About
The Responsible Media Summit is a half-day event that unites brands, agencies, and media partners for honest conversations about building a more responsible advertising and marketing industry. Now in its second year, the program pushes the dialogue forward by tackling topics that often fall outside the traditional conference agenda.
Connection is a core part of the day. Attendees will join curated networking opportunities that encourage collaboration, spark ideas, and bring together the people who are redefining what responsible media can look like.
Key Details
Wednesday,
February 11, 2026
12:00 pm - 6:00 pm
The Meeting Galleries - 155 E 44 St,
11 Floor New York NY, 10017
Detailed program to be released prior to the event.
Early Confirmed Speakers
Amanda Forrester
SVP, Marketing & Communications
OpenX
Andy Heath
SVP Strategic Planning
Havas Media
Bridget Beatty
Senior Sales Director, Team Lead
WunderKIND Ads
Ben Downing
Global Managing Director, Ethical Media & Strategic Partnerships
Havas Media
Christopher Henry
Head of Sustainability Communications
Nespresso USA
Chad Hickey
Founder and Chief Executive Officer
givsly
Casey Terrell
CMO
Blaze Pizza
Drew Train
CEO, Co-Founder
Oberland
Danielle Walters
Senior Insight Manager
GWI
Francis D'Hondt
SVP Addressable Health
Kinesso
Justina Santiago
Multicultural Director of Investment
Publicis Collective
John Starkweather
AVP, Advertising
AT&T
Lockie Andrews
CEO
RICH Hair Care
Lola Bakare
CMO Advisor & Inclusive Marketing Strategist
BE/CO
Luis Freitas
Sr. Director, Digital
LVMH
Molly Dwyer
Director of Insights
PeakMetrics
Michelle Morgan
Partner, Director, Strategy
WPP Unite
Mike Jackson
Head of North America Marketing
Logitech
Melissa Gordon Ring
Global President
Omnicom Media Health
Meagan Solano
Director of Marketing
Big Happy
Sunil Subhedar
Growth Marketing Lead
Anthropic
Samuel Monnie
Co-Founder & Co-CEO
Purpose Hive
Traci Spiegelman
VP Global Media
Mastercard
William Bock
VP, Brand Suitability & Privacy
UM Worldwide
Walter T. Geer III
Chief Creative Officer, Innovation
VML
Programming Overview
This year’s sessions will explore five forward-thinking themes led by experts across the industry. Each conversation is designed to challenge assumptions, inspire new thinking, and highlight what it takes to drive meaningful change.
Agenda
12:00 PM - Check-in Opens for Networking Lunch
The Meeting Galleries - 155 E 44 St, 11 Floor New York NY, 10017
1:00 PM - Welcome Remarks by Givsly
Chad Hickey
Founder and Chief Executive Officer
givsly
1:22 PM - Session #1: Do Cause Marketing Strategies Need To Change?
Brands today can no longer afford to treat cause marketing as a “feel-good” side campaign. Audiences now expect alignment between a brand’s values and buying that brand's product. This panel will explore how leading companies are making the transition from performative marketing toward strategies that actually drive sales through shared values. We’ll examine recent cases such as Cracker Barrel, whose abrupt logo and brand shift to appear more “modern” sparked a backlash and wiped out nearly $100 million in market value, as customers perceived a betrayal of its heritage and core identity.
Moderator
Chad Hickey
Founder and Chief Executive Officer
givsly
Early Speakers
Andy Heath
SVP Strategic Planning
Havas Media
Christopher Henry
Head of Sustainability Communications
Nespresso USA
Melissa Gordon Ring
Global President
Omnicom Media Health
Samuel Monnie
Co-Founder & Co-CEO
Purpose Hive
2:04 PM - Session #2: Navigating the Modern Consumer’s Value Compass
Values-based shopping is too often framed as a liberal or “woke” trend, but today’s marketplace shows conservatives are just as powerful in shaping brand success. From the Bud Light boycott to the recent Bad Bunny Super Bowl backlash, conservative consumers have demonstrated their ability to reward or punish brands based on values. This session will examine how values-driven commerce transcends politics, and why marketers must understand both progressive and conservative movements to truly navigate consumer behavior.
Moderator
Lola Bakare
CMO Advisor & Inclusive Marketing Strategist
BE/CO
Early Speakers
Ben Downing
Global Managing Director, Ethical Media & Strategic Partnerships
Havas Media
Drew Train
CEO, Co-Founder
Oberland
Danielle Walters
Senior Insight Manager
GWI
Walter T. Geer III
Chief Creative Officer, Innovation
VML
2:46 PM - Wellness Break
3:08 PM - Session #3: How Real Is Online Outrage and Does It Really Reflect The Majority Of Us?
This session will examine the gap between viral backlash online and actual consumer behavior in the real world. From the Cracker Barrel bot controversy to the Target Pride collection backlash, the question remains: does online outrage reflect the views of the majority or just the loudest few? We’ll explore how brands can better assess the true impact of online criticism, when to respond, and when to hold firm in their values.
Sponsored by
Moderator
Meagan Solano
Director of Marketing
Big Happy
Early Speakers
John Starkweather
AVP, Advertising
AT&T
Luis Freitas
Sr. Director, Digital
LVMH
Molly Dwyer
Director of Insights
PeakMetrics
3:50 PM - Session #4: AI and The Future of Advertising and Marketing Roles
This session will dig into the real impact of artificial intelligence on careers in advertising and marketing - not just in theory, but through the stories of people experiencing it firsthand. We’ll hear from leaders who are actively navigating career shifts with AI in mind, as well as professionals who have struggled to find new opportunities in a transformed job market. The conversation will spotlight the human side of disruption, asking what it means for the future of our industry when technology reshapes the workforce overnight.
Sponsored by
Moderator
Bridget Beatty
Senior Sales Director, Team Lead
WunderKIND Ads
Early Speakers
Michelle Morgan
Partner, Director, Strategy
WPP Unite
Sunil Subhedar
Growth Marketing Lead
Anthropic
Traci Spiegelman
VP Global Media
Mastercard
William Bock
VP, Brand Suitability & Privacy
UM Worldwide
4:32 PM - Session #5: The Balance of Inclusion and Multicultural Strategies
As some brands retreat from DEI, they risk alienating the very multicultural consumers driving marketplace growth. Multicultural audiences represent the fastest-growing segment of U.S. buying power, and their expectations for inclusion directly influence where they shop. This panel will explore how abandoning DEI not only damages brand trust but also undermines revenue potential, showing why authentic commitment to diversity is a business imperative, not a liability.
Sponsored by
Moderator
Amanda Forrester
SVP, Marketing & Communications
OpenX
Early Speakers
Casey Terrell
CMO
Blaze Pizza
Francis D'Hondt
SVP Addressable Health
Kinesso
Justina Santiago
Multicultural Director of Investment
Publicis Collective
Lockie Andrews
CEO
RICH Hair Care
5:00 PM: Happy Hour
6:00 PM: Event Ends
Thank You for Joining Us!
Sponsors and Participants
Sponsors
Sponsors and Participants
Sponsors
Want to Join the Conversation?
Sponsors
This year’s sessions will explore five forward-thinking themes led by experts across the industry. Each conversation is designed to challenge assumptions, inspire new thinking, and highlight what it takes to drive meaningful change.
Tickets
General attendance is limited to sponsor companies, and only a small number of individual tickets are available for purchase. Seating is limited, so early registration is encouraged.
Sponsored Tickets
A limited number of free tickets will be reserved for professionals from underrepresented groups who may not typically have access to events like this. This initiative brings new perspectives into the room and empowers individuals to engage in conversations they might not otherwise hear. By expanding access and fostering inclusivity, the summit aims to set a new standard for how the industry approaches responsibility.
