Chicago

Thursday, May 7, 2026

RUNNING TO THE FIRE

The Marketing Vanguard Summit convenes CMOs, CEOs, and other senior leaders from some of the world’s most innovative and influential brands—alongside cultural icons, emerging leaders, and thinkers from academia—to confront the moments of tension, ambiguity, and change in this industry, collectively shaping the future of the role and practice.

Held at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business Gleacher Center on May 7, the Summit challenges marketing leaders to embrace discomfort and build the muscles required to lead at the highest level: forging deeper CEO alignment, owning the metrics that truly matter to the business, and creating brands worthy of sustained attention, trust, and investment. Through candid dialogue, debate, and practical insight, we’ll explore how CMOs are stepping into complexity—across growth, culture, technology, and transformation—to solidify marketing’s position as an indispensable driver of enterprise value.

Provocateurs

More to be announced soon

Scott Gardner
Scott Gardner
Ernest Packaging
CMO
Eliot Hamlisch
Eliot Hamlisch
Amtrak
EVP, Chief Commercial Officer
Carla Hassan
Carla Hassan
JPMorgan Chase
CMO
Krystal Hauserman
Krystal Hauserman
NOYZ
CMO (Interim)
Charisse Hughes
Charisse Hughes
Soyoung Kang
Soyoung Kang
eos
President
Mark Kirkham
Mark Kirkham
PepsiCo Beverages US
CMO
Liz Kneebone
Liz Kneebone
ADWEEK
Vice President, Community Programs and Development
Emily Kortlang
Emily Kortlang
Yerba Madre
CMO
Lara Krug
Lara Krug
Kansas City Chiefs
Chief Marketing & Media Officer
Michael Lacorazza
Michael Lacorazza
U.S. Bank
CMO
Will Lee
Will Lee
ADWEEK
Chief Executive Officer