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

Kate Tellers
Kate Tellers
The Moth
Senior Director, Host, Author
Marisa Thalberg
Marisa Thalberg
Catalyst Brands
EVP, Chief Customer and Marketing Officer
Rachel Thorton
Rachel Thorton
Adobe
CMO
Jennie Weber
Jennie Weber
Best Buy
CMO
Mark Weinstein
Mark Weinstein
Hilton
CMO
Kimberly Whitler
Kimberly Whitler
Darden School of Business, UVA
Frank M. Sands Sr. Professor of Business
Gabrielle Wesley
Gabrielle Wesley
Mars Wrigley
CMO
Eric Wilson
Eric Wilson
CrossCountry Mortgage
CMO
Karen Wood
Karen Wood
Treasure Data
CMO
Doug Zarkin
Doug Zarkin
Take 5 Oil Change
CMO