Campaigns & Creativity

Sessions

• The Future of Creativity: Curiosity, Craft, and Courage in the Age of AI

  Creativity Stage

  • Campaigns & Creativity

  • Benjamin ParisotHead of Brand Design≈åURA
  • Nishat AkhtarChief Creative OfficerInstrument

  Creativity today is being redefined-not just by AI, but by how we make, learn, and share. Being best-in-class isn’t about shortcuts, but the courage to try, commit, refine, and value process as much as product. In this fireside chat, Instrument CCO Nishat Akhtar and ≈åURA’s Head of Brand Design, Benjamin Parisot, explore the tension AI creates-efficiency for business, imagination for creatives-and the opportunity to combine both with authenticity, taste, and a relentless willingness to learn.

  Thu 10/9 • 5:30AM EDT30minIn person

• The GenAI Creative Revolution: What Every Brand Needs to Know Now

  Creativity Stage

  • Campaigns & Creativity

  • Aarti BhaskaranGlobal Head of Research and InsightsSnap Inc.
  • Hannah WardSenior Creative StrategistSnap Inc.
  • Kara LouisHead of Global Agency ResearchSnap Inc.
  • Matthias RothenseeChief Scientific Officereye square GmbH
  • Scott EverettHead of Design/StudioPMG

  Generative AI is moving from buzzword to business driver. Backed by fresh research among 14,800+ consumers and marketers, Snapchat, eye square, and PMG will show how AI-powered video ads and AR Lenses deliver stronger attention, build brand trust, and boost campaign performance. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn practical strategies for leveraging AI into your marketing toolkit – without losing the human spark behind creativity!

  Thu 10/9 • 6:10AM EDT30minIn person

• Why Some Topics Demand Advertising That Breaks the Rules

  Creativity Stage

  • Campaigns & Creativity

  • Jessea HankinsCreative DirectorDuncan Channon
  • Jessica WyattCreative DirectorDuncan Channon

  Public health messaging has long relied on fear and tragedy, but that doesn’t always move the needle, and not every cause can be served by playing it safe. In this session, lead creatives from Duncan Channon unpack the risks and bold strategic choices behind the Facts Fight Fentanyl campaign launched for the California Department of Public Health, showing why sometimes the only way to cut through fear, stigma, and misinformation is to break from traditional PSAs.

  Presented by

  Thu 10/9 • 6:50AM EDT30minIn person

• From Oops to OMG; How a TikTok Mishap Sparked Sweet Loren’s Success

  Creativity Stage

  • Campaigns & Creativity

  • Loren Brill CastleFounder & CEOSweet Loren's
  • Ryan WeitzSocial Content Creator & Digital Media CoordinatorSweet Loren's

  Join Loren Brill Castle, founder and CEO of Sweet Loren’s, in conversation with digital media coordinator Ryan Weitz to explore the brand’s swift pivots and creative approach to a recent TikTok naming mishap that resulted in millions of views, a massive sales jump and huge increase in followers. It’s a Sweet Loren’s + RYAN collab.

  Presented by

  Thu 10/9 • 7:30AM EDT30minIn person

• From CX to BX: Designing Branded Experiences That Resonate in the Age of AI

  Creativity Stage

  • Campaigns & Creativity

  • Jill CressChief Marketing and Experience OfficerH&R Block
  • Bethany EppnerVP, Head of Global Business MarketingFandom
  • Tom AjelloSenior PartnerLippincott

  In an era where AI is reshaping not only how we operate but how we connect, the shift from Customer Experience (CX) to Branded Experience (BX) is more than semantics-it’s a strategic imperative. This fusion-what we call “BX”-is the defining paradigm for 2026. Join Tom Ajello, Senior Partner at Lippincott, Jill Cress, Chief Experience & Marketing Officer at H&R Block and Bethany Eppner, Head of Global Business Marketing at Fandom as they bring this transformation to life.

  Thu 10/9 • 8:10AM EDT30minIn person

• Win the Internet & Create Content People Actually Want to Share

  Creativity Stage

  • Campaigns & Creativity

  • Amanda McArthurVP Client Strategy, Brand PartnershipsDoing Things
  • Drew GuariniDirector of Creative Strategy, Brand PartnershipsDoing Things
  • Edward StockwellCreative Director, Brand PartnershipsDoing Things

  Memes aren’t just content-they’re a cultural language. A 2024 study by Doing Things and Kantar found memes rank #2 among A18–24 for most-enjoyed online content. In this interactive session, the team behind Overheard, Recess Therapy, and MiddleClassFancy will unpack the anatomy of memes and viral video, decode what drives shareability, and guide attendees through hands-on exercises to create authentic, trend-savvy content that builds community and drives impact.

  Presented by

  Thu 10/9 • 8:50AM EDT30minIn person

• Beyond Coke vs Pepsi: How Dr Pepper Created a Third Way to Win

  Creativity Stage

  • Campaigns & Creativity

  • Drew PanayiotouChief Marketing OfficerKeurig Dr Pepper
  • Jason HarrisCo-Founder, CEOMekanism

  In a cola showdown few thought possible, Dr. Pepper surged past Pepsi in market share to become the number 2 in the cola wars, proving that bold strategy, foresight, and relentless creativity can topple even the most entrenched rivals.

  At the helm of this rise is Drew Panayiotou, CMO of Keurig Dr Pepper-a marketing leader known for being future-ready before the rest of the industry catches on. From pioneering Disney’s Magic Band to reshaping Best Buy into a digital-first retailer to now steering Dr. Pepper and Peet’s Coffee

  Presented by

  Thu 10/9 • 9:30AM EDT30minIn person

• Creative Risk Meets Real Results: Fidium’s Journey

  Creativity Stage

  • Campaigns & Creativity

  • Kelly MertesdorfSVP Creative StrategyBray & Co
  • Meghan WoodliefVP, MarketingFidium
  • Peter BrayExecutive Creative DirBray & Co
  • Peter SternbergDirector, Consumer MarketingFidium

  Join the senior marketers from Fidium and creative hot-shop Bray & Co as they share how their partnership has in a short time produced record results for the Fidium business, all centered around a creative approach that broke the category mold and produced one of the most effective campaigns of the year.

  Presented by

  Thu 10/9 • 10:10AM EDT30minIn person

• Creator Collision Course: How to Scale Without Compromising Quality and Safety

  Creativity Stage

  • Campaigns & Creativity

  • Emmy LiedermanAnalystEMARKETER
  • Freddy DabaghiChief Transformation OfficerCrispin
  • Mark MamoneCEO and Co FounderVwD
  • Mimi SillahInfluencer marketing specialist and creator @mimimoments_

  The business of influence is no longer confined to social feeds. Creators are jumping from social to securing bigger deals in culture. As creators continue to infiltrate all aspects of marketing, we look at the business of influence and its impact on top-of-the-funnel brand storytelling. And what the playbook looks like for brands and agencies so they are equipped with the tools and knowledge to successfully scale without compromising creativity, brand safety, and performance.

  Presented by

  Thu 10/9 • 10:50AM EDT30minIn person

• Soundtracking Memory: The Power of Nostalgia in Music & Marketing

  Creativity Stage

  • Campaigns & Creativity

  • Christine BilichVP Catalog Development – Creative ServicesWarner Chappell Music
  • Nick JekyllCEOParadise Agency

  Why does a song from 20 years ago still spark instant emotion – and why are brands tapping into that more than ever? This 30 minute panel brings together Warner Chappell Music and Paradise to explore how nostalgia has become one of the most powerful tools in modern marketing.

  Thu 10/9 • 11:30AM EDT30minIn person

• Designing Experiences That Stick: How Autodesk Turns Ideas Into Impact:

  Creativity Stage

  • Campaigns & Creativity

  • Katie IngramDirector of EuropeAdvertising Week
  • Jesse Harrington AuSenior Experience StrategistAutodesk

  At Autodesk, design isn’t just about the software, it’s about the experiences that bring bold ideas to life. Jesse Harrington Au, Senior Experience Strategist, has spent his career creating immersive activations that translate complex concepts into stories people can see, feel, and connect with.

  In this conversation, Jesse will share how Autodesk is blending creativity with data-driven strategy to shape conferences, trade shows, and pop-ups that resonate long after the event ends. From turning technical details into human stories to building programs that inspire adoption and community, this session explores what it takes to create experiences that truly move people, and brands forward.

  Presented by

  Thu 10/9 • 12:10PM EDT15minIn person

• Leveling Up: Authenticity, Identity, and the Future of Fandom

  Creativity Stage

  • Campaigns & Creativity

  • Katie IngramDirector of EuropeAdvertising Week
  • Indy KhabraCo-Founder & Co-CEOLivewire

  Gaming is no longer a niche pastime, it’s a cultural crossroads where music, sport, entertainment, and storytelling collide. In this conversation, Indy Khabra of Livewire walks us through how gaming is driving cultural convergence, the real value of in-game engagement, and why identity is still the underestimated frontier (hello, Gamer.ID). We’ll also dive into what makes gaming partnerships authentic (no stunts, please), how blending IP with leagues like the NFL enriches both sides, and how Indy’s journey building a global gaming marketing leader has taught him the power of community, iteration, and bold vision.

  Thu 10/9 • 12:25PM EDT15minIn person