Variety Business of Creators Summit at CES

9:00 AM - 9:15 AM PT

The State of the Creator Economy in Media and Entertainment

Kerry Nelson - Head of Brand Marketing, Samsung Ads
Andrew Wallenstein - Chief Media Analyst and President, Luminate Intelligence
Cynthia Littleton (Moderator) - Co-Editor-in-Chief, Variety

Industry leaders talk about the top trends, opportunities and challenges facing today’s burgeoning creator economy.

9:15 AM - 9:55 AM PT

Masters of the Creator-Verse

Hannah Stocking - Award Winning Content Creator with 73M collective followers
Alessandra (Ale) Catanese - CEO, Smosh
Lewis Ball - Chief Product and Strategy Officer, RHEI
Aleen Dreksler - Founder and CEO, Betches
Rich Bloom - EVP & GM, Creator Programs, Tubi
Griffin Haddrill - Co-Founder & CEO, LV8
Todd Spangler (Moderator) - Business Editor, Variety

An exploration into how creator content is being expanded to new audience touchpoints – including crafting storytelling across new platforms, launching new brands and merchandise, and forging collaborations and industry partnerships. Leaders in creator businesses share how they are expanding across screens, products and more.

9:55 AM - 10:15 AM PT

Fireside Chat with Evan Shapiro – Zoom in on The Creator Ecosphere

Evan Shapiro - Media Cartographer
Cynthia Littleton (Moderator) - Co-Editor-in-Chief, Variety

Find out about who really carries influence and trust in media and entertainment, where engagement quality can be more telling than follower or subscriber counts.

10:05 AM - 10:50 AM PT

New Hollywood Power Players: The Rise of Creators on TV

Ryan Wilson - Managing Director, Sales, Samsung Ads
Takashi Nakano - Vice President of Content and Programming, Samsung TV Plus
Rishita Patel - Head of Media, Mark Rober’s Crunch Labs
Evan Shapiro - Media Cartographer

Creators are rapidly emerging as key players in streaming, particularly on FAST platforms like Samsung TV Plus, which provide the ideal environment for growth and the ability to connect with highly engaged audiences at scale. This panel will explore the evolving TV landscape, why FAST platforms are the perfect fit for creators, and why advertisers need to pay attention to the rising influence of creators on TV to drive deeper engagement and meaningful impact.

10:50 AM - 11:10 AM PT

The Power of the Creator Brand

Raina Penchansky - CEO and Co-Founder of DBA, Co-Head of UTA Creators
Clea Shearer - Co-founder, The Home Edit, Co-host, Get Organized with The Home Edit and Co-host, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
Joanna Teplin - Co-founder, The Home Edit, Co-host, Get Organized with The Home Edit and Co-host, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
Cynthia Littleton (Moderator) - Co-Editor-in-Chief, Variety

Join Raina Penchansky, CEO and Co-Founder of DBA, Co-Head of UTA Creators; and Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin, Co-founders, The Home Edit as they explore their collaboration in extending the popular home organization brand onto new platforms. What are strategies for creators to strengthen bonds with fans?

11:10 AM - 11:30 AM PT

How Creators are Building the Future of the Consumer Experience

Peggy Roe - Chief Customer Officer, Marriott
Andrew Wallenstein - Chief Media Analyst and President, Luminate Intelligence

11:30 AM - 11:45 AM PT

The Live Shopping Era has Arrived

Sandie Hawkins - CEO, TalkShopLive
Todd Spangler (Moderator) - Business Editor, Variety

Live shopping is no longer an experiment, it’s happening now! In this one-on-one conversation, Sandie Hawkins, CEO of TalkShopLive and one of the most influential leaders in live commerce, reveals why this is a lasting shift in how people discover, trust, and buy and what you need to do to stay ahead. Having helped launch TikTok Shop and build live shopping on TikTok, Sandie brings a rare, firsthand perspective on how creator-led, real-time shopping drives both engagement and real business results. Drawing on TalkShopLive's success across media, retail, and technology, Sandie shares what’s working now, what’s changing fast, and what brands and creators need to understand to compete in the live shopping era.

11:45 AM - 12:00 PM PT

Fireside Chat with Substack Co-Founder Hamish McKenzie

Hamish McKenzie - Co-Founder, Substack
Andrew Wallenstein - Chief Media Analyst and President, Luminate Intelligence

Explore how ambitious media founders are reshaping culture—and how Substack’s economic engine empowers creators to think freely and build sustainable businesses.

12:00 PM - 12:35 PM PT

Audiences Unlocked - The Future of Creator Marketing

Cameron Curtis - EVP, Global Digital Marketing, Warner Bros Studio Group
Briana McElroy - Head of Worldwide Digital Marketing, Lionsgate
Robin Tilotta - Head of Brand and Global Marketing, Twitch
Dara Treseder - CMO, Autodesk
Marcus Liassides - Head of Digital, Mattel
Jared Shulman - SVP, Head of Strategy & Creator Marketing, CAA Brand Consulting
Todd Spangler (Moderator) - Business Editor, Variety

A look at how creator marketing is fast becoming a powerful tool to connect with today’s audiences, who can be quick to click away traditional media advertising. What are future trends in creator marketing – how are marketers, creators and platforms continuing to make strides in making an impact with audiences?

Sponsorship Opportunities	Speaking Opportunities
Michelle Fine-Smith	Susanne Ault
michelle.fine-smith@variety.com	susanne.ault@variety.com

Agenda