Twenty years ago, Brandweek was just a magazine. But in September, it was brought back to life, setting out to become a next-generation summit, a movement and a mindset. Over the course of three days, industry thought leaders like Bozoma Saint John and Jen Rubio shared insights on everything from navigating a brand crisis to making your mark on ecommerce. More than 300 of the brightest minds in advertising and marketing gathered in Palm Springs, Calif. for the Brandweek inaugural summit.
We wanted to take a moment and not only highlight their conversations, but the ones attendees were having on social media.
Kevin Hart kicked off #Brandweek with a talk about personal branding and entrepreneurship. During his keynote, the comedian turned businessman told the audience he wouldn’t let anything get in the way of a career in comedy. Hart explained how he’s used his own success to lift up the people around him.
Like Hart, Jen Rubio is known for shaking things up. As they keynote speaker on the second day of Brandweek, the co-founder of Away luggage explained why it’s easier than ever to start an ecommerce company. A quick scroll through your social media feeds, where you’ll see influencers sporting sleek Away travel bags, is proof.
NHL CMO Heidi Browning emphasis the need to put yourself in your customers’ place, sometimes literally.
One of the most enlightening talks of the entire conference came from Target CMO Rick Gomez, who spoke at length about a recent mistake the brand made.
Gomez also explained a recent success for Target. The brand revamped its swimsuit marketing, forging a much-appreciated connection with its customers.
The final keynote conversation featured none other than Bozoma Saint John, Endeavor’s CMO who encouraged Brandweek attendees to be prepared for the inevitable brand crisis. She emphasized her point by humming the theme song from Jaws.
In addition to keynote speakers, Brandweek featured other notables like Levi’s Global Brands CMO Jennifer Sey and Lee Applbaum, CMO of Patrón and Grey Goose. The latter got behind the bar with Adweek editorial director Jim Cooper in addition to his talk.
The Fans. The Brands. Social Good. The Future of Sports. Don't miss the upcoming Brandweek Sports Marketing Summit and Upfronts, a live virtual experience on Nov. 16-19. Early-bird passes available until Oct. 26. Register now.
