Mentor Session: Josh Antonuccio (Ohio University)

Josh Antonuccio

Director, School of Media Arts & Studies

Josh Antonuccio is the Director of the annual Music Industry Summit and Director of the School of Media Arts and Studies in Ohio University’s Scripps College of Communication.
Over nearly three decades in the music industry, he has worked as an artist, producer, studio owner, audio specialist, technology adventurist, and media journalist.
Originally from Pittsburgh, PA, Josh owned and operated a thriving music and post-production studio that served as his creative home for nearly 20 years. He is a Grammy-voting member of The Recording Academy, an ASCAP-affiliated songwriter (recipient of a New Songwriter Award in 2001), and a member of the Audio Engineering Society.
As Director of the Music Industry Summit, he has welcomed acclaimed artists and industry leaders to what is now the largest music conference in the Midwest. Entering its eighth year in 2026, the Summit was named one of the top seven U.S. music conferences. Past guests have included Jason Isbell, Earl Sweatshirt, Caamp, Phoebe Bridgers, FINNEAS, Killer Mike, DJ Premier, My Morning Jacket, Michelle Zauner of Japanese Breakfast, Saba, Chuck D, St. Vincent, Talib Kweli, mxmtoon, and Sameer Gadhia of Young The Giant, among many other leading figures shaping today’s music industry.
An independent artist and producer, Josh has worked with numerous signed and independent artists and served as a member/producer of bands that secured independent label deals. His production work spans film, television, and commercial placements. His latest project Swanpalace is a collaboration with Jim Eno of Spoon. Their debut release To Depart the Waking World arrived in May 2025.
Josh produces and hosts the Emmy-nominated series “The Sycamore Sessions,” a partnership with the Nelsonville Music Festival that features live performances and interviews with national and regional artists including Tyler Childers, Sierra Ferrell, Big Thief, and Lake Street Dive. Across ten seasons and over 140 episodes, the series has now garnered nearly five million views.
As Director of the School of Media Arts and Studies, Josh oversees programs in music production and business, film and television, sound design, documentary, and animation. His teaching focuses on the business of music, entrepreneurship, production, and sound design.
He created and directed numerous industry immersion programs, including the Music Production Master Class Series, offering in-studio apprenticeship experiences with notable producers. Past masterclasses have included Jim Eno (Providence,RI), Joel Hamilton (Studio G, Brooklyn), Steve Albini (Electrical Audio, Chicago), and 7-time Grammy winner Michael Brauer (NYC). He also led a Music Industry Masterclass in partnership with Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival.
Josh advises Brick City Records, Ohio University’s student-run record label, and WIMI (Women in Music Industry), which provides mentorship and networking for female and non-binary students.
In 2016, he helped pioneer VR production and education in the Scripps College of Communication through a nearly $1 million innovation grant, developing curriculum and production strategies for XR and ambisonic audio production across numerous disciplines including film, music, health care, paleontology, journalism, and psychology. His research has been presented at the NYC Audio Engineering Society Summit and the Harvard Virtual Reality Health Care Symposium.
His current research explores artificial intelligence in music production and distribution with insights featured in the Associated Press, NBC News, Teen Vogue, and The Dallas Observer.

Tannehill

Global Stage @ Downright Austin Backyard

Mentor Session: Arnaecia Alridge (Methix)

Mentor Session: Isabella Uknis (Universal Music Publishing Group)

Mentor Session: Lauren Apolito (The Harry Fox Agency/Rumblefish )

Mentor Session: Max Christensen (Crunchy Frog/Crunchy Tunes)

Mentor Session: Noel Morrison (SiriusXM/Pandora)

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Education, Emerging Technologies, Live Events.

MENTOR SESSION: JOSH ANTONUCCIO (OHIO UNIVERSITY)


Mentor Session: Katrina  Balcius (DISCO)

Katrina Balcius

Head of Enterprise

Head Of Enterprise, Katrina Balcius, has been instrumental to DISCO’s evolution. Renowned for her vibrant personality and transformative insights, Katrina has a deep and holistic understanding of the music industry and a unique ability to enhance workflows and drive success wherever she goes.

Connecting with labels, publishers, or artists on a daily basis, Katrina is a first-rate relationship builder and trusted problem solver, offering a broad perspective around what music industry professionals need to succeed.

A core tenet of Katrina’s career has been cultivating successful alliances. Between working at digital rights tech company Pex and Silver Side Productions, Katrina has been responsible for enterprise level tech integrations, signing new talent for sync representation, and pitching playlists to Music Supervisors for film, TV, advertising, and trailer placements.

One of the music industry’s most impactful figures under 40, Katrina has utilized her wealth of insider knowledge and magnetic disposition to grow DISCO’s digital footprint from a tool built specifically for music supervisors to the go-to file-sharing platform for the industry at large.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in A&R, Music Tech, Sync/Licensing.

MENTOR SESSION: KATRINA  BALCIUS (DISCO)


Mentor Session: Lisaann Dupont (Oak View Group)

Lisaann Dupont

Marketing Director

A California native, Lisaann Dupont grew up in a large, music-loving family. The youngest of five sisters, her earliest memories are of backyard concerts and trips to Tower Records, inspiring her to pursue a career in the music industry.
Currently Marketing Director at Plaza Theatre, she has also led marketing teams at the iconic Ryman Auditorium and Huntsville's Orion Amphitheater. Dupont serves as a mentor via Live Out Live and has been a Grammy® U Mentor and SXSW Music Track Mentor. She has appeared on panels at Pollstar, Fest Forums, Entertainment Arena Marketers Conference, and Billboard Live.
A powerful storyteller fueled by passion for live music, Dupont can be found standing side stage most evenings.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Marketing/PR, Touring, Women in Music.

MENTOR SESSION: LISAANN DUPONT (OAK VIEW GROUP)


Artificial Imagination and The Fiction After Cinema

Grégory Chatonsky

Artist

Grégory Chatonsky is a French-Canadian artist who explores the troubled zone between human beings and technologies. He deals with memory, extinction and resurrection, and constructs fictions without narration.

He founded Incident.net, a Netart platform, in 1994. In the 2000s, he explored digital materiality as ruins and flux. From 2009, he experimented with AI, organizing a seminar at ENS between 2017 and 2019 on the impact of artificial imagination on art.
He has exhibited at the Palais de Tokyo, Centre Pompidou, Jeu de Paume, MOCA Taipei, Museum of Moving Image, Hubei Wuhan Museum and many other venues. His works can be found in private and public collections, including those of the CNAP, FAC, BNF, Hubei Museum and Musée Granet. He has taught at Le Fresnoy, UQAM, Artec and Musashino Art University.

Room 203-204

XR Immersive Filmmaking & The Future of Entertainment

From Data to Decisions: Lives, Livelihoods, and the Planet

Portraits Beyond the Frame: Jonathan Yeo & Spectacles

SIMULCAST: Amy Webb Launches 2026 Emerging Tech Trend Report

Beta Testing a City: Startups, Sidewalks & Robotics

This conference examines how AI, beyond cost reduction and visual effects, inaugurates a post-photographic rupture. Cinema's factuality—rooted in photographic capture of what was—confronts AI's counterfactuality: statistical generation of what could be, freed from indexical constraints. After metabolizing cinematic language, AI opens unprecedented fictional territories: evolving generative narratives, multiversal storytelling, dissolution of boundaries between creation and reception. We explore these new fictions that transcend filming constraints and classical narration, revealing how counterfactual generation catalyzes an anthropological mutation of our fictional regimes, and a means of resistance to the dissolution of common truth.

ARTIFICIAL IMAGINATION AND THE FICTION AFTER CINEMA


Documentary Filmmaker Mentor Session: Anna Spelman

Anna Spelman

Director and Cinematographer

ANNA CLARE SPELMAN (she/her) is a filmmaker, cinematographer and editor who believes deeply in the power of stories to create social change, and who aims to combat the patterns of exploitative practices in the documentary and journalism worlds. She is passionate about healthcare and human rights, particularly within the queer community. Through collaboration with participants in her films, she works towards a world where everyone's rights are recognized and healthcare is accessible to all. Her work has been nominated for multiple News and Documentary Emmys, named a Vimeo Staff Pick and has been recognized by the GLAAD Media Awards, the Webby Awards, the Edward R. Murrow Awards, Pictures of the Year International, and NPPA Best of Photojournalism among others. She is the director of MEANT TO BE MADDIE, a feature length longitudinal documentary that chronicles a decade in the life of Maddie, a North Carolina transgender teenager as she navigates her identity and adolescence with the unwavering support of her family. Anna is a 2025 BAVC MediaMaker fellow and graduated with an MA in Visual Communication from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, where she was a Roy H. Park fellow.

Executive Room

Publicity and Marketing Mentor Session: Jenny Bloom (Bloomerang PR)

Publicity and Marketing Mentor Session: Lisa Trifone (Bright Iris Film Co.)

Publicity and Marketing Mentor Session: Maddy Bilder (26 Keys Productions)

Programming Mentor Session: Boram Park (Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival)

Programming Mentor Session: Haojie Huang (Kaohsiung Film Festival)

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Cinematography and Editing.

DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKER MENTOR SESSION: ANNA SPELMAN

Film & TV track sponsored by Crunchyroll


Documentary Filmmaker Mentor Session: Sav Rodgers

Sav Rodgers

Filmmaker

Originally from Kansas, Sav Rodgers is an American filmmaker, screenwriter, and producer.

Sav’s debut feature Chasing Chasing Amy explores the complicated legacy of Chasing Amy (1997) and its profound impression on his life. In 2018, Sav gave a TED Talk on the subject, appropriately titled, “The rom-com that saved my life.” The film had its World Premiere at Tribeca, and played at prestigious festivals including the BFI London Film Festival, and Outfest Los Angeles. Sav was awarded the Cleveland International Film Festival’s DReam Maker Award for pioneering LGBTQ+ filmmakers for his work on the documentary.

Named to Forbes 30 Under 30 in 2024, Sav is also the Founder and Executive Director of the Transgender Film Center, a nonprofit aiming to help trans creators bring finished films to audiences around the world. In 2025, Sav and the Transgender Film Center received the SXSW Community Service Award for Film & TV.

Liberty

Agents & Managers Mentor Session: Olivia Mascheroni (Verve Talent & Literary Agency)

Legal Mentor Session: Fabio de Sa Cesnik (CQS FV Law Firm)

Publicity and Marketing Mentor Session: RJ Millard (Obscured Pictures)

Publicity and Marketing Mentor Session: Traci Hanlon (Cinergy Entertainment)

Programming Mentor Session: CC Hutten (TED Conferences)

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Narrative Filmmakers, Doc Filmmakers.

DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKER MENTOR SESSION: SAV RODGERS


Documentary Filmmaker Mentor Session: Ron Mann (Films We Like)

Ron Mann

Distributor / Filmmaker

Founded by award-winning documentary filmmaker Ron Mann (Grass, Comic Book Confidential, Carmine Street Guitars) Films We Like is a boutique distributor of documentary, independent, and international films in Canada. Recent releases include It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley, Cloud and the Academy Award-winning film Flow.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Doc Filmmakers, "Sales, Acquisitions, & Distribution".

DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKER MENTOR SESSION: RON MANN (FILMS WE LIKE)


Documentary Filmmaker Mentor Session: Lina Lyte Plioplyte (Lyte Films)

Lina Lyte Plioplyte

Director

Lina Lyte Plioplyte, a Lithuanian-born filmmaker, honed her skills in New York City, starting in 2008 with NYLON magazine and fashion brands. Over 12 years, she has directed documentaries, commercials, and short films, showcasing her work on MTV, PBS, Venice Biennale, and at film festivals like SxSW and IDFA. Her films include "Advanced Style" on Amazon and "Periodical," a documentary on menstruation by XTR, premiered at SxSW and now streaming on MSNBC and Peacock. An Emmy-recognized cinematographer, Lina excels in using natural light and creating intimate visuals. She is dedicated to equilibrium, supporting women and avoiding one time use plastic on the sets, and runs Documentary Accelerators, helping filmmakers hone their story in the dynamic documentary landscape.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Doc Filmmakers, Funding/Artist Support, Producers/Production, "Sales, Acquisitions, & Distribution".

DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKER MENTOR SESSION: LINA LYTE PLIOPLYTE (LYTE FILMS)


Documentary Filmmaker Mentor Session: Nancy Blachman

Nancy Blachman

Julia Robinson Mathematics Festival & Gathering 4 Gardner

Founder & President

An authentic film buff for over 15 years, Nancy has worked with filmmakers to raise awareness about important issues, uplift marginalized voices, humanize their stories for accessibility, & develop experience strategies that encourage viewers to take action. She is an active SXSW & Sundance Film Festival Supporter, Double Exposure Film Festival Screener (2025), and Judge for the NATAS Documentary Emmys (2022-2025).

Documentaries she has supported include:  Art Spiegelman: Disaster is My Muse (SXSW London 2026, Contributing Producer), Spies Among Us (SXSW 2025, Outreach support), Counted Out (SXSW EDU 2025, Executive Producer), Roleplay (SXSW 2024, Co-Executive Producer), Butterfly In The Sky (SXSW EDU 2024, Co-Executive Producer), Aftershock (SXSW 2022, Contributing Producer), The Social Dilemma (SXSW 2022 Featured Session, Contributing Producer).

NANCY BLACHMAN founded the Julia Robinson Mathematics Festival (JRMF) that has served over 150,000 children, parents, and educators to help all children build confidence and joy around math. She was featured in Jewish News of Northern California, How do you get kids to love math? Try a festival jweekly.com/2022/08/04/qa-how-do-you-get-kids-to-love-math-try-a-festival/.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Doc Filmmakers, Funding/Artist Support, Producers/Production.

DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKER MENTOR SESSION: NANCY BLACHMAN


Documentary Filmmaker Mentor Session: Paul Lovelace (Lost Footage Films)

Paul Lovelace

Documentary Producer

Paul Lovelace is an Austin, Texas based filmmaker who has produced, edited and directed a wide range of documentaries, including IRIS(Edited and co-produced with the late Albert Maysles, released by Magnolia Pictures), AFTER SPRING (Editor, Executive Produced by Jon Stewart), and RADIO UNNAMEABLE (Director and Producer, released by Kino Lorber and aired on PBS). In 2019, Paul edited DIANA KENNEDY: NOTHING FANCY which won the Audience Award at the 2019 SXSW Film Festival. In 2021 Paul co-produced and edited THE REVEREND, a feature length documentary about the New York musician Reverend Vince Anderson which won the Audience Award at the DOC NYC film festival and was released theatrically by Factory 25 in 2022. In 2024, Paul produced and co-edited the feature length documentary SWAMP DOGG GETS HIS POOL PAINTED, which premiered at the 2024 SXSW Film Festival and was released theatrically by Magnolia Pictures to wide acclaim. Most recently, Paul edited OH YEAH!, a short documentary about the omnipresent Yello 80’s hit which premiered about the 2025 Tribeca Film Festival and will be released by Rolling Stone/XTR. Currently Paul is producing and editing a feature length documentary about the legendary rock critic Robert Christgau.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Below the Line, Development, Doc Filmmakers, Legal, International, Producers/Production, Publicity & Marketing, "Sales, Acquisitions, & Distribution".

DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKER MENTOR SESSION: PAUL LOVELACE (LOST FOOTAGE FILMS)


Documentary Filmmaker Mentor Session: Kelcey Edwards (Iron Gate East)

Kelcey Edwards

Filmmaker (Producer/Director) and Assistant Professor of Film & Television (Hofstra University)

An award-winning filmmaker, author, and curator, Kelcey Edwards received an MFA in Documentary Film from Stanford University. Her most recent feature documentary, The Art of Making It, won the 2022 Audience Award for Festival Favorites at SXSW Film Festival and is currently streaming on several platforms, including iTunes and Amazon Prime. She is an Assistant Professor of Film and Television at Hofstra University.

As a director, her films have screened at many of the top film festivals in the country, including SXSW, Hamptons International, Miami International, Big Sky, True/False, Sonoma International, Cleveland International & Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festivals. Kelcey's fiction writing has appeared in Story South and Border Crossing; her art writing has been published by Hamptons Art Hub, Portray Magazine, Whitehot Magazine, and Salomon Contemporary, and her nonfiction has been published by Stanford University Press.

Her producer credits include Wonder Women! The Untold Story of American Superheroines (SXSW premiere, PBS Independent Lens broadcast) and Words of Witness (Berlin Film Festival premiere, Al Jazeera America broadcast). She was a content writer for Honest Engine, the production company behind the IFC television series IFC Media Project, and a senior producer at the creative advertising agency TBWA/Chiat/Day where she produced commercials for clients such as beIN SPORTS and Kraft. Throughout her career, she has directed and produced a broad range of projects in a variety of mediums, ranging from a web-based game for tweens for PBS Kids to web videos for NYU Langone to a CMT award-winning music video. Kelcey is the founding director of Iron Gate East, a production company and exhibition series based in NYC and the Hamptons.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Producers/Production, Doc Filmmakers, Narrative Filmmakers.

DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKER MENTOR SESSION: KELCEY EDWARDS (IRON GATE EAST)


Mentor Session: Chirag Patel (American Association of Independent Music)

Chirag Patel

Sr. Director Of Membership

Chirag Patel is a seasoned music industry professional with experience across both India and the U.S. He holds a master’s degree in Music Business from NYU and brings a global perspective to the evolving music landscape. As Director of Membership at the American Association of Independent Music (A2IM), Chirag helps independent music companies sharpen their B2B marketing, business development, and go-to-market strategies. He specializes in building strategic partnerships between copyright owners and industry stakeholders to fuel innovation and sustainable growth. Chirag is also an active member of the Recording Academy, committed to supporting and advocating for the creative community at large.

Tannehill

Global Stage @ Downright Austin Backyard

Mentor Session: Arnaecia Alridge (Methix)

Mentor Session: Isabella Uknis (Universal Music Publishing Group)

Mentor Session: Lauren Apolito (The Harry Fox Agency/Rumblefish )

Mentor Session: Max Christensen (Crunchy Frog/Crunchy Tunes)

Mentor Session: Noel Morrison (SiriusXM/Pandora)

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Distribution, Music Tech, Emerging Technologies, Startups.

MENTOR SESSION: CHIRAG PATEL (AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT MUSIC)


Round Table: Development: Carolina Tamez and Henry Kittredge

Henry Kittredge

Producer, Film & TV

Henry Kittredge is a producer and executive at ICONOCLAST, based in Los Angeles. He oversees the development and production of on English-language film and television projects across the company.

ICONOCLAST works across the commercial, music video, film and television worlds, producing such films as Harmony Korine’s SPRING BREAKERS, Romain Gavras’ ATHENA, and most recently SACRIFICE, starring Chris Evans and Anya Taylor-Joy, which premiered at the 2025 Toronto Film Festival. The company has offices in Paris, Los Angeles, London, Berlin, Sao Paulo, Mexico City, Barcelona, and Milan.

Prior to Iconoclast, Henry served as an executive at Liza Chasin’s company 3dot productions and worked for London-based production company Working Title Films. Prior to that, Henry worked in the Motion Picture Talent department at Creative Artists Agency. He started his career working for Terrence Malick in Austin, TX.

Carolina Tamez

Producer

Carolina Tamez launched her career in television, working with BBC, National Geographic, and NBC before moving into producing films that champion multicultural storytelling. Her work has screened at Cannes Critics’ Week, Berlinale, Tribeca, TIFF, and more, earning support from the Spike Lee Film Production Fund and the Hollywood Foreign Press. She served as creative producer on I’m No Longer Here, shortlisted for Best International Feature at the 2021 Oscars. As co-founder of Rever Films, Carolina develops projects amplifying Latin voices and mentors young women entering the industry.

Representative

Round Table: Programming: Landon Zakheim, Monica Garcia Massague, and R.J. LaForce

Round Table: Sales, Acquisitions, and Distribution: Amy Beecroft, Joe Yanick, and Shaked Berenson

Round Table: Producing: Ashleigh Snead, Kelly Williams, and Liz Cardenas

Round Table: Acting: Alexandra Barreto, Alyssa Rodriguez, and Rider Strong

Round Table: Narrative Filmmaking: Adam Hoelzel, Jessica M. Thompson, and Paul Gandersman

An extension of our popular Mentor Sessions, our Round Table Sessions not only allow attendees to learn from the industry experts that sit at each of the three tables in this session but they also allow attendees to learn from the questions and experiences of their peers as well. This Round Table Session will bring together industry experts and SXSW attendees for an enlightening discussion on Development.

ROUND TABLE: DEVELOPMENT: CAROLINA TAMEZ AND HENRY KITTREDGE


Sober Space Meet Up - 3/14

Paige Danoff

Founder

Sober and Funky was founded by Paige Danoff in Austin as a response to the lack of social spaces that didn’t revolve around alcohol. Drawing from her background in hospitality, events, and design, Paige created Sober and Funky to make sobriety feel fun and social. The community hosts pop-ups, parties, workshops, and brand collaborations centered on connection and elevated non-alcoholic drinks. Sober and Funky welcomes the sober, sober-curious, and anyone craving a more intentional way to gather.

Conrádo Markel

Director of Operations

Conrádo is a dedicated and passionate supporter of mental heath initiatives and the recovery community of Central Texas. His work in the non-profit communities of Austin, has empowered him to embrace a mission of service and serve as a change maker and advocate for the wellbeing of those in need. He currently works in the mental health and recovery space, connecting and helping musicians and music industry professionals pay for therapy and recovery resources through the work of The SIMS Foundation.

Brazos

More Analog, Less Noise Please: City Builders Meet Up

Understanding Crypto: Conversations for the Curious Meet Up

Sober Space is a welcoming gathering place for people in all forms of recovery during SXSW 2026. This space hosts all-format recovery meetings for Friends of Bill and all SXSW attendees who are seeking a supportive meeting environment during the festival. Participants are invited to sit together and share experience, strength, and hope in a confidential, judgment-free setting. Meetings are facilitated by The SIMS Foundation alongside trusted leaders from the recovery community.


OpenAI & Spurs: Building Human-Centered AI for Fans, Partners, and Communities

RC Buford

CEO

Currently in his 34th season with Spurs Sports & Entertainment (SS&E), RC Buford was named CEO in 2019. In this role, he provides day-to-day alignment and long-term strategic vision for the 400-plus full-time and 1,000-plus part-time staff who make up SS&E. The organization owns and operates the San Antonio Spurs, Austin Spurs (NBA G League) and San Antonio FC (USL Soccer), as well as manages the day-to-day operations of Spurs Give (Foundation), the Frost Bank Center, The Rock at La Cantera, Toyota Field and STAR Complex.

A two-time NBA Executive of the Year, RC previously served as General Manager and President of Sports Franchises, helping guide the Spurs to sustained success over two decades. His career began in coaching, with roles at the University of Kansas, University of Florida, and alongside Gregg Popovich with the Spurs.

He remains active in global basketball development through Basketball Without Borders and PeacePlayers International and serves on the advisory board for Duke University’s Fuqua/Coach K Center on Leadership & Ethics.

Chris Lehane

Chief Policy Officer

Chris Lehane is Chief Global Affairs Officer and a member of the executive team at OpenAI. Prior to joining OpenAI, Chris was Chief Strategy Officer/Operating Partner at Haun Ventures.  From 2015 to 2021, Chris served on the executive management team of Airbnb and led the company’s policy and communications work. Before his time at Airbnb, Chris co-founded Fabiani & Lehane, a strategic consultancy that advised political, corporate, technology, entertainment, and professional sports clients. In the 1990s, he served in various positions in the administration of President Bill Clinton, including as Press Secretary to Vice President Al Gore and Special Assistant Counsel to President Clinton. Chris currently serves on the Board of Directors of Coinbase (NASDAQ: COIN), is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, Trustee Emeritus of Amherst College and has served on numerous non-profit advisory boards.  He holds a B.A. from Amherst College and a J.D. from Harvard Law School.

Natalie Cone

Head Of Openai Forum, Global Affairs

Natalie Cone designed and launched the OpenAI Forum in the summer of 2023 and continues to lead OpenAI’s interdisciplinary community of experts. The Forum brings together thoughtful contributors from diverse backgrounds and domains to foster dialogue at the intersection of AI, academia, industry, culture, and society. Before joining OpenAI, Natalie served as Director of Community for Scale AI’s machine learning community of practice, the AI Exchange. She brings a deep background in the arts, holding a degree in History of Art from UC Berkeley, and has held leadership roles across cultural institutions—including serving as Director of Operations and Programs and a board member at the radical performing arts center CounterPulse, as well as leading visitor and member experience at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts.

Charlie Kurian

Director of Innovation And Strategy

Charlie Kurian is a visionary leader at the forefront of sports innovation, combining a decade of experience in venture capital, consumer tech, SaaS, and global strategy to redefine industries and drive transformative growth. His innovative mindset has fueled projects generating over $500 million in revenue and has positioned the Spurs as pioneers in cutting-edge technology and business strategy. From orchestrating the launch of the iPhone 6—the most popular iPhone in history—to reimagining the global business model for the RFK Center for Justice alongside Kerry Kennedy, Charlie has consistently turned bold ideas into impactful realities. He was instrumental in helping the NBA break into the Indian market, inspiring over 18 million kids across 5 years, and has earned the trust of sovereign wealth funds in the Middle East to steer billion-dollar investments into transformative early stage startups. At Spurs Sports & Entertainment, Charlie has championed initiatives that blend innovation and strategy, making the organization a leader in sports technology. He led the adoption of AI-powered fan engagement platforms, integrated immersive technologies like AR/VR, and made history by launching the first-ever NBA team deployment of ChatGPT Enterprise. His work continues to drive cultural shifts and set new benchmarks in the industry. Charlie’s expertise in human-centered design, behavioral science, and market strategy has shaped solutions replicated across industries, delivering value on a global scale. Whether shaping technology used by millions or forging pathways for next-generation innovation, Charlie’s ability to envision the future and execute with precision has made him a sought-after leader and trusted voice in business.

Jordan Kolosey

VP, Business Strategy, Innovation & Data Operations

Jordan Kolosey is a data-driven leader in sports and entertainment, bringing over 15 years of experience across six different professional leagues to his role as Vice President of Business Strategy, Innovation & Data Operations at the San Antonio Spurs. Passionate about using data to enhance fan engagement, drive innovation, and build stronger communities, Jordan is committed to creating memorable experiences that deepen connections between teams and their fans. Originally from St. Petersburg, Florida, Jordan played four years of collegiate basketball before earning a B.A. in Economics and an MBA from Rollins College. His career has been defined by a unique blend of analytical expertise, strategic leadership, and a love for the game, making him a dynamic force in shaping the future of sports business. Outside of work, Jordan is a proud father to Scarlett (4) and Jude (2). While his last dunk attempt in 2017 was a success, he has no plans to try again—ever.

Salon D

Designing the Future of Human Performance

The Companies Building and Automating Space's Superhighway

What AI Agents Are Doing While You're Not Watching

The New Lab Partner: AI and Future Scientific Discovery

Humanoid Robots Are Clocking In: Meet Who’s Putting Them To Work

How do you scale AI without losing the human touch? In this session, leaders from the San Antonio Spurs and OpenAI share how they’re using AI to create more meaningful experiences for fans, partners, and communities. From personalized fan engagement and family-focused experiences to internal productivity and decision-making, the Spurs offer a real-world look at how purpose-built AI tools are being used on and off the court. Attendees will walk away with practical lessons on responsible AI adoption, concrete use cases from a global sports franchise, and a blueprint for putting people first while bringing cutting-edge technology to the courtside.

OPENAI & SPURS: BUILDING HUMAN-CENTERED AI FOR FANS, PARTNERS, AND COMMUNITIES


Mentor Session: AJ Tobey (Rough Trade Publishing/Bank Robber Music/Trash Casual)

AJ Tobey

Head of A&R

If you’ve been accustomed to attending shows in NYC for the past decade or so, chances are you been in the room with AJ Tobey. As head of A&R for Rough Trade Publishing, Bank Robber Music, and Academy Fight Songs, and the founder of Brooklyn based label and management company Trash Casual, AJ has been busy curating the best new sounds to join an already impressive publishing roster that includes artists like The Magnetic Fields, Alvvays and Chelsea Wolfe, and labels such as Merge, Drag City and Mute Records, and Trash Casual artists Drop Nineteens, Dead Tooth, VOSH, and Spiral Heads. Before diving head-first into the world of publishing and licensing, AJ spent 8 years managing emerging indie rock bands, consulting for record labels, and heading up operations for Flea Marketing, a company that served as the liaison between labels (including Warner Bros, Dangerbird and Barsuk Records) and top independent record stores.

Tannehill

Global Stage @ Downright Austin Backyard

Mentor Session: Arnaecia Alridge (Methix)

Mentor Session: Isabella Uknis (Universal Music Publishing Group)

Mentor Session: Lauren Apolito (The Harry Fox Agency/Rumblefish )

Mentor Session: Max Christensen (Crunchy Frog/Crunchy Tunes)

Mentor Session: Noel Morrison (SiriusXM/Pandora)

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in A&R, Management, Publishing, Sync/Licensing.

MENTOR SESSION: AJ TOBEY (ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING/BANK ROBBER MUSIC/TRASH CASUAL)


Featured Session: A Conversation with Garry Tan

Garry Tan

President/CEO

Salon 6-8

Featured Session: A Conversation With Spotify's New Co-CEO About The Past, Present And Future Of Delivering Creativity To The World

Featured Session: Shaping Brand Relevance for a New Generation

Featured Session: A Waste of Time with Larry David and Jeff Schaffer

Featured Session: Why Saying Yes to the Unthinkable Works

Featured Session: Albuquerque Aftermath: From Breaking Bad to Pluribus with Rhea Seehorn, Vince Gilligan, and Key Creatives

Hear from the President & CEO of Y Combinator. In addition to his Featured Session, Garry Tan will co-emcee the SXSW Pitch 2026 Award Ceremony alongside Josephine Chen of Sequoia Capital.

FEATURED SESSION: A CONVERSATION WITH GARRY TAN


Mentor Session: Brent Kelton (Moneta Ventures)

Brent Kelton

General Partner & Texas Leader

Brent Kelton is a Partner and Texas Leader at Moneta Ventures and has been working in the business and technology field for 30 years. He is focused on large enterprise business transformation leveraging leading-edge software and technology solutions and brings proven operational experience, combined with sustainable growth and financial expertise, to Moneta’s portfolio companies. He also enjoys mentoring founders and exposing them to his broad network to drive growth and successful outcomes.
Throughout his career, Brent has led large organizations at Rapidigm, Fujitsu, Sparta Consulting, and KPIT, playing key roles as a partner, co-founder, and CEO in building and successfully exiting three businesses. Prior to joining Moneta, he served as CEO of Ameri100, taking the company public on the NASDAQ in 2017. He has also served on multiple company and nonprofit boards and advisory boards.
Brent graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Analysis and Management Information Systems. He has also completed executive education courses at the Stanford Graduate School of Business.

Room 400-402

Mentor Session: Ali Tager (National Cryptocurrency Association)

Mentor Session: Aniesia Williams (dreambloc)

Mentor Session: Avantika Bagri (Centana Growth Partners)

Mentor Session: Brittan Heller (Stanford Law School)

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Funding, Entrepreneurship, Storytelling, Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning, Business Development, Energy, MedTech, Fintech, Product Management/Development.

MENTOR SESSION: BRENT KELTON (MONETA VENTURES)


Mentor Session: Grace Ling (Design Buddies)

Grace Ling

Founder, Designer, Content Creator

Grace Ling is the Cofounder of Design Buddies and CoCreate, a global community and education program with an audience of 2 million+ helping designers land jobs and companies hire designers. She is a designer, illustrator, founder, content creator, and competitive runner. She is also the co-host of the popular podcast How Creators Make Money. Grace draws and creates content about design and life. Grace travels the world to speak at conferences and host events. She lives in San Francisco but has been to 40+ countries around the world.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Content Strategy/Production, Storytelling.

MENTOR SESSION: GRACE LING (DESIGN BUDDIES)

Creator Economy track sponsored by Yamaha


Mentor Session: Simon Erich (Trooper)

Simon Erich

Founder / CEO

Simon Erich is an Austin-native serial entrepreneur and creative veteran with over 30 years of experience at the intersection of design and technology. A pioneer in digital media, he began his career at Valiant Comics, where he was the industry's first computer letterers and digital painters for Marvel and DC Comics . After a decade in New York City co-founding Ember Media and launching the "DigiCard" to the U.S. market, Simon returned to Austin to found several successful ventures, including the digital agency SiteGoals and the proposal software Quotingly.

Currently, Simon is the Founder and CEO of Trooper, a specialized startup revolutionizing WordPress maintenance and support for agencies and businesses. Throughout his career, he has delivered complex digital solutions for hundreds of global clients, including HBO, Citi, Polycom, Logitech, R/GA, Saatchi & Saatchi, and the United Nations. A self-described "total geek," Simon was formerly named the Nintendo Ambassador for Austin and remains an avid climber, archer, kayak angler, and game designer.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Business Development, Entrepreneurship, Marketing/Advertising/PR.

Brand & Marketing track sponsored by Youtube


Mentor Session: Amanda Garcia Davenport (The Recording Academy )

Amanda Garcia Davenport

Sr. Manager, Member & Industry Outreach

Amanda Garcia Davenport was born and raised in San Antonio, TX, and built her career in Austin, where she immersed herself in the world of music, storytelling, and community. She joined the Recording Academy in January 2020 as the Membership Manager for the Texas Chapter. In her current role, she leads national membership outreach for Pop, Dance/Electronic, New Age, Ambient, and Chant genres, while also supporting the Texas, Memphis, and Pacific Northwest Chapters.
Before joining the Academy, Davenport worked at Giant Noise PR. Prior to that, she served as the Outreach and Communications Specialist at the SIMS Foundation, a nonprofit providing mental health and addiction recovery support to music industry professionals and their families. Earlier in her career, she held several roles at Visit Austin, including Music and Film Coordinator and Music Industry Manager, where she helped shape Austin’s reputation as the “Live Music Capital of the World.”
In addition to her professional work, Amanda is a founding co-chair of the Women in Music Austin chapter, reflecting her commitment to advocacy and equity in the industry. She earned her degree from Texas State University and currently resides in South Austin with her familia, and their dog, Chico.

Tannehill

Global Stage @ Downright Austin Backyard

Mentor Session: Arnaecia Alridge (Methix)

Mentor Session: Isabella Uknis (Universal Music Publishing Group)

Mentor Session: Lauren Apolito (The Harry Fox Agency/Rumblefish )

Mentor Session: Max Christensen (Crunchy Frog/Crunchy Tunes)

Mentor Session: Noel Morrison (SiriusXM/Pandora)

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Marketing/PR, Women in Music, Nonprofits.

MENTOR SESSION: AMANDA GARCIA DAVENPORT (THE RECORDING ACADEMY )


Mentor Session: Laura Parkinson (LinkedIn)

Laura Parkinson

Global Head of Brand Experience

Laura Parkinson is an accomplished marketing executive with more than 17 years of experience specializing in brand experiences that have helped define the most impactful consumer and enterprise technology products that we enjoy every day. Beginning with the South By Southwest Festival (SXSW), she brought brands such as Adobe, IFC, and Atlantic Records to life. At Apple, Laura worked on brand expansion into the China APAC markets, unveiled the iPhone 4, and introduced the iPad. At Google, she led teams across global product launches and industry award winning brand experiential including Nest, Google Cloud, YouTube, Google X, and others. Her team won the Marketer of the Year honor at 2018 Cannes Lions. She is currently Global Head of Brand Experience at LinkedIn. Laura attended the University of Texas at Austin and lives with her family in Marin County, California.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Marketing/Advertising/PR, Content Strategy/Production, Immersive Technology.

MENTOR SESSION: LAURA PARKINSON (LINKEDIN)


Documentary Filmmaker Mentor Session: Jeffrey Brown (Big Day Pictures)

Jeffrey Brown

Producer/Director

Jeffrey Brown has produced and directed a number of award-winning feature documentaries in Europe, Africa, Asia and North America, playing top international festivals (Sundance, Cannes, IDFA, SXSW) and being released in cinemas and on top platforms (Netflix, Amazon, Apple, HBO). He has an extensive background in arts & culture docs, especially music related. Highlights: "No No: A Dockumentary" on African American baseball pitcher Dock Ellis's legendary no-hitter, "Through The Repellent Fence" on the Native American art collective PostCommodity’s two-mile long outdoor artwork straddling the U.S. - Mexico border, "Punk in Africa" on the continent’s multi-racial punk movement. “Nothing Stays The Same: The Story of The Saxon Pub” won the SXSW Music Doc Prize in 2019. He is currently in late production of a German spy doc, among other. Brown consults on numerous film projects and regularly conducts his popular Documentary Master Class series around the globe. Having produced films internationally, he has extensive experience with foreign markets.

Executive Room

Publicity and Marketing Mentor Session: Jenny Bloom (Bloomerang PR)

Publicity and Marketing Mentor Session: Lisa Trifone (Bright Iris Film Co.)

Publicity and Marketing Mentor Session: Maddy Bilder (26 Keys Productions)

Programming Mentor Session: Boram Park (Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival)

Programming Mentor Session: Haojie Huang (Kaohsiung Film Festival)

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Doc Filmmakers, Producers/Production.

DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKER MENTOR SESSION: JEFFREY BROWN (BIG DAY PICTURES)


Mentor Session: Jun Young (Zany) Jung (Kreatorsnetwork Inc.)

Jun Young (Zany) Jung

PM

A music and artist marketing specialist with over nine years of experience in the entertainment industry, including Sony Music, working across a wide range of global and domestic acts. Currently leading strategies that support Korean artists entering the global market and guide foreign artists in developing impactful marketing campaigns not only in Korea but across other East Asian markets at Kreatorsnetwork Inc.

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Marketing/PR, Data, Startups.

MENTOR SESSION: JUN YOUNG (ZANY) JUNG (KREATORSNETWORK INC.)


Keeping It Real: AI, Human Data, and the Future of Brand Connections

Chris Manzini

Head Of Global Communications

Chris Manzini is Senior Vice President, Head of Global Communications at PepsiCo where he oversees teams focused on external and employee communications, crisis and issues, brand marketing communications and corporate digital communications for the company and is responsible for protecting and increasing PepsiCo’s corporate reputation. Prior to PepsiCo, Chris spent more than 20 years at Edelman, the world’s largest communications firm, where he held several leadership positions ranging from managing key parts of the business as a general manager, to managing core practice areas, such as corporate and crisis management, and serving as client relationship owners for, among others, PepsiCo, Shell, Starbucks and Yum!. Most recently, Chris served as President of an Edelman-owned agency built for Microsoft called Assembly, working with the company to establish their leadership position in AI, increase trust, improve innovation perceptions, advance the company’s gaming ambition, and grow brand love.

Billy Jones

CMO

Billy joined Hootsuite in 2022 and leads the company’s global marketing organization as Chief Marketing Officer. Before Hootsuite, he served as a business lead at BBDO Worldwide, shaping marketing strategy for many of the world’s most recognized brands. Billy is known for blending the art and science of marketing — turning deep customer insight and bold creative ideas into measurable business results.

Waterloo Ballroom 3

Hsu Untied: Beyond Numbers: Decision-Making in the Math Classroom

The Learning Geeks: How to Think When Machines Think Faster

Chalk & Gavel: Navigating the Tides of an Education Law Sea Change

Beyond Voting: Defending Truth in Education: AI, Equity, & Power

Forget Moments Marketing: Welcome to Worldbuilding

Brands are racing to adopt efficient, prompt-driven systems. But as we continue building a world optimized for machines, how do brands stay meaningful to people?

Join Chris Manzini, Head of Global Communications for PepsiCo and Billy Jones, CMO of Hootsuite powered by TalkwalkerAI, as they share their thoughts on  navigating artificial intelligence in a human world.

This isn’t just another debate about AI hype. It will be a real conversation about where AI helps brands understand people better—and where it quietly creates trust, culture, or reputation risks in ways leaders can’t ignore.

KEEPING IT REAL: AI, HUMAN DATA, AND THE FUTURE OF BRAND CONNECTIONS


Swiftie Meet Up

Audrey Ullman

Conference Programmer

Conference Programmer in charge of the Design and Health tracks, as well as the Mentor Program.

Room 408

Convene, Collaborate, & Cultivate Connection: Moms Meet Up

Whether you’ve been a fan since “Beautiful Eyes,” or you just discovered her when you were dragged to see “The Eras Tour” in theaters by a fanatical friend, you’re welcome at this Meet Up for Swifties at SXSW. Friendship bracelet trading encouraged but not required.


Mentor Session: Bridget FitzGibbons (Lonely Planet)

Bridget FitzGibbons

Brand Marketing Director

Based in South Florida, Bridget FitzGibbons is the Director of Brand Marketing at Lonely Planet, leading the consumer brand and awareness campaigns for the travel brand. She's helped guide brand strategy and marketing campaign development for McCann Worldgroup + Disney. Passionate about helping empower women and especially as adolescents, she is a supporter and previous mentor for GirlForward and PACE Center for Girls.

Room 400-402

Mentor Session: Ali Tager (National Cryptocurrency Association)

Mentor Session: Aniesia Williams (dreambloc)

Mentor Session: Avantika Bagri (Centana Growth Partners)

Mentor Session: Brittan Heller (Stanford Law School)

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in Storytelling, Marketing/Advertising/PR.

MENTOR SESSION: BRIDGET FITZGIBBONS (LONELY PLANET)


Annual Legal Update for Indie Film and TV

Chris Perez

Partner

Chris specializes in all aspects of the firm’s practice, including representing independent producers and production companies through development, financing, production, rights clearance and distribution. He has helped hundreds of productions secure the E&O insurance necessary to distribute their films and has established himself as an advocate for artists’ rights.  In addition to representing filmmakers, Chris serves as counsel to writers, podcast producers, radio personalities, museums and foundations.
Chris regularly lectures on production, distribution, financing, and clearance issues at various law schools and producing programs around the world and regularly contributes op-ed pieces for publications including the Daily Journal, LA Lawyer and Realscreen.  Chris is also co-author of the 5th Edition of Clearance & Copyright, the industry’s leading book on rights clearances in film and television.  He is often asked to provide expert authority on to entertainment law, copyright, artificial intelligence and other cutting-edge legal issues by various podcasts and publications, including The Hollywood Reporter, Variety and Forbes.
Chris has also been a leader on several of the firm’s advocacy projects since 2008, including the landmark Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) exemptions secured for filmmakers, for which he was recognized as one of California Lawyer’s “Attorneys of the Year.”  He has been recognized for several other prestigious awards by Variety, California Lawyer and U.S. News.
Chris graduated from the University of Michigan, where he produced, directed, and wrote several student films. He earned his JD at the USC Gould School of Law, where he remains actively engaged with the Latino Law Students Association.
Prior to working with Donaldson Callif Perez, Chris worked for California Lawyers for the Arts, Technicolor, and the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard Law School.

Dale Nelson

Partner/Attorney

Dale Nelson is a partner in the Beverly Hills boutique Donaldson Callif Perez. Prior to joining the firm, Dale served as Vice President and Senior Intellectual Property counsel at Warner Bros. for over 25 years. Dale specializes in issues related to copyrights, trademarks, personal rights and clearance, championing the free speech rights of clients in the filmmaking and creative industries. Dale is also a frequent speaker on IP topics and is currently Immediate Past Chair of AIPPI-US, the US chapter of AIPPI, an international IP organization with over 80 countries represented.  Dale is also on the Endowment Board of the Western Center on Law and Poverty, and on the Board of the Independent Shakespeare Company, a non-profit entity hosting free Shakespeare productions in Los Angeles' Griffith Park. Dale was recently recognized in Variety’s 2024 Legal Impact Report for her work with independent filmmakers.

Michael Donaldson

Founding Partner

Michael is an entertainment attorney who has been fighting for independent filmmakers for over 40 years. In addition to working on films by such industry icons as Oliver Stone, Davis Guggenheim and Lawrence Bender, Michael serves as General Counsel to Film Independent (home of the Independent Spirit Awards and the Los Angeles Film Festival) and the Writers Guild Foundation.

He is the industry’s go-to attorney for fair use (a doctrine in United States copyright law permitting limited use of copyrighted material without permission from the rights holders) and other clearance- and rights-related issues.

Michael graduated from UC Berkeley School of Law, Boalt Hall in 1967. His book Clearance and Copyright, now in its fifth edition and has his law partners as co-authors. It is used in over 50 film schools and has become the standard industry reference book. Michael also wrote Negotiating for Dummies (now in its second edition and translated into eleven languages), Fearless Negotiating (published in hardback in 2007 by McGraw Hill) and The E-Z Legal Guide to Trademarks & Copyrights.

Michael has worked on such projects as “This Film is Not Yet Rated” (where all 134 clips were utilized under fair use), “Wanderlust” (saving its filmmaker over $400,000) and “Expelled” (which featured the song “Imagine,” prompting an unsuccessful lawsuit by Yoko Ono).

Mansfield AB

From Vault to Vision: Reviving Film History with AI

Producing Without Borders: Navigating Global Film

Lessons Learned: How We Made Our First Feature

Going Off Script: Filmmaking Through an Indigenous Lens

Chris Perez and his partners Michael Donaldson and Dale Nelson will be back for another lively
(and surprisingly entertaining) update on the many legal developments affecting the indie film
community.

The distribution landscape has once again changed since last we were together at SXSW.  While the number of buyers for independent films seems to have contracted, numbers show that the theatrical business is alive and well, and films are still getting financed and produced. The Trump administration has cut funding for public television, affecting the documentary film market. New distribution models have sprung up, and self-distribution is once again a popular route.

Since last year, several legal issues have come to the fore. The topic that continues to take
shape from a legal standpoint is AI. What do you need to be concerned about as a user of
GenAI content? As a creator, should you be concerned about use of your works to train LLMs?
We will explore the ever-evolving legal landscape when it comes to AI.

Fair use continues to be a useful tool for both documentary and scripted filmmakers, so we’ll
cover the latest fair use cases affecting filmmakers.

Films based on or inspired by a true story continue to not only be popular among viewers but
have also led to a number of important lawsuits.

Bring all your burning questions, because these three leaders in the indie industry tend to stay
on to help you learn more about anything you need to know.

ANNUAL LEGAL UPDATE FOR INDIE FILM AND TV


Mentor Session: Kamryn Kobal (Open Management )

Kamryn Kobal

Manager

As a Texas native, I started my journey at The University of Texas in the live music capitol, Austin, TX, where I got my start in management with my first job at C3 Management. Around this time, I started my gig as an A&R consultant for Elektra Music Group - loving how the two roles allowed me to upstream talent to a major labor but also dive into the intricate world of touring artists as a manager. Balancing university work and figuring out the music industry, as a whole, after being at C3 Management for over a year, Jack Gallagher and I left the company to start - Open Management. Our roster includes a handful of bands including Mt. Joy, Susannah Joffe, Chaparelle, The Bends, Sun Room, Luke Tyler Shelton, Timmy Skelly, and Saige Davis. I fell in love with music at a young age through the community that it creates among listeners, especially between young women and I feel so lucky that I get to spend my days working with some of my favorite artists.

Tannehill

Global Stage @ Downright Austin Backyard

Mentor Session: Arnaecia Alridge (Methix)

Mentor Session: Isabella Uknis (Universal Music Publishing Group)

Mentor Session: Lauren Apolito (The Harry Fox Agency/Rumblefish )

Mentor Session: Max Christensen (Crunchy Frog/Crunchy Tunes)

Mentor Session: Noel Morrison (SiriusXM/Pandora)

Meeting with this mentor is highly recommended if you're interested in A&R, Management, Marketing/PR.

MENTOR SESSION: KAMRYN KOBAL (OPEN MANAGEMENT )


State of the DIY Artist

Curtiss King

Rapper, Producer, and Media Entrepreneur

Curtiss King is an independent rapper, producer, and media entrepreneur championing DIY artists. He has production credits with Kendrick Lamar and E-40, and founded Curtiss King TV, reaching over 340K creators through hip hop analysis, interviews, and education. A direct-to-consumer pioneer, his album DIY 2 hit #1 on iTunes Hip Hop. He is the author of The Prosperous Hip Hop Producer and a leading voice on music, culture, and independence.

Abe Batshon

Founder, CEO

Abe Batshon is the visionary Founder and CEO of BeatStars, the world's largest digital production marketplace. Under his leadership, BeatStars has paid out over $450 million to independent producers and has become the go-to platform for beat licensing and rights management. Abe is passionate about empowering independent creators and building a more equitable music industry.

Capitol Ballroom ABCD

Beyond the Track: Storytelling Across Music, Film & New Visual Frontiers with Vic Mensa

Who Gets Credit When Anyone Can Train a Music AI?

Darkchild On the Record: Music, Legacy, and Change

The Numbers Behind the Hits: How Data is Driving K-pop's Global Domination

Abe Batshon (BeatStars) and Curtiss King map how creators are building careers on their own terms — from publishing and direct monetization to growing audiences and protecting IP. Expect actionable tactics, honest tradeoffs, and a live Q&A that gives producers and indie artists the step-by-step playbook to level up.


It’s Not Too Late: Art and Technology Can Unf*ck the Future

Karen Palmer

Storyteller from the Future

Nonny De La Peña

ASU Narrative and Emerging Media Program

Founding Director

Amy Seidenwurm

Chief of Programs and Strategy

Agog Chief of Programs and Strategy Amy Seidenwurm is a globally recognized innovator and technology leader. Prior to joining Agog, she founded ANTLER, a consultancy that deploys immersive experiences for social good. Previously, she created VR experiences as executive producer of Meta’s VR for Good initiative. Amy has produced award-winning VR projects that have been selected for more than 50 festivals and social good events, including Sundance, SXSW Film, Tribeca Film Festival, Skoll World Forum, Venice Film Festival, The Nobel Peace Museum, and the UN General Assembly. She received a Peabody Award as executive producer of You Destroy. We Create | The war on Ukraine’s culture. At the Los Angeles Philharmonic and The Hollywood Bowl, she produced digital projects, including a traveling orchestral VR experience called VAN Beethoven that brought classical music and VR to underserved arts communities. Earlier in her career, Amy spent time as a record industry executive at Elektra, Virgin, and Sub Pop.

Tim Disney

Writer

Tim Disney is an artist and entrepreneur based in Los Angeles. He has produced, written, or directed multiple award-winning feature films and documentaries that have screened at Sundance, Telluride, SXSW, and other festivals. He served as chairman and chief executive officer of Virtual World Entertainment, an early pioneer in XR-based entertainment systems, which was later sold to Microsoft. Tim is the creator and co-writer of “The A.R.C.”, a satirical graphic novel that will be released by Gungnir Books in July of 2026.

Salon D

Who’s Funding the Future—and Who’s Getting Left Out

Thrive or Survive: Why Creativity is the Key to an AI-Future

The Story of Stories—The Million Year History of Storytelling

Skills You’ll Need To Succeed in the Post-AI Age

Through the Noise: The State of Science Storytelling

An honest, wide-angle conversation about technology, art, and possibility at a moment defined by polarization, climate disruption, and media fatigue. Neither a defense nor a rejection of technology, this panel explores what emerging and immersive media enable when paired with human agency, creativity, and care. Panelists grapple with real harm and real possibility, discussing how storytelling can connect us rather than divide us and help move beyond doom-and-gloom toward inspiration, imagination, and collective repair.

IT?S NOT TOO LATE: ART AND TECHNOLOGY CAN UNF*CK THE FUTURE


Experiential Marketing Meet Up

Jessica Schneider

Business Development Director

As Business Development Director at The Deli, Jessica Schneider specializes in expanding creative ecosystems and pioneering long-term client growth. 7+ years of experience in media and advertising, she bridges the gap between emerging market trends and impactful brand partnerships. Jessica is dedicated to evolving modern production models, ensuring brands stay ahead of cultural shifts through agile, story-driven experiential work.

Cia Mellegers

Executive Producer/Head of Production

Cia is a seasoned producer with a passion for storytelling and a talent for bringing ambitious ideas to life. With 10 years in commercial production, she's an Executive Producer and Head of Production at The Deli, overseeing large-scale activations and events, commercial campaigns, and branded content.

Join fellow creatives, artists, producers, and brand and agency leaders for an engaging meetup centred on experiential marketing and immersive experiences. Whether you're here to exchange ideas, find collaborators, or get inspired, this event is designed to spark meaningful connections. A fun, participant-led icebreaker will help kickstart the conversation.


The Death of Passive Entertainment–A Future for Participants

Julia Hartz

Co-Founder, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Chair

Julia Hartz is the Co-founder, CEO, and Executive Chair of Eventbrite. Under her leadership, Eventbrite has grown from an innovative idea to one of the world’s largest marketplaces for shared experiences, which powers live events in nearly 180 countries. Since its founding in 2006, the company has generated billions of dollars in gross ticket sales.

David Salazar

Staff Editor

David Salazar is an editor who has spent 10 years in business journalism, first in trade publications and now as an associate editor at Fast Company. At the leading publication focused on business innovation, he uses his knowledge of the healthcare system and a broad set of interests to help elevate Fast Company’s coverage of health, pharma, the music industry, streaming services, the business of culture, and tech targeted at the LGBTQIA+ community.

For four years, he has overseen Fast Company’s Brands That Matter list, which honors brands who are fueling fan affinity and influencing culture in ways that are in-line with their overall positioning. He regularly moderates panels at Fast Company and outside events.

Kate Wolff

Founder & Ceo

At Lupine Creative, Kate serves as pack leader on all business. She built a traditional 360 advertising background through work at agencies including Publicis Modem, DDB, TBWA\Chiat\Day, Omelet LA and RQ. Kate’s deep understanding of the advertising/marketing space frequently turns traditional brand marketing strategy on its head through cultural, data and behavioral insights.

She built LA-based Lupine in February 2020 with a base of experiential, social, and cultural expertise – to boast year-over-year revenue growth. The approach that’s made the difference: experiences and partnerships that manifest as cultural capital. Lupine clients include Spotify, Max, LG, Google, Teva, FX, BoxLunch and more.

Dani Calogera

Founder & CEO

Dani Calogera, recognized by Variety as one of 'Hollywood's New Leaders' is an award-winning brand-builder & entertainment marketer. She has been key in architecting groundbreaking, press-worthy marketing efforts for top programming from HBO, SHOWTIME, AppleTV+, A24, 20th Century Fox & Bravo. Key projects include: Yellowjackets, Billions, Game of Thrones, Westworld, Once Upon A Deadpool and The Real Housewives franchise, to name a few. Under her transformational leadership, teams have won prestigious awards such as Cannes Lions, Clios, The One Show, Webbys and Shorty Awards. Outside of these positions, Dani has been a guiding force, playing a pivotal advisory role in the early stages of start-ups as they build their brands & seek to create relevance.

Waterloo Ballroom 4-6

The B Word: How to Get Creative with Marketing Budget

Meet Gen Alpha: Defying Predictions & Rewiring Marketing

Launching the Ultimate, Research-Driven Creative Power Playbook

Pride Preview '26: Marketers, LGBTQ+ & Where We Go From Here

Pop culture isn't just consumed—it's lived. A song or movie will spark IRL activity like themed workouts, sold-out dining experiences or fan meetups (e.g. Love Island events +4,950% in the past year). This shift from passive watching to active gathering reshapes culture and moves people–physically. Fandoms are inspiring creator-led experiences, turning local spaces into cultural venues overnight. In this panel Julia Hartz (Eventbrite), Dani Calogera (What/If), Kate Wolff (Lupine Creative) & David Salazar (Fast Company) explore how pop culture becomes a springboard for real connection.

DEATH OF PASSIVE ENTERTAINMENT?A FUTURE FOR PARTICIPANTS


Creativity, Commerce & Chaos: Tech & Indie Filmmaking

Gregory M. Jensen

Managing Director

Shaked Berenson

Founder/CEO

Shaked Berenson is the CEO of Studio Dome, a streaming technology and content operations company. With one foot in tech and the other in creative, he has financed, produced, and distributed hundreds of films. His projects have premiered at SXSW, including Turbo Kid, Big Ass Spider!, Extra Ordinary, The Aggression Scale, and Rick Alverson’s Entertainment starring John C. Reilly, Tye Sheridan, and Michael Cera.

Shaked holds an MBA from UCLA Anderson and is a regular speaker at USC, UCLA, and the American Film Market. A member of the Producers Guild of America, he has also served on the Board of Directors of the Independent Film & Television Alliance (IFTA). He brings deep expertise in global sales, digital rights management, and innovation across the entertainment supply chain.

Lauren Oliver

CEO

Lauren Oliver is an 8 times New York Times-bestselling novelist, screenwriter, and producer, as well as the CEO of StoryGiants, an IP packager and production company. Co-founder of IncantorAI, with a proprietary AI model built from inception to compensate IP rights holders across multiple applications, is the culmination of Oliver’s career in both technology and the arts.

Gg Hawkins

Host

GG Hawkins is a writer, director, and podcaster. Her feature directorial debut, I REALLY LOVE MY HUSBAND, premiered at SXSW and was released in theaters in 2025. GG directed the short Yes, Daddy, a spiritual prequel to the feature, which has 5.8 million views on YouTube. She also wrote and directed G.U.F., an episode of You Feeling This?, which premiered at Tribeca in 2023. GG hosts the No Film School Podcast, exploring the craft of filmmaking and interviewing talents such as Kelly Fremon Craig, Pete Docter, and James Mangold. She is represented by Curate and Granderson Des Rochers.

Bridge Ballroom AB

“It’s in Development” Creating Great TV for Global Platforms

Art to Infrastructure: Creating a Company as an Artist

SXSW Episodic Pitch-A-Thon presented by SeriesFest

Building Hollywood Buzz Without the Hollywood Style Campaign

CRAFTING SEKIRO: NO DEFEAT: HAND-DRAWN ANIMATION & ORIGINAL SCORE (SNEAK PEEK FIRST LOOK)

As AI transforms how we create and consume media, quiet revolutions are happening behind the scenes: creators, producers, agents, and technologists are building the infrastructure to track, protect, and monetize creativity across its entire lifecycle. This panel brings together a first-time filmmaker, a veteran distributor, a top agent, and an AI platform CEO to explore how attribution, metadata, royalty tracking, and ethical packaging are becoming essential to creative business.

CREATIVITY, COMMERCE & CHAOS: TECH & INDIE FILMMAKING


An Influential Conversation with Jordan "The Stallion"

Jordan "The Stallion" Howlett

CEO/Founder

Jordan Howlett is a globally recognized Celebrity Creator captivating viewers through candid monologues, reactions, stories, life hacks, fast food secrets, and more! Known for his grounded, authentic approach, Jordan’s content resonates deeply with fans of all ages. His unique perspective and wisdom beyond his years create an engaging experience that consistently strengthens his community. High-profile collaborations with top celebrities—including Donald Glover, Kevin Hart, Method Man, and Halle Berry— highlight his reach and versatility. In 2024, Jordan received the Shorty Impact Award for "Creator of The Year," and was featured on the prestigious Forbes Top Creator List, the cover of San Diego Magazine, The Today Show, The New York Times, The Boston Globe, Hollywood Reporter, and Fox.

Chris Detert

Chief Communications Officer

Chris Detert , CCO of Influential, has brought press, clients, funding, and partnerships to his ROI-driven influencer marketing and social data firm. Formerly the CEO of American Rebel PR, a boutique agency based in Los Angeles, and CMO of world-renowned fashion brand, Von Dutch, Detert teamed up with his brother, CEO, Ryan Detert, and helped make Influential into the largest and most talked about company in the influencer marketing space, with hundreds of press stories, including Entertainment Tonight, Fox Business News, Wall Street Journal, Forbes, TechCrunch, VentureBeat and many more, since Influential’s inception, in 2014.
Influential was acquired by Publicis Groupe in July of 2024 for $500M dollars, setting a new standard for the creator economy and influencer marketing business.

Waller Ballroom C

From TikTok to Toolbelt: Preparing Gen Z for Work

Higher Ed's Losing Global Talent & the Bill Is Coming Due

It Takes a Region: Cybersecurity Pathways in Rural Alabama

Rethinking Discovery Algorithms for the Creator Economy

Join us for an engaging fireside chat featuring Influential Chief Communications Officer, Chris Detert, in conversation with one of today’s most recognizable digital personalities, Jordan “The Stallion” Howlett. Known for his infectious energy, unfiltered honesty, and viral storytelling across platforms like TikTok, Jordan has become a leading voice in the creator economy. From his signature food reviews to his candid takes on everyday life, he’s built a devoted community by staying true to himself—while navigating the business of brand deals, audience engagement, and online growth.

INFLUENTIAL CONVERSATION WITH JORDAN "THE STALLION"


Is Reinforcement Learning the Real Future of AI?

Peter Stone

Sony AI and The University of Texas at Austin

Chief Scientist and Professor of Computer Science

Dr. Peter Stone currently serves as Chief Scientist of Sony AI and holds the position of Deputy President. In addition to his role in the private sector, Dr. Stone is the Truchard Foundation Chair in Computer Science and Associate Chair of the Computer Science Department at the University of Texas at Austin, and also serves as the Director of Texas Robotics. Previously, Dr. Stone co-founded Cogitai, Inc., a startup company focused on continual learning, in 2015. His research interests in AI include planning, machine learning, multiagent systems, and robotics. Dr. Stone’s long-term research goal is to create complete, robust, autonomous agents that can learn to interact with other intelligent agents in a wide range of complex, dynamic environments.

Salon AB

Two Futurists and an AI: Seeing Trouble Ahead

How We Could Lose Control: Avoiding the Paths to Runaway AI

U.S. vs. The World: the Future We’re (Currently) Losing

The Clock Is Ticking for Space – Replacing the ISS

Can Media Survive AI? The Fight for Public Trust

While AGI, generative AI, and humanoid robots dominate the spotlight, reinforcement learning (RL) is quietly powering the next chapter of AI. Unlike other methods, RL enables systems to learn by doing – adapting through trial and error in dynamic environments. In this session, one of the world’s leading RL minds will explore why this approach is essential for building truly autonomous, intelligent systems, and how today’s breakthroughs are laying the groundwork for the next wave of transformative AI.

IS REINFORCEMENT LEARNING THE REAL FUTURE OF AI?


Streaming, Shorts & AI: Where Are Your Royalties Going?

Kathleen Strouse

SVP Operations

Kathleen Strouse is Senior Vice President of Operations at SoundExchange, bringing a strong background in data storytelling, operations, and product development. She excels at transforming innovative ideas into operational success and leading large teams to consistently meet financial and strategic goals. Known for her exceptional communication skills, Kathleen bridges marketing and engineering teams while focusing on executive leadership, client management, and optimizing operational performance.

Jason Feinberg

Head of KOSIGN

Jason Feinberg is a marketing, technology, and strategy executive who has held leadership roles at Kobalt, UMG, Pandora, Concord, and Epitaph. He combines musicianship and marketing with developer-level technology experience to grow fanbases, revenues, and businesses.

Currently, Jason leads KOSIGN at Kobalt, helping independent songwriters collect their global royalties with industry-leading clarity, speed, and control. He is also a Lecturer at UCLA, teaching an upper-division Digital Marketing course he developed for the Music Industry major.

Jason’s early days were spent as a software engineer, a college radio DJ and music director, an audio engineer, and an artist manager. When not building world-class teams and technology stacks, you can find Jason hunting for rare 70s punk vinyl or playing his trusty Gibson Explorer.

Jann-Michael Greenburg

President

Jann-Michael has seven years of business management and legal experience in the music industry and is the current president of Tresóna. Before taking on this role, Jann-Michael served as Tresóna’s Vice President of Business Affairs and, before then, a private equity tax analyst at Deloitte UK LLP. He is a licensed attorney and holds an LLB from the University of Edinburgh and an LLM in Banking and Financial Law from Boston University with a concentration in Securities Transactions and Compliance Management.

Dominic Kerley

Vice President

Dominic is VP at LabelWorx, where he shapes company strategy, leads the label services team, and manages key client relationships. He’s overseen campaigns for top indie labels like Solid Grooves, Black Book Records, and PIV, while securing DSP placements with Apple Music, Spotify, and more. He led major deals with Get Physical Music and The Circuit Group, and consults across Lime Blue Music, Mixtank, and Reset The Night. Dominic is a frequent speaker at events like WMC and Brighton Music Conference.

Capitol Ballroom FGH

Global Stage @ Downright Austin Backyard

Syncrets to Success: Conversation With Music Supervisors

Mexico Amplified: How Música Mexicana is Reshaping Global Music

How to Get the Job: Building a Career in Music

The royalty landscape has never been more fragmented — or more ripe for missed income. As short-form video, UGC remixes, micro-sync, and AI-generated content explode, artists and rights holders are fighting to keep payments transparent and fair. This session brings together leaders to unpack where the biggest royalty “black holes” are hiding now, why legacy collection models can’t keep up, and how direct licensing, better data, and new tech are helping close the gap. Expect real-world examples of found money and clear steps artists can take to plug revenue leaks before they happen.

STREAMING, SHORTS & AI: WHERE ARE YOUR ROYALTIES GOING?


Music Marketing: How to Stretch Releases for Years

Blair Miller

Founder & CEO

Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree Blair Miller is the Founder and CEO of Chaos Creators, an entertainment marketing agency dedicated to out-of-the-box social media marketing, fan engagement, and short-form content creation. Before launching Chaos Creators, the Hits Noisemaker served as the Creative Director of Jonas Group Media, a marketing agency she built alongside Kevin Jonas, Sr.

Highlights of Miller’s career include supporting the social media efforts of UMG Nashville/Interscope artist Kassi Ashton, capitalizing on the viral success of 'Austin' by Dasha and 'Make You Mine' by PUBLIC, guiding Franklin Jonas’ explosive TikTok growth and limited edition merch drop, campaign ideation and execution for Melanie Pfirrman’s single 'Suda' featuring Pitbull, sustaining Lanie Gardner’s viral 'Dreams' by Fleetwood Mac cover video and her surprise remix release of 'Dreams' with David Guetta, and assisting with the tour marketing for Brad Paisley and Chris Young. She also launched social campaigns with influencers such as Charli D’Amelio, Bella Poarch, Avani, Huddy (Lil Huddy), and Madi Monroe, directed video content for Kroger, and led marketing for brands like Nellie’s Southern Kitchen (A Jonas Family Experience), Nashville Briefing, and Country Radio Seminar (CRS).

Over her career, Miller has been featured as a speaker at events such as the NAACP’s Arts, Culture, & Entertainment Festival, NAMM, Music Biz (twice), the Youth Marketing Summit, the Women In Music Summit, and numerous Billboard Top Music Business programs across the US, including Belmont University, where she earned her degree in Music Business. During her time at Belmont, she honed her marketing skills through internships with Scooter Braun’s SB Projects, Atlantic Records, Universal Music Group, Warner Music Nashville, The Recording Academy, Country Music Association (CMA), and Crowd Surf. When not at her desk or posting a video online, you can find Blair catching up on her favorite reality shows or playing Whitney Houston on repeat.

Janie Whitefield

Digital Director of Neon Coast

Janie Whitefield is a rising force in the music industry, living at the intersection of digital marketing, fan engagement, and artist development. Currently, The Nashville Briefing’s 30 Under 30 honoree serves as Director of Digital at Neon Coast, a progressive music and entertainment company in Nashville that includes multi-award-winning superstar Kane Brown. Here, Janie drives the digital vision and execution across the full Neon Coast lineup, which spans from ACM New Duo/Group nominee Restless Road, to MusicRow’s “Next Big Thing” Dylan Schneider, global alt-pop band Nightly, rising Latina country star Kat Luna, and a growing slate of developing artists.

Samantha Juneman

SVP

Sam is a seasoned sales and marketing leader with 15 years of success driving growth and innovation in the music and entertainment industry. She brings over a decade of deep expertise in streaming partnerships, data-informed commercial strategy, and global campaign execution. Her work is defined by a track record of building high-impact marketing strategies, scaling audiences, and bridging creative vision with business performance.

She’s recognized for her ability to lead across functions — from artist development to digital innovation — and for fostering long-term industry relationships rooted in trust and results. Known for her entrepreneurial mindset and collaborative leadership style, Sam has helped shape the trajectory of both emerging talent and legacy artists and constantly has her eye on opportunities where she can help shape the future of music, culture, and technology.

📍 Billboard 40 Under 40 (2019)
📍 Billboard Indie Power Players (2022)
📍 Member, Recording Academy
📍 Advisory Board, University of the Pacific

Harrison Golding

SVP, Strategic Marketing

Harrison Golding has a diverse work experience in the media and marketing industry. Harrison started their career in 2015 as a Production Associate at Mandalay Sports Media, where they worked until 2016. In 2018, they joined Empire as a Creative Director and later transitioned to the role of Director of Marketing. Currently, they hold the position of Vice President of Strategic Marketing at Empire. Harrison Golding attended Pitzer College from 2014 to 2019, where they earned a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree. During their time at Pitzer College, they focused their studies on the fields of Sociology, Media Studies, and Theater.

Capitol Ballroom E

Tour Support 2.0: How Mental Health is Reshaping Live Music

From Streams to Strategy: The Label Services Evolution

Rock’s Biggest Promoter on the Future of Festivals

Music Nostalgia: The Secret Weapon in Modern Advertising

You’ve dropped the track and pushed the promo. Now what? In a world where music moves fast, long-term visibility can still be more powerful than launch-week hype. In this panel, we’ll cover how artists and their teams extend the life of a release well beyond its debut. We’ll dig into smart reusable content, creative repackaging, how to keep songs fresh for fans, and how to turn "catalog" tracks into new campaign strategies. Expect practical strategies that keep fans engaged, music marketing momentum moving, and allow artists to stay in the spotlight for longer. With the right game plan, one release can sustain impact for years.

MUSIC MARKETING: HOW TO STRETCH RELEASES FOR YEARS


The Patient Frame: Cinematic Creators in a Clickbait World

Kaiti Yoo

Creator, Storyteller, Filmmaker

Kaiti Yoo is an NYC-based filmmaker and creator telling stories that meet people in their ache and lift them toward wonder.

Kariza Santos

Content Creator / Filmmaker

Kariza Santos is a filmmaker, writer, and digital creator known for her poetic voice, cinematic visuals, and deeply personal storytelling. Her YouTube channel has become a haven for reflective, intentional content that blurs the line between video essay and short film. With a background in creative writing and a passion for visual language, Kariza crafts narratives that explore identity, memory, and the quiet moments that shape us. Her work has garnered a devoted audience drawn to her vulnerability, honesty, and artful approach to digital media. As part of a growing movement of creators redefining the YouTube format, Kariza champions a slower, more thoughtful internet—one rooted in emotional resonance and creative integrity.

Natalie Lynn

Filmmaker, Creator, Director

Natalie Lynn is a Seattle-based filmmaker and digital storyteller known for her emotionally resonant narratives and cinematic style. With over nine years of experience, she gained recognition for her award-winning doc series BORDERLESS, which earned the Excellence in Cinematography award at Buffer Festival 2022 and helped define the “YouTube New Wave.” Her work, rooted in honesty and intention, has led to collaborations with brands like Patreon and Nikon. Natalie now focuses on expanding indie filmmaking through internet-native releases, cross-disciplinary work, and immersive storytelling.

Waller Ballroom A

Texas High School Shorts Screening & Q&A

From Who to What to You: The Weird AI-Infused Future of the Creator Economy

From Viral to Viable: Building IP as a Creator

In a world of endless scrolling, a new wave of YouTube creators is choosing depth over speed. Led by Kariza Santos—known for her poetic voice and cinematic eye—this panel explores how treating uploads like short films, not content drops, is reshaping audience expectations and production norms. Together, we’ll examine why a slower, more intentional approach isn’t just possible in today’s fast-paced landscape—it’s essential to the future of digital storytelling.

PATIENT FRAME: CINEMATIC CREATORS IN A CLICKBAIT WORLD


Reinvention Not Repetition: Shifting the Innovation Mindset

Meg Murphy

Founding Advisor, Harvard HealthLab Accelerators and Strategic Communications

Meg Murphy is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and co-founder of Harvard HealthLab Accelerators, a social impact accelerator based at Harvard University. Previously, Meg worked in media relations at Harvard University’s Weatherhead Center for International Affairs and for the School of Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. A former journalist, Meg has written for various newspapers and weeklies, including The Boston Globe, The Globe and Mail, The Village Voice, and NOW Magazine. She holds degrees from the University of Toronto and Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism.

Sam Hunter Magee

Director of Creativity and Entrepreneurship at Harvard

Sam Hunter Magee is an accomplished leader at the nexus of arts, technology, and entrepreneurship. As Director of the Lemann Program for Creativity and Entrepreneurship at Harvard University and former Manager of Student Arts Programs at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sam empowers students, founders, and interdisciplinary teams to drive innovation with impact. Sam’s experience includes leading public art initiatives, mentoring startups, creating educational programs, and cultivating global creative communities where artistic expression merges with emerging technology for real-world change.

Amy Peck

CEO

Amy Peck is the CEO of EndeavorXR, a global XR & AI strategy and consulting firm. She is one of the world’s top strategists on XR,  Digital Twins and applied AI. She advises G100 companies, government agencies and advanced startups.
Amy was named Top 50 Most Powerful Women in Tech and Top 100 Women of The Future. She is  Executive Advisor to Booz Allen in Applied R&D across Digital Twins and AI. She serves as Lead Advisor, AI & New Media for the Royal Commission of Riyadh City. Amy serves on the Venture Board for Harvard University’s HealthLab Accelerator. She is an angel investor and Venture Partner at the CRXR Accelerator. Amy sits on multiple Advisory Boards and is Executive Board Chair of Prospera Women.
Amy’s passion is inspiring a creative vision for the future with technology.

Sergiu Ardelean

CEO, Co-Founder

Before
From 2005-2016, I founded and led a Vienna-based Augmented Reality agency as Creative Director. With offices in Vienna, Shanghai, and Munich, we served clients like Volkswagen in 42 countries.

Artivive Today
Now I run Artivive, an AI-powered AR platform that turns hours of content creation into minutes. Our global team spans Europe, US, and China, serving 400k creatives in 190 countries and partnering with top institutions in Vienna, Munich, SF, Seoul, and Shanghai.

Speaker & Mentor
I speak worldwide on art-tech fusion and mentor via MIT Arts, Culttech, and SUP VC.

Salon C

Launch with 0 Investors: A Playbook for Crowdfunding in 2026

Missionary Misfits: Why Not Belonging Makes You Build Better

How to Raise $$$ From Angel Groups: What We Really Look For

The Next Five Years of Private Markets: What Founders Can’t Afford to Miss

In a disruptive era, innovation needs to be agile, inclusive, and driven by purpose. It’s essential to move quickly and address issues by transitioning from endless MVP cycles to iterative approaches that integrate technology with human-centered design, ethics, and resilience. This panel discusses how founders, creators, and corporate innovators can leverage AI, automation, and digital collaboration to balance profit with purpose, support internal disruptors, and foster cultures where innovation delivers genuine value.

REINVENTION NOT REPETITION: SHIFTING THE INNOVATION MINDSET


Exotic Thinking: Outsmarting AI with Human Creativity

Miroslav Dimitrov

CEO

Miro Dimitrov is the CEO at Growth Protocol AI, where he leads the development of neuro-symbolic AI systems designed to support enterprise-scale strategic reasoning. Previously CEO and President of NWO.ai, Miro built predictive platforms used by Fortune 500 companies and governments to anticipate cultural and market shifts. His work fuses machine intelligence, human foresight, and systems thinking—making him a leading voice on how AI can amplify decision-making in a future shaped by algorithms.

Sarah Davanzo

Global Chief Innovation Officer

Sarah DaVanzo is a globally recognized futurist, cultural strategist, and “futures activist” who uses foresight, research, and experiential art to provoke positive change. Known for her radically innovative approach to data, analytics, and insights, Sarah has advised Fortune 100 brands, NGOs, and governments on navigating uncertainty. Through guerrilla experiments and global collaborations, she empowers communities to practice “inclusive tomorrowing” and design better futures. A self-described boffin of curiosity, she is a leading voice in shaping the AI epoch through strategic foresight.

Salon A

The Creative Power of Letting Go: Why Quitting Can Be Your Biggest Breakthrough

Charmageddon: Robots That Steal Hearts and Jobs

Shortchanged: Gen Z, the Economy, and Brands

SWIFTYNOMICS: How Women Mastermind and Redefine Our Economy

In the foresight world, staying brilliant in the Age of the Algorithm demands more than just tech fluency—it requires radical creativity. In this book reading, technofuturist Sarah DaVanzo and AI pioneer Miro Dimitrov explore how we can outthink AI using paradox, taboo, and cognitive disobedience. Drawing from Sarah’s forthcoming book Exotic Thinking, the session offers a provocative path to rewiring human ingenuity in a future shaped by machines.

EXOTIC THINKING: OUTSMARTING AI WITH HUMAN CREATIVITY


Virtual (un)Reality – From Music to Immersive Storytelling

Philippe Cohen Solal

President

Philippe Cohen Solal, a French composer and musician, has been active for over three decades. He has made his mark as an architect of electronic music, he was the first French music supervisor. He founded the Ya Basta Records label in 1996 and co-founded Gotan Project, which has sold over four million albums worldwide and performed over 500 shows.

Alessandra Bogi

Creative Producer

Alessandra Bogi, head of productions at Lucid Realities: After a master degree in anthropology, Alessandra started working in documentary production between Italy and France. Passionate about storytelling and ﬁnding new ways of bringing compelling stories to engage the audience, she specialized in interactive design at the prestigious Ecole des Gobelins and joined Lucid Realities as Head of production on VR and AR projects.

Room 410

Technology Convergence: Winning the Exponential Upswing

Leading the AI Future: How to Think Exponentially in a Chaotic Decade

CTRL + ALT + CREATE: How AI Is Reshaping the Creative Process

How Anyone Can Help Create Social Change: A Conversation with the authors of Somebody Should Do Something

Can a song become a world? This panel explores how composer Philippe Cohen Solal transformed a music album into an expanded transmedia narrative. We’ll dive into the creation process to adapt music compositions to new forms of immersive interaction that led to the creation of the VR musical experience INSIDER-OUTSIDER. From DJ culture to tango revival, outsider art and virtual reality, we’ll discuss how culture remix and hybrid musical formats fuel new creative languages and audience engagement across physical and virtual spaces.

VIRTUAL (UN)REALITY ? FROM MUSIC TO IMMERSIVE STORYTELLING


Michelle Schneider

Singularity University and Signal & Cipher

Workforce Futurist & Author

Michelle Schneider is a renowned international speaker, a LinkedIn Top Voice, and one of the most influential voices in Brazil on TEDx, where her talk *The Professional of the Future* has surpassed 3 million views. After twenty years of experience at giants like TikTok, Google, and LinkedIn, leading advertising sales teams, she chose to leave the corporate world in 2023 to pursue entrepreneurship. Author of the book *The Professional of the Future* and guest lecturer at SingularityUniversity, Michelle explores topics such as the future of work and AI. A certified futurist from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Institute for the Future, she is also partner of Ian Beacraft at Signal & Cipher, American ai consultancy that transforms businesses with integrated AI solutions.

Room 412

Agents vs Managers: When are you ready to be signed and by who?

The Price of Influence: Why Undefined Value Kills Trust

10 Truths About Technology That Are Shaping Your Life

Tackling the “snakes” undermining digital rights

AI is remaking the labor market at breakneck speed. Futurist and Singularity University guest lecturer Michelle Schneider poses the question haunting every professional: Will your job still exist in five years? Blending cutting‑edge research with real‑world stories, she offers a four‑pillar survival kit—innovative mindset, tech literacy, emotional intelligence, mental health—empowering you to turn uncertainty into strategic advantage.

WILL YOUR JOB STILL EXIST IN FIVE YEARS?

Workplace track sponsored by University of Cincinnati


The Burnout Economy: Leading in an Age of Exhaustion

Daniel Augusto Motta

CEO

Dr Daniel Augusto Motta is the Founder and CEO of BMI – Blue Management Institute, a consulting powerhouse in Brazil. He also serves on the Board of Directors of MASP. With a PhD in Economics from the University of São Paulo and OPM from Harvard Business School, four best-selling books, and over 25 years advising global corporations, Dr Daniel is a leading voice on the future of organizations. Known for combining rigorous analysis with sharp cultural insights, he helps leaders dismantle myths and build systems that actually work in an age of complexity.

Salon B

Innovating in Science & Tech When Budgets are Tight

How To Meaningfully Connect in a World That Has Gone to Sh*t

It's a Whole Thing: Gen Z Work Relationships in the Age of AI

Better Leadership Starts with Understanding the Stressed Brain

Exhaustion is no longer just a personal issue—it’s now an economic concern. Leaders across industries are burning out, leading to short-term thinking and diminished organizational resilience. Dr Daniel Motta will draw on research in economics, organizational behavior, and leadership to show how exhausted executives impact everything from market performance to employee engagement and introduces new frameworks for fostering sustainable leadership that safeguards both people and performance.

BURNOUT ECONOMY: LEADING IN AN AGE OF EXHAUSTION


Future of Loyalty: Gen Z and Gen Alpha will shape a new era

Rebecca Kemp

Global Head of Partnership Marketing

Bec Kemp is a global brand and partnerships marketing leader with 20+ years of experience across tech and CPG, having led iconic brands and teams across Australia, London, and New York.
Born and raised in Australia, Bec began her career at Microsoft, leading major retail launches including Xbox 360 and Windows Vista. She then moved into CPG, spending seven years at Lion, Australia’s largest brewer, where she led marketing for brands including Heineken and Woolworths.
In 2014, Bec relocated to London to lead the Starbucks CPG portfolio across Europe and the Middle East, expanding her remit to complex, multi-market brand leadership. She later joined Uber, leading brand marketing in Australia and delivering award-winning work including the Australian Open Uber Eats sponsorship.
Bec went on to lead Partnership Marketing across APAC and now serves as Global Head of Partnership Marketing at Uber, based in New York City, where her team partners with global brands including Delta, American Express, Marriott, WeChat, Qantas, British Airways, and Apple and many more.

Mac Hagel

President, Head of Media

Marketing leader with 25+ years on the agency side, driving award-winning, ROI-focused campaigns for Fortune 500 brands across telecom, finance, entertainment, retail, and tech. Proven success managing $2B+ annually in P&Ls and leading teams of 400+. Deep expertise in media, CRM, brand strategy, digital, and AI-powered marketing. Currently oversees the Razorfish Media Practice, delivering connected experiences fueled by data and creativity. Accounts led include Samsung, Verizon, JPMorgan Chase, NBCU, and 20th Century FOX. ThinkLA board member, passionate about building high-performing teams, driving innovation, and shaping what’s next.

Kathryn Lundstrom

Commerce and Sustainability Editor

Kathryn Lundstrom is ADWEEK’s commerce and sustainability editor, covering the retail media boom and the advertising and marketing industry’s response to the climate crisis. Before joining Adweek in 2019, she wrote about politics for The Daily Donut, analyzed policy at the Texas Capitol and checked facts at Sports Illustrated. She holds a bachelor’s degree in international relations from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a master’s in journalism from the University of Texas at Austin and a master of global policy studies from the LBJ School of Public Affairs.

Topaz Ballroom 1-3

AI Safety & Trust: Building Responsible Media Tech

AI in Entertainment: Navigating IP, Ethics & Opportunity

Is Brand Dead? The Brand Leader’s Playbook for the AI Era

Capturing Chaos: A Q&A with the DP & CLT of The Pitt

The De-brief: Rethinking the Brand–Creator Relationship

Born in the age of the internet and now Generative AI, Gen Z and Gen Alpha are the most digitally savvy segments we’ve ever seen. But they also have differing expectations for authenticity, connection, and IRL experiences. How well brands meet their unique needs could make or break their ability to foster long-term loyalty. Marketing executives will discuss the nuances, as well as the tactics already in place to reach Gen Z and prepare for Gen Alpha. Both generations continue to raise the bar, and the pressure is on brands to deliver IRL connections now and in the years to come.

FUTURE OF LOYALTY: GEN Z AND GEN ALPHA WILL SHAPE A NEW ERA