Allison Stadd is currently the SVP of Brand, Culture & Media at Shipt, a wholly owned subsidiary of Target, where she spearheads brand, transformational creativity, and full-funnel media. She has over 15 years of experience in marketing leadership roles at consumer-obsessed, digital-first brands, including 3 IPOs (Shake Shack, Sweetgreen, BarkBox) and led the global digital advertising and content transformation for Stella Artois at Anheuser Busch InBev.

Allison was a member of the inaugural U.S. class of 30 of The Marketing Academy, a 9-month fellowship targeting the fastest rising stars in U.S. marketing, and was selected as one of Ad Age’s “40 Under 40” and Brand Innovators’ “40 Under 40” in 2019.

Samuel Monnie is a marketing reformer and Co-Founder & CO-CEO of Purpose Hive a strategic brand purpose consultancy where guidance and support is provided to brands and organizations in their quest of prospering from good growth. He is the former SVP Revenue (Sales & Marketing) for Sustainable Brands. His global marketing leadership experiences include brand-building, integrated marketing, digital and eCommerce, innovation, thought leadership and culture mobilization at Procter & Gamble, Gillette, Campbell’s, Grainger, Safeway. He brings experience in transforming capabilities and organizational performance via Center of Excellence roles and as a marketing transformation consultant and co-host of the Marketing Transformed Podcast. He was an Adjunct Professor at DePaul University and has taught International Business, and Brand Strategy. From the UK, and of Ghanaian heritage, he’s lived in Germany, and Switzerland and now resides in the NYC area. He speaks German, French, and Ga (Ghana).

Bio coming soon.

Damian Benders is a multicultural digital media veteran with over 20 years of professional experience. As General Manager of B Code, a modern media company that specializes in multicultural marketing and advertising, he works to create real impact across the cultural media landscape and increase the scale, efficacy and authenticity of spend targeting Black Americans.

Previously, Damian spent three years building the digital video business at iONE Digital where he was responsible for driving video programming, production, and revenue across a portfolio of 70 brands as the Vice President of Video & Business Development. Damian has a rich media, marketing and strategy background having worked across digital publishing, film and television with companies including Moguldom Media Group, SnagFilms, FilmBuff, Metro International, American Express and Knight Ridder.

Lauded as one of Media, Marketing & Tech’s 50 “Most Indispensable Behind The Scenes Stars”, Kai Deveraux Lawson is a thought leader, innovator, and advocate for truth-telling in marketing. With over 13 years experience in the industry, she’s helped shape strategies for Advertising’s most recognizable agencies and brands.

Her experience led her to launch the culturally focused platforms, Mixed Company Podcast and her blog, Mylifeofkai.com. On these platforms, she shares her first hand experiences in life, travel and career.

Kai’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and her innovative approach to marketing, has garnered significant recognition throughout her career. In 2024, Kai was named the Ad Age A List & Creativity Awards Diversity & Inclusion Champion of the Year. Additional honors include The 2022 Adweek50 list and New York Moves Magazine’s 2023 Diversity Award, solidifying her status as a respected trailblazer in her field.

In January of 2024, Kai co-founded Valerie, a Hybrid Agency/Consultancy specializing in developing and executing strategy and creative for brands and businesses rooted in life experiences.