AGENDA CHICAGO

Gleacher Center, 450 North Cityfront Plaza Dr, Chicago, Illinois 60611

8am (Central)

Registration, tea & coffee

9am (Central)

Welcome to B2B World Fest

Chicago

The Drum’s US editor, Kendra Barnett and our host partner Bader Rutter will set the scene and share what to expect from a day of engaging content.

KENDRA BARNETT

associate editor, US The Drum

LIAM BOYLE

vice president of business strategy & development Bader Rutter

9.20am (Central)

Setting the scene

Chicago

Join us as we begin to map out the major themes and talking points set to be discussed thoughout the day.

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DAVID JORDAN

CEO Bader Rutter

9.40am (Central)

The questions you should be asking your agency

London & Chicago

What truly matters when selecting an agency? From team composition to capability, this session will explore the questions clients really need to ask at the RFP stage to find the perfect partner and together cultivate a culture of creative effectiveness

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ED DAVIS

director, international client relationships BBN International

VICTORIA KERR

head of marketing, EMEA & APAC Uber for Business

SIAN BRIGG

director, global agency strategy and creative transformation EY

MINDY LAMB

senior marketing manager SpotSee

LESLEY PINCKNEY

head of marketing - incubation & disruptive innovation Intel Corporation

10.15am (Central)

B2B – the new sports MVP

London & Chicago

From big game advertising to team sponsorship and star endorsements, B2B is becoming an increasingly big player in sports. As business brands take some of the prime roster spots previously reserved for their consumer counterparts, we’ll hear from some of Chicago and London’s top sports organizations about seizing the opportunity.

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CAMERON CLARKE

global editor The Drum

BILLY SANEZ

global marketing director SpotSee

ASHLEY FACCHINI

senior director, corporate partnership development Chicago Cubs

RYAN NORYS

chief revenue officer Tottenham Hotspur

GOYO PEREZ

senior vice president of corporate partnerships Chicago Fire

LAUREN ESTWICK

new business & marketing director House 337

11.05am (Central)

BREAK

11.25am (Central)

Smashing Silos: aligning marketing, sales and finance for B2B success

Chicago

Every CMO wants the C-suite to back their ideas, but what do the budget holders need to hear in return? Join Dow Jones CMO Sherry Weiss for an engaging and dynamic fireside chat exploring how marketing leaders can foster stronger collaboration with their finance and sales counterparts to achieve shared success. From demystifying the role of marketing in long B2B sales cycles to aligning on the metrics that matter most, this session dives into what budget-holding CFOs and revenue-driving CROs need to hear from CMOs to back bold ideas. Expect real-world insights and actionable advice on building trust, proving the ROI of marketing efforts and championing cross-functional collaboration. Walk away with fresh perspectives on navigating budgets, balancing innovation with predictability and staying ahead of trends that are reshaping the relationship between marketing, sales and finance.

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KENDRA BARNETT

associate editor, US The Drum

SHERRY WEISS

chief marketing officer Dow Jones

11.45am (Central)

Rapid-fire Talk: Decoding B2B’s Brand Boom - How brand, community and storytelling boosts growth

Chicago

Rockstar conferences, Super Bowl ad slots, pithy social media campaigns and sleek new design. It’s B2B - but not as we know it, as the landscape has shifted from a sales-led approach to a recognition that brand-building ultimately boosts growth. With 91% of US B2B professionals feeling equipped for industry transformations over the next 5-10 years, it’s time to get a hold on the new opportunities at play.

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BRE ROSSETTI

chief strategy officer, Arnold & EVP, Havas Media

CHASE CORNETT

chief strategy officer Havas Chicago

12pm (Central)

Rapid-fire Talk: Humanizing B2B Marketing: Building Emotional Connections in the Age of AI

Chicago

In today’s B2B landscape, authentic connections are key to lasting relationships. While enterprises often rely on large teams to deliver personalized outreach, Usman Khalid, CEO of Centric and founder of LiProspect, will reveal how AI-powered tools like LiProspect are leveling the playing field for mid-market companies. With AI-driven insights and rapid company research, smaller SDR/BDR teams can now achieve enterprise-level impact, engaging customers with highly targeted, meaningful outreach.

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USMAN KHALID

founder and CEO Centric

12.15pm (Central)

LUNCH

1.15pm (Central)

Rapid-fire Talks: B2B in fAIryland

Chicago

Everyone in marketing is talking about AI. At The Drum B2B World Fest, The Drum and BBN will unveil a cool new AI film charting the invention, rise and current explosion of AI in B2B Marketing, including how it is fast changing the shape and make-up of the industry. There’s hardly a facet of B2B marketing AI hasn’t touched, from client contact reporting to research, creativity and media planning. But is it for the best? This fascinating short film, produced by BBN Agency X, explores that very question and is the precursor to a debate on the subject by a panel of experts. It’s not to be missed. Video designed by Chase Grammer and Trent McNelly.

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CHASE GRAMMER

creative director Agency X

TRENT McNELLY

innovation strategist & founder Ad+Verb

1.30pm (Central)

How do we change B2B with AI?

Chicago

AI is shaking up the B2B world, but how far can it really go? Our panel of industry experts will share how AI is driving smarter marketing, sales, and customer experiences. Get ready for fast-paced insights, bold predictions, and real examples of AI at work. Whether you're an AI skeptic or a believer, this session will show you how AI is set to change the game for B2B.

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KENDRA BARNETT

associate editor, US The Drum

STEPHANIE BANNOS-RYBACK

EVP - CX-EX-UX Service Lines, Ipsos

GENESIS CAPUNITAN

chief strategy officer Narrative Generative AI

2.05pm (Central)

The Brand vs. Demand Quandary: What Wins in B2B?

Chicago

In the complex world of B2B marketing, finding the right balance between brand-building and demand generation is a perennial challenge. This panel brings together industry leaders to unpack the B2B funnel and explore where investments truly drive growth. From the enduring importance of trust and loyalty to the measurable impact of lead generation, this session will dive into how to optimize a B2B marketing and sales strategy across the funnel. Whether you’re a brand advocate, a demand-driven pragmatist, or somewhere in between, you’ll walk away with fresh insights and practical tips for maximizing marketing impact in today’s competitive landscape. Join us for a lively discussion on the ultimate question: Is brand or demand the prime mover in B2B success?

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KENDRA BARNETT

associate editor, US The Drum

TONY RILEY

president & CEO The MX Group

DAVID MORENO

EVP integrated strategy and effectiveness Bader Rutter

ROSS BARKER

founder & CEO Entourage BD

2.30pm (Central)

Expert marketing clinics: your questions, answered

Chicago

What are the big questions weighing on marketers? Which marketing trends are fads and which will shape the future? Where should marketers be investing in today’s changing landscape? Bring any and all questions to this panel and leave answers informed by first-hand, peer-to-peer experience. It’s like speed dating with smart people to enhance your career.

DAVID JORDAN

CEO Bader Rutter

RED DRUMMOND

senior marketing manager, Power & Renewables Wood MacKenzie

LESLEY PINCKNEY

head of marketing - incubation & disruptive innovation Intel Corporation

RACQUEL HARRIS

former Kraft Foods Marketing and Sam’s Club executive

2.55pm (Central)

This time it’s personal – solving the privacy paradox

Chicago

B2B customers increasingly want marketers to connect with them as people, not just business decision makers. But they want the personalization without the prying. As we head into 2025, it’s time to tackle this long-standing tension once and for all. Join us for an interactive session as we explore how you can leverage AI-driven, diverse data sets to get you closer to your customers while protecting their privacy.

ANNIE GEORGIEVA

senior manager, product management Quantcast

3.10pm (Central)

WRAP UP & NETWORKING

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