Regional Summits

Humanity x Creativity Summit

May 14 • Hosted by Havas Boston Village • Boston

As AI transforms how brands plan, produce, and perform at scale, the question remains: How do marketing leaders scale intelligence, optimize media in real time, measure real business impact, and deliver creative excellence without losing what has always mattered most – humanity?

The Humanity x Creativity Summit brings together CMOs and senior marketing leaders shaping the future of brand growth. Expect fresh perspectives on how intelligence, creativity, and culture work together to drive performance, relevance, and long‑term value.

The agenda focuses on how media and creative are evolving as interconnected systems—how advanced planning, data, and platforms enable creativity to travel further, faster, and with greater impact. Together, we will explore how humanity is not lost – it is what will ultimately distinguish brands in an era of machine-driven efficiency.

Thursday, May 14th, 2026

9:00 AM Breakfast & Registration
9:30 AM Welcome Remarks

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

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

Gisela Germano, Chief Content & Community Officer, Brand Innovators

Allie Meagher, Vice President, Content and Community, Brand Innovators

Maggie Connors, Chief Marketing Officer, Havas Creative Network
9:40 AM Fireside Chat

Rema Vasan, Head of NA Business Marketing, TikTok

Moderated by: Maggie Connors, Chief Marketing Officer, Havas Creative Network
10:10 AM Fireside Chat

Ian Cohen, Head of Creative & Content, Global Communications, Ford Motor Company
10:40 AM Building Trust in an Age of Skepticism

Stakeholders – from customers to employees – are more discerning than ever. Leaders discuss how transparency, consistency, and values-driven decision-making create credibility and long-term loyalty.

Meredith Bilski, Director of Brand Management, Reproductive Health, Ritual

Caitriona Daly, Senior Manager, Brand and Product Marketing, Tilt
11:10 AM Networking Break
11:30 AM From Transactional to Transformational Leadership

Today’s leaders are expected to inspire, not just manage. This session explores how authenticity, vulnerability, and conviction elevate leadership from operational oversight to transformational impact.

Rene Federico, Head of Marketing, Primark

Kara O’Brien, Senior Vice President, Marketing, Rue Guilt Groupe

Moderated by: Smith Reynolds, Director of Sales, Attain
12:00 PM Women Leading Forward: Redefining Power, Influence & Impact

A candid conversation with women senior leaders who are redefining modern leadership. From navigating the executive table to mentoring the next generation, this panel explores how empathy, resilience, and conviction translate into meaningful impact.

Gina Cothey, Chief Commercial Officer, MOO

Allison Giorgio, Chief Marketing Officer, Wellness Pet

Stefane Rosa, Chief Executive Officer, US, Prose on Pixels

Moderated by: Katie Paulsen, Senior Vice President, Operations, RhythmInfluence
12:30 PM Purpose That Performs

Purpose can’t live in a mission statement alone. This session explores how leaders operationalize purpose – embedding it into strategy, culture, and measurable outcomes.

Dan Clifford, Chief Marketing Officer, Cotopaxi

Kalina Fridrich, Vice President Growth & Retention, Ollie

Kara Walker, Chief Marketing & Communications Officer, Make-A-Wish

Moderated by: Anderson David, Brand Partnerships Lead, Team Snap
1:00 PM Lunch
2:00 PM Human at the Helm: Leading in an AI-Driven Era

As AI reshapes how organizations operate and innovate, how do leaders ensure humanity remains central to decision-making? This panel explores balancing automation with empathy – and innovation with intuition – to drive both growth and trust.

Costa Angelakis, Senior Affiliate Marketing Manager, Chewy

Don Lane, VP, Brand & Digital Experience, Litera

Liz Vanzura, Chief Marketing Officer, Solo Brands
2:30 PM Influence Without Authority: Leading Across the Enterprise

Modern leadership requires alignment across functions, not silos. Executives share how they build cross-functional trust, drive enterprise-wide initiatives, and shape outcomes beyond their direct remit.

Brian Costello, Head of Performance Driven Marketing, General Motors

Brittney Goodman, Senior Director, Events, DraftKings

Josh Reed, Brand Activation Lead, Zoom
3:00 PM AI in Strategy: Human-Led, Machine-Accelerated

What capabilities will define successful organizations in the next decade? Senior executives explore talent, technology, and mindset shifts required to remain relevant and competitive.

John Schneider, Enterprise Sales leader, Yelp

Moderated by: Penelope Hauck, Chief Marketing Officer, MEFA
3:30 PM Networking Game
4:15 PM From Audiences to Identities: How Human Insight Powers Modern Creativity

As creativity becomes more data‑driven and media more automated, the brands that break through are the ones that understand people—not just profiles. This panel explores how leading marketers are shifting from demographics to identity, using audience intelligence to fuel creativity, and designing experiences that earn relevance by participating in culture. Through real examples at the intersection of fandom, media, and creativity, panelists unpack how humanity becomes the multiplier for growth at scale.
4:45 PM Wrap & Happy Hour