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

Allison Stadd
Allison Stadd
CMO
Ollie
Tyler Stewart
Tyler Stewart
Head of Marketing
Gopuff
Olga Suvorova
Olga Suvorova
Former CMO
Samsung
Keisha Taylor Starr
Keisha Taylor Starr
CMO & GM
Scripps Networks
Kate Tellers
Kate Tellers
Senior Director, Host, Author
The Moth
Marisa Thalberg
Marisa Thalberg
EVP, Chief Customer and Marketing Officer
Catalyst Brands
Rachel Thorton
Rachel Thorton
CMO
Adobe
Katelyn Watson
Katelyn Watson
CMO
Talkspace
Jennie Weber
Jennie Weber
CMO
Best Buy
Mark Weinstein
Mark Weinstein
CMO
Hilton
Kimberly Whitler
Kimberly Whitler
Frank M. Sands Sr. Professor of Business
Darden School of Business, UVA
Gabrielle Wesley
Gabrielle Wesley
CMO, Confectionery
Mars Snacking North America