Culture & Entertainment Summit

Thursday, August 7, 2025

• 9:00 AM Breakfast & Registration
• 10:00 AM Opening Remarks

  Brandon Gutman, Co-Founder & Co-CEO, Brand Innovators

  Marc Sternberg, Co-Founder & Co-CEO, Brand Innovators

  Ghazi, CEO, Empire

  Emcee: Erin Echter, Head of Patient and Consumer Marketing, Genentech

• 10:15 AM Shaping the Future of Our Cultural Powerhouse City

  As creative industries expand, what will define San Francisco’s next chapter? In this opening conversation, Ghazi shares a bold vision for the city’s future — and the role brands, creators, and cultural leaders will play in shaping it.

  Ghazi, CEO, Empire

  Moderated by: Sarah Stadler, Vice President of Marketing, Respondology

• 10:45 AM Made in the Bay: A City Driving Global Culture

  From startups to superstars, San Francisco continues to shape the world’s cultural landscape. Hear from the brands and creatives turning local energy into global impact.

  John Reseburg VP Marketing, Partnerships & Communications, EA SPORTS

  LaRussell, Musical Artist, Good Compenny

  Jessica Wong, Vice President, Partnerships & Client Services, Bay Area Host Committee

  Moderated by: Sarah Stadler, Vice President of Marketing, Respondology

• 11:15 AM Fireside Chat

  Jessica Smith, President, Golden State Valkyries

  Moderated by: Stephanie Martin, Chief Marketing & Communications Officer, League One Volleyball (LOVB)

• 11:45 AM Networking Break
• 12:05 PM Fandom as the New Currency

  In a world where attention is fragmented, passionate communities hold the power. This panel dives into how brands are fueling fandom to unlock loyalty, influence, and growth.

  Alice Chen, Director of Marketing, MyFitnessPal

  Beth Murphy, Director & Global Head of Growth Marketing, Amazon Music

  Moderated by: Suzanne Mead, Senior Vice President, Strategic Accounts, Open Influence

• 12:35 PM Shifting the Consumer Mindset

  This panel explores how brands are evolving their messaging, values, and strategies to meet a new era of expectations and drive meaningful connection.

  Julia Chen Davidson, Global Head of Marketing, Lingo by Abbott

  Shelby Colley, VP of Marketing, Equator Coffees

  Moderated by: Shirley Chiang, Sr. Adtech Sales Executive, Quantcast

• 1:05 PM Lunch hosted by EMPIRE
• 2:25 PM Media That Moves People

  Explore how today’s most innovative media campaigns spark emotion, ignite conversation, and shift culture — all while driving business results.

  Sylviane Francou, Head of Global Media Strategy, HP

  Bryson Shellito, Head of Growth, Lucid Motors

  Romeeta Sukhtankar, Global Head of Performance Marketing, Amazon Music

  Moderated by: Callie Timpanaro, Senior Account Director, Brand Partnerships, Genius

• 2:55 PM From Impressions to Impact

  In today’s culture-driven landscape, traditional metrics like impressions and clicks only tell part of the story. This conversation explores how leading brands can redefine success by focusing on deeper signals with data-driven insights.

  Ken Favaro, Chief Strategy Officer, BERA

  Stefani Hass, Senior Director, Demand Generation, Cvent

  Andrew Humber, EVP, Global Marketing, Ryff

  Moderated by: Catheline Leung, Senior Director of Brand Media, Ancestry

• 3:25 PM Networking Break
• 3:45 PM Making a Cultural Consumer Impact at Tentpole Global Events

  Go behind the scenes of some of the world’s biggest cultural events (and happening in the Bay in 2026!) to learn how top marketers craft campaigns that resonate before, during, and long after the final whistle.

  Kamal Bhandal, Senior Vice President: Global Invisalign Brand, Consumer & Americas Marketing, Align Technology

  Daryl Butler, Vice President of Marketing Global Brand Partnerships, Google

  Moderated by: Natalie Silverstein, Chief Innovation Officer, Collectively 

• 4:15 PM Delight at Scale: Marketing Joy in the Digital Age

  How do you keep surprise, delight, and authenticity alive as your brand grows? This conversation dives into how emotionally-driven brands deliver joy at every touchpoint — blending storytelling, personalization, and performance marketing to create lasting impressions at scale.

  Jennifer Peters, Director of DTC, Martech, + Digital Compliance, OLLY

  Moderated by: Stephanie Martin, Chief Marketing & Communications Officer, League One Volleyball (LOVB)

• 4:45 PM Wrap