2026 AGENDA PREVIEW
Day 1: Wednesday — May 20, 2026
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Registration
8:00 - 9:00 AM
INNOVATION VILLAGE
Coffee & Light Breakfast
Discover Transformational Technology: The Innovation Village is home to cutting-edge startups and proven tech partners delivering game-changing solutions to boost your business.
8:55 AM
Opening Remarks
Noah Gellman, President, The Lead
9:00 AM
Opening Keynote
Speaker to be Announced
SESSION 1
9:25 AM
Strategies to Drive Growth and Increase Market Share Despite a Challanging Business Environment
Tanya Golesic, CEO, Mackage
Jed Berger, Global President & CEO, Kenneth Cole Productions
Facilitate Agentic Product Discovery Through Content and Community
David Baker, CRO, BEEKMAN 1802
SESSION 2
10:10 AM
Protect Market Leadership Through Constant Innovation
Hartmut Kraft, President, Silhouette
Early Lessons on Activating Commerce within Gen AI Platforms
Colleen Waters, VP, Ecommerce, Steven Madden
10:40 AM – 11:50 PM
INNOVATION VILLAGE
The Meetings Program is the ultimate networking opportunity for the retail industry. Learn more & join!
SESSION 3
10:40 AM
Build an Anti-Trend Brand that Provides a Sense of Identity and Belonging
Carrie Gross, Chief Creative Officer & Co-Founder, Dr. Dennis Gross
SESSION 4
11:20 AM
Strategies for Transforming Legacy Brands for a New Generation of Consumer
Jeremey Tahari, CEO & Creative Director, Elie Tahari
Kiera Gannan, SVP, Head of Merchandising, The Children’s Place
SESSION 5
11:50 AM
Master the Modern Cultural Landscape Through Velocity, Resonance or Celebrity
Dan Manioci, SVP, Global Consumer Engagement & Digital Marketing, Parlux
Rachel Lockett, VP, Marketing, MAC Cosmetics
12:30 - 1:45 PM
Networking Lunches: Take a break to sync with your team or continue networking while enjoying elevated food from New York’s most popular lunch spots.
SESSION 6
1:25 PM
Move From AI Experimentation to Mature AI Operating Models and Consumer Experiences
Mimi Ruiz, VP, Ecommerce, Columbia Sportswear
Rethink the Marketing Funnel for the Age of AI
Mike Jacobs, Chief Growth Officer, Consortium Brands
SESSION 7
2:10 PM
Part A: Democratize Organizational Data and Make it Actionable and Purposeful to Unlock AI Superpowers
Manuel Neto, VP, Global Analytics & Data Science, Capri Holdings
Neha Kovach, Global Head, Omnichannel CRM, CX, Clienteling, & Data Insights, David Yurman
Part B: Apply AI to Understand Demand and Optimize Pricing in Real Time
Amy Sullivan, VP, Buying & Private Brands, Stitch Fix
Maximize Creator Marketing ROI with Deeper Relationships
Jess Burns, SVP, Global Marketing & Communications, rag & bone
3:00 - 4:10 PM
INNOVATION VILLAGE
The Meetings Program is the ultimate networking opportunity for the retail industry. Learn more & join!
SESSION 8
3:00 PM
Master the Art of Listening for Emotional Brand Building
Rene Federico, Head of Marketing, U.S., Primark
Kim Dao, VP, Marketing, Every Man Jack
SESSION 9
3:40 PM
Protect Your Career From AI Job Displacement
Laura Cantor, VP, Marketing, New York & Company
SESSION 10
4:10 PM
Create Momentum and Lasting Marketing Value with Live Activations
Katherine Kim Choroco, SVP, Digital & Marketing, Vince
Dina Fierro, VP, Global Consumer Engagement, K18 Hair
Lisa Zlotnick, Head of Brand PR, SHEIN
SESSION 11
4:55 PM
Create Content to Rise Above The AI Slop and Avoid Mediocrity
Speakers To Be Announced
5:30 PM
Reception
Brand & Retail Attendees Only
7:30 PM
Private Dinners & Partner Events: Enjoy small group dinners at some of the most sought-after restaurants in NYC at these exclusive dinners.
Day 2: Thursday — May 21, 2026
THE DTC SYMPOSIUM
The DTC Symposium is a special program taking place on day two of The Lead Summit. It is designed specifically for DTC practitioners across marketing, ecommerce, retail and operations.
8:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Registration
8:00 - 9:00 AM
INNOVATION VILLAGE
Coffee & Light Breakfast
Discover Transformational Technology: The Innovation Village is home to cutting-edge startups and proven tech partners delivering game-changing solutions to boost your business.
SESSION 1
8:55 AM
Key Market Shifts to Prepare For Now
Kristen Classi-Zummo, Executive Director, Apparel Advisor, Circana
SESSION 2
9:10 AM
Strategies for Protecting Margins: Reduce Complexity, Raise Prices, Adjust Sourcing or All of the Above
Speakers To Be Announced
Part A: Access the Wellness Consumer with New Go-to-Market Approach
Molly Delp, Chief Growth Officer, NuFACE
Dave Knospe, VP, Marketing, New Belgium Brewing
John Scheer, Co-Founder & Chief Creative Officer, Herman Scheer (Moderator)
Part B: Build Brands by Activating Niche Communities
Nilofer Vahora, CMO, amika
THE DTC SYMPOSIUM
Utilize Powerful Storytelling to Build your Brand and Cultivate Community
Ana Gerst, VP, Brand Marketing & Communications, Hiya
9:55 AM
Keynote
Speaker to be Announced
10:20 - 11:30 PM
INNOVATION VILLAGE
The Meetings Program is the ultimate networking opportunity for the retail industry. Learn more & join!
SESSION 3
11:30 AM
Balance Human with AI to Create a Stronger Organization
Sunny Jiang, CEO & President, Eyebuydirect
Sports Marketing a Playbook Every Brand Needs in 2026
Lauren Weinberg, CMO, Supergoop!
12:10 - 1:20 PM
INNOVATION VILLAGE
The Meetings Program is the ultimate networking opportunity for the retail industry. Learn more & join!
12:45 - 1:45 PM
Networking Lunches: Take a break to sync with your team or continue networking while enjoying elevated food from New York’s most popular lunch spots.
1:30 PM
THE DTC SYMPOSIUM
Keynote:
Speaker to be Announced
SESSION 4
1:50 PM
THE DTC SYMPOSIUM
Evolve your Creator Marketing Strategies to Grow Total Addressable Market
Kirsten Guerry, VP, Marketing & Digital, Caraway Home
SESSION 5
2:15 PM
THE DTC SYMPOSIUM
Redefine Brand Partnerships from One-off “Hype” Moments to Long-Term Strategic Collaborations with Deep Integration
Amy Barber, Head of Brand, Loop Earplugs
SESSION 6
2:30 PM
THE DTC SYMPOSIUM
Drive Profitable Growth Through Wholesale and Retail Optimization
Katia Unlu, Chief Commercial Officer, Boll & Branch
Declan Duggan, SVP, Sales & Distribution, BERO
SESSION 7
3:05 PM
THE DTC SYMPOSIUM
Deploy AI to Operate Like an Enterprise Brand on a Lean Budget
Katie Omstead, President, Lo & Sons
SESSION 8
3:30 PM
THE DTC SYMPOSIUM
Strike the Right Balance Between Paid and Organic Marketing to Drive Real Growth
Andrew Bleiman, EVP, North America, Tractive
SESSION 9
4:00 PM