Industry Disruptors

Sessions

• Welcome to the Agent Economy: The Rise of Agentic Marketing

  Innovation Stage

  • Industry Disruptors

  • Steven Wolfe PereiraCo-Founder & Chief Growth OfficerSymmetri

  The Internet era as we know it is over. Enter the age of autonomous AI agents that generate revenue while you sleep. This session unveils how specialized marketing agents are creating a new economic model where AI workforces outperform human teams 10:1. Learn why enterprises are shifting budgets from software to agent infrastructure, how agent networks compound value through collaboration, and why brands building agent workforces today will dominate tomorrow.

  Mon 10/6 • 5:40AM EDT30minIn person

• Making marketing more human in the age of AI

  Innovation Stage

  • Industry Disruptors

  • Alice McKownPublisher & Chief Revenue OfficerThe Atlantic
  • Elizabeth MaxsonChief Marketing OfficerContentful

  In an era being shaped by AI and automation, truly differentiated marketing will start by putting people, rather than technology, at the center. Join this fireside chat featuring Elizabeth Maxson, CMO of Contentful, and Alice McKown, Publisher of The Atlantic as they discuss how leading teams are amplifying creativity, mastering operational discipline, and closing the optimism–execution gap, while navigating stack sprawl, privacy, and the challenges of infinite content.

  Mon 10/6 • 6:20AM EDT30minIn person

• Searching for More: How Hyundai improved performance on Google with Agentic AI

  Innovation Stage

  • Industry Disruptors

  • Nikhil LaiSenior AnalystForrester
  • Costanza GhelfiCPOMaking Science
  • Jason DownieCRO AI TechnologyMaking Science
  • Marta MartinezManaging Director Americas, Google Marketing PlatformGoogle
  • Sean GilpinCMOHyundai Motors America

  The world of search is changing dramatically, moving beyond simple text queries. This evolution, coupled with marketing fragmentation and siloed teams, challenges CMOs. But Agentic AI offers a new path forward, bringing brands like Hyundai to the forefront of this new search era. Discover how, alongside Google, Hyundai, Making Science, and Forrester, Agentic AI unifies media, scales creativity, and ensures brand safety, enabling brands to adapt and thrive in the dynamic world of search.

  Mon 10/6 • 7:00AM EDT30minIn person

• The Future of Gameplay, Powered by Microsoft

  Innovation Stage

  • Industry Disruptors

  • Jonathan StringfieldVP Global Business Strategy, Analytics & TrustMicrosoft Advertising
  • Jeff MinskyVice President, Ai & Marketing FuturesAssociation of National Advertisers | ANA

  Gaming is rapidly becoming the defining cultural force of a generation, blurring boundaries between entertainment, community, and commerce. With Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard and the global influence of Xbox, the future of play will reshape how people connect, create, and experience brands.

  Mon 10/6 • 7:40AM EDT30minIn person

• Independence, Creativity and Innovation: A Masterclass on Modern Leadership

  Innovation Stage

  • Industry Disruptors

  • Katie KempnerFounder, Creator and Host, "Perspectives with Katie Kempner"Kempner Communications
  • Kimberly JonesPresident + CEOButler/Till
  • Joanna JordanCEO and FounderCentral Talent Booking
  • Katy HornadayCEOBarkleyOKRP
  • Meredith GlansbergCEOquip

  In this candid conversation, hosted by Advertising Week partner podcast creator, Katie Kempner (Perspectives with Katie Kempner), top CEOs from across brands, advertising and media will share the most important lessons they’ve learned about leading through a lens of creativity, innovation and independence. Hear how they ignite passion, drive engagement, and empower their teams in bold, highly effective – and some unexpected – ways. Leave inspired, challenged and energized to bring these ideas back to your own organization.

  Presented by

  Mon 10/6 • 8:20AM EDT30minIn person

• Culture as Compass – Wood Harris’ Journey from Hollywood to 8tivLabs

  Innovation Stage

  • Industry Disruptors

  • Mic FoxCSO8tivLabs
  • Wood HarrisCo-CEO8tivlabs

  Culture has always been Wood Harris’ compass-from shaping timeless roles in The Wire and Creed to his latest hit series Forever on Netflix. In this fireside chat, 8tivLabs CSO Mic Fox sits with Harris to explore how culture fueled his journey, guided his storytelling, and now drives his vision as Co-CEO of 8tivLabs. Together, they’ll reveal how he plans to harness culture to create powerful brand narratives that engage audiences young and old.

  Mon 10/6 • 9:00AM EDT30minIn person

• Brand Experiences at Scale Are The Ultimate ROI

  Innovation Stage

  • Industry Disruptors

  • Ruth MortimerCEOAdvertising Week
  • Amir SahbaFounder and Chief Executive OfficerThinkingbox

  The advertising landscape is being reshaped by a simple truth: every interaction is a brand experience. From a website to a campaign film to an in-person activation, audiences judge brands by how ideas are brought to life across every touchpoint. Success today requires more than big creative platforms. It’s collective impact through 100 touchpoints. This demands the ability to think strategically and deliver consistently at speed and scale.

  In this session, Amir Sahba, CEO of Thinkingbox, will explore why production has become the new strategy for modern marketers. He will show how digital experiences, content ecosystems, and real-world moments all work harder when strategy, creative, and production sit under one roof. CMOs will learn how to use technology to capture attention, why surrounding experiences with content and influencer storytelling extends cultural impact, and how tapping into passion points like sport, music, and entertainment can turn touchpoints into engines of growth.

  Presented by

  Mon 10/6 • 9:40AM EDT20minIn person

• Adding Trust to Your Ad Buy

  Innovation Stage

  • Industry Disruptors

  • Lori GoodeChief Marketing OfficerIndex Exchange
  • Suba VasudevanChief Operating OfficerMozilla

  Digital advertising is in flux. Privacy shifts and platform changes are challenging old formulas, while advertisers chase efficiency and real engagement. In this fireside chat, Mozilla COO Suba Vasudevan and Index Exchange CMO Lori Goode explain why trust is the overlooked lever for performance. They’ll share how trusted environments drive higher-quality attention, brand receptivity, and sustainable ROI – and why advertisers who embrace alternative models now will gain an edge as the industry resets.

  Mon 10/6 • 10:20AM EDT30minIn person

• NEO: How WBD is Redefining Buying Premium Video in the CTV Era

  Innovation Stage

  • Industry Disruptors

  • Cameron KoczonFounderFictive Kin
  • Huda KaziVP, Digital Ad Technology & OperationsWarner Bros. Discovery
  • Jasmine SheenaBusiness / Tech ReporterMarketing Brew
  • Mike TreonHead of CTV & VideoPMG

  The media buying landscape has become increasingly complex, crowded with intermediaries, hidden fees, and fragmentation that reduce ROI and efficiency for advertisers. Buyers and agencies have been clear in voicing the need for greater transparency, streamlined planning, and measurable results. Listening to the market, WBD took this feedback and moved quickly: developing a prototype and building NEO, a next-generation automated media buying solution.

  Mon 10/6 • 11:00AM EDT30minIn person

• The Playbook Is Dead: Marketing Rebuilt by AI

  Innovation Stage

  • Industry Disruptors

  • Scott HoweChief Executive OfficerLiveRamp

  Advertising isn’t just evolving-it’s resetting. AI has collapsed the funnel, fractured the consumer journey, and shifted power from platforms to algorithms. In this reset era, presence in the prompt is everything, and only those bold enough to rethink the old playbook will earn their place.

  Join LiveRamp CEO Scott Howe to explore how AI is rewriting the rules, why data is the essential fuel, and what it takes to win today while preparing for tomorrow.

  Presented by

  Mon 10/6 • 11:40AM EDT30minIn person

• Impactful Partnerships: Bridging Brands & Consumers through HCPs

  Innovation Stage

  • Industry Disruptors

  • Andrea PalmerCEOPublicis Health Media
  • Bayo Curry-WinchellMedical Director Saint Mary‚Äôs Urgent Care and Host of the Beyond Clinical Walls PodcastSaint Mary‚Äôs Urgent Care
  • Samantha SkeyCEOSHE Media

  In a world where misinformation is rampant and trust is fragile, healthcare professionals have become some of the most credible and sought-after voices online. Explore how HCPs are becoming influential content creators and community builders, offering women’s health and pharma brands a credible & engaging way to connect with consumers. Join us as SHE Media brings together leaders in publishing, healthcare, and advertising to discuss responsible collaboration that drives awareness, education, and impact.

  Mon 10/6 • 12:20PM EDT30minIn person