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

David Shing
David Shing
Digital Prophet
Shingy
Jenny Haggard
Jenny Haggard
Head of Global Thought Leadership
Spotify

Featured Conference Speakers

Jerri Helms
Jerri Helms
SVP, Marketing Operations
HarperCollins Christian Publishing
Purna Virji
Purna Virji
Principal Consultant (Evangelist) & Global Program Manager
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: Check-in | Coffee | Exhibits | Breakfast for VIPs   Opening Power Hour: Check-in | Coffee | Exhibits | Breakfast for VIPs 
9:00 AM - 9:15 AMOpening Remarks  Emcee Opening KickoffSteve KrullSteve Krull, Be Found Online (BFO)   
9:15 AM - 10:15 AMKeynote  KeynoteJenny HaggardJenny Haggard, Spotify   
10:15 AM - 10:30 AMNetworking  15-minute Recharge  |  Network  |  Exhibits     
10:30 AM - 11:15 AMThe Growth Roundtable Track B2BJoin a Moderated Roundtable Discussion: Strategies for the Modern B2B Buyer Journey     
10:30 AM - 11:15 AMNext Level Strategy Track Video, LinkedInVideo That Moves Pipeline: How to Drive Revenue Impact with LinkedIn Video Across the Full FunnelPurna VirjiPurna Virji, LinkedIn   
10:30 AM - 12:00 PMThe 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, Mixtape Digital   
11:15 AM - 11:30 AMNetworking  15-minute Recharge  |  Network  |  Exhibits     
11:30 AM - 12:15 PMNext Level Strategy Track Email4 Steps to Becoming an Email Marketing Queen (or King) Jessica BestJessica Best, BetterAve   
11:30 AM - 12:15 PMNext Level Strategy Track SEOAI Doesn’t Care About Your Brand: Building Brands That Algorithms Can Understand and Audiences Can TrustJohn TriplettJohn Triplett, IDX   
12:15 PM - 1:15 PMNetworking  Networking Lunch & Exhibits    Networking Lunch & Exhibits  
1:15 PM - 2:45 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, Mixtape Digital   
1:15 PM - 2:00 PMCreativity, Differentiation & Cultural Relevance Track StorytellingStart a Fire: Deliver Human-First Storytelling in a World of AI Noise Tyler FarnsworthTyler Farnsworth, Campfire   
1:15 PM - 2:00 PMBrand Visibility Track SEO, AIIs Your Brand Invisible to AI? How to Win in AI Search Before Your Competitors DoNate TowerNate Tower, Perrill Digital Marketing   
2:00 PM - 2:15 PMNetworking  15-minute Recharge  |  Network  |  Exhibits     
2:15 PM - 3:00 PMUnplugged Track Customer ExperienceActionable Affinity, Unplugged: Turning Customers, Communities & Employees into Loyal Fans Lauren TeagueLauren Teague, FANWAGN   
2:15 PM - 3:00 PMBrand Trust and Safety Track B2B, InfluencersTurning Expertise into Influence: How B2B Organizations Build Authority and Trust in the AI EraSamantha KermodeSamantha Kermode, SparkStack   
2:45 PM - 3:15 PMNetworking  30-minute Networking Break & Exhibits     
3:00 PM - 3:15 PMNetworking  15-minute Recharge  |  Network  |  Exhibits     
3:15 PM - 4:00 PMCreativity, Differentiation & Cultural Relevance Track Community EngagementFrom Brand-Led to Customer-Powered: Implementing Community-Driven Marketing to Fuel GrowthAllyson ForstromAllyson Forstrom, Life is Good   
3:15 PM - 4:00 PMBrand Trust and Safety Track Customer Experience, Employee AdvocacyThe Experience Multiplier: Delivering Effective Employee Advocacy that Impacts Your Bottom LineDana SchmidtDana Schmidt, Slice Communications   
3:15 PM - 4:00 PMCustomer Intelligence and Experience Track User ExperiencePersonas Are Dead: A New Approach to Understanding Your CustomersAyat ShukairyAyat Shukairy, Invesp   
4:00 PM - 4:15 PMNetworking  15-minute Recharge  |  Network  |  Exhibits     
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, Kansas City Chiefs   
4:15 PM - 5:00 PMBrand Visibility Track Video, YouTube, AI, SearchAI, SEO, and Video: A New YouTube Playbook for Marketing LeadersMichael HoffmanMichael Hoffman, Gather Voices   
4:15 PM - 5:00 PMNext Level Strategy Track Creative TechnologyThe Curiosity Advantage: Protecting Human Value in the Age of AIJerri HelmsJerri Helms, HarperCollins Christian Publishing   
5:00 PM - 6:00 PMNetworking  Happy Hour | Exhibits | 1st Passport Winners Announced     
6:30 PM - 8:00 PMNetworking  Mingle & Market-share: Offsite VIP Reception   Mingle & Market-share: Offsite VIP Reception 
Wednesday, April 8, 2026
8:00 AM - 9:00 AMNetworking  Opening Power Hour: Coffee  |  Exhibits  |  Breakfast for VIPs   Opening Power Hour: Coffee  |  Exhibits  |  Breakfast for VIPs 
9:00 AM - 10:00 AMNetworking  KeynoteDavid ShingDavid Shing, Shingy   
10:00 AM - 10:15 AMNetworking  15-minute Recharge  |  Network  |  Exhibits     
10:15 AM - 11:45 AMThe Mastermind Hub Track Content, StorytellingThe Story-First Strategy: Transforming Content into Connection [Premium Pass or VIP Pass Required]Derek HubbardDerek Hubbard, Brand Storytelling   
10:15 AM - 11:00 AM   Session Information Coming Soon!Ariana KeilAriana Keil, Canto   
10:15 AM - 11:00 AMNext Level Strategy Track Demand Generation, Conversion Optimization, MeasurementThe Conversion Blueprint: How to Identify, Measure, and Convert Contacts into Real RevenueStephanie RistowStephanie Ristow, Ristow Marketing   
11:00 AM - 11:15 AMNetworking  15-minute Networking Break & Exhibits     
11:15 AM - 12:00 PM   Session Information Coming Soon! Michael Heller, IDX   
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     
12:00 PM - 1:00 PMNetworking  Networking Lunch & Exhibits    Networking Lunch & Exhibits  
1:00 PM - 2:30 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, Brand Storytelling   
1:00 PM - 1:45 PMBrand Visibility Track AI, Search, Social MediaBuilding a Visibility Strategy: How Search, Social, and AI Answers Shape Modern Discovery Tyler LaneTyler Lane, Session Interactive   
1:00 PM - 1:45 PMNext Level Strategy Track Performance MarketingPerformance Marketing Is a Trap (If You Let It Be)Liam WadeLiam Wade, Impression   
1:45 PM - 2:00 PMNetworking  15-minute Recharge  |  Network  |  Exhibits     
2:00 PM - 2:45 PMCustomer Intelligence and Experience Track MobilePersonalization That Performs: Turning Zero & First-Party Data into Mobile Attributable RevenueJohn JohnsonJohn Johnson, Vibes   
2:00 PM - 2:45 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   
2:30 PM - 3:00 PMNetworking  30-minute Networking Break & Exhibits     
2:45 PM - 3:00 PMNetworking  15-minute Recharge  |  Network  |  Exhibits     
3:00 PM - 3:45 PMBrand Trust and Safety Track Social Media, Employee Advocacy#AirplaneMode: Inside United Airlines’ Employee Creator Strategy (And How You Can Put It to Work)Julia Fedor Paul HolteJulia Fedor, United Airlines
Paul Holte, United Airlines		   
3:00 PM - 3:45 PMIndustry Spotlight Track (Agency) ContentSeven Proven Strategies for Agencies in the Unhappiness EraMatt IngwalsonMatt Ingwalson, Optimism Delivers   
3:00 PM - 3:45 PMBrand Visibility Track AI, Content, SEOBeyond Rankings: Building Resilient SEO Strategies in an AI-Governed WebSahirah JohnsonSahirah Johnson, Meta   


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