Rethinking Stakeholder Value: Creators, Brands, and the Future of Work

This inaugural 2.5-day conference brings together marketing, communications, and media executives and scholars for research-informed, practice-based learning. Designed for mid-career, senior-level, and C-suite leaders, participants will engage in insightful discussions, thought-provoking talks, and interactive panels that explore the shift in how stakeholder value is defined and delivered in today’s digital-first, AI-powered world, and the impact on creator economics, brand success, and workplace transformation.

Program Schedule

Day 1: Creator Marketing Symposiums & Dean's Welcome Reception (1 PM - 7 PM)

• Led by Frank Dudley, Lecturer at Medill IMC and President of Financial Marketing Institute
• Explore how creator marketing has evolved into a full-funnel strategy driving awareness, engagement, and commerce. Topics include new faculty research in partnership with the Retail Analytics Council and LTK, CMO strategies for leveraging creators, behind-the-scenes insights from creators themselves, and the growing role of retail media networks in brand growth.
• Confirmed speakers:
  • Tyrell Schmidt, Chief Marketing Officer and Head of Global Brand at TD Bank, N.A.
  • Frank Mulhern, Professor at Medill IMC

Day 2: A Day with IMC (9 AM - 5 PM, coffee & lunch provided)

• Gain insight into the latest thinking on brand value, marketing performance, and influence in today’s fast-evolving landscape. Topics include capital flows and brand-building strategies, the impact of Martech and AI, measuring influence and misinformation, and the role of culture in brand leadership. Sessions are led by Medill faculty and senior brand and agency executives. Thought leadership sessions will be followed by a LinkedIn Masterclass and career-focused talks.
• Confirmed speakers:
  • Melissa Brotz, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at Abbott
  • Matt Withington, Head of Truly and Angry Orchard brands at The Boston Beer Company
  • Clive Sirkin, Former Chief Marketing Officer at Kimberly-Clark and former Chief Growth Officer at Kellogg Company with Rishad Tobaccowala, Former Chief Growth Officer at Publicis
  • Bradley Akubuiro, Partner at Bully Pulpit International
  • Ashlee Humphreys, Professor at Medill IMC
  • Roy Wollen, Lecturer at Medill IMC and Director, Client Engagement at Medill Executive Education
  • Tony Poidomani, Lecturer at Medill IMC
  • Mark Revermann, SVP Business Integration at Fluent360
  • Spenser Ford, Global Brand Marketing/LeBron Lead at Nike

Day 3: Rethinking Work Summit (9 AM - 5 PM, coffee & lunch provided)

• Led by Rishad Tobaccowala, author of Rethinking Work and former Chief Strategy & Growth Officer of Publicis Groupe
• Through TED-style talks, fireside chats, and panels, speakers explore how work is being reshaped by technology, societal shifts, the role of the office, new models of talent and leadership, and the human-AI relationship.
• Confirmed speakers:
  • Tariq Hassan, former Chief Marketing Officer at McDonald’s
  • Renetta McCann, Chief Inclusion Experiences Officer at Publicis, former Chief Talent Officer at Publicis, former CEO at Starcom Mediavest
  • Matt Moog, Founder and CEO at CareerBird, former CEO at Chicago Public Media
  • Amanda Lannert, CEO at Jellyvision
  • Vijay Viswanathan, Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani Professor and Associate Dean at Medill IMC
  • Keisha McClellan, VP Global Crisis and Issues Comms at WeberShandwick
  • Danielle Robinson Bell, Associate Professor and Academic Director of Medill IMC Professional Program & Medill Executive Education
  • Allison England, Head of Communications, US and Canada at GE Healthcare
  • Tifair Hamed, Chief Growth Officer at P33
  • Carolyn Tang Kmet, Associate Professor at Medill IMC
  • Jeff Treem, Professor at Medill IMC
  • David Shell, Co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer at Lanzscape and adjunct faculty at Medill IMC
  • Caroline Vasquez, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at DRW

* Speaker list is subject to change and will be confirmed closer to date.

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Program Format

In person (see location below)

Participant Profile

This program is intended for executives, career advancers, and aspiring leaders. We also welcome members of the Medill community, including alumni and current IMC Professional students.

Date and Time

Thursday, July 24, 2025, 1 PM - 7 PM CT
Friday & Saturday, July 25 & 26, 2025, 9 AM - 5 PM CT

Location

Medill Downtown Chicago Campus
303 E. Wacker Dr., Chicago, IL, 60601

Program Fee

General Admission: $350
Alumni & Early Bird: $200 (register before June 1, 2025)
Current IMC Students: $125

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For more information about Medill Executive Education, e-mail us at medill-execed@northwestern.edu.