Eric Austin is a brand building marketing executive at Procter & Gamble with 20+ years of experience. He has developed some of the world’s most successful, global billion-dollar brands in the US and abroad in Europe including Pantene, Head & Shoulders, Wella Koleston, Braun, Olay and others.

Throughout his career, Eric has gained a broad range of experiences across the Marketing and IT landscape which includes initiative management, consumer insights, data & analytics, product design & market delivery, data & analytics, marketing strategy, digital & ecommerce systems, creative ad development, enterprise strategy and platform development.

Beyond marketing, Eric is a media maven with deep expertise in leading disruptive innovation, accelerating media productivity for the world’s largest advertiser. He’s a recognized expert in the media & AdTech industry and an advocate for driving equality and inclusion across the media ecosystem. Eric has developed industry award winning programs such as THE TALK, THE LOOK, #TalkAboutBias,THE CHOICE, Widen The Screen, Queen Collective, 846 Films, These Hands and others, which sheds light on systemic bias and facilitates equitable solutions for P&G, the media industry, and beyond.

Outside of work, you will find Eric cheering on his 2 boys, nurturing friendships, staying active, and enjoying life with his wife.

Tope Ajala is a Global Impact and Culture Strategist and podcast host known for pushing boundaries at the intersection of equity, leadership, and innovation. With more than a decade of experience spanning marketing, operations, and change management, she brings a cross-functional lens to embedding culture into business strategy.

At Ogilvy, Tope led initiatives like the Modern Exchange and global leadership programs, including the industry’s first executive development program for Black men. Her work has reached more than 100,000 employees worldwide through bespoke Belonging trainings and global supplier diversity councils.

Tope’s early career in data systems, operations and strategy included overseeing mergers and acquisitions, optimizing business systems, and building data-informed solutions for both people and finance functions. Today, as Founder of Levelset, Saif-Hands, and To A Tee, she continues to shape inclusive ecosystems and amplify underrepresented voices.

She is also the host of a podcast that explores the intersections of leadership, identity, and purpose, creating space for bold, human-centered conversations. Outside of work, she is a mental health advocate, active volunteer, and avid traveler who finds balance through surfing, reading, and yoga.

Nicky Sparrow is a gifted marketing executive whose business instincts and vision in the field of broadcast marketing have been recognized throughout the industry. Durning her 25-year span with iHeart Media (formally Clear Channel), Nicky has held several senior leadership roles. Nicky is now the EVP of Multicultural Sales at iHeart Media.

In her role, Sparrow is responsible for leading multicultural ad sales revenue leveraging iHeartMedia’s unparalleled assets including radio, digital, podcasting and events. This includes The Steve Harvey Show, The Breakfast Club, Way Up With Angela Yee, Mi Cultura, Enrique Santos Show, Pride Radio, The Black Effect, The Black Information Network, and more. Sparrow applies her deep knowledge of multicultural audiences and strong relationships with multicultural ad agencies and brands to build, drive, influence and execute strategic multicultural initiatives across the iHeartMedia sales organization.

Nicky is distinguished by her passion for business, her focus on collaborative team building, and her commitment to meeting customer and market demands. Her contagious enthusiasm instills her and her team members with extraordinary energy and dedication in an environment where creativity and innovation are encouraged. Nicky does not just set these ambitious goals … she motivates people to deliver.

Nicky’s passion for the industry has extended outside of the walls of iHeart Media. She has been a major contributed for the Media Sales Institute since 2005. M.S.I. is geared to college graduates and career changers interested in the media industry. Nicky also serves on the Florida Association of Broadcasters and Radio Advertising Bureau boards.

Nicky Sparrow’s passion for giving back runs deep. She serves on the board of St Jude (fighting childhood cancer) and First Tee of North Florida (teaching core values through the game of golf).

Gabrielle Shirdan is Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Kitchen Table, a full service creative agency built so all brands have a seat, creating work for the culture from within the culture. She’s received recognition from Adweek, Ad Age and the Ad Council for her creative leadership.