The Top Women Leadership Forum is a one-day intensive for professional women in media, marketing and tech who are ready to move forward, not just feel inspired. Whether you’re navigating your next move, building your leadership presence or staying ahead of AI and industry shifts, the Forum will deliver practical insights and real conversations to help you navigate it all. The day will cover leadership, mentorship, allyship, innovation and career advancement with speakers who’ve been where you are and can tell you what actually works.

It’s not just a day of sitting and listening. You’ll be part of the conversation, sharing your own experiences through structured, collaborative discussions and connecting through dedicated networking moments designed to spark real relationships. You’ll leave with a stronger network, a clearer path forward, and actionable takeaways to fuel your next big leap.

Key Themes

From Executing to
Leading
The mindset shifts and skill sets required to successfully transition from individual contributor to leader.
Mentorship, Allyship & Advocacy
How intentional mentorship, peer allyship and active advocacy drive career advancement for women at every level.
Leading Through AI Disruption
How women in media, marketing and tech are adapting their leadership strategies as AI reshapes the industry.
Building and Protecting Team Culture
How senior leaders establish strong team cultures and maintain them through growth, change and organizational pressure.

Speakers

  • Johanna Bauman

    Johanna Bauman

    Fractional CMO,
    Parkside Catalysts
  • Alana Casner

    Alana Casner

    Chief Operating & Athlete Officer,
    Parity
  • Angelina Eng

    Angelina Eng

    Founder & Principal Advisor,
    Enso Horizon
  • Hollis Guerra

    Hollis Guerra

    President,
    Purpose
  • Lisa	Singer

    Lisa Singer

    Host, Leading With Yes
  • Linsey Loy

    Linsey Loy

    Head of Strategic Growth & Executive Engagement,
    Publicis Groupe
  • Ali Manning

    Ali Manning

    Co-Founder & COO,
    Chalice
  • Brittany Slattery

    Brittany Slattery

    CMO,
    OpenAP
  • Emily Twomey

    Emily Twomey

    CMO,
    Razorfish
  • Jeanniey Walden

    Jeanniey Walden

    CEO,
    Liftoff Enterprise
  • Isabel Rafferty Zavala

    Isabel Rafferty Zavala

    Founder & CEO,
    Canela Media

Agenda

  1. 8:00 am

    REGISTRATION AND BREAKFAST

    Kick off the day over breakfast and conversation with fellow leaders. It's a chance to reconnect, meet new peers and settle in before a day of conversation and shared insight.

  2. 8:30 am

    WELCOME REMARKS

  3. 8:40 am

    KEYNOTE

    To Be Announced 

  4. 9:15 am

    INNOVATE: Leading Through the AI Era

    AI is transforming media, marketing and technology faster than most organizations can adapt. This session brings together women leaders who are navigating that shift firsthand, balancing innovation with sound change management and protecting the human creativity that AI cannot replace. Hear how they are rethinking strategy, structure and skill sets as new tools reshape their industries, and offer practical guidance for leading teams through constant technological change without losing sight of the people doing the work.

  5. 10:20 am

    COFFEE BREAK

    Take a moment to recharge with coffee or tea and connect with fellow leaders.

  6. 10:40 am

    LEAD: From Executing to Leading

    Moving from individual contributor to leader requires more than a new title. It demands a real shift in mindset and skill set. This panel explores what it takes to build trust, foster community and shape culture as a first-time or growing leader. Panelists will share the lessons, missteps and turning points that shaped their own leadership styles, offering insights for anyone navigating that transition, whether they are stepping into management for the first time or scaling their leadership at a higher level.

  7. 12:00 pm

    LUNCHEON

  8. 1:00 pm

    CONNECT: Mentorship, Allyship & Advocacy

    Career advancement rarely happens alone. This session examines how intentional mentorship and active allyship accelerate growth for women at every stage of their careers, and how leaders can use their own position and influence to open doors for others. See what meaningful mentorship looks like in practice, how to build a culture of advocacy within an organization and why bringing others along is not just good values, but good leadership.

  9. 2:15 pm

    RISE: Resilience & Reinvention

    Every career includes moments that do not go as planned: setbacks, pivots, career pauses and unexpected turns. This session features candid stories from leaders who have navigated major transitions and come out stronger and reinvented on the other side. Hear how they rebuilt confidence, maintained their networks and redefined success after disruption, offering an honest and encouraging look at resilience as an active, ongoing practice rather than a one-time moment.

  10. 3:00 pm - 3:30 pm

    FINAL THOUGHTS & MIXER

    Enjoy a cocktail or mocktail and small bites as you mix and mingle with your new connections from across the industry.  

TOP WOMEN NETWORK

The Top Women Network is a cross-brand initiative from the Chief Marketer Network created to unite, elevate, and empower women across the media, marketing, and ad tech ecosystem. Designed for professionals at every career stage—from rising stars to executive leaders—the Network offers an inclusive, year-round community centered on recognition, professional development, and meaningful connection. Several of our Top Women Awards Galas will be taking place on November 3 and 4 before and after the event. Learn more and enter at any of the links below. 

  • Pricing

    $799

    Full-day forum access — all sessions, interactive workshops & networking moments.

    Register Now

Bring a Mentee

Mentor/Mentee
Program

Our Mentor/Mentee Program gives senior marketing professionals the opportunity to bring a junior colleague to the Top Women Leadership Forum at no charge. Because access matters. Mentors shape careers. And the best way to build a stronger future for marketing is to bring the next generation into the conversation.

Mentors need to register first before applying. Application information can be found in your confirmation email. Questions? email TopWomenNetwork@accessintel.com.

SPONSORS

Title Sponsor

LG Ad Solutions

Sponsors

Purpose
The Women in Programmatic Network

Venue

The Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers

The Lighthouse Pier 61, Chelsea Piers, New York, NY 10011

The Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers 
The Lighthouse Pier 61, Chelsea Piers
New York, NY 10011

CONTACT

Questions

For questions regarding event registration, please contact:
The Events Team
TopWomenNetwork@accessintel.com

Sponsorship

For questions about sponsorship, please contact
Vernesa Merdanovic
vmerdanovic@accessintel.com

Program

For questions about the program, please contact
Shannon Given
sgiven@accessintel.com