The Smartest Room in Marketing.

Digital Summit Chicago Agenda 2026

Conference sessions focusing on what's now and what's next for marketing leaders.

Keynote Speakers

Zaria Parvez
Zaria Parvez
Head of Social
DoorDash
David Shing
David Shing
Digital Prophet
Shingy

Featured Conference Speakers

Jerri Helms
Jerri Helms
Vice President Digital Marketing and Analytics
HarperCollins
Purna Virji
Purna Virji
Principal Consultant, Content Solutions
LinkedIn
Sahirah Johnson
Sahirah Johnson
SEO Strategy Lead
Meta
View All Speakers

During Digital Summit, all of the conference sessions take place within the following programming categories across the three breakout rooms:

  • Brand Trust and Safety
  • Customer Intelligence and Experience
  • Creativity, Differentiation & Cultural Relevance
  • Next-Gen Operations & Infrastructure
  • Brand Visibility
  • The Mastermind Hub
  • The Growth Roundtable
Learn More About These Categories

Full Event Agenda

Tuesday, April 7, 2026
8:00 AM - 9:00 AMNetworking  Opening Power Hour: Registration Opens, Networking & Exhibits     
9:00 AM - 9:15 AMOpening Remarks  Emcee Opening KickoffSteve KrullSteve Krull, Be Found Online   
9:15 AM - 10:15 AMKeynote  KeynoteZaria ParvezZaria Parvez, DoorDash   
10:15 AM - 10:30 AMNetworking  15-minute Networking Break & Exhibits     
10:30 AM - 11:15 AMBrand Visibility Track Video, YouTube, AI, SearchAI, SEO, and Video: A New YouTube Playbook for Marketing LeadersMichael HoffmanMichael Hoffman, Gather Voices   
10:30 AM - 12:00 PMThe Mastermind Hub Track Content, StorytellingThe Story-First Strategy: Transforming Content into Connection [Premium Pass or VIP Pass Required]Derek HubbardDerek Hubbard, BrandStorytelling   
10:30 AM - 11:15 AMThe Growth Roundtable Track B2BJoin a Moderated Roundtable Discussion: Strategies for the Modern B2B Buyer Journey     
11:15 AM - 11:30 AMNetworking  15-minute Networking Break & Exhibits     
11:30 AM - 12:15 PMCreativity, Differentiation & Cultural Relevance Track Community EngagementFrom Brand-Led to Customer-Powered: Implementing Community-Driven Marketing to Fuel GrowthAllyson ForstromAllyson Forstrom, Life is Good   
11:30 AM - 12:15 PMBrand Trust and Safety Track Customer Experience, Employee AdvocacyThe Experience Multiplier: Delivering Effective Employee Advocacy that Impacts Your Bottom LineDana SchmidtDana Schmidt, Slice Communications   
12:15 PM - 1:15 PMNetworking  Networking Lunch & Exhibits    Networking Lunch & Exhibits  
1:15 PM - 2:00 PMNext Level Strategy Track Email4 Steps to Becoming an Email Marketing Queen (or King) Jessica BestJessica Best, BetterAve LLC   
1:15 PM - 2:00 PMNext Level Strategy Track SEOAI Doesn’t Care About Your Brand: Building Brands That Algorithms Can Understand and Audiences Can TrustJohn TriplettJohn Triplett, IDX   
1:15 PM - 2:45 PMThe Mastermind Hub Track Crisis Communications, StorytellingStorytelling in the Storm: Communicating with Clarity & Credibility During a Crisis [Premium Pass or VIP Pass Required] Derek HubbardDerek Hubbard, BrandStorytelling   
2:00 PM - 2:15 PMNetworking  15-minute Networking Break & Exhibits     
2:15 PM - 3:00 PMCustomer Intelligence and Experience Track MobilePersonalization That Performs: Turning Zero & First-Party Data into Mobile Attributable RevenueJohn JohnsonJohn Johnson, Vibes   
2:15 PM - 3:00 PMBrand Visibility Track AI, Content, SEOBeyond Rankings: Building Resilient SEO Strategies in an AI-Governed WebSahirah JohnsonSahirah Johnson, Meta   
2:45 PM - 3:15 PMNetworking  30-minute Networking Break & Exhibits     
3:00 PM - 3:15 PMNetworking  15-minute Networking Break & Exhibits     
3:15 PM - 4:00 PMCreativity, Differentiation & Cultural Relevance Track StorytellingStart a Fire: Deliver Human-First Storytelling in a World of AI Noise Tyler FarnsworthTyler Farnsworth, Campfire   
3:15 PM - 4:00 PMBrand Trust and Safety Track B2B, InfluencersTurning Expertise into Influence: How B2B Organizations Build Authority and Trust in the AI EraSamantha KermodeSamantha Kermode   
4:00 PM - 4:15 PMNetworking  15-minute Networking Break & Exhibits     
4:15 PM - 5:00 PMNext Level Strategy Track Video, LinkedInVideo That Moves Pipeline: How to Drive Revenue Impact with LinkedIn Video Across the Full FunnelPurna VirjiPurna Virji, LinkedIn   
4:15 PM - 5:00 PMNext Level Strategy Track Performance MarketingPerformance Marketing Is a Trap (If You Let It Be)Liam WadeLiam Wade, Impression Digital   
4:15 PM - 5:00 PMCreativity, Differentiation & Cultural Relevance Track  The Death of the Brief: Why the Best Ideas Don’t Come from the DeckThea NealThea Neal, TMN Branding   
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM   Networking Reception      
6:30 PM - 8:00 PM   Offsite VIP Networking Reception   Offsite VIP Networking Reception 
Wednesday, April 8, 2026
8:00 AM - 9:00 AMNetworking  Check In | Networking & Exhibits      
9:00 AM - 10:00 AMNetworking  KeynoteDavid ShingDavid Shing, Shingy   
10:00 AM - 10:15 AMNetworking  15-minute Networking Break & Exhibits     
10:15 AM - 11:45 AMThe Mastermind Hub Track Paid Advertising, Google AdsBreaking the Performance Max Default: Regain Control, Improve Marginal ROI, and Scale Google Ads Profitably [Premium Pass or VIP Pass Required]Susan WenogradSusan Wenograd, SmartSpark Marketing   
10:15 AM - 11:00 AMIndustry Spotlight Track (Agency) ContentSeven Proven Strategies for Agencies in the Unhappiness EraMatt IngwalsonMatt Ingwalson, Optimism Delivers   
10:15 AM - 11:00 AMBrand Visibility Track AI, Search, Social MediaBuilding a Visibility Strategy: How Search, Social, and AI Answers Shape Modern Discovery Tyler LaneTyler Lane, Session Interactive   
11:00 AM - 11:15 AMNetworking  15-minute Networking Break & Exhibits     
11:15 AM - 12:00 PMThe Growth Roundtable Track Brand TrustJoin a Moderated Roundtable Discussion – Rebuilding Brand Trust in the Age of AI and Misinformation     
11:15 AM - 12:00 PMCustomer Intelligence and Experience Track User ExperiencePersonas Are Dead: A New Approach to Understanding Your CustomersAyat ShukairyAyat Shukairy, Invesp   
12:00 PM - 1:00 PMNetworking  Networking Lunch & Exhibits    Networking Lunch & Exhibits  
1:00 PM - 1:45 PMUnplugged Track Customer Experience#AirplaneMode: Inside United Airlines’ Employee Creator Strategy (And How You Can Put It to Work)Lauren TeagueLauren Teague, FANWAGN   
1:00 PM - 2:30 PMThe Mastermind Hub Track Paid Advertising, Google AdsWhen Business Goals Break Google Ads: How to Translate Revenue Objectives Into Signals Google Can Actually Optimize For [Premium Pass or VIP Pass Required]Susan WenogradSusan Wenograd, SmartSpark Marketing   
1:00 PM - 1:45 PMUnplugged Track Customer ExperienceActionable Affinity, Unplugged: Turning Customers, Communities & Employees into Loyal Fans Lauren TeagueLauren Teague, FANWAGN   
1:45 PM - 2:00 PMNetworking  15-minute Networking Break & Exhibits     
2:00 PM - 2:45 PMNext Level Strategy Track Creative TechnologyThe Curiosity Advantage: Protecting Human Value in the Age of AIJerri HelmsJerri Helms, HarperCollins   
2:30 PM - 3:00 PMNetworking  30-minute Networking Break & Exhibits     
2:45 PM - 3:00 PMNetworking  15-minute Networking Break & Exhibits     
3:00 PM - 3:45 PMCreativity, Differentiation & Cultural Relevance Track Social Media, StorytellingUsing Episodic Storytelling to Build Cultural Movements that Drive Lasting Loyalty and Measurable EngagementKim StrickerKim Stricker, Social Motto   
3:00 PM - 3:45 PMNext Level Strategy Track Demand Generation, Conversion Optimization, MeasurementThe Conversion Blueprint: How to Identify, Measure, and Convert Contacts into Real RevenueStephanie RistowStephanie Ristow, Ristow Marketing   


  Check our past events to view agenda examples. Programming is continuously evolved, come back soon to see a more accurate & detailed sessions.