Regional Summits

Sports & Culture on the Global Stage Summit

Jun 04 • Hosted by Reddit • New York

From soccer campaigns to global sponsorships and athlete partnerships, we will unpack what it truly takes to win in the world’s most watched and culturally defining sport. And there is no better place to have this conversation than Reddit, where global fandom, real time conversation, and culture come to life at scale.

June 4th, 2026

9:00 AM Breakfast and Registration
10:05 AM Opening Remarks

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

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

Natasha Rodriguez, Head of EMEA, Brand Innovators

Jia Hyun, VP of Global Large Customer Sales, Reddit

Emcee: Jana Friedman, Industry Director, Head of US CPG at Reddit and Carrie Steele, Senior Industry Director, Automotive at Reddit
10:15 AM Soccer Momentum, Fandom & the 2026 World Cup

Marcela Garcia, Vice President Brand Marketing, Major League Soccer

Juliana Jaoudi, Sr. Director, Global Strategic Accounts, Large Customer Sales, Reddit

Moderated by: Jia Hyun, VP of Global Large Customer Sales, Reddit
10:45 AM Culture Over Commerce: Building Brands That Belong in the Game

Why the most impactful brands don’t just sponsor sports, they shape culture around them.

Bethany Catron Evans, Chief Marketing Officer, Rhone

Kristen Mosley, Marketing Executive, Former Foot Locker Basketball

April Rivera, Director of Heat and Energy, Foot Locker

Kaitlyn Roche, Brand & Culture Strategist

Moderated by: Nicholas Khalili, Founder, Anvara
11:10 AM The Sponsorship Shift: From Logo Placement to Storytelling

Why traditional sponsorship models are evolving into integrated, narrative-driven partnerships.

Dan Bradley, Senior Vice President Production, Wavelength

Michelle Esgar, Director, Marketing and Experience, Panasonic North America

Danielle Vesce, Head of Marketing, J.P Morgan Chase

Moderated by: Blair Andres, Senior Vice President, Social Media Center of Excellence, Bank of America
11:40 AM Networking Break
12:00 PM More Than the Game: How Purpose-Driven Sponsorship Is Winning on the Global Stage

How purpose-driven programs are turning sport into a platform for lasting cultural connection, commercial results, and meaningful community impact.

Melissa Grevstad, Head of Purpose Dove, Unilever

Leah Macko, VP of Brand Marketing Powerade, The Coca-Cola Company

Matt Trittley, Vice President of Corporate Marketing, AbbVie

Moderated by: Dave Mullins, Senior Vice President, rEvolution
12:30 PM The Creator Playbook: Influencers, Athletes, and the New Media Model

How brands are leveraging creators and athletes as media channels to drive authenticity and scale.

Sophia Capsis, Global Brand Engagement, CeraVe, L’Oreal

Mwanza Lumumba, Senior Brand Director Whiskey Portfolio, Moët Hennessy

Kristen Rumble, Vice President Brand Strategy and Creative Development, BODYARMOR and POWERADE, The Coca-Cola Company

Moderated by: Andrés Cohen, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Famosos
1:00PM Lunch
2:00 PM Anthems, Icons, and Audiences: The New Cultural Architecture of Brands

Jameel Spencer, Chief Marketing Officer, WHP Global

Madison Rowe, Senior Creative Music Producer & Head of Sonic Branding, Havas
2:30 PM From Spectators to Participants: How Community, Collecting, and Commerce Are Reshaping Fandom

Chris Lamontagne, President, Strategy & Growth, Fanatics

Moderated by: Evan Wolf, Head of Mid-Market & SMB Sales, North America, Reddit
3:00 PM The Next Generation Fan: Gen Z, Community, and the Future of Loyalty

How younger audiences are redefining fandom and what brands must do to stay relevant.

Victor Araujo, Global Brand Director, Mastercard

Christina Kothari, Global Head of Consumer Marketing at Reddit

Wesley Lumpkin, Senior Influencer Marketing Specialist, Unilever

Keith Nieves, Head of Global Communities, Sonos

Moderated by: Jessica Ricaurte, Chief Revenue Officer, Adsmovil
3:30 PM The Future of Sports Media: Streaming, Social, and the Fragmented Fan

Josh Arensberg, Global Head of Sports, Media, and Technology, Verizon

Steven Flisler, COO, Swish Breaks

Hampus Lofkvist, VP, Global Sales – Marketing Services, Sportradar

Christine Wixted, Head of Sports Partnerships, Reddit

Moderated by: Elizabeth del Valle, Global Partner Marketing Lead, YouTube
4:00 PM Networking Break
4:15 PM Purpose in Play: Driving Impact Through Sport

How brands are aligning with social causes and using sport as a platform for meaningful change.

Nandini Sankara, Vice President, Marketing and Brand Strategy, Suburban Propane

Geoff Ulrich, Senior Vice President – Consumer Strategy, Speedway Motorsports

Moderated By: Kate Calabrese, SVP Client Solutions, PatientPoint
4:45 PM Wrap