Culture Shifters Summit

Thursday • April 10 • 2025

• 10:00 AM Opening Remarks

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

• 10:15 AM Keynote: For the Culture

  Dr. Marcus Collins, Clinical Assistant Professor of Marketing, University of Michigan – Stephen M. Ross School of Business

• 10:45 AM Panel: The Importance of Cultural Relevance and Building a Community

  Being culturally relevant is key to building a community. This session will highlight the critical role of cultural relevance in fostering strong brand connections and building engaged communities. Marketing leaders will explore how brands can authentically align with cultural movements, create meaningful experiences and cultivate loyal audiences by understanding and reflecting consumer values back to them.

  Roy Broderick Jr., Chief Growth Officer, WHTWRKS

  Dr. Marcus Collins, Clinical Assistant Professor of Marketing, University of Michigan – Stephen M. Ross School of Business

  Moderated by: Yadira Harrison, Co-Founder, VERB

• 11:25 AM Marketing as a Mirror to Cultural Movements

  The most impactful work stems from listening to and participating in culture, not just marketing to it. Hear how brands can move beyond campaigns to become part of meaningful conversations, and how that relevance builds lasting loyalty.

  Kimberly Sterling, Head of Strategic Marketing Partnerships, Pantone

  Moderated by: Lija Hogan, Principal, Customer Experience Consultant, UserTesting

• 12:00 PM Lunch
• 1:00 PM From Awareness to Influence: Tapping into Culture to Build Brand Relevance & Lasting Loyalty

  Brands are learning to harness cultural insights in order to enhance relevance, deepen consumer connections and build lasting loyalty. Learn how leading marketers are aligning with cultural trends, leveraging storytelling and authentically engaging diverse audiences to drive influence and brand affinity.

  Angela Clark, VP of Digital Studio, Patagonia

  Kimberly Sterling, Head of Strategic Marketing Partnerships, Pantone

  Moderated by: Daniel Cornell, VP of Communications & Activation Planning, Blue Chip

• 1:45 PM The Intersection of Impact, Culture and Storytelling

  From supply chain transparency to circular fashion, this panel will explore how brands like Patagonia are setting the standard for sustainability – not just as a marketing angle, but as a core business imperative. We’ll dive into the power of community-led initiatives, the push for regenerative practices, and how companies can move beyond greenwashing to create real impact.

  Angela Clark, Vice President of Digital Studio, Patagonia

  Moderated by: Stephanie McHale, Head of Solutions, Ripple Street

• 2:15 PM How Dove Leverages Partnerships & Authentically Engages Communities to Drive Impact

  From gaming to Reddit deep dives, this panel will unpack how heritage brands like Dove are redefining relevance and authentically embedding into culture—whether through sports marketing partnerships, fans-first activations like Charli xcx & Troye Sivan’s Sweat Tour, or community-led movements to improve representation. Expect a double click on the power of the right partnerships, activating with fandoms, and the impact of community-driven engagement as part of building lasting equity.

  Lauren Baker, Senior Brand Manager, Engagement & Social Impact, Dove North America

  Dana Paolucci, Head of PR & Influence, Dove North America

  Moderated by: Kim Wiley, VP, Head of Customer, Reporting, Measurement, Captiv8

• 2:45 PM Networking Break
• 3:00 PM Legacy Brands: Connecting with Today’s Consumers through Fandom

  Laura Newman, Vice President Brand Marketing, WK Kellogg Co

  Moderated by: Tammy Evrard, VP, Sales & Brand Partnerships – Central Region, Atmosphere

• 3:30 PM How to Innovate like a Rap Star

  Learn how the “elements of an innovator” correlate to the “elements of hip hop.” Using hip hop as a lens to demonstrate innovation lessons playing out in culture, this keynote collides worlds to find common ground and new insight. With a fresh take on Trend Hunter’s Innovation Assessment, the session delivers tactical takeaways for tomorrow’s innovators.

  Jonathon Brown, Chief Growth Officer, Trend Hunter

• 4:00 PM How Brands Are Amplifying Their Presence Through Music

  From viral TikTok hits to major music festivals like Coachella and Lollapalooza, music has the power to shape culture and influence consumer behavior. This panel will explore how brands are leveraging music moments to create deeper emotional connections with audiences and stay relevant in the ever-evolving cultural landscape.

  Ghazi, CEO & Founder, EMPIRE

  Babyface Ray

  Moderated by: Dr. Marcus Collins, Clinical Assistant Professor of Marketing, University of Michigan – Stephen M. Ross School of Business