Brand & Licensing Innovation Summit (B&LIS) North America has confirmed its first wave of speakers.
The two-day thought leadership convention announced a series of new speakers for its upcoming event at Convene New York in New York City. The summit is dedicated to transforming the future of brand licensing and is partnering with Licensing International to strategically design a one-stop shop for in-depth education and trend analysis within brand licensing.
“This year’s B&LIS North America speaker lineup covers all the latest topics and trends impacting the business of licensing,” says Anna Knight, senior vice president of the Global Licensing Group. “This year’s conference lineup will facilitate thought-provoking conversations and help those in attendance adapt to the fast pace of change to continue to serve consumers with the brands they love in new, innovative, ways.”
Registration for the in-person event was launched in tandem with this announcement. U.S. based industry leaders and decision makers will come together to learn and connect over the hottest topics for licensing consumer products across every category. Beanstalk, Brand Central, Hot Topic, Virtual Brand Group, and WHP Global are some of the first companies confirmed to take the stage and will speak on topics ranging from sustainability to NFTs.
To date, the confirmed conference sessions and speakers are as follows:
- Session: Changing Retail Landscape: Retailers’ Evolving Post-Pandemic Strategies
- Speakers: Maura Regan, President, Licensing International; Robin Motts, Vice President/GMM, Hot Topic Inc.; Jamie Uitdenhowen, EVP/GM of Toys “R” Us, WHP Global
- Session: Metaverse in Action: Converting Buzz to Consumer Purchase
- Speaker: Justin W. Hochberg, CEO & Founder, Virtual Brand Group
- Session: From NFT to Dollars: How NFTs can Actually Make Sense
- Speakers: Ross Misher, CEO, Brand Central; Alex Locke, Founder and Managing Member, Bored of Directors, and IP/Technology Associate, Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP
- Session: Sustainability Session
- Speaker: Andrea Green, Advisory and U.S. Ambassador, Products of Change
- Session: Economic Overview: What Challenges are Forecast for 2023?
- Speaker: Simeon Siegel, CFA, Managing Director, BMO Capital Markets
- Session: Sustainability Panel
- Speaker: Linda Morgenstern, Vice President, Brand Management, Beanstalk
- Session: Think Tank: Can the Licensing Process be Rebuilt?
- Speakers: Michelle McLaughlin, CEO, Brand Activation Consulting; Sam Hafif, CEO, Concept One Accessories; Maya Assis, VP of Licensing, KOMAR; Winnie Jaing, Senior Director, Licensing Strategy & Partnerships, Hot Topic Inc
- Session: Marketing 2.0: How to Reach Gen Z and Alpha
- Speakers: Philippe Guinaudeau, CEO, BrandTrends; Todd Kaufman, VP, Strategy & Partnerships, Beanstalk
- Session: Diversity & Inclusion: Walking the Talk
- Speaker: Cory Moss, CEO, CLC
- Session: Trends: The Changing Consumer and Product Trends Set to Dominate in the Year Ahead
- Speaker: Erin Rechner, Head of Kidswear, WGSN
B&LIS North America will take place Nov. 8-9. Registration can be found here.
