Conference Agenda 2025

BrandSmart delivers a powerful showcase of mainstage and breakout session presentations featuring brand innovators, thought leaders, disruptors and transformers to explore the trends and tools shaping the future of branding.

This agenda is subject to change.

Thursday, April 24, 2025

REGISTER NOW
  • 9:00 – 9:25
  • Cathedral Hall

Registration & Continental Breakfast

WELCOME

WELCOME

Josh Blacksmith | President AMA Chicago | Head of Global Integrated Marketing, Experiences & Digital Transformation at Kimberly-Clark

Moving a Legacy Forward: How to Innovate While Staying True to Your Brand

Moving a Legacy Forward: How to Innovate While Staying True to Your Brand

Julie Giese | President, NASCAR Chicago Street Race

  • 10:00 - 10:25
  • Don Sohner & Chris Fallen
  • Cathedral Hall

Digital Transformation — Attributing KPIs to CTV

    Dan Sohner

    Associate Director, Client Investment, Starcom

      Chris Fallen

      Account Director, Viant

      Take the "Ick" Out of Networking

      Take the "Ick" Out of Networking

      Jan Kostner, Director of Membership, Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce

      Refreshment Break & Exhibits
      • 10:30 – 10: 45
      • Cathedral Hall & the 7th Floor

      Refreshment Break & Exhibits

      • 10:45 – 11:10
      • Cathedral Hall & the 7th floor rooms

      CONCURRENT SESSIONS

      Curiosity is the Key in B2B

      Curiosity is the Key in B2B

      Medline

      Measuring Brand-Building Advertising at the World's Largest Airline

      Measuring Brand-Building Advertising at the World's Largest Airline

      United Airlines

        Beyond the Buzzword: Building Brand Loyalty Through Diversity and Inclusion

        Beyond the Buzzword: Building Brand Loyalty Through Diversity and Inclusion

        VML

        • 11:25 – 11:50
        • Cathedral Hall & the 7th floor rooms

        CONCURRENT SESSIONS

        From Gridlock to Growth: Why Major Companies Have Stopped Growing—And How Marketers Can Fix It
        • John Sintras & Michael Farmer & Henry Innis
        • TBD

        From Gridlock to Growth: Why Major Companies Have Stopped Growing—And How Marketers Can Fix It

        Mutinex

        Transforming with Purpose: Actionable Strategies to Lead Ethical Digital Innovation

        Transforming with Purpose: Actionable Strategies to Lead Ethical Digital Innovation

        Severns Innovation Group, LLC

        3 Key Lessons that Drove Client Results and My Career

        3 Key Lessons that Drove Client Results and My Career

        Gary Kash Marketing Insights

        Networking Luncheon
        • 12:00 – 1:00
        • Cathedral Hall Only

        Networking Luncheon

        color photo bennie

          Bennie Johnson

          CEO, American Marketing Association

          • 1:00 – 1:25
          • To Be Announced
          • Cathedral Hall

          VML Sponsored Speaker

          • 1:40 – 2:05
          • Cathedral Room & 7th floor rooms

          CONCURRENT SESSIONS

          Redefining Relevance Through Innovation for a 500 Year Old Brand

          Redefining Relevance Through Innovation for a 500 Year Old Brand

          Gebrüder Weiss | Transport & Logistics Worldwide

          3 Things Marketers Must Do To Go From Data-Driven to Insight-Driven

          3 Things Marketers Must Do To Go From Data-Driven to Insight-Driven

          SAVA Consulting Group

          Beyond the Chatbot: 5 Game-Changing Strategies for AI Brand Success

          Beyond the Chatbot: 5 Game-Changing Strategies for AI Brand Success

          Authors

          Refreshment Break & Exhibits
          • 2:05 – 2:25
          • Cathedral Hall & the 7th floor

          Refreshment Break & Exhibits

          • 2:25 – 2:50
          • Cathedral Hall & the 7th floor rooms

          CONCURRENT SESSIONS

          Connecting Through Stories: Elevating Brand Impact in B2B Marketing

          Connecting Through Stories: Elevating Brand Impact in B2B Marketing

            HIMMS

            FritoLay - Influencer Marketing

            FritoLay - Influencer Marketing

              PepsiCo Foods North America

              Future Proofing Talent for Marketing Organizations

              Future Proofing Talent for Marketing Organizations

              Spencer Stuart

              The Role of Brand in a Crisis

              The Role of Brand in a Crisis

              Kary McIlwain |Chief Marketing & Communications Officer, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital

              Happy Hour — sponsored by Be Found Online
              • 3:45 – 4:45
              • Top Floor of University Club of Chicago

              Happy Hour — sponsored by Be Found Online

              GET TICKETS

              What BrandSmart Attendees Say

              The speakers and topics were great! Great job with the content!

              Liked the outline, the rhythm, the host. Dynamic event with short, concise talks.

              Loved that networking breaks had fun food stations. Whoever thought of that was brilliant.