Speakers

Allie Cohen is an experienced digital marketing expert in both the for-profit and non-profit spaces. She has supported the growth and expansion of ACE’s internal creator marketing program over the past two years, helping to amplify youth creator voices on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube and empower young people to take action on climate and civic engagement issues. Prior to ACE, Allie spent five years in entertainment marketing in the music industry at Universal Music Group, working across social media, e-commerce, and brand partnerships teams to connect music artists with their fans.

Andrew, 26, is the Founder and CEO of dcdx, helping the world's top brands attract Gen Z. dcdx's work has been recognized by the NYT, WSJ, BBC & more for their new lens into Gen Z. Andrew leads dcdx on a mission to make the future human; a future where brands pull audiences in by forming meaningful, human connections with their audience.

Ben is the sponsorship director at Elsewhere, a multi-stage music venue supporting up-and-coming artists across genres like electronic, hip-hop, latin & indie. His department helps consumer brands engage hundreds of thousands of guests across 600 ticketed events annually with activations that elevate the fan experience. Prior to Elsewhere, Ben spent most of a decade at ad agencies before leading business development for health-app Breathwrk, where he won the inaugural NBA Launchpad competition. Ben earned a bachelor’s degree from Cornell University, delivering the keynote speech to outgoing graduates from the Department of Communication in 2019, and currently lives in Brooklyn.

Breena Cocco is the Director of Creator Marketing at Action for the Climate Emergency (ACE). She was brought in to scale the pilot version of the ACE Creator Collective in 2021 and has executed an innovative and humor-first approach to producing microvideos for climate and civic engagement campaigns on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. Prior to ACE, Cocco managed the marketing efforts of a hospitality company with a collection of hotels, restaurants, bars, and group retreats. She graduated summa cum laude from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Advertising and Bachelor of Arts in Dance.

Brendon Shabani is Founder and Director at Rising Ballers, the biggest Gen Z football media brand in the UK.

Founded as a result of experiencing first-hand the lack of support and representation young rising footballers had, Brendon created Rising Ballers to help tip that balance.

As a former pro player with Leyton Orient, Brendon was around academy players daily and quickly became aware of how there was no digital platform documenting and supporting their journeys. Fast forward to now and the Rising Ballers network has one of the most engaged, authentic communities out there boasting a following of 9M and impressive repertoire of brands partnered with.

Brendon’s impressive career journey, albeit still only being 22 years-old, has gone from strength to strength since leaving the pro scene to pursue Rising Ballers full-time. Alongside growing the following and reach of the Rising Ballers channels, he has been instrumental in securing multiple client projects with household brands like Adidas, PlayStation and Premier League.  

Rising Ballers continues to provide Gen Z and millennial audiences with educational and entertaining content formats, with the representation of young ballers remaining the primary focus for both Brendon and the Rising Ballers network.

As the Senior Associate Brand Manager for OREO at Mondelez International, Caroline Suppiger (she/her) combines creativity with collaboration to drive innovative marketing strategies. A graduate of Washington University in St. Louis, she began her journey at Mondelez right out of college and has since dedicated three years to the dynamic OREO marketing team.

Caroline has played a pivotal role in the successful launches of limited-edition partnerships, including OREO Sour Patch Kids and OREO Star Wars. She also spearheads the brand's organic strategy, continually weaving OREO’s 112-year legacy into the fabric of cultural moments.

Carrie Rose, is founder and CEO of one of the fastest growing agencies in the UK & US – search-first creative agency Rise at Seven. After working 11 years at Branded3, one of the leading SEO agencies at the time, Carrie saw a gap in the industry for brand advertising and SEO to collide. She founded Rise at Seven to push the boundaries in both creative and technical SEO because that’s what is needed to own the most competitive search results.

Rise at Seven are now across the UK, Europe and US with clients including SIXT, Bumble, Capital One, Bacardi, PrettyLittleThing, Amazon, Revolution Beauty and more.

Rise at Seven launched the first reactive marketing service driven by live search trends, and believe in multi-channel search realistic to how consumers behave now. Their content marketing case studies is what they’re famous for, with 78 awards in a roll top bath to show for it. Carrie is featured on the 30 under 30 Forbes list because of her success.

A being like no other, Caterina Mendez is wise beyond her years and inspiring by nature. Currently, she is on a mission to make complex life lessons accessible by writing in simple language aimed at children, while truly crafting transformative tools for everyone—after all, we are all on a journey of growth. At just 20, she published her first book, 'I Have Discovered: Tales of the Magic I Uncovered', and she is preparing for the unimaginable.

Originally from Guatemala, Caterina is committed to contributing to her country’s development by unleashing the potential of its young population. As the project leader of MetaHumanos502, an innovative program designed to impact the lives of 400,000 young Guatemalans in its first year, she is dedicated to creating a brighter future for her community.

Christina Vittas (she/her) is a social media manager for Sesame Workshop, the global impact nonprofit behind Sesame Street. Managing the social media presence of @Elmo, Christina brings viral moments of joy, laugher, and refreshed nostalgia to social platforms. Christina is an alumna of Quinnipiac University and is based in Hoboken, New Jersey.

Dan Porter is the CEO of Overtime, a creator of disruptive sports IP and the leading sports brand and community for the next generation of fans. Porter has previously built companies in mobile gaming, education, media and marketplaces and has generated multiple exits for his investors over the course of his career.

Dennis Quinn is the Creative Director for Special Projects and Influencer Marketing at WP Creative Group, The Washington Post's award-winning, in-house brand studio and creative agency. In his role, Dennis develops first-to-market digital, social and experiential opportunities for advertiser engagement with The Washington Post’s consumer, B2B, and B2G audiences. He is a seasoned media business veteran with brand, marketing and creative strategy roles supporting global media brands including CNN and Adult Swim.

Emery Barnes (he/him) is a Sports & Entertainment Marketer currently based in NYC. He's a first-generation Liberian-American and Chicago native, with an untiring passion to seed culture into brands—through sports, music, entertainment, fashion, and art.

During his 7+ years of experience in Marketing & Advertising, he’s led global marketing campaigns & programs for Fortune 500 Brands including DoorDash, Anheuser-Busch, Samsung, Coca-Cola, and P&G. Through his “turn water into wine” approach, he’s brought ideas to fruition through Broadcast TVC, Social, Digital, Experiential & Earned Media — leaving an everlasting mark on some of the world’s largest brands and during the biggest cultural moments.

Eva Wohiren began her career as a multimedia producer, creating content for major brands like ESPN, CNN, and Yahoo, covering events across politics, entertainment, and sports. She has interviewed notable talent, including Karamo Brown, Shaquille O’Neal and Miss Universe 2019, while managing the full scope of production. In 2020, Eva transitioned to tech, joining Meta, where she contributed to innovative projects like Facebook’s first-ever content recommendation system and their newest app Threads. Currently, she leads analytics and strategy for the New York Knicks, helping to shape narratives for over 13 million followers. Eva’s expertise lies in combining storytelling with data to elevate brands, while also connecting with audiences.

Iris Olympia (she/he/they) is a nonbinary content creator who has been making videos since they were a tween. They turned their passion into a successful full-time career with an audience spanning across Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. Their content blends fashion and lifestyle, celebrating the beauty and euphoria of self-expression beyond traditional gender norms. Iris uses she/he/they pronouns.

Jack Adler (he/him) is the Founder & CEO of Out2Win Sports, a software enabling brands & agencies to build more effective influencer marketing partnerships with athletes. Our platform leverages AI and data analytics to help brands make more informed decisions regarding which athletes best fit their campaign goals. Jack was recognized by Front Office Sports as a top sports business leader under age 25 and was awarded Student Entrepreneur of the Year at Syracuse University in 2023.

Jacob Wallach is a social media strategist, creator, and founder of Social4TheWin, where he helps brands build comprehensive social strategies by leveraging data-driven insights and research to develop creative strategies, build effective distribution plans, and drive community development both on and off social platforms. A former TikTok insider, Jacob combines platform expertise with a creator's mindset.

As "Excel Daddy," with over 500k followers, he has redefined educational content with a fun and engaging approach. Jacob’s work empowers brands to navigate the evolving social landscape with strategies that resonate and deliver lasting impact.

Jenny Haggard leads Global Thought Leadership as part of the Business Brand Marketing Team at Spotify. She’s obsessed with all things culture, and she uses proprietary and partner data to create deeply human and culturally nuanced content and experiences that help marketers navigate the future. In her role, she analyzes trends, tests hypotheses, crafts content, builds GTM plans, and after almost 10 years at the company, is still trying to figure out how to turn on private mode while listening to her Guilty Pleasures playlist. She’s based in LA, and when she’s not squinting at data dashboards or wielding a pen, she enjoys spending time with her husband, making use of her Italian passport, and guiding others as a Certified Discernment Director.

Jessica Calbert is a forward-thinking merchandising leader with over a decade of experience at the intersection of e-commerce, product strategy, and digital innovation. Throughout her career, she has shaped impactful merchandising strategies at top retailers like Macy’s, Bed Bath & Beyond, and now, IPSY, using her expertise to craft memorable shopping experiences that resonate with today’s consumers.

Jessica combines data-driven insights with creative vision to develop solutions that drive both business growth and customer loyalty. She is passionate about leveraging her diverse background to create strategies that not only meet business objectives but also deliver lasting value to customers.

Jessica Tomlinson (she/her) is the Student & Gaming Segment Manager for NA eComm at Lenovo, where she advocates for technology in education and gaming. With a focus on engaging Gen Z through innovative content and community-driven experiences, she aims to amplify authentic connections between brands and their audiences. When she's not strategizing at Lenovo, she enjoys cheering on the Carolina Hurricanes with her husband and two kids, curling up in a corner reading, or pretending to be a streamer on Twitch.

SVP Programmatic / Chief Media Officer at chargeFUZE/AdFUZE | Board of Directors | Board Advisor | Investor in Tech Startups | DOOH Advisor to Swiftmile.com micromobility.

Mara Stolzenbach is the Director of Strategy at dcdx, where she leads research and strategy with a highly specialized, investigative approach. An expert in youth culture, Mara uncovers hidden human truths beyond surface-level trends to drive strategic breakthroughs. She has worked with various clients across industries, including Hinge, Spotify, L'Oréal, and Crocs, helping brands stay ahead of the cultural curve and attract the next generation of consumers.

NYC-based marketing leader with a decade of experience driving growth and brand strategy for startups to Fortune 500s. Currently, Morgan (she/her) is the Head of Marketing at Andie Swim, where she prioritizes blending creativity and analytics to build strong brands and deliver exceptional customer experiences.

Nadiri is a Senior Influencer Campaign Manager at PepsiCo's Content Studio, where she leads influencer efforts across the North American Beverage portfolio. She studied Fashion Merchandising at LIM College before launching her career in influencer marketing in 2018 at a startup agency. There, she collaborated with major brands such as Sephora, Ferragamo, and Neiman Marcus. After a stint at PepsiCo’s Content Studio as an Assistant Content Strategist for LIFEWTR and bubly, she transitioned to the agency side in 2021, continuing to work closely with PepsiCo on influencer campaigns. Today, Nadiri brings her expertise and passion for influencer marketing back to PepsiCo, driving impactful campaigns for some of the most iconic brands.

Rawan (she/her) is a social media & marketing veteran, having held positions at BuzzFeed, Complex, ABC News and now leading the social media team at Major League Soccer. Rawan focuses on emerging social media platforms, maximizing player marketing efforts, and optimizing content for a youth audience. She is based in New York.

Ray is the Global Head of Marketing at Rise at Seven. He is an organic growth specialist. With extensive experience across in-house and agency environments, Ray specialises in both Social and SEO strategies to deliver impactful results. His background spans marketing, organic social media, and organic search, making him a go-to thought leader for crafting strategies that connect brands with their audiences from the FYP to the search results

Richard heads up events at Pion and over the past 10 years he has scaled the Youth Marketing Strategy event across the globe. Richard's passion for bringing communities together, youth marketing and all things brand is what has given the YMS event its unique positioning. Richard’s love of storytelling is what has kept the YMS event relevant year on year.

Shayna has over a decade of experience in marketing across Social Strategy, Influencer Programming, Performance Marketing and Product Branding. She’s worked both in-house and on the agency side in entertainment, beauty and CPG space with brands ranging from UTA, Conair, Landry’s, Whisps, HP, Samsung, IKEA US, Rainbow Shops and more.

Shayna has been featured in Vogue Business, DigiDay and spoken on panels from Creator Economy Live to E-Tail! Recently, Shayna joined legacy company Playboy leading their social strategy rebrand and spearheading their first ever affiliate and social commerce program.

Trisha Okubo is the founder of Maison Miru, a responsible jewelry brand creating a modular system of pieces that you can wear for life.  She bootstrapped the company from start to scale after spending a decade in product management in media and ecommerce, launching the original eBay Marketplace Facebook application and building out the eBay Fashion vertical.

Trisha studied industrial engineering and product design at Stanford University and the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, and she currently advises emerging brands as President of the board of Stanford Startups.

Troy hails from the green shores of Ireland, an entrepreneur, he started his first company when he was 21 and now leads the global expansion of Junk Kouture across the world.  Passionate about creativity and building a better future, his goal is to enrich and empower the lives of 1 billion young people.