As AI and conversational platforms reshape how people search, shop, and engage, the open web as we know it may be coming to an end. This panel brings together leaders in advertising, publishing, and technology to explore what this seismic shift means for the industry. From the future of programmatic models to the role of diverse data in driving authentic engagement, panelists will debate how advertising can adapt—and what true success will look like—in a conversational world.

The modern career woman isn’t a title—it’s a movement. She is asked to be visionary and vulnerable, strategist and caretaker, relentless and resilient—all at once. And unlike her male counterparts, she is expected to climb higher while carrying heavier loads: battling bias, navigating inequity, and constantly proving what should already be assumed.

Yet today’s female leaders are proving that true impact isn’t born from compromise—it’s born from redefinition. They are dismantling outdated rules of ambition, showing that purpose and power can coexist. They are transforming boardrooms, brands, and communities by turning ambition into access, values into velocity, and personal purpose into collective progress.

This panel is both celebration and charge: a conversation with women who aren’t just facing greater challenges, but are rewriting the very meaning of leadership in spite of them.

In today’s rapidly shifting landscape, creativity isn’t confined to job titles. At VML, inclusive storytelling is shaped by voices across disciplines — from campaign creators to the builders of ideas, systems, and strategies who are actively opening pathways for talent. This discussion will explore how to authentically reflect underrepresented voices, navigate the evolving role of AI, and design opportunities that empower the next generation. Attendees will leave inspired to view creativity as a shared responsibility and a powerful driver of innovation and growth, with tangible insights into how leaders embed inclusivity into their work and collaborate to shape a more representative, future-ready industry.

Representation was the first step. Now, Lena Waithe pushes the conversation further—toward ownership, impact, and legacy. In a cultural moment where hard-won progress feels fragile, she challenges us to ask: what will we leave behind, and how will our voices shape the future? Waithe makes the case that raising the stakes in our storytelling is not just important, it is essential for survival in times of division and erasure.

What does it mean to be Black in America during one of the most polarizing political moments in modern history? In this candid fireside chat, journalist Don Lemon sits down with NAACP President & CEO Derrick Johnson to examine the state of Black America in the Trump era. Together, they’ll unpack the political, cultural, and social realities facing Black communities—from civil rights rollbacks to rising activism—and explore how resilience, advocacy, and collective power can shape a more just future.

When Black beauty founders sell their companies to major corporations, they’re often accused of “selling out.” Meanwhile, white founders making the same moves are praised as savvy entrepreneurs. In this candid conversation, Omar Goff, President of Mielle Organics, and Monique Rodriguez, Founder & CEO of Mielle Organics, unpack the double standards Black founders face, the cultural weight of ownership, and what it really means to scale without losing authenticity. Together, they’ll explore how leveling up through strategic partnerships can empower brands, expand access, and strengthen legacies—challenging the narrative that growth comes at the expense of community.

Before Ashton Hall began dunking his face in Saratoga Water, the brand—like many in the crowded beverage market—was an afterthought. Today, it’s a case study in how unconventional influencer partnerships can breathe new life into legacy products. In this talk, Primo Brands CMO Kherri Holland Tillman explores how Saratoga has benefited from putting its brand in the hands of creators, what risks and rewards come with leaning on influencer-driven storytelling, and whether this alternative approach could redefine the future of brand building.

As artificial intelligence becomes the lens through which we create, consume, and communicate, what happens to the cultural nuances that make us human? In this riveting talk, we will examine how data bias in large language models risks flattening diverse voices, erasing context, and diluting the richness of global cultures. How it challenges us to confront who controls the data, whose stories are centered, and what’s at stake if algorithms become the gatekeepers of culture. With clarity and urgency, calls for building AI that preserves—not erases—the depth and diversity of humanity.

Coming soon.

This conversation will explore the deep ties between financial well-being and physical health, addressing the economic cost of health disparities, how preventive care functions as financial planning, and why investing in health is one of the most powerful drivers of long-term wealth.