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

Zoë Ruderman
Zoë Ruderman
ADWEEK
Chief Content Officer
Maggie Schmerin
Maggie Schmerin
United Airlines
Chief Advertising Officer
Christie Sclater
Christie Sclater
Clinique
SVP of Global Marketing
Ed See
Ed See
Zeta Global
Chief Growth Officer
Allison Stadd
Allison Stadd
Ollie
CMO
Marisa Thalberg
Marisa Thalberg
Catalyst Brands
EVP, Chief Customer and Marketing Officer
Jennie Weber
Jennie Weber
Best Buy
CMO
Mark Weinstein
Mark Weinstein
Hilton
CMO
Eric Wilson
Eric Wilson
CrossCountry Mortgage
CMO
Doug Zarkin
Doug Zarkin
Take 5 Oil Change
CMO