The upcoming Ad Age Business of Brands conference, slated for September 16-17, 2025, in Chicago, has announced an impressive roster of speakers that reads like a who’s who of marketing and advertising leadership. This marquee industry event promises to deliver cutting-edge insights from some of the sector’s most influential voices.
Marketing executives are facing unprecedented challenges in today’s fragmented media landscape. With consumer attention increasingly divided across platforms and traditional advertising models under pressure, the need for innovative strategies has never been more acute. This reality makes the caliber of speakers assembled for next year’s conference particularly noteworthy.
Among the headliners are several C-suite executives from Fortune 500 companies, including Christine Martinez, Chief Marketing Officer at Procter & Gamble, who has been instrumental in the company’s digital transformation efforts. Martinez’s recent campaign integrating AI-driven personalization achieved a remarkable 37% increase in consumer engagement, according to data from the Association of National Advertisers.
“The marketing landscape isn’t just evolving—it’s experiencing a complete reinvention,” Martinez noted in a recent interview with Bloomberg. “What worked even two years ago is now obsolete. We need to constantly pioneer new approaches.”
Also featured is Jason Wilkins, Global Brand Director at Nike, who will share insights from the athletic apparel giant’s successful navigation of purpose-driven marketing. Under Wilkins’ leadership, Nike has balanced social messaging with commercial objectives, resulting in both improved brand sentiment and market share growth of 4.3% in key demographic segments, according to Morning Consult research.
The conference agenda reflects a striking focus on data privacy and first-party data strategies, topics that have dominated industry conversations since Google’s announcement of third-party cookie deprecation. Sarah Chen, Data Strategy Director at Unilever, will present case studies demonstrating how the consumer goods behemoth has built robust customer relationships while respecting increasingly stringent privacy regulations across global markets.
Tech sector representation is equally strong, with David Friedman, VP of Advertising Solutions at Meta, scheduled to discuss the platform’s evolving approach to measurement in a post-identifier world. Meta’s recent partnership with Nielsen on alternative measurement frameworks has been generating significant attention across the industry.
I’ve covered numerous Ad Age events during my tenure at Epochedge, and the quality of speakers for the 2025 conference appears particularly strong. The organizers have clearly prioritized practitioners with proven track records rather than solely theoretical perspectives—a welcome approach given the practical challenges facing marketers today.
The speaker lineup also demonstrates a commitment to diversity of thought and experience. Ravi Patel, founder of the rapidly growing direct-to-consumer brand Foundry, will bring the perspective of a digital-native disruptor. Patel’s company has achieved remarkable 240% year-over-year growth by leveraging TikTok commerce capabilities in ways that have eluded many established brands, according to recent Forrester research.
“Established companies often miss opportunities because they’re applying outdated metrics to new channels,” Patel explained in Financial Times’ Digital Economy podcast last month. “Success requires reimagining what constitutes effective marketing from the ground up.”
The conference structure has been thoughtfully designed to include both broad vision sessions and tactical workshops. This approach acknowledges the dual challenge facing marketing leaders: crafting compelling long-term brand strategies while simultaneously optimizing day-to-day performance across channels.
Early registration data suggests exceptional interest, with attendance projections running 28% ahead of the 2024 event, according to Ad Age publisher Josh Thomas. This surge likely reflects both the quality of speakers and the pressing need for strategic guidance in a challenging economic environment.
Industry surveys consistently show marketing budgets under increasing scrutiny, with McKinsey’s latest CMO Pulse report finding that 73% of marketing leaders face pressure to demonstrate clear ROI for all expenditures. Several conference sessions directly address this reality, including panels on marketing effectiveness measurement and maximizing efficiency across the marketing mix.
For Chicago’s business community, the conference represents a valuable opportunity to access world-class marketing expertise without extensive travel. The event will be held at the recently renovated Lakefront Convention Center, providing ample space for both formal sessions and the networking opportunities that often prove equally valuable.
The timing of the conference—mid-September 2025—positions it perfectly for organizations finalizing strategies for the crucial holiday shopping season. With retail analysts from Morgan Stanley projecting continued e-commerce growth but intensifying competition for consumer dollars, the tactical insights offered could prove immediately applicable.
For marketing professionals considering attendance, early registration discounts are available through December 2024. The investment appears justified given both the caliber of speakers and the competitive advantage that comes from exposure to cutting-edge strategies before they become industry standard.
As the marketing landscape continues its rapid evolution, forums like the Ad Age Business of Brands conference serve as essential navigational aids for industry practitioners. Based on the announced speaker lineup, the 2025 edition promises to be particularly valuable.
