Valerie Madden, Creative Director of Marketing Innovation, Amazon MGM Studios, Prime Video & NBC Universal Alum: With over two decades of experience in creative roles spanning Executive Creative Director, VP Creative to Art Director, Graphic Designer, Ms. Madden honed a leadership style blending Democratic, Servant, Strategic, and Transformational approaches. Passionate about creating content that inspires and connects, I've led teams to earn numerous industry awards and achieve multiple business goals. My expertise lies in overseeing all aspects of marketing campaigns, from initial strategy to final delivery, across various mediums including print, digital, and AV assets. She has worked on over 300 TV/streaming series, films, and podcasts for companies like; Amazon MGM Studios Prime Video (8.5 yrs), NBC (10 yrs), USA, Bravo, Syfy, CBS, ABC, Universal, Paramount, Warner Bros, Sony and Imagine Entertainement. Her experience extends beyond entertainment to industries like non-profits, education, spirituality, food, beverage, travel, hospitality, start-ups, and technology. Known for collaborative leadership and a performance-driven mindset, I bring creative excellence to every project, from conception to execution. Let's connect and explore exciting collaborations!

Melissa Bolton-Klinger is an award-winning DGA Director and Creative Director with an uncanny knack for grabbing audiences by the (eye)balls. She’s made her mark in the TV and Film industry, crafting commercials, content, and campaigns that are as engaging as they are unforgettable.  Her creative prowess is as expansive as her witty humor. Melissa trained at LA’s famed The Groundlings where she honed her “funny” and learned how to connect with performers and write on the fly. She recently picked up a Grand Clio for her work with the cast of Reno 911. It was very heavy.

Shannon Pruitt, Global Chief Marketing Officer, Stagwell Brand Performance Network: As the Global Chief Marketing Officer for Stagwell’s Brand Performance Network, Shannon draws on her extensive experience in delivering innovative marketing solutions across various industries like media, content, technology, sports, and entertainment. Her primary role involves supporting Stagwell’s portfolio of agencies by identifying new service offerings and opportunities aimed at driving revenue and success for both the agencies and their clients. Shannon's expertise stems from her involvement in all facets of consumer engagement, including brand management, publishing, agency work, and intellectual property rights. She specializes in designing and implementing strategic revenue streams, programs, and partnerships across verticals for clients and agencies alike. In 2023, Shannon spearhead Assembly Global’s Assembly Impact division. Under her leadership, the division launched initiatives such as "Partners for Progress," focused on supplier diversity and inclusion investment, and "Assembly Green," dedicated to sustainable environmental investment. Previously, Shannon served as Chief Marketing Officer for The Honest Company, where she played a pivotal role in reshaping the company's mission and expanding its product line. During her tenure, she transformed the brand's consumer experience, guiding it towards a more modern and measurable omni-channel approach. Before joining Stagwell and The Honest Company, Shannon held key positions at Dentsu, where she led initiatives in branded content and entertainment. She collaborated with Fortune 100 brands like GM, Xbox, P&G, and Fox to develop and execute omni-channel campaigns that resonated with target audiences. Shannon’s career also includes leadership roles at entertainment giants like 19 Entertainment, Mark Burnett Productions, and Warner Bros. She was responsible for strategizing and activating sponsorships for major events like the FIFA World Cup, Major League Baseball, and the NFL. Shannon holds a public board position with Versus Systems and serves as an Executive Board Advisor to companies Paragon One and Modwell. She also serves as an Advisory Board Member and Committee Steer for Brand Storytelling’s Diversity Imperative and Measurement Council. Shannon graduated from the University of Oregon with a BA in Japanese and earned her MBA from the University of Oregon’s Warsaw Sports Business Program. As the proud mother of three children, including a daughter with disabilities, she spends her time doing board work and advocating passionately for people with rare genetic syndromes, including her daughter Emma, through her family’s fundraiser initiative, Quinn’s Cocoa for the Cure. This initiative is dedicated to finding therapeutics and providing resources for families and individuals with Angelman Syndrome.

Adam Simon, Managing Director, IPG Media Lab: Adam has been developing innovation strategy for over twenty years, starting with producing one of the first branded podcasts for Unilever way back in 2005. For the past nine years, he’s led the IPG Media Lab, part of IPG Mediabrands, tracking the intersection of emerging technologies and changing consumer behavior for IPG’s global brands. Adam is also a published board game designer and industry expert on innovation in theme parks, interactive, and immersive entertainment. This entrepreneur is passionate about over-the-top television, and the potential for new kinds of contextual computing enabled by smartphones, wearables, and the Internet of things. Fresh out of NYU’s cutting-edge Interactive Telecommunications Program (ITP), he founded Socialbomb in 2008, and worked with the likes of HBO, Red Bull, Technicolor, and the BBC building breakthrough mobile social software. Adam joins the Lab bringing innovative-driven solutions and a love for exercise. He once rode a bike 500 miles across Alaska, from Fairbanks to Anchorage. No joke.

Greg Kahn, CEO, GK Digital Ventures and President and CEO of the Internet of Things Consortium (IoTC): Greg Kahn is a catalytic force in the technology, media and entertainment industries. He is renowned for connecting innovators with investors, growing brands and driving billions of dollars in transactional deals. Greg is a former award-winning executive at the Meredith Corporation and Publicis Groupe who received his MBA from the UCLA Anderson School of Management and undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania. His powerful network of high-level business executives and public sector leaders stretches from coast to coast and beyond. Earning the trust and respect of some of the biggest companies in the world — including Verizon, Comcast, Google, T-Mobile, MasterCard, Disney, Procter & Gamble, Nestle, Microsoft, ADT Security, LG Electronics, Cox, Whirlpool, Bank of America, SwissRe, and more — he has an unparalleled reputation for making the impossible possible. Passionate about creating a world of ethical connections, both human technology technological, Greg is a founding member of the Gun Safety Alliance and the Internet of Things Consortium, as well as a member of the Emma Bowen Foundation and the Guggenheim Technology & Innovation Council, and an executive committee member of the UJA Federation of New York’s Entertainment, Media & Communications Division. Named a principal influencer driving IoT forward by Inc. and others, Greg is a regular keynote speaker and moderator at numerous industry events, including the Consumer Electronics Show.