have in-store retail media networks live or on their roadmap. Yet, many brands are still trying to figure out the basics including budget ownership, measurement, and creative execution.

Our panelists will shed light on how brands are leveraging in-store retail media today, the results for both endemic and non-endemic brands, and how brands can integrate in-store media into their strategy.

How modern CEOs are shaping tomorrow’s markets and navigating the toughest consumer markets in the industry. Marc Elrick CEO & Founder of BYOMA, Jackie Aina CEO & Co Founder of FORVR MOOD and Rachel Jonas Gilman CEO of Mane take the stage to share how their visionary brands are marketing to future consumers; rethinking the rules to win across multi-generational shoppers.

Commerce media is shifting from a tactical channel to a foundation for long-term growth. Leaders from Uber, Delta and LiveRamp will share how they’re building strategic partnerships focused on customer insights, loyalty, and shared growth. They’ll explore how commerce media and AI unlock intelligence beyond campaigns, helping brands prioritize lifetime value over cost-per-click. Join us to learn how they’re moving from transactional buying to true collaboration.

The backseat is becoming the new living room – a high-attention environment for entertainment, commerce, and advertising that extends reach without cannibalizing existing platforms. This session will explore the present and future state of mobility media and how investments in content at the center of consumer action are creating differentiated attention opportunities for content owners, brands and consumers.

The way people discover and shop has fundamentally changed and fragmented across social feeds, search queries, influencer content, and marketplaces. Moments of need now occur anytime, anywhere, especially during high-stakes seasons like the holidays, when urgency, impulse, and intent peak. Join leaders from DoorDash, Wolt, and The Magnum Ice Cream Company as they unpack how today’s most effective campaigns blend offsite reach, onsite conversion, and co-branded storytelling to drive measurable outcomes.

Retail media networks are maturing from single-channel advertising solutions to comprehensive marketing platforms, fundamentally transforming how brands connect with consumers. This session will explore how first-party retail data is redefining modern advertising, enabling brands to drive growth both on retail platforms and across the broader digital ecosystem, the critical role of measurement and incrementality in proving business impact, and why omnichannel strategies are no longer optional – but essential.

Today’s consumers expect personalized shopping experiences where their expectations for tailored, relevant and trustworthy digital content creates a strategic opportunity for brands to build genuine customer connection and, ultimately, brand growth. Amex Offers Digital Media is entering a new strategic space, leveraging its extensive first-party data, high-engagement properties and integrated payments model to drive precise targeting while preserving data privacy, helping brands build true connections with premium, digitally engaged, high-spending, and loyal customers. Hear strategic insights and compelling success stories from Amex leadership, along with a look to what’s ahead.

Precision at Scale: Unlocking the Future of Customer Connection: Data has reshaped the way brands connect with consumers, evolving how brands personalize experiences, foster long-term loyalty, and measure business impact. This conversation will explore the strategies shaping the next frontier of relevance, attribution, and value at scale as brands and advertisers meet the demands of a complex advertising landscape.

Commerce media is at a tipping point. What started in retail is now reshaping industries from travel to financial services, creating massive new revenue streams through first-party data, purchase intent signals, and fresh monetization models. In this exclusive session, Nicholas Ward (Koddi) and Nikhil Lai (Forrester) will debut new Forrester x Koddi research that benchmarks commerce media maturity and reveals the innovations separating leaders from laggards.

But this isn’t just research for research’s sake. We’ll translate the findings into a practical playbook of high-impact moves; the same kinds of strategies that have helped brands and publishers unlock billions in incremental revenue.

In this session, Marriott, Adobe and Publicis Sapient will unpack how their combined strengths-Real-Time CDP Collaboration, Adobe’s clean room solution and part of its wider customer data management offering, Marriott’s Travel Media Network and the services and strategy expertise from Publicis Sapient empower companies to activate commerce media in a simple yet differentiated way that drives business growth and sustained value.