YMS NYC: Agenda top liners announced

Pion’s Youth Marketing Strategy event is an immersive digital marketing conference like no other. Bringing together the biggest names making waves in the youth marketing industry for a two-day spectacular, YMS celebrates the latest trends, perspectives and insights from the Gen Z world. 

And with YMS 2024 LDN and NYC under our belts, we’re already counting down the days ‘til we return to New York for another festival of youth marketing goodness. 

In this blog, we share our brand new agenda and discuss why YMS NYC is a must-attend youth marketing strategy conference for every marketing expert in the US. 

So, what can you expect from YMS New York 2025…? 

1. Unrivalled content

YMS brings together industry experts and disruptors from across the globe. 

Packed with Gen Z insights, expect unrivalled content as we address some of the hottest and most prevalent topics shaping youth culture today. Plus, hear directly from our panel of Gen Zers. 

Here’s what’s in store for 2025’s agenda… 

Day 1 (March 5th) 

Trends & Culture Chat 

Discover what’s trending and how your organization can stay culturally relevant at our Trends & Culture Chat track. 

From music, sport and gaming to social impact and the causes young people are passionate about, this is THE place to explore why youth culture should be at the heart of your campaigns. 

Gen Alpha & What’s Next 

Introducing a brand new track for 2025!

There’s a new kid on the block, and you need to be prepared. They’re loud, opinionated, and a bit of an enigma. 

Introducing: Gen Alpha. 

At this track, we’ll be sharing what we know about Gen Alpha and how they’ll be doing things differently. 

Shopping and Spending with Zalpha 

What do next gen consumers want from their online or IRL shopping experiences, and how are brands tapping in? 

Discover the strategies fuelling the shopping habits of Gen Z on this track, learn how to bild brand loyalty, and find out what inspires Gen Z’s purchasing decisions. 

Plus we’ll be looking at Alpha’s spending habits. 

Creators Lounge 

Work smarter not harder on your influencer marketing strategy. 

In the Creators Lounge, you’ll hear from the brands and creators that have been testing, learning, failing and winning. 

Next Level Tech 

Get ready to be inspired by new tech, strategies, and solutions for a next gen audience. 

Explore how brands are driving innovation with AI, virtual worlds, and immersive experiences. 

Day 2 (March 6th) 

Trends & Culture Chat 

What's hot and what’s not? 

From music to sport, dive into the world of youth trends and Gen Z marketing and discover how your organization can stay culturally relevant.

Social Media Conversations 

Keep up with the ever-evolving pace of the social media landscape for these digital natives. 

Discover new ways to build, measure, and grow communities on the platforms Gen Z consumers love. 

Innovation on Campus 

Delve into your student marketing strategy and learn how to keep it fresh. 

At this track, we’ll show you who’s disrupting the landscape right now, and give you the lowdown on what college students really want from on-campus advertising. 

2. Diversity of speakers

YMS isn’t your typical youth marketing conference. 

Here, you can expect a line up like no other. 

Previous speakers include: Sherlen Archibald (Global Lead of Influence at Google); Nilukshi De Silva (Head of Product Marketing at Amazon); Jenny Haggard (Global Thought Leadership at Spotify); Jeremy Jankowski (Lead Manager Content Partnerships at Pinterest); and Nourah Latif (Manager Influencer Marketing at HelloFresh). 

Whilst we’re still firming up our speaker line up for 2025, we guarantee you it’ll be bigger and better than ever before. (P.S. Want to take to the YMS stage in New York? Get in touch and apply to speak.) 

Olivia Newman, Head of Event Programming at Pion, says: “The next generation is poised to shape the future in significant ways, and the more we learn about them, the more we can help them thrive through life and make their prospective worlds a better place. 

“The Pion team is excited to bring YMS to a new venue in Williamsburg in 2025 as we help bring the gap between young people and brands with two days of content focusing on trends, insights and the brands that successfully engage and champion youth audiences. 

“We can't wait!”

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3. Networking opportunities like no other 

Expect networking opportunities like no other. 

From breakfasts and lunches to cocktail hours and speed networking, YMS NYC truly brings together the youth marketing world (over an Aperol Spritz or two). 

4. Accessible and easy locations 

Hot off the press! YMS NYC has a new location. 

Now taking place in Industria, Williamsburg, YMS NYC 2025 will be right in the heart of the youth marketing world. 

Expect a well signposted venue and expert communication to guide you through your experience, every step of the way. 

5. Expert advisory board 

We couldn’t do YMS alone, and that’s why every year we enlist the help of leading industry experts and Gen Z voices to help the team curate the perfect agenda. 

Their first-hand experience of working with young people and the brands that impact young people make them perfectly places to help us create content that’s relevant, diverse and inspiring. 

Some of the names on this year’s YMS NYC advisory board include Katelynn Whitaker (LinkedIn), Charu Subramanian (Flywheel Strategy), Michael Akkerman (Digital Turbine), and Justin Leusner (Gen Z student and content creator). 

6. Entertainment 

YMS isn’t YMS without some stellar entertainment. 

Previous events have seen live artists performances, catwalks, dance troops… basically, no event is the same. 

Keep your eyes peeled for what 2025 has in store. 

Have we caught your attention? Want to network with the best and learn from the brightest at the youth marketing event of the year? Tickets from YMS NYC are available now. 

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