The DTC Symposium
new for 2025

The DTC Symposium is a brand new program co-located at The Lead Summit, designed for DTC practitioners across marketing, ecommerce, retail and operations.

Your ticket to The Lead Summit grants you access to The DTC Symposium.

Build your network with 600+ fellow DTC leaders in this program designed to help you develop strategies and tactics that will serve your uniquely high-growth cultures.

We also welcome scaled brands to hear what’s next from the DTC brands who are testing approaches that will change the game.

WHAT TO EXPECT

TWO UNIQUE STAGES:

Stage One features discussions on the future of the industry and how you can take advantage of it. Stage Two gives you practical, real-time strategies and tactics to get better at your everyday work.

DTC PITCH COMPETITION:

Seven early stage brands – sell us on their go to market, their growth strategies and their overall potential (plus you’ll experience their product!).

CEO MIXER:

For CEOs & Founders of high growth challenger DTC brands, this intimate breakout session allows for reconnecting, concept testing, benchmarking and more.

CLOSING PARTY:

Join us to close the day with the people you need to know in the place you need to be.

HOW DO I SIGN UP?

Your ticket to The Lead Summit grants you access to The DTC Symposium.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN

SPEAKERS

Melanie Travis
Founder & CEO
Andie

Ankur Goyal
SVP, Growth
Coterie

Emily Hosie
Founder & CEO
REBEL (formerly Rebelstork)

Scott Kramer
VP, Growth Marketing
AS Beauty

Stormi Steele
CEO
Canvas Beauty

Sabeen Mian
President of the Lash Division
Performance Beauty Group

FlutterHabit, Grande Cosmetics, Lilly Lashes, Velour Beauty

Cael Shwartz
Head of Growth
Mugsy

Jacob Zuppke
CEO
Whisker

Ronak Patel 
VP, Marketing
Moonbrew

Maarten Bodewes
Co-Founder
Loop Earplugs

THE AGENDA

The DTC Symposium is co-located at The Lead Summit, designed for DTC practitioners and welcomes scaled brands alike. Your ticket to The Lead Summit grants you access to The DTC Symposium. Learn more here.

1:30 - 1:35 PM

Stage 2

THE DTC SYMPOSIUM

DTC Symposium Welcome Remarks

Sonal Gandhi, Chief Content Officer, The Lead

1:35 - 1:50 PM

Stage 2

THE DTC SYMPOSIUM

DTC Symposium Opening Keynote

Maarten Bodewes, Co-Founder, Loop Earplugs

1:55 - 2:20 PM

STAGE 2 

Deploy Out-of-The Box Thinking to Build Business Models and Achieve Growth in Today’s Evolving Landscape

Melanie Travis, Founder and CEO, Andie

Emily Hosie, Founder & CEO, REBEL

Richard Kestenbaum, Partner, Triangle Capital | Contributor, Forbes.com

STAGE 3

Do More with Less and Creatively Compete with Big Brands with Big Budgets

Lexi Kaminer, Sr Director, Ecommerce and Growth, Outset

Ankur Goyal, SVP, Growth, Coterie

Minali Chatani, Executive Creative Director, FARRYNHEIGHT (Moderator)

2:25 - 2:45 PM

STAGE 2

Build a Brand & Community Through Power of Storytelling and Social Media

Jacob Zuppke, CEO, Whisker

Sabeen Mian, President, Lash Division, Performance Beauty Group

STAGE 3

Case Study

Cael Shwartz, Head of Growth, Mugsy

Ronak Patel, VP, Marketing, Moonbrew

Dhruv Patel, Founder & CEO, Aftersell by Rokt

2:45 - 3:00 PM

Networking Break

2:30 - 3:45 PM

The Loft

CEO Mixer

3:00 - 3:20 PM

STAGE 2

Build and Scale Your Brand on TikTok Shops

Stormi Steele, CEO, Canvas Beauty

Jonathan Cohen, CMO, Pure Daily Care & Aquasonic

Leslie Ann Hall, CEO and Founder, Iced Media (Moderator)

STAGE 3

Case Study – Ecommerce AI

Scott Kramer, VP, Growth Marketing, AS Beauty

Anthony DelPizzo, Director, Product Marketing, Triple Whale (Interviewer)

3:25 - 3:50 PM

STAGE 2

Update Your DTC Brand for the Current Environment: Lessons on Funding, Scaling, Mistakes & Pivots

Speakers to be Announced

STAGE 3

Build Profitable Wholesale Strategies for Long-Term Growth

Vanessa Urenda, Co-Founder & Chief Omni-Channel Officer, ADA Collection

Robbie Salter. Founder & Co-CEO, Jupiter

Liza Amlani, Principal and Co-Founder, Retail Strategy Group (Moderator)

4:00 - 4:45 PM

STAGE 2

DTC Pitch Competition

4:45 - 5:30 PM

STAGE 2

Reception

ATTENDEES INCLUDE

Over 600 people will attend The DTC Symposium — Built for practitioners and strategists from Challenger DTC Brands as well as Established Brands & Retailers curious about this sector and what the ‘new kids on the block’ are up to. 

By leaning into our Foremost 50 heritage you can expect brands such as:

WHAT TO EXPECT

TWO UNIQUE STAGES:

Stage One gives you practical, realtime strategies and tactics to get better at your everyday. Stage Two features discussion of the future of the industry and how you can take advantage of it.

DTC PITCH COMPETITION:

We will select seven early stage, promising brands – you will judge their go to market, their strategies and their overall potential (plus you’ll experience their product!).

CEO MIXER:

Meet peers in similar positions to discuss and solve challenges together through structured discussion groups, hands-on workshops, curated dinners, and focused lunches.

CLOSING PARTY:

Join us to close the day with the people you need to know in the place you need to be.

SPONSORS

Sponsorships for The DTC Symposium are thoughtful, value-creating, and meaningful. Opportunities are limited, contact us for more information or download the brochure.