Session Descriptions

Concurrent Breakout Sessions:
Tuesday, September 19, 2023 | 3:15 PM – 4:15 PM

Stand Up, Stand Out: Elevating Brand U

Presenters: Marge Jackson, Head of Sales, Comcast; and Clem Cheng, HR Executive, Coach and Philanthropist

Track: Marketing and Communications

Summary: Learn how to establish yourself as an expert in your field, build credibility and trust with your audience, and differentiate yourself from others in your industry. This session will provide you with valuable tips on how to attract new opportunities, expand your network, and increase your earning potential.

Take-aways:

  • Understand why your personal brand is critical in a world with so many people and messages competing for attention.
  • Learn about the key elements in building an intentional, authentic and strategic brand and come away with actionable ways to elevate Brand U.

The Aftermath: The Art of the Pivot After Layoffs

Presenter: Marsha Haygood, Leadership Development Strategist, Empowerment Coach, Motivational Speaker, and Author, Stepwise Associates

Track: Workforce Culture & Inclusion

Summary: Embracing Resilience in Career Transitions: Unfortunately, career layoffs can be an experience that many individuals encounter. However, in the face of such challenges, it is crucial to exhibit resilience and utilize key strategies that enable survival and empower personal growth and advancement. This session will explore the secrets to thriving in your career after experiencing a layoff or working in a company in the midst of change.

Take-aways:

  • Cultivate Self-Awareness: Acknowledge and understand your feelings as you move past the initial shock. This self-awareness will provide a solid foundation for your journey forward.
  • Share Your Story: It’s an Asset, Not a Liability: Recognize that your story holds value. By reframing your narrative, you can showcase your resilience and resilience to potential employers or professional connections.
  • Maintain Relationships: Nurture the professional relationships you’ve built throughout your career. Sustaining these connections can provide a valuable network to navigate through career transitions.
  • Don’t Be a Prisoner to Your Resume: Recognize that your worth extends beyond the confines of a traditional resume.
  • Leverage Your Strengths: Assess your skills, talents, and interests to uncover opportunities that align with your passions.

By embracing resilience and implementing these strategies, participants can navigate career transitions with confidence, adaptability, and a clear vision for personal growth and advancement.

The Future of AI in Media and Technology

Sponsored by Afiniti

Moderator: Charles Neal, AVP, Media and Telecom, Genpact, & NAMIC Atlanta President

Panelists:

Track: Maximizing Technology

Session Description

“The Future of AI in Media and Technology,” will explore the revolutionary AI trends reshaping these sectors. Discover how AI is transforming the media landscape, enhancing our workforce, and redefining technology.

AI-Powered Creativity: Discover how AI is not just a tool for automation, but a collaborator that is enhancing creativity in the media and entertainment industry. From AI-generated music to deep fake actors, learn how AI is enabling new artistic possibilities and revolutionizing content creation.

AI’s Role in Tomorrow’s Tech: Dive into how AI is revolutionizing the technology sector, from smart devices that anticipate your needs to quantum computing and beyond. Explore how AI is driving the next wave of technological breakthroughs and shaping a future where technology is more intuitive, adaptive, and responsive than ever before.

AI and Diversity in Media: Explore how AI is being used to address issues of representation and diversity in media and entertainment. Learn about the tools that are helping creators develop content that reflects the diverse experiences and perspectives of audiences around the world and discover how AI is being leveraged to promote more inclusive storytelling.

Concurrent Breakout Sessions:
Tuesday, September 19, 2023 | 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM

The Rise of Influencer Marketing and Its Impact on Strategy & Culture

Moderator: Jonathan Mouton, Talent Lead, TV One | CLEO TV

Panelists:

Track: Marketing and Communications

Summary: As brands begin to better understand the multi-cultural space and its synergies with the user-generated content model, opportunities to lean into Influencer Marketing are here and growing. This session will explore how brands can combine thoughtful, authentic influence and social media to impact their marketing strategy.

Take-aways:

  • Garner the assurance that your brand has an authentic seat at the Table of Culture.
  • Align your brand with influencers in a genuine way.
  • Build an influencer strategy and determine the platforms that make sense for your brand and engagement with your consumers.
  • Determine representation: weighing audience size vs. influencer impact.

Embracing Inclusion, Collaboration, and Culture in Hollywood

Presenter: Tressa Smallwood, Founder & CEO, MegaMind Media

Track: Workforce Culture & Inclusion

Summary: In this session, we will delve into the remarkable journey of Tressa Azarel Smallwood, CEO of a Maryland-based production company, MegaMind Media. Discover how she has successfully built her company on the foundations of inclusion, collaboration, and culture, beginning with her own family. As one of the few women of color in Hollywood with greenlight authority and financing capabilities, Smallwood’s story showcases the power of breaking barriers and fostering a “family-first” mentality in the industry. Learn valuable insights and key takeaways that can inspire and empower your own journey in embracing diversity and creating an inclusive and collaborative environment.

Take-aways:

  • Embracing Inclusion: Learn practical strategies for building diverse and inclusive teams that can break traditional barriers and bring fresh perspectives.
  • The Power of Collaboration: Gain insights into effective collaboration techniques that foster trust, enhance productivity, and deliver high-quality results outside the conventional studio or network environment.
  • Overcoming Challenges as an Outsider: Explore strategies for navigating obstacles, building credibility, and earning the trust of executives, creatives, and talent. Discover how to leverage your unique perspective and abilities to make a significant impact.
  • Breaking Barriers: Explore the importance of representation and how diverse voices in decision-making positions can shape the industry for the better.
  • Lessons in Leadership: Extract valuable leadership lessons from Smallwood’s experience and achievements. Discover actionable insights for leading with authenticity, resilience, and a passion for promoting inclusion and cultural diversity.

Concurrent Breakout Sessions:
Wednesday, September 20, 2023 | 10:15 AM – 11:15 AM

From Media to Monet: How Immersive Marketing and A.I. Are Revolutionizing the Consumer Experience

Presenter: Simone Knight, Digital Marketing Innovator, Keynote Speaker, and Marketing Executive, simoneknight.com.

Track: Maximizing Technology

Summary: When brand engagement is down and consumer choice is up, how can marketing and product leaders continue to elevate? The future of marketing is all about using generative AI and immersive technologies like AR/VR/MR to deliver personalized experiences that bring people together. We are already redefining what it means to be “connected.” The focus is now on building a strong, competitive brand with loyal fans.

This session is about tapping into the limitless possibilities of the new digital world and the metaverse. Participants will walk away with the tools to conceptualize an immersive marketing strategy designed to increase retention and strengthen their consumer community, both online and in the real world.

Get ready for a presentation that will leave you inspired to embrace the future of brand marketing.

Take-aways:

  • Understand the different technologies and use cases associated with immersive marketing.
  • Develop an immersive brand marketing concept.
  • Identify marketing tactics to deliver a community-building experience.

Multicultural Marketing Partnerships: Driving Engagement with Authenticity & Intention

Presenters: Denise Bennett, VP, Strategy & Idea Lab, iHeartMedia; and Arnetta Whiteside, SVP, Multicultural, Cultural Quotient, Publicis Media

Track: Marketing and Communications

Summary: Reaching and effectively engaging diverse audiences goes beyond a one-size-fits-all marketing strategy. To connect with multicultural audiences authentically, it requires a deliberate approach built on understanding their needs, insights, and cultural nuances. In this insightful discussion, we will explore the best practices for leveraging media and brand partnerships to establish meaningful connections and drive impactful engagement within multicultural communities.

Take-aways:

  • The Power of Authenticity: Learn how authenticity serves as a foundation for successful multicultural marketing initiatives. Explore ways to genuinely connect with diverse audiences by embracing their cultural values, traditions, and aspirations.
  • The Role of Insights and Instincts: Gain insights into the significance of data-driven insights and intuitive understanding when crafting multicultural marketing strategies. Discover how combining research-based knowledge with cultural instincts can help build stronger connections.
  • Leveraging Media and Brand Partnerships: Explore collaborative opportunities between media outlets, brands, and multicultural communities. Uncover effective strategies to create impactful partnerships that amplify cultural representation and engage diverse audiences authentically.
  • Building Connection and Impact: Discover how to foster long-term relationships and loyalty within multicultural audiences through purposeful marketing initiatives. Learn about successful case studies that demonstrate the positive outcomes of authentic multicultural marketing strategies.
  • The Limitations of One-Size-Fits-All Strategies: Understand why a homogeneous marketing approach fails to resonate with diverse audiences and the importance of tailoring messages and experiences to their unique perspectives.

Join us for an engaging discussion as we delve into the world of multicultural marketing partnerships, unveiling strategies that drive connection, impact, and meaningful engagement with diverse audiences.

Concurrent Breakout Sessions:
Wednesday, September 20, 2023 | 10:15 AM – 11:15 AM

Meet the Execs: Embracing the Possibilities

Sponsored by AMC Networks

Moderator: Ashley McFarlin, Development and Original Production, Scripted, ALLBlk/WEtv

Panelists:

Heather Anderson, VP, Programming and Acquisitions, ESPN

Monique Chenault, President, Revolt Studios + Head of News and Docs

Chima Ogbuokiri, SVP, Growth and Partner Marketing Strategy, AMC Networks

Being a leader requires a certain mindset, a growth mindset, requiring audacity, tenacity and foresight to push through discomfort, ambiguity, and skepticism. For leaders and creatives alike, the looming questions, “Am I making the right decision, what happens if I fail, am I enough,” can be both daunting and paralyzing at times. During this interactive session, we will hear from leading executives on how they have adopted a growth mindset in order to embrace opportunities, cultivate fruitful relationships, lead with conviction and intentional purpose, and live their best lives.

“The Price is Right”: Career Shifts, Salary Negotiations, and Retirement

Moderator: Susan Jin Davis, Social Impact Officer, Al Roker Entertainment, Inc.

Panelists:

Meeka Bondy, Senior Counsel, Perkins Coie LLP

Eugene Glenn, Investment Consultant, Fidelity Investments

“Yesterday’s price is not today’s price”. The last few years have created a paradigm shift for many about the future of work. Each generation, from baby boomers to Gen Zers, have questioned; what they want to do, where and how they want to work, is their lifestyle sustainable, and what retirement can and/or will look like. During this motivational and interactive session, hear from experts on how to shift into gear, advocate and negotiate your best salary in any career stage, and pivot gracefully into retirement, in order to live your best life!

/ NAMIC