2026 AGENDA
Day 1: Wednesday — May 20, 2026
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Registration
8:00 AM - 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.
8:50 AM
Opening Remarks
Noah Gellman, President, The Lead
8:55 AM
SESSION 1
Master the Art of Scaling from Hero Product to a Lifestyle Brand
Tanya Golesic, CEO, Mackage
Simeon Siegel, Senior Managing Director, Guggenheim Securities (Interviewer)
9:10 AM
SESSION 2
Get Stores Ready for the Wave of AI-Assisted Shoppers
Patrick Walsh, COO, Knitwell Group (Ann Taylor, Chico’s, Talbots)
Sonia Lapinsky, Partner, Managing Director, Head of Fashion Retail, AlixPartners
9:25 AM
SESSION 3
STAGE 1
Strategies to Drive Growth and Increase Market Share Despite a Challenging Business Environment
Jed Berger, Global President & CEO, Kenneth Cole Productions
Jeremey Tahari, CEO & Creative Director, Elie Tahari
Sheena Butler-Young, Senior Correspondent, The Business of Fashion (Interviewer)
STAGE 2
Facilitate Agentic Product Discovery Through Content and Community
David Baker, CRO, Beekman 1802
Ann Marie Ippoliti, SVP, Digital Commerce, Consumer Marketing, & Global Analytics, Michael Kors
Arielle Feger, Senior Analyst, Media Content, EMARKETER (Moderator)
Early Lessons on Activating Commerce Within Gen AI Platforms
Colleen Waters, VP, Ecommerce, Steve Madden
Laura Kennedy, Retail & Commerce Strategy Advisor (Interviewer)
STAGE 3
Build a Scalable Foundation for Growth
John Bourne, CEO, Holderness & Bourne
Eric Ford, Director, IT, Holderness & Bourne
Patrick Muyal, Chief Customer Officer, Retail & CPG, SAP (Moderator)
Harness Gen AI to Create Self-Optimizing Digital Storefronts
Aviv Frenkel, Co-Founder & CEO, Moonshot AI
Scale Luxury Fulfillment During Peak Seasons
Jamie Martin, Sr. Director, Operations, Boll & Branch
Mary Berko, Marketing Director, Kase
10:10 AM
SESSION 4
STAGE 1
Master the Art of Experience: Bringing a Lifestyle Brand to Life Across Every Touchpoint
Candan Erenguc, COO, Anthropologie
Haley Crawford, Marketing Correspondent, The Business of Fashion (Interviewer)
STAGE 2
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
Willa Bennett, Editor-in-Chief, Cosmopolitan and Seventeen (Moderator)
STAGE 3
Scale Personalization with Data Fluency to Power Every Customer Journey
Alicia Barreto, Director, CRM & Retention, Bogg Bag
Ciana Abdollahian, Head of Customer Marketing, Klaviyo (Interviewer)
10:40 AM - 11:50 AM
INNOVATION VILLAGE
The Meetings Program is the ultimate networking opportunity for the retail industry.
10:40 AM
SESSION 5
STAGE 1
Build an Anti-Trend Brand that Provides a Sense of Identity and Belonging
Natasha Fishman, CMO, Marquee Brands
Carrie Gross, Chief Creative Officer & Co-Founder, Dr. Dennis Gross
Adrianna Barrionuevo Brach, Executive Editor & On-Air Correspondent, NBC News (Interviewer)
11:15 AM
SESSION 6
STAGE 1
Transform Legacy Brands for a New Generation of Consumer
Kiera Gannan, SVP, Head of Merchandising, The Children’s Place
Jesse Goldstine, Chief Retail Officer, MoMA Retail
Richard Kestenbaum, Partner, Triangle Capital | Contributor, Forbes.com (Moderator)
11:50 AM
SESSION 7
STAGE 1
Move From AI Experimentation to Mature AI Operating Models and Consumer Experiences
Mimi Ruiz, VP, Ecommerce, Columbia Sportswear
David Cost, CDO, Rainbow Apparel
Serge Moreau, VP, Technology (Former), Tommy John
Rick Watson, CEO & Founder, RMW Commerce | Host of the Watson Weekly (Moderator)
STAGE 2
Satisfy Modern Consumer Demands And Optimize Partner Relationships Through Product Intelligence Driven By Live Data Insights
Sarah Tam, Chief Merchant Officer, Rent The Runway
Marie Driscoll, Adjunct Professor, The New School and FIT (Interviewer)
Redefine Retention and Profitability in Beauty with Post-Purchase Data
Kevin Gould, Co-Founder, GLAMNETIC
Woodrow Levin, CEO & Co-Founder, Extend
STAGE 3
Scale Creator Marketing with AI to Maximize the Impact of Every Mention Across All Relevant Platforms
Andy Chiu, CEO, Versed
Paul Benigeri, CEO, Archive (Interviewer)
Unlock the Power of CTV as a Performance Channel
Matt Skai, Operating Principal, L Catterton (Birkenstock, Tod’s)
Bryan Brennan, Sr. Account Executive, Vibe.co
12:30 PM - 1:25 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.
1:25 PM
SESSION 8
STAGE 1
Navigate Volatility and Meet Modern Consumer Demand with A Responsive Supply Chain
Andy Trojan, VP, Demand & Supply, Ariat
Master Multiplatform Commerce by Synchronizing Product, Merchandising, and Media Strategies Across Amazon, Walmart, TikTok Shop, and DTC
Tommy Kowalski, VP, Digital Commerce, HeyDude and Crocs
Brittany Meeks, VP, Ecommerce Retailers – Amazon & Pure Play, Olaplex
Jessica Binns, Editorial Director, Berns Communications Group (Moderator)
STAGE 2
Rethink the Marketing Funnel for the Age of AI
Mike Jacobs, Chief Growth Officer, Consortium Brands
Maximize Creator Marketing ROI with Deeper Relationships
Jess Burns, SVP, Global Marketing & Communications, rag & bone
Carley Caldas, SVP, Marketing & Creative, eos Products
Zoe Soon, VP, Experience Center, IAB (Moderator)
STAGE 3
Scale Globally in a Rapidly Changing E‑commerce Landscape
Drew Cook, President, Business Ops & CFO, PACT
Matthew Merrilees, CEO, North America, Global-e (Interviewer)
Scale Live Image Editing Without Losing Control
Anton Naumenko, VP, Engineering, thredUP
Michelle Belcic, VP, Sales & Partnerships, Photoroom (Interviewer)
2:10 PM
The Loft
The Digital Roundtable Assembly
Hosted by: Trinadha Kandi, Managing Director, Deloitte Digital and Marta Frattini, Director, Global Industry Strategy – Retail, Adobe
2:10 PM
SESSION 9
STAGE 1
Democratize Organizational Data and Make it Actionable and Purposeful to Unlock AI Superpowers
Manuel Neto, VP, Global Analytics & Data Science
Neha Kovach, Global Head, Omnichannel CRM, CX, Clienteling, & Data Insights, David Yurman
Amy Sullivan, VP, Buying & Private Brands, Stitch Fix
Christine Russo, Creator, What Just Happened (Moderator)
STAGE 2
Move from Fragmented Planning Tools to One Enterprise Growth Model
Bharath Gaddam, CEO & Co-Founder, DATA POEM
Accelerate Global Scale Through Connected Commerce
Carney Nir, VP, Global Ecommerce & Digital Experience, Orveon Global (bareMinerals, Laura Mercier)
Marko Bon, President, Domaine (Interviewer)
Turn Customer Relationships into Revenue with AI-powered Clienteling
Leigh Sevin, Co-Founder, Endear
STAGE 3
Scale Support Without Sacrificing Brand Voice
Chantel Arlyn Oh, Director, CX, Dolls Kill
Jonathan Wu, CEO, Cavalry (Interviewer)
Cultivate Brand Intimacy at the Speed of a Scroll
Colleen Waters, VP, Ecommerce, Steve Madden
Noah Maffitt, Co-Founder & Chief Growth Officer, Product Genius
Boost Conversion with Autonomous Self-Improving Testing Engine
Josh Payne, Founder & CEO, Coframe
3:00 PM - 4:10 PM
INNOVATION VILLAGE
The Meetings Program is the ultimate networking opportunity for the retail industry.
3:00 PM
SESSION 10
STAGE 1
Master the Art of Listening for Emotional Brand Building
Rene Federico, Head of Marketing, U.S., Primark
Kim Dao, VP, Marketing, Every Man Jack
Colin Daniels, Founder, It’s Colin Daniels (Interviewer)
3:35 PM
SESSION 11
STAGE 1
Sports Marketing Playbook Every Brand Needs in 2026
Joe McCambley, CMO, Saatva
Seth Yassky, Head of Partnerships Marketing & Commercialization, Proximo Spirits
Peter Stern, Chief Growth Officer, Horizon Sports and Experiences (Moderator)
4:10 PM
SESSION 12
STAGE 1
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
Jill Manoff, Editor-in-Chief, Glossy & Modern Retail (Moderator)
STAGE 2
Protect Your Career From AI Job Displacement
Laura Cantor, VP, Marketing, New York & Company
April Guidone, COO, SMAC Entertainment
Courtney Spritzer, Co-Founder, Entreprenista (Moderator)
Treat Shoppers like People, Not Tickets
Ian Patterson, Co-Founder, Remark
STAGE 3
Unlock Creators as a Core Performance Channel
Lauren Sherman, CMO, Ruggable
Dan Pelosi, NYT Best-Selling Cookbook Author and Food & Lifestyle Creator
Jack Riker, SVP, ShopMy (Interviewer)
Scale User Generated Content & Cut Operations in Half
Danil Saliukov, CEO & Co-Founder, Insense
Juan Carlos Peña, Sales Director, Insense
4:55 PM
SESSION 13
STAGE 1
Maximise Gen Z Engagement With Your Brand at the Mall
Lee Sterling, CMO, Simon
Lynda Fisher, Chief Revenue Officer, Rowan
Cathaleen Chen, Editor and Reporter, The Business of Fashion (Moderator)
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 - 2:00 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.
9:00 AM
SESSION 1
STAGE 2
Key Market Shifts to Prepare For Now
Kristen Classi-Zummo, Executive Director, Apparel Advisor, Circana
9:15 AM
SESSION 2
STAGE 1
Strategies for Protecting Margins in a Volatile Market
Brett Bone, Chief Strategy Officer, Simple Modern
Glenn Taylor, Logistics Editor, Sourcing Journal (Moderator)
STAGE 2
Access the Wellness Consumer with a 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)
STAGE 3
Optimize the AI/Human Hybrid Customer Experience
Michael Klein, Industry Marketing Director, Talkdesk
Win the New AI Shelf
Maoz Lakovski, Chief Business Officer, Similarweb
9:40 AM
SESSION 3
STAGE 1
Strategies for Building Timeless Brands with Multigenerational Appeal
Stephanie Unwin, President, Veronica Beard
Ken Ohashi, Brand CEO, Brooks Brothers & Nautica, Catalyst
Marie Driscoll, Adjunct Professor, The New School and FIT
STAGE 2
Counteract AI-Driven Sameness and Mediocrity with Creative Firepower to Stand Apart.
Dara Golush, SVP Marketing, Quip
Meredith Diehn, SVP Marketing, Goodwipes
Dana Hork, CEO & Founder, Beers With Friends (Moderator)
STAGE 3
Same-Day Delivery Reengineered with AI: Turning a Cost Center into a Strategic Advantage
Corrin Silver, VP, Digital Commercialization, FedEx
Bill Catania, Founder & CEO, OneRail
10:00 AM
SESSION 4
STAGE 2 | THE DTC SYMPOSIUM
Brand Building in the Age of Influence & Culture
Jake Galtere, CMO, Naturium
Colin Daniels, Founder, It’s Colin Daniels (Interviewer)
10:20 AM - 11:30 AM
INNOVATION VILLAGE
The Meetings Program is the ultimate networking opportunity for the retail industry.
10:20 AM
SESSION 5
STAGE 1
Separate Signal from Noise in a World Drowning in Headlines and Hot Takes
David Katz, EVP & CMO, Randa Apparel & Accessories
10:40 AM
SESSION 6
STAGE 1
Protect Market Leadership Through Constant Innovation
Hartmut Kraft, President, Silhouette
Marie Driscoll, Adjunct Professor, The New School and FIT (Interviewer)
10:55 AM
SESSION 7
STAGE 1
Build AI-Forward Brands to Tap into New Market Opportunities
Mariam Naficy, Founder & CEO, Arcade | Founder & Chairman, Minted
Jack Jia, Founder & CEO, Musely
Ann Gehan, Ecommerce & Retail Reporter, The Information (Interviewer)
11:30 AM
SESSION 8
STAGE 1
Strategies for AI-Led Business Transformation
Assaf Ronen, President HFG | CEO HelloFresh NA
Gaurav Pant, Chief Insights Officer, Incisiv (Interviewer)
Balance Human with AI to Create a Stronger Organization
Sunny Jiang, CEO & President, Eyebuydirect
Jeremy Goldman, VP, Insights, RETHINK Retail (Interviewer)
STAGE 2
Build Brands by Activating Niche Communities
Nilofer Vahora, CMO, amika
Erwan Le Berrigaud, CMO, NEST NEW YORK
Leslie Ann Hall, CEO & Founder, Iced Media (Interviewer)
STAGE 3 | THE DTC SYMPOSIUM
Build Taste-Driven Digital Experiences in an Era of Sameness
Renee Halvorsen, CMO, Marine Layer
Jamie Burkes Manager, Customer Success, Nosto
Michael Janiak, Co-Founder, Pattern (Moderator)
Build AI Visibility Before the Channel Gets Crowded
Josip Begic, CEO, Lebesgue
12:10 PM
SESSION 9
STAGE 1
Learn the Signals and Subcultures Shaping What’s Next
Heather Boesch, Partner, IDEO
12:30 PM
SESSION 10
STAGE 1
Create a Voice People Trust in the Age of AI
Samantha Critchell, VP, Corporate Communications, E.L.F. BEAUTY
Caroline Tell, Founder, Tell&Co (Interviewer)
12:10 PM - 1:20 PM
INNOVATION VILLAGE
The Meetings Program is the ultimate networking opportunity for the retail industry.
THE DTC SYMPOSIUM
Utilize Powerful Storytelling to Build your Brand and Cultivate Community
Ana Gerst, VP, Brand Marketing & Communications, Hiya
12:45 PM - 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
SESSION 11
STAGE 2 | Sponsored by TaxCloud
From Startup To Sale In Seven Years: Built with Loyalty as the Growth Engine
Jess Jacobs, CEO, Coterie
Richard Kestenbaum, Partner, Triangle Capital | Contributor, Forbes.com (Interviewer)
1:50 PM
SESSION 12
STAGE 2 | Sponsored by TaxCloud
Utilize Powerful Storytelling to Build your Brand and Cultivate Community
Ana Gerst, VP, Brand Marketing & Communications, Hiya
Daren Hull, COO, Sèchey
Melissa Rosenfield, Writer, In Fine Print (Interviewer)
STAGE 3
Turn Anonymous Visitors Into Revenue with Identification-First Personalization
Daniel Washburn, Director, Ecommerce, Pressed Juicery
Blake Imperl, SVP, Marketing, Digioh
2:15 PM
The Loft
The DTC Roundtable Assembly
Hosted by: Trinadha Kandi, Managing Director, Deloitte Digital and Marta Frattini, Director, Global Industry Strategy – Retail, Adobe
2:15 PM
SESSION 13
STAGE 2 | Sponsored by TaxCloud
Redefine Brand Partnerships from One-off “Hype” Moments to Long-Term Strategic Collaborations with Deep Integration
Amy Barber, Head of Brand, Loop Earplugs
Suzy Davidkhanian, VP, Content, Retail Practice Lead, EMARKETER
Move from One-Off Transactions to Lifetime Relationships
Victoria Vaynberg, CMO, Nanit
Suzy Davidkhanian, VP, Content, Retail Practice Lead, EMARKETER
STAGE 3
Optimize Structured Data for Ad Platforms and AI Agents
Yiqi Wu, CEO & Founder, Aimerce
Integrate More AI into Your Ecommerce Business
Kailin Noivo, Co-Founder & President, Noibu
2:45 PM
SESSION 14
STAGE 2 | Sponsored by TaxCloud
Drive Profitable Growth Through Wholesale and Retail Optimization
Katia Unlu, Chief Commercial Officer, Boll & Branch
Declan Duggan, SVP, Sales & Distribution, BERO Brewing
Brian Lange, Co-Founder & CRO, Future Commerce (Moderator)
STAGE 3
Stop Planning Ads. Start Planning Buyers.
Kevin Smith, Director, Digital Marketing, Melin
Julia Winn, Head of Product, Proxima
Ethan Cohen, GM, Proxima (Moderator)
3:10 PM
SESSION 15
STAGE 2 | Sponsored by TaxCloud
Deploy AI to Operate Like an Enterprise Brand on a Lean Budget
Katie Omstead, President, Lo & Sons
Bill Carrig, CEO, Little Words Project
Kristin-Marie Pernicano, Principal, KmP Consulting
STAGE 3
Leverage Behavioral Data to Recover Revenue, Not Just Send More Email
Connor Swegle, Co-Founder and CMO, Priority Bicycles
Tom Eschbacher, Head of New Business Sales, Intuit Mailchimp (Interviewer)
3:30 PM
SESSION 16
STAGE 2 | Sponsored by TaxCloud
Strike the Right Balance Between Paid and Organic Marketing to Drive Real Growth
Andrew Bleiman, EVP, North America, Tractive
Alan Smith, President, Ernesta
Julia Waldow, Senior Reporter, ModernRetail (Moderator)
4:00 PM
THE DTC SYMPOSIUM
DTC Pitch Competition
Featuring:
Doze – The Easy Way To Duvet
drugs for plants – Give Your Plants Their Fix
Pinkie – Period Care Made for Tweens & Teens
Reprise – Nontoxic Activewear, Made from Plants
Butter Be Kind – Natural Skincare Designed to Shift Your State of Mind
Andiem – Science-Driven Footwear Built to Prevent Injuries and Elevate Performance
Cob – Insanely Delicious Corn-Free Snacks Powered by Ancient Superfood, Sorghum
Bryan Mahoney, Co-Founder & CEO, Chord (Emcee)