Variety Entertainment Marketing Summit

8:50 AM - 9:00 AM PT

Opening Remarks

Stephanie Dolan - US Entertainment Leader, Deloitte Consulting LLP
Donna Pennestri - Associate Publisher, Variety

9:00 AM - 9:35 AM PT

The Main Event – Best of Experiential, Live, and Event Marketing

Tim Clark - Chief Brand Officer, NASCAR
James Finn - Global Head of Brand & Content Marketing, Audible
Kathryn Kai-Ling Frederick - Chief Marketing Officer, Los Angeles Rams
Amy Durini - Chief Marketing & Strategy Officer, Taco Bell International
Brett Hyman - Founder and CEO, NVE Experience Agency
Jennifer Maas (Moderator) - Senior Business Writer, TV and Games, Variety

In a noisier than ever media environment, marketers are pulling out all the stops to break through to today’s audiences and consumers. Increasingly, event and experiential marketing is the answer to make the right splash, spanning in-person and digital moments. Event marketing leaders across entertainment, sports and consumer brands share their strategies for success.

9:35 AM - 9:55 AM PT

Building the Digital Marketing Backbone for the LA28 Olympic & Paralympic Games

Michelle McGuire - Chief Data & AI Officer, Deloitte US
Alex Merchan - Chief Marketing Officer, LA28

The countdown to the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games is on – hear how technology is shaping the way LA28 is delivered to fans locally and worldwide.

9:55 AM - 10:15 AM PT

Keynote Conversation with Oliver Schusser, VP Apple Music and International Content

Oliver Schusser - Vice President, Apple Music, TV, Sports, Podcasts & Beats, Apple
Steven J. Horowitz (Moderator) - Music Reporter, Variety

Hear Apple Music’s vision for connecting with audiences, hot off its wildly popular Bad Bunny Superbowl Halftime Show.

10:10 AM - 10:30 AM PT

In Conversation with Pearlena Igbokwe: On 100 Years of NBC and the Next Era of Must-See Entertainment

Pearlena Igbokwe - Chairman, Television Studios, NBC Entertainment & Peacock Scripted
Cynthia Littleton (Moderator) - Co-Editor-in-Chief, Variety

10:35 AM - 10:55 AM PT

Leveling Up Fandom: How Games Extend Entertainment IP

Alain Tascan - President, Games, Netflix
Wenny Katzenstein - Managing Director, Technology, Media and Telecommunications, Deloitte Consulting LLP, US
Jennifer Maas (Moderator) - Senior Business Writer, TV and Games, Variety

A conversation on how video games are helping entertainment companies expand their franchises beyond TV and film—building deeper fan communities, extending storytelling worlds, and creating new ways for audiences to stay connected to their favorite IP.

10:55 AM - 11:30 AM PT

Breakthrough Brands – Innovating through AI

Brian Borkowski - Chief Marketing Officer, FOX Direct-to-Consumer
Jim Squires - Chief Marketing Officer, Reddit
Jill Steinhauser - Group SVP, Platform Monetization & Partnerships, Warner Bros. Discovery
Gina Igwe - VP, Brand & Consumer Marketing, DoorDash
Shahrzad Rafati - CEO, RHEI
Ben Fielder - Head of Enterprise Sales, West Coast, StackAdapt
Jay Tucker (Moderator) - Executive Director, Center for Media, Entertainment and Sports, UCLA Anderson School of Management

An exploration into how companies are integrating AI into their operations in ways that take advertising and marketing to new heights. How might AI help companies find the right audiences, understand how people are responding to campaigns, and pivot messaging in real time to make advertising smarter and more effective? How are brands, creators and media companies collaborating as AI moves from a novelty to a core utility within their infrastructures? How is human ingenuity crucial when using AI to drive success? Technology leaders discuss how AI is innovating their strategies.

11:30 AM - 11:50 AM PT

Where Fandoms Collide & Culture Is Rewritten

Andrea Isaac - Managing Partner, North America, Havas Play
Juliet Tierney - SVP, Partnerships & Culture Strategy, North America, Havas Play
Jennifer Maas (Moderator) - Senior Business Writer, TV and Games, Variety

Havas Play explores how brands can operate meaningfully across different fandom systems, spanning gaming, sports, music and creator ecostystems. Find out how brands partner with creators, IP owners and platforms to drive cultural power, influence and community. We will unpack what it takes to move from one-off activations to connected cultural ecosystems, and how to design for participation instead of reach.

11:50 AM - 12:10 PM PT

Creator Brands in the Zeitgeist

Dennis Ortiz - Principal, Deloitte Consulting LLP
Jacob Moncrief - Chief Operating Officer, Mythical
Brent Weinstein (Moderator) - Senior Leader, CAA

A look into how Rhett & Link's Mythical has driven consistent innovation and growth spanning three decades.

12:10 PM - 12:45 PM PT

Hollywood New Leaders – Best of Creator Marketing

Dalia Ganz - EVP, Marketing & Artist Development, Warner Records
Rose Phillips - EVP, Global Digital Marketing and Social Media, Sony Pictures Entertainment
Edvin Dapcevic - Global Head of Media & Entertainment, Discord
Carter Gregory - Content Creator, Music Executive & Media Personality
Todd Lichten - Head of Entertainment and Lifestyle Partnerships, Roblox
Brent Mitchell - VP, Social Media and Influencers, Sephora
Angelique Jackson (Moderator) - Senior Entertainment Writer, Variety

Creators and social platforms are powerful marketing tools for entertainment and consumer brands. But as audiences are becoming increasingly savvier in avoiding advertising, what actually connects? Should brands focus on long-term relevance rather than short-term virality? How do we define success in today’s creator economy? Marketing leaders and more share the stories behind what’s working now.

12:45 PM - 1:00 PM PT

Conversation with Supermodel Ashley Graham and Natasha Bolouki, Partner and Agent, UTA

Ashley Graham - Supermodel & Founder, Lucci Lambrusco
Natasha Bolouki - Partner & Agent, UTA
Jennifer Maas (Moderator) - Senior Business Writer, TV and Games, Variety

Hear how Ashley Graham collaborates with partners such as UTA on brand deals and fan engagement.

1:00 PM - 1:50 PM PT

Networking Lunch

1:50 PM - 2:10 PM PT

Keynote Conversation with Tina Knowles

Tina Knowles - American businesswoman, fashion designer, art collector, philanthropist, and activist
Angelique Jackson (Moderator) - Senior Entertainment Writer, Variety

Tina Knowles, the visionary businesswoman, fashion designer, art collector, philanthropist and activist, will delve into her best-selling memoir "Matriarch" and discuss her influential work with Parkwood Entertainment, Cécred, BeyGOOD and more.

2:10 PM - 2:30 PM PT

When Brand Meets Entertainment and Culture at the Speed of AI

Don McGuire - Chief Marketing Officer, Qualcomm
Jasmin Jacks - Principal, Deloitte Consulting LLP
Andrew Wallenstein (Moderator) - Chief Insights Officer, Luminate

In today’s entertainment landscape, the brands that feel “everywhere” aren’t just spending more, they’re building brand equity through cultural relevance. AI is the accelerant that allows brands to move at the speed of culture—showing up in the right moments, through the right partnerships, with consistency and intent. When brand is built this way, it becomes a true growth engine.

2:30 PM - 3:05 PM PT

Building the Brand-Verse – Success with Franchises

Josh Silverman - President, Global Products & Experiences, Paramount
Sean Booker - Head of Media and Entertainment, VIZIO
Kayleen Walters - VP, Head of Mojang Studios and Franchise Development, Microsoft Gaming
Karen Barragan - Chief Marketing Officer, Blumhouse-Atomic Monster
Darren Schillace - President, Marketing, Fox Entertainment
Jay Tucker (Moderator) - Executive Director, Center for Media, Entertainment and Sports, UCLA Anderson School of Management

An exploration into best strategies for bringing beloved characters and storylines to new audience touch points, spanning sequels, podcasts, video games, spin-offs, digital content, merchandise, themed attractions and more. When is the right time to expand and in what format?

3:05 PM - 3:40 PM PT

In the Director’s Chair: Brand Storytelling Masters

Margaret Walker - EVP, Entertainment Marketing, NBCUniversal
Nicole Parlapiano - Chief Marketing Officer, Tubi
Claudine Cheever - Chief Marketing Officer, Pinterest
Jasmine Taylor - VP, Brand Marketing, Instacart
Marianna Hewitt - Co-Founder, Summer Fridays
Cynthia Littleton (Moderator) - Co-Editor-in-Chief, Variety
Nic Paul - Co-Founder & President, Spotter

When ads are often clicked away, brands are embracing storytelling to capture audience attention. How might the growth of media platforms help brands creatively break through across varied demographics? Who are the leaders in brand storytelling across formats?

3:40 PM - 4:20 PM PT

Keynote: Presidents' Roundtable

Dwight Caines - President, Domestic Marketing, Universal Pictures
Josh Goldstine - President, Global Marketing & Distribution, Paramount
Shauna Spenley - Global Chief Marketing Officer, Direct-to-Consumer, Warner Bros. Discovery
Blair Rich - Chief Marketing & Commercial Officer, Legendary Entertainment
Rebecca Kearey - EVP, Head of International Marketing, Distribution & Business Operations, Searchlight Pictures
Matt Donnelly (Moderator) - Senior Entertainment Writer, Variety

A dive into the strategies behind the industry’s top entertainment marketers. What is the best way to launch new films and TV series? What does it take to develop compelling campaigns? The best of the business converge to share their stories.

4:20 PM - 4:35 PM PT

Conversation with Jack Harris, Innovative Artists Creators

Jack Harris - Innovative Artists Creators

Harris will join Variety for a conversation about the current state and future of the creator economy, as well as how he is leading Innovative’s creator representation business with a model that is fundamentally different from others in the space.

4:35 PM - 4:55 PM PT

Keynote Conversation with Pam Abdy, Co-Chair and CEO, Warner Bros. Pictures Group

Pam Abdy - Co-Chair and CEO, Warner Bros. Pictures Group
Cynthia Littleton (Moderator) - Co-Editor-in-Chief, Variety

Abdy will speak to Warner Bros.’ exceptional year in storytelling, in which two titles garnered nominations for Best Film, One Battle After Another and Sinners.

4:55 PM - 5:30 PM PT

Entertainment Entrepreneurs Tell All

Ariana Madix - Actress, Love Island USA Host & Co-Founder, Something About Her
Patrick Ta - Celebrity Makeup Artist & Founder, Patrick Ta Beauty
Leah Kateb - Chief Creative Officer & Re-Founder, Skylar
Bobby Berk - Emmy-winning Design Expert & Television Host
Shareef O'Neal - Influencer / Creative Director, Shaq Brand
Marc Malkin (Moderator) - Senior Editor, Culture & Events, Variety

Building a brand today takes more than a great idea—it takes audience trust, timing and adaptability. Entrepreneurs break down how they build a brand from the ground up, scaled their platforms and activated existing followings to fuel new creative and business opportunities.

5:30 PM - 6:30 PM PT

Cocktail Networking Reception presented by Deloitte

Sponsorship Inquiries	Registration & Group Attendance Options	Programming Inquiries
Michelle Fine-Smith	Sabrina Lee	Susanne Ault
michelle.fine-smith@variety.com	shlee@variety.com	susanne.ault@variety.com

Where Entertainment, Brand Strategy & Culture Converge

Agenda