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.

“If you died today, your company would probably send flowers. But tomorrow, they’d find someone else to replace you.” Those were the unforgettable words of Joy Ogunneye’s Nigerian mother early in her career. At the time, Joy was too busy chasing success to fully appreciate her mom’s wisdom. Until an unexpected layoff forced her to confront a question that would change her life: Who am I without my job title? In this deeply personal, thought-provoking and often humorous keynote, Joy challenges women to rethink what it truly means to be successful. Drawing from her journey as a business executive, leader and mother, she explores how easily we can tie our identity and self-worth to our professional achievements, often at the expense of the very things that make life meaningful. Through powerful storytelling, relatable experiences and her signature warmth and optimism, Joy invites audiences to rediscover their purpose beyond their careers, become more intentional about how they spend their most precious resource (Time), and consider the legacy they want to leave behind.

This keynote is a powerful reminder that ambition and joy can coexist, and that building an extraordinary career should never mean missing out on an extraordinary life.

Because the life you’re working so hard for is happening right now. And success means so much more when you remember to live. 

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.

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

INNOVATE panelists and attendees will tackle the same real-world scenario companies are facing with AI, weighing business value, team readiness and accountability. We’ll compare conclusions and dig into the reasoning behind each decision. Leave with a sharper framework for deciding when to move fast with AI and when to pause, plus fresh perspectives from fellow leaders facing the same choices.

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.

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

Join a small group discussion that mirrors the real shifts leaders face, including finding your authentic leadership voice, building team trust, and thinking more strategically. Share your challenge, trade ideas, and learn from your peers’ experiences. Leave with fresh perspective and a concrete next step for your own growth as a leader.

As AI continues to reshape the way we work, we are now seeing a return to something more fundamental: the need for human connection. That is why brands are spending more time and energy delivering real-life moments designed for human interaction and collaboration. This trend is growing across B2B and B2C. For women in business, meaningful connections, strategic partnerships, and strong professional networks have long been catalysts for growth, opportunity, and leadership. This panel will bring together marketing and media leaders to discuss the IRL movement, why partnerships are critical in delivering authentic brand experiences and the need to build communities that last.

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.

What strengths and connections do you bring, and how can you use them to advocate for yourself and lift up other women? What you’re already doing, what you’ve seen work well, and a concrete step you can take going forward?

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

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.

Trade your own stories of resilience with fellow leaders and hear how they've built successful pivots and second chapters.

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