The Future of Diverse-Owned Media
Sponsored by
boon
Details
Date
Thu, Oct 17
Time
9:15AM – 10:00AM
Stage
Impact stage
Address
Spring Studios
50 Varick St,
New York, NY 10013
Speakers & Moderators
CEO & Founder, ReachTV
EVP, Commercial Strategy, My Code
This discussion explores the pivotal role Black leaders play in shaping the future of Agency Holding Companies and influencing long-term corporate strategies. Black representation in the boardroom is not just about diversity—it’s a critical driver of corporate performance, governance, and sustainability. We are proud to convene a distinguished panel of Black Board Directors who are at the forefront of transforming corporate leadership and fostering inclusive, innovative business practices.
This Blackweek discussion is proudly sponsored by P&G. We’re grateful for their generous support and commitment to right-sizing industries to help create more opportunity for equity and ownership.
The Power of Cultural Reinvention—How Diverse Creators are Taking Over Talk
boon
Details
Date
Wed, Oct 16
Time
9:50AM – 10:35AM
Stage
Impact stage
Address
Spring Studios
50 Varick St,
New York, NY 10013
Speakers & Moderators
Shannon Sharpe
3X Super Bowl Champion & Pro Football Hall of Famer
Joy Allen-Altimare
CMO, Saucony
Aaron Walton
CEO, Walton Isaacson
Shannon Sharpe has gone from Hall of Fame Football star to Hall of Fame Youtuber. His recent interview with Katt Williams shut down the internet. In this fireside chat moderated by Joy Allen-Altimare, CMO of Saucony, we will examine the growing trend of Black-hosted talk shows, podcasters, and pundits. We will examine why this is becoming so lucrative and why it’s so popular amongst diverse influencers, celebrities, and athletes.
Egbavwe Pela
Egbavwe
Pela
boon
Egbavwe leads media strategy and strategic innovation for some of CMI Media Group’s largest clients. He has over 20 years of media experience across multiple industries including retail, higher education, and pharma. He has focused on media transformation through innovative thinking and a data driven approach for scaling and optimizing media plans. This has included working across many HCP and patient/consumer audiences including oncology, HIV, respiratory, immunology, and vaccines. Egbavwe also leads the CMI Media Group Inclusive Media Center of Excellence, which helps the company’s clients to ensure they are reaching all audiences where and how they want to be reached.
More Speakers
More Speakers
Jerri DeVard
Jerri
DeVard
boon
Jerri is the former Executive Vice President and Chief Customer Officer of Office Depot, Inc., responsible for the P&L for e-commerce, customer service, all marketing functions, data & analytics, communications, and events, having previously served as its Chief Marketing Officer. She has more than 30 years of extensive marketing and leadership experience at large global brands. Prior to Office Depot, she served as Chief Marketing Officer of The ADT Corporation, a leading provider of home and business security services. Prior to that, Jerri served as Executive Vice President, CMO for Nokia based in Helsinki and London. Additionally, she held senior marketing roles as SVP at Verizon Communications, CMO at Citibank, VP at Revlon, VP at Harrah’s Entertainment, at the NFL and at General Mills, formerly the Pillsbury Company. Jerri is an Economics graduate of Spelman College, where she served as a member of the Board of Trustees and received her MBA from Clark Atlanta University Graduate School of Business.
She currently serves as a director on the boards of Dow, one of the world’s largest materials science companies; Under Armour Inc., the global athletic performance and innovation brand; cars.com, a leading digital marketplace that connects car shoppers with sellers; and Root Insurance, a disruptive digital company utilizing AI to provide auto insurance. Jerri previously served on the boards of ServiceMaster, Belk, Gurwitch Products, Tommy Hilfiger, and the advisory board of Pepsico.
More Speakers
More Speakers
Broken Promises
boon
Details
Date
Wed, Oct 16
Time
9:00AM – 9:45AM
Stage
Breakthrough stage
Address
Spring Studios
50 Varick St,
New York, NY 10013
Speakers & Moderators
Philonise Floyd
Activist, Brother of George Floyd
Tru Pettigrew
Author, Activist, Former Chief Diversity Officer, Minnesota Timberwolves
Aaron Walton
CEO, Walton Isaacson
It’s been over four years since the murder of George Floyd and the subsequent promises made by corporate America. In this impactful conversation, George Floyd’s brother, Philonise Floyd, will discuss his ongoing efforts to continue his brother’s legacy and the critical need for brands to uphold their commitments, as the future of our country may depend on it.
Michael Kassan
Michael
Kassan
boon
Kassan founded MediaLink in 2003 to be a transformational partner to the world’s leading media, marketing, and technology companies. Bringing these groups together while balancing strategic insight with pragmatic execution, MediaLink guides its clients through an increasingly fragmented media landscape.
Drawing on a combination of experience, relationships, and insights, Kassan writes extensively as a noted blogger and serves frequently as a moderator and keynote speaker at global industry conferences. He has built instrumental partnerships with the Consumer Electronics Show and the Cannes Lions. He also produces and hosts a radio show on WOR 710 AM and Clear Channel’s iHeartRadio, “Medialinked — Inside Advertising and Media with Michael Kassan.”
Kassan currently serves as Chair of the UJA-New York Marketing Communications Committee as well as on the Boards of the American Advertising Federation, the Ad Council, and the Hollywood Radio and Television Society. He served as Chairman of the California State Senate Select Committee on the Entertainment Industry.
More Speakers
More Speakers
Amy Lanzi
Amy
Lanzi
boon
Amy Lanzi is the CEO of Digitas North America. She’s focused on delivering new solutions for Digitas clients, tapping into the agency’s Creative, Media, Data and Technology expertise. Her ability to connect products and services, infused with driving what Digitas coins as “Networked Experiences,” she is leading the agency forward in the next generation of growth. Before joining Digitas, she was Chief Operating Officer of Publicis Commerce, a full-stack, purpose-built unit of 10,000+ commerce experts worldwide. During her tenure, she played an instrumental role in notable acquisitions such as Profitero and CitrusAd; contributed to some of the holding company’s biggest new business wins; was key driver behind some of Publicis Groupe’s most important commerce-focused partnerships with platforms such as TikTok and Snap; developed unique Power of One commerce solutions for the holding company’s largest clients; and launched a dedicated Commerce Advisory Board, comprised of client members from over 20 brands. Today, she remains Chairperson of Publicis Commerce in addition to her role as CEO of Digitas, NA.
Amy is widely respected in the industry and has been recognized across honors such as Adweek 50; She Runs It “Working Mother of the Year”; Path to Purchase Institute’s “Executive of the Year” and “Industry Impact” winner; and Campaign US’s “Female Frontier” and “Digital 40 Over 40” Awards. She is also a 2023 Creative Commerce Lions juror for the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity and served as President of the Creative Commerce Jury in 2024. Most recently, Campaign US’s “Agency Leader of the Year” award in 2024.
Prior to joining Publicis, Amy spent 20+ years at Omnicom’s TPN, where she helped grow the company from a team of 30 to 350 and expanded its presence to include offices in Chicago, San Francisco, Bentonville, and London.